Chapter 17

Shen Qing struggled to open his eyes and responded weakly, looking pitiful and helpless. He lifted his burning hand and grabbed Xiao Wanling’s hand, trying to stand up.

Seeing him like this made Xiao Wanling’s heart ache. She bent down and helped sling his arm over her shoulder to support him out of bed.

They both tried hard, but Xiao Wanling hadn’t considered the difference in size between them. With Shen Qing’s weight leaning against her, they ended up toppling to the ground.

Xiao Wanling quickly reached out to break the fall, but Shen Qing’s weight overwhelmed her, and her elbow slammed onto the floor. Just as her face was about to hit the ground, a large hand slid beneath her—her chin landed squarely in Shen Qing’s palm, causing him to let out a muffled groan of pain.

She sat on the ground, eyes tearing from the pain. Shen Qing sat up and leaned close. “Don’t cry! I’m not going to die.”

Xiao Wanling’s nose tingled, filled with self-blame. She mustered all her strength to get Shen Qing back onto the bed, then rushed outside and called, “Hui Lang!”

Ever since they started repairing the house, Hui Lang had been hiding in the mountains, only appearing at feeding time.

With a whoosh, the Grey Wolf darted over, wagging its tail. Xiao Wanling crouched beside him and said, “Shen Qing is sick. You stay and watch over him—I’m going to gather herbs.”

There were some wandering doctors and shamans in Dayan Village, but when villagers had headaches or fevers, they mostly relied on charms and “blessed” water. Xiao Wanling knew that was just psychological comfort. Going to Dayan Village would mean crossing over two and a half mountains and passing through another village—it was quicker to head into the back hills to forage for herbs. She’d seen bupleurum and honeysuckle there before; they’d have to do until she could visit a city doctor at dawn.

With a candle in hand, a knife at her waist for protection, and a basket on her back, she began her search. The mountain wind flickered her candlelight, so she shielded the flame with her palm and crouched low, scanning the roadside carefully.

A rustle behind her made her glance back. Hui Lang (grey wolf) had followed her, wagging its tail and brushing against her legs, then ran ahead, stopped, and looked back at her.

“You’re leading me to herbs?” she asked.

Grey Wolf panted happily, wagging its tail again before running forward and waiting. Xiao Wanling hurried after him.

Eventually, they stopped. Xiao Wanling pulled out her herb manual to confirm the plants. On the way back, she moved much faster.

She brewed the bupleurum into a medicinal tea and let it cool before bringing it to Shen Qing. He drank it in big gulps, then clung to her waist, refusing to let go, insisting she sleep beside him.

She gently coaxed him into lying down and waited until he fell asleep. Only then did she doze off for a bit herself. She woke in a panic to check his forehead—it wasn’t burning anymore. She let out a sigh of relief.

Before sunrise, she got up to prepare for the teahouse, leaving food behind and telling Hui Lang to guard the house. Still worried, she packed up early and hurried home.

Chen Gui saw her leave and immediately jumped at the chance. He shouted, “Sugar water and rice cakes for sale!”

Two burly men in blue cross-collar robes stood outside his stall. They entered and ordered some tea and snacks. After taking a bite of the rice cake, their expressions turned puzzled.

Chen Gui, thrilled to finally have customers, smiled obsequiously. “How are the tea and snacks? Is it to your liking?”

One of the men took a sip of tea, swallowed the rice cake, and cut straight to the point. “This is Qishan Village, right? Is this where Madam Xiao runs her teahouse?”

Chen Gui’s eyes widened. “Yep, this is Qishan Village. Are you looking for her?”

The man in blue asked, “Do you know Madam Xiao?” How’s her cooking?”

Chen Gui tossed his rag over his shoulder and sat down rudely. “You’ve come to the right person—she’s no good! Just knows how to fool those who can’t tell the difference. That food definitely has something fishy in it… that, uh… what’s-its powder!”

The two men exchanged glances, then quietly placed wens on the table and left. At the doorway, one of them turned to glance back. Yep, this was Qishan Village, and this was the teahouse. The shop assistant seemed honest enough.

As they walked away, one muttered, “We’ve been here before. These rice cakes are getting worse.” With cooking skills like this, even they wouldn’t accept her, let alone Madam Ji. It had to be someone impersonating the real Chef Xiao—too many people were trying to find her these days. There’s no way someone would find her so easily.

Chen Gui grinned, clutching the wens. Serves Madam Xiao right for not guarding her stall. Not my fault.

Back home, Xiao Wanling brewed another bowl of medicine for Shen Qing. His fever had broken, but he was still unconscious.

She made white rice porridge and stir-fried some garden greens. After eating, she began prepping lunch for the teahouse: cooling herbal tea and steamed buns. She used dried wild mint and grasses to make the tea, added homemade syrup, then kneaded dough, chopped filling, and started steaming buns.

She brought a tray of porridge and buns into Shen Qing’s room, then loaded everything else onto the oxcart.

There was still time before noon, so she kept the tea cool in a water bath. Outside the teahouse, a shadow loomed—Chen Gui stood smugly with one hand across his chest, the other stroking his chin. “Madam Xiao, someone came looking for you. They said your snacks were terrible and left.”

Xiao Wanling placed a bamboo tray on the table. “That was probably your snacks they were talking about.” So dry they could choke someone—where does he get this confidence?

