Chapter 388: Who Hurts Who

"Du Juan, Du Juan, I’ve made some porridge. Get up and have some."

Du Juan’s vacant eyes finally stirred, and then she burst out crying with a loud "WAH!" Shanzimama sat on the edge of the bed and patted her. "There, there, child. Don’t cry. It’s something all of us women have to go through."

"It only hurts a bit the first time. It’ll be better from now on."

"Come on, get up and have your porridge."

Du Juan cried for a while before shaking her head. "Auntie, I don’t have the strength. I can’t get up."

Shanzimama sighed. "I’ll bring it over to you."

As Du Juan was drinking her porridge in the room, Shanzimama heard someone calling from outside the gate, "Sister-in-law Huang—"

Shanzimama went out and saw Yougen at the gate.

She hurried out. "There’s a room for rent. I asked around last night. I’ll take you."

Yougen looked embarrassed. "I’m a little late. I hope I haven’t held you up."

"Well, I was supposed to go into the city first thing this morning to find my in-laws at the inn, but who knew they’d all come down with vomiting and diarrhea? I was busy getting a doctor for them."

Shanzimama found this hilarious. ’After the way they were stuffing their faces, it’s a miracle they didn’t eat themselves to death.’ Outwardly, however, she asked with concern, "Is it serious?"

Yougen sighed. "It’s not too serious, but they’ll need to rest for a few days."

"The doctor said they ate so little while fleeing the famine that their stomachs couldn’t handle suddenly gorging on such rich food. He told them to have nothing but plain porridge for a few days, with no oil or meat."

The two chatted for a bit before Shanzimama led him to a household not far away. It was another set of mud-brick houses, with a single, empty room to the side available for one hundred Copper Coins a month.

Yougen rented it and turned to go get his in-laws.

Meanwhile, Shanzi had set out with his mule cart. He was later than usual today, and the area by the North City gate was already packed with other mule carts looking for work.

Shanzi squatted by the base of the wall for a while, then suddenly stood up and drove his cart toward the east side of the city.

Before long, he reached Furong Street.

From a distance, he saw the large, three-bay storefront with its black and gold sign.

Shanzi sat on the driver’s seat, holding the reins and letting the mule walk slowly.

As he reached the inn’s entrance, Shanzi turned his head to look inside.

He saw Xing’er standing in the main hall. She was wearing a moonlight-white dress of fine cotton, with a blue sash tied at her waist that accentuated how slender it was—as if you could wrap a hand around it.

She was talking to a young man standing across from her, her expression animated and a smile on her face.

Shanzi’s heart felt as if it had been stung, a sharp pain piercing through him.

As if sensing something, Xing’er suddenly turned her head.

Shanzi saw her fair face, her glistening eyes, and her crimson lips.

In an instant, the smile on her face vanished. Xing’er then turned and went deeper into the inn.

Shanzi stared blankly as Xing’er’s back disappeared through the rear entrance. Gu Fei, sitting behind the counter, glanced his way. Shanzi shot her a glare, then cracked his whip and drove the mule away.

Shanzi returned home early that day. After unhitching the cart, he went to the kitchen to find his mother and give her the Copper Coins he had earned. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Du Juan sitting by the stove, feeding the fire.

Last night it had been dark, and Shanzi hadn’t gotten a good look at her in the candlelight.

Only now did he see Du Juan’s appearance clearly. Her skin was a little dark, and she was still wearing one of Shanzimama’s drab, old outfits. When she saw him looking, she timidly lowered her head.

An image of Xing’er from earlier that day flashed through Shanzi’s mind—her red lips, white teeth, and vibrant expression.

His expression darkened instantly, and he turned to walk out.

Shanzimama called after him, "Shanzi, where’s the money you earned today?"

"Oh, and did you buy the Dragon and Phoenix Candles I asked you to get?"

Shanzi didn’t answer. He went back to his room and slammed the door shut.

That night, the bed boards creaked for half the night again. Du Juan lay with her eyes closed, listening as Shanzi called out Xing’er’s name, over and over.