CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 110: DO YOU HAVE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT LIGHT FOOD?

The tenth?

Every year on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qingquan Academy begins its holiday break. Su Jingchen is likely to bring his younger brother home for the New Year.

By this time, they should have started packing their belongings, right?

Yu Xiaolian decided to go and have a look, and say goodbye in passing.

She took two packs of walnut kernels and two packs of almond crisps, also packed the peanut brittle and White Rabbit candy that Su Jingyue loved.

Consider it an early gift of New Year’s goods for Su Jingchen.

Upon reaching the second courtyard, she found the thick snow piled up as high as a low wall.

There was only a narrow path in the middle, walking through it felt like being in a maze.

Has the snow not been cleared for the entire winter?

Aunt Li, who usually seemed sturdy and honest, appeared quite diligent. Truly, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Fortunately, she knew to clear out a path, otherwise, Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t have known how to get through.

Yu Xiaolian knocked on the door a few times, and it was opened from the inside.

The person opening the door was Su Jingyue.

"Long time no see, why have you lost so much weight lately?" Yu Xiaolian entered the eastern room familiarly, placing the things she brought on the heated platform.

Oh dear, why is the platform so cold?

Never mind not clearing the snow in the courtyard, but why is the platform also not being heated?

"Are you home alone? Where are your brother and Aunt Li?"

Su Jingyue pulled Yu Xiaolian to the western room, "The platform here is warm."

Ever since their father cut off their living expenses two months ago, he and his elder brother moved into one room to save costs.

It was really not because he was scared of sleeping alone, but to save money.

Yu Xiaolian reached out to touch the platform in the western room; indeed, it was warm, but as she looked around, she saw there wasn’t even a brazier in the room.

"Where’s your brother?" Yu Xiaolian asked again.

"My brother went to the bookstore."

His brother had to attend classes at the academy during the day and copy books to earn money at night, spending all he earned on blankets and cotton clothing.

Even the Silver Coin his brother had saved was wasted on his illness some time ago.

Su Jingyue lowered his head, feeling guilty inside.

He was just a burden to his brother.

Yu Xiaolian was just about to ask what Su Jingchen went to the bookstore for when she heard Su Jingchen’s melodious voice, like a spring, sounding behind her.

"You’re here." Su Jingchen casually placed the items in his hand on the windowsill.

Yu Xiaolian looked over; it was a packet of medicinal soup.

"Is someone sick?"

Su Jingyue made a bitter face, "Big brother, I’m already better, why still spend money on medicine?"

This medicine cost half a tael per prescription, very expensive.

Expensive and bitter.

Su Jingchen looked at Su Jingyue, "You still cough occasionally at night. Since you’re not completely better, you must continue taking medicine."

Su Jingyue felt sorry for his brother, muttering, "But... these two prescriptions mean you’ll have to copy even more books."

The book his brother copied yesterday could only earn one hundred eighty wen; money was really hard to make.

Su Jingchen patted Su Jingyue’s head, "If you truly care for me, get better soon."

Su Jingyue nodded determinedly; he must recover quickly.

Yu Xiaolian reached out to touch Su Jingyue’s forehead, no fever.

Then she asked Su Jingyue to open his mouth to check his throat.

A bit swollen.

Yu Xiaolian asked, "How long has he been sick?"

"More than half a month, the cough hasn’t improved, recurring. It’s better during the day with only occasional coughing, but it worsens when he lies down at night."

Su Jingchen knew Yu Xiaolian could treat illnesses, but he thought it was just a common cold and didn’t want to trouble her.

However, it’s been treated for half a month, with a lot of medicine and money spent, yet Su Jingyue was still the same, some days bad, some days good.

The previously chubby face had lost weight significantly.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Yu Xiaolian said as she took out cough suppressant pills and anti-inflammatory medicine from her space.

Handing the medicine to Su Jingchen, she instructed, "Take one pill at a time, twice a day. Take with water, the second time preferably before sleeping."

Su Jingchen received it, "Can he take it now?"

"No, best to take it half an hour after a meal."

Seeing Su Jingyue’s lethargic state, he didn’t seem like he had eaten.

Yu Xiaolian originally came to say goodbye, not expecting to find that Su Jingchen had fallen out with their father, and Aunt Li had been taken away by their father.

Leaving the two children unlooked after, that father was truly strange.

After hearing the details, Yu Xiaolian didn’t find Su’s father worthy of pity, thinking he deserved what he got.

It’s said stepmothers are hard to deal with, but this stepmother, Yao Shi, managed to direct the father’s ire towards his own sons; even in a wealthy mansion’s concubine struggles, her tactics would be top-notch.

And she didn’t even have to put in much effort, just pouted and flattered Su’s father.

A woman’s charm is her best fate, truly a golden saying; isn’t it weird how men fall for it?

Yu Xiaolian felt exceptionally sympathetic towards Su Jingchen, having saved his father’s life, only to be treated like this by him.

She took out two silver notes, slapping them into Su Jingchen’s hand, "Two hundred taels, consider it a loan!"

Worried Su Jingchen might refuse, Yu Xiaolian quickly added, "Pay me back double when you have money later."

Su Jingchen, holding the Silver Coin, smiled slightly.

A while back, he had already informed Yu Xiaolian of his backup plan, ensuring he wouldn’t run out of money, but this silly girl didn’t seem to remember.

"Thanks." Su Jingchen didn’t refuse, neatly accepting the silver note.

This girl always wanted him to owe her a favor; it didn’t seem right not to give her the chance.

Inside, Yu Xiaolian thought: Helping Su Jingchen again when he is so down, I’m such a genius.

The very clever and kind Yu Xiaolian remained helpful, giving Su Jingchen a bundle of greens.

In this season, fresh greens are nearly impossible to find; every household is eating pickled and dried vegetables. Bringing out the greens instantly brightened the sickly Su Jingyue’s eyes.

She also produced some apples and pears.

Remembering that rock sugar boiled with pear is good for coughs, Yu Xiaolian also brought out a packet of rock sugar.

She told Su Jingchen to make rock sugar pear stew for Su Jingyue.

"My brother... only knows how to cook porridge," Su Jingyue timidly interjected.

Su Jingchen glanced at his brother who exposed him, "...I’m learning."

"Have you two been eating porridge for two months?"

"More or less," Su Jingyue pouted, "My brother bought wontons once, donkey meat pancake twice, meat buns three times, and cooked eggs several times; the rest was all porridge."

Su Jingyue thought, if it wasn’t for constantly eating porridge, he wouldn’t have fallen so ill; a lack of tasty food also impacts mental and physical health.

"...No, you should hire a cook?"

Yu Xiaolian felt sympathy for Su Jingyue, such a young child having endured two months of confinement food.

Drinking porridge every meal, who could bear it?

No wonder Su Jingyue got sick; if she had to drink porridge for two months, she’d get depressed too.

Su Jingchen said, "It’s not necessary for now. Jingyue’s illness needs bland food."

Su Jingyue: "...I don’t want to eat bland food."

Are you misunderstanding the word "bland"?