The next morning, I got up early.
I wanted to see how Yue Jiu slept.
However, when I stepped out of the room and looked up at the roof, there was no trace of anyone.
I asked in confusion, "Where is Brother Yue?"
At that moment, Doctor Luo slowly walked out of the room and replied nonchalantly, "He went down the mountain early this morning. Before he left, he left you a note."
As he spoke, he pointed to the note hanging on the door.
Curiosity filling me, I slowly walked to the door, took down the note, and read:
"Muye, I have gone down the mountain ahead. Take care of yourself."
He had left so early, he didn't even have time to say goodbye.
I carefully placed the note in my怀里.
Xiao Cai also rubbed his eyes and mumbled as he walked out of the room, asking me, "Sister, what are you doing?"
I lowered my head, patted his little head, and said, "It's nothing, just that big brother from last night, he's gone."
"Oh, I haven't returned your lantern yet."
As he spoke, he took out the small, exquisite lantern from his怀里 and returned it to me.
I stroked his little face and told him, "This little lantern suits you better. You can take it with you wherever you go from now on."
He looked at the lantern in his hand. Although he liked it very much, he also knew it wasn't his. He shook his head and said, "I guess this was given to you by that big brother. I can't accept things given to others."
"It's okay. If that big brother knew you liked it, he would definitely give you one, even better than this. I'll tell him. And I also think this little lantern suits you perfectly. If he knew his belongings could help someone, he would be very happy too."
Xiao Cai was still a bit shy and asked hesitantly, "Really? Does he think that way?"
"Yes, I'll tell him."
"Okay, then I'll accept it."
"Yes, it looks best on Xiao Cai."
"Hehehe, the little lantern is so cute."
As expected, children like cute things.
Doctor Luo watched me and Xiao Cai getting along so well. He felt like he was being ignored, and a hint of displeasure appeared on his face. However, he was helpless. More than his own neglect, he preferred to see Xiao Cai happy.
"I'll go check on your friend. I might be busy for a while. Remember to cook the meal and wait for me to come back," he suddenly said.
"Okay, Doctor Luo, you go ahead. Xiao Cai and I will definitely make a good meal."
"Mm," he nodded slightly and headed towards the ice cellar.
I asked Xiao Cai, "What does your master like to eat?"
Xiao Cai thought for a moment and shook his head, "He loves everything I cook."
"Then what dishes does he eat the most?"
Xiao Cai thought again. He suddenly remembered that he had indeed seen which dish his master always liked to eat.
"I remember, Master likes braised cabbage the most. He taught me how to make it before, and also tofu. He said these are ordinary, but they are delicacies that many people cannot have."
Cabbage, tofu, I had a rough idea of what I could make.
"Okay, then today we'll make what your master likes to eat. Xiao Cai, you help me with the fire."
"Okay."
With that, we both ran to the backyard, one tending the fire, the other washing vegetables and cooking. I was thinking of making stir-fried cabbage with chili, boiled tofu, and Mapo tofu. As I thought, I got more ideas.
Thus, amidst a haze of white smoke and a stove filled with the smell of chili, I added cabbage, then tofu. Occasionally, I would lift the wok and shake it left and right.
Xiao Cai stood by, watching with great curiosity. He looked at the vegetables and the wok going up and down, rising and falling. He was full of doubt: could food be cooked this way?
However, soon he experienced the "law of true fragrance." After the dishes were served, Xiao Cai, with his mouth watering, exclaimed, "It smells so good! I can't wait to have a bite."
"You can try it."
Saying that, I took chopsticks, picked up a piece, and gave it to Xiao Cai to taste. After taking a bite, he was immediately surprised and exclaimed, "It's delicious!"
"See? My twenty-odd years of culinary experience are not for nothing. However, my specialty is braised pork ribs."
"Braised pork ribs?" Xiao Cai had never heard of it and was full of curiosity. He suddenly got excited and said something only I could understand.
I gave an awkward smile and explained to him, "Braised pork ribs are stir-fried bones."
"Bones? Master said we are saviors of life and do not kill. Therefore, I have never eaten bones."
So that's how it was. No wonder I hadn't seen much meat in this world. It turned out everyone had become refined, and there was no meat to eat.
