Yu Xiaolian didn’t expect that her blood dripping into the porridge for the past few days didn’t cure the Sun Family’s infertility, but it did help improve Yu Changhe’s injured leg.
It truly was a case of the flowers refusing to bloom despite being meticulously cared for, while the willows grew lush inadvertently.
Since it was effective, Yu Xiaolian decided to continue and increase the amount, hoping Yu Changhe’s leg would recover soon.
After the family finished eating, Sun began fussing with the Copper Coins again. Yu Xiaolian stepped forward, pulled out a piece of hemp rope, skillfully counted out fifty coins, and strung them into a line, "This is the fifty coins owed to the Wang Family."
After tying the fifty coins, she set them aside, then counted out thirty coins and strung them together, "This is the thirty coins owed to the Sun Family."
Yu Xiaolian then counted out another hundred and fifty coins, which were for the doctor.
Sun watched Yu Xiaolian count systematically to over a hundred and was astonished.
She had only ever been able to count to ten; stacking ten at a time and then continuing to add them, but since when did her uneducated daughter become so capable?
"Mom, who else do we owe?"
Sun snapped out of her daze, "We owe the Jiang Family twelve coins. A few times your dad took the Jiang Family’s ox cart to town to see his leg without paying. Although Jiang the Hunter said we didn’t need to, now that we have it, we should return it. It’s not easy for anyone to make money."
Yu Xiaolian counted out another twelve coins, "I’ll pay the Jiang Family. You can handle the others."
"Alright, let’s pay these back for now. The remaining ones, to the Zhao Family and my own family, aren’t urgent. We’ll repay them when we have the money."
Sun tucked the three strings of Copper Coins into her chest, "Then I’ll go. You go to Jiang the Hunter’s quickly and don’t stay too long with Jiang Lin. A girl shouldn’t be in someone else’s home for too long, or people will gossip."
Yu Xiaolian clutched the twelve coins in her palm and briskly walked to the Jiang Family’s house.
She stood outside the courtyard and called for Jiang Lin a few times, but no one responded.
Could it be that Jiang the Hunter and his son went up the mountain?
Just as Yu Xiaolian was about to come another day, Jiang Lin appeared at the door, wrapped tightly in clothing.
"Why are you wrapped so tightly in the middle of summer?"
Jiang Lin’s entire body was covered, leaving only one eye exposed. It was extremely peculiar.
"I caught a cold, so I’m wearing more. What brings you here?"
Jiang Lin’s voice was hoarse, and as Yu Xiaolian approached, he cautiously stepped back.
Yu Xiaolian handed over the twelve coins, "My mom said we owe your family twelve coins for the ox cart, so I’m here to repay it."
"No need. And...don’t come to my house anymore."
"What’s wrong? Didn’t we agree to be friends?"
"Who wants to be friends with you? We barely interacted for a few days, and I caught a cold. The village was right; you’re bad luck. Stay away from me in the future."
Yu Xiaolian frowned. She thought Jiang Lin could be a sincere friend, but she didn’t expect him to blame her for a minor cold.
"Fine, don’t be, then. Who cares." Yu Xiaolian threw the twelve coins at Jiang Lin’s feet, "The money’s been returned to you."
With that, Yu Xiaolian strode out of the Jiang Family’s courtyard.
After Yu Xiaolian left, Jiang Lin squatted gloomily, hesitating before reaching out to pick up the coins.
The color of his outstretched hand was surprisingly crimson as blood.
Yu Xiaolian hadn’t actually left; she crouched outside the Jiang Family’s courtyard wall to see what was going on. Official source is novel[f]ire.net
From what she knew about Jiang Lin during this time, he didn’t view her with the usual suspicious eyes like others did.
There must be something she didn’t know about.
"So that’s why you distanced yourself from me!"
Yu Xiaolian grabbed the crimson hand, startling Jiang Lin so much that he pushed her away, "Don’t touch me!"
"What’s wrong with you? What’s happening?" Yu Xiaolian got up, ignoring the dust on her, and rushed toward Jiang Lin.
"Stay away, don’t come closer!" Jiang Lin shouted.
Yu Xiaolian remembered Jiang Lin’s left hand appearing somewhat red a few days ago when he took her to pick wolfberries. He said it was fine, so she hadn’t thought much about it. It seemed that his health had already started to deteriorate then.
The crimson color was very strange, almost like it was caused by poisoning. Could it be related to the Longevity Gu?
"Is it because of that Longevity Gu?"
Jiang Lin removed the covering from his head, looking defeated, and said, "Yes, it’s because of that damned insect. I shouldn’t have ignored your warning."
"Hey, what’s going on with Jiang Lin?" Zhao Kuo suddenly appeared at the Jiang Family’s gate, "Do you have any game at home? Sell me two. I plan to treat guests tonight."
Jiang Lin quickly turned around, "Uncle Zhao, my dad went to the mountain to collect some. He’ll bring it to you once he returns."
Zhao Kuo glanced at Jiang Lin with a thoughtful expression but nodded after a moment, "Tell your dad I want wild rabbits. If there are no rabbits, something else will do."
After Zhao Kuo left, Yu Xiaolian pushed Jiang Lin, "Get inside!"
Standing outside was too conspicuous. Since the Jiang Family was at the mountain’s foot, villagers often passed by while foraging or collecting firewood.
Jiang Lin walked slowly ahead, reluctant to let Yu Xiaolian enter his house, and mumbled, "Stay away from me or...go home. I’m afraid..."
"Stop babbling!" Yu Xiaolian pushed Jiang Lin again, "Hurry up!"
Once inside, Yu Xiaolian quickly tore off the tattered cloth draped over Jiang Lin and rolled up his sleeves to inspect him.
"Does your dad know?"
"He doesn’t, I didn’t dare tell him. I’ve been staying in my room these days and only go out to eat when my dad’s gone up the mountain."
"What’s really going on? Tell me everything."
That night after Jiang Lin and Yu Xiaolian returned from the mountain, Jiang Lin couldn’t contain his curiosity and opened the porcelain bottle. Inside, he found a dried worm. It was tiny and completely transparent. Jiang Lin scrutinized it thoroughly before tossing it aside, mocking the Longevity Gu as worthless.
Later, as he lay on the heated brick bed, unable to sleep, he had an idea. He lit an oil lamp and dripped a drop of blood onto the Longevity Gu.
"I just thought of how witches raise Gu worms with blood and wanted to try it out.
Unexpectedly, the worm came back to life."
The Gu worm, having drunk Jiang Lin’s blood, was no longer transparent but crimson red. Jiang Lin, as if discovering a big secret, was thrilled.
When he offered his finger again, preparing to feed the Longevity Gu another drop of blood, a sharp pain stung his fingertip, and the Gu worm disappeared.
Panicked, Jiang Lin realized the Gu worm had entered his body through the wound. Though he longed for immortality, he feared the unknown situation. He squeezed his finger hard, trying to expel the worm from his body, all to no avail. He didn’t know where it went.
He could only comfort himself that since it was a Longevity Gu, becoming its host might be a good thing.