Chapter 5

Chapter 5 In fact, by the time Liu Siyue fell, she had already breathed her last. At that moment, Liu Siyue from another spacetime entered her body. She opened her eyes for an instant, but she was far too weak to think about anything before she slipped back into a state of feigned death. That was why Doctor Wu had detected a pulse that seemed both present and absent. Liu Shitou handed the baby to Liu Ruyun. “Sister Ruyun, this is Siyue’s child. I’ll go get the medicine for you.” Liu Ruyun took the baby. The little thing was wrinkled and let out a cry like a kitten. She must have been hungry. What should they do? Remembering that there was a nursing woman in the village who lived not far from them, Liu Ruyun carried the baby over. “Aunt Yu, my younger female cousin’s baby is hungry. I’d like Sister Zaohua to nurse her for a while.” “Take her inside. My eldest grandson can’t finish all the milk anyway. “Zaohua, help Ruyun’s family nurse their baby.” “I know, Mother. Have Ruyun bring the baby inside.” Liu Ruyun carried the baby into the house. “Sister-in-law Zaohua.” “Give the baby to me.” Zaohua took the baby and gave her a look. “This child doesn’t seem to have been born full-term. She’s only been born a few days, hasn’t she?” “I don’t know. She’s Siyue’s child. Siyue was cast out by her In-laws' Family, and in a moment of despair, she jumped off a cliff. She’s still unconscious.” Zaohua felt even more sympathy for the baby. She lifted her clothes. Perhaps it was simply human instinct—the infant eagerly searched for the scent of milk, opened her tiny mouth, and began to suck. Her little mouth bobbed up and down, looking utterly adorable. “Ruyun, Gouwa is still young, and he can’t finish all the milk either. If the baby gets hungry, bring her over. Leave her with me for now. Go take care of whatever you need to, then come back for her.” “Thank you, Sister-in-law. I’ll leave the child in your care for now. I’ll come back for her later.” Liu Ruyun left the house, exchanged a few words with Aunt Yu, and hurried home. There, she saw Liu Shitou pacing back and forth at the gate to the courtyard. “Sister Ruyun, I’ve got the medicine. Here you are. “As for the consultation and medicine fees, you can pay me later.” “Thank you, Shitou. Give my thanks to your father as well. We owe you both a great deal today. Once Siyue wakes up, I’ll have her come to your house and thank him in person.” “There’s no need for thanks. We’re all members of the same clan. When someone’s life is at stake, how could we stand by and do nothing?” Liu Ruyun’s family had little, but they did have a medicine pot. Madam Feng was practically a walking medicine jar herself; otherwise, their life would not have been so difficult. Liu Ruyun began boiling the medicine. She reduced three bowls of water to one, and once it had cooled enough, she pried open Liu Siyue’s mouth and fed it to her by the spoonful. When she saw that Liu Siyue could still swallow, she was delighted. As she fed her, she said, “Siyue, I’m your Older Cousin Sister Ruyun. You have to wake up soon. Your child is waiting for you. You can’t think only of yourself and heartlessly leave her all alone in this world, where people can bully her. “You have to wake up. I’m not going to help you raise your child, you know. If someone bullies her then, I won’t be responsible.” Liu Siyue had already been tortured awake by the bitter, spicy medicinal broth. It felt as though every organ in her body was throwing a tantrum, leaving her terribly irritable. Her head was dizzy, and her eyelids were so heavy that she could barely open them, but she had heard every word Liu Ruyun had just said. She was calling her Siyue, but the pronunciation was a little off. Had she failed to learn the four tones properly in elementary school? Otherwise, how could she pronounce the first tone as the fourth? She said she was her Older Cousin Sister Ruyun. Liu Siyue had never heard her Father mention such a relative. Besides, her father had no brothers or sisters. Where had this Older Cousin Sister come from? And she had mentioned a child, saying it was her child. Liu Siyue was still a university student who had not even graduated. Where would she have gotten a child? Could this woman named Ruyun have mistaken her for someone else? As she thought, her head began to throb. She did not dare think about anything more and simply lay there quietly, gradually falling asleep. She slept all the way until noon the next day. After feeding Siyue her medicine, Liu Ruyun washed the medicine