Chapter 4: Sudden Occurrence

Lu Huai knew he should say something, but since she had indicated that any talk should wait until after they had eaten, he had no choice but to follow her lead.

"Try this soy-braised beef; it’s the best thing to go with wine," Wei Zijun said as she placed some into his bowl.

Then, she looked at the small wine cup in front of her. Life had been getting better and better; they no longer had to drink from rough, large bowls, but from delicate wine cups. What a pity!

The peaceful, stable days here would end right here and now.

She had said she would keep him company for a drink, but Wei Zijun couldn't help herself; she picked up her cup and downed it in one gulp.

The spiciness of the wine made her throat burn. Before she left her family, she used to drink, but since coming here to live with him, she hadn't touched a drop, fearing that she might get drunk and lose her tongue, saying things she shouldn't or asking things she shouldn't.

She truly cherished every day they spent together and was terrified of doing something wrong that would shatter this quiet, harmonious happiness.

But today, she needed a drink.

The man sitting across from her was blind. Although he couldn't see, he knew from the sound that she had already had two cups. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. Should he tell her to drink less?

He reached out with his chopsticks to pick up the food his wife had placed in his bowl. He didn't want to change this life, but it seemed that was no longer possible.

Most of the sweet and sour fish had ended up in Lu Huai's stomach, yet he had only had two cups of wine.

Seeing that he had eaten enough, Wei Zijun picked up the wine pot to pour him more.

Hearing the sound of the wine being poured, Lu Huai tilted his head. "Sanniang, don't you usually tell me to drink less?"

"That was on ordinary days. Isn't today a special situation? Come, have another cup. Even if you want to keep drinking after this, I won't let you," Wei Zijun said with a smile, placing the wine pot back on the edge of the small table. There was another pot there, which still contained wine.

The man opposite her couldn't see, so she wasn't worried about being discovered. There were two pots on the table, and the wine she had just poured was actually different from what was in the previous pot.

"Alright, then one more cup," Lu Huai agreed, picking it up and draining it.

"Huai-ge, since we have been husband and wife, I want to give you a gift," Wei Zijun said, her nose stinging.

"Sanniang, don't let your imagination run wild. Listen to me," Lu Huai said, feeling more uneasy upon hearing her words. He felt he should speak, but halfway through his sentence, he felt his head begin to spin.

Seeing him like this, Wei Zijun quickly stood up and went to his side, catching him just in time as he began to collapse, helping him onto the daybed and pulling a quilt over him.

"Sanniang, actually I am..." Lu Huai mumbled a few more words before falling into a deep sleep.

Wei Zijun sat by the daybed, looking at his sleeping, handsome face. "Huai-ge, who you are is not very important to me now. It is enough for me to remember that you are my husband, my man, my Huai-ge, and the father of the child in my womb.

You have reasons why you cannot stay, and I will not ask, nor do I want to persuade you to change your mind. I don't want to make things difficult for you. Actually, it’s not that I’m belittling my own abilities, but even if I tried to persuade you, telling you that you are about to become a father, you wouldn't change your mind and stay, would you?

Furthermore, your people have found this place, so this is no longer our peaceful home.

As the saying goes, the trees desire stillness, but the wind will not cease. Many things are not as you or I wish them to be.

Although I don't know your affairs, I know you have your own constraints, and I don't want to make things hard for you. Tonight, I wanted to tell you that although we have only been husband and wife for half a year, you have already given me the best gift.

However, I have decided not to tell you that good news. If I told you, you would be even more conflicted. Even if you didn't take me with you, you would have one more worry, which would become a weakness and prevent you from doing what you must do.

I will raise our child well!

I am already very satisfied. One cannot be too greedy in life; one cannot harbor delusions of getting more, can one?"

After saying this, Wei Zijun didn't rush to clear the dishes. Instead, she bolted the door and took out several candles, lighting them and placing them around his head.

Then, she reached into a simple cabinet and pulled out a cloth bundle. Unfolding it, she revealed a row of silver needles. She washed her hands with the wine from the pot on the table and began to apply the needles to his head.

In truth, after they had entered the valley and their lives had stabilized, she had studied his blindness and felt she could cure his eyes.

