Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Mother Huo quickly nodded and said, "Alright, I know what I'm doing!"

Then she blinked rapidly several times, not wanting Gao Mingzhu to see her vulnerable side again. Noticing that Gao Mingzhu hadn't washed up yet, she urged her, "You haven't washed up yet, have you? Go wash up quickly!"

Gao Mingzhu had no choice but to glance back repeatedly as she left the kitchen.

She happened to run into Huo Huaichuan, who also hadn't washed up and had come out to check on things. She went over to push his wheelchair and said, "You haven't washed up either, have you? Mom said to go wash up first."

"Is Mom going to work?" Huo Huaichuan asked as she wheeled him back to the bedroom.

"Mm." Gao Mingzhu nodded. Looking down at his slightly darkened expression, she spoke up for Mother Huo, "Let her go if she wants to. She's used to being busy; if she stays idle, she'll overthink things. Don't stop her, and don't say anything to her. I think Mom is actually very clear-headed; she understands everything, she just needs some time to process it."

Huo Huaichuan looked up at her, and after a long moment, nodded. "Mm."

Seeing that he had agreed, Gao Mingzhu didn't say anything more. She entered the bathroom first and said, "I'll wash up first. Once I'm done, I'll go out and work with Mom. You can take your time!"

"...Okay." Huo Huaichuan nodded, watching as she quickly brushed her teeth, washed her face, changed clothes, and then hurried out.

After she left, he didn't rush into the bathroom to wash up either. Instead, he lowered his head and stared at his legs.

After a long while, he turned the wheelchair and entered the bathroom.

To accommodate the height of his wheelchair, Gao Mingzhu had custom-made several shelves. One was placed in the bathroom to hold items like towels, toothbrushes, and a mirror, making them easy for him to reach.

He picked up his toothbrush, dipped a cup of water from the bucket, and began brushing his teeth.

The water had also been fetched by Gao Mingzhu from outside. She had divided it into two buckets: one for washing up and brushing teeth, and the other for flushing the toilet.

Although the well was just outside the house, it wasn't easy to carry the water back. Since Huo Huaichuan couldn't manage it, Gao Mingzhu did it herself.

Once, trying to save time, Gao Mingzhu had carried a full bucket. She could manage it, but it took all her strength, and she staggered along the way, having to set it down and rest every few steps before picking it up again. He watched with furrowed brows.

After that, she noticed and started carrying half buckets instead...

Huo Huaichuan thought about these trivial matters as he brushed his teeth, then glanced at the mirror on the shelf.

In the mirror, he still looked thin, but his complexion was no longer as pale. His dark eyes, however, still lacked luster, as if covered in a layer of ash, showing little sign of vitality.

As if he could sink at any moment... No! How could he sink?

Whether it was his mother or Mingzhu, they both needed him. How could he hide behind them, letting them face the storm alone?

He stared at himself in the mirror, his gaze gradually sharpening, slowly becoming resolute...

He looked down at his legs again. In the past few days—especially after Mingzhu encouraged him, saying he could stand up again—he had clearly felt his condition improving...

Maybe Mingzhu's intuition was right. Perhaps he really could stand up again?

A glimmer of hope rose in Huo Huaichuan's eyes.

As he brushed his teeth, he tried to muster all his willpower to mobilize the strength in his legs...

Slowly, he stopped brushing his teeth entirely, focusing all his attention on his legs. He clenched his jaw, veins bulging on his forehead and the backs of his hands...

He didn't know how long it had been. Just as he was about to give up and rest, some nerve seemed to be triggered, and a sharp pain shot through his leg. The pain made him hiss involuntarily, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead...

His face twisted in pain, but a surge of intense excitement rushed through him, and the corners of his mouth uncontrollably lifted...

...Mother Huo and Gao Mingzhu were still unaware of all this.

Gao Mingzhu came out and saw Mother Huo preparing pickled vegetables. She said, "Mom, eating just pickled vegetables isn't very nutritious. How about frying a few eggs?"

"You want some?" Mother Huo asked.

Back in the old house, having white rice porridge for breakfast was considered a treat. Today, she had even added extra rice, mainly because she knew Mingzhu and Huaichuan didn't skimp on food, so she wanted to give them something good.

