5: Zhang Xiangwen's arrangements

"What's wrong, Uncle Zhang?"

Seeing Zhang Xiangwen turn back, Chu Yuan asked in confusion.

"Although the two houses aren't far apart, bringing you food is troublesome. You might as well move into the Medical Hall!"

Zhang Xiangwen said, "That way, whatever my family eats, you can eat too. It's just one extra bowl and chopsticks."

"Uncle Zhang, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to move into the Medical Hall?"

Chu Yuan was slightly surprised. The Medical Hall was right next to Zhang Xiangwen's house and was where all the village's herbs were stored.

Would the other villagers of Xiao Huang Village agree to let a sick person like him live in the Medical Hall?

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Zhang Xiangwen shook his head, "Everyone knows your situation, and you should be very clear about the consequences of taking herbs without permission."

"What's more, what I plan for you to do is to help me manage the Medical Hall."

"Is that so?" Chu Yuan nodded thoughtfully, "I won't move, Uncle Zhang!"

"I still trust you, kid!"

Zhang Xiangwen nodded slightly and turned to walk into the house, "You sit first, I'll help you pack your things, and then we'll go back!"

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang!"

Chu Yuan said gratefully, "I don't have much to pack, just the quilt and the clothes on the bed, and the bit of coarse rice in the jar. Let's take it all with us."

Zhang Xiangwen nodded and walked into the house, his expression somewhat complex.

What met his eyes was a home with bare walls.

Over the years, although Chu Yuan had grown up eating from various families, he was extremely sensible.

He started helping the village with work at the age of six.

Moreover, he had mortgaged many of his family's belongings to the village.

At this point, besides cutlery and two beds, there was only one quilt and two sets of clothes left.

Zhang Xiangwen rolled up the quilt and clothes, pondered for a moment, and still took the coarse rice from the house.

Afterward, the two walked towards the Medical Hall.

It was evening, and the villagers who had gone out to collect rice had all returned.

Otherwise, Zhang Xiangwen would have had to go with them and wouldn't have been able to visit Chu Yuan at his house.

Along the way, facing the curious gazes of the villagers, neither of them said anything.

If someone asked, Zhang Xiangwen would directly say that he was letting Chu Yuan live in the Medical Hall to help him manage it, and he would provide his meals.

To this, those people frowned slightly but said nothing.

Plagued by Demons, monsters, ghosts, and ghouls, Xiao Huang Village was clustered together, with its overall layout spreading out from the center.

The perimeter was protected by stone walls, and the entire area covered just over 20,000 square meters.

The Medical Hall was near the Ancestral Hall, in the center of the village, only sixty or seventy meters from Chu Yuan's home.

But even at this distance, Chu Yuan took more than three minutes to walk it.

At this, a hint of heartache flickered in Zhang Xiangwen's eyes.

After Zhang Xiangwen made the bed in the Medical Hall's lounge, he took Chu Yuan to the adjacent courtyard.

In the courtyard, a middle-aged woman and a young girl were picking vegetables.

Seeing Zhang Xiangwen enter with Chu Yuan, the woman paused slightly.

But when she noticed the bag in Zhang Xiangwen's hand, she immediately understood.

"Er Gou is here?"

The woman smiled at Chu Yuan, then said, "My dear, you sit with Er Gou for a bit, dinner will be ready soon."

With that, she pulled the young girl into the adjacent kitchen.

"Sit down first!"

Zhang Xiangwen pulled Chu Yuan to sit down and placed the bag of food in the kitchen.

Then, he sat next to Chu Yuan, "Let me tell you about what you'll be doing next."

Chu Yuan nodded, looking seriously at Zhang Xiangwen, waiting for him to speak.

"The Medical Hall used to be managed by Yaner. From now on, you'll follow her; she'll guide you, and you can just assist her."

Zhang Xiangwen seemed to have considered it already and immediately laid out the arrangements.

Yaner, that is Zhang Yan!

