A pot of steamed buns and a pot of dumplings—Bahu and Mi Niang ate this for three days. On the third day, during the break, Bahu, as if rewarding a hardworking student, fried two plates of beefsteak with butter, mixed some scallions and tofu, prepared a bucket of butter tea and filled Mi Niang’s stomach.
“If it doesn’t snow on the next day off, let’s go to County Magistrate Hu to see the doctor,” Mi Niang said.
The road was not easy to traverse. In places where there were many people, ox carts could still be used, but outside of that area, with no one around, they could only ride horses. If the wheels of the cart got stuck in the snow, they had to be lifted out. Bahu thought about what County Magistrate Hu said about teaching the people in the relief center to identify herbs. They would probably invite a doctor when the time came. If there was no doctor, they could consider going to County Magistrate Hu.
“Wait a few more days. Didn’t Doctor Zhao say he would come to check my pulse in about half a month? It’s only been eleven or twelve days. Let’s go in two more days during the break.”
“That works too,” Mi Niang said, patting her belly. “Actually, not going to see the doctor is fine. I feel like I’m pregnant.”
Bahu smiled but didn’t respond. The child in Mi Niang’s belly was her biggest concern. Not going to see the doctor might be because she was worried about the troublesome journey in this weather.
“I’ll go ask County Magistrate Hu and see if there are any official caravans heading west in recent days. If there are, we can join them,” Bahu
“Ah—” Bala howled and glanced back, swaying his tail as he followed his owner.
“You’re in trouble. You might get eliminated,” Bahu chatted cheerfully with Bala until they were close to the yamen. He stopped talking when he saw a horse-drawn carriage, driven by two horses side by side, parked outside.
“Brother Shen, I’ve been looking forward to your arrival. Was the journey okay?” County Magistrate Hu heard the news and quickly walked out of the yamen.
“It was not an easy journey, but I finally arrived safely.” The man stepped out of the carriage, laughing heartily. “It’s been a few years. You haven’t aged a bit.”
“I’ve grown old; I even have gray hair now. Come inside, it’s cold outside…” County Magistrate Hu glanced around and saw someone running in the snow, wrapped up tightly. He couldn’t recognize the person, but he recognized the dog beside him.
“Hmm? Do you know that person?”
“A student and his dog.” County Magistrate Hu shook his head, not saying much.
Bahu stopped his feet only when he couldn’t see the yamen anymore. He bent over, panting heavily. Why did Dr. Gu, who usually worked in Gu Village, come all the way here? The two places were far apart, and he had expected not to encounter acquaintances when he went so far for his “studies.”
Bahu didn’t want to go to County Magistrate Hu for books anymore. He had to avoid that direction. What if he encountered that doctor? The whole town knew that he was ignorant of certain matters, and he couldn’t find the entrance to the alley…
However, he was still uneasy. After sending Bala away, he took a detour and happened to see the yamen’s servants driving the carriage to County Magistrate Hu’s house. It seemed they didn’t intend to leave.
Mi Niang rushed to ask how it went when she saw Bahu return.
“Haven’t seen anyone. They have guests at their house.” Bahu looked somewhat uncomfortable. “I’ll go check again tomorrow.”
The next day, after sending Mi Niang, Bahu turned the cart around, thinking of going to the yamen again. However, he saw County Magistrate Hu walking over with the doctor, and frighteningly, they pointed in his direction!
Bahu looked like he was being chased by a wolf. He rushed into the carriage without closing the door properly. His knees knocked against the cart, and the pain made him hug his legs and gasp for air.
A couple of knocks on the carriage door, and County Magistrate Hu stood outside, shouting, “Bahu, what are you up to?”
Bahu didn’t dare to speak. He touched his face, covered his mouth with his sleeve, and mumbled, “Master, do you need something?”
“Do you have a problem, or do I have one?” County Magistrate Hu opened the carriage door without much patience, seeing Bahu, a grown man, crouching like a young wife, holding his face. He scolded in disdain, “Have you gone crazy? Come out and talk normally.”
Seeing only County Magistrate Hu outside, Bahu gathered his courage, bent his knees, and moved out to sit on the cart shaft. “Master, are you looking for me?”
