NOVPUB17: Chapter 17: The Diligent Man
17 -17: The Diligent Man
Such a ghastly creature, no wonder her two aunts would still frequently get scared by her.
It’s truly pitiful, oh.
A girl in her late teens, tormented into such a state, and the fact that she managed to survive until six months ago before dying is pretty impressive.
Just moments ago, she had been cursing Jin Zijin for half a day over the fact that both her chaste reputation from her past and present lives had been ruined, and that her sickness had made her an easy prey for the wild boar.
Now, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for Jin Zijin.
How starving must that wild boar have been to so indiscriminately set his sights on a freak like her?
Soon after, clinking and clanging noises came from the house, along with the crackling sound of fire.
It seemed that Jin Zijin had gone inside to cook.
He was so poor that he had only a thatched hut with a bed on the left, a bamboo partition in the middle to divide the space, and a small stove on the right!
Billowing smoke rolled out from the hut’s thatch, giving off the impression that it was on fire!
Gu Youyou frowned slightly, deeply worried about her breakfast!
Alright then, no point in being picky in someone else’s house, just wait and eat whatever comes, and any decent meal would be considered a luxury.
It wasn’t long before Jin Zijin came out of the house, carrying a small table made of bamboo.
There was a vast bamboo forest in the mountain behind the house, so every family in Lotus Village had someone who was skilled in bamboo crafts.
Apparently, Jin Zijin was no exception!
He set down the table and said to Gu Youyou, “It’s dark inside the house, so let’s eat breakfast outside!”
“Hmm?
Sure, sure!” That was absolutely fine with her.
Gu Youyou watched as he skillfully brought out two bowls of clear porridge and a stack of wild greens.
He mindedly picked up one of the bowls and downed it in a few gulps.
Gu Youyou, despite her illness, wasn’t far behind.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had a decent meal; the poor thing, it seemed like she hadn’t had a full meal since she had arrived here.
In no time, the two of them had turned the two bowls of clear porridge into empty bowls.
Jin Zijin looked at Gu Youyou’s empty bowl in surprise, then stood up and filled another bowl.
This time, however, the bowl was only half full.
Gu Youyou was about to complain about his stinginess when she saw that his own bowl was still empty, so she said nothing.
Jin Zijin’s place wasn’t like the Gu Family; he was so poor that he probably had nothing left to eat!
Well then, in that case, she wouldn’t be shy about drinking down the remaining half bowl of thin porridge and picking up another chopstick of greens!
She was the patient, after all, so of course, she needed to eat more.
Jin Zijin, tall and strong as he was, probably wouldn’t miss half a bowl or so of porridge!
Gu Youyou got her wish to bask in the sun for nearly four hours, watching Jin Zijin busying himself cleaning around the house, even washing clothes.
Hehe, she had lived two lifetimes yet this was the first time she had seen a man doing the laundry!
By the time Jin Zijin had finished his chores, it was noon.
He walked over to Gu Youyou and said, “The midday sun is very strong, and you’re not yet accustomed to it.
Let me take you inside.”
Before Gu Youyou could respond, he scooped her up, blanket and all, and carried her straight into the house.
Gu Youyou: “…” Why was it that each time he spoke as if he was consulting her, but then he made decisions without allowing her any room for dispute?
She hadn’t seen the sun for half a year and wanted to enjoy it a bit longer, didn’t she?
Farmers only eat two meals a day to save food, so there wouldn’t be a midday meal, which meant no need to think about lunch.
Gu Youyou had only eaten a bowl and a half of porridge in the morning, and by noon, she was already hungry.
But there was nothing she could do; even at the Gu Family house, they only had lunch on exceptionally busy days.
Not to mention Jin Zijin’s house, clinking with poverty—he certainly wouldn’t begrudge her a midday meal.
