187 You’re Not Stupid!
In the end, Immortal Crane ate three large bowls of dumplings and half of the sweet and sour carp before putting down his bowl and chopsticks in satisfaction.
“Senior, how about you staying in this room tonight?” Shen Yao pointed at the room he and Ji Chen were temporarily staying in and explained softly, “The house is narrow, so you must suffer and squeeze with me and Chenchen.”
“Aren’t you and Ah Tao husband and wife? Why don’t you live together?” The Immortal Crane said angrily, “Or do you not welcome me at all and deliberately arranged this?”
“That’s not the case. I…”
“Let’s do as you say!” Just as Shen Yao was about to explain, Ji Zhao walked up to them with a bowl of red bean sweet soup. Finally, she reached out and rubbed Ji Chen’s head. “Chenchen will sleep with Sister and Brother-in-law tonight, okay?”
“Okay!” Ji Chen nodded happily!
“Girl, you’re more sensible.” After picking up a bowl of sweet soup and drinking it in one gulp, Immortal Crane hurriedly returned to that room. “I’m a light sleeper. Don’t disturb me if there’s nothing!”
“Okay!”
Half an hour later, Ji Zhao laid out two thick blankets on the bed.
“It’s already winter. I’m afraid it’ll be even colder at night. I’ve already put a foot warmer in both quilts,” Ji Zhao explained with a smile. “Chenchen, do you want to sleep under the same quilt as Sister or with Brother-in-law?”
“Chenchen always kicks the blanket when he sleeps at night. If he sleeps with you, I’m afraid you’ll be worried,” Shen Yao quickly said. “Let him sleep with me. Besides, I’m already used to covering the blanket for him at night.”
“Alright then.” Ji Zhao nodded slightly and finally gave Shen Yao a grateful smile. “It’s all thanks to you taking care of Chenchen during this period of time. He’s much braver than before.”
“Chenchen has always been a brave little guy.” Shen Yao smiled and ruffled his hair as he said gently.
“Chenchen, good night!” Ji Zhao gently kissed his forehead and tucked him in. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll make your favorite seaweed shrimp wontons.”
“Okay!” Ji Chen obediently closed his eyes. However, the moment he entered the dream, he was a little confused because he remembered that he was very obedient when he slept and never kicked the blanket away.
After Ji Chen fell asleep, Ji Zhao carefully took Shen Yao’s hand and looked into his eyes. Her gentle voice was filled with heartache. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Back then… the person who asked the doctor to save you was your classmate, was it Sun He?” Ji Zhao could not help but ask. Seeing him nod, she was immediately furious. “Why is this person so vicious?”
“The accident back then happened too suddenly. Actually, I didn’t plan to walk that rugged mountain path.” Now that he thought of the scene of him being injured back then, Shen Yao’s mood miraculously calmed down. However, even he didn’t know how deep the anger hidden under this calmness was.
“It’s just that Sun He said that he accidentally lost the letter from my family. In the letter, there was news that my mother was seriously ill. I was burning with anxiety, so I listened to his suggestion to bypass that rugged mountain road and shorten the journey home. Who would have thought that we would encounter an accident on the way?”
Shen Yao laughed bitterly. In the end, he laughed at himself. “From the looks of it, the accident back then was planned all along.”
“What’s even more ridiculous is that when he returned back then and invited a doctor to treat me, I didn’t notice his evil intentions at all. I even kept thanking him.” Shen Yao’s eyes turned red. “Ah Tao, am I very stupid?”
“You’re not stupid!” Ji Zhao quickly shook he rhead. “You just accidentally fell into the trap of a bad person.”
“All these years, I’ve been wallowing in self-pity. I didn’t even hesitate to hurt myself to force the people to stop their expectations and hopes for me. I hated the heavens for being unfair, and I hated my bad luck even more. But I really didn’t expect that the so-called accident was actually an attempted murder with ulterior motives.”
“Shen Yao, it’s not too late for us to find out now!” Ji Zhao squeezed his palm and said softly, “There’s a saying that it’s never too late for a gentleman to take revenge.”
“Mm.”
Ji Zhao thought for a moment and suddenly leaned in front of him. She kissed his cheek gently. “The most important thing now is to treat your leg. Let’s not think about anything else for the time being.”
“Be good, close your eyes and have a good sleep,” Ji Zhao advised softly. “Tomorrow will be another beautiful day.”
Shen Yao originally thought that he would not be able to sleep tonight and would toss and turn.
What he did not expect was that after his big hand was grabbed by Ji Zhao’s hand, his heart would be so calm that he actually had a good sleep.
The next morning, the snow in front of the door piled up into a thick layer.
Shen Dashan was waving his shovel and shoveling the snow in the courtyard seriously.
In the kitchen, Ji Zhao was making small wontons.
Her hand speed was so fast that no one could see it clearly!
“Ah Tao, your Aunt Guihua got someone to send over a lot of persimmons yesterday. Do you want to try them later?” Zhao Lanhua covered her ears and walked into the kitchen. She said cheerily, “It’s winter. It’s more comfortable to stay in the kitchen. It’s not like outside. The cold wind is howling, almost freezing your ears off!”
“Mother, didn’t I tell you last night? You can sleep a little longer!” Ji Zhao hurriedly poured a cup of hot sesame paste and handed it to her. “It’s freshly cooked. Warm your hands first and drink it later!”
“It’s fine. Every morning at this hour, if I don’t get up, I’ll feel uncomfortable all over. I’m already used to it,” Zhao Lanhua said with a smile as she held the bowl of sesame paste.
“I made bone broth noodles for Second Sister-in-law and specially added a poached egg.” Ji Zhao pointed at the small earthen jar on the stove and smiled. “I went up to take a look at Zhuangzhuang early in the morning. He’s quite chubby, but unfortunately, Second Sister-in-law’s breast milk is a little insufficient.”
“However, we can make more soup for Second Sister-in-law that would help her produce more milk. I believe it will definitely help!”
“Alright!” Zhao Lanhua nodded hurriedly. “When our family slaughters the pigs for new year’s next month, we’ll keep all the pork trotters and arms for Second daughter-in-law to stew.”
“Slaughtering pigs for new year’s?” Ji Zhao quickly asked, “Mother, when is our family going to kill the pigs? Do you want Shen Yao and me to come home and help?”
“No need, no need. Just focus on the shop!” Zhao Lanhua hurriedly waved her hand. “Your father and I can handle it alone. Besides, your second brother should be back in two days.”
“Mother, if there’s anything you need me and Shen Yao to help you with at home, feel free to ask!” Ji Zhao said seriously. “I plan to close the shop for a period of time during the twelfth lunar month and reopen it after the new year.”
“Won’t that affect business?”
“No, it’s almost the twelfth lunar month. Everyone is busy preparing for the new year. The business of this shop is naturally going to enter the off-season, right?” Ji Zhao said with a smile. “Moreover, Immortal Crane also said that in less than three months, he will definitely be able to treat Shen Yao’s leg! So for the next three months, I plan to stay at home and help.”