Chapter 22: How Uncourteous

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhou Xiaoli had just returned home after delivering the pork when she saw someone standing at their door.

After seeing who it was, Zhou Xiaoli was confused at first, but then she slapped her forehead. That’s right, Wei Chiyu had also helped her a lot. She hadn’t thanked him yet.

Since he had disappeared after they went down the mountain, Zhou Xiaoli had almost forgotten about him. And now, he had to come looking for her in person; that was a terrible mistake on her part.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xiaoli immediately said, “You came at the right time. I was about to go to your house to thank you. Do you like any particular cut of meat? I’ll cut it out for you.”

With that, Zhou Xiaoli was about to cut the meat.

“I don’t need it.” Wei Chiyu stopped Zhou Xiaoli. “Take the rest of the meat to the county city and sell it. I can always look for more prey myself.”

As he spoke, he took out a small, black ceramic bottle from within his clothes and handed it to Zhou Xiaoli. “This is for you.”

Zhou Xiaoli was confused. “What is this?”

Wei Chiyu pointed at Zhou Xiaoli’s hand. “It’s a medicine for wounds. I just got it from Doctor Feng.”

So, the reason for his disappearance after coming down the mountain. Was it to go to Dazhuang Village to buy medicine?

Zhou Xiaoli was stunned. She looked at the abrasions on her hand. She then waved her hand and said, “There’s no need, no need for it. It’s just minor abrasions from the bark of the tree vine. It’s fine.”

Wei Chiyu pursed his lips and explained, “It’s useful. I use it often.”

Zhou Xiaoli wanted to say that it wasn’t that she didn’t believe him that the medicine would be useful, but when she looked up and saw the other party’s amber eyes looking at her with utmost seriousness and sincerity, she swallowed her words of rejection.

She reached out to take the medicine bottle. “Then, thank you.”

Wei Chiyu: “Yes.”

Neither of them spoke again, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

Zhou Xiaoli blinked and glanced at the man standing in the courtyard. “Um, you really don’t want pork?”

Wei Chiyu shook his head. “Yes.”

“Ah, alright.” Zhou Xiaoli rubbed the medicine bottle and looked around to ease the awkwardness that had suddenly appeared.

However, she was muttering in her heart. “Why wasn’t he leaving yet?” she thought.

Immediately after, in order to prevent her toes from getting injured from clenching at the dirt ground, Zhou Xiaoli thought of Granny Wang in her previous life. Granny Wang was a social butterfly and she had taught her an all-powerful phrase to start conversations. “Have you eaten?”

Wei Chiyu shook his head again.

“Hmm…” Zhou Xiaoli said, “Then, shall we eat at my place?”

“Okay.”

He answered without any hesitation.

Zhou Xiaoli: “…”

She had no doubt that this guy was waiting for her to ask this question.

She then thought about how Wei Chiyu was living alone at such a young age, and how he had to risk his life on a daily basis to go hunting in the mountains.

She looked at the medicine bottle in her hand again. Moreover, he must have been injured often during his hunts.

Sigh! What a pitiful person.

While Zhou Xiaoli was deep in her thoughts, Wei Chiyu had already entered the courtyard and started working.

Zhou Xiaoli was speechless. “… Seems like he has made himself comfortable at home,” she thought.

Zhang Lan and the two little fellows were quite enthusiastic about Wei Chiyu’s arrival.

Especially Zhou Xiaoyu.

Wei Chiyu, who went hunting in the mountains every day, was her idol. And she had many questions for him.

“Big brother, are there really big tigers on the mountain?”

“Big brother, have you ever fought a tiger?”

“Wow, big brother, you must be very powerful. You must know martial arts which are powerful!”

“Big brother, can you teach me? I want to hunt too. This way, Sis won’t have to work so hard.”

…

Wei Chiyu chopped firewood as he replied to Zhou Xiaoyu’s questions. He was not annoyed at all.

In the end, it was only when Zhang Lan called Zhou Xiaoyu away that Wei Chiyu was able to escape from the incessant questioning.

