mtl008 Chapter 364 Er'er Goes on a Long Trip
Chapter 364 Er'er Goes on a Long Trip
The child's innocent words left the two older women speechless.
"You don't even remember our father?"
Er'er was simply incredulous; only a few months had passed!
"Hasn't he been away for a long time?"
Sihai pondered for a moment and then retorted.
"That's true."
My father used to come back every month on his days off, but he hasn't come back since the beginning of this year.
The next news was that he had passed away.
Er'er sighed, "If you don't remember, then forget it. Your father should be able to forgive you."
The girl's tone was somewhat indifferent, and Xu Yi felt a pang of sadness for Xu Yinli for a second.
too difficult.
Because he was away from home for many years, his children didn't have a very close relationship with him.
Er'er and Sanchuan are alright; the older ones still remember what this father looks like.
When it came to Sihai, she completely forgot about her, not to mention the old and young Wuyuan in her arms.
I've never even seen him before.
"I'm leaving now, I'm going back first."
Xu Yiyi patted Sihai's head, and Er'er suddenly looked at her older sister with some difficulty.
He then swallowed back the words that were about to come out.
……
The medicine grinder made a dull rolling sound in the bluestone mortar. Er'er lowered his head and ground the dried Coptis chinensis into fine powder little by little.
The medicine smelled bitter, but it couldn't mask the turmoil in her heart.
"Did you tell your older sister?"
Wu Yunzhi peeked out from behind the medicine cabinet, holding a handful of dried mugwort in his hand.
The little girl paused, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "...I'm not going."
"what?"
Wu Yunzhi raised an eyebrow and slammed the mugwort in his hand onto the table. "Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to come with me to see the miasma disease in Lingnan?"
Er'er is talented, so Wu Yunzhi didn't want her to spend her days memorizing medical books in the clinic.
The so-called "learning by doing" approach involved starting from Ping'an Town and heading south, which also broadened the young apprentice's horizons.
"I just don't want to go."
Er'er suddenly raised her voice, then quickly lowered it again, "Why are there so many whys..."
Wu Yunzhi squinted and walked around the medicine cabinet to stand in front of her.
Although the old man was hunched over, his gaze was sharp enough to pierce through people's hearts: "Are you afraid of causing trouble for your older sister?"
The little girl lowered her head and didn't say anything.
As dusk settled over the restaurant, Er'er had already returned from the clinic.
I was squatting outside the kitchen picking vegetables when I saw my older sister coming back from the front, her hands crumpled up with vegetable stalks.
She stood up, her lips pursed, the hem of her blue cloth skirt stained with mud, and she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at anyone.
Xu Yiyi passed by the little girl and only saw the top of her fluffy head.
He reached out and touched it, then went into the kitchen.
Hearing her older sister's words, Er'er still didn't speak.
"Second sister! What's wrong?"
Sihai walked over with his short legs before Er'er could react.
He stuffed a piece of fruit directly into her mouth.
I don't know how long it was covered, but the flesh of the fruit became warm and smelled of sweat.
Er'er's brows furrowed sharply. "How long have you been covering it up?"
The little girl scrunched up her face, her tone somewhat disdainful.
But it still didn't come out.
"Not long ago! I just brought it over."
Sihai said with a smile, "Aren't you feeling unwell?"
The child touched Er'er's face with his sweaty little hands.
"It's so hot!"
Sihai exaggeratedly waved his hand, his eyes wide open.
You definitely have a fever!
Er'er's shoulders slumped, and she said helplessly, "It's because your hands are hot."
"Hehehe—it seems so!"
Si Hai realized that since his second sister didn't have a fever, she must not be sick.
It happily ran off again.
……
"Second sister! Did someone bully you?"
Sanchuan carried a small stool and sat steadily next to Er'er. There were still a few apprentices in the clinic.
She was just a young girl, and she was also Grandpa Yunzhi's personal disciple, with exceptional talent.
Could it be that you've been ostracized?
San Chuan looked worried, but before he could figure it out, he was tapped on the head.
"Couldn't it be because I miss A-Yue?"
Er'er said irritably, and Sanchuan suddenly realized.
"It's alright, A-Yue will be back soon."
Sanchuan spoke sincerely, and then, like Sihai, he happily left.
Before the little girl could even catch her breath, the light above her head was blocked again.
She looked up; it was Xu Anyang.
"I'm perfectly fine..."
Xu Anyang blinked, "I know! The stove by the door has already been lit with charcoal, come and help."
The boy scratched his head, and before Er'er could reply, he ran off.
……
As soon as the restaurant doors closed and the "Closed" sign was hung up, Xu Yiyi took off her apron and stuffed the last few copper coins into her purse.
Sanchuan carried the spicy hot pot wrapped in an oilcloth, Sihai tugged at her clothes, and Er'er walked behind her, heading towards the dock under the moonlight.
Two covered boats were moored on the shore, their decks damp from the night dew.
Xu Anyang skillfully untied the mooring lines of the two boats, and several children, already familiar with the process, jumped onto the boats, grabbed wooden oars, and paddled into the water, causing the boats to gently rock away from the shore.
Sihai lay on the side of the boat, reaching out to touch the moon's reflection in the water, but Er'er slapped his hand away before he pulled it back.
In no time at all, they were back on the island.
"Grandma!"
Sihai shouted as soon as he stepped through the door.
Auntie's voice came from the kitchen: "You're back? The hot water is warming up on the stove."
Sanchuan and Sihai had long since disappeared, probably rushing to fetch water for a bath. The sounds of wooden tubs clattering together, mixed with laughter, drifted from the side room.
Xu Anyang took the oilcloth bag and helped his great-grandmother back.
"Er'er, come here."
The little girl paused, and when she turned around, the stray hairs on her forehead were ruffled by the night wind. Her eyes still held a hint of the hesitation that had lingered during the day.
"Miss..."
She spoke softly, her fingers twisting the ribbon of her dress.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Xu Yiyi spoke in a gentle voice, her gaze fixed on the little girl.
“My master said he was going south to practice medicine, a journey that would take three months… I want to go with him to see what it’s like.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Yiyi looked up and smiled: "This is a good thing, your master is willing to take you?"
Er'er suddenly looked up, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes before quickly dimming again.
"He asked me if I wanted to come with him... But if I left, the restaurant would be packed with customers in the afternoon and evening, and I wouldn't be able to keep up with the business."
Her voice trailed off, “I depend on you for food and lodging. You should be helping out at the temple, but instead you have to go out with Master…”
Before she could finish speaking, her eyes welled up with tears.