Jiang A Yao watched everything coldly without uttering a word, thinking they deserved their misfortune.
After this incident, the Jiang family would have a hard time living in the village.
“Let’s go!”
Lu Da’s voice sounded by her ear. She looked up and met his concerned gaze.
A warmth spread through Jiang A Yao’s heart. She nodded and left with him.
Once the household registration was renewed, she would be completely free from the Jiang family. The mere thought made her heart leap with joy.
On their way back, Jiang A Yao asked again, “How is Mingzhu?”
“She’s alright.”
Just like yesterday, Lu Mingzhu had much more energy after eating her fill.
Thinking of this, Lu Da smiled wryly. “I strongly suspect Mingzhu was so ill before because she was starving.”
“That’s part of it, but not the main reason.”
Jiang A Yao had checked Lu Mingzhu’s pulse. Her blood wasn’t returning to the heart, indicating a serious cardiac issue.
That’s why she had said she could only try her best without guaranteeing a cure.
But she decided to tell Lu Da about Lu Mingzhu’s condition later, afraid he couldn’t bear it.
Lu Mingzhu likely wouldn’t enjoy a normal lifespan, and her body was so depleted that even with utmost effort, she wouldn’t be able to bear children.
For her, childbirth would be a death sentence.
“I’m still worried. I should go back and check on her myself.”
Jiang A Yao was concerned since Lu Mingzhu’s condition wasn’t much better than the injured man’s.
“Alright.”
Lu Da agreed. Unexpectedly, Lao Jin overheard and turned to wait for Jiang A Yao.
“Miss Jiang, are you running off again?”
His brows were knitted tightly.
Lu Da said sternly, “Brother Jin, I have a seriously ill sister at home.”
“I know.”
Lao Jin waved his hand. “If you want to see your sister, just carry her to the courtyard and place her with my master.”
Lu Da frowned, barely containing his anger. Jiang A Yao pressed Lu Da’s hand and said to Lao Jin, “My sister is a young girl. You’re all armed with swords and look fierce. Having her come here would terrify her.”
“Are we that fierce?”
Lao Jin’s question left Jiang A Yao speechless.
“Aren’t you fierce enough? Burly and stern-faced, standing there like underworld guards, and you still ask if you’re fierce?”
Lao Jin was rendered speechless but had no choice but to compromise. “Fine, I’ll send someone with you.”
“This time I’ll be gone longer.”
Jiang A Yao told him honestly. Lao Jin’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“I’ve been under your watch for days. Don’t I need to bathe? Change clothes? I’m starting to smell.”
She showed him her blood-stained sleeve. “The blood has crusted, and the clothes are stiff.”
Hearing this, Lao Jin smiled awkwardly, a rare look of embarrassment on his face.
“My apologies. We men are used to roughing it outside where survival matters more than cleanliness. I didn’t think of that.”
“Your master has taken medicine and eaten. You don’t need me watching him every moment. You can relax for now.”
Jiang A Yao recalled how uncomfortable she felt being constantly watched those two days. The mix of fear and anxiety still hadn’t completely faded.
After speaking, she pulled Lu Da and turned to walk towards the Lu residence.
Lao Jin felt somewhat guilty from her words, rubbed his nose, and turned to catch up with his master.
But after a moment’s thought, he instructed A Long to keep an eye on the Lu residence from a distance without entering.
Walking beside his master, Lao Jin couldn’t help but sigh.
He had never been so thoroughly handled by a woman before, especially one so young.
“What’s wrong? Got scolded?”
Hearing his master’s words, Lao Jin quickly replied, “Not exactly. Miss Jiang just thought we were intimidating, nothing more.”
Then he couldn’t resist adding, “She says we’re intimidating, but she may look delicate—when she loses her temper, she’s like a piece of explosive charcoal.”
Especially when treating his master’s wounds, she wielded her small knife as if she wanted to stab them in the face, and she seized every opportunity to complain—definitely not someone to mess with.
The man chuckled, “Doctors who treat and save people—since when do they have good tempers?”
Lao Jin fell silent but after a moment said, “Master, are you really going to help Miss Jiang with her household registration? Won’t that expose your identity?”
The man replied, “The assassins have tracked us here—our whereabouts are already exposed. Revealing our identity to the authorities might actually be a good thing.”
…
Back at the Lu residence, Jiang A Yao planned to heat water for a bath but heard sounds from Lu Mingzhu’s room.
Jiang A Yao entered, but Lu Da didn’t follow her in, instead heading to the kitchen to heat water.
When Jiang A Yao entered, Lu Mingzhu was awake, half-propped up in bed. The moment she saw her, her eyes lit up.
“Sister Jiang, you’re back.”
Jiang A Yao hummed in acknowledgment, standing by the bed. Seeing the hand extended towards her, she smiled and said, “I’m dirty, so I won’t hold your hand.”
“Your brother said you were much better. I didn’t believe it at first, but now I do.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Sister Jiang. Thank you.”
Lu Mingzhu nodded with a smile, then finally noticed the dirt on Jiang A Yao’s clothes and asked with concern, “Sister Jiang, what happened? How did you get so dirty?”
“It’s nothing, I just haven’t bathed in a few days and got quite filthy.”
Jiang A Yao said, “I’m going to heat water for a bath first, then I’ll come back to see you, alright?”
Lu Mingzhu obediently nodded, “Okay, Sister Jiang, I’ll wait for you.”
Lu Mingzhu was very thin, and having been confined indoors for years without sun, her face had a sickly pallor.
She looked quite pitiable.
Jiang A Yao didn’t delay, leaving right after speaking with her.
Just then, Lu Da emerged from the kitchen.
“A Yao, the hot water will be ready soon. I’ll get you a basin.”
Saying this, Lu Da moved past her into the room and brought out a wooden basin.
“This is the one Mingzhu used. Please make do with it for now—we’ll buy a new one when we go to town.”
Lu Da was worried Jiang A Yao might mind, but she actually didn’t care. Back in the Jiang household, she had shared a basin with her sisters—how would Lin Qinghua ever spare the expense to give each of them their own?
Still, she was concerned Mingzhu might mind, so she cautiously asked, “Does Mingzhu agree?”
“I agree.”
Lu Mingzhu’s voice came, tinged with laughter.
Jiang A Yao turned towards the sound and saw Lu Mingzhu had come out of her room. Her expression shifted slightly, “Why are you up? Are you feeling dizzy?”
“Sister Jiang, I’m not dizzy. The meals you made for me were delicious, I finished every bite, and now I have strength.”
After speaking, Lu Mingzhu handed the clothes she had just found to Jiang A Yao. “Sister Jiang, this outfit is too big for me. Although you’re a bit taller than me, the size should fit you. I’ve only worn it a few times, so it’s not too old.”
Afraid she might dislike it, Lu Mingzhu quickly added, “Well… just wear it temporarily for now. When my brother has time to go to town, he’ll take you to buy new ones.”
Jiang A Yao stared at the clothes in Lu Mingzhu’s hands, momentarily stunned.