“Did you just hide in the cart like you’ve seen a ghost? Also, what were you doing outside the yamen yesterday afternoon with a dog?”
“I was walking the dog yesterday, and just now… just now, the snow blinded my eyes.” Bahu kept scanning the situation at the relief station, cautiously inquiring, “Master, were you with a doctor who came to give a lecture?”
He had to ask. County Magistrate Hu squinted at him. “Who told you he’s a doctor?”
“Uh, I guessed. Yesterday, Mi Niang said she would learn to recognize herbs today.” Confirming that the doctor was indeed invited, Bahu felt dejected. Ignoring County Magistrate Hu’s scrutinizing gaze, he bent over and moved out to sit on the cart shaft. “Master, did you find me for something?”
“Why did you hide in the cart just now, like you’ve seen a ghost? Also, what were you doing outside the yamen yesterday afternoon with a dog?
“Uh, I guessed. Yesterday, Mi Niang said she would learn to recognize herbs today.” Confirming that the doctor was indeed invited, Bahu felt dejected. Ignoring County Magistrate Hu’s scrutinizing
“What’s wrong with you? Got injured on your face, or are you sick and can’t face the wind?”
“Nothing.” Bahu noticed the doctor carrying a box coming out, immediately took the reins of the ox and walked back; he didn’t even bother sitting in the cart.
“Come on, what’s going on? You seem distracted.” Back home, facing his wife, Bahu had nothing to hide. “I saw the doctor I questioned in Yungu.”
“Today, we did indeed have a master with a dark face, and he taught us to identify the roots and leaves of herbs.” Honey spoke hesitantly. “Didn’t you say Yungu is far from here?”
“He knows County Magistrate Hu; he should be invited by him.” Bahu wiped his face, exchanged glances with his wife, and both burst into laughter, feeling embarrassed.
“From now on, when I go to pick you up, I’ll cover your face, so he won’t recognize you.” Bahu was grateful that his wife didn’t follow him.
There was no other way. The couple had to act like thieves, avoiding people when sending or picking someone up. Fortunately, it was winter, so covering their faces with cloth didn’t seem out of place.
During the day, Bahu avoided people, and at night, while sleeping in bed, he would be bombarded with questions from Huxian Cheng about the scent of the flowers she opened, whether the flowers of the Aconitum plant were poisonous, and which had stronger tannins, the rhizomes of the Polygonum orientale or the bark of the birch tree…
This time, Bahu was in a blind spot. He didn’t know what Polygonum orientale was, and he might have seen it or not. If it could replace birch bark, he wouldn’t have to worry about encountering snowstorms in the mountains.
However, the seeds of curiosity and wisdom had already been planted. Bahu couldn’t tear off his own face in front of his wife, so he could only pretend to be half-asleep.
“Eh? Are you sleeping already?” Huxian Cheng was still lively. She was planning to release bees next year, so she wanted to figure out which flowers were best, which were poisonous or had strange smells. If she could find a fragrant and medicinal flower, that would be even better.
Huxian Cheng pushed the man and whispered near his ear, “Don’t pretend to be asleep. It’s not even your bedtime yet.”
Bahu tightly closed his eyes, pretending to be in a daze. His mind was racing, thinking about the urgency of going to county Magistrate Hu. He needed to buy books for practicing calligraphy and medical books introducing herbs. He didn’t know if he could find what he needed.
“Uncle Chaolu, take someone with you to County Magistrate Hu tomorrow,” Bahu hastily arranged the trip to County Magistrate Hu, bringing two servants along. If the carriage got stuck in the snow, they could shovel it out and make it back by evening.
When Huxian Cheng returned, he told her about the trip to County Magistrate Hu. He kept talking to her about it, preventing her from asking about herbs. “Have a good night’s sleep tonight. It will be tiring sitting in the carriage tomorrow,” he advised her. As soon as she took out the written materials, Bahu saw them and confiscated them, pressing them under the pillow. This couldn’t go on forever. Too many lies created loopholes everywhere, and just plugging those holes made him anxious.
