After fleeing the famine, my older sister and I married the brother next door.

Chapter 362

When it was fully light, Chen Xiaohe got up. He quickly washed up and went into the kitchen. Su Xiaoyin had already ladled out the chicken soup and put it into a large earthenware pot, which was wrapped in cotton cloth to keep it warm.

"Xiaohe, after you finish breakfast, hurry up and take the chicken soup to Uncle Li Hu." Su Xiaoyin said while serving the porridge, "I'll cook lunch and bring it to you at noon. Brother De stayed up all night last night, he should go back and rest."

Chen Xiaohe took the earthenware pot and nodded: "Okay, I'll go now. Brother De must be tired too, let him go back and rest early."

He carried the basket and strode towards Li Hu's house.

The village was quiet in the early morning, broken only by the occasional crowing of roosters and barking of dogs. Dewdrops clung to the roadside grass, glistening in the morning light. Chen Xiaohe walked quickly, his mind preoccupied with Li Hu's injuries, and had no interest in the scenery.

When they arrived at Li Hu's house, the gate was ajar. Chen Xiaohe pushed the gate open and saw Brother De carrying a bowl of porridge out of the kitchen.

"Brother De, you haven't left yet?" Chen Xiaohe asked.

When De saw him, he smiled and said, "Uncle Li Hu just finished breakfast. I'll pack up and leave soon." He waved the bowl in his hand and said, "Steamed egg custard and red date and millet porridge. Uncle Li Hu ate more than half a bowl. He's much better than yesterday."

Chen Xiaohe breathed a sigh of relief and followed Brother De into the house.

Li Hu leaned against the kang (a heated brick bed), with two quilts behind him. His face was still pale, but he was better than when he came back yesterday; at least he looked somewhat human. He saw Chen Xiaohe come in and nodded slightly.

"Uncle Li Hu, this is chicken soup that my sister-in-law cooked all morning to help you recover." Chen Xiaohe placed the earthenware pot on the small table beside the kang (a heated brick bed), opened the lid, and a rich aroma immediately wafted out, filling the entire room.

Li Hu felt a lump in his throat, opened his mouth as if to say something, but only nodded.

Chen Xiaohe took out a bowl and spoon from the basket, carefully ladled out half a bowl of chicken soup, scooped out a few pieces of chicken, and handed it to Li Hu: "Uncle Li Hu, drink more, it will help you recover quickly."

Li Hu took the bowl, his hands still trembling slightly, and slowly took a sip. The chicken soup was very flavorful, not oily or greasy, with the sweetness of red dates and the slight spiciness of ginger. One sip warmed him from his throat to his stomach. He couldn't help but drink a few more sips, his eyes welling up with tears.

Chen Xiaohe ladled out another bowl and handed it to Brother De: "Brother De, have a bowl too. You've had a hard night."

Brother De smiled and took it without ceremony, taking a big gulp and smacking his lips: "It's so delicious! I'm really benefiting from Uncle Li Hu's fame."

Li Hu's lips twitched, as if he wanted to laugh, but he didn't.

Chen Xiaohe sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and said to De Ge, "De Ge, you go ahead and do your work later. I'll stay with Uncle Li Hu during the day. My sister-in-law will bring the food over. Go back and get some rest; you'll have to come over again tonight."

Brother De nodded, finished the chicken soup in his bowl, stood up and said, "Okay, I'll be going now. Uncle Li Hu, take good care of yourself and don't think too much." He gave a few more instructions before hurriedly leaving.

The room fell silent.

Chen Xiaohe stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open halfway. The morning sunlight streamed in, falling warmly on the kang (a heated brick bed). A gentle breeze carried the scent of grass and earth from the yard, invigorating him.

"Uncle Li Hu, shall I open the window for you so you can get some sun? The doctor said that getting more sun is good for your health," Chen Xiaohe asked, turning around.

Li Hu nodded, his voice hoarse: "Okay, thank you for your trouble, Xiaohe. I'll be fine after a few more days of rest. Thank you so much for your help these past few days."

