Song Lingling thought Jiang Jinxi’s head must have been kicked by a donkey. After all, how could a “street rat” avoided by everyone suddenly become a good person? Thinking of the reputation Song Bo had among others, she still felt the risk was not worth taking. “You should still accept it on his behalf.”
“If you are truly afraid, I will be present as well,” Jiang Jinxi said. With his intelligence, he could guess what Song Lingling was wary of. He added, “It is just that I really cannot accept this apology gift for him.”
“You will be there too?” Song Lingling asked.
Jiang Jinxi was Song Bo’s husband. With him present, Song Bo surely would not dare to act out. Furthermore, with a beauty for company, her courage grew significantly.
“This is my home; naturally, I will be there,” Jiang Jinxi replied.
“That is what you said. You must be there, okay?” Song Lingling insisted.
“Mm,” Jiang Jinxi agreed.
Having received Jiang Jinxi’s definitive answer, Song Lingling finally nodded and left. As she walked away, she took the small wooden basket back home. If she left it by the roadside, someone might accidentally kick it and break the gift, which would be terrible.
An ordinary day passed. Song Bo collected forty-three coins and, carrying some oranges given to him by the boat owner, headed home.
It was currently orange season. The orange trees in the boat owner’s own yard had borne fruit, so he picked some to distribute to everyone at the docks. Because Song Bo had helped him previously, the boat owner showed partiality and left several extra for Song Bo to take home.
Having bought nothing else today, Song Bo went straight to Song Chazai’s house. There was still a villager seeking treatment inside. Jiang Jinxi was standing in front of the medicine cabinet helping Song Chazai wrap medicinal herbs. He was so focused that he did not even mind his hair falling over his eyes.
Song Chazai was currently feeling a pulse and had no time to greet Song Bo, so she motioned for him to sit aside and not disturb her.
Song Bo paced over to the medicine cabinet. He and Jiang Jinxi stood on opposite sides of the wooden counter. Jiang Jinxi’s long eyelashes cast slight shadows, and his slender, well-defined fingers nimbly wrapped the medicinal packages. He exuded a gentle and serious aura. Beside him lay an open medical book; before wrapping each package, he would check it against the book to reinforce his memory.
Sensing the light being blocked by a shadow falling in front of him, Jiang Jinxi finally diverted a bit of attention from his work and looked up. Seeing Song Bo standing before him, he asked, “Why are you back so early today?”
The sky had only just begun to darken.
“I did not go to buy anything, so I came back early.” Song Bo raised his arm, about to lean it on the cabinet, but Jiang Jinxi nudged him away with his elbow. “I am wrapping medicine. Go sit over there.”
Well, coming home early only resulted in being shooed away.
Song Bo obediently found a small wooden stool and sat down. He looked around idly. Previously, his visits had been rushed, but now that he was at leisure, he noticed that Song Chazai had a vast collection of medical books filling an entire cabinet.
Those books looked aged with well-worn corners, showing that Song Chazai consulted them frequently to refresh her knowledge.
With nothing to do, Song Bo began peeling an orange. Ancient oranges were pure and natural; they tasted both sweet and juicy.
The scent of orange drifted through the room. Having just seen off the villager, Song Chazai walked over and held out her hand, palm up, toward Song Bo.
Song Bo took the hint, peeled an orange, and placed it in Song Chazai’s hand.
Song Chazai took the orange and sat down beside Song Bo.
Having finished an orange himself, Song Bo pulled out his plain money pouch and took out fifty coins, placing them on the table. “Eldest Aunt, I am returning this money to you.”
Song Chazai tilted her head while eating the orange and did a rough count. This small pile of copper coins definitely exceeded thirty. She swallowed a piece of orange and said, “I only lent you thirty coins. What is the extra for?”
“Jinxi has been eating here every day recently. The extra is for the meals,” Song Bo explained.
Song Chazai became displeased. She quickly finished the orange, wiped her hands, and picked out the extra twenty coins. “Do family members charge for meals? People would laugh if they heard. Take it back.”
“Even close brothers should keep clear accounts,” Song Bo said.
Song Bo was even using proverbs now. Song Chazai was somewhat surprised by his progress, but surprise aside, things needed to be stated clearly. “Your uncle and I find it hard to manage portions for just two people. Since Jinxi started coming, there has not been a single time we had leftovers. Is that not a good thing?”
“But…” Song Bo tried to argue.
Song Chazai pulled a stern face. “If you do not take it back, I will be angry.”
There was no need to sour the relationship over a small matter. Song Bo knew Song Chazai was looking out for him and was unwilling to take a single extra cent. “Then I will take it back for now. In the future, when I bring things over, you must not refuse them.”
“That depends on what the things are.” Song Chazai did not give a definitive answer. Song Bo was still young and his future was limitless now that he was improving. If he became successful and sent her something too precious, she would not dare to accept it.
“Naturally,” Song Bo replied.
The two fell silent. The only sound in the room was the occasional rustling of paper as Jiang Jinxi flipped through his medical books.
Song Chazai looked at Jiang Jinxi, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the wooden table. She spoke up, “I have something to tell you.”
Her tone was somewhat serious, and Song Bo instinctively straightened his posture, becoming more alert.
“Jinxi wants to learn medicine from me, and I have agreed,” Song Chazai said.
