Chapter 34: The Zhao Family Calls

"Husband, what is wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Zhen Mi'er watched the sweat beading on his forehead and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe it away gently.

Gu Tingzhi looked at her and let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness, Manman was still here.

Yibai had been struggling to climb up for quite a while, finally reaching the edge of the bed, only to lose its footing and fall back to the floor with a soft "thwack," landing on its back with its legs kicking in the air.

Seeing it flailing helplessly, Zhen Mi'er kindly reached down and flipped it back over. Yibai wiggled its body in gratitude.

"Husband, would you like some water?" She poured a cup of warm water from the table and handed it to him. Gu Tingzhi drank it all in one go from her hand.

"Manman, you are so sleepy. Come up and sleep," Gu Tingzhi said, looking at her dark circles. He patted the inner side of the bed, gesturing for her to join him. Exhausted, Zhen Mi'er took off her outer robe and climbed up.

"Husband, you should get some more sleep too." No sooner had she spoken than she closed her eyes and drifted into a deep slumber.

Gu Tingzhi kept his eyes wide open, staring at her unblinkingly, as if afraid she might suddenly vanish. After a long while, his eyelids slowly drooped, and he drifted off into a nap as well.

By midday, Zhen Mi'er woke up to find Gu Tingzhi no longer in the room. She rubbed her stiff neck and climbed out of bed. As she opened the door, Gu Tingzhi, who had been playing with Yibai in the courtyard, hurried over with a bright smile. "Manman, you're awake?"

"Mhm. Husband, have you eaten breakfast today?"

"I have. Second Sister-in-law heated it up for me."

Su Hehua was already in the kitchen preparing lunch for the whole family, looking as though she hadn't slept at all. Zhen Mi'er hurried over and took the bowl from her hands.

"Second Sister-in-law, how can you hold up if you don't rest? Let me handle the rest; please go back to your room and sleep."

Su Hehua shook her head. "I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I dream of your Second Brother lying on the ground, covered in blood. It’s too haunting."

Seeing her pale complexion, Zhen Mi'er grew concerned. She moved a lounge chair from the courtyard to a spot near the stove where it was warm, and pulled a table over. "Then just lie here and take a nap. I'll stay here with you, and you won't have any more nightmares."

Unable to refuse, Su Hehua nodded, sat down, and rested her head on the table. Having stayed up all night with her nerves stretched thin, she was likely exhausted, and before long, she was fast asleep.

Zhen Mi'er returned to the room for a blanket, draped it gently over her, and reminded Gu Tingzhi to keep his voice down.

Before long, Madam Zhou and Gu Qinghe arrived. Seeing Su Hehua fast asleep on the table, they both softened their movements.

Meanwhile, Madam Zhao, who lived next door to the Wu family, returned from the fields at noon and learned from the villagers that her daughter's brother-in-law had been injured. She packed twenty eggs and a slab of cured meat from her cellar and went to wake up Zhen Bowen, telling him to take the gifts and visit Gu Qingbai.

Zhen Bowen refused to get up, ignoring all her earnest pleas. Furious and tearful, Madam Zhao had no choice but to carry the items to Maoping Village herself.

Seeing her arrive, Zhen Mi'er was surprised. "Mother, why are you here? I was planning to find time to go back and visit you."

Madam Zhao patted her hand and chided, "You shouldn't be running back to your maiden home so carelessly! I am doing just fine, don't worry."

Zhen Mi'er only smiled at her. Gu Tingzhi followed closely behind and bowed respectfully to Madam Zhao. "Greetings, Mother-in-law."

They say a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law and becomes more satisfied the more she sees him. She had previously worried that his head injury might make him unable to cherish his wife, but seeing Ami’s healthy and vibrant appearance, it was clear she was well-cared for in the Gu household, which put her mind at ease.

Madam Zhou wiped her wet hands on her apron and, seeing the items Madam Zhao had brought, scolded her gently: "You are family, why bring gifts? Take these back with you when you leave." She carefully placed the basket on the stone table in the courtyard.

Madam Zhao wouldn't hear of it. She walked over, picked up the basket, and—feeling right at home—walked straight into the kitchen to empty the contents into the storage basket on the stove.

"I brought these to help Second Brother recover. How is he? I heard he was severely injured?"

Madam Zhou led her into the main room to sit, and Lin Huiniang brought over plates of mung bean cakes, green tangerines, and melon seeds. Madam Zhou pushed the plates toward Madam Zhao, urging her to eat.

"I didn't come here for the snacks! I've been worried sick the whole way here. My heart has been in my throat. How is Second Brother? No, I must go see for myself." She stood up, asking which room Gu Qingbai was in.

Seeing her anxiousness, Madam Zhou took her there personally. "Don't worry, in-law. Second Brother was attacked by a wolf pack while passing through Liangwei Mountain last night. Old Man Wu has already treated his wounds, and he will recover in a few days."

Hearing it was a wolf attack, Madam Zhao turned pale with fright. After visiting Gu Qingbai and seeing that he was awake and coherent, she felt relieved and returned to the main room with Madam Zhou to chat and snack on melon seeds.

Gu Tingzhi sat quietly to the side, listening intently. Before long, he shelled a handful of melon seeds for Zhen Mi'er, who tossed them all into her mouth. Madam Zhao watched with a smile.

By the afternoon, Madam Zhao refused to stay for dinner, anxious to get back to lock up the chickens, feed the pigs, and cook for her husband and son.

Zhen Mi'er returned to her room and packed the fabric and food she had bought for Madam Zhao, insisting she take them home. Madam Zhao felt a pang of distress—how could a married daughter keep bringing gifts back to her maiden home, especially in front of her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law!

Madam Zhou, being an experienced woman, understood her concerns and comforted her: "The New Year is almost here. Yesterday, the children went to town, and I gave them money to buy things for their own families. Everyone has a share; this is just Ami showing her filial piety. You should accept it with peace of mind."

Hearing this, Madam Zhao finally agreed.

Gu Qingsong went to harness the carriage to take Madam Zhao home, and Zhen Mi'er and Gu Tingzhi joined them. Madam Zhou brought out a large bag of home-grown sweet potatoes from the cellar, along with some of the tangerines and green dates the children had bought in town, and loaded them onto the carriage for Madam Zhao to take back.

Madam Zhao felt she shouldn't have come; she had only intended to check on Gu Qingbai, yet she was leaving with bags full of gifts and even had Gu Dalang driving her home. She hadn't interacted much with the Gu family before, but today she realized they were all genuine, honest people, and that her daughter's sisters-in-law were very easy to get along with. She felt deeply comforted that her daughter had married into such a family.

After dropping Madam Zhao off, the three of them didn't stop to sit, but turned the carriage back toward Maoping Village. Dinner was already prepared, and the family washed their hands and sat down to eat together.