"What?" Ah Jiu was not happy this time.
"How could I cure that kind of illness? Are you really my grandmother? If I fail, I'll be punished, and even if I succeed, it might not bring any merit. Your daughter-in-law's father, with his superb medical skills, still died from this very illness, and your daughter-in-law hasn't returned because of it. I don't want to go to my death."
Ah Jiu picked up a twig and drew circles on the ground, grumbling, "Besides, if I were capable, I would have cured your illness first."
"You..." Madam Wang was so angry she couldn't speak. "You still think I'm ill? Didn't my prayer for rain come true?"
"It did."
"Then am I not ill?" Madam Wang was extremely indignant. How could this girl be so stubborn?
"Yes," Ah Jiu pursed her lips. "You have another illness, a serious one that makes you want to push your granddaughter into a fiery pit."
"Don't talk nonsense to me. I don't want to bother with worldly affairs anymore. The spiritual spring water isn't enough, and didn't you say yourself that accumulating merit points could expand the amount of spiritual spring water? I'm just giving you an idea."
How did she end up getting herself into such a mess? She tilted her head back and finished the soup in the bowl.
"Do you want more?" Ah Jiu took the bowl and returned to the courtyard.
"I'm already full from anger, so I'm not eating." Madam Wang closed her eyes to rest and adjust her breathing, lest this child's words explode her lungs.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, Meng Shaode hunted another fox. He remembered that the woman disliked the gamy smell of fox meat, so he didn't bother to claim credit and quietly went to deal with it himself.
In the afternoon, Tuoba Yan was called away by Zhao Kun, who said there was something to attend to in the city. He left before lunch.
Ah Jiu suddenly remembered the matter of the clear oil and chased him to the village entrance. Tuoba Yan heard her and turned back.
He dismounted: "Sister Ah Jiu, what is it that couldn't be said just now? You look so tired."
"Take this. The clear oil... I've been too busy these past two days and didn't remember." Ah Jiu said, stuffing a porcelain bottle into Tuoba Yan's hand.
"Hydrogen oil?" Tuoba Yan's eyes lit up. "Sister Ah Jiu, I didn't expect you to still be thinking about this. I'm so happy."
"You helped me and saved me, so of course I remember." Ah Jiu said and turned to leave.
"Sister Ah Jiu!"
"What is it?" Ah Jiu turned back, waiting for him to speak.
"Is it just because I saved you?" Tuoba Yan's expression was serious, his eyes full of expectation.
"Yes, you are good to me, and I am good to you. You saved me, so I'll help you." Ah Jiu murmured, her eyes earnest.
"Oh, then in the future, I'll save you more." A hint of dejection was visible in Tuoba Yan's eyes as he remounted his horse.
"This... this sounds a bit inauspicious." Ah Jiu's expression was particularly awkward, as if she had eaten bitter herbs.
Tuoba Yan, on horseback, turned his horse to look at Ah Jiu: "It's very auspicious. Sister Ah Jiu, you should go back quickly. Perhaps tonight they will arrange for me to patrol this area again." Even if they didn't, he would have to ask Head Zhang to arrange it.
"Alright."
Ah Jiu turned and walked home without looking back, thinking that what Zhao Kun said about Tuoba Yan being a bit dim indeed seemed to be true.
The fields of the rural village stretched out, filled with farming villagers.
Famine had lasted for several years now, and very few families owned oxen. Most relied on human labor to till the land and sow seeds.
However, there was more of a thriving scene than before. What was planted might not be seeds, but the hope in people's hearts.
"Grandma?" Ah Jiu suddenly looked up and saw her grandmother walking towards her. She wasn't sitting there meditating? This was a rare occurrence for Grandma.
"I'll take you somewhere," Madam Wang said suddenly with a serious expression.
"Ah?"
"What 'ah'? I'm trying to find a way to help you." Madam Wang sounded impatient.
"I don't need help."
"If I say you need it, then you do. Come with me."
Madam Wang, with her hands behind her back, turned into an alley.
Ah Jiu followed, utterly bewildered. What was Grandma trying to do? Didn't she consider even wasting time to pass gas, preferring to sit there like an old immortal?
Soon, they arrived at a door without a courtyard, the outside enclosed by a bamboo fence.
"Little girl, come out quickly." Madam Wang's tone was still impolite, more casual than if she were at her own home.
The main house had only one room. The grass shed next to it had several large holes, with a stove underneath.
Creak.
The door opened, and out came the little girl who had exchanged a cleaver for seeds yesterday.
Fortunately, she recognized Ah Jiu and smiled brightly when she saw her: "Sister Ah Jiu."
Ah Jiu forced a smile to greet her and then looked at Madam Wang, suddenly unsure what Grandma wanted.
"Although I don't know when you learned medicine, anyone hired by Lord Wang's scribe must have some skill. Here, her mother has the kind of warm illness that is rumored in the city. Go in and take a look."