Chapter 24: Sick

Tu Shan walked with her hands behind her back, inspecting her territory. Very good, the pile of debris had been cleared away, and the place looked completely different.

The guys had helped dig a shallow foundation, and after calling in seven or eight masons to stack mud bricks around the perimeter, it was already over a person's height after just a few hours.

She had also left openings for doors exactly where she requested.

The backyard wall was the fastest; it was already finished.

They had dug a foundation for that too—a double-layer brick wall, two meters high. Unless someone could fly over walls or walk on ceilings, there was no way they were getting over that.

The original courtyard wall was even better; it was built with blue bricks and stood a full two and a half meters high.

It really was excellent. One had to admit that when Auntie Wang and her husband were younger, they were quite capable. It was no wonder others had set their sights on them.

In a two-mile radius, most residences were built with mud bricks and had courtyard walls only half a meter high.

Auntie Wang’s house stood out in this area like a sore thumb—how could it not attract attention?

It was precisely because someone had coveted Auntie Wang’s house that she had ended up in danger, only to be saved by Ling Yang.

There were also carpenters who had volunteered to make her doors and furniture, even willing to bring out the precious timber they had stored at home. It was truly heartwarming.

Tu Shan patted her little black bag. "You've worked hard."

It wasn't hard to see that the courtyard was full of talented people; every material was provided exactly as needed, without her having to put in any effort at all.

At nine in the evening, work temporarily ceased. A group of people rushed toward the large iron pot with their bowls, looking like hungry fledglings.

Auntie Wang tapped her large ladle with a *bang-bang* sound. "Line up, line up."

The rough men, the fierce women, and the unruly kids all became as obedient as quails.

Although Tu Shan had said only those who worked would eat, she didn't have any rigid requirements. She let the brats who had only helped watch the gate join the line as well.

There was enough meat; let them eat.

Tu Shan was already eating. She used her chipped clay pot, half rice and half meat, eating so intently she didn't even lift her head.

She had set aside a separate portion to take to her parents later.

The others received their rice and meat, and none of them were refined; for a time, the courtyard was filled with the sounds of slurping and gobbling.

Pure white rice and meat—good things they couldn't even get during the New Year. If they didn't eat hard now, there would be something wrong with their brains.

The neighbors were the miserable ones. The smell of meat wafted into every nook and cranny, and the children at home cried with hunger, but they could only crave it.

Those who were disgruntled cursed loudly, but who cared about them?

After eating, Tu Shan told everyone to rest and continue tomorrow.

The small courtyard quieted down. Tu Shan took the food and the sack of seeds and headed out. Another sleepless night.

She knocked on the dilapidated shack as usual, but after waiting for a long time, no one came out.

Tu Shan grew anxious and couldn't help but knock again. There was no sound at all.

Were they not there?

She snuck closer and took a peek inside. There really was no one. Where had they gone?

Tu Shan searched along the road and found them at the entrance of the nearest health clinic.

Father Tu was carrying Mother Tu on his back, being driven away by the nurse on duty.

"Just go, don't implicate me. I really don't dare give you medicine. I'm begging you, can you just leave?"

Father Tu was anxious and sorrowful. "No one will know, we won't let anyone know. My wife is sick, very sick. Please, I only need one fever pill, just one is enough. Please, have some mercy."

The proud old man knelt on the ground, begging in a low, humble voice.

Tu Shan felt her blood boil. A raging fire burned wildly in her mind, almost consuming her reason and humanity.

"Tu Liang, I will, I will definitely make you wish you were dead."

Father Tu didn't get the medicine. Under Mother Tu’s angry, weak scolding, he walked back step by step.

The nurse felt a pang of heartache, but she was helpless; in these times, everyone was struggling.

Tu Shan walked out and looked at the nurse. "Can you sell medicine to me?"

The nurse was startled and wanted to angrily say no, but upon meeting Tu Shan’s cold, grim expression, she didn't dare.

"Yes, come in. I need proof or identification."

Tu Shan kept all her important things in her little black bag. "I can."

Tu Shan took the three fever pills and went back to the shack, leaving the food and medicine outside before knocking.