In the untouched areas, the snow was deep and loose. The cart’s wheels were completely obscured in the snow, but the situation was just manageable, albeit tiring for the oxen. Bahu went back to lead a bull and wrapped its four legs with soft cowhide.
“We’ve finally arrived.” Uncle Chaolu was exhausted and sweating. He didn’t dare to take off his hat and could only frown, saying, “Master, what important business brought you to County Magistrate Hu in this darn weather?”
“Very important,” Bahu replied. This trip turned out to be easier than he anticipated, especially once they entered the County Magistrate Hu road. All four of them sat in the cart, and Bahu drove the oxen towards the direction of the medical clinic.
“Congratulations, it’s a good pulse,” the doctor said.
Upon hearing these words, Uncle Zhaolu’s grievances disappeared immediately. It turned out that they were expecting a child, a reason indeed to make this trip.
“Congratulations, Master, on becoming a father.” Uncle Chaolu sincerely congratulated him.
Yes, becoming a father was indeed a strange expression.
After leaving the clinic, Bahu drove the cart to the bookstore again. He didn’t let Mi Niang get off the cart; instead, he went into the shop and bought two copybooks. When he inquired about medicinal books, he also got two. Before leaving, he secretly tucked two books into his clothes. He planned to study privately. If Mi Niang encountered anything she didn’t understand, he could still act as a knowledgeable teacher.
Seeing Bahu bringing in the items, Mi Niang took a look—a stack of slightly yellowed paper, two brushes, an inkstone, and two books…
“Did the Master get tired of it?” Mi Niang stuck her head out, glanced at him, and said, “I knew you were impatient with me. Wasn’t that pretending to sleep the night before yesterday?”
“Injustice…” Before he could say the word “injustice,” Bahu’s face suddenly turned cold. He took a big step and walked over, grabbing the hand of the woman who was still covering herself and limping. “Did you get beaten again?”
As soon as the woman saw it was Bahu, tears immediately streamed down. She clenched his wrist and said nothing, just crying silently.
Uncle Chaolu had just bought something for his daughter, and he stood across the street from the bookstore. What a joyful day, and the joy of having a new addition to the family was drowned in this burst of tears. He felt sorry for Bahu, and even a servant like him pitied him. What unfortunate parents he had encountered.
Bahu looked up at the sky, his teeth grinding audibly. He pried open the fingers that held his left hand, bent down, and stared at the woman, asking, “Mother, you tell me, you say it yourself, do you need me to support you and stand up for you?”
He promised Mi Niang to live a good life together and not let her child have a father who would be beaten and abused by his grandfather.
“I, I…” The woman quivered her lips and shook her head. “You live your life well. Don’t ruin your reputation for your mother.” She saw Mi Niang, turned her head, and wrapped her bruised face tightly with a headscarf.
“Go, if you don’t support her, she can only live in a bent-over manner.” Mi Niang walked over. She didn’t look directly at her mother-in-law’s face, giving her some dignity. “Your mother was beaten, and you are her son. You should go and stand up for her.”
The man’s Adam’s apple rolled heavily, he raised his head, blinked quickly, and forced out a smile uglier than crying. “Then I’ll go. You take her to the clinic.”
As Bahu left, Uncle Chaolu came over to take the ox cart. He didn’t say anything when he saw the woman. He pretended not to recognize her. The bookstore wasn’t far from the clinic. In a few sentences, they arrived. Mi Niang got off the cart first, and when her mother-in-law got off, she led her to the clinic.
“Tsk, it’s you again? Let me guess, beaten again? It serves you right. If you raise a dog and it ends up looking like this, it should run away, too.” Doctor Zhao, seeing the person who came, immediately put on a sarcastic expression. “More loyal than a dog, really suited for that old bastard.”
It was clear that the two knew each other. Mi Niang walked out awkwardly and greeted Uncle Chaolu with a forced smile.
“I thought you wouldn’t let Bahu deal with the troubles at his home.”
“If he can remain indifferent after seeing his mother beaten like this, then I would look down on him.” Mi Niang touched her belly, not letting Bahu vent this frustration. He had been holding it in for several days, unable to sleep well.
If he hadn’t seen it, it would be forgivable. But if he saw it and still didn’t take any action, this person is truly cold-blooded.
