While Qi Chong was still unconscious, Yu Chunmiao left him in her mother-in-law’s care and went out to shop. She bought rice, flour, and sugar, along with two marrow bones, a jin of lean pork, three liang of pork liver, twenty eggs, and two radishes.
Qi Chong needed proper recovery—nutrition had to be well balanced. Protein, vitamins, and dietary fiber were all essential.
Her mother-in-law’s illness couldn’t be neglected either, so Chunmiao also bought two more days’ worth of medicine for her.
Qi Chong slept for two full hours before finally waking. After drinking his medicine, two apprentices prepared a stretcher to carry him to the ox cart. To everyone’s surprise, Qi Yuan simply scooped his elder brother up in a bridal carry and placed him on the cart effortlessly.
Chunmiao couldn’t help clicking her tongue in amazement. The Qi family’s genes were truly something else.
Before they left, Doctor Yu—rarely gentle—remarked, “Your daughter-in-law is a good one. Brave and meticulous. Qi Chong is a fortunate man.”
Wasn’t she brave and meticulous? Those were essential traits for a rider. Back then, she’d dared to compete in a 1.4-meter course wearing a helmet so old it was practically loose.
For all she knew, helmet manufacturers might still be using her as a cautionary tale in their ads.
Chen Ruolan thanked the doctor profusely, but being praised like that in front of Wang the Butcher made her uneasy. It wouldn’t do if people found out her daughter-in-law wasn’t actually foolish.
Wang the Butcher himself was honest and tight-lipped—but his wife was another matter entirely.
Qi Yuan rode back with them as well. Just like on the way there, Chunmiao kept quiet. With outsiders present, it was better to keep up appearances.
The ox cart jolted the entire way. Chunmiao held Qi Chong’s injured leg steady throughout the ride. Watching her, Qi Chong thought his broken leg had been worth it—otherwise, he might have married Zhou Min instead.
They arrived home around mid-afternoon. The road leading to the Qi house was uphill, narrow, and steep. Afraid the cart would jostle too much, Qi Yuan carried his brother the rest of the way. Chunmiao followed behind with the basket, steadying Qi Chong’s leg so it wouldn’t swing.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Qi Rong hurried over. He’d already washed the banxia he’d dug up that morning and laid it out to dry.
“Second Brother, you’re back?” Qi Rong greeted him first—he hadn’t seen him in a long time.
Qi Yuan didn’t respond, focused on carrying his elder brother inside.
After settling Qi Chong on the bed, Chunmiao said to Qi Yuan, “Second Brother, I’ll heat some water. Please help wipe him down and change him into clean clothes later.”
Qi Yuan agreed, thinking to himself how attentive this sister-in-law was—he wouldn’t have thought of any of this.
Chen Ruolan and Chunmiao headed to the kitchen, while all three Qi brothers gathered in the room.
“Does it hurt, Big Brother?” Qi Rong asked a pointless question.
Qi Chong turned his head away, too much in pain to answer.
Qi Yuan smacked Qi Rong lightly on the head. “Of course it hurts. Have you been studying your characters lately?”
Qi Rong shook his head. “No. I’ve been busy digging banxia to earn money. I’ll study once Big Brother’s leg heals.”
Qi Yuan muttered, “How did Sister-in-law even know that stuff could be sold? If I’d known earlier, why would I bother learning carpentry? I could’ve just gone into the mountains every day.”
Qi Rong replied seriously, “Sister-in-law said it’s seasonal and will run out if overharvested. It’s only for emergencies. Having a proper skill is what lasts a lifetime.”
Qi Yuan felt she was absolutely right. No wonder, even during the hardest times, Qi Chong never allowed him to quit his apprenticeship with Carpenter Xiao. If he’d left halfway through, word would’ve spread, and no one would hire him no matter how good his skills were.
Soon, the Qi household filled with the smell of medicine. Two stoves were constantly boiling decoctions—first Qi Chong’s pain-relief and bone-healing medicines, then Chen Ruolan’s.
Qi Yuan and Qi Rong helped wipe Qi Chong down and change his clothes, while the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were already busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. Bone soup needed time to simmer.
