Troublemaker (Part 2)

Uncle Qian's wound was only partially dressed, with his leg hastily wrapped to stem the bleeding.

Seeing his pained expression, Liang Hongyu put down his backpack and crouched beside him to check the injury.

Uncle Qian had has never been so severely injured in the mountains.

If his father hadn't told him to rest, Qian Huizhong wouldn't have dared to stop, fearing the wild boars might catch up and further delay treatment.

He was desperate to get down the mountain.

Seeing Liang Hongyu's actions, Qian Huizhong was about to question her when she suddenly said, "Uncle Qian, please forgive me."

With that, she exerted pressure on Uncle Qian's ankle, and a dull sound of bones setting followed.

Uncle Qian, despite his pain, didn't cry out.

His face turned pale, and it took several short breaths before his breathing evened out.

"What are you doing?!"

Qian Huizhong pushed Liang Hongyu away and quickly checked his father, "Dad, how do you feel?"

Uncle Qian grabbed his arm, it took a moment for him to recover, and then weakly smiled at Liang Hongyu, "Xiaoyu, you know how to set the bones?"

"I know a little bit, but I'm not very skilled," Liang Hongyu released her hands from the ground and stood up, "Uncle Qian, your fracture isn't severe. I'm confident about this, otherwise, I wouldn't dare to act rashly."

Qian Huizhong was stunned for a moment, and then he reached out to touch his father's broken leg, "Dad, are you okay?"

"You quickly apologize to Xiaoyu. Otherwise, your father's leg might actually be broken..."

Uncle Qian finished adjusting his ankle and felt no discomfort.

"I'm sorry, I... I misunderstood you," Qian Huizhong looked embarrassed because he had wronged someone.

"It's okay," Liang Hongyu helped Uncle Qian up, "Getting down the mountain is the priority."

Uncle Qian's leg needed treatment, and there was no guarantee that those wild boars wouldn't come here after smelling the blood.

Qian Huizhong understood the seriousness of the situation and hurriedly lifted his father onto his back.

Qian Huizhong carried Uncle Qian ahead while Liang Hongyu followed them behind to clear the way.

After descending the mountain, they took Uncle Qian to see a doctor, while Liang Hongyu and Qian Huizhong parted ways to return home.

...

It was now evening but as she entered the house, she was greeted by silence.

In the backyard, the hens, unfed and anxious, were clucking loudly from their coop upon hearing Liang Hongyu's approach.

Huo Tianzhou was not at home.

Liang Hongyu set down her things, fetched a few cages from the woodshed, and transferred the wild rabbits into them before placing them in the coop.

Then she went to fetch chicken feed.

After a quick bath, she prepared a simple meal.

It was fully dark outside, yet there was still no sign of Huo Tianzhou returning.

Huo Tianzhou had gone to town to repay debts; he wouldn't just make a round trip for that alone.

He must be looking for work in town afterward.

Liang Hongyu lit the oil lamp and sat for a while.

Finally unable to sit still, she got up and walked outside.

Opening the front door, she found Huo Tianzhou pushing open the wooden gate of the courtyard and walking in.

"Why are you back so late?" Liang Hongyu asked him as he approached.

In the dim light, his weather-beaten face was evident.

Huo Tianzhou stood a few steps in front of Liang Hongyu, unsure of how to respond.

Liang Hongyu turned around and walked back into the house, "Come in first."

Once inside, Liang Hongyu went straight to the kitchen.

Knowing Huo Tianzhou wouldn't have eaten in town before he came home, she cooked another meal for him.

Huo Tianzhou followed her into the backyard, where he saw the two hens already back in their coop with closed eyes, and the water trough refilled.

After Liang Hongyu finished feeding them, she returned to the kitchen and lit the lamp.

Carrying the meal out, she saw Huo Tianzhou had already gone into the kitchen to drink water before returning to the main hall.

The warm yellow light of the oil lamp illuminated the room as Liang Hongyu sat and watched Huo Tianzhou walk back.

He had drunk the water too quickly, and his clothes were damp from the hurried sip as if he hadn't drunk water all day.

His disheveled bangs were blown apart, and Liang Hongyu noticed bits of grass stuck in them, and his dusty shoes were covered in mud.

Suddenly remembering something, Liang Hongyu asked him, "The village's ox cart returned long ago. At this time, would an ox cart still come?"

After Huo Tianzhou sat down and picked up his bowl and chopsticks, he turned his head to look at her.

Her expression remained calm, revealing nothing.

Liang Hongyu said, "Eat your food first, then we'll talk."

She sat at the dining table's edge, not moving after speaking, appearing ready to question him further.

On the table was a pot of stew, steaming with broth.

Huo Tianzhou held his bowl, feeling the warmth of the rice through the porcelain, his fingers gripping the bowl tightly.

Huo Tianzhou hadn't eaten much today, and he ate quickly, almost choking himself.

Liang Hongyu got up to fetch a bowl of water and returned.

She waited in silence until he finished eating and finally put down his chopsticks.

Liang Hongyu asked him, "Did you repay the money?"

Huo Tianzhou drank some water and nodded.

"Did anything happen?" Liang Hongyu asked casually.

Huo Tianzhou hesitated briefly, then shook his head as he looked at her.

Liang Hongyu remained composed while observing his reactions, "Why did you come back so late?"

Huo Tianzhou seemed unwilling to engage further and started to rise to clear the dishes.

Normally, Liang Hongyu wouldn't inquire about Huo Tianzhou's activities, and certainly wouldn't press him like this.

But Huo Tianzhou's demeanor was clearly off.

The hens at home were always fed on time; even if Huo Tianzhou was hungry, he wouldn't forget to feed them.