“I thought it was something major.” Song Bo breathed a sigh of relief. “If he wants to learn, let him learn. It is good to have a skill to rely on.”
In a year, Jiang Jinxi would return to the capital, which was a place that could swallow people whole. Learning medicine could be a way to protect himself; at the very least, it might prevent him from being poisoned or harmed.
After more than seven days together, Song Bo had already separated Jiang Jinxi from the character in the novel, treating him as a real, living person. Even a heart of stone has feelings, let alone Song Bo. He hoped Jiang Jinxi could escape the tragic ending of the original story and instead walk a new, bright path.
“Let me tell you, the benefits of learning medicine…” Song Chazai had thought Song Bo would strictly refuse. She had prepared an entire persuasive speech, but it was not needed at all.
People in the Heng Kingdom generally believed that ger and women only needed to know how to serve their husbands and teach their children. Medicine was an extremely difficult discipline that few were willing to let their ger or women study. They believed that lack of talent was a virtue in a ger or woman; if they learned too much or became too clever, they would be harder to control. It was only thanks to the open-mindedness of the late Song elders that Song Chazai had been allowed to study under an old doctor.
“I know the benefits of learning medicine,” Song Bo said. Among excellent skills in ancient times, medicine was certainly near the top. However, learning it was difficult. Just identifying herbs and memorizing acupuncture points was extremely hard. “Do not teach him too much at once. Give him time to digest it.”
Song Chazai raised an eyebrow. “Are you feeling protective?”
“No,” Song Bo answered.
“Seeing him work so hard, why don’t you peel an orange for him?” Song Chazai suggested.
Previously, she had thought that if Song Bo returned to his old ways, she would help Jiang Jinxi escape. Now that Song Bo was improving day by day, she had dropped that idea. Their future path was for them to walk together, but Song Chazai was happy to have a beautiful and intelligent niece-in-law, so she wanted to give them a little push.
“He has hands of his own; why should I peel it?” Song Bo replied.
Song Chazai gave a small “tsk,” feeling that Song Bo was as dense as a block of wood. “He is busy reading books; where would he find the time? Is it not your duty as a husband to serve him a bit?”
Song Bo’s gaze drifted over to Jiang Jinxi. Jiang Jinxi had changed from standing to sitting. His right hand propped up his forehead, and his eyes were glued to the medical text. When he reached content that required memorization, he would cover the book, look up at the ceiling, and silently recite to himself. He did indeed look very busy.
Song Bo picked an orange that seemed likely to be juicy and peeled it. He stood up and brought it to Jiang Jinxi.
The orange color caught Jiang Jinxi’s attention. He looked up slowly. Song Bo held the orange and was looking at him with a smile. Perhaps because there were many candles lit in the room, Jiang Jinxi found Song Bo’s presence a bit dazzling.
“Take a break and have an orange?” Song Bo suggested.
Not knowing if Jiang Jinxi liked the pith, he took it upon himself to remove all the white fibers. The entire orange was smooth, round, and looked delicious.
Jiang Jinxi took the orange and put a segment into his mouth. He had eaten countless oranges back in the capital, yet this orange felt more delicious than any he had ever tasted.
With an extra person present, Song Chazai cooked an additional dish. Everyone finished dinner in a harmonious atmosphere. Remembering his promise to Song Lingling, Jiang Jinxi left Song Chazai’s house with Song Bo around 7:00 PM.
“Why leave so early? You could have asked Eldest Aunt more questions while there are no patients around at night,” Song Bo said.
Song Chazai had to look after patients during the day and was only free at night. This was the best time for Jiang Jinxi to study.
“I have things to do,” Jiang Jinxi said.
Not knowing what business Jiang Jinxi had, Song Bo did not ask further. Going home was fine; he needed to take the old clothes down to the Tianxi River to wash them. He had no time during the day, and going at night meant fewer people around.
Song Bo saw a lantern glowing in front of their courtyard from a distance.
As they got closer, Song Bo realized it was the woman he had helped that day.
“Who are you looking for?” Song Bo asked.
Song Lingling was somewhat nervous. She glanced at Jiang Jinxi beside Song Bo. Jiang Jinxi looked back at her and said, “She is here to see you.”
“See me?” Song Bo was confused. He had done nothing improper when he helped Song Lingling that day, and the way he held her was perfectly normal. He could not think of a reason for her to be looking for him at his doorstep.
“Yes,” Song Lingling nodded. She raised the small wooden basket in her right hand toward Song Bo. “I came to apologize to you.”
“Apologize?” Song Bo was even more bewildered. “What did you do that requires an apology?”
“I spoke ill of you that day; that was my mistake.” Song Lingling still did not dare to meet Song Bo’s eyes. She looked down at her toes and said, “I hope you can accept my gift and forgive me; otherwise, my heart will not be at peace.”
This matter was so trivial that Song Bo had completely forgotten about it. Since crossing over to this world, he frequently heard people whispering about him. Over time, he had become used to it and did not take it to heart.
He had not expected such a small thing to trouble Song Lingling.
Song Bo took the small wooden basket directly into his hand. “I have received your apology and I forgive you.”
“Really!” Song Lingling looked up suddenly, her eyes shining.
She was just a kind-hearted child, and Song Bo had no intention of making things difficult for her. He smiled and said, “Yes, really.”