Zhang Yan was the daughter of Zhang Xiangwen and Xu Jing, twelve years old this year, just one year younger than Chu Yuan.

As Zhang Xiangwen's only daughter, Zhang Yan had always followed Zhang Xiangwen to learn medicine, manage the Medical Hall, or assist him in consultations.

Therefore, although Chu Yuan knew Zhang Yan, they rarely played together.

In Chu Yuan's understanding, this girl had always been very quiet and not very talkative.

Chu Yuan nodded, "I understand. I will follow Sister Yaner and learn well."

"Mm!"

Zhang Xiangwen nodded slightly and went over all the tasks Zhang Yan usually did.

These included drying herbs, sorting them, packing them, cleaning, and so on.

A moment later, Xu Jing and Zhang Yan came over, carrying dishes.

Chu Yuan wanted to get up to help, but Xu Jing quickly stopped him, saying, "Don't move, boy, this small task isn't for you."

Saying that, she placed two dishes down and walked back into the kitchen.

Zhang Yan came over with two bowls of porridge and chopsticks.

"Father, Brother Er Gou!"

Xu Jing served two more bowls of porridge, "Eat quickly, don't just stand there."

Chu Yuan nodded in thanks, his gaze falling on the table.

The porridge was thin, and the two dishes were dried radishes and clear wild vegetables.

Outside Xiao Huang Village was very dangerous, and the harvest was poor, so conditions were just like this.

Zhang Xiangwen's family was considered well-off. Chu Yuan used to only eat thin porridge, even thinner than this, and only occasionally got wild vegetables.

After they all finished eating.

Zhang Xiangwen looked at Xu Jing, "From now on, prepare for one more person. Er... Chu Yuan will assist Yaner in the Medical Hall and eat with us."

Xu Jing nodded silently.

Zhang Yan asked in confusion, "Father, did Brother Er Gou change his name?"

"Yes!" Zhang Xiangwen nodded, "He said his luck was too bad and he wanted to change his name to Chu Yuan!"

Zhang Yan nodded quietly.

"That name sounds very nice. Then I'll call you Brother Chu Yuan from now on!"

She smiled at Chu Yuan, and shallow dimples appeared, adding a touch of cuteness.

Chu Yuan had to admit that she was a more delicate girl than Er Ya.

Perhaps because she rarely worked in the fields, her skin was much fairer than Er Ya's.

Chu Yuan smiled slightly, "From now on, I'll have to trouble Aunt Xu and Sister Yaner."

"Help a little if you can, you don't need to be so polite, kid."

Xu Jing said, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes as she looked at Chu Yuan.

"It's getting late, Chu Yuan, you go back and rest first. Tomorrow, just follow Yaner and do what she does."

Zhang Xiangwen glanced at the sky and said.

"Okay!"

Chu Yuan nodded, got up, and prepared to leave.

"Remember to close the doors and windows properly!"

Zhang Xiangwen's voice came from behind, and Chu Yuan nodded, "I know, Uncle Zhang!"

Watching him leave, Xu Jing sighed softly.

"Alas, such a good person, why did he encounter such a thing?"

Zhang Yan also couldn't help but ask, "Father, have you still not found out the reason?"

Zhang Xiangwen was silent for a moment, then said:

"No!"

"The village protecting bell is fine, and there's no Yin Fiend Qi in Chu Yuan's house. It's very strange."

Hearing this, Xu Jing frowned, "Then what about Chu Yuan's injury?"

"Yes, I heard Sister Er Ya mention that Brother Chu Yuan's body was frighteningly cold at the time."

Zhang Yan also chimed in, her small face also full of confusion.

Zhang Xiangwen shook his head, "I'm not sure either, but when I went to check, there was no Yin Fiend Qi in his body."

This was also what puzzled him; judging by Er Ya's demeanor, she couldn't be lying.

But when he went, Chu Yuan's body didn't seem to be too cold.

Could it be that Er Ya lied?