Chapter 002: The landlord's family also has no surplus grain

The injury was beyond Uncle Bi's expectations. His dazed mind immediately cleared up, but he didn't forget to demand "medical fees," "Siya, did you see that? This person is seriously injured. It took a toll on me to treat him today. Remember to make me some braised dishes a few more times!"

"I got it, Uncle Bi. You need to start setting the bone quickly. The medicine needs to be good. This gentleman is my third brother's lifesaver!"

Lu Xiaomi couldn't bear to look at the bloody wound. She urged Uncle Bi to hurry up with the bone-setting while looking around.

Because the wound was stirred, Feng Jian's face turned even paler than before. He was regretful for getting such a serious injury within half a month of leaving home.

Lu Xiaomi, who happened to look over, showed even more gratitude in her expression. Even though the people in this time and space were simple and kind-hearted compared to her previous life, enduring the pain of a broken leg to save a stranger was truly admirable.

Thinking this way, she sat next to Feng Jian and wiped his face with a warm cloth.

"Sir, if you don't mind, I'll call you Brother Feng, just like my third brother. I'm really grateful for your help. Don't worry, Uncle Bi is the best bone-setter within a hundred miles. Last year, Little Knife in the backyard also broke his leg, and Uncle Bi set it for him. Now Little Knife is still hunting as usual, without any delay."

Feng Jian, enduring the pain, wanted to speak but was afraid of screaming in agony. The warm cloth wiping away the sweat from his forehead and hands made him feel much more comfortable, and his furrowed brow relaxed a bit. He subconsciously glanced over.

The young girl was only about thirteen or fourteen years old, with willow-leaf eyebrows, large and lively eyes, a delicate nose, and a fair complexion. She couldn't be considered exceptionally beautiful, but speaking gently while taking care of him, she exuded a gentle warmth that was unusual for her age.

Perhaps because she was a poor child who had to take charge early, it was evident from her earlier instructions outside the courtyard that she was also managing the household chores in the Lu family.

With his attention divided, he felt that the pain in his leg had eased a bit.

Uncle Bi worked quickly, and because the bone was intact and not shattered, it was much easier than he had imagined.

Soon, he reconnected the broken bone, cleaned it with strong alcohol, applied medicine, wrapped it with a white cloth, and finally secured it with a few wooden sticks.

"It's done. Rest for three days, and then I'll come to change the dressing. Remember to get some medicine from the city for him to drink. It will speed up the recovery."

Feng Jian breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Uncle Bi with a bow.

"Thank you for your help, Doctor."

"No need to thank me," Uncle Bi smiled like a sly fox who had stolen a hen, waved his hand to indicate that Feng Jian didn't need to thank him, and then looked at Lu Xiaomi.

"Siya, I'm looking forward to your braised dishes to go with my wine."

"Uncle, if you call me 'dead girl' again, there won't even be braised dishes, let alone braised soup!"

While scolding and protesting, Lu Xiaomi picked up a basin of water and sent Uncle Bi out.

Mr. Lu instructed his son to take good care of Feng Jian's attendants and then went to the main hall.

Lu Xiaomi thought that Feng Jian's attendants probably hadn't eaten, so she took a pottery basin to the side room to get buckwheat noodles. As she passed by the main hall, she happened to hear her elder brother boasting to their father and older brother about how he fearlessly fought alongside Feng Jian's attendants against a dozen bandits.

Mr. Lu was half-witted from reading, and Lu's eldest brother was simple and honest, so they were both amazed and terrified by the story.

However, Lu Xiaomi discovered that Lu's third brother was a burden that seriously hindered Feng Jian's attendants, which made her feel even more guilty towards Feng Jian.

In the big iron pot, the water was bubbling, and Lu Xiaomi scooped up the cut buckwheat noodles and shook them a few times before sprinkling them into the pot. The water immediately calmed down, but the fire in the stove quickly boiled it again. This time, the white water churned with the light black noodles, creating a distinct and harmonious beauty.

The only piece of cured meat left in the Lu family had been hanging in the smoke-filled room for a long time. This time, Lu Xiaomi resolutely took it down, cut it into thin strips, and stir-fried it in another small pot with scallions, ginger, and a ladle of water. Then she added the noodles, which were partially cooked, and finally added some salt and chopped scallions. The steaming hot noodle soup was ready.

In the room, the Lu family had lost interest in idle chatter. The three pairs of eyes were all fixed on the source of the fragrant aroma in the courtyard.

"Set the table, it's time to eat!"

"Alright!"

The previously silent Lu's eldest brother grinned from ear to ear, as if he had transformed from an old cat on the kang into a fierce tiger in an instant, and rushed to the side room, bringing out a narrow pine table about ten feet wide.

Even Mr. Lu quickly pulled out a chair and took the main seat.

Lu's third brother, Lu Qian, was surprised to see his father and elder brother act this way.

So, when Lu Xiaomi brought the noodles into the room, she saw her father and brothers, along with the little pigs waiting to be fed in the pigsty, all eagerly staring at the pottery basin in her hands.

Even if she was angry, she didn't have the energy to argue. She didn't care how the noodles were divided among her father and brothers and quickly returned to the stove to bring a tray to the east wing room.

In the warm room, Feng Jian's attendants had taken off their padded jackets. The old servant was actually reading, and the young servant in red was jumping around as if trying to uncover a hidden secret or treasure in the Lu family.

