Huo Qiyuan, outside the space, leaped onto the beam, hung the searchlight, and then dutifully returned to stand by the door. The main hall was brightly lit. Not only were the people waiting silent, but the villagers, who had been whispering and discussing softly, also quieted down upon seeing the suddenly illuminated hall.
Li Hong took Li Yong to the kitchen to start a fire and boil water. This household was destitute and had nothing to offer as hospitality, but they could still offer a bowl of hot water.
Old Man Li sat by the octagonal table, his face filled with worry. Shopkeeper Tu's expression was also not relaxed, as it was he who had brought these people.
The most restless among the group was the Little Tyrant. Fanning himself, he paced back and forth by the door in a state of agitation. He kept looking up, but each time he saw only Huo Qiyuan's cold, handsome, and divine face.
Su Muqing had just channeled healing energy into Old Man Li's body and later gave him a qi-replenishing pill and a blood-replenishing pill. Therefore, his condition was quite stable. After sitting out for so long, he hadn't coughed much at all.
The itching in his throat had subsided considerably, and the burning pain and stuffiness in his chest had also improved a lot. It was precisely because he clearly felt the changes in his body that Old Man Li felt so reassured about Su Muqing, even calling her a divine doctor repeatedly.
The sky outside had already darkened, but many people were still gathered at the entrance of Old Man Li's main hall, and the courtyard was also packed.
They watched Old Man Li, who had been bedridden with illness, now sitting up by himself for so long, and his complexion clearly showed improvement. It seemed that the handsome young master who had claimed to be a doctor had not lied.
Li Hong, holding several rough porcelain bowls in one hand and a chipped teapot in the other, poured a bowl of boiled water for each of them.
Another quarter of an hour passed, and there was still no movement from the bedroom. The Little Tyrant impatiently glanced at the dilapidated door and quietly asked Huo Qiyuan, "Why haven't they come out yet?"
"I don't know." Huo Qiyuan ignored him. What was this short wait outside the space compared to? Muqing had already been busy in the space for four to five hours!
Old Man Li looked at the Little Tyrant with some confusion. Who was this person? Why did he seem so concerned about his old wife? It was also that the events of the evening had happened too quickly.
Old Man Li only knew that the young master treating his wife was a divine doctor, the silver-haired young master guarding the door was with the divine doctor, and he recognized Shopkeeper Tu. But who was this wealthy-looking young master? He had no impression of him at all.
"Brother Tu, please forgive this old man's poor eyesight, but I don't recognize this gentleman?" Old Man Li leaned closer to Shopkeeper Tu. Seeing him drinking water, he carefully inquired.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shopkeeper Tu seemed greatly startled. The hot water in his mouth sprayed out with a "poof~" sound, followed by violent coughing.
Li Hong glanced up at Shopkeeper Tu and then lowered his head to drink water. Li Yong remained dazed, rarely interacting with anyone other than Li Hong.
Old Man Li was startled by Shopkeeper Tu's reaction. Seeing him coughing with a red face, he worried that he might have coughed up some ailment. "Brother Tu, what's wrong? You're coughing so much."
"Cough, cough, cough, cough... It's nothing, nothing, I just drank the water too quickly." Shopkeeper Tu raised his hand to soothe his chest, explaining as he cast a glance at Huo Qiyuan.
How should he explain the Little Tyrant's identity? Shopkeeper Tu, seeing Old Man Li's current condition was acceptable, considered whether to tell him the truth directly.
Huo Qiyuan frowned, recalling what Su Muqing had said about Old Man Li's heart not being very good either. If the Little Tyrant's identity were revealed, it would be fine if he believed it, but what if he didn't believe it and couldn't withstand the shock, causing him to become seriously ill?
"Old gentleman, this is Young Master Qi. He is a friend of ours. We heard about your family's situation at Shopkeeper Tu's restaurant, so we came to visit you."
In the end, Huo Qiyuan did not reveal the Little Tyrant's identity. Su Muqing was still in the space. If Old Man Li had any adverse reaction, none of them would be able to save him. They would wait until Su Muqing came out to discuss it.
"Oh, oh! You all are truly thoughtful. I, I don't know what to say..." Old Man Li's eyes were moist, and he looked at them with great emotion.
He was a poor old man from the countryside, and he never expected to have benefactors come to his aid. It was truly a blessing from his ancestors! If only his unfortunate granddaughter hadn't done something foolish...
Shopkeeper Tu forced a wry smile. Li Hong glanced at them, raised his hand to his forehead, and remained silent. Huo Qiyuan also turned his head away from Old Man Li's gaze filled with gratitude.
The Little Tyrant felt very frustrated. Those things were not his doing. He had clearly come with good intentions to visit, but now he didn't even dare to reveal his name.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He secretly resolved to thoroughly question Ah Li and that fellow surnamed Gong, as well as those who had committed misdeeds behind his back, tomorrow.
They had caused him to bear such a bad reputation and ruined his name. They must not be let off easily.
Not long after, Huo Qiyuan heard movement from the inner room. He turned and gently knocked on the door. "Muqing, are you done? Can we come in?"
Hearing Huo Qiyuan inquiring about the person in the inner room, they all quickly stood up, waiting tensely for a reply from inside.
Su Muqing settled the old woman before speaking to the outside, "It's done. You can come in!"
Huo Qiyuan gently pushed open the bedroom door and walked in, followed closely by the Little Tyrant. Li Hong and Li Yong supported Old Man Li and hurried over, with Shopkeeper Tu walking behind.
A few curious villagers from the entrance also squeezed in. However, they found the smell in the room a bit unpleasant, and they also felt that bad things had happened consecutively in Old Man Li's house recently, which was quite inauspicious. Thus, they stood at the doorway, peering in, but did not enter the inner room.
The black-grey bedsheet and quilt, which could no longer be identified by their original color, along with the soiled clothes of the old woman, which had been torn to shreds, were now discarded on the floor.
The wooden bed had been re-covered with dazzlingly white cotton sheets, and the old woman's clothes had also been changed. They were made of fine cotton cloth. After changing her clothes, she looked much cleaner. A thin quilt of a very refreshing color was draped over her.
"Axiu... Axiu... How are you? Respond to me..." Old Man Li looked at his old wife lying on the bed with her eyes closed and a pale face, a white cloth bandage wrapped around her head.
He held his old wife's withered, bark-like hands and gently called her name, but the latter did not answer him.