Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 21

“A prosthetic limb. If it can be made successfully, Uncle Mengshan might be able to walk like an ordinary person,” Yu Jiao explained.

However, the process of making a prosthetic limb was rather complicated, especially when it came to sourcing suitable materials for the socket and thigh support. Yu Jiao wasn’t even sure if she could find proper leather, and the chances of success weren’t high.

Yu Qizhe’s peach blossom shaped eyes lit up slightly, and his gaze toward Yu Jiao deepened. “Your master taught you this too?”

Yu Jiao smiled. “Back in the capital, I saw my master make one for someone. I wanted to give it a try, though I can’t guarantee it’ll work. Don’t tell Uncle Mengshan or Aunt Song yet, we don’t want to get their hopes up.”

Yu Qizhe nodded and quietly watched her finish the drawing. As Yu Jiao turned to leave with the completed sketch, he said softly, “Thank you.”

Yu Jiao paused slightly and looked back at him. “If you really want to thank me… teach me how to write.”

She couldn’t stay at the Yu household forever. To build a life in this world, she would need to rely on her medical skills, which meant she’d have to write prescriptions herself someday. Yu Qizhe’s calligraphy was elegant and clear. 

While she was still at the Yu household, she hoped to practice her handwriting so that, in the future, no one would struggle to read her prescriptions.

“Alright,” Yu Qizhe agreed.

Yu Jiao’s lips curved upward in a brilliant smile. Her delicate features glowed with joy. “Then I’ll come to you every day to practice.”

Her smile was so dazzling that even Yu Qizhe couldn’t help but smile faintly in return. “Mhm.”

Yu Jiao took the drawing to the outer room. Using the excuse of checking for swelling, she quietly measured Yu Mengshan’s remaining leg and foot, then estimated his weight. 

After calculating the necessary load-bearing strength for the prosthetic, she revised her sketch and went to the courtyard to find Yu Qiaoshan.

Shortly after Yu Jiao left, Yu Fuling entered Yu Qizhe’s room and asked, “Wulang, what was she doing here just now?”

Yu Qizhe was preparing to write out a copybook for Yu Jiao to trace when she came in. As he wrote, he replied, “She borrowed some paper and ink.”

Yu Fuling stepped closer, lowered her voice, and warned, “That shameless girl definitely came in on purpose to get close to you. After doing something so disgraceful, if she had even a shred of decency, she’d hang herself already. But no, our grandfather even lets her stay here! You’d better stay away from her. She’s not fit to be your wife!”

Yu Qizhe’s mind involuntarily drifted to Yu Jiao’s clear, dark eyes and radiant smile. He dazed out for a moment, not replying.

“I’m talking to you, did you hear me?” Yu Fuling gave him a shove, making his arm jolt and the brushstroke wobble on the page.

He sighed softly, set down the writing brush, and said, “Sister, she’s not as bad as you think. Don’t be so biased against her.”

Yu Fuling frowned. “If she hadn’t done that disgusting thing, would I be so biased? Wulang, why are you defending her now? Don’t tell me you’ve been charmed by that rotten girl?” 

“How could she compare to Chen Rou in any way? Once your health is better, Mom and Dad should propose to the Chen family. I’m still counting on Chen Rou to be my sister-in-law!”

“Sister,” Yu Qizhe’s brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of coldness crept into his elegant features. “We have nothing to do with the Chen family anymore. Please stop bringing up Chen Rou, it would harm her reputation if anyone hears.”

“I’m not stupid. Of course I won’t mention her name in front of outsiders. I know you still have feelings for her. If it weren’t for her parents being unreasonable, your engagement would’ve already gone through.” 

“Then we wouldn’t have to deal with that vexing, shameful Meng Yujiao!” Yu Fuling completely misinterpreted Yu Qizhe’s concern for Chen Rou’s reputation as lingering affection.

Yu Qizhe looked helpless and didn’t want to argue further. He picked up a book and pretended to read. “Sister, let’s not talk about the past anymore.”

Yu Fuling had no choice but to leave his room. She returned to her own, picked up her embroidery basket, and began working on the wedding clothes for her marriage after the New Year. Through the window, she saw Yu Jiao chatting and laughing with Yu Qiaoshan in the courtyard and couldn’t help but purse her lips in displeasure.

In the courtyard, Yu Qiaoshan studied the sketch Yu Jiao had brought and asked in confusion, “What is this thing?”

“It’s a prosthetic. Do you think it can handle the weight I’ve calculated?” Yu Jiao asked.

It was Yu Qiaoshan’s first time hearing the term “weight-bearing,” but he got the gist. Holding the drawing, he said, “Old locust wood from the mountains is solid, we might be able to make it. This wooden leg… it’s for Mengshan? Do you think he can really use it?”

He’d never heard of anyone using a prosthetic leg before. In his mind, only Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, had magical abilities, like when he gave someone a dog’s leg in a legend. That was supernatural. 

As for a wooden leg, Yu Qiaoshan was deeply skeptical. He didn’t believe this strange contraption could really help Yu Mengshan walk.

As noon approached, Yu Jiao and Madam Song went to the kitchen to make lunch. The steamed buns at home had run out, and Madam Song planned to knead dough for noodles. Yu Jiao volunteered and deftly rolled out a full board of coarse noodles.

Madam Song went to the garden to pick vegetables, and Yu Jiao followed. To her surprise, she found tomatoes and garlic chives growing there. While Madam Song picked some mugwort, Yu Jiao took three ripe tomatoes and returned to the kitchen to cut a bunch of garlic chives.

When Yu Mengshan needed to use the latrine, he called Madam Song for help. Meanwhile, Yu Jiao rummaged through a cabinet under the pantry and found a basket of eggs. Delighted by the discovery, she took six to seven and began cracking them with crisp, practiced taps. With swift strokes of her chopsticks, she beat the egg mixture until smooth.

After lighting the stove and adding firewood, Yu Jiao quickly cooked a tomato and egg sauce, followed by a stir-fried dish of garlic chives and eggs. Once the noodles were boiled, she ladled them into bowls and poured the tomato egg sauce on top. She cleaned and blanched the mugwort leaves in hot water, then tossed them in garlic for a simple side dish.

When Madam Song returned after helping and cleaning Yu Mengshan, she was stunned to find that the meal was already finished and even more shocked when she saw the eggs.

“Meng girl, where did you get the eggs?” Madam Song asked in a panic.

“From the basket under the pantry. There were quite a few, so I used a few for the meal,” Yu Jiao replied.

Madam Song hurried to check the basket, and upon seeing how many eggs were missing, her expression turned uneasy. “How many did you take?”

“Six or seven, I think.” Seeing her expression darken, Yu Jiao asked, “What’s wrong? Are we not supposed to eat those?”

Madam Song looked troubled. “It’s not that we can’t eat them. It’s just… the eggs are counted. They’re being saved for Erlang and Silang, they’re studying hard at the academy. If we eat them… it won’t look good. Your grandma won’t be happy.”

The old matriarch had always favored the third branch of the family, especially when it came to food. The best things in the house were only meant for Yu Jinshu and Yu Jinyan. 

Now that Yu Jiao had used up six or seven eggs all at once, there was no doubt the old lady would be furious.