Seeing Lu Xiaomi come in, Feng Jian gave the red-clad young servant a cold glance, and the young servant rolled his eyes in defiance but eventually calmed down.

Lu Xiaomi wasn't angry and busied herself with setting the table, removing the tray, and then solemnly bowing.

"Brother Feng, thank you for saving my third brother's life. It's freezing cold now, and you are also unable to move easily. If you don't mind our poor family, would you like to stay at our house to recover?"

Feng Jian was seriously injured and only had ten taels of silver when he left home. He had already spent most of it on the way, and now, if he didn't stay at the Lu family's house, where else could he go?

Although the debt of saving a life is greater than the sky, it is reasonable for the Lu family to take care of his injury and provide food and living expenses.

But Lu Xiaomi's proactive offer to accommodate him showed her courtesy and thoughtfulness.

"Miss Lu, you're too kind. We happen to have nowhere else to go, so we'll have to trouble you for some time in the future."

Feng Jian's tone was calm, but there was no abnormality in his expression.

Lu Xiaomi casually looked around the room and then picked a bowl of noodles for Feng Jian before leaving. The young boy in red clothes, however, quietly followed her out...

Feng Jian seemed not to notice and slowly picked up the bowl of noodles. The light black noodles settled in the soup, with brown waxed meat, light yellow ginger shreds, and chopped green onions lying quietly in the blue and white porcelain bowl, simple yet fragrant.

After a mouthful of noodle soup, the fresh and fragrant taste eased the hardships of the past few days, as if they had dissipated with this mouthful of soup...

In the main hall, the father and sons of the Lu family had just finished their meal when they saw their youngest daughter come in. Mr. Lu quickly greeted her, "Daughter, there's a big bowl left for you, hurry up and eat."

Lu Xiaomi lazily responded and picked at the noodles with her chopsticks, but she had no appetite.

Mr. Lu was somewhat worried and asked, "Daughter, what's wrong? Did Brother Feng say something? It's your third brother's fault, let him go take care of it."

Lu San was holding a bowl of noodle soup and, upon hearing this, quickly said, "Is Brother Feng angry? Is his leg hurting? I'll go over in a while!"

Lu Xiaomi put down her chopsticks, waved her hand, and "lectured" her absent-minded father and brothers.

"Brother Feng didn't say anything. It's because he didn't say anything that I'm worried. He saved my third brother's life, so it's only right for him to recover at our house. But today, Big Brother only brought back eight hundred wen, and it's probably not enough for the medicine. Besides, I see that Brother Feng and the others didn't bring much luggage, so we need to buy bedding, clothes, and shoes... Even the family's food may not last until the New Year. Are we going to endure the cold while the village is feasting during the New Year?"

Her words made Mr. Lu and his two sons look at each other and then blush.

Mr. Lu lowered his head and regretted giving away most of the food earlier.

Mr. Lu also felt embarrassed and coughed awkwardly, then reluctantly said, "Then... tomorrow, I'll take my book to the pawnshop and exchange it for silver?"

Lu Xiaomi had no energy to even sigh this time. The last time Mr. Lu went to sell the grain, he got four taels of silver for two carts of grain, and she went to buy two catties of fine salt. Mr. Lu then exchanged the four taels of silver for an ancient book.

She was so angry at the time, but she couldn't vent her anger on her father.

But now, in urgent need of money, if they really took the ancient book to the pawnshop, it would probably be "one broken book, one hundred copper coins."

"Father, keep it for now. I'll think of another way."

Indeed, Mr. Lu immediately smiled upon hearing this, "Ah, good..."

Halfway through, he suddenly felt that something was wrong and quickly changed his words, "I mean, let's think of another way."

Lu Xiaomi hastily ate a few mouthfuls of noodles, couldn't finish the rest, and let Lu San take it away to clean up.

Lu San was afraid of his sister's reprimand, so he rushed to help with the dishes, but unfortunately, he broke two of them...

Lu Xiaomi couldn't take it anymore and drove her brother out, then used the pots and pans to block her father and brother's train of thought...

The north wind blew fiercely all night, and the initial snow, already fluffy and light, was further reduced by a third after being blown by the north wind, revealing much of its original appearance.

Lu Xiaomi got up early and saw the old servant in a gray coat helping to sweep the courtyard. Feeling guilty, she quickly made breakfast and urged Lu Da to go into town to get the medicine.

Since the city gates were closed last night, if they didn't get the medicine today, Feng Jian's leg injury might become serious.

Lu Da also knew the urgency and took two corn cakes before heading into town.

Lu Xiaomi made millet porridge, prepared a few side dishes, and cut the corn cakes into pieces and fried them in vegetable oil, then called Lu San to take them to the east wing.

Just as the family was about to make do with the leftover porridge, the courtyard door was knocked again.

Little Dao, a young man from the Liu family in the backyard, along with a few friends, came in with a smile and asked Lu Xiaomi who had opened the door, "Xiaomi, where's your second brother? Old Master Feng said that the weather might not snow for two or three days, so we plan to go up the mountain again to try our luck. We came to ask your second brother to join us."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaomi gritted her teeth and wished she could beat her second brother to a pulp. Since he followed that so-called master on the mountain to learn martial arts, he would disappear for a few days from time to time, claiming to be doing chivalrous deeds.