I patted his head and said, "Not eating meat is also a good thing. Alright, let's hurry and take it over."
"Mm."
After we brought the dishes to the table, we sat by the table and quietly waited for Doctor Luo. This time, Doctor Luo returned earlier than ever before. As soon as he entered, he said, "It smells so good! Today's dishes must be excellent."
Xiao Cai was extremely happy. "Master is back so early today! Did he smell our cooking?"
"Hahaha, Xiao Cai guessed correctly. Let's eat quickly, I'm starving."
He sat down at the table impatiently, picked up his bowl, and started eating. Seeing Doctor Luo enjoy his meal made me happy too. It was just a pity that A Li hadn't tasted my cooking yet. I would have to find an opportunity to cook for him later.
After the meal, Doctor Luo proactively told me about A Li's condition. "Your friend is fine now. However, he still needs to detoxify. He should wake up in a couple of days."
"That's great!" Hearing this news, I was overjoyed. My persistence had not been in vain; A Li was finally saved.
"However..." Doctor Luo suddenly said.
"However what?" Could there be another problem?
"However, you need to cook well these few days. Today's dishes were good, very delicious."
"Hahaha, no problem." I thought he was going to say something else, but it turned out he was just thinking about my cooking. He probably regretted not letting me show off my culinary skills in the previous days. If he had known I cooked so well, he might have set the task as cooking. But in that case, given his nature, he would probably have made me cook for nine hundred and ninety-nine days. By then, A Li would have already died from the poison. So, it was better not to.
Doctor Luo sat in front of the house for a while before getting up and walking inside. He said, "I'm a bit sleepy and want to take a nap. If you want to go see your friend, you can go."
I said excitedly, "Okay, thank you, Doctor Luo. You sleep, I'll go see him."
I wondered what A Li would be like now, if he was much better. With anticipation, I headed towards the ice cellar. Xiao Cai shouted from behind, "Sister, can I go with you?"
I turned back to see him running towards me and happily agreed, "Okay, let's go together."
Lifting the lid of the ice cellar, Xiao Cai and I descended together. In the cold passage, we walked forward shivering. Finally, we reached A Li's ice room. He was still the same, quiet. The only difference was that the dark purple color on his face had completely receded.
I picked up his hand and placed it in mine, then pressed it against my face. Although his hand was cold, it felt warmer.
Xiao Cai looked at my actions and asked curiously, "Sister, is this brother your husband?"
"Ah!" Xiao Cai's words made me blush profusely. I cleared my throat awkwardly and asked him, "Xiao Cai, why do you think that?"
Xiao Cai reasoned, "Every time Sister sees him, she either cries or laughs. She also often holds his hand and touches it. If he wasn't her husband, why would she be like this?"
My goodness, this little kid who hadn't even fully grown hair knew so much. I sighed helplessly, "Alas, your analysis is correct. I do have such thoughts. However, he and I are from different worlds, and it's destined to have no good outcome."
"What does that matter? If you love someone, say it boldly." I didn't expect this little brat to be so understanding; I even suspected if he had gone through something similar. But Xiao Cai's words made sense: if you love someone, say it boldly.
"Yes. If you love someone, say it boldly. Xiao Cai, turn your head away."
"Why?"
"I'm going to do something important."
"What important thing?"
"You don't need to know."
"Alright then, I'll turn my head away."
"Mm." He turned his head away in confusion, wondering what I was going to do. Seeing him turn his head, I leaned close to A Li's ear and whispered, "I like you, I like you, I like you."
Xiao Cai secretly turned his head and heard my soft murmuring. After I finished speaking, I felt very satisfied. I slightly raised my head, about to call Xiao Cai, when I saw Xiao Cai looking at me with wide eyes, full of smiles.
"Ah! You, you, you heard everything!" I was flustered, as if I had been discovered of a great secret.
"Hahaha, I heard it all! I'm going to tell my master about this." Xiao Cai laughed mercilessly and even wanted to tell others.
I quickly stopped him, saying, "No, no, no, your master doesn't like to hear these things. Be careful, he'll spank your bottom."
Xiao Cai pouted and threatened me, "You can't tell if you make me delicious food."
