Chapter 33 An Ominous Gift

Chapter 33: An Ominous Gift

As the year drew to a close, several heavy snowfalls had draped Yongning City in a blanket of white. The weather grew even colder. Wu Qiu stood at the doorway, breathing out a puff of air and watching a wisp of white mist drift away and vanish. Winter dawns came late; the sky wasn't fully light yet, and the mist was gone in an instant. He hadn't been standing outside long. Though he wore a lambskin-lined jacket, boots, a cloak, a fur-lined hat, and held a hand warmer, the tip of his nose and his cheeks were still reddened from the cold.

Lei Ding was sweeping snow in the courtyard, glancing back at Wu Qiu every few strokes. Ever observant, he noticed Wu Qiu covering his face with his hands. Quickly propping the broom against the wall, he hurried over, touched Wu Qiu's face, and supported him. "Your face is ice-cold. It's bitterly cold out here. Go inside and sit for a while. I'll come get you later, and we'll go to the front for the morning meal."

Wu Qiu's belly had grown quickly. Now over five months along, it had a noticeably rounded swell. The snowy paths were slippery, and Lei Ding was extremely protective of him. Wu Qiu hardly ever walked outside alone anymore; someone was always there to support him.

He shook his head with a smile. "I don't feel cold, really. It's fine. Go on sweeping, Brother. I want to watch you."

Old habits died hard. Even after marriage, he still preferred calling Lei Ding "Brother." Only in front of others or when being coquettish did he remember to use "husband." Lei Ding liked it this way and indulged him.

Hearing this, Lei Ding couldn't bring himself to refuse. He went inside to add two more pieces of charcoal to Wu Qiu's hand warmer, then brought out a lightweight bamboo chair from the outer room, placing it in a sheltered spot for Wu Qiu to sit. Picking up the broom again, he meticulously cleared the accumulated snow from the courtyard. The wind blew, shaking snow from the roof onto Lei Ding's clothes and hair. Wu Qiu leaned back in the chair, propping his chin on one hand, quietly watching him.

He used to fear winter. Charcoal was expensive, firewood hard to come by, and the prices of rice, flour, and vegetables all rose. The money he and his mother—or later, with Yang Shu—earned from odd jobs was barely enough to scrape by, insufficient for warm clothes and full bellies, let alone to ward off the bitter cold. For years, they couldn't afford new cotton-padded clothes or quilts. Wu Qiu loved the scenery of snowfall, loved seeing the land turn into patches of white, like plump, white rice cakes. Yet he also dreaded snow, because the days after a snowfall were always bitterly cold, so cold it terrified him.

But now, everything was different.

Wu Qiu lowered his head and touched his belly. The baby could move now, nudging gently against his palm as if pushing him lightly, making him chuckle. His child would never have to endure those hardships. For the child, winter would be a time for playing in the snow and celebrating the New Year—a season of unique delights. Snow would be a breathtakingly beautiful scene, nothing to fear anymore.

Lei Ding swept the snow into a corner, testing the ground with his foot to ensure it wasn't slippery before feeling somewhat reassured. He put the broom away in an empty side room and returned to take Wu Qiu for breakfast. Wu Qiu reached out, asking to be carried. Lei Ding bent down, gently wrapping his arms around Wu Qiu's upper body and lifting him up from the chair, helping him stand steady. Wu Qiu took one of Lei Ding's hands, then pressed his own hand warmer into it, brushing the snow off Lei Ding's clothes. "Hold this for a while to warm your hands."

Lei Ding smiled and declined, urging Wu Qiu to keep the hand warmer. He carried the chair back inside, then came out to support Wu Qiu. As they walked toward the front, he asked, "What were you grinning to yourself about just now?"

Wu Qiu hadn't realized he'd been seen and felt a little embarrassed, whispering, "The baby just moved. I was playing with him."

Lei Ding drew him closer, recalling the scene moments before—Wu Qiu sitting under the eaves, the candlelight from inside just illuminating him as he lowered his head to stroke his belly, a gentle smile on his face. He couldn't help but smile too. "By this time next year, there'll be a little one frolicking in this snow. Thinking of it that way is truly something to look forward to. Did he hurt you just now?"

Wu Qiu shook his head. "The baby's still small, not strong enough for that. It just felt like someone giving a gentle push from the other side of my belly. It's nothing."

As they talked, they reached the kitchen. Lei Xun, Cui Nanshan, Yang Shu, and Madam Liu were already there. Lei Ding and Wu Qiu greeted the elders one by one. Cui Nanshan and Yang Shu were busy asking after Wu Qiu's health and checking his pulse. Lei Ding also followed up on their earlier conversation, asking Cui Nanshan for more details before finally feeling at ease.

Cui Nanshan reminded them, "Don't think it's a small matter. Being careful never hurts. Always keep your wits about you. Even when Xiao Qiu goes to the front, Ting Er, you must stay vigilant. With many people around, it's easy for trouble to occur. Don't let anyone take advantage of Xiao Qiu."

Lei Ding agreed, and everyone ate. Lei Tan had caught a slight chill the past couple of days and was resting in his room. Only Lei Li came to eat with the group, then packed a meal for Lei Tan in a food box to take back. Lei Xun and Cui Nanshan went with him to check on the child. Lei Ding first took Wu Qiu to the front hall, lit the stove, placed a soft cushion on Wu Qiu's chair, tucked a soft pillow behind his back for lumbar support, and lit the small foot warmer beneath his feet.

By the time everything was ready, the sky had brightened. Lei Ding opened the main door wide and lowered the wind-blocking cotton curtain. Wu Qiu, as usual, took up his needlework to sew a few small garments for the baby. But after barely two stitches, he yawned widely.