But she had never told him, fearing that if she failed, she would give him hope only to let him suffer disappointment.

She had started by incorporating medicinal herbs into his daily diet to regulate his body. By her calculations, it would have taken another half a month for the acupuncture to be most effective. On the way back to the valley today, she had been thinking that once his eyes were cured, he would be able to see his child being born, watch the child grow day by day, and see what both he and she looked like.

But now, she had no choice but to do it early.

*Knock, knock, knock.* Someone tapped lightly on the door. "Cousin, it's me. Are you asleep? Come out, we have something to discuss with you."

Wei Zijun did not pause her acupuncture. "I'm sorry, we have already gone to bed. If there is anything, let's talk about it tomorrow. Or does this cousin wish to come in and stand by the bed to talk?"

"You... shameless!" Wei Zijun's words infuriated the person outside.

However, Wei Zijun didn't care. She remained focused on the acupuncture. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she removed the needles.

After a simple cleanup, Wei Zijun lay down beside Lu Huai, placing one of his hands on her lower abdomen. "Huai-ge, this is our child. So, you must be well, and I will be well too. Our family of three must all be well."

The people in the courtyard outside watched as the candles in the room were extinguished. They were anxious but helpless, so they had no choice but to wait for dawn.

The men felt sorry for the woman who was standing with her back to them, wiping away tears. They hadn't wanted to bring her along, but she had insisted, and now look—she couldn't handle it!

However, they were also a bit worried for the woman inside. They knew the temperament of the one crying outside quite well; she was determined to have the man inside. With things as they were, she would definitely make life difficult for the woman inside later.

Even if that woman had the master's protection, he couldn't be with her every single second. She would have a hard time ahead.

That night felt exceptionally long for those outside, but for Wei Zijun inside, it felt far too short.

At dawn, the rooster in the coop crowed with great spirit.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, the people in the courtyard quickly rubbed their eyes and perked up. But no matter how they looked, they only saw the woman come out; the other one was nowhere to be seen.

"Good morning, young lady. May I ask about my master?" Someone was pushed forward by his companions to ask cautiously, his eyes alertly scanning the door behind Wei Zijun, fearing that the master might suddenly appear and lose his temper at being disturbed.

"He drank a few too many cups last night and hasn't woken up yet. If you want to take him away now, you can," Wei Zijun replied.

*Huh?* Really? The men walked into the courtyard, somewhat disbelieving.

He hadn't made a decision when he was sober yesterday, but it was fine this morning?

Had the master talked with her all night and reached a decision?

The cousin had already rushed into the room, and soon rushed back out, looking furious as she approached Wei Zijun. "What on earth did you do to my cousin? He has such a high tolerance for alcohol, how could he possibly be drunk?"

Wei Zijun met her gaze without fear. "He was feeling down because he was reluctant to leave this place, so he had a few extra cups, and the wine was quite strong.

I am his wedded wife; how could I do anything bad to him? Miss, you are overthinking it. If you don't believe me, find someone who knows medicine to take a look.

Besides, isn't him being like this better for you all?"

"You? Does your home not have a mirror? Such an ugly person, yet you dare to call yourself my cousin's wife?" The woman was so angry her face turned red; she looked as if she wanted to swallow Wei Zijun whole.

Wei Zijun smiled. "I'm sorry, I am ugly, but he is blind, so he can't see it, and he wouldn't mind anyway."

That was the final straw. Her words added fuel to the fire, and the woman raised her hand to strike her.

Just then, the sound of a warning whistle came from not far away.

"Oh no, enemies have followed us, and there seem to be quite a few. What do we do?" a man nearby said nervously.

The woman couldn't bother with her grudge anymore and looked toward the direction of the warning.

"It seems you lot are useless. Go, carry him and follow me," Wei Zijun said, seeing the urgency on their faces.

"Don't trust her," the woman immediately said.

Wei Zijun sneered. "Don't be clever. If you don't trust me here, who else are you going to trust?"

The men looked at each other, then immediately rushed into the room to carry Lu Huai out. Wei Zijun said, "Follow me," and took the lead, running outside...