pot and began boiling medicine for her mother. A series of coughs came from inside the house, and Liu Ruyun hurried in to help her mother catch her breath. She then brought her some water. “Mother, are you feeling better now?” “Much better. Tell me, what exactly happened to that girl Siyue? I’m worried.” “Mother, lie down first. Your medicine is still boiling outside. I’ll go check on it.” Liu Ruyun went out and stirred the medicine, then lowered the fire so it could simmer slowly. Only then did she return to the room. She brought over a small stool and sat down beside the bed before telling her mother everything that had happened to Liu Siyue. “Mother, I heard Uncle Youtian say that Siyue was cast out by her In-laws' Family. She returned to the village this morning, but the people at the old house wouldn’t let her in and said some very cruel things. She was carrying a newborn baby and felt as if she had no way out. In her despair, she jumped off the cliff at the village entrance and cracked her head open. Uncle Youtian and Shitou were the ones who saved them. “Uncle Youtian originally took Siyue to the old house, but no one there would open the door. Afraid that delaying treatment would worsen her condition, he brought her here instead. “I took Siyue’s baby to Aunt Yu’s house and asked Sister-in-law Zaohua to nurse her. The baby started crying, and I truly didn’t know what to do. Sister-in-law Zaohua said the child didn’t look like she had been born full-term.” Madam Feng sighed. “Those sisters have all had hard lives. They were unfortunate enough to be born to parents and grandparents like that. Luckily, your father and I made up our minds back then to cut ties with the old house. Our lives have been a little harder because of it, but at least none of you have had to suffer their mistreatment. “If everyone in our family gives up one mouthful of food and digs up a little more wild greens, we won’t let her starve to death. We may be poor, but at least we can shelter her from the wind and rain. She’ll have us to rely on. “I wonder what happened to that girl at the Lu Household. Why did they cast her out? Why was the child born prematurely? When your father comes back later, have him go find out.” “I know, Mother. Don’t worry about any of this. You have us. “Mother, get some sleep. I’ll go check on the medicine. It’s about time to make lunch, too. Father and my sisters should be coming back soon.” Liu Ruyun stirred the medicine again and left it to simmer. Then she went to the kitchen to prepare the meal. Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Her four younger sisters had returned from cutting pigweed and digging up wild greens. Liu Ruxue and Liu Ruyu put the pigweed in the backyard. The family raised two pigs and more than a dozen hens, which were their main source of income. Liu Ruyue and Liu Ruxing were twins and looked very much alike. The two of them, carrying baskets, entered the kitchen. “Elder Sister, we dug up some wild greens today, picked some mushrooms, and even found three wild chicken eggs.” This startled Liu Ruyun. “Did you go into the deep mountains?” “No. If you don’t believe us, ask Second Sister and Third Sister. They can vouch for us.” “Elder Sister, we really did find them where we were cutting pigweed. Cook them for us later so you can see what a pair of greedy little cats they are.” “I have something to tell you. Siyue has come back. She was injured and is lying in the room right now. Be careful when you go in later.” “Elder Sister, who’s Siyue?” “Your Second Sister will tell you in a moment. Third Sister, come watch the porridge for now. I’m going to Aunt Yu’s house to bring the baby back.” “Elder Sister, what baby? We’ll go with you.” “Stay here. Elder Sister will be right back. I’ll tell you when I return.” Liu Ruyue and Liu Ruxing looked at their Second Sister. “Second Sister, who’s Siyue?” “Siyue is your Older Cousin Sister. I’ll take you to see her, but don’t make any noise.” “We know, Second Sister.” The two girls quickly covered their mouths with their hands. “Our Older Cousin Sister is injured. It must hurt terribly.” “Come on, let’s go outside and see Mother.” Liu Ruyun ran into Liu Dawang at the main gate. He had just returned from the fields and was carrying a bundle of firewood on his back. “Father, did you go up the mountain?” “Yes. We were running low on firewood, so I went to cut some more. Whose baby are you carrying?” Liu Ruyun asked her father to go back inside and put down the firewood first. Then she would tell him everything.