flamboyant - Chapter 39
"Long San, what is the one thing I did in the past that you find most unbearable?"
Author's Note: Here's the posting schedule for tomorrow and the day after: the first update will be at 10 AM, and the second at 8 PM, both days will follow this schedule. Starting with tomorrow's 10 AM update, the content will be available for purchase (VIP). Please be aware of this.
I'm so sorry I haven't replied to any messages these past few days. I'll catch up once I'm done with this busy period. Thank you everyone!
29
29. The Third Madam of the Dragon Family Reunion...
Long San remained silent for a long time. Feng Ning blinked and stared at him. Long San thought for a long time, opening and closing his mouth as if considering how to answer. Finally, he said, "That matter has not been confirmed."
"What's up?"
"Since it's unverified, there's no point in talking about it," Long San said casually, avoiding the topic. Feng Ning pouted, unwilling to give up. She had wanted to find out more and see if she could resolve the issue, but since he wouldn't tell her, she had no other choice. She could only say, "It's unverified, why are you taking it to heart?"
Long San choked, and Feng Ning said again, "Forget about that first, and then forget about other bad things, okay?" Long San struggled and struggled, but finally gritted his teeth and pulled her into his arms. Feng Ning was overjoyed and nestled against his chest, saying, "I will try my best not to forget the present, and not to be the bad Feng Ning of the past, okay?"
Long San held her close, trying to ignore the unease in his heart. How could he tell her that some things are truly unforgettable, that once they existed, they can never be erased? But he simply hummed in agreement.
Feng Ning nestled quietly in his arms, then yawned, finally succumbing to exhaustion. Although she still wanted to talk, her eyelids wouldn't stay open, and she finally fell into a deep sleep on the warm earthen bed.
Feng Ning slept soundly, but when she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Long San was no longer in bed. Feng Ning was so frightened that she sat up abruptly, but her legs hurt so much that she grimaced. Long San was right; her legs had been through so much yesterday, and she was probably going to suffer today.
She lifted the covers, rolled up her trouser legs, and saw that her legs were swollen like fat radishes. She grimaced, endured the pain, and dragged her legs to the ground. She looked around; nothing had changed in the room, except for a basin of clean water placed in front of the latrine. She washed herself and then saw two pears on the table. She smiled, quickly moved over, and devoured the pears in a few bites.
Just as Feng Ning swallowed the last bite of pear, Aunt Ma pushed open the door and came in. Seeing that Feng Ning had gotten out of bed, she smiled and said, "You're awake? Eat something quickly."
She was carrying two large bowls. One bowl contained rice topped with two steamed buns, while the other contained a large bowl of vegetables, lotus root, sweet potato leaves, and a few pieces of cured meat. Feng Ning's stomach rumbled with hunger at the sight of it. She quickly thanked her and took the bowls, eating heartily.
Aunt Ma laughed as she watched her eat. "Young Master Zhu said you have a good appetite. You were frightened yesterday and walked a long way to save him. You must be starving. He told me to prepare more food. Do you think this is enough?"
Feng Ning smiled, her eyes crinkling, and readily replied, "If I'm still not full after I finish eating, I'll definitely tell Aunt Ma."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ma was first surprised, then burst into laughter. This young lady from the Zhu family was quite amusing. Feng Ning then asked, "Aunt Ma, where is my husband?"
“My husband borrowed a donkey cart and took him to the neighboring town to see a doctor and buy some things.” Aunt Ma replied, “At dawn today, those bandits you mentioned really came. They were dressed in blue, carrying knives and swords, and there were several of them. They asked if anyone had seen a young man and a woman.”
Feng Ning tensed up and stopped eating. Aunt Ma continued, "My husband said he didn't see anyone. One of the people in that group said, 'It's so far, and he's injured, he definitely couldn't have run here; he's probably still hiding in that area.' So they whispered to each other for a while and then left."
Aunt Ma poured Feng Ning a glass of water, gesturing for her to continue eating, and then said, "Young Master Zhu had already woken up by then. After those people left, he came out and told us that they were the ones chasing you. Later, he discussed it with my husband, and they decided to go to town to get some medicine and send a message home."
