"Mother Fan, don't worry for now. The child has just arrived home and probably isn't used to it yet. Once some time passes and his family really doesn't come, I'll ask around for you again. You're such a kind person, willing to spend a few taels of silver a month on his medicine without hesitation. If the child knows how good you are, he might just agree."
"A few taels of silver? For medicine? What medicine?"
Seeing Mother Fan's reaction, Fu Qiujiu knew her mother had succeeded again.
She had to admit, her mother was truly clever with people.
"Oh, it's nothing much. The doctor just said the child's health isn't good, and he needs to take medicine for a few years to build himself up. Don't worry, the doctor said it's nothing serious and he'll get better gradually."
A few taels of silver a month, and he still needed treatment for several years?
Mother Fan instantly backed out. With all that money, wouldn't it be better to keep it for her own old age?
Besides, what if the child actually died? She would end up with neither the person nor the money.
"Ah... Is that so? I thought about it, and what you said makes sense. We shouldn't force the child—what if his family does show up?"
Mother Fan got up from the heated brick bed, not even daring to take a second look at Tang Xian, terrified that he might latch onto her.
She knew it—how could anyone be willing to give up such a good-looking child? Turns out he was just a sickly weakling.
Seeing this, Fu Baiwan smiled. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. Once the boy comes around, I'll send him over to you."
"No need... Hehe, there's no rush, I'm not in a hurry. My husband and I will try harder, maybe we'll have one of our own."
Mother Fan hurried away.
The couple exchanged glances and smiled, shaking their heads. As soon as they heard it would cost money, she ran off in fright.
Tang Xian had taken his medicine and drifted into a half-sleep, feeling listless. The medicine couldn't be called completely useless, but without any real quality ingredients, the effect was far too slow.
Yet he also knew this was probably the best doctor this family could afford to hire.
Seeing Fu Baiwan about to head out, Tian Guihua asked, "Where are you off to?"
Fu Baiwan glanced at the little weed on the floor. On the way back, his little daughter had been clutching it tightly as if she really liked it. He had no idea what she liked about it—it didn't bloom, nor was it particularly pretty—but since she liked it, he would let it stay.
After hearing his explanation, Tian Guihua was torn between laughter and tears. "You old fellow! It's a good thing your daughter likes a weed. If she took a fancy to a big tree, would you carry that home, too? You spoil her beyond all reason."
Though she said that, she didn't stop him.
Fu Qiujiu blinked her bright, gleaming eyes. This wasn't a weed; it was a strawberry, cultivated right in her spatial realm. Her parents would soon realize the benefits of this "little weed."
While she couldn't cure the young master's illness directly, she could give him a little Spirit Spring Water to drink. It would strengthen his body, nourish his skin, and naturally help detoxify him as well. Granted, it wasn't as fast-acting as medicine, but against the congenital poison in his system, it was still very effective.
Tang Xian had taken his medicine before falling asleep, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He was simply too weak to rinse his mouth out. At that moment, a trace of sweet coolness dripped onto his lips.
He didn't think much of it, figuring it was just due to thirst.
He opened his eyes, intending to thank the lady of the house, only to find the little baby girl smiling right at him. Immediately afterward, a woman's voice rang out.
"Be good, Qiujiu. Let Mother feed the brother water instead. Look at you, you spilled it all over."
Fu Qiujiu had just seized the opportunity to "create chaos" by mixing the Spirit Spring Water into the bowl of water. Even if it was only a few drops, it was enough.
"Child, you're awake. Do you want more water?"
Tang Xian was entirely helpless against the little baby girl. Threatening her? It wasn't that he couldn't bear to, but he didn't want people saying he bullied a little girl.
"Auntie, I'll do it myself."
Tian Guihua watched with a hint of worry as his trembling hands took the bowl and he drank it all in one go. Anyone could see he was a strong-willed and stubborn child.
"Do you want more?"
Tang Xian nodded and asked for another bowl.
Yet this bowl didn't taste as sweet as the previous one. He figured it was probably because he wasn't as thirsty anymore.
As soon as Fu Bajin came home, he presented the newly finished little whistle to Fu Qiujiu like a prized treasure. He had carved every bit of it himself.
Fu Qiujiu had already concluded that this Eighth Brother of hers was an old soul in a young body, possessing absolute talent for woodworking. He had previously made her something resembling a modern baby walker, though she had learned to walk far too quickly for it to be of much use.
"What have you been tinkering with now?" Tian Guihua chided him playfully.
Fu Bajin flashed a grin, entirely focused on his baby sister, only to notice there was an extra person sitting on the heated brick bed.
Who was that?
He didn't even have the privilege of sharing a room with his parents! He could yield to his baby sister, but if someone else was sleeping on the bed he had his eye on, that was out of the question.
"This is... Tang Qi, the boy your father rescued."
