Shen Xiaoming felt he would be better off dead, as that way he wouldn't be a burden to his sister.
Although, when he was delirious with fever, he had wished his sister would come to save him.
Shen Xiaoyan was unaware of the many thoughts her brother had at that moment. Seeing Shen Xiaoming silent, she assumed he was tired.
The siblings were lost in their own thoughts until Zheng Wei and Shen Cheng returned to the Shen household.
Upon seeing Zheng Wei enter, Shen Xiaoyan's eyes lit up. "Is it done? Let me see."
Zheng Wei took out a few papers from his embrace and handed them to Shen Xiaoyan. She studied them for a long time, then dejectedly returned the papers to Zheng Wei.
She couldn't recognize a single character on them.
She couldn't believe that after spending more than ten years in school in her previous life, she was now illiterate here.
Shen Xiaoyan was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the fleeting smile on Zheng Wei's face.
While a person might change after dying and being reborn, they wouldn't transform from illiterate to literate.
Only now could he truly put his mind at ease regarding Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Cheng entered from outside. Seeing that Shen Xiaoming had woken up, he smiled gently and said to Shen Xiaoyan, "Your mother isn't feeling well, so your father won't stay any longer. When you get back, take good care of Xiaoming."
Shen Xiaoyan nodded. "I will."
Zheng Wei walked over and carried Shen Xiaoming onto his back. Shen Xiaoyan, holding the packed bundle, left with Zheng Wei.
The bundle contained only a few of Shen Xiaoming's clothes. Shen Xiaoyan actually didn't want to bring them, but considering their current lack of money, they would have to make do for now.
The three of them left the Shen household and headed towards the outskirts of the village.
It was around five or six in the afternoon. The sun hadn't set yet, but the people working in the fields had already returned. Many people were walking around the village.
As these villagers watched Shen Xiaoyan and the two others walk towards the village entrance, their faces were filled with curiosity.
Everyone in the village knew that Shen Xiaoyan and her brother had not been treated well at the Shen household.
This time, Madam Xu had sold Shen Xiaoyan to Zheng Wei as his wife for twenty taels of silver.
It had only been the day after Shen Xiaoyan's wedding when she took Shen Xiaoming away, seemingly having been kicked out by Madam Xu.
Those who knew the inside story began to inform those who didn't.
Shen Xiaoyan heard their discussions without any particular expression.
People have mouths, and she couldn't possibly cover them to stop them from talking.
Not long after they had walked away, a young voice called out from behind them.
Shen Xiaoyan turned to see that it was Wu Dagang running over.
"Dagang, is something wrong?" Shen Xiaoyan asked, puzzled.
"Sister Xiaoyan, my mother asked me to give this to you." Wu Dagang said, handing a small bag to Shen Xiaoyan.
"What is this?" Shen Xiaoyan asked as she opened it to look.
Inside the bag was half a sack of rice, and on top of it, a piece of hind leg meat.
Shen Xiaoyan closed the bag and handed it back to Wu Dagang.
"Sister can't accept this. Please take it back."
Wu Dagang refused to take it back. "Sister, my mother told me to bring this for Xiaoming to recuperate. If I take it back, my mother will surely beat me."
Shen Xiaoyan was silent for a moment, then finally said, "Alright, Sister will keep it."
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan agree to keep it, Wu Dagang breathed a sigh of relief and said to Shen Xiaoming, who was on Zheng Wei's back, "Xiaoming, get well soon. I'll come visit you in a couple of days."
Shen Xiaoming quietly replied, "Okay."
Watching Wu Dagang's retreating figure, Shen Xiaoyan felt touched.
She would repay with all her might those who offered her help when she was at her lowest.
Because they had to take Shen Xiaoming's condition into account, they walked for a full hour before finally reaching home.
Shen Xiaoyan arranged for Shen Xiaoming to stay in the room she had been sleeping in. As for the few pieces of clothing, she took them directly to Zheng Wei's room.
After all, they were husband and wife, and they would eventually sleep together. Shen Xiaoyan kept telling herself this.
"Xiaoming, you lie down. If you need anything, call your brother-in-law. Sister is going to cook," Shen Xiaoyan instructed briefly before entering the kitchen.
Zheng Wei had made three trips to town in one day, which was indeed exhausting.
However, this was thanks to him; he had been hunting and wandering in the mountains for years, otherwise, an ordinary person would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
Shen Xiaoming had also just recovered from a fever and needed nourishing food, or he would have no strength at all.
After a moment of thought, Shen Xiaoyan had an idea.
Their courtyard was essentially a fenced-in patch of wild land, now overgrown with weeds, interspersed with wild vegetables.
Shen Xiaoyan took her small basket and shovel and went into the yard. In no time, she dug up more than half a basket of wild vegetables.
After picking and washing the wild vegetables, Shen Xiaoyan added water to a pot and started a fire.
Once the water boiled, she added rice and covered the pot.
Shen Xiaoyan then cut off some of the lean meat from the hind leg, chopped it finely, and set it aside on a plate.
She added water to a smaller pot on the stove, brought it to a boil, and then blanched the chopped hind leg meat.
After scooping out the meat and water, she heated the pot, added aromatics, stir-fried until fragrant, then added the blanched hind leg meat, along with salt, soy sauce, and sugar, stir-frying. Finally, she added water and covered the pot.
When she finished, the porridge was almost ready. She added the minced meat and salt, then finally the chopped wild vegetables, and a few drops of sesame oil. The lean meat congee was complete.
It was delicious, nutritious, and suitable for someone who had just recovered from a high fever. Shen Xiaoyan nodded with pride. Although the ingredients were not plentiful, her culinary skills were still quite good.
Braised pork needed to be cooked for a longer time to become tender. Shen Xiaoyan took the opportunity to ladle the congee into a bowl and cover it.
After washing the pot clean, she quickly began to knead dough.
She was going to make some flatbreads; Zheng Wei probably wouldn't be full from just eating congee.
Scallion flatbread was her favorite; it was simple, convenient, and very tasty.
By the time she had made ten scallion flatbreads, the braised pork was also ready. The aroma of the meat wafted from the pot and into her nose; she almost teared up.
She hadn't smelled such fragrant pork in a very long time.
After serving all the food onto the table in the main room, Shen Xiaoming, supported by Zheng Wei, walked out.
"Xiaoming, why are you up? Sister was just about to bring it to you." Shen Xiaoyan quickly went to support Shen Xiaoming, intending to take him back to bed.
Shen Xiaoming held Shen Xiaoyan's hand and said, "Sister, I'm fine now. The fever is… cough cough."
Before Shen Xiaoming could finish speaking, he coughed violently. Without hesitation, Shen Xiaoyan supported him and led him back into the room.
She placed a quilt at the head of the bed and had Shen Xiaoming sit leaning against it.
As Shen Xiaoyan turned to get some rice, she saw Zheng Wei standing behind her with a bowl of congee.
"Here, the temperature is just right," Zheng Wei said, handing the bowl to Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan thanked him in a low voice and sat by the bed, spoon-feeding Shen Xiaoming the congee.
Perhaps it was because the congee tasted good, or perhaps Shen Xiaoming was truly hungry, but he ate two large bowls before saying he was full.
"Sister, are you angry with me?" Shen Xiaoming asked cautiously, looking at Shen Xiaoyan.
Shen Xiaoyan stroked Shen Xiaoming's head and said helplessly, "What are you thinking? How could Sister be angry with you? Xiaoming, you are home now. You don't have to be so careful and watch anyone's face, and no one will make you work or hit you. Just focus on recovering, do you understand?"