Gu Youyou exclaimed, "Then how do you know he’s not the person you’re looking for!"
Jin Zijin said, "The person I’m looking for wouldn’t come out during the broad daylight."
Gu Youyou burst into laughter, "If he doesn’t come out during the day, could it be that he comes out at night? Is he a bat or something?"
Hearing Gu Youyou’s joking, Jin Zijin’s expression gradually darkened. After a long while, he sighed softly, "He probably wouldn’t come out at night either!"
This time Jin Zijin didn’t explain, and the two remained silent until they reached the town.
As they saw more people around, Gu Youyou said, "You can put me down now, I can walk on my own."
Jin Zijin, however, said, "It’s okay, the place we’re staying is secluded."
Upon reaching the town, Jin Zijin turned into an alley, indeed choosing the most secluded paths, until they arrived at a remote courtyard.
Gu Youyou, having struggled to recover for so long, was drained by Jin Zijin in one go.
Her body felt sore and weak, as if she had gone back to several months earlier.
Gu Youyou checked her own pulse and found no serious problems; it was just excessive blood loss, coupled with her already frail body, that caused her to faint.
A few days of good rest should see her recovery.
The courtyard was small but neatly organized. After setting down Gu Youyou, Jin Zijin went out.
Not long after, he returned with some food.
A large basket full of food, Jin Zijin skillfully took out the contents, dish after dish, which made Gu Youyou’s mouth water.
My goodness, three meat and three vegetarian dishes! And a soup.
Heaven knows that since she had arrived in this poor and isolated place, her pursuit of food had been reduced to just satisfying hunger. She didn’t even dare to think about taste.
She never thought she’d get to eat such delicate dishes so soon!
Picking up a piece of tender white fish and put it in her mouth, the long-missed flavor burst across her taste buds!
Gu Youyou said moved, "I almost forgot what fish tastes like, Zijin. Why are you suddenly so generous, treating me to a good meal?"
Jin Zijin, unlike his food-grabbing, ghastly demeanor in the thatched cottage, was eating with elegance. His manners were even more proper than Gu Youyou’s before she traveled back in time, leaving her staring in astonishment.
When they had nearly finished eating, he put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and then spoke to Gu Youyou in a relaxed manner, "Last time, the Lin Family’s butler came and gave fifty pieces of silver. You no longer need medicine, so isn’t it great to use it for meat?"
Gu Youyou’s heart, full of emotion, deflated like a pricked balloon, instantly drained.
It turns out she was eating the money her uncle had sent for her treatment and medicine!
"Hehe... that is great!" Gu Youyou forced a laugh and continued eating heartily.
Gu Youyou suddenly remembered something and asked urgently, "What about the herbs I picked last time?"
Jin Zijin froze for a moment and asked, "Do you need those herbs?"
"No, we could sell them to get silver. We have a lot of expenses!"
Jin Zijin nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll make a trip into the mountains tomorrow, collect them and exchange them for silver at the herbal shop."
Only then did Gu Youyou nod in relief.
Jin Zijin said he needed to repair the house and asked Gu Youyou to stay here for now. He would go back to the village during the day to work on the house and return in the evening to take care of her.
As for Gu Youyou, she had to recuperate alone anyway, so it didn’t matter!
Two or three days later, Gu Youyou could romp and jump about again. A weak body was unacceptable to her. She adhered to the principle of standing when she could stand, sitting when she could sit, and only lying down when absolutely necessary.