"But what’s there to trick us with?" Liang Zi asked, coming over with a bunch of dry wood he’d just chopped, "Could the trickery actually bring us silver?"
"Yeah," Qian Er nodded, "maybe something’s holding him up." After a pause, "Anyway, these days let’s just live honestly, who knows... Ruxin might be watching us from the shadows..."
As soon as he said this, everyone unconsciously looked around, as if they feared Yang Ruxin might suddenly appear.
"Big brother is right; let’s just live our lives honestly," Liang Zi quickly agreed, "You guys work on the firewood, I’ll go fetch some medicine for father."
Chengzi and Liang Zi were homeless too, and Qian Er’s father was kind-hearted and felt sorry for the two children, so he let them stay in his house, giving them a place to sleep.
So, all this time the four of them had depended on each other for survival. The family had been struggling for food, but now with the five taels of silver and the one tael prepaid by Tong Lingling, their daily life had improved a lot. They had brought back quite a bit of food and even bought new clothes and bedding.
Chopping wood now was just a precaution—in case Ruxin called them away for work, and they couldn’t return, at least Old Man Qian wouldn’t be without firewood to cook.
"Not bad at all," a clear feminine voice rang out at that moment, "you guys really keep your word."
"Ruxin!" Qian Er and the others immediately looked around in surprise.
"I’m right here," Yang Ruxin announced, standing on the roof before leaping down gracefully into the courtyard.
The group watched as Yang Ruxin flickered through the air a few times before landing in front of them; they were so impressed that they immediately knelt on one knee like the members of those factions, "We pay our respects to Sister Ruxin."
Yang Ruxin blushed slightly, as in reality, she had simply used her space twice in the process of jumping down, which had cushioned her descent, allowing her to adjust the height of her jump continuously. But to the onlookers, it seemed as if she was performing magic.
"Get up. We don’t do that here," Yang Ruxin waved them off, then turned her attention to Qian Er, "I know your father has trouble with his legs. I will take a look at them... "
"Really?" Qian Er’s face lit up with surprise. Although he was a bit rough around the edges, he was a filial son, and it pained him to see his father tortured by leg pain, "Ruxin, you know medical skills?"
Yang Ruxin frowned slightly, "Would I say so if it wasn’t true?"
"I was wrong." Qian Er quickly raised his hand to slap his own face, "Sister Ruxin, just wait a moment, I’ll tidy up inside, the house is a mess..."
Yang Ruxin was uninterested in his rambling and directly entered the house, composed of three main rooms, with Old Man Qian staying in the western room. The house was low and damp, and not cleaned regularly, so there was a musty, rancid smell inside.
Old Man Qian had been bedridden for almost ten years. Though his son was devoted, their limited means barely allowed for enough food, let alone proper care, and the old man had grown incredibly thin, skin and bones. However, he still had a good spirit and was currently weaving a basket while sitting on his kang bed.
The kang bed was split into two areas: one for sleeping and the other piled with bamboo strips, willow branches, and such, and there was also a chamber pot. Old Man Qian had difficulty moving, and though it was manageable when his son was home, when he wasn’t, the old man had no choice but to eat, drink, and relieve himself all on the kang.
"Dad," Qian Er rushed in first, "that..." He glanced back at Yang Ruxin, unsure of how to proceed with the introduction.