Chen Gui felt as if someone stepped on his tail and barked back, “I heard them say your rice cakes are getting worse! They asked me about your cooking. I told them—just so-so! They turned and left right away!”

Xiao Wanling’s hand paused. Someone came looking for her? Could it be someone from Hongyun Restaurant in the city? No… She hadn’t even given the recipe to Madam Zhang yet. Then maybe it was Madam Ji from the tea banquet?

Seeing her silent, Chen Gui assumed he was right. He clicked his tongue smugly. “Ha! Finally someone with good taste.”

A sly smile briefly crossed Xiao Wanling’s face, then she turned toward Chen Gui with a sharp glare. “They were clearly here to recruit me as a chef, and you ruined my golden opportunity!”

She began loading the cart with snacks and tea. “Get out of the way!”

Chen Gui pointed at her. “Ha! You? Rise to greatness? Maybe I’ll become an immortal too!”

Xiao Wanling locked up the door and climbed onto the oxcart with a snort.

Chen Gui, delighted to finally see her flustered, drank through lunch without bothering to open shop.

The mountain roads were now repaired, and after two trips with the oxcart, she made it back just in time to sell to the village folk.

The reddish-brown tea had only a faint sweetness. An old villager asked, “Is it another new tea?”

Xiao Wanling smiled. “Yes! And there are meat buns today—four wen each.”

It was rare to have meat. For only four cents, they could taste real meat. The villagers cheerfully bought them to deliver to family members working in the fields for lunch, giving them extra energy.

Chen Gui watched the teahouse swarm with customers while his own stall remained empty. He scowled and bit his lip, then bought one of her meat buns.

After paying, he tore the bun open—inside were reddish meat cubes giving off a mouthwatering aroma. The glossy dough was slightly oily, stuffed half with meat and half with wild greens. How could she make a profit selling this for four wen?

He took a bite—real meat! And it tasted incredible!

Something’s wrong. Definitely wrong. Seeing Xiao Wanling heading home again, he chased after her. “Hey! There’s something wrong with your meat!”

Xiao Wanling rolled her eyes. “Stop spreading rumors.” She’d eaten the buns herself—nothing was wrong. “Sounds like there’s something wrong with your brain.”

Chen Gui’s jaw dropped. “Did you just insult me?” Still, he stuffed the rest of the meat into his mouth. Honestly, it was delicious. He should’ve bought more.

But… Xiao Wanling being this generous? Business was about making money! He had to uncover her true face!

Back home, the first thing Xiao Wanling did was check Shen Qing’s forehead—no fever. She decided to ask Uncle Xue to help find a traveling doctor and get proper medicine.

Upon hearing Shen Qing had a fever, Xue Zhengyang became anxious. “How did that happen? He was fine last night—it must be from overwork! Stay here and watch him. I’ll go find a doctor right away.”

Xiao Wanling thanked him and left, not wanting to deal with Old Lady Liu’s sour face.

But Xue Cui came storming out and blocked her path, chest heaving with anger. “My father’s marrying me off. Happy now?!”

Xiao Wanling couldn’t be bothered and walked around her.

Xue Cui blocked her again, shouting, “If not for you, I’d already be married to Shen Qing!”

Xiao Wanling halted. “Tch. You hear Shen Qing’s sick and don’t even ask how he is. You don’t actually care about him—so why marry him?”

Besides, had she ever asked Shen Qing what he wanted?

Xue Cui froze. Now that she thought about it, it was her father who wanted her to marry Shen Qing. Shen Qing never objected, but then Madam Xiao showed up and ruined everything. She shouted after her, “If not Shen Qing, who would I marry?!”

Yeah! Marry some cripple or what? Madam Xiao didn’t even know women weren’t allowed to marry out of the village. She was clearly mocking her!

To Xiao Wanling, it was obvious: Xue Cui didn’t love Shen Qing—she was just obsessed.

The scorching midday sun made her scalp burn. Xiao Wanling had left in a hurry without a parasol. She snapped off a banana leaf by the river to use as shade. She’d heard people eat banana hearts and roots when they have no grain.

With Shen Qing’s fever gone, she felt much more at ease. She noticed purslane and amaranth growing by the rice paddies; they were edible wild greens no one seemed to bother with.

Climbing halfway up the mountain, she broke into a light sweat. Seeing the house door still closed, she muttered, “Is Shen Qing still asleep?”

She checked the kitchen and found a pear—perfect for making pear-syrup tea to soothe his throat. The large bowl from earlier was empty, so he must have woken up, eaten, and gone back to sleep.

The two new rooms were finished but still needed cleaning. She tied up her hair, tucked her skirt into her waistband, and began scrubbing the doors and windows.

The door creaked open, and long legs stepped out. Shen Qing smiled brightly. “Wife.”

Xiao Wanling’s smile froze. What… why the new title?

Shen Qing strode up, took the rag from her hands, and lifted her onto a stool. “Let me do this rough work.”

Wife? Hugs? What, did the fever fry his brain? She reached out to feel his forehead, confused.

Shen Qing grabbed her hand and pressed it to his cheek.

She quickly pulled back, but he caught it again, placing it back on his face.

“I made you pear syrup,” she said.

His eyes lit up. He rushed to the kitchen, lifted the bowl, and beamed at her with a silly grin.

This… this is how misunderstandings happen, she thought bitterly.

After finishing the syrup, Shen Qing began moving furniture into the new house. He even lifted the bed overhead, grinning ear to ear. “Wife, which room are we sleeping in?”