Once it was quiet, he couldn’t help but look into the kitchen.

Through the window, he could vaguely see Zhou Xiaoli’s figure moving busily in the kitchen. The fragrance of food wafted out together with the steam.

For some reason, this made him feel very peaceful and comfortable.

After a busy period, it was finally time to eat.

No special ingredients were used, just vegetables, steamed buns, and porridge. However, Wei Chiyu ate it all heartily.

After the meal, Zhou Xiaoli sent Wei Chiyu off. Once she returned home, she began to think about how she would make the compass.

At this moment, Zhou Xiaoyu and Zhang Lan’s exclamations suddenly came from the kitchen. Zhou Xiaoli was so frightened by it that she hurriedly put down her work and rushed into the kitchen.

Zhang Lan was hugging Zhou Junjun and wiping her tears.

Startled, Zhou Xiaoli asked worriedly, “What happened? What happened?”

Zhou Xiaoyu was excited. “Sis, Sis, Second Brother spoke, Second Brother spoke!”

Zhou Xiaoli’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”

Zhou Xiaoyu nodded and said with affirmation. “It’s true. Second Brother and I were washing the dishes just now and Second Brother suddenly called out to Mother. Mother heard it too.”

Zhou Xiaoli’s gaze fell on Zhang Lan.

At this moment, Zhang Lan’s hands were trembling from excitement as she hugged Zhou Junjun. “My dear Brother Jun, call me Mother again. Call me again.”

Zhou Junjun stared at Zhang Lan nervously.

At this moment, Zhou Xiaoli went forward and pulled Zhang Lan up. “Mother, don’t be agitated. You are scaring Brother Jun, let Brother Jun take his time.”

“Yes, yes.” Zhang Lan wiped her tears, but there was an excited smile on her face. “I won’t force you anymore. It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Zhou Xiaoli walked to Zhou Junjun’s side, squatted down, and rubbed Zhou Junjun’s head. “Brother Jun, don’t be afraid. Relax, take it slow. There’s no hurry.”

Zhou Xiaoli’s voice was as soft as a feather.

“Sister.”

Suddenly, a slightly awkward voice rang out.

His voice was soft, but it entered Zhou Xiaoli’s ears. She was stunned. “Brother Jun?”

Zhou Junjun moved his mouth and called out again, “Sister.”

“Ah!” Zhou Xiaoli looked excited.

When Zhang Lan heard her son speak again, tears immediately welled up in her eyes. “Did you hear that? Did you hear that? He spoke, he spoke! Our Brother Jun is not a mute, no.”

Zhou Xiaoli nodded heavily. “That’s right, he’s not!”

Now that Lai Jinniang was gone and Zhou Junjun was no longer terrorized by her every day. Furthermore, she had coaxed him to speak up these days. Coupled with the mental and physical effects of the qi-gathering formation in their room, Zhou Junjun finally opened his mouth to speak again.

Although he was not sure of the correct pronunciation and could only say some simple words for now, it was enough to make his family happy!

Zhou Junjun walked to Zhang Lan’s side and reached out to wipe the tears on Zhang Lan’s face. “Mother, no, cry.”

Zhang Lan nodded vigorously and hugged Zhou Junjun. “Mother didn’t cry. Mother is happy, Mother is happy.”

At this moment, she was extremely glad that she had listened to Zhou Xiaoli and left the Zhou family.

It might really be the right choice.

Even Zhou Xiaoyu would say, “I’m so happy now. I’m no longer hungry. I have meat to eat and won’t be beaten by granny.”

Their family was chased out of the Zhou family, but they were living much better than before!

After leaving the Zhou family, her eldest daughter, who was despised as a jinx, became extremely lucky. With just one trip up the mountain, she earned enough money to build a house.

Zhang Lan also felt that her body was getting better and better every day, and her energy level was higher.

Now, Brother Jun has also spoken! The huge stone weighing in her heart was finally gone.

She was genuinely happy.