Chapter 382: Uncle, You Have a Strong Niece!

Daya moved Qing’er into her own room to make it easier to care for her.

The soft little girl had only just recovered a bit when she was terrified by the Northern Rong raiding the village at night. In her fright, she developed another fever, babbling nonsense in a raspy little voice. If not for Daya’s meticulous care, her brain might have been damaged by the heat.

Daya stepped aside to let her in.

Yan Yu crept into the room quietly, first checking on the little girl sleeping soundly on the heated brick bed.

She whispered, “Sis, how is Qing’er?”

“The fever is gone. Physician Cui said as long as it doesn’t come back, she’ll be fine after a few more days of medicine.”

Daya felt relieved on that front, but she was still worried about another.

“How is Auntie?”

“Mom is alright, she’s just lacking energy and always feels sleepy.”

Daya said, “I’ll go invite Physician Cui to come to the house again tomorrow morning to take a look. Auntie is eating for two now; we can’t be careless.”

She fumbled to light the oil lamp, took her younger sister’s hand, and inspected her from head to toe, front to back.

Yan Yu helplessly allowed Big Sis Daya to perform the check-up.

Only after confirming her sister wasn’t hurt, aside from a bit of scraped skin on her hand that had already been treated with ointment, did Daya relax.

“Don’t go to the front lines anymore.” Knowing her sister was very capable and that the villagers relied on Xiao Er whenever their father, Second Uncle, or Heng’er were away, Daya added, “It’s fine to keep watch from the back or shoot arrows, but don’t make Auntie worry. I worry too,” Daya said softly, smoothing her sister’s hair.

“Regarding Fourth Uncle Qi, I’ve been sending over a portion of whatever our family makes just as you said. I thought it wouldn’t be right to only send things to Fourth Uncle Qi alone, so I discussed it with Auntie and we sent extra.”

“Mm-hmm!” Yan Yu hugged Big Sis Daya with a grin.

Who wouldn’t love a sister who was beautiful, gentle, and treated her so well?

Daya’s expression grew even more tender.

“That good liquor of ours has also been put to use for the uncles in the village. You little rascal, how did you know the uncles would want to steal a drink? Did you see them?”

Yan Yu felt quite helpless. The “good liquor” was actually medical alcohol and couldn’t be drunk. She had only mentioned it as a precaution, but had someone actually tried to sneak a sip?

Daya continued, “I told our Aunt Cui. She’s keeping a very strict eye on that liquor. She said if anyone else acts dishonestly, she won’t dilute it with water anymore; she’ll use the pure liquor to wash their wounds directly and let them ‘drink’ their fill all at once.”

Yan Yu burst out laughing.

The next moment, she quickly stifled it, fearing she would wake the little girl on the bed. Her body shook with suppressed laughter.

Daya patted her gently.

Yan Yu could perfectly imagine what her Aunt looked like at the time, with that loud voice and commanding presence. Washing wounds directly with alcohol… that stinging sensation… tsk tsk!

“Big Sis, did you record the things I asked you to?” Yan Yu asked.

“I did.” Daya went to find the paper she had written on and handed it to her.

“I’ve written down all the wives and sisters who came to Aunt’s house to help. But the medicine usage you wanted me to track isn’t very precise. You should ask Aunt again; she has the tally in her head.”

Yan Yu nodded.

Her Aunt definitely knew. Even if she couldn’t write, she kept a clear account in her heart.

“Big Sis, regarding the aunts and sisters on this list, what do you think about us giving them some money?” Yan Yu had this idea and wanted to hear Big Sis Daya’s opinion.

“I only heard Hu Xiaomei say that the Heir Apparent gave us quite a bit of silver. Wasn’t it distributed to every household?” Daya asked in confusion.

“There’s still some left over,” Yan Yu said.

Daya replied, “I don’t understand these things. Xiao Er should make the decision.”

“Then we’ll go with my plan,” Yan Yu said with a smile. “Cooking porridge, brewing medicine, and looking after the wounded requires constant focus. The aunts and sisters in the village have worked until their eyes are bloodshot. For such hard work, they deserve a share. If the village doesn’t pay it, our family will.”

Hardships were shared by everyone, so when there was reward money, everyone involved should get a piece.

“Big Sis, give it to them privately. It’s not that the money is shameful, but since some people will get it and others won’t, I’m afraid people might have thoughts.

Give each person thirty copper coins so the aunts and sisters can be happy too, maybe buy some snacks or a hair flower… hee hee! I’ll bring the coins to you tomorrow morning.”

“Also, this is my reward for delivering the message. Uncle said I could decide what to do with it. This six taels is for you, Big Sis. Keep it, and when you’re free, go to the town or the city to buy some pretty fabric for clothes. You’re at a good age, Big Sis, you should start dressing up…” Yan Yu said with a straight face.

Daya’s face flushed red, and she hurriedly interrupted her, “Don’t listen to the nonsense the village aunts say. Madam Rong made me new winter clothes, and Aunt also bought fabric for me. I don’t want this money. Our Xiao Er earned it with her own skills, so you should keep it yourself. I’d be happy just watching you spend it.”

“Big Sister, I love seeing you spend money too. I want to see you wear beautiful clothes, put on flower hairpins and silver earrings, apply scented creams, and dress up so prettily that all the boys in and out of the village can’t look away…”

Daya’s face flushed hot instantly. she quickly covered Yan Yu’s mouth and scolded, “The more you talk, the more ridiculous you get.”

Yan Yu grinned and pulled her hand away. “Big Sister dotes on me, so I want to dote on you too. Everything I’m wearing was made by your hands. I’m no good at needlework, so giving money might be vulgar, but it’s my sincere wish. Big Sister, just take it, please take it…”

Daya couldn’t withstand the persuasion of that sweet-talking little mouth. She kept the silver, thinking she would return it to her aunt tomorrow.

Having successfully delivered the silver, Yan Yu hummed a light tune and strolled back to her room.

As soon as she entered, her father pushed her back out the door, pulling her small hand toward her uncle’s room.

“Dad, why are we going back? Didn’t we just come out? What’s going on now?” Yan Yu was bewildered.

Yan Lao’er looked at her with a complex expression and sighed. “Daughter, we’re exposed! Confess and be treated with leniency; resist and be punished severely^[1]!”

Yan Yu was speechless.

What on earth?

Once they entered her uncle’s room, her father solemnly and truthfully confessed the matter of her great strength…

Yan Yu finally understood.

Yan Huaiwen had been waiting. He was waiting for Tianyou or Yan Yu to take the initiative to speak.

This matter was indeed quite shocking. If it happened to a man, there were records of such things in books, but for a girl to possess such strength was unheard of.

However, he was well aware of how harsh the world was toward women. Even if such a thing existed, it would likely be hidden by the family, unwilling to expose it to the public for fear of being shunned or feared.

“When was this discovered?” Yan Huaiwen asked.

“There were signs long ago.” Yan Lao’er had coordinated his story with Li Xuemei before coming. “If she doesn’t eat her fill, her strength is smaller. Once she’s full, her strength becomes enormous.”

This was the explanation the couple had agreed upon.

In the past, who could know if Er Ya had eaten her fill? Looking at Yan Yu’s current appetite, which grew larger by the day, saying she had never truly filled her stomach before was believable. Furthermore, with the Qi Family Three Brothers as a ready-made example, it was quite convincing.

Yan Huaiwen also thought of those three brothers from the Qi family.

One village producing four people born with great strength, and one of them actually being his niece…

The odds were incredibly small, but such things were inherently strange and could not be judged by ordinary probability.

(End of Chapter)