Before long, Old Woman Li came rushing back in a panic, carrying the delirious Choudan on her back. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she collapsed to the ground with a thud. Everyone was astonished to see that she had found him.
"She really found him?"
"Jin Shanyao really did open her heavenly eye."
"Not necessarily. Maybe it was a coincidence... I heard Meng Hongde say she was a monster. Otherwise, why would thunder strike when there was no wind or rain, and keep chasing her?"
"Maybe that's her good fortune. Whatever the case, it's good that Choudan's been found."
The villagers all chimed in, none of them concerned whether Choudan lived or died. Old Man Han, the village doctor, stepped forward to take Choudan's pulse, then shook his head.
"Cuiniang, you need to prepare yourself."
At his words, Old Woman Li cradled Choudan's head and burst into tears. "Grandson, grandson, please wake up!"
Jin Shanyao had received much care and help from Old Woman Li. Finding the child for her had settled that karma, but if she treated him as well, new karma would surely arise.
She couldn't bear to see Old Woman Li and her grandson separated by life and death. Besides, it wasn't Choudan's time to die.
So she said, "Choudan fell unconscious because he spent too long in the cellar. Everyone, stand back. Don't crowd around him."
Meng Hongde was the first to jump out in protest. "Jin Shanyao, what are you playing at? Everyone in the village is worried about Choudan, but you won't let them near him. Do you want to stand by and watch him die?"
Jin Shanyao swept a cold gaze over him. Meng Hongde was so frightened that he choked, the curses stuck in his throat as his face turned red.
Jin Shanyao stepped forward and put her fingers on Choudan's pulse. The onlookers whispered among themselves. "The Meng Household's little aunt knows medicine? How come I didn't know?"
"How long has she even been in our village? What do you know?"
The air fell silent for a moment. It seemed they knew nothing about Jin Shanyao apart from her name. She was like someone who had appeared out of thin air; they didn't know when she had come to the village or when she had entered the Meng Household.
Jin Shanyao didn't want to be entangled in karma, so she said to Old Woman Li, "I can save Choudan, but you'll have to cook for us for a month."
"Jin Shanyao, are you even human? Making demands when a life is at stake!"
"You're the one who isn't human! Your whole family isn't human!" a clear, childish voice rang out from behind her, and Meng Anci pattered over to stand in front of Jin Shanyao.
He took her hand and pulled her back. "Whoever wants to save him can save him. My little aunt won't!"
Old Woman Li panicked at once. She clutched the hem of Jin Shanyao's clothes. "Little aunt of the Meng Household, I'll do it. I'll cook for you for a month. Please, save my grandson."
When Old Woman Li agreed, Jin Shanyao stepped forward, picked up Choudan, and carried him into the Li Household's house.
Old Woman Li wanted to follow, but Meng Anci blocked her path. The little boy stood in front of the door and said fiercely, "You can't go in..." Before he could finish the word "in," Old Woman Li caught him under the arms and moved him aside.
Watching the crowd swarm inside, Meng Anci turned red with anger. This was too much...
Meng Anzhi stood beside Jin Shanyao, covering her mouth and not daring to make a sound. Her little aunt had turned Choudan into a porcupine with needles. Old Man Han was just as shocked as she was.
He hadn't believed Jin Shanyao could treat illnesses and had followed her in, afraid she would be too rough. Only when she took out the silver needles was Old Man Han thoroughly convinced.
Choudan slowly came to and looked around in confusion. When he saw Old Woman Li, he burst into tears. "Grandma, I thought I'd never see you again."
Old Woman Li hugged Choudan and cried again. No one noticed when Jin Shanyao left.
Back home.
Jin Shanyao coaxed the two children to sleep and circulated her Spiritual Power to examine her Inner Core. She discovered that the cracks in it were showing signs of healing, and she was overjoyed.
In the past, a damaged Inner Core had taken years to heal. Why was it so quick this time?
She thought back over everything she had done and eaten in the past two days. Only when she thought of Choudan did realization dawn.
Could it be that as long as she did good deeds, her Inner Core could be completely repaired? If so, that would be wonderful. To confirm her guess, she decided to find someone and try again tomorrow.