Lei Ding sat down beside him and kissed his cheek. "Qiu Er should sleep a bit longer tomorrow before getting up. If you want to come to the front, I can fetch you a little later."

Wu Qiu laughed at himself. "After just two stitches, I already want to slack off. I was full of energy this morning, but after eating and with the room so warm, I'm getting drowsy. I might go lean against the desk in the study later. Oh, look, a patient is here. You go attend to them first. I'll sit here a while longer."

The visitor was a middle-aged man, a regular at the clinic. He suffered from a chronic cough and often came for treatment. He lived in Dayou Village, always seeing Lei Ding when he came to the city, then going to sell his vegetables, returning to the clinic on his way back to the village to get his prescription and medicine. Today was no different. After Lei Ding checked his pulse, the man left directly. Lei Ding wrote out the prescription for him and, seeing no other patients, went to the back to prepare his medicine.

No sooner had Lei Ding left than an elderly woman entered. Wu Qiu quickly rose, intending to call Lei Ding back, but the woman smiled and said, "Please sit, young man. I'm in no hurry. I can wait a while."

Patients were few in the early morning. Lei Xun and Cui Nanshan were likely having breakfast with Lei Tan and would come later. Wu Qiu, with his condition, supported himself on the table as he stood and gestured to a seat for the woman. "Please have a seat, Granny. The physician will be back soon."

The woman was very polite, not rushing to urge. She struck up a casual conversation with Wu Qiu. After a few pleasantries, she took a small garment from the bamboo basket she carried—it also looked like something for a very young infant—and said to Wu Qiu with a smile, "I originally made this to sell at the market. Seeing you are with child, Sir, I'd like to give it to you as a token of thanks for your clinic treating these old bones. Keep it for your child."

Without waiting for Wu Qiu to stand, she brought the little garment over herself, even holding it up against Wu Qiu's belly. "This old woman has no great skill, but there's one thing: I'm seventy years old this year. Consider it a wish for the child to live to a hundred."

There was a village saying that clothes made by an elderly person of great age could allow a child to share in their good fortune, ensuring health and longevity.

Wu Qiu felt too embarrassed to accept. "Treating illnesses and saving people is our duty at the clinic. There's no need for such courtesy, Granny. Since this garment was meant for sale, when my husband returns, we will certainly pay you for it."

The old woman repeatedly urged him not to stand on ceremony and handed the little garment over, seemingly about to press it into Wu Qiu's hands. But Wu Qiu stayed alert, taking a closer look. He noticed some yellowish stains on the garment. It didn't look new; it seemed like it had been worn before.

Instantly suspicious, he dared not take it. Protecting his belly with his hands, he stood up and backed away.

Seeing his refusal, the old woman hurried forward, trying to force it into his hands. Wu Qiu, afraid to struggle with her, turned his body sideways, using his shoulder and back to block her hand. He was about to call out when Lei Ding, having heard the commotion from the front, rushed in within a few strides. He pulled Wu Qiu behind him and shouted, "What are you doing!"

Seeing him emerge so quickly, the old woman didn't dare advance further. She retreated a few steps, disgruntled, and defended herself, "I wanted to give this young man a garment I made. He doesn't appreciate my kindness."

Lei Ding ignored her, turning to hold Wu Qiu. "It's alright now. Did she touch you? You must be frightened. Don't be afraid."

Wu Qiu wasn't hurt. Frowning, he glanced at the little garment thrown on the table. "I'm fine, she didn't touch me. But, Brother, that clothing..."

Lei Ding quickly checked Wu Qiu over, seeing he was unharmed, and felt slightly relieved. He shook his head. "Leave it to me. You sit back down for now. I'll take you to the back to rest in a moment."

As if not seeing the garment, he helped Wu Qiu back to his seat and sat down himself, asking the old woman, "What seems to be the trouble? Where are you feeling unwell?"

Wu Qiu watched as Lei Ding proceeded to examine the woman, taking her pulse and writing a prescription as usual. Though puzzled, with Lei Ding there, he felt nothing would go wrong. His heart settled, fear subsiding. He ignored the woman and lowered his head to continue his needlework.

After Lei Ding finished examining the woman, she left without taking the garment. The little piece of clothing remained on the corner of the table, exactly as it had been discarded.

Soon after, Lei Li arrived from the back ahead of Lei Xun and his husband, ready to help Lei Ding. Lei Ding pulled him aside and whispered a few instructions. Lei Li then followed the woman out the door. Only then did Wu Qiu set down his work and ask Lei Ding, "What's going on?"

Lei Ding glanced at the garment on the table and gave a cold laugh. "Such tricks, and they dare use them right at the clinic's doorstep. If we weren't trying to avoid alerting them, how could we let her leave just like that? Qiu Er was very clever not to accept it."

Wu Qiu leaned into his embrace, taking one of Lei Ding's hands and placing it on his own belly. Only then did he feel truly at ease. Recalling the earlier situation, he recounted it to Lei Ding in detail. "As soon as she came in, she said she made clothes to sell at the market. Seeing I was pregnant, she wanted to give one to the baby. I was about to accept, but then I suddenly noticed the garment didn't look new—it seemed like worn, old clothing. So I didn't dare take it and wanted to go find you. But she kept trying to push it into my hands, insisting I take it. Brother, what on earth is this about?"

Lei Ding worried that telling the truth would frighten Wu Qiu, but not telling him might leave him unprepared if something similar happened again. He weighed his words and explained, "Qiu Er, you may not know, but some people have truly wicked hearts. If a child in their family falls gravely ill and cannot be cured, there's a superstition: take an old garment of that sick child and give it to a pregnant person, to transfer the sickness to them. Then their own child's illness will get better."

Wu Qiu's eyes widened. "Then... then just now, I almost... I almost..."

Almost let someone harm the child in his belly!

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