Chapter 284: Retrieval Of Hope
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Ligui glanced at Liming and said with a smile, “He’s accepting the medicine.”
Liming glanced at Liu Sanniang and nodded at Ligui. Then, he continued to feed the medicine to Li Guanfeng. The ill man took it all. Li Guanfeng felt a burning sensation in his stomach. After taking the medicine, his stomach felt much better.
He also had the strength to open his eyes finally. He instantly caught sight of Liu Sanniang and asked in a weak voice. “Miss Liu… Is that true?”
He narrowed his eyes and looked at Liu Sanniang without blinking. As long as Liu Sanniang showed any signs of lying, it would not escape his eyes.
Liu Sanniang looked at Li Guanfeng and said truthfully, “It’s true.”
She was not lying. There was no need to lie to Li Guanfeng.
He slowly raised his hand to his heart. He couldn’t die yet. He had to wait for Xiaowu to come back. Li Guanfeng said weakly, “Go and prepare some food. I want to eat.”
Ligui replied excitedly. “Go and get a bowl of porridge for Magistrate Li.”
Liming could not help but look at Liu Sanniang. He was a little curious about what Liu Sanniang had done to pull Li Guanfeng back from the brink of death.
All this while, they had been watching Liu Sanniang. She only put her hand on his wrist, and then he miraculously came back to life.
But it was a good thing.
The servant brought over the porridge and fed it to Li Guanfeng.
After eating half a bowl, Li Guanfeng couldn’t eat anymore, but he felt much better.
Liu Sanniang instructed them. “Feed him plain food for the first three days. After that, he can eat normally.”
Given how weak Li Guanfeng’s body was currently, it would only make it worse if he ate too much. He gave up on survival and his body had collapsed. During the first few days, he needed to restrain from eating too much.
Liming nodded. “Thank you, Miss Liu. We will take good care of him.”
Li Guanfeng seemed to be a little sleepy. He closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly.
Liming gestured for Liu Sanniang to go out to talk. She walked out while Ligui and Liming followed behind.
Outside the house, Liming and Ligui could not help but ask. “Miss Liu, what did you do to him?”
Liu Sanniang smiled. “I gave him some hope to live on. The girl he loved is already gone. However, one day, she will come back to him.”
Liguili heaved a sigh of relief, but then he was a little worried. “If she comes back, will she be a human or…?”
Liu Sanniang smiled. “A human.”
Ligui was relieved.
Liming said respectfully, “Thank you, Miss Liu, for saving him. I believe that your brother will go back home in two days.”
Liu Sanniang nodded.
After leaving the government office, Liu Sanniang turned around and looked at the government office. Her lips moved as she muttered Li Guanfeng’s name. This was her gift to him.
When Liu Sanniang saw Chu Yan, she didn’t look surprised. He went over and held her hand. Their interactions had become more and more natural over a period of time. If Chu Yan could be gentler with her, it wasn’t all that bad to spend the rest of her life with him.
Chu Yan smiled lovingly. He pinched Liu Sanniang’s palm and said in a low voice, “Sanniang, grow up quicker.”
Liu Sanniang retracted her hand. “I’m home.”
She was already home. Why didn’t he let go?
Chu Yan said flatly, “Yes.”
He knew they had reached back.
Liu Sanniang looked at Chu Yan and saw the gentleness in his eyes. She seemed to be attracted to him. The sapling in her heart swayed and stretched its branches, expressing its joy to Liu Sanniang.
As Chu Yan leaned closer to her, Liu Sanniang blushed.
A faint kiss was planted on her forehead. Then, she heard Chu Yan say in a restrained and hoarse voice, “Go in.”
With that, he let go of Liu Sanniang’s hand.
Liu Sanniang quickly opened the door and entered.
Chu Yan also turned around and left.
Not long after Liu Sanniang went to bed, Madam Wei came over. Liu Sanniang shuffled in to make some space for Madam Wei to lay down next to her. Liu Sanniang laid her head on Madam Wei’s arm and said sweetly, “Mother.”
Madam Wei’s heart softened at this sweet voice. She answered gently. “Yes, I’m here.”
Liu Sanniang leaned against Madam Wei. “Mother, don’t worry. Magistrate Li is just sick and will get better slowly. Eldest Brother will also come home soon.”
Madam Wei was relieved. She gently stroked Liu Sanniang’s hair and said, “Thank you, Sanniang.”
Liu Sanniang shook her head. “It’s what I should do.”
Madam Wei patted Liu Sanniang’s back. “Sleep tight.”
On the sixth of February, Liu Sanniang would turn fifteen. Madam Wei only planned to keep her daughter for another year. In other words, when Liu Sanniang turned sixteen next year, it would be time for her to get married. After the marriage, Liu Sanniang would be Chu Yan’s wife and Madam Wei would not have the chance to sleep with her again.
Madam Wei was melancholic. One year was neither short nor long.
…
Li Guanfeng had a dream.
In his dream, he stood in the courtyard filled with blooming osmanthus trees that gave off a refreshing fragrance.
The figure standing under the osmanthus tree was small. She raised her head and tried her best to break some branches. She turned around and said, “Brother, Xiaowu just broke a few branches. They will look very beautiful in a vase.”
Li Guanfeng’s voice was gentle and doting and he said, “Xiaowu, be careful.”
The little girl jumped like a butterfly. He caught up with her in a few steps and held her hand. “Don’t run.”
If she fell, his heart would ache.
The little girl was fragrant and soft. He wanted to give her all the best things in the world.
When he woke up, he did not open his eyes. Instead, he wanted to continue dreaming, but he could not.
His heart didn’t seem to hurt so much anymore. Knowing that his beloved girl would come back one day, he wasn’t afraid. No matter how long he had to wait for, at least, he had a reason to live on.
What he had to do was take care of himself and look forward to her return.
After resting for two days, Li Guanfeng recovered. He instructed Liming. “Go and get ready for the trial of the case between Liu Dalang and Tang Maosheng.”
Liming nodded. “Yes.”
Li Guanfeng thought for a moment and called out to Liming, who was about to leave. “Wait, go buy a few hens and ducks.”