CHAPTER 140: 140 YIN DEFICIENCY AND EXCESSIVE FIRE

The next day, as soon as it was light, Du Heng dragged Wang Shuqiu out of bed. After much dawdling, it was nearly 9 o’clock when they finally left the house.

Today, they weren’t going directly to the birthday celebration. Instead, they were heading home first to visit Du Heng’s big brother, sister-in-law, and young nephew.

Ever since he’d gotten a girlfriend, Du Heng’s visits home had noticeably decreased.

Take the last two weeks, for example: he had only gone home once, last Friday night. This week, he hadn’t been back at all.

Partly, it’s because patients at the Health Clinic need my attention, Du Heng reasoned, but mostly, sleeping with my wife is far more comfortable than lying alone in an empty room.

When they arrived home, his big brother, Du Ping, was already dressed and sitting on the sofa, waiting for them. Their sister-in-law was busy with household chores, as usual.

Du Xuejing’s college entrance examination was approaching, so she wouldn’t be coming home for the next few weeks, focusing instead on her studies at school. Du Heng planned to take her some daily necessities when he returned that afternoon.

For now, only young Du Yi was at home, still asleep in bed.

Seeing Du Heng and Wang Shuqiu enter, he felt a little embarrassed. He pulled the quilt over himself, his small head peeking out, and called, "Little Uncle, Auntie."

Du Heng reached in and patted his nephew’s belly. "Lazy bones, get up! We’re taking you to a banquet."

Du Ping watched them play, a slight smile on his lips as he smoked.

These days, I can truly hold my head high, he thought with satisfaction.

"Xiao Heng," Du Ping began, "I heard Du Yihai came to invite you personally?"

"Yeah, day before yesterday. He walked right in while I was at work."

"You’re a man of status now; it’s only right for him to extend a personal invitation. By the way, let’s record our gifts separately today. You should contribute more, say 500 yuan."

Du Heng, who had been teasing Du Yi, paused. A sudden wave of unease washed over him.

His big brother’s words have a hidden meaning, he realized. Recording gifts separately... that means we’re formally splitting the household.

Although the thought made him uncomfortable, he knew it was the reality of their situation.

Forcing a smile, he asked, "Big brother, how much are you planning to give?"

"I’ll give 200 yuan."

Du Heng shook his head. "That won’t do. You’re my big brother; it wouldn’t look right for me to give more than you. Either I give 200 yuan like you, or you give 500 yuan like me."

Du Ping frowned. "You’re a Dean now, a man of some standing. If you only give 200 yuan for Grand Aunt’s birthday, people will laugh at you."

"Then you give 500 yuan as well, and I’ll cover the cost."

Du Ping was reluctant at first, but after a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth and agreed.

Du Heng was doing well now; he was a Dean, after all. Although parting with an extra 300 yuan was painful, Du Ping agreed for the sake of his younger brother’s reputation in the village.

Seeing Du Ping consent, Du Heng said no more. His brother’s actions, done purely to save face, aren’t worth it; it feels like a bit of a foolish expense, Du Heng thought, though he wouldn’t refuse his brother’s kindness.

Du Ping stubbed out his cigarette. "Du Yihai has been asking many people for help with his son’s situation. He came to me the night before last, hoping you could help. I turned him down. His invitation to you likely has this motive as well, so think it through carefully."

Du Heng pulled his little nephew out from under the covers and began to dress him.

Hearing Du Ping’s words, Du Heng couldn’t help but snort. "I know my own limits perfectly well. Besides, what does he have to do with me? If it weren’t for Grand Aunt’s sake, I wouldn’t even be here today."

Du Ping nodded but added a word of caution, "He’ll definitely try to sweet-talk you, and Grand Aunt will surely put in a word for him too. Don’t you dare agree to anything just to save face."

"Do you think I’m crazy? Du Huang is involved in a capital offense! What makes you think I have the ability, or the right, to interfere in something like that?"

"Good, as long as you understand."

When celebrating an elder’s birthday, it’s usually just close relatives gathering to offer congratulations, and that’s that.

However, this time, Grand Aunt’s birthday celebration was on a somewhat grander scale.

After all, she was truly old—88 years, to be precise. To put it bluntly, each day lived was one less remaining. She might be chatting with everyone one evening, but whether she’d be seen the next day was an unknown.

Moreover, their home, Duke Village, was a place where, as one might guess, more than half the residents shared the surname Du.

So, this time, the celebration was a grand affair. Distant relatives, those beyond the five degrees of kinship, each sent one representative. However, close relatives, those within the five degrees, as well as neighbors, mostly came with their entire families.

Consequently, the host family had prepared generously, with nearly fifteen tables.

After Du Ping and Du Heng entered, they used the bustle of the crowd as an opportunity to greet the birthday elder, offer a few auspicious words, and then quickly slipped away, not giving the Old Lady a chance to engage them in conversation.

They had planned to find an inconspicuous spot to sit, eat, and then leave. However, the people around them were incredibly enthusiastic, pulling the two brothers, along with Wang Shuqiu and Du Yi, to one of the best tables.

It was in a cool, shady spot and, conveniently, not along the busy path used for serving dishes.

In the past, while the Du brothers would have received smiles, such an enthusiastic welcome would have been unthinkable.

People are, after all, very pragmatic.

Wang Shuqiu, also from a village, wasn’t surprised by the banquet scene; such events were much the same everywhere.

But seeing everyone’s attitude towards Du Heng and her brother-in-law, she felt incredibly proud, a smile blooming on her face that wouldn’t fade.

However, just as she was basking in this pleasant feeling, someone suddenly sat down next to her, emanating a peculiar odor.

She turned her head to look and nearly cried out in shock.

His eyes were sunken, ringed with dark circles. His cheeks were gaunt, his cheekbones prominent, and his skin was sallow, with faint, pus-filled sores in the grooves beside his nose and under his jaw.

His exposed arms and hands were little more than skin and bones.

With such an appearance, calling him a "consumptive ghost" would be no exaggeration.

Despite his appearance, since sitting down, the man seemed extremely agitated, his eyes darting about restlessly.

Du Heng and Du Ping, who were chatting quietly, noticed Wang Shuqiu’s sudden unease and glanced over.

With just one glance, Du Heng recognized him: Du Da, one of the so-called "Flying Four Brothers."

At first glance, Du Da’s condition resembles goiter, commonly known as hyperthyroidism, Du Heng mused. However, upon closer inspection, it doesn’t seem like goiter, but more like the effects of taking too much "Ascending Immortal Powder."

Du Da spotted Du Heng and Wang Shuqiu and chuckled, "Du Heng, I hear you’ve done well for yourself recently, become an official and all. You’ve got to get my second and third brothers out. Don’t worry, my second brother’s got money; he won’t stiff you."

Seeing Du Da in this state, Du Heng instantly lost any desire to interact with him, his appetite for the banquet vanishing. He pulled Wang Shuqiu and Du Yi up to leave. "You’ve probably got the wrong person," Du Heng said. "For matters concerning Du Huang, you should go to the police." With that, he turned and walked away.

Du Ping, though surprised by Du Da’s presence and unsure of what was happening, could tell Du Da’s condition was far from normal. As soon as Du Heng left, he too got up and followed.

Du Da made no attempt to stop them or cling desperately. He simply remained seated, chuckling to himself as he watched them depart.