Chen Xiaohe waved his hand: "Uncle Li Hu, don't say that. We're all neighbors, everyone has their difficulties."

Li Hu pulled a cloth bag from under his pillow and handed it to Chen Xiaohe: "Xiaohe, take this. Your family paid for my corvée labor. Brother De told me last night."

Chen Xiaohe took it, weighed it in his hand, and without opening it, put it directly into his pocket. He knew Li Hu's temperament; if he didn't accept it, he would feel even more uneasy.

"Uncle Li Hu, I'll take the money." Chen Xiaohe sat down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) and looked at Li Hu earnestly. "But I want to talk to you about something. Next time, please don't go out with the caravan. This time was too dangerous. What would happen to Li An if something had happened to you?"

Li Hu remained silent for a while, then his eyes reddened.

Chen Xiaohe continued, "During the days you were gone, although Li An didn't say it, we could tell he missed you terribly. Every day after school, he would glance at the village entrance. Before going to bed at night, he would ask Grandma Chen when Dad would be back."

Li Hu's tears finally fell. He raised his hand, wiped them with his sleeve, and sniffed.

"Xiaohe, don't worry." Li Hu's voice was a little choked up, but his tone was firm. "I've repaid the favor this time, and I won't have to follow the caravans anymore. I'll live a peaceful life, running a shop, farming, and watching Li An grow up."

Chen Xiaohe breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Yes, it's good that you're alright. You've suffered a lot this time, you need to recover properly. Once you're feeling better, I'll take you to Doctor Li in the county town and have him prescribe some medicinal diet recipes for you. Take good care of yourself when you get back, they're very effective. You know how skilled Doctor Li is, many people in our village have consulted him."

Li Hu nodded: "Okay, I'll trouble you to take me there then."

Chen Xiaohe smiled: "No trouble at all. Please finish this chicken soup first, it won't taste good when it gets cold."

Li Hu picked up the bowl and slowly finished the rest of the chicken soup. The warm broth flowed down his throat, and a sense of warmth seemed to spread through his body.

Chen Xiaohe cleared away the bowls, then opened the window wider to let more sunlight in. He picked up a broom, swept the room briefly, added firewood to the stove, and boiled a kettle of water.

Li Hu leaned against the quilt, watching Chen Xiaohe busy himself, feeling an indescribable gratitude in his heart.

Outside the window, the sunlight grew brighter and brighter, bathing the courtyard in a golden glow. Several sparrows hopped and chirped on the wall.

After finishing his work, Chen Xiaohe sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and chatted with Li Hu. He told him about the latest happenings in the village, the fruit trees on the mountain, and Li An's performance at school.

"Uncle Li Hu, you don't know, Li An is really amazing now. The teacher praises him every day, saying that he can memorize things quickly and writes beautifully. Compared to him, Shi Tou and the others are still a long way off."

Upon hearing this, a slight smile finally appeared on Li Hu's face.

"That child has been studious since he was little," he said softly.

Chen Xiaohe nodded: "Yes. You must get well soon, so you can see Li An's calligraphy with your own eyes when you're better."

Li Hu hummed in agreement, closed his eyes, and seemed to be imagining the scene.

The sun was rising higher, and the room was warm and cozy. Chen Xiaohe glanced at the sky; it was almost noon, and he needed to go back to get his lunch. He stood up and said to Li Hu, "Uncle Li Hu, you rest for a bit. I'll go back and get my lunch and be right back."

Li Hu opened his eyes and nodded: "Go ahead, but take it easy."

Chen Xiaohe stepped out the door, his steps much lighter. Uncle Li Hu was in much better spirits than yesterday; if he continued to rest like this, he should gradually recover. Although the doctor said he wouldn't be able to do heavy work in the future, as long as he could live a normal life and watch Li An grow up, that would be a great blessing.

He quickened his pace, heading towards his own yard. Smoke was billowing from the kitchen chimney; Su Xiaoyin must already be preparing lunch. Chen Xiaohe pushed open the yard gate, the aroma of food wafting out warming his heart.

Although life was tough, as a family, we supported each other and were able to overcome even the most difficult challenges.