Seasonal Fear and the Family Name Wang Again
Jing Zhong’s condition was critical, and as a doctor, Yu Jinnian did not dare to leave his side for even a moment, which is why he had been confined to a small courtyard for the past two days. Jing Zhong was also quite restless after taking the medicine. On the third day during the daytime, Yu Jinnian was cooking porridge in the kitchen when Ah Chun, with bleary eyes, walked in, sniffing the air and saying, “It smells so good, it’s the aroma of taro.”
Yu Jinnian smiled and asked, “Does Ah Chun like taro?”
Ah Chun nodded, moved a small stool to sit by the door, held his face in his hands, and patiently waited for the porridge. He said, “Yes, taro is the best. When I was little, I begged for food on the streets with my brother. Occasionally, we would get two taros, and they were very delicious!”
Begging for food? Yu Jinnian looked at the large mansion and wondered, “Ah Chun, your brother is quite wealthy, so why did you have to beg for food?”
Ah Chun thought carefully, his round little face scrunched up in confusion, seemingly unable to understand the reason. His small brain couldn’t figure it out, so he started talking about things from long ago: “Hmm… Ah Chun used to live in a very cold place, always moving around. Ah Chun didn’t know where we ended up. At night, there were always people crying, and during the day, I had to sing for people, singing from morning till night. They said Ah Chun had a good voice and made me sing, but I couldn’t sing, so they beat me…”
In the pot, the taro sweet porridge was simmering. It was made from golden corn grits and diced taro, slowly cooked until the aroma wafted into Ah Chun’s nose, making him lick his lips in anticipation.
The corn grits were soaked overnight, cooked today until soft, and when almost ready, the previously cooked cold taro was peeled and diced. Porridge, as the essence of rice, should have the right balance of water and rice, blending harmoniously for a soft and smooth texture, making it a high-quality porridge.
Yu Jinnian poured the diced taro into the pot, and after a while, used the back of a ladle to mash it bit by bit, then added sugar for flavor. He then served a bowl, squatted down to hand it to the young boy, and without interrupting him, he asked curiously, “Ah Chun, were you singing opera?”
Ah Chun pursed his lips, his eyes showing a bit of strange longing: “Ah Chun doesn’t know… Ah Chun worked hard to sing well to avoid getting beaten, because those who sang well could live in a warm big room. Ah Chun had seen it; if someone let others sleep on top of them for one night, they could get a lot of money and not be cold anymore!”
Yu Jinnian was startled, realizing that this wasn’t an ordinary opera troupe but a broker of low-level professions!
Thinking about it made him shiver with disgust, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Then what happened?”
“Well, later, they dressed Ah Chun in a very beautiful outfit and made Ah Chun sing on a big stage.” He stretched out his hands to indicate the size, “About this big, no, even bigger… Under the stage, rich men threw silver at Ah Chun, saying they wanted to buy Ah Chun. It hurt so much when they hit Ah Chun…”
Yu Jinnian reached out to rub Ah Chun’s face, thinking, luckily he was a little simple-minded and didn’t understand what a child actor meant, nor did he realize that those beautiful clothes were not for his benefit but to fetch a higher price for him.
Ah Chun’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if remembering something happy. He gestured excitedly and said, “Then my brother came! He was so powerful, knocking down one rich man with each punch and took Ah Chun away.”
“How old was Ah Chun then?” Yu Jinnian also took a bowl of porridge and chatted with him, “How old is Ah Chun now?”
“This Ah Chun knows!” Ah Chun counted on his fingers, “Ah Chun was ten when my brother came. Now Ah Chun is nineteen!”
Yu Jinnian almost spat out his porridge, coughing violently in surprise. What, this silly little child was already nineteen?!