Tian Guihua explained when she saw the confusion on his face. The name Tang Qi was just something Tang Xian had blurted out; since he ranked seventh anyway, it wasn't strictly a lie.
"Mother, why is he sleeping on your bed?"
His jealousy was raw, laced with a pitiful edge that made Fu Qiujiu's heart ache just a little.
"He's not feeling well. Staying in this room makes it easier for your father and me to keep an eye on him."
Fu Bajin gave Tang Xian a cold, appraising look, noticing that his complexion was indeed excessively pale, carrying a faint scent of medicine.
He hated taking medicine most of all—it was both bitter and foul.
"Mother, then he's not allowed to hold the baby sister."
His parents could share him for a tiny bit, but his baby sister was non-negotiable.
Tian Guihua burst out laughing. "Alright, alright. Baby sister belongs exclusively to Little Ba; nobody else gets to hold her."
Only then was Fu Bajin satisfied. "That's right, she's mine! Qiujiu, when Second Brother comes back from chopping down the big tree, Eighth Brother will make you a little rocking horse. I'll make one that can run, just to make the Sumei girls green with envy."
Fu Qiujiu thought to herself that she really didn't need a rocking horse, but she still smiled at Eighth Brother anyway.
Chapter 017: The Little Baby Wants a Kiss
Watching his baby sister smile, Fu Bajin felt sweeter than if he had eaten candy.
All the candy belonged to baby sister; he wouldn't touch it.
Seizing the moment, he planted a kiss right on Fu Qiujiu's forehead. To show off, he made a loud smacking sound.
He threw a defiant look at Tang Xian. "Mother, he isn't allowed to kiss baby sister. You have to keep a close eye on him."
Tian Guihua was torn between laughter and tears. Judging by Tang Qi's clothing, speech, and manners, he didn't seem like a child from an ordinary family; besides, he was well-behaved and wouldn't act out.
Moreover, a simple kiss wasn't a big deal—how old was Qiujiu anyway?
"Alright, I know."
Tian Guihua couldn't help smiling. It wasn't just her husband; all her sons guarded their sister as if she were impenetrable. When her daughter grew up in the future, finding a husband wouldn't be an easy task.
Still, she wasn't worried; after all, that day was still a long way off.
Fu Bajin watched Tang Xian vigilantly, staying silent, but his gaze was filled with hostility.
Tang Xian looked at the little boy who was roughly his own age and didn't take the boy's provocation to heart at all.
"Child, how are you feeling now? Are you still uncomfortable?"
Tian Guihua looked at him with concern. While he was sleeping earlier, he had been very restless, tossing as if having a nightmare, and broke out in a cold sweat.
She raised her hand, intending to use a clean cloth to wipe him down, but he ducked away from her.
Tang Xian took the cloth from her hand. "Auntie, I'll do it myself."
Tian Guihua didn't press the matter. It was a good thing for a child not to let strangers get too close.
Unlike her Qijin, who had been straight-up snatched away by a stranger and whose whereabouts were still unknown.
Of course, it was partly her fault. The family was poor, unable to even afford a piece of pastry; the child had never tasted anything good, and once he got a bite of flavor, he ran off with people.
She had been searching for five years now, with not even a trace to show for it.
Seeing the dark, sorrowful expression on her aging mother's face and her endless sighs, Fu Qiujiu, clever as she was, guessed what was going on.
The young master was called Tang Qi; perhaps he had stirred up her mother's longing for her Seventh Brother.
"Mother~"
Wobbling unsteadily, Fu Qiujiu waddled toward Tian Guihua. Fu Bajin didn't leave; he stayed right by the edge of the bed, stretching out his arms to block her in case she took a tumble.
"Hungry?" Tian Guihua gave a bitter smile, getting ready to untie her bodice.
Fu Qiujiu instantly felt awkward enough to want to crawl into a crack in the floor.
Tang Xian felt the same. Earlier he could pretend to be asleep, but now he could only turn his face away.
"Moo moo..."
Fu Qiujiu stuck out her head, mimicking the motion of locking horns with her.
Seeing her do this, Tian Guihua figured that a mother's heart was connected to her child's—her little daughter must have known she was feeling upset inside.
"Moo moo..." Tian Guihua gently bumped heads with the little baby.
The small room instantly filled with the baby girl's silver-bell-like laughter, and Tian Guihua's mood lifted considerably.
Stepping onto her mother's lap, Fu Qiujiu planted a few kisses on her face, inevitably leaving behind some drool, but Tian Guihua didn't mind in the least.
"Sister, come give Eighth Brother a kiss." Leaning over the edge of the bed, Fu Bajin turned his head sideways and pointed to his cheek.
With a roll of her eyes, Fu Qiujiu obliged.
Then, Tang Qi watched as the little baby girl—who could barely walk in a straight line—came waddling directly toward him.
