Chapter Thirteen: Filled with Happiness

After everyone had dispersed, Chu Yun looked at Yang Liu’er, who was curled up in the corner, trembling and appearing terribly frightened. He couldn’t help but step forward and say, “I’m sorry. I scared you.”

Yang Liu’er made no sound, nor did she lift her head to look at him.

Chu Yun continued, “Don’t worry, Liu’er. There will never be anything like this again.”

Seeing this, Chen Ping also spoke, “Liu’er, I know this rascal Chu Yun well, so I can tell he’s truly changed this time. Please trust him.”

Only then did Yang Liu’er stop sobbing, raise her eyes to Chu Yun, and nod slightly.

Chen Ping then turned to Chu Yun and asked, “When did you learn these skills? You look much more capable than I am.”

Chu Yun smiled and replied, “Second Uncle, don’t you know me by now? I don’t know any martial arts. These skills were taught to me by the immortal in my dreams.”

He picked up the medicinal herbs and said, “Second Uncle, let’s not chat. I need to quickly prepare the medicine for the patient.”

With that, he gathered the herbs and walked toward the kitchen to get busy.

Watching him, Chen Ping nodded inwardly, completely believing in Chu Yun’s story about meeting an immortal in his dreams.

He looked at Yang Liu’er and said, “You live well with Chu Yun. If anything happens, come to the magistrate’s office and find me. I’ll stand up for you. If there’s nothing, I’ll take my leave now.”

He departed after speaking.

“Alright,” Yang Liu’er replied softly and continued crouching, motionless, like a frightened little rabbit.

Chu Yun had wanted to ask her for help, but seeing her like this, he could only let it go and began preparing the healing ointment himself.

He couldn’t help but complain inwardly about how backward this place was—there wasn’t a single decent tool. What should have taken less than half an hour took him two full hours to finish.

By then, night had fallen, and his stomach was growling.

Chen Ping saw that Yang Liu’er had retreated to the battered bed in the room, curled up in a corner with her eyes closed. Whether she was asleep or not, he couldn’t tell, and he sighed softly.

He then checked the food he’d packed from the Ten-Mile Fragrance Inn at noon; there was still plenty left, so he took it to the kitchen to heat it up.

Soon, the aroma of the food filled the small house.

Yang Liu’er quickly caught the scent and woke up. She got out of bed, walked to the kitchen, and asked in a low voice, “Husband, why are you heating up the food?”

Chu Yun smiled at her words, secretly relieved that she was finally speaking to him again.

He answered, “I’m heating it up to eat, of course.”

Yang Liu’er was momentarily stunned. “Husband, don’t we only eat once a day? Why are you eating again? And today’s meal was so good and filling.”

Chu Yun was taken aback by this. From the original owner’s memories, he learned that most commoners in this world only ate once a day, and even then, it wasn’t much or good.

No wonder the common folk here were all thin and malnourished.

Chu Yun thought for a moment and smiled. “From now on, we’ll eat at least three meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and this is dinner. When life gets better, we can even enjoy a midnight snack.”

Yang Liu’er, recalling how agonizing it was to wait until the next day after each meal, became excited at the prospect of three meals a day.

“Husband, is it true that we’ll eat three times a day?” she asked, hardly daring to believe it.

“Of course it’s true!” Chu Yun replied, chuckling. “Now that I’m a doctor, I can earn money treating patients. Not only will we eat three meals a day, but we’ll also wear good clothes and live in a nice house.”

After hearing this, Yang Liu’er couldn’t help but rest her chin in her hands and gaze up at the sky, letting herself imagine the wonderful life Chu Yun described.

But then she remembered how Chu Yun had wanted to take her to the Red Blossom House, and how the people from the gambling den and the Red Blossom House had just come to seize her, and a trace of fear returned.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Husband, you won’t send me to the Red Blossom House, will you?”

Chu Yun replied, “Of course not. Didn’t you see me drive away those people who wanted to take you there just now?”

Hearing this, a bit of the fear faded from Yang Liu’er’s face, and her brows curved into a small smile.

Then she said, “Husband, you’ve worked hard all afternoon and must be tired. Let me heat up the food. As long as you don’t sell me to the Red Blossom House, I’ll live well with you and take good care of our home.”

Chu Yun was indeed a bit tired, and he was happy that Yang Liu’er was willing to do something for him. He quickly stepped aside and said, “Alright, you do it.”

Yang Liu’er immediately began bustling about.

Chu Yun could see her movements were very practiced—she clearly often worked in the kitchen and was a diligent girl.

Looking at Yang Liu’er, who so closely resembled the regret from his past life, Chu Yun’s heart was filled with happiness, and it made him even more determined to live well in this world.

Here, there were no phones, no internet, not even lights. After dinner, the darkness was complete, and boredom reigned.

Chu Yun saw that, after eating, Yang Liu’er washed the dishes and soon went to bed. He suddenly understood why, before he crossed over, so many elders had numerous brothers and sisters.

Perhaps, that was the greatest pleasure of the night.

Still, he felt no urge to start a family with Yang Liu’er just yet—she looked so much like her, but after all, they’d only known each other for a day.

Besides, the house was so dilapidated, with no soundproofing at all, and a group of mischievous children always lurking outside to eavesdrop.

He’d chased them away several times, but they kept returning, leaving him rather helpless.