The little simpleton always spoke without logic, saying whatever came to mind, but when it came to Jing Zhong, he seemed very clear-headed, remembering every detail vividly. He said, “Brother bought new clothes for Ah Chun, took Ah Chun to a fancy restaurant to eat, and even drank wineโthat wasn’t good.” He critiqued the dishes and wine from that day before continuing, “Later, when the money ran out, we begged for food together.”
Ah Chun had no disdain for begging; instead, he was quite happy about it: “We went to many places! Oh, have you seen a red river?”
Yu Jinnian shook his head, “No.”
Ah Chun proudly puffed out his chest: “I’ve seen it, red! There were fragrant grasses and sand like snow, enough to bury a person… Ah Chun has seen it all!”
Yu Jinnian guided him, “Then how did you end up here?”
Ah Chun blinked, slurping a mouthful of sweet taro porridge, muttering, “Ah Chun doesn’t remember well. When we begged for food and got something good, brother wouldn’t eat it, all for Ah Chun… Brother always said he did something wrong in the past and didn’t deserve good food.”
“Then we came here. Ah Chun got sick, and there was heavy snow that day. Brother cried for a long time, holding Ah Chun and begging people for help…” Ah Chun’s memory of being ill was vague, but he roughly recalled, “Then we were here. Brother suddenly said we shouldn’t beg anymore, first pushed millstones for people, then carried rice at the dock. Later, he made money selling silk, and we’ve been selling silk ever since…”
At this point, Ah Chun put down his bowl and ran to fetch a silk flower to show Yu Jinnian. โLook, the auntie in the alley taught me how to make silk flowers. I’m very clever; I learned it in no time! Iโm as smart as my brother. I even sold silk flowers to hire a doctor for my brother!โ
This silly kid actually believed that he was brought here by that โpreciousโ silk flower? Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but smile helplessly. โYes, yes, Ah Chun is the smartest. Hurry up and finish your porridge.โ
Looking at Ah Chun, with his cute and tender appearance like a snow doll, no one would guess that he had once led a wandering life, begging on the streets. It seemed Jing Zhong had truly doted on Ah Chun, allowing a naรฏve, innocent child to live such a carefree life.
After finishing her porridge, Ah Chun also wanted to bring a bowl to his brother.
Yu Jinnian, worried that Jing Zhong might be delirious and have difficulty swallowing, prepared some vegetable and fruit juice with added sugar, mixing it with milk to make it easier for him to drink.
Ah Chun, grateful beyond words, took the milk mixture and hurried back to his brother’s room to accompany him. Yu Jinnian finally had a moment to relax and sat down to enjoy a sip of hot porridge himself… Unfortunately, his peace was short-lived. Before he could finish his bowl, Ah Chun rushed back in, pushing open the door and shouting, โBrother pooped!โ
Yu Jinnian quickly got up to check. As soon as he opened the door, he was met with a foul odorโindeed, Jing Zhong had soiled himself.
The five fluids of the kidney open to the two lower orifices. When both urination and defecation are blocked, kidney water is exhausted. Jing Zhong hadn’t had a bowel movement for several days, so today’s clearance was a good sign.
He checked the patient’s temperature again; it was no longer as hot as the previous days. The tremors in his right hand had also subsided, and his pulse was strong and slightly wiry, with a red and slightly greasy tongue. Although Jing Zhong was still drowsy and somewhat confused, Yu Jinnian prescribed Huanglian Wendan Tang with added ingredients to clear phlegm and heat, and mixed some Yushu Dan powder for him to swallow.
Yushu Dan, also known as Taiyi Purple Gold Pill or Immortal Pursuit Poison Pill, was said to cure all poisons and diseases, a prescription from Daoist medicine. Daoist medicine was shrouded in more mystery than Confucian medicine, with its practitioners being elusive, often romanticized as ageless and wandering the seas. Their medicinal prescriptions were accompanied by legends and mysteries.