Chunmiao carried a bowl of medicine into Qi Chong’s room. Earlier, she’d been too rushed to notice, but now she saw a bookshelf and a desk inside. Three shelves were packed full of books.
On the wall hung a massive bow—not the ordinary bamboo kind she was familiar with. The bow’s body seemed inlaid with animal bone or rhino horn, giving it an expensive, imposing look.
As soon as she entered, Qi Yuan hurried over and helped his elder brother sit up against the pillows.
Yu Chunmiao sat by the bed, gently blowing on the bowl of medicine. Qi Chong stared at her quietly. These days, although she’d finally been eating her fill, the constant hard work hadn’t put much weight on her. Her complexion was still sallow, her figure thin and frail. Not a single copper she earned was spent on herself—every bit went to the family.
Looking at the dimples that appeared when she smiled, Qi Chong silently made a vow: from now on, he would treat her well. He would have beautiful clothes made for her, feed her properly, and raise her until she was fair and plump.
“Come, drink the medicine. It’s not hot anymore,” Yu Chunmiao said, lifting a spoon to his lips.
Qi Chong opened his mouth and swallowed. It was bitter—and yet strangely sweet.
As she fed him, she chatted softly, “This one helps your bones heal. Drink it every evening before dinner. In the morning, you’ll take the pain-relief medicine. Is there anything you’re craving? I can bring it back when I go to sell goods.”
Qi Chong shook his head and replied weakly, “This is already very good. I can smell the bone soup—you added radish too, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “Doctor Yu said you need to eat better. Bones aren’t expensive. Second Brother helped smash them open—the marrow is especially fragrant.”
Qi Chong looked at her with aching tenderness. “Qi Yuan will be back in a few days. I’m useless right now—if there’s anything to be done, let him do it. Don’t exhaust yourself.”
Qi Yuan immediately chimed in, “That’s right, Sister-in-law. Rong’er said you’ve been running nonstop these past days, working yourself to the bone. Once I’m back, just put me to work.”
Yu Chunmiao smiled, feeding another spoonful of medicine. “That sounds good. I’m just waiting for the day when hardship turns into sweetness.”
Qi Chong smiled faintly. That day would surely come.
That night, Qi Yuan had planned to leave, but when Chen Ruolan brought a chamber pot and night pot into Qi Chong’s room, he decided it was better to stay.
Yu Chunmiao grew troubled. If Second Brother left tomorrow, how would Qi Chong manage his… necessities? She wracked her brain, and suddenly, a lightbulb went off.
“Second Brother, if I draw a woodworking design, can you make it for me tomorrow?”
Qi Yuan replied confidently, “As long as it’s nothing too complicated, I can finish most things in a day.”
Yu Chunmiao walked to the desk, took out paper and brush, ground the ink, and soon finished the drawing.
Qi Yuan studied it and said, “Isn’t this just a stool? The seat’s hollow, though. Easy enough—but what’s it for?”
Yu Chunmiao leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear.
Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up in realization. “Ohhh! Sister-in-law, you’re really clever. I’ll make it first thing tomorrow and bring it back after work.”
Qi Chong asked, puzzled, “What are you two talking about?”
Qi Yuan showed him the drawing and explained carefully. “See? It’s like a stool, hollow in the middle, with a chamber pot underneath. When Big Brother needs to relieve himself, we move it to the bedside and he can sit on it. Sister-in-law came up with it herself… she calls it a ‘toilet.’”
Qi Chong covered his forehead, his face flushing red.
That night, Qi Yuan and Qi Rong returned to their own room. Yu Chunmiao was supposed to sleep in Chen Ruolan’s room, but she couldn’t rest easy. Near midnight, she went to Qi Chong’s room instead.
Holding an oil lamp, she examined him carefully. His face was damp with sweat, his lips dry, his sharp brows drawn together.
She pressed a hand to his forehead—it was burning hot.
In the dead of night, Yu Chunmiao didn’t wake anyone. She went straight to the kitchen to boil medicine herself. While the decoction simmered, she brought a bowl of water back to Qi Chong’s room.
The smell of medicine woke Chen Ruolan. Following the light, she came into her son’s room just in time to see Yu Chunmiao struggling to help Qi Chong sit up.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Ruolan asked anxiously.