Chapter 9
The corner he used as a study was adjacent to the neighboring cabin, allowing every sound to be heard clearly. It seemed someone was suffering terribly from seasickness. The voice sounded like a young girl not yet of age.
Fortunately, Yuan Niang’s discomfort lasted only a moment, and she soon regained her energy, continuing to explore the room.
Granny Wang and Madam Cen, who were nearby sorting clothes, saw this and shook their heads.
Granny Wang’s eyes were full of dissatisfaction, quite displeased. “If she remains this restless in front of others when we reach Bianjing, she’ll be laughed at.”
“She’s still young.” Madam Cen was much gentler, smiling softly as she comforted her. “Yuan Niang knows her limits; she probably won’t show timidity in front of others.”
“Hmph, that girl—full of little clever tricks and aware of her own good looks, always acting coy and silly. When she was little, it seemed cute and innocent, but if she stays like this as she grows up, when we reach Bianjing and she meets people, they might think she’s frivolous.” Granny Wang looked through the screen at Yuan Niang rolling around on the soft, fluffy bed, then withdrew her gaze, unable to bear watching.
She turned to instruct her daughter-in-law before her. “Don’t think that shielding her all the time is good for her. It was fine before, but once we reach Bianjing, we must at least find a good family for her.
“What good family would want a proper wife who knows nothing?
“She can wash clothes, plant seedlings, chop wood in the mountains, and catch fish in rivers—but will any of that be useful in Bianjing? She’s not marrying into the lower nine classes of commoners. Though our family has declined, with no officials among us, based on our current assets, we should at least aim for a wealthy household with upright family traditions, or perhaps a scholar who has passed the juren exam.”
Granny Wang leaned closer to Madam Cen and whispered, “These assets were gained because of Yuan Niang’s marriage prospects. I plan to keep the ancestral home but let her take most of the rest as dowry. With such a dowry, even if our status is somewhat low now, finding a good match won’t be difficult. Over the next two or three years, she must prepare to learn everything necessary.”
Madam Cen lacked strong opinions, but she deeply understood that Granny Wang was right. At this moment, she nodded with confusion in her eyes. “Mother, I’ll follow your guidance on how to proceed.”
Through whispered discussions, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law settled matters regarding Yuan Niang.
Meanwhile, keen-eyed Chen Kuo Cang sat on a low stool in the corner, seemingly engrossed in playing with a spinning top, but his peripheral glance was directed at the two women. He couldn’t hear every word of their later conversation clearly, but with fragments from earlier exchanges, he could guess much of it.
His hand spinning the spinning top gradually tightened with force, yet his heart grew resolute in his determination to stand out.
Only by being exceptionally outstanding could he be of benefit to his sister.
As for the plans of Granny, Mother, and her younger brother, Yuan Niang knew nothing. She was still rolling on the bed, smiling broadly, sighing contentedly—what heavenly life was she living now? She could even ride on a ship and live so comfortably.
She loved this kind of life, and wanted more and more of it!
However, less than two quarters of an hour later, she began to regret it, even wanting to go back and slap herself.
Oh no.
Because, the ship started moving.
And she got seasick!
“Ugh…” Yuan Niang hugged a wooden basin, vomiting until tears streamed from her eyes.
Madam Cen sat beside her, patting her back to soothe her, never leaving her side, full of worry.
After Yuan Niang finished vomiting, Madam Cen picked up a coarse ceramic bowl and brought it to her lips. “Rinse your mouth, yes, then drink a little more.”
Madam Cen chattered incessantly, caring for Yuan Niang until she drank half a bowl of water, then helped her lie down.
However, less than two breaths later, Yuan Niang suddenly sat up, clutching the wooden basin and vomiting again, her face pale from exhaustion. Madam Cen watched with heartache, tears streaming down her face, but she had no solution. She could only wipe the sweat from Yuan Niang’s forehead and softly coax her, “You’ll feel better after vomiting.”
Meanwhile, Granny Wang hurried into the room, touched Yuan Niang’s forehead and face, and frowned, saying, “The medicine pills didn’t work.”
She opened a small porcelain bottle, poured something oily and watery onto her fingertip, then applied it to Yuan Niang’s temples, rubbing as she did. Granny Wang’s hands, accustomed to farm work, were full of cracks and thick calluses, rough against delicate skin, yet strangely comforting.