The Daoist medical prescriptions were divided according to the eight trigramsโQian, Zhen, Kan, Gen, Kun, Xun, Li, and Dui. Yushu Dan belonged to the Xun trigram category. Xun represented wind, which had the properties of movement and change, making it suitable for treating acute and severe conditions, wind symptoms, and the like. Yushu Dan, effective in opening orifices, relieving pain, expelling phlegm, eliminating filth, and treating abscesses, naturally fell into this category.
Yu Jinnian started writing the prescription, but after drafting a few herbs, he found himself scratching his head, unable to continue. He smudged several ink blobs on the paper, pondering over the difficult character โๆโ when he turned around and saw Ji Hong entering the courtyard, carrying a small food box.
Seeing a savior, he quickly went out to greet Ji Hong, taking the food box and cheerfully asking, โWhat brings you here?โ
Ji Hong replied, โYou havenโt returned to the noodle shop for two days. Qing Huan was worried you might be hungry, so she steamed some buns for you.โ Suddenly, Ji Hong raised his hand to wipe Yu Jinnian’s face, smearing a finger covered in still-wet ink. He shook his head and asked, โWhy is your face all smudged?โ
The buns were filled with radish and minced meat. Yu Jinnian was indeed very hungry. He grabbed a bun and started eating, realizing from Ji Hong’s question that his hands were still stained with ink, leaving black fingerprints on the soft, warm bun. โAh, I forgotโฆโ
โSo careless.โ
Ji Hong handed him a clean bun, but Yu Jinnian laughed and said, โDon’t waste it. Ink is also medicine.โ
Ji Hong watched in disbelief as Yu Jinnian actually ate the bun with ink stains. Shaking his head, he said, โIn your eyes, everything smelly or fragrant is medicine.โ He took a white silk handkerchief from his sleeve, wet it with clean water, and wiped Yu Jinnian’s fingers, then his face. The cold well water made the young man close one eye reflexively. Ji Hong asked softly, โCan’t write another word?โ
Yu Jinnian, embarrassed, said, โI didn’t want to trouble youโฆโ
Ji Hong asked curiously, โWhy?โ
Yu Jinnian mumbled, โYou get unhappy when you see him. If you see me writing prescriptions for him, you’ll be even more upset. It’s best to avoid it.โ
โHow is he?โ Ji Hong glanced at the room where Jing Zhong was, then looked back at Yu Jinnian. โSecond Aunt and Sui Sui haven’t seen you for days. They miss you and are asking when you’ll come home.โ
Yu Jinnian quickly said, โHeโs much more stable now. After taking today’s medicine, he should be clear-headed. Once his condition stabilizes, they can call another doctor. I’ll go home with you today.โ
Ji Hong nodded slightly, โI’ll go get the pen and ink.โ
ใใโฆโฆ
Yu Jinnian finished writing the prescription and gave Ah Chun a few reminders, mentioning that they should call another doctor. Ah Chun immediately became disheartened, but although he was somewhat simple-minded, he still understood a bit. He didn’t insist on keeping Yu Jinnian to continue treating Jing Zhong.
Holding the prescription, Ah Chun escorted Yu Jinnian and Ji Hong to the door. Not knowing how to address Yu Jinnian, since Jing Zhong hadn’t taught him this, he softly said, โYou, youโฆโ
Despite knowing that this silly boy was actually two years older than him, Yu Jinnian couldn’t resist taking advantage and said seriously, โWhat do you mean โyouโ? Call me Brother Xiao Nian.โ
Silly Ah Chun obediently called out, โBrother Xiao Nian.โ
He glanced cautiously at Ji Hong, tugging at the corners of his clothes, and said anxiously, โBrother Xiao Nian, brother said he did something wrong. Ah Chun knows it’s bad. When Ah Chun does something wrong, brother also scolds Ah Chun, but Ah Chun can change. As long as he changes, brother will still kiss Ah Chun… Brother is the best to Ah Chun, Ah Chun likes brotherโฆโ
Rambling on, it was unclear what he meant exactly. Yu Jinnian bent down and asked, โAh Chun, what are you trying to say?โ
Ah Chun clenched his hands tightly. There was still a scar from the time he pushed Ji Hongโs sword away, though it had scabbed over, it still itched and hurt. Normally, he would have nestled into his brother’s arms for comfort, but now that his brother was sick and unable to get up, he had to take care of him.