He furrowed his brows, already guessing what she wanted to do.
"Don't come over."
She didn't understand a word. She didn't want to understand! Such an adorable young master was someone the older soul inside Fu Qiujiu had been coveting for a long time.
"Fu Qiujiu! I order you not to come over!"
She was going right over!
Fu Qiujiu grinned, revealing eight little teeth, and clapped her hands. If an adult pulled a stunt like that, it would look utterly grotesque.
Yet she happened to be a baby girl who looked impossibly cute and endearing no matter what she did.
Tian Guihua didn't intervene either. After all, she was just a toddler; growing close to people was a good thing. Besides, this Tang Qi was cold and hardly ever smiled.Though she was only four years old, she had the look of someone burdened with forty years of worries.
Tang Xian frowned. His commands held no sway over the little milk dumpling; she had already lunged toward him and was now right at his feet.
He could have shoved her away, but bullying a child in front of her mother was hardly appropriate, especially with a young boy nearby watching him like a hawk.
Fu Qiujiu saw his expression and decided to tease him on purpose. It was the same feeling as when people saw how pretty and cute she was and wanted to kiss her.
"De-de..."
Tang Xian’s features twisted into a knot. "I told you, don't come over here."
"De-de..."
The little milk dumpling continued to approach him with triumphant audacity.
Left with no choice—she certainly couldn't be allowed to kiss him—Tang Xian picked her up and handed her back to Tian Guihua.
Fu Qiujiu wasn't disappointed. Seeing the little "steamed bun" look so nervous was actually quite amusing. There was no helping it; she had been teased by adults for the nine months since she had transmigrated, so it was rare to have the chance to tease someone else for a change.
Before Tian Guihua could say anything, Fu Bajin grew unhappy. He gripped the little milk dumpling’s hand and told her with earnest solemnity, "Qiujiu, you cannot kiss other people, and you cannot let others hold you, understand?"
The little milk dumpling giggled.
Fu Bajin certainly didn't think his little sister was the problem; it had to be the other person’s fault. Being too good-looking was also a fault.
"Hey... Tang Qi, you are not allowed to kiss my sister, and it would be best if you... didn't hold her either, you hear me?"
Tang Xian glanced at him. It was the first time anyone had spoken to him in such a manner.
He shook his head helplessly. "Then you keep her in check."
Fu Bajin rolled his eyes at him. "In short, besides people from our family, no one else is qualified to hold Qiujiu. Furthermore, don't you go thinking about taking advantage of her. Qiujiu is a girl; you are not allowed to kiss her."
What is wrong with this kid? Tang Xian thought to himself, completely overlooking the fact that he was the same age. He just felt that Fu Bajin was being childish.
"Didn't you see? She was the one who insisted on me holding her, and she even wanted to... wanted to... Anyway, you just keep her in check."
Tang Xian’s strength had recovered slightly. He had clearly underestimated the local physician; although there were no precious medicines to be found, the treatment was surprisingly effective. He felt much better than before.
"Madam, my clothes..."
Tian Guihua understood what he meant. "That set was dirty and stained with blood, so my second daughter-in-law washed them for you."
"And the things inside them..."
"They’re still here; I’ve tucked them away for you." Tian Guihua turned and retrieved a small bundle from the bedding stack. Inside were the items they had removed from him.
There was an envelope that seemed to contain paper, though the couple hadn't opened it—even if they had, they wouldn't have been able to read it. There was also a jade pendant. Tian Guihua had noticed the color and clarity; it couldn't be cheap. Fu Baiwan had even remarked that it wouldn't cost less than several taels of silver.
"Take a look. Is anything missing?"
Tang Xian scanned the contents and shook his head. As long as the envelope was there, the rest didn't matter.
When Fu Qiujiu saw the jade pendant, her eyes lit up. This thing wasn't cheap at all. In her past life, she had done some research on jade and antiques. The quality of this pendant would have fetched millions in the modern era. Sometimes she thought that if she could return to the modern world, she could make a fortune just by hoarding a few common bowls in her space.
Still, for this little boy to have such high-quality jade, his identity... was clearly not ordinary.
***
"Qiujiu, give it to Mother quickly. Mother will keep it safe for your Brother Tang Qi."
This jade... it was worth a fortune.
Fu Qiujiu reluctantly loosened her small, chubby paws. It wasn't just because of the price; it was the rarity. The luster was something that money couldn't necessarily buy in the modern world, and the carving technique... had long since been lost. If she had this item back in her own time, she could have lived a life of leisure.
It was perfectly normal for a baby to drool, so no one thought she was being greedy, nor would anyone suspect she was coveting the jade. After all, she was only a baby—at an age where she couldn't even tell the difference between jade and a rock.
Tang Xian also wanted to live elsewhere; he didn't want to have his face mangled by a milk dumpling who insisted on kissing him, and he certainly didn't want to watch Madam Tian breastfeed without a care in the world right in front of him.
