Chapter 33

Chapter 33

"Lie down right now!"

The moment Lu Yuan's sharp tone cut through the air, both of them froze.

Lu Yuan lightly smacked her own lips—why couldn’t she shake off this professional habit?

For some reason, Qi Cheng found himself inexplicably complying, lying down obediently.

Seeing his compliance, Lu Yuan no longer dwelled on her professional instincts. Instead, she instructed him, "Close your eyes, and don’t let your mind wander."

Qi Cheng closed his eyes. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice heavy: "During those months when I was unconscious, for me—who was intermittently lucid—each day dragged on like a year. At first, I yearned to wake up, but as time passed, every day I wondered, *why wasn’t I dead yet?*"

"That period was a persistent nightmare for me. From last night until today, whenever my consciousness drifted, I would jolt awake."

Lu Yuan’s brows furrowed deeply.

His mental distress was a serious issue. If it couldn’t be alleviated, and he continued to stay awake night after night, not only his eyes but his entire body would collapse.

In this era, where could she find sleeping pills for him?

Lu Yuan considered visiting the clinic again tomorrow when she set up her stall, to ask Doctor Wu for some sleep-inducing medicine.

Lu Yuan said, "Even if you can’t sleep, you must keep your eyes closed. If it’s truly impossible, try counting sheep."

"Counting sheep?" Qi Cheng was puzzled.

Lu Yuan replied, "Counting sheep, cows, or chickens—anything. Just count in your mind, and you won’t have the mental space to think about other things. Give it a try."

Though skeptical, Qi Cheng slowly began to mentally tally: which family in the village owned a dog, how many chickens each family had, and the total number of dogs and chickens.

As he counted, he indeed began to relax.

Noticing his body was less tense, Lu Yuan yawned and curled up by the bedside, falling asleep.

Qi Cheng seemed to drift in and out of sleep.

When he awoke, he heard a very soft breathing nearby.

He called out softly, "Su Shi?"

After calling her by that name, he felt it was inappropriate and corrected himself, "Li Niang?"

Hearing someone speak, Lu Yuan mumbled, thinking it wasn’t meant for her, so she ignored it and continued sleeping.

Receiving no response, Qi Cheng sat up and slowly moved closer toward the faint breathing, stopping just short of reaching her.

He felt the edge of the bed and guessed that she had slept by the bedside to avoid disturbing him.

Qi Cheng then moved back to his original position to avoid waking her and did not get off the bed.

Perhaps because he had dozed off briefly, his fatigue seemed slightly alleviated.

Lu Yuan didn’t know how long she had slept, but when she woke, her neck and shoulders were sore.

She stretched her arms, twisted her neck, and after easing the stiffness a bit, she looked toward Qi Cheng, who was already sitting up with his eyes open.

"Did you fall asleep?"

Qi Cheng replied, "I slept for a while."

Seeing she was awake, he groped his way off the bed.

Lu Yuan reached out and held his arm, saying, "Slowly now."

After putting on his shoes, Qi Cheng said, "Thank you."

Lu Yuan asked, "Are you hungry? If you are, ask Old Lady He to serve you some porridge. I need to go to the village head’s house to grind beans."

Qi Cheng asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

Lu Yuan looked him up and down and said, "You should focus on recovering first. After a month or so of rest, you might be able to help with some tasks."

With that, she let go of his arm and left the room.

Qi Cheng thought she had already left, but a moment later, she returned and handed him a bamboo cane.

"Your eyes aren’t working well. When you go out, use this cane to tap your way around so you don’t fall."

Qi Cheng thanked her again.

Lu Yuan said, "You’ll get the hang of it. I’m leaving."

Lu Yuan left the room, picked up the bucket and the tub of soybeans, and called out, "Chun Hua, come with me to the village head’s house."

After leading Chun Hua out the door, she asked, "Didn’t you say yesterday that you wanted to sleep with me? Why did you change your mind so suddenly?"

She wanted to hear the reason and see if Old Lady He had threatened them.

Chun Hua remained silent for a long while before saying, "I don’t want people spreading rumors about you, Mom."

Lu Yuan was taken aback. She stopped walking, set down her things, and crouched to meet Chun Hua at eye level. "Why do you say that?"

Chun Hua explained, "Great-grandmother said that you and Stepfather are married now. If you sleep separately, people outside will laugh at you, saying that Mom isn’t loved by her husband."

Lu Yuan asked, "Is that the only reason?"

Chun Hua shook her head and continued, "I think Great-grandmother wants you and Stepfather to share a room. Chun Hua doesn’t want to make Great-grandmother unhappy. If she’s unhappy, I’m afraid she might scold you like my grandma (her former mother-in-law) used to."

Lu Yuan thought carefully. In her memories, Li Niang’s former in-laws had bullied her for being an orphan with no family support. Everyone, from the old to the young, had bossed her around and insulted her.

Li Niang’s former mother-in-law was particularly cruel, scolding and pinching her at the slightest displeasure. No wonder Chun Hua was afraid.

Lu Yuan asked, "What do you think of this great-grandmother now?"

Chun Hua thought for a moment and said, "Great-grandmother looks fierce, but she’s never hit me or Qiu Hua. She even bought us candy."

Lu Yuan smiled and said, "Some people may look fierce but are actually kind, while others may seem nice, but we never know what bad intentions they hide. So, Chun Hua, you mustn’t trust people too easily in the future."