But since Gao Mingzhu had asked, she immediately replied, "Alright, I'll fry some for you!"

Gao Mingzhu nodded and was about to go feed the chickens when she turned and saw that Mother Huo had only taken out two eggs. She quickly added, "Mom, I meant one for each of us. You need to eat one too."

Mother Huo was taken aback and quickly waved her hand. "I don't need one. I had three steamed eggs last night. Eating more would be bad for my health!"

"It would be bad for your health if you don't eat!" Gao Mingzhu understood her thoughts well and insisted, "You're going to work today, and it's going to be tough. You need to replenish your strength. Besides, we brought back so many eggs from the old house last night; it won't hurt to have one. In our family, whether it's the old or the sick, everyone has to eat well. Unless it's a special situation, no one should go without."

Mother Huo was moved again. In the old house, good food always went to the men and children first, while women were always the last to be considered.

Of course, Gao Mingzhu was an exception. She had previously contributed to the household expenses, so no one dared to shortchange her.

But Mother Huo still muttered softly, "Isn't this... a bit too wasteful?"

"What's wasteful about it? Eggs are meant to be eaten." Seeing her reluctance, Gao Mingzhu took another egg herself. "Fry three. One for each of us."

"Oh, alright!" Mother Huo finally stopped refusing. Smiling, she took the three eggs and skillfully started frying them.

Gao Mingzhu turned to mix the chicken feed, blending leftover rice with rice bran. While Mother Huo wasn't looking, she added a few drops of spiritual spring water and carried it to the chicken coop.

The two chickens Mother Huo had brought back from the old house yesterday were now kept together with her original two. They were a bit thin, but both were hens.

Gao Mingzhu looked at them, as if already seeing a pile of eggs, and felt delighted.

When Mother Huo called her after frying the eggs, Gao Mingzhu answered loudly, "Coming!"

She helped Mother Huo bring the breakfast to the main room, then went to call Huo Huaichuan.

Soon, Huo Huaichuan came out looking damp. Droplets of water clung to his face and the tips of his hair, and the exposed skin on his body was sweaty. His cheeks were slightly flushed, as if he had just finished some exercise. He seemed in good spirits, with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Gao Mingzhu was stunned and asked in surprise, "You look like you've been out exercising or something?"

Hearing this, Mother Huo also looked up. She had been too focused on her own thoughts to notice Huo Huaichuan's expression, and now she asked worriedly, "Yes, Huaichuan, why are you sweating so much? Are you feeling unwell again?"

"No." Huo Huaichuan shook his head but didn't explain. He wanted to try again in the next couple of days and only tell them once he was sure. So he simply said vaguely, "I just took a bit longer washing up. It was too hot in there!"

Of course, Gao Mingzhu didn't believe him. She frowned and stared at him, then suddenly thought of something.

Early in the morning, men were most prone to... that sort of thing. Could he have taken care of himself in the bathroom just now?

At the thought, her face instantly turned red.

Mother Huo, having just felt relieved after seeing that Huo Huaichuan didn't look uncomfortable, turned and saw Gao Mingzhu's flushed face. "Mingzhu, what's wrong? Why is your face so red?"

Huo Huaichuan also glanced at her. Seeing her evasive expression, he guessed she had misunderstood and felt a bit uncomfortable himself.

Embarrassed to explain why she was blushing, Gao Mingzhu pulled out a chair to cover it up. "It's nothing, nothing. Mom, come sit down and eat."

"...Alright." Mother Huo sat down, puzzled.

Gao Mingzhu first served the porridge. Mother Huo had cooked sweet potato porridge, but it had more rice and fewer sweet potatoes.

Seeing that Mother Huo had already taken a bowl for herself, she handed the bowl she was holding to the nearby Huo Huaichuan, who had limited mobility, and only then served herself.

She took a sip of the porridge and was about to pick up a fried egg to eat when she noticed Huo Huaichuan pause after taking a spoonful of the porridge.

She suddenly realized—

This morning's porridge was cooked by Mother Huo, did not contain the spiritual spring water, so it tasted different from the spiritual spring porridge she usually made!

Had Huaichuan noticed something was different?

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