After resting for three days, Tang Xian felt almost fully recovered. The snake venom should have been cleared. As for the other poison in his body, let alone curing it, a common physician wouldn't even be able to detect it.
Last night, he had already thought it through. He would stay here to wait for Feng Ji, and while he was at it, keep an ear out for news from the Capital. Once that person thought he was dead, he would catch them off guard.
Aside from a little milk dumpling who looked at him like prey, the family was actually quite pleasant. He had even felt a sense of maternal love from Madam Tian—a feeling he had never experienced before.
He wouldn't admit that he missed his mother. He was a four-year-old man, after all.
Tian Guihua felt the boy was sharp-minded, so during a chat, she asked about his situation and how he had ended up lying there alone. Tang Qi merely said he had been separated from his family and insisted firmly that they would return to collect him.
Today, Fu Baiwan announced he was going to town on business. Though he called it business, everyone knew he had an ulterior motive. Life at home had improved quite a bit; the sons never came back empty-handed, and there was a bit of extra money in the household, not much, but no longer the state where they couldn't scrape together a single copper.
"Is that enough? Should you take a bit more?"
Fu Baiwan sighed. "It's enough. Don't we have the meat buns you made? That’s about right. What do you think? Should we take Qiujiu along so he can see her?"
"He hasn't seen Qiujiu since she was born; he didn't even make it to her full-month celebration."
Tian Guihua glanced at the smiling little milk dumpling. "Then take her. But you must watch her closely. If she goes missing too, I won't be able to go on."
"Don't worry. I'd lose myself before I’d ever let our daughter get lost."
Fu Qiujiu felt a flicker of excitement. Aside from the missing Seventh Brother she hadn't met, there was also the Fourth Brother who had been given away to be raised by someone else. He seemed to be in town, and she guessed her father was going to take her to see him.
However, she had heard her sisters-in-law chatting about how the Fourth Brother held a grudge and refused to acknowledge them. That was understandable, of course—being given away since childhood. Her parents had their hardships, that was true, but it was a bitter pill for anyone to swallow.
Tian Guihua pondered for a moment. "No, I have to go with you."
Fu Baiwan smiled wryly. "What’s the matter? You don't trust me? I won't let go of her hand."
"Your health is frail. I’m worried you won't be able to handle the walk back and forth."
"I'm not going alone, am I? Isn't Tang Qi coming too? That boy looks clever enough. Don't you worry." Fu Baiwan patted Tian Guihua's hand. "I promise nothing will happen."
Tian Guihua sighed and eventually relented. "Take Tang Qi to see the physician. It’s best if he’s fine, but if he still needs medicine, pick some up for him."
"I understand."
Fu Baiwan carried his little daughter to the door, where Fu Bajin and Fu Tianfu were clamoring to go along.
"Go where? Stay at home and keep quiet. I'm not going to a market festival; there's nothing to see."
"Xiao Ba, Tianfu, come here. I sewed sandbags for you both," Lady Wu said, waving them over.
Fu Tianfu ran over happily to his mother, but Fu Bajin pouted. "Thanks, Second Sister-in-law, let Tianfu play with them. I'm not playing with little girl toys."
Lady Wu could only smile helplessly. Upon hearing this, Fu Tianfu returned the sandbag to his mother. "Then I won't play either. I'm a boy."
"Grandpa has to watch Little Aunt and take care of Uncle Tang Qi, so he can't look after you today. Be good, Tianfu, and I'll let your father take you next time."
Lady Wu knew that, after the incident where Qijin went missing, the parents were deeply traumatized and rarely allowed the children to go into town. Hearing her say this, Fu Bajin understood and stopped fussing.
Fu Baiwan smiled at Lady Wu. "Tang Qi, let's go." He reached out instinctively to grab the little girl’s hand so she wouldn't wander off.
Tang Xian had also gathered something from their conversation. "Uncle Fu, I’ll follow you."
Fu Baiwan didn't insist. "Then stay close."
Ququan Town was neither large nor small. Due to the natural disasters of the past few years, it looked somewhat desolate, and as it wasn't a market day, there weren't many people on the streets.
Fu Baiwan took Fu Qiujiu to a rice shop. Looking at the signboard, Fu Qiujiu was surprised to find that the characters were exactly the same as the ones in the world she had lived in.
In that case... she had a great idea. The handwriting, insights, and prescriptions from her life as a physician were all stored in her space. She had always been someone who struggled with decluttering, so her small space was a chaotic mess. She had meant to clear it out in her past life, but she had died before she could.
Unexpectedly, her bad habit had turned out to be a massive advantage here. If she gave those notes to her Fifth Brother, they would be incredibly useful. She just needed to find a good opportunity.
"Fourth... Young Master, weigh me five catties of soybeans."