Chun Hua, being only five years old, didn’t quite understand the lesson and looked at her somewhat confused.

Lu Yuan ruffled her hair affectionately and said, "Just remember what I said. You’ll understand when you’re older."

Lu Yuan picked up the bucket and basin again and headed to the village head’s house with Chun Hua.

The village head’s wife was picking through beans and smiled when she saw the mother and daughter enter. "Chun Hua, here to help your mother grind beans again?"

Chun Hua nodded, standing politely, and greeted, "Greetings, Mrs. Village Head."

The village chief's wife was amused: "You, child, you always greet me so properly, such good manners."

Turning her gaze to Lu Yuan beside Chun Hua, the village chief's wife softened her smile and said, "My husband told me about your husband's situation. Just take things as they come—him being awake is what matters most. His eyes can be treated slowly."

Lu Yuan gave a faint smile and replied, "That's true. Now that he's awake, the elderly lady won’t have to cry every day."

She took her things to the mill.

The village chief's wife added, "Once your husband’s a bit better and is in better health, he can help you grind beans too."

Lu Yuan responded, "It’s not too hard. I can manage it on my own."

The real effort was carrying water back from the foot of the mountain.

If she wanted to grow her business, she really couldn’t do without able-bodied help.

Only after Lu Yuan left did Qi Cheng tapping the ground with his cane and step out of the house.

Old Lady He heard the noise, looked up, and saw her grandson coming out. She quickly put down her work and went to support him.

Qi Cheng said, "I’ve already got the layout down, Grandma. You can go back to your work."

Old Lady He replied, "It’s no trouble."

She helped her grandson to the table, then went into the kitchen to scoop two bowls of porridge—one placed in front of her grandson and a half-bowl on the other side.

She lifted Qiu Hua onto the stool: "Keep your stepdad company while he drinks his porridge."

Hearing the term "stepfather," Qi Cheng suddenly coughed twice, almost choking.

Old Lady He glanced at her grandson’s flushed face and said, "Grandma knows it must be weird for a young man like you to suddenly become a stepfather, but you’ll get used to it."

"After all, you’re awake thanks to Li Niang. She was married before and has two children—that’s something that can’t be changed. But since you’ve already married her, you shouldn’t make a big deal of it."

Qi Cheng caught his breath and replied, "I understand all that. I knew before we even married. Since I went through with the ceremony, I’ll accept all of her past."

Old Lady He nodded but added, "Also, about Li Niang’s appearance—she is a little dark and thin. Even after your eyes are healed, you can’t hold it against her."

Qi Cheng nodded: "Grandma, I understand."

As Old Lady He spoke with her grandson, she sighed: "Back then, all the girls who wanted to marry into our family were pretty and had nice figures. With such a contrast, it’s not just you—even I wasn’t sure at first. But there’s no other way. Grandma wants to keep the Qi family line going…"

"Grandma, let’s not bring up the past," Qi Cheng said, his ears reddened as he recalled the crazy thoughts he had during his coma.

Old Lady He didn’t notice her grandson’s reaction and continued, "Let’s not talk about that anymore. But it was my idea initially—I promised to take her and her two kids in, let her become your wife, and assured her that even after you woke up, she would still be part of the Qi family."

"Grandma has to keep her word, right?"

Qi Cheng replied, "Grandma, don’t worry. I know you’re afraid I might feel unbalanced or resentful. But I’ve already thought through everything you said while I was unconscious."

"Appearance is temporary. Whether beautiful or plain, compatibility is what matters."

Old Lady He immediately seized the point: "So you think Li Niang is compatible, don’t you?"

Qi Cheng paused for a moment, then nodded: "We get along pretty well."

Although Su-shi was plain-looking, she had a good nature, and spending time with her was quite enjoyable.

Hearing this, Old Lady He breathed a sigh of relief: "That’s good, that’s good. I was afraid I might have made a mistake matching you two and that you’d resent me for it!"

Qi Cheng smiled: "Grandma, you raised me for over ten years and stood by me even in my hardest times. How could I ever resent you?"

Old Lady He looked quite relieved and said, "The porridge is still warm. You should have it now."

Qiu Hua finished her porridge. Old Lady He lifted her down and handed her two greens, saying, "Go feed the chickens."

Qiu Hua took the vegetables and went to feed the chickens.

After some time, hearing her mother and sister’s voices, Qiu Hua stood up and ran toward the yard gate.

As soon as Lu Yuan entered the yard, she saw Qiu Hua running toward her. Afraid the child might fall, she quickly set her things down and picked her up.

But as she lifted the child, she noticed Qiu Hua staring intently at her face. After a long moment, Qiu Hua said, "Mom, you’re not ugly."

Old Lady He: "..."

Qi Cheng: "..."

Lu Yuan blinked and asked, "Who said Mom is ugly?"

Qiu Hua turned and pointed at Old Lady He, then at her stepfather, and repeated: "Mom, you’re not ugly."

Lu Yuan narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at Old Lady He and Qi Cheng. After a long pause, she said, "Were you talking behind my back about me being ugly?"

Old Lady He stammered and said, "Qiu Hua, is that what I said? I told your stepfather not to dislike your mother’s looks."

Lu Yuan: "..."

Old lady, listen to yourself—isn’t that just another way of saying I’m ugly?!

Qi Cheng turned in her direction and explained, "I don’t mean to dislike you. No matter what you look like, I won’t dislike you."

Lu Yuan thought to herself, You might as well not have said anything.