Father Tu ran out full of hope, not for the medicine, but for a bite to eat; maybe his wife would get better if she ate.

But to his surprise, there was medicine.

He didn't have time to wonder who was helping them; he turned and ran into the shack.

Tu Shan breathed a sigh of relief and strode away.

She found a piece of fertile, flat mountain forest and used her ability to accelerate the growth of the peanuts the wealthy old lady wanted. While she was at it, she produced some rapeseed—over five hundred catties. Rice and wheat, about a hundred catties each. Also, ten catties of green vegetables and forty or fifty catties of potatoes, which were easy to store.

It was just that the variety of seeds she had was still too small; she would have to find Yang Jiajiang to trade for more.

Right, she also had to get goods for Yang Jiajiang. She would just provide rapeseed and peanuts; those two were valuable.

She produced four thousand catties of goods for Yang Jiajiang, working straight until past three in the morning.

Tu Shan accelerated the growth of a few bunches of grapes for herself, eating while she stood up to stretch and loosen her limbs. She also hunted a silly roe deer to serve as tomorrow's work meal.

With this delay, it was past four.

She bundled everything up with vines, easily lifted it onto her head, and headed home.

She wasn't in a hurry anymore. Since she wasn't going to sleep tonight anyway, she walked back slowly. By five o'clock, it would be just in time for the black market.

She would have to borrow Auntie Wang’s wheelbarrow again today. The old lady probably wouldn't scold her again, right?

She snuck into the courtyard, shouldered the wheelbarrow, and after a round of tying things down, set off for the black market.

Oh, fate. The black market had four or five entrances every time, but she always entered and exited through the spot guarded by the "Black Kid." Tell me, isn't this fate?

The Black Kid was already grinning like a flower—a black foxtail flower. It was an eyesore.

"Sister, you're early."

Heh, the first time they met, the little brat didn't have this look on his face.

She reached into her pocket for money, and the Black Kid’s smile visibly dimmed.

Tu Shan coldly handed over two cents.

The Black Kid took it with a bitter face.

When half a catty of peanuts appeared before his eyes, the corners of the Black Kid’s mouth almost split to his ears.

"Sister, please come in. Watch your step. If you need anything, just ask, don't be a stranger. Little Black here knows this area like the back of his hand."

Tu Shan looked away in disgust and pushed the cart to find Yang Jiajiang.

There were no other customers today, and Yang Jiajiang was sitting in a chair dozing off.

Tu Shan knocked *bang-bang* on the door. "Boss, work is here."

Yang Jiajiang jumped, instantly waking up. "Coming, coming! Oh, Third Sister, hurry, hurry, please come in."

Tu Shan went in and started unloading the peanuts and rapeseed. "Just these two things today. I want to trade for some items."

"Trade for what?" Yang Jiajiang looked over the goods. They were the two crops he currently liked the most. Third Sister really understood him. He chuckled, "Third Sister, just say it. Even if I don't have it, I'll find a way to get it for you. The price will be absolutely fair."

Tu Shan said, "Nothing rare, just daily necessities: an iron pot, a kitchen knife, bowls and chopsticks, a thermos, a basin, toiletries, and two large vats for storing grain. If you can get your hands on milk powder or malted milk extract for health, get me some of that too.

Also, get me some more seeds—grain or fruit, either is fine."

Before, she didn't have a fixed place to live, so Tu Shan just made do. Now that she had her own nest, she had to get everything fully equipped. A home had to look like a home.

Yang Jiajiang recorded it with pen and paper. "Alright, but I can't get it all together in a moment. You'll have to wait. Why don't you leave an address, Third Sister, and I'll have someone send it to you later?"

Tu Shan seemed like someone without a suspicious bone in her body and directly left the address of the small courtyard. "Just say it's for Tu Sanmei."

Yang Jiajiang felt the name "Tu Sanmei" didn't quite match the "Third Sister" before him, but as a businessman, he was best at keeping a straight face. "Alright, it's all noted down. The items will be sent directly there. The money will be deducted from these goods. Any extra..."

"Keep the extra with you; we'll settle it next time."

After the arrangements were made, Tu Shan set off without stopping to deliver the goods to the old lady.

(End of chapter)