Chapter 17
Disheartened
Lu Jiao heard her and turned her head around to look at Shen Xiu. With a fake smile, she said, “Ergou’s wife, I ask that you stop bringing food to my Yunjin. You’re a widow. For you to bring other men food is bad taste.”
Lu Jiao left after she said those words. Behind her, everyone from the Xie village was confused, “Ergou’s wife? Who’s Ergou’s wife?”
“Who’s the widow? Who brings Yunjin food?”
Everyone chit-chatted and then thought of Shen Xiu’s husband. His name was Su Ergou. That meant Ergou’s wife was Shen Xiu. Shen Xiu’s husband died which made her a widow.
Everyone stared at Shen Xiu and remembered what Lu Jiao had said. Their faces grew unpleasant.
Everyone knew this woman wanted to marry Yunjin and self-proclaimed to be his best childhood friend. However, Yunjin never promised to marry her and they were never officially together.
Because of this, Lu Jiao once threw a fit. Who knew that even after this woman’s husband died, she would still bring Yunjin food.
She had definitely crossed the line.
Shen Xiu listened to the comments made around her and started to cry out of anger. She then ran away while others continued to mumble criticism about her.
Lu Jiao didn’t care about any of this. She went home and continued to brew Xie Yunjin’s medicine.
Once she poured out the brewed medicine, a few people came to visit.
It was the Second Grandma’s family.
The Second Grandma, Xie Laifu, Lady Zhao, and Xie Xiaobao.
But the family didn’t enter. They stood outside the fence and asked, “Yunjin’s wife, are you around?”
Lu Jiao was on her way out of the kitchen with the medicine when she saw the Second Grandma’s family. She quickly went to greet them, “Second Grandma, what are you doing here?”
The Second Grandma smiled and said, “We are here to thank you for taking the fish bone out of Xiaobao.”
Lu Jiao opened up the bamboo door and indicated for them to enter, “It’s no big deal. I only did what I could.”
Xie Laifu gave Lady Zhao a look. Lady Zhao remembered how unfriendly she was towards Lu Jiao and walked up to apologize.
“Yunjin’s wife, I did you wrong and I want to apologize. Don’t be angry at me. I am just a farmer and I don’t know how to speak properly.”
Lady Zhao then took out 50 copper coins from her sleeve and shoved them into Lu Jiao’s hand. Lu Jiao declined it instantly, “Sister, I was just passing by and helped with what I could. I don’t need money. You should take it back.”
Lady Zhao continued to shove but the Second Grandma spoke up, “Alright, let’s just remember what Jiaojiao did for us and remember to repay the favor later.”
Lu Jiao was embarrassed and smiled, “It really was no big deal. You don’t need to do this.”
Xie Laifu and Lady Zhao started to look at Lu Jiao differently now. Yunjin’s wife truly has changed. She was much nicer now. Not bad, not bad at all.
Xie Laifu stared at Lu Jiao and asked, “How’s Yunjin doing?”
“He’s alright.”
Xie Laifu said, “Let us go visit him.”
Lu Jiao led them to the east bedroom. Once they entered, they didn’t even have a place to sit.
Xie Laifu looked at this poor home and was not at all happy with how cold-hearted Xie Laogen’s family was. The way he looked at Xie Yunjin was full of pity.
“Yunjin, how are you feeling? Are you better now?”
Xie Yunjin naturally saw the pity in Xie Laifu’s eyes. A rush of coldness subconsciously engulfed him and his brows grew sullen.
These people used to all stare at him with admiration. They used to look at him as if they belonged in different worlds.
Now, he was being pitied by these people. These thoughts made Xie Yunjin feel like something had been shoved up his heart.
“Thank you for your kindness. I am fine.”
Xie Laifu sighed. How could he be fine when he was wounded like this? Though he looked okay on the outside, it wasn’t certain whether or not he would survive this. Plus, the color of his face truly was a point of concern.
Xie Laifu wanted to help, but when he remembered how expensive each portion of medicine was, he felt helpless. All he could do was to comfort him despite his heavy heart.
“Yunjin, don’t overthink it. The heavens will bless those who are good. It will get better.”
Behind him, Lady Zhao nodded in agreement. The Second Grandma walked over and held onto Xie Yunjin’s hand, “Good child, you will be okay. Everything will get better.”
Xie Yunjin nodded, “Mhmm.”
Xie Laifu and Lady Zhao then asked about their four children. They then lectured Xie Xiaobao to take good care of the quadruplets in the future. Xie Xiaobao was eager to agree.
The family then left. After Lu Jiao sent them away, she returned to feed Xie Yunjin medicine.
Inside the room, Xie Yunjin lied on the bed with his face gray. He didn’t move for a long time and he acted like a dead tree trunk. Disheartened, he looked towards Lu Jiao and asked, “Lu Jiao, if something were to happen to me, you would treat the four children kindly, right?”
Before Lu Jiao could respond, the quadruplets, who slept on the inner corner of the big bed, started to cry out of fear.
“Daddy.”
“I don’t want daddy to die.”
“Daddy, quickly take the medicine. You’ll be fine after taking the medicine.”
Lu Jiao had an unpleasant expression as she stared at Xie Yunjin, “What are you talking about so late at night? Look at how much you’re scaring the kids.”
Xie Yunjin turned to look beside him and saw how sad the quadruplets looked. It was obvious that they were scared witless.
Xie Yunjin’s heart ached and he cursed at himself for being stupid.
Why did he think that he could leave the four kids to Lu Jiao? He knew the kind of person Lu Jiao was. She was only nice to the kids now because she either wanted to separate from him, or she wanted to make up with him.
If he died, she wouldn’t treat the quadruplets kindly. So, he wasn’t allowed to die.
Xie Yunjin had been enlightened. Life returned to his body and emotions reappeared on his visage. Like a winter plum that’s been watered by cold dew, he now appeared dignified and frosted.
Then he softened his gaze and looked over at the quadruplets.
“Alright, stop crying now. Nothing will happen to me. I will have my medicine. Once I’m better, I’ll have to teach you all how to read.”
The First Born wiped his tears and pointed at the medicine bowl in Lu Jiao’s hand.
“Then hurry up and have your medicine.”
Lu Jiao glared at Xie Yunjin and used her arm to help him sit straight. Then, she fed him the medicine.
This time, Xie Yunjin was cooperative and quickly drank it all.
The quadruplets finally stopped their tears after he took the medicine. However, those four pairs of eyes were red from crying and their faces were full of worry. Anxious and unsettled, they sat by Xie Yunjin.
Their reaction pinched Xie Yunjin’s heart. They were his children, how could he have the heart to leave them behind?
Even if he did become paralyzed or disabled, he needed to stay by their sides. Children without a father were pitiful.
Xie Yunjin used all his strength to pat the quadruplets on the heads, “Alright, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those things to scare you. It’s late. Go to sleep now.”
The four little ones carefully tucked themselves in beside him. Each one of them took out a hand to grab onto his clothes, terrified that he would leave them behind.
Lu Jiao’s heart hurt when she saw this. She looked over to Xie Yunjin and said angrily, “I told you, I will find someone to cure your legs. I will do what I promised. Don’t scare them like that anymore.”