As the oil spread, a cool, refreshing sensation surged to the crown of her head. Though Yuan Niang felt her eyes sting slightly, her dizzy head eased somewhat.
She stopped vomiting temporarily. Madam Cen helped her rinse her mouth, wipe her lips, and assisted her in lying down.
Seeing Yuan Niang’s face pale, hair disheveled and weary, but at least calm now, Granny Wang visibly relaxed, sighing, “This peppermint oil is somewhat useful, not wasting the 120 coins I gave the boatman.”
Yet their relief didn’t last long. Though Yuan Niang felt somewhat better and managed to eat some clear porridge at night, they encountered rough waves, and the boat rocked, causing Yuan Niang to vomit again.
And it was worse than during the day.
She vomited until her face turned ghastly pale, sweating profusely, eventually only bile remaining.
Chen Kuo Cang carried a pot of hot water, mixing it into the wooden basin until the water became warm, then brought it to the bedside. Madam Cen wrung out the cloth towel from the basin, gently wiping Yuan Niang’s forehead, then looked up with reddened eyes at Granny Wang, “Mother, what should we do? We’ll be traveling by boat for the rest of the journey, at least over a month. How can Yuan Niang endure it?”
Granny Wang also sighed.
Traveling by water was faster and safer; land routes inevitably encountered bandits and thieves, causing constant anxiety—how could that compare to water travel?
But if Yuan Niang had to endure over a month on the boat, her life might be lost on the journey. At that point, even with wealth, what use would it be? Granny Wang ultimately compromised.
“Even if we disembark, it won’t happen immediately; we’ll have to wait at least two days until we reach the dock.” Granny Wang lovingly stroked Yuan Niang’s slightly damp forehead, her warm, large hand holding the trembling, sweaty little hand, coaxing, “Good child, endure a bit longer. Grandma knows you’re the most obedient and strongest.”
Yuan Niang vomited until her eyes lost their sparkle, yet she lifted her head, trying to force a smile to comfort her grandma, mother, and brother, “I’m fine, just not accustomed yet. Maybe I’ll be better tomorrow.”
She used her trembling hand to wipe Madam Cen’s tears, “Mother, don’t cry. I… I’m not very uncomfortable, just a little bit unwell…”
Before she finished speaking, the boat rocked again, and she couldn’t help lowering her head, letting her stomach churn violently, vomiting until exhausted.
The oil lamp fixed on the table, though its body didn’t move, its candle rope swayed slightly, elongating the shadows in the dim light, conveying helplessness.
In the adjacent cabin, Wei Guan, following his aunt’s instructions, watched his cousin study and finish his homework before returning to his room draped in night dew.
The river was damp and cold. When he entered the bedroom filled with warm yellow light, he could still feel the chill carried by his open thin cloak. Once inside the cabin, shielded from the wind, the chill gradually dissipated.
He paused at the door, faintly hearing some movement.
After removing his cloak, washing his hands at the three-legged washbasin stand, lighting the lamp, and walking to the desk to tidy his books, the faint sound he had heard at the door became clearer.
This corner, which he used as a study, happened to be adjacent to the neighboring cabin, allowing every sound to be heard distinctly.
It seemed someone was suffering terribly from seasickness.
From the sound, it was a young girl not yet of age, already weakened to the point of losing all strength.
The handsome young man was quite experienced in such matters. His grandfather was a wealthy merchant, and his family had been in the shipping business for generations. Although the family no longer engaged in trade, he had spent some time in his hometown and, through exposure, knew far more than the average person.
Even strong and healthy individuals could fall ill from seasickness, let alone someone who sounded so young.
He recalled the old woman he had seen entering and leaving the neighboring cabin during the day. His cousin had mentioned this family in idle chatter—their young lady was said to be exceptionally beautiful, yet her circumstances were tragic. It was said that a household of widows and weak children had hired several biaoshi to travel to Bianjing to seek refuge with relatives. Perhaps after sharing the same ship for days, the young lady had stirred his cousin’s heart…
At the time, his cousin’s words had been overly frivolous and inappropriate, so he sternly ordered him to copy several chapters of the Analects as punishment, which was why he had been delayed so late today.
Thinking of this, the handsome young man paused as he set down his inkstone and beckoned to his attendant, who was squatting in the corner, heating water with charcoal while gradually dozing off. “Pingzhi, go fetch the anti-vomiting pills we brought from home.”