Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Having made up her mind to visit the Lu family, Liu Wenying set off that very day.

She got on the donkey cart and followed the directions given by the old people.

Wild grass grew rampant on both sides, almost obscuring the path. In the distance, mountains rose one after another, and the path underfoot was narrow.

Finally, she saw a few thatched huts standing alone at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by forest on three sides and facing the valley on the other.

The thatched roof was thick, but it had turned black, indicating that it had been there for many years.

The courtyard wall was a fence made of tree branches, crooked and crooked, barely enclosing a yard.

As you get closer, you can hear the clanging sound of firewood being chopped coming from the courtyard.

Through the gaps in the fence, Lu Ye was standing in front of the woodpile.

He was shirtless, his dark tan back glistening with sweat in the sunlight, his muscles undulating with each swing of his axe.

The right knee was wrapped with strips of cloth and secured with several tree branches; it was probably a homemade splint.

Despite his injury, his strength in chopping wood was still astonishing; when the axe fell, the thick pieces of wood split in two.

However, his movements were affected. Every time he lifted his leg and turned around, it was clear that his right leg could not exert any force, and he relied entirely on his left leg and waist to support himself.

Just as Liu Wenying was about to call out to him, Lu Ye seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head.

Eyes facing each other.

Lu Ye's heterochromatic black and gold eyes widened suddenly. He swung the axe in his hand and chopped it down on the ground at his feet, just inches away from his feet.

That was close, I almost broke my foot.

"Brother Lu!" Liu Wenying hurriedly pushed open the wooden gate and went inside.

Lu Ye, leaning on the axe handle, hastily grabbed a short jacket draped over his shoulders and put it on. His rugged face flushed with embarrassment: "W-what are you doing here?"

Liu Wenying's gaze fell on his right leg.

The strips of cloth were roughly wrapped and stained with dark red blood, indicating that the wound had reopened.

"Grandma and the others said you hadn't been there for four or five days and were worried something might have happened to you, so they asked me to come and check on you."

She spoke softly and stepped forward to help him up.

"Your leg injury is bad, sit down first."

"I went up the mountain a few days ago and encountered a wild boar. I fell while trying to dodge it, and my leg can't walk far for the time being, so I didn't go to the village."

He paused, then assured him, "I can leave tomorrow, I will go."

Liu Wenying felt a pang of sadness.

"I'm not here to rush you."

She softened her voice, reached out to hold his arm, and pressed him down to stop him from moving.

"The elderly people are genuinely worried about you. They were afraid something might happen to you alone in the mountains. They are getting old and can't walk anymore, so they asked me to come."

Lu Ye stiffened slightly, then let her help him sit down on a stone stool in the courtyard.

He lowered his head, his bangs obscuring his eyes, revealing only his tightly pursed lips.

"Thinking about me?" He repeated these three words, as if talking to himself.

"Yes, of course I miss you. Grandma said the firewood you gave her hasn't been burned yet."

Grandpa said that you carried him to see the doctor last winter.

They all say you're a good child.

Lu Ye's eyes widened, and just as he was about to say something, a cough came from inside the room.

Lu Ye immediately got up, but his hasty movements aggravated his injured leg, causing him to wince in pain, yet he still rushed into the house.

Liu Wenying also stood up. "Is that Grandma Lu? May I go in and see her?"

Lu Ye hesitated, but finally nodded and limped to lead her into the house.

The thatched hut was low, and the door curtain was sewn from old linen.

As I lifted the curtain and went inside, a strong smell of medicine mixed with a musty odor hit me.

The room was dimly lit, with only a little natural light filtering in through a small window against the wall.

A thin, old woman lay on the earthen bed, covered with a thin quilt full of patches.

Hearing the noise, the old woman turned her head.

Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, and her hair was completely white, tied in a sparse bun at the back of her head.

"Ye'er, who's here?"