The next day, Jin Shanyao had just gotten up when she saw Old Woman Li standing outside the courtyard with an earthen basket on her arm. There was no telling how long she had been waiting.
"Auntie, why didn't you call me when you got here?"
Old Woman Li smiled kindly, a far cry from her usual fiery manner. "You were busy until the middle of the night yesterday. I couldn't bear to wake you," she said, pushing open the gate and entering the courtyard.
"My family bought some rice yesterday, so I brought it to make you some porridge. I've cleaned these vegetables too. Once you've washed up, you can eat."
Jin Shanyao saw that her basket was packed full. "Auntie, what are you doing? Your family doesn't have much grain. If you bring it all to me, what will Choudan eat?"
"You saved Choudan yesterday and didn't charge a single coin, only asking me to cook for you for a month. I couldn't feel right about it. I kept thinking I'd taken advantage of you.
"Bringing some things over makes me feel better," she said, walking past Jin Shanyao toward the kitchen.
Jin Shanyao followed her. "Auntie, there's venison in the well. Make whatever you see fit."
Old Woman Li acknowledged her and bent her head to work. She first washed the rice and put it in the pot to cook, then took the venison out of the well, intending to braise it.
Finding that the kitchen was short on seasonings, she turned and headed home. Just as she went out, she ran into Wang Guihua, the wife of the Meng Household's second branch.
Wang Guihua looked at her as though her eyes weren't eyes and her nose wasn't a nose. Yesterday, she had heard her husband say that Old Woman Li was going to cook for Jin Shanyao for a month.
At the time, she had felt as though the sky were falling. Jin Shanyao was a lump of gold; whoever cooked for her wouldn't lose out. The day before yesterday, everyone had parted on bad terms over the fight for custody.
She had wanted to wait a couple of days before coming over, hoping Jin Shanyao might not hold a grudge and would let her keep cooking. Who knew Old Woman Li would come charging in halfway?
Old Woman Li was in a hurry to cook and couldn't be bothered with her. She took a few quick steps into her courtyard, picked up some scallions, ginger, and garlic, and headed back. She saw Wang Guihua craning her neck to look inside.
She said with disdain, "Shoo, shoo. Don't get in the way."
Having gotten nowhere, Wang Guihua left in a huff.
Old Woman Li worked briskly. She first put the fatty meat in the pot and stir-fried it, then, once the fat had rendered, added the venison, scallions, ginger, and garlic. She poured in water and covered the pot.
There wasn't enough wood beside the stove, so she went to the woodshed and brought back an armful. Looking at the woodpile, which had fallen to half its height, she thought she would have her son bring some over when he had time.
It really wasn't easy for a young woman to get by with two children.
Jin Shanyao put the medicinal herbs into a carrying basket and wrote down the things she needed to buy. Only when she heard Old Woman Li call her to eat did she get up and go out.
The two little tots were already seated, staring at the braised venison and drooling.
Jin Shanyao found the sight amusing. "Auntie Li, sit down and eat with us."
Old Woman Li quickly waved her hand. "I already ate this morning. You go ahead. I'll head home and come back to clean up when you're done." With that, she walked out.
The meat smelled so good that she was afraid if she stayed any longer, she really would sit down and eat.
After Old Woman Li left, Jin Shanyao and the others began eating.
She picked up her bowl and took a sip of porridge, her brows lifting slightly. So this was what porridge tasted like. She picked up a piece of venison and put it in her mouth. It was tender, fragrant, and delicious.
Jin Shanyao picked up another piece. What sort of life had she been living these past few days? Boiled duck eggs, boiled meat, raw wild vegetables-and she had actually thought they tasted quite good.
She really hadn't seen the world.
The two little ones ate with gusto too, holding their bowls and slurping up their porridge, occasionally putting a piece of braised meat into their mouths. By the end, the three of them had actually eaten everything.
For the first time, Jin Shanyao knew what it felt like to be stuffed. The two little ones leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their bellies as they sighed, "If only we could eat food that looks, smells, and tastes this good every day."
"What's so hard about that? Once we've earned some money, we'll have Grandma Li cook for us every day."
The two children exchanged a glance and giggled.