Chapter 52: Bai Xu

Chapter 52 Bai Xu

While Xin He was sleeping soundly, she suddenly felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

Xin He opened her eyes uncomfortably and saw a small white furball squatting on her chest.

"Little Bai!" Xin He's voice was filled with both helplessness and exasperation.

She reached out and lifted the small white furball off her chest, turned sideways to hold it in her arms, and rubbed its fluffy head in frustration, saying, "How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t perch on my chest while I’m sleeping. You’re so heavy!"

The small white furball in her arms was either feigning ignorance or truly not understanding. It coiled its tail and leaned against Xin He, immediately falling back into a deep sleep.

Xin He felt utterly helpless but could do nothing about it. She could only pet its back a few more times before turning away.

At this moment, the early morning light was dim, but the room’s layout was already visible.

Though the room was small, it was tidy and clean. The table, chairs, and wardrobe were all faded in color, but not a speck of dust could be seen on them. Through the open bamboo-woven window, one could see the white, billowing morning mist in the mountains and a patch of medicinal herbs swaying in the mist.

This was a small mountain village, and Xin He had been here for almost half a month.

After leaving the capital, Xin He didn’t know where to go. But she knew that the farther she fled, the harder it would be for Wei Mingjin to find her.

So she kept heading north.

When she reached a fork in the road, she let the donkey decide. Wherever the donkey took her, she went.

After traveling for twenty days, just as Xin He was thinking of finding a place to settle down temporarily, she accidentally encountered bounty hunters carrying her wanted poster at an inn.

From those hunters, Xin He learned that Wei Mingjin had posted a bounty for her on the black market, and the reward had increased from fifty gold to one hundred gold.

It was the top bounty on the black market’s golden list.

Bounty hunters led dangerous lives, facing peril with every mission. Now, with a rare job that was both easy and highly rewarding, they were naturally eager to take it. So almost every bounty hunter on the black market was pursuing this job.

While inwardly cursing Wei Mingjin for having too much money to burn, Xin He packed her bags and fled overnight.

Along the way, Xin He disguised herself either as an elderly woman or a middle-aged woman in her thirties or forties. She not only used herbs to dye her face and hands sallow but also altered her figure with clothing.

At first, no one suspected her.

But as more and more bounty hunters came looking for her, Xin He once accidentally slipped up, arousing suspicion.

Realizing she was about to be exposed, Xin He panicked and boarded a ship without thinking.

Unexpectedly, there were bounty hunters on that ship as well.

Xin He’s disguise was seen through, and the bounty hunters captured her, planning to take her back to the capital to claim the reward once the ship docked at dawn.

Locked up with her was another woman.

This woman bore a sixty percent resemblance to Xin He in both face and features. If not for the fact that her parents had only one child, Xin He would have suspected she was a long-lost sister.

After talking with her, Xin He learned that she, too, had been captured by bounty hunters.

The woman said she wasn’t the person they were looking for, but the bounty hunters refused to believe her. They forcibly abducted her, insisting on taking her back to the capital to claim the reward.

"But my family is in Yuyang," the woman sobbed, burying her head in her knees.

While inwardly cursing Wei Mingjin for his wrongdoing, Xin He also developed a deep hatred for these money-grubbing bounty hunters.

These bounty hunters clearly had a "rather kill by mistake than let go" mentality. As long as someone looked somewhat like the portrait, they intended to take them back to claim the reward.

Previously, even when her disguise was seen through, Xin He had stubbornly insisted that the person in the portrait wasn’t her.

But now, if she didn’t admit it, this innocent woman would suffer and be taken far from home because of her. Xin He couldn’t bear the guilt. After a brief hesitation, she called the bounty hunters and admitted that she was the person they were looking for, asking them to release the poor woman.

The bounty hunters were only in it for the money. Since they had found the right person, they had no desire to bring along an extra burden and readily agreed.

They made a deal with Xin He to release the woman once the ship docked the next day.

But that night, something unexpected happened—they encountered water bandits.

As soon as the bandits boarded the ship, they began killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Xin He managed to escape by hiding in the water.

After the bandits left, Xin He climbed back onto the ship and found that everyone on board had been slaughtered. The two bounty hunters who had come to capture her were dead, and the woman who bore a sixty percent resemblance to her lay in a pool of blood.

The woman’s eyes were wide open, fear still lingering in them.

She had been so close to going home, but now she would never return.

Xin He stepped forward and gently closed the woman’s eyelids.

The bandits had set the ship on fire before leaving, so it wasn’t safe to stay for long. Xin He stood up, intending to leave, but her steps suddenly halted when she saw the two dead bounty hunters not far away.

Wei Mingjin had posted a bounty for her on the black market in the capital. As long as she remained unfound, bounty hunters would keep coming for her.

Wei Mingjin had no shortage of money. He could use his wealth to hunt her down, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, there would always be bounty hunters to capture her and bring her back.

But if she were dead, these people would surely stop.