"You little clever one, no problem."
"Then let's go back, it's so cold in here." Seeing that A Li was fine, I agreed with Xiao Cai, "Okay, let's go back."
After leaving the ice cellar, we stayed in front of the house for the entire day. Since coming here, life had become much more leisurely. Doctor Luo woke up when the afternoon sunlight began to fade. He yawned, as if he hadn't woken up yet, and slowly walked out of the room. Seeing me and Xiao Cai blocking the doorway, he complained, "Why are you sitting here? Go sit to the side."
He casually pointed to the courtyard, and Xiao Cai and I obediently took our stools and moved into the courtyard. He asked me, "Did you go see your friend?"
"I did."
"It's time to prepare dinner. I'll go check on your friend in the ice cellar again."
"Okay." Hearing him say he was going again, I immediately became energetic. "Make it delicious again today."
He said as he walked towards the ice cellar. I promised him, "Don't worry, tonight's dishes will definitely satisfy you." After he left, I pulled Xiao Cai to the backyard to get busy. Doctor Luo returned as early as yesterday, just in time for dinner. After three days like this, Doctor Luo finally told me one afternoon, "Go and see your friend."
"Mm."
So, taking Xiao Cai with me, I headed towards the ice cellar. As we walked through the icy passage, I saw a figure sitting up through the blurry outline of the ice room. I was astonished and, regardless of the cold, shouted excitedly, "A Li!"
The figure slowly turned its head and then replied, "Muye."
Hearing that voice, which I had longed for day and night, I almost burst into tears. However, I sniffled and ran towards A Li like the wind. Until I saw his face, which had been dull for so long, and heard the long-awaited call, "A Li!" I called out to him again, unable to hold back my tears, and threw myself into his embrace.
A Li showed a long-lost smile and comforted me, "Okay, okay, it's alright now." I shook my head, trying not to cry. He patted me, knowing I must have suffered a lot. This time, let me vent freely.
Xiao Cai stood aside, unsure what to do. He thought for a moment and said, "Brother A Li, my name is Xiao Cai. I'm Doctor Luo's disciple. Can I... can I hug you too?"
A Li looked at the little one in front of him and found him quite cute. He nodded in agreement, "Yes, come here." Receiving affirmation, Xiao Cai trotted over. I wiped my tears and lifted him, placing him in A Li's arms. A Li stroked the cute, rosy child in front of him and said, "This child really resembles me when I was young."
"Really? Then he's as cute as Xiao Cai." Xiao Cai smiled happily, opened his arms, and hugged A Li. A Li's tired face was full of smiles. He hadn't expected that besides Muye waiting for him, someone else was also waiting for him. The feeling of being valued was like love being poured into a cold heart. He slightly moved his hands, struggling to get down.
I stopped him, "Doctor Luo hasn't said if you can get down yet. You should stay put. What if there's still residual poison?"
A Li shook his head. "I've been lying down for too long, it's time to move around."
"Alright then, let's walk around." Just as he was about to get down, Doctor Luo appeared outside the ice room and said, "The poison you were afflicted with has been cleared. You can go out." Doctor Luo was always like this, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, giving people pleasant surprises. However, his appearance and his words gave A Li and me infinite strength.
I said excitedly, "Really? Is A Li completely recovered?"
"Yes, he's recovered, so let's go out. This ice cellar can't hold so many people. Xiao Cai, come here quickly, let's go."
"Coming." Xiao Cai was very obedient this time, not resisting as he had before. Since A Li was fine, I took him out of the ice cellar.
Back in Xiao Cai's room, A Li and I sat side by side on the bed. I touched his hand and felt a chill, naturally rubbing his hands. Xiao Cai just ran in and saw this sweet scene. He quickly covered his eyes and shook his head, saying, "I didn't see anything."
I laughed and walked over to him, hugging him and saying with a smile, "There's nothing strange, just rubbing hands. Look, I can rub your hands too." Saying that, I placed his little hands in mine and rubbed them. A Li also joined in, "I'll rub Xiao Cai's hands too." I handed Xiao Cai's hands over, and he clasped them and rubbed them repeatedly, his face full of happiness. Xiao Cai was also amused and laughed heartily, rolling back and forth between us.