Lu Ye walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "It's Liu Zhuangtou from Zhiyun Manor. He's come to see us."

"Liu Zhuangtou?" Grandma Lu reached out her hand, and Liu Wenying quickly stepped forward to shake it.

"Please sit down, young lady. Ye'er, pour a bowl of water for Liu Zhuangtou."

Lu Ye responded and limped to the kitchen.

Liu Wenying sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and carefully looked around the room.

The entire place was only about ten feet long, with the earthen bed taking up most of it and some miscellaneous items piled up in the corner.

A bow and quiver hung on the wall, and rough pottery bowls and cups were placed on the wooden table by the window; the simplicity was heartbreaking.

"Is Grandma feeling any better?" Liu Wenying asked softly, her hand still being held by the old woman.

Grandma Lu sighed, coughed twice, and then said, "It's an old ailment. I caught a cold last December, and it just wouldn't get better, so I developed this cough."

"He coughed so badly at night that Ye'er couldn't sleep peacefully in the other room."

"Has a doctor examined you?"

"I saw a doctor once; he came to see me, prescribed some medicine, and I felt better after taking it."

"That medicine was expensive, costing thirty coins per dose. Most of the money Ye'er earned from hunting went into it. Later, I said I didn't want to take it, but he insisted on going to the mountains to hunt more..."

He coughed again before he could finish speaking, his thin shoulders trembling violently.

Liu Wenying quickly patted her back, her heart sinking.

These symptoms suggest that a cold has developed into a lung disease.

If not properly cared for, it will have a significant impact on the already weakened body of the elderly.

"Grandma, illness can't be delayed. Brother Lu is young and strong; he can hunt more game. But if something happens to you, what will become of him all alone in these mountains?"

Grandma Lu stopped coughing, held Liu Wenying's hand, and her eyes reddened.

"Liu Zhuangtou, you are a kind-hearted person. To be honest, I know my own body well, and I'm afraid... but I just can't stop worrying about Ye'er."

Her voice choked with emotion, and her thin fingers trembled slightly.

"This child has a hard life. He lost his mother at birth, and his father didn't live much longer either."

"The villagers all said he was unlucky and would bring misfortune to his family. When he was a child, the kids would throw stones at him and curse him."

"He hid in the back mountain and cried by himself. When I found him, he was still smiling and telling me that it didn't hurt."

Liu Wenying choked up.

"Later, when he grew up, he took me and moved out of the village. Over the years, we have relied on him to hunt for rice, but the wild animals in the mountains are fierce, and he is often injured."

Grandma Lu wiped her eyes.

"Liu Zhuangtou, you are the first outsider to come and see him, and you are so beautiful."

"Ye'er, he's actually a good kid. He's honest, he's not good with words, but he's sincere. You...you shouldn't dislike him."

Liu Wenying grasped the old woman's hand in return, "Grandma, don't worry. Brother Lu saved my life. I remember his kindness. He is righteous and kind-hearted. All the old people in the village remember him well."

"As for what others say... your eyes are unusual, that's a gift from God, not a flaw. Don't take it to heart, the important thing is to take good care of your health."

Grandma Lu listened, her eyes still moist, but she was smiling.

"Good, good, good, I'm relieved to hear Miss Liu say that."

As they were talking, the curtain was lifted and Lu Ye came in carrying water.

He had difficulty walking and walked slowly, but he held the bowl of water steadily without spilling a drop.

Lu Ye handed the bowl of water to Liu Wenying, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before quickly looking away.

His skin was dark, but the red behind his ears still showed through; fortunately, the room was dimly lit, so it wasn't clear unless you looked closely.

"There's no tea at home, only plain water." He was extremely embarrassed.

Liu Wenying took the bowl, lowered her head and took a sip. The spring water was clear and cool, with a faint sweetness.

"This water is delicious, so refreshing and sweet." She looked up at him and smiled.

Lu Ye paused for a moment, then smiled.

…………