Xin He’s gaze fell on the woman who resembled her in both face and figure. After a moment’s pause, she turned back, knelt before the woman, and whispered, "I’m sorry." Then, she removed the twisted silver bracelet she always wore on her wrist and with trembling hands placed it on the woman’s left wrist.

After doing this, Xin He kowtowed three times to the woman before jumping into the water and swimming away just as the ship began to break apart.

Xin He spent several hours in the water. After reaching shore, she didn’t dare stop, continuing to walk without rest.

She walked and walked until her wet clothes dried and she broke into a sweat. When her head grew dizzy and her legs weakened, she realized she had caught a cold.

As a child, she often went into the mountains with her grandfather to gather herbs, so she knew some basic medicine. She went to find herbs to treat her cold, but while picking a perilla plant, she lost her footing and fell down a slope.

When Xin He woke up again, she was here, and the wound on her left leg had already been bandaged.

"Woof, woof, woof…" A dog’s barking suddenly came from outside the door.

Shortly after, a man’s voice scolded lowly, "Da Huang, quiet. A-He isn’t awake yet."

Hurried footsteps could also be faintly heard outside, accompanied by an urgent voice: "A-Xu, my wife took a fall and is complaining of stomach pain. Please come take a look."

Hearing the commotion, Xin He quickly put on her clothes and got out of bed. By the time she limped to the door and opened it, she just saw Bai Xu heading off with someone.

Bai Xu was the only barefoot doctor in this small village.

That day, after Xin He fainted by the roadside, she happened to be found by Bai Xu, who was returning from gathering herbs in the mountains. He brought her back to his home.

Since then, Xin He had been recuperating at Bai Xu’s home.

Bai Xu’s home had only three earthen rooms: one main room, one consultation room combined with a pharmacy, and another that was Bai Xu’s bedroom.

After bringing Xin He back, Bai Xu gave his bedroom to her and now slept in the consultation room at night.

Da Huang, who had been chased off earlier, saw that Xin He was up and immediately turned back, running up to her and wagging its tail incessantly.

Xin He patted its head, used tooth powder to brush her teeth, then scooped water from the water vat to wash her face.

It was already mid-March, and even the mornings weren’t very cold anymore.

After washing her face with cold water, Xin He picked up a broom and swept both the inside and outside of the house clean. Then, limping, she carried the medicinal herbs that Bai Xu had earlier moved outside but hadn’t yet had time to place on the drying racks, one by one, onto the racks.

By the time she finished all this, a fine layer of sweat had formed on her forehead.

Standing under the eaves, she looked at the rows of herbs spread out to dry in the yard and felt a great sense of accomplishment.

The sun had slowly risen by now. After sitting under the eaves to drink some water and rest for a while, Xin He, with practiced ease, made her way into the kitchen.

Although she had never cooked during her three years in the Wei household, she had cooked for a full decade in Xin Youzhi’s home, so cooking was a piece of cake for her.

Xin He lifted the lid of the pot, skillfully scooped water into it, then added diced sweet potatoes and millet.

While the porridge was cooking, she briskly prepared the vegetables.

Bai Xu didn’t grow vegetables, but the villagers would often bring him some. Xin He rummaged through the basket and found a handful of fresh shepherd’s purse and some fern fronds.

She blanched the shepherd’s purse, sprinkled it with chopped chili, drizzled it with a bit of hot oil and vinegar—it would be delicious. As for the fern fronds, she stir-fried them with cured meat.

At the beginning of the si hour (around 9 a.m.), when Bai Xu pushed open the courtyard gate with his medical kit on his back, he was stunned by the scene before him.

Sunlight shone brilliantly, the small yard was swept spotlessly clean, and Da Huang and Xiao Bai (the little white dog) were sleeping under the eaves. The medicinal herbs he hadn’t had time to put on the drying racks before leaving in a hurry were now neatly laid out. Smoke curled up from the kitchen chimney, and the aroma of food wafted out.

For a moment, Bai Xu felt as if he were dreaming.

Since his mother had passed away, the yard had always felt cold and empty whenever he returned.

This was the first time since his mother’s death that the yard felt alive with human presence.

As if hearing the noise, a fair, makeup-free but still strikingly beautiful face peeked out from the small kitchen window: "Doctor Bai, you’re back just in time for a meal."

Bai Xu snapped out of his daze, setting down his medical kit as he hurriedly said, "Your injury hasn’t healed yet; you shouldn’t be moving around so much."

As he spoke, he quickly walked toward the kitchen.

"It’s mostly better now. If I lie around any longer, I’ll grow mold," Xin He said with a laugh. Just as she was about to hand a bowl to Bai Xu, she noticed the fish in his hand.

Xin He asked, "Is it still alive? If it is, I’ll find a basin to keep it in for now."

"It’s alive, I’ll do it." Bai Xu found a wooden basin, scooped some water into it, and placed the fish inside.

The listless fish immediately began swimming in the water.

"This was from Auntie San. I’ll make soup with it for you later," Bai Xu said, scratching his head somewhat sheepishly. "You’re a patient, and yet I’ve let you do the cooking. I’m really sorry."