Not knowing how to sell silk, he made the leftover silk into flowers to sell. Not knowing which doctor to hire, he asked around on the streets. When he encountered Yu Jinnian, who could treat illnesses, he did everything he could to bring him back to treat his brother, even if it meant giving away all the silk flowers he made with teary eyes.
Without his brother, he felt he had to be the pillar of the household.
Ah Chun looked up and seriously asked Yu Jinnian, โAh Chun can correct his mistakes and still be good Ah Chun. Canโt brother correct his mistakes?โ
Perhaps because Ah Chun was naรฏve, he was particularly sensitive about certain things and could express his doubts openly and directly. He was like a blank sheet of paper, carefully protected by others, making one reluctant to stain it with ugly marks.
Yu Jinnian was stunned for a moment. He turned to Ji Hong for help, but Ji Hong turned away, walking out of the courtyard and standing on the stone path, waiting.
Yu Jinnian smiled gently at Ah Chun and said, โAh Chun, not all mistakes in this world can be forgiven just by correcting them. Some mistakes, once made, can never be undone. Ah Chun is still young and doesn’t need to understand everything. If your brother wakes up, tell him this. He will understand.โ
Ah Chun nodded, half understanding, and Yu Jinnian bid him farewell, turning to run towards Ji Hong.
The alleys on both sides of the courtyard had a few flowering trees planted, their branches extending out with sparse leaves. The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the uneven stone path.
In the flickering light, the young man held the food box in his hands, looking up slightly at the clouds, lost in thought. The interplay of light and shadow in his amber-like eyes made them appear pure and flawless.
Ji Hong admired those clear eyes and reached out to cover them, saying, โWatch your step. Talking to Ah Chun, did you become silly too?โ
Yu Jinnian blinked in his palm, retorting, โAh Chun may be a bit silly, but he’s actually quite clever.โ
Ji Hong felt a tickling sensation in his palm and pulled his hand back, saying, โThatโs a contradiction.โ
โIs it?โ Yu Jinnian pondered for a moment, then said, โAh Hong may seem cold, but he’s actually very gentleโisnโt that not contradictory at all?โ
Ji Hong didnโt know how to respond to this, so he remained silent.
Yu Jinnian leaned against his shoulder and whispered, โThank you.โ
At that moment, a group of women surrounded them, laughing and inviting them to see the flowered cloth in their courtyards. Ji Hong didnโt catch what Yu Jinnian said and asked, โWhat?โ
After finally getting away from the women selling cloth, they walked out of the Huaishu alley shoulder to shoulder. Yu Jinnian sighed in relief and continued, โWhen I was a child, I felt very insecure and always wanted someone to be with me. Every day, I would ask if my father would come back to have dinner with me.โ
Ji Hong focused on him, listening as he talked about his past.
Yu Jinnian said, “My father always says he will be back, but he often disappears all day, only returning late at night. I’m alone at home, in the dark. I don’t dare ask him where he goes, for fear that he will find me annoying and abandon me.”
The people of the Da Xia Dynasty placed great importance on bloodlines. Ji Hong doubted, “You are the only son of your family, the sole heir. How could he abandon you?”
Yu Jinnian smiled, “Because I am not of the Yu family bloodline. My father picked me up.”
Ji Hong paused, suddenly realizing his gaffe. He quickly took a few steps to catch up with the young man, his mind filled with thoughts.