Feng Ning nodded and thanked Uncle Ma and Aunt Ma's family again. She was sweet-talking and made Aunt Ma very happy. Aunt Ma sat and chatted with her for a while about everyday things. After Feng Ning finished eating, Aunt Ma politely asked if she was full. Feng Ning touched her stomach, thought for a moment, and said, "I want to eat pears."
Her frankness made Aunt Ma laugh heartily: "Yes, yes, these are from our own garden, they're so fresh and delicious." Feng Ning nodded vigorously in agreement. Aunt Ma said, "Young Master Zhu is right, you really have a good appetite." Feng Ning chuckled. Aunt Ma continued, "He instructed you to stay in this room and not let anyone see you. I'll go pick some pears for you, don't go out."
Feng Ning happily agreed. Aunt Ma gave her some pears and then went off to work. After eating her fill, Feng Ning, with her bulging belly and chubby legs, went back to bed to sleep.
When she awoke, she saw Long San smiling at her from the bedside. Feng Ning blinked, still half-asleep, and stretched out her arm towards him, saying sweetly, "Husband..."
Long San picked her up: "I heard you slept all day." He was genuinely worried; how could she have been so careless? Luckily, he got back as quickly as possible. Feng Ning rubbed her eyes: "I get sleepy after eating." Suddenly remembering something important: "Where did you go? How did things go?"
"Everything is arranged." Long San walked to the table, opened the medicine packet, poured it into a basin, added some rice wine, and then used a wooden pestle to crush the herbs.
A foul stench wafted over, and Feng Ning covered her nose. Long San continued, "Let's stay here for a couple of days until our injuries heal before we set off. I know who attacked us; we'll deal with that later. Let's go home first."
"Is it to steal that box from your house?"
"No, I already arranged for someone to return that box; it's not on me."
Why is that?
“We’re too conspicuous. It would be safer to find someone inconspicuous to take us away.” Long San seemed to be overwhelmed by the stench as well, his brows furrowed tightly.
"No, I mean not for the box, then what was it for? Did you pick on their village?"
"no."
"You stole someone's treasure?"
"No." Long San finished grinding the medicine, poured in some powder, and then turned it around. Feng Ning stared at the dark, sticky paste and asked warily, "What's this for?"
"I'm applying this to your legs to reduce the swelling." He brought the medicine basin closer and gestured for Feng Ning to roll up her trousers.
Feng Ning's face turned sour, and she quickly shrank back into the bed: "No, no, my legs will be fine after a few more meals and a couple of naps."
"Okay. Please don't touch me with that."
Long San's face hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "It's swollen like that, the blood circulation is blocked. If you don't treat it, it will leave a lasting problem. Try moving it yourself and see if it hurts a lot?"
Feng Ning knew from her earlier shudder that her leg was hurting more than before, but the medicine was indeed incredibly foul-smelling. However, what smelled even worse now was Long San's face. He said, "Get down, sit on the edge of the bed, and roll up your trouser legs."
His voice didn't need to be loud, but strangely, it carried an air of authority. Feng Ning pouted, not daring to disobey, and reluctantly moved to the bedside. During the process, her legs were in so much pain that she gasped for breath. Then, when she rolled up her trouser legs, she gasped again in fright. Were these her legs? They were bruised and swollen, bulging as if they were about to burst.
Long San looked at her legs, his eyes darkened, and he quickly placed the medicine basin at her feet, then grabbed some medicine paste and applied it to her legs.
Feng Ning winced in pain, but Long San held her down. The stench of the medicine assaulted her senses, making her afraid to even breathe. After a while, she couldn't help but complain, "Long San, I'm being suffocated by the stench!"
"Bear with it." Long San's face was close to the medicine basin, and the fumes were even stronger, but he didn't say anything, so why would she complain?
"This way of dying is too humiliating," Feng Ning kept saying.
Long San really wanted to say something to her, but she smelled so bad that he didn't respond. He held his breath and quickly and carefully applied the medicine paste to her legs. But Feng Ning, determined not to give up, suddenly said, "Long San, I remember now."
These words made Long San look up: "Remembering what?"