"If anyone should be sorry, it’s me. You saved me, and not only have I not paid you for the treatment, but I’m also living here for free."

Xin He had lost the last of her money after abandoning the ship and jumping into the water. Now, she was penniless—aside from the dagger Wei Mingxuan had given her, she had nothing.

Even the dress she was wearing now was an old one of Bai Xu’s mother’s.

"I’m a doctor. Healing people is my duty. Besides, since you’ve been here, you’ve been helping me tidy the yard and dry herbs despite being unwell. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize."

Though Bai Xu was ordinary-looking, perhaps because of his medical compassion, he had a unique gentleness about him.

His kindness was different from Wei Mingjin’s.

Wei Mingjin’s was feigned, but Bai Xu’s was innate.

Since Xin He had arrived, there were always people coming to Bai Xu’s small yard every day.

Some came to see him for treatment, others to ask him to come see patients. But few paid with money; most offered grain or meat instead.

Bai Xu didn’t mind. He cheerfully accepted whatever they gave, though he still had to rely on selling herbs to make ends meet.

As a result, Bai Xu’s yard was visibly poor, but he still treated every patient who came to him with genuine care.

He was a kind-hearted person.

Xin He knew that arguing over who should apologize would get them nowhere. So she picked up the porridge pot and joked lightly, "I’m hungry, Doctor Bai. How about we call a truce for now and continue discussing who should apologize after we’ve eaten?"

Bai Xu laughed at that and quickly took the porridge pot from her hands. "Let me do it."

After his mother’s passing, Bai Xu had mostly eaten alone. Now, with Xin He here, he found meals much more enjoyable.

Once the dishes were on the table, Xin He quietly explained, "I saw a piece of cured meat in the kitchen and thought that since the weather’s getting warmer, it might not keep well, so I went ahead and stir-fried it."

Since she’d arrived, she hadn’t seen Bai Xu cook meat himself.

But earlier, a villager had given him some cooked meat, which Xin He had seen him eat, so today she took the liberty of stir-frying the cured meat with the fern fronds.

"Look at me, I’d forgotten all about that cured meat!" Bai Xu hurriedly explained. "I didn’t mean to have you eat porridge and pickles every day. It’s just that I’m not much of a cook—I can only make simple dishes. Something like stir-fried meat is beyond me."

Xin He had guessed as much. Hearing him say so put her mind at ease.

After they finished eating breakfast together, Xin He asked, "Did you like the meal I made today, Doctor Bai?"

"Very much," Bai Xu said, not daring to tell her he’d eaten until he was stuffed.

Xin He then tried to negotiate with him: "In that case, could I pay for my treatment by cooking and doing laundry from now on?"

"Of course," Bai Xu blurted out.

Xin He’s cooking was too delicious—he hadn’t eaten such good food in a long time. But then he quickly added, "But how can I let you do that? Miss A He, your injury..."

Xin He cut him off: "It’s just a minor sprain, and it’s mostly better now. I have no money to pay you for the treatment, and I’m already living here for free. If I don’t do what I can to repay you, I won’t feel right about it."

After saying this, she looked at Bai Xu pleadingly.

Bai Xu couldn’t refuse her beseeching gaze, nor could he resist her cooking. He reluctantly agreed, "Alright then. But just two meals a day is enough—no need to do my laundry. You can use any vegetables, fruits, or meat in the kitchen."

After a pause, he added, "I’m not picky, Miss A He. Make whatever you like to eat; I’ll eat anything."

"Okay," Xin He said with a smile. Then she added, "Doctor Bai, you can just call me A He."

Every time Bai Xu called her "Miss A He," it felt awkward and reminded her of how Ming Xia and others in the capital used to call her "Miss Xin."

She wasn’t Miss Xin, nor was she Yiniang Xin. She was Xin He.

"Alright, A He," Bai Xu readily agreed, then said to her, "Then you don’t need to call me Doctor Bai either. Everyone in the village calls me Bai Xu."

But since Xin He was a young woman, Bai Xu worried that calling him "A Xu" might embarrass her, so he held back.

Xin He also changed how she addressed him: "Bai Xu."

Then the two exchanged a smile.

Afterward, Xin He got up to clear the table, but Bai Xu just beat her to it.

“Since you cooked, I should wash the dishes. Just sit and relax,” he said, then hurried away with the bowls and chopsticks.

Xin He shook her head, smiling, and sat back down.

The spring sunlight was radiant, and the distant mountains were gradually turning lush green.

Xiao Bai and Da Huang were napping on the porch. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the scent of fresh earth from where new swallows were building nests under the eaves.

Xin He sat in the shade beneath the corridor, closing her eyes and tilting her head back. The spring breeze brushed softly against her cheeks, and she felt completely at ease.

In the kitchen, Bai Xu, who was washing the dishes, stole a quiet glance in her direction.

Seeing this scene, his dishwashing movements seemed to lighten, becoming almost cheerful.