“Later, I found out that my father was just too busy. He was busy treating and saving people, with no time to come back and eat with me.” Yu Jinnian held the food box in front of him, walking with small steps, his knee occasionally kicking the wooden food box, making it bounce. “Even though I was unhappy, I still waited obediently at home like Ah Chun. Until one day, I went out to sell things and was hit by a carriage. I had many stitches on my head.”
Ji Hong had seen him stitch Qing Huanโs bones and skin, so he naturally thought that “stitches” indicated a very serious condition. His heart suddenly tightened. He instinctively looked at the back of the young man’s head and asked, “What happened then?”
Yu Jinnian shrugged, “Unfortunately, the driver suddenly had a stroke. My father left me with others and went to save the driver.”
Ji Hong reached out, and Yu Jinnian didn’t avoid him. Naturally, they held hands. He smiled at Ji Hong and said, “I cried a lot then, too upset to eat. I said the driver hit me, it was his fault. Why did my father care for him first instead of coming to see me?”
“So my father took me to the study and asked me what words were hanging on the wall.”
Ji Hong asked, “What were they?”
“They were the eight-character family motto of the Yu family.” Yu Jinnian recited word by word, “Doctors should have a benevolent heart and a virtuous character to save lives. From that day on, my father began to teach me medicine, telling me that a doctor might not have the miraculous skills to revive the dead, but must have a heart to save others. Otherwise, one does not deserve to be a doctor, nor to inherit the Yu family’s medical knowledge.”
Yu Jinnian slightly tightened his grip, gently squeezing Ji Hong’s fingers. He lowered his head and said softly, “My father and I are father and son, yet I still couldn’t understand him. You and I are not related, and this matter also involves Second Brother. It is truly fortunate that we haven’t broken over it. So, thank you, Ah Hong…”
Ji Hong tilted his head slightly, sunlight falling on the young man’s face, making it look especially beautiful, making one want to touch and hug him. Although he still resented Jing Zhong for betraying his master and escaping, and didn’t plan to forgive him, he no longer wanted to dwell on whether Yu Jinnian should treat him or not.
People have their affinities and estrangements. If one distances from the close and neglects them because of the distant, wouldn’t it cause more pain to the close and joy to the enemies?
Compared to an abandoned guard, losing such a gentle and kind young man would be a greater sorrow in life.
Ji Hong held his hand but didn’t continue the topic, only responding with a faint “Hmm” and then mentioning, “Qing Huan picked some fresh watershield by the river yesterday and asked me how to cook it.”
Yu Jinnian didn’t expect the topic to change so quickly and was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses and asking, “Do we have mushrooms at home?”
“It seems we do,” Ji Hong replied.
As they talked, they turned a corner onto a long street leading to a noodle shop. Yu Jinnian noticed a peddler selling crabs by the street and smiled, deciding, “Let’s make Four Delicacies Soup!”
Ji Hong was about to ask in detail what Four Delicacies Soup was made of when a familiar scent passed by him.
Instinctively turning his head, he saw someone half-squatting in front of the crab peddler, expertly inspecting the crabs and asking the price, “How much for each crab? Do you have female crabs?”
“Min San?” Ji Hong only took one look and sensed trouble. In an instant, he turned back, grabbed Yu Jinnian, and walked to the other side of the long street.
“Hey! Hey, wait!”
Amid the noisy crowd, Min San still noticed them, as if seeing something rare, his eyes shining. He left the crabs and ran after them, quickly catching up to Ji Hong, blocking his way. He tapped his head with his fan, thinking hard for a long time, then hesitated, “Ah! You are, you are… Ji…”
“I am Wang. You must have mistaken me,” Ji Hong coldly interrupted.
Min San was stunned, muttering to himself, “Ah? Did I really mistake him…”
Caught between them, Yu Jinnian didn’t know what to do. He looked at Ji Hong, then at the confused, well-dressed young man, thinking: Oh dear, this young man didn’t mistake him at all. It’s just that Ji Hong doesn’t want to admit it.
Isn’t Ji Hong scared enough to change his surname to Wang?