125 Moral Conduct
Luo Jin’an did not go to the elderly couple’s house empty-handed. Instead, he brought a pheasant over. His health had improved exponentially at that time.
Su Binglan did not allow her husband to do taxing work for fear of his condition worsening. She also brewed medicine for Luo Jin’an to recuperate.
Su Binglan had used the leftover money she earned from Drunken Cloud to open and renovate her shops. She used the rest to buy more medicine for her husband.
The people of that era could not risk falling sick because the medication was expensive. It cost Su Binglan a lot of money to cure her big brother and Luo Jin’an.
Su Binglan felt that the human body was the most crucial thing, so she did not mind working harder to earn more money to get more medicine for the two to recover. Nonetheless, her methods worked, and her big brother was well enough to go to town and help his wife sell tofu and candied chestnuts.
Although Su Binglan could not fully cure her husband’s body, his illness had stopped, and he looked much better. During that time, Luo Jin’an went hunting in the mountains and caught two pheasants.
He had told Su Binglan that he would send one to her parents. However, he brought the other pheasant to the elderly couple’s house.
Old Madam Su looked at the pheasant and said, “Dear child, I invited you for dinner. You didn’t have to bring anything.”
Old Madam Su had planned to have Su Fengchen slaughter one of their farmed hens so she could make dinner with it for her granddaughter to nourish herself.
She felt that Su Binglan would never gain weight no matter how much she ate. Old Madam Su thought her granddaughter was too skinny and needed more subtenants. She never expected Luo Jin’an to bring a pheasant.
Luo Jin’an said, “Su Binglan told me I should bring this pheasant over for you.”
Su Binglan raised her eyebrows when she heard what Luo Jin’an said. She did not expect him to be so eloquent. Luo Jin’an gave her all the credit even though she did nothing.
Luo Jin’an was the one who hunted the pheasants and discussed what he should do with them with Su Binglan. He had always respected his wife and knew she should arrange all family affairs.
One would say Su Binglan was in charge of the family. Luo Jin’an never interfered with her decisions.
Old Madam Su smiled lovingly and said, “How about you and Binglan take the pheasant home after dinner? We have many chickens here and can eat them whenever necessary.”
Su Binglan knew the chickens her grandparents and uncle raised were hens that had to lay eggs. However, the elderly couple and Su Fengchen doted on Su Binglan. Even if they needed the hens to lay eggs, they would not hesitate to slaughter one for Su Binglan to eat.
Su Binglan understood what her grandparents said and responded, “I prefer to eat pheasants because they’re more delicious. We should cook it for dinner.”
No one objected to Su Binglan’s suggestion.
Luo Jin’an did not stay idle when he arrived. Instead, he helped to chop firewood in the yard.
Old Master Su said, “You’re not well, Jin’an. You should rest and let me chop the firewood.”
Everyone also doted on Luo Jin’an. He was Su Binglan’s husband, after all.
Luo Jin’an said softly, “I’m fine now, Grandpa. I’m not sick anymore, so I can do it.” He could not rest while the older man worked because he would feel guilty.
Su Binglan had spent much time with Luo Jin’an, so she knew her husband well. Luo Jin’an was always respectful and dutiful to his elders, making him a virtuous person.
Su Binglan said, “Grandpa, come and help me wash the feathers I’ve removed.”
She knew her grandfather would not stay idle, so she found an easy job for him so he could help.