“Huh? Why is little sister still sleeping? She was asleep when I came yesterday, and she’s still asleep today. Could it be that after not seeing her for months, she’s turned into a sleepyhead?”
“Maybe it’s because you’ve gotten even fatter, Fifth Brother. As little sister would say, it’s a sight too dreadful to bear, so she can’t bring herself to wake up.”
“Pfft, more likely it’s because Fourth Sister is so wild and noisy that little sister finds you annoying and doesn’t want to wake up.”
“Both of you, keep your voices down. The master said that for little sister’s health, she must wake up naturally.”
“Oh, I see. Mother, is it true that the new medicine little sister is taking only works if she drinks it after chanting sutras?”
“Yes, Aunt Hong. Why have I never heard that medicine needs to be taken after chanting sutras?”
In the morning, Lin Fang woke up to the sound of Lin Xia and Lin Wu bickering outside, followed by Li Cuihong’s quiet scolding. Though their voices had dropped to whispers, Lin Fang heard every word clearly. Amused yet puzzled, she wondered what new trick the old monk had up his sleeve. From Lin Xia’s words, it seemed they had changed her medicine again, and this time, it required chanting before taking it?
Thinking back to last night, when she had been held by Qi Biao as she slept, Lin Fang’s face flushed. Though she had slept more soundly than ever before, without the usual tossing and turning, and woke up feeling much more refreshed and less cold than usual, the thought of being held by a man while sleeping still left her feeling somewhat uneasy.
She lingered under the covers a little longer before calling for Nanny Liu, wondering why she wasn’t there. Nanny Liu usually waited for her to wake up, warming her clothes one by one over the brazier before dressing her. Where was she today? Had she been sent out on an errand? But everyone in the Lin household knew Nanny Liu’s sole duty was to attend to Lin Fang—even her mother and Second Grandmother wouldn’t casually send her away.
Instead of Nanny Liu, a flurry of people entered the room. First came the energetic Li Cuihong, followed by the composed and capable Li Cuilan, then the smiling Granny Tong, and finally Yuan Li, carrying the squirming little Lin Yan, who was clearly eager to break free from his mother’s grasp and play. Lin Wu peeked in through the door curtain but was promptly pulled back by Lin Xia, who scolded, “Hey! Little sister needs to get dressed. What’s a man doing in here?”
“She’s my sister, not some stranger!” Lin Wu protested.
“Even if she’s family, there are still boundaries between men and women. Boys and girls shouldn’t share seats after the age of seven, let alone you, who’s almost fourteen!”
Looking up at the four elders and listening to Lin Xia’s reprimand, Lin Fang felt a bit dazed. What was going on? Why had all the women in the household—except for her mother and Third Sister—come? Though still in bed and feeling slightly improper, Lin Fang greeted each of them in turn: “Aunt Hong, Aunt Lan, Second Grandmother, Sixth Aunt.”
Li Cuihong reached for Lin Fang’s clothes on the rack and said cheerfully, “Hurry up and get dressed. Everything’s ready—we’re just waiting for you, the star of the show!”
“Aunt Hong, what do you mean everything’s ready?” Lin Fang was even more confused by Li Cuihong’s cryptic remark.
Li Cuilan took one of the outer garments from Li Cuihong and joined her in warming it over the brazier, explaining with a smile, “Today is the first day of your new medicine. We’ve heard that chanting sutras before taking it will maximize its effects. The whole family is here to support you.”
“New medicine? Chanting?” Lin Fang thought her guess had been right. Though she felt such a grand production was unnecessary, she was deeply moved by her family’s care.
As Li Cuihong warmed each piece of clothing, Granny Tong took it and dressed Lin Fang, grumbling, “I don’t know what that monk is thinking. If it’s just chanting, why not do it in Fang’er’s room? Why insist on the main hall? That place is freezing—even a healthy person would catch a chill, let alone Fang’er.”
Yuan Li, holding Lin Yan’s tiny hand as he tried to grab the bed’s hanging ornaments, said, “Auntie, according to Sixth Brother, the abbot had braziers placed in the hall yesterday, and people kept watch all night. It shouldn’t be cold today.”
Granny Tong’s expression softened slightly. “Hmph, at least that old monk has some sense.”
Since moving to the temple, Lin Fang had spent most of her time in bed. For convenience, she no longer braided her curly hair into multiple small plaits but instead loosely tied it back with a wide ribbon. The ribbon now lay on the bedside table. Unable to reach the hanging ornaments, little Lin Yan’s sharp eyes quickly spotted the ribbon and grabbed it, stuffing it into his mouth before Yuan Li could stop him. By the time she pulled it out, it was soaked in drool. Lin Fang frowned.
Using that ribbon was out of the question now, but with Nanny Liu absent, such a small item was hard to replace on short notice. Yuan Li scolded herself for not watching Lin Yan closely and lightly smacked his bottom—though the little boy took it as play and giggled.
“I’ve got some! I’ve got some! I made new ribbons for little sister and brought two today. Perfect timing!” Amid the commotion, Lin Wu seized the moment when Lin Xia wasn’t looking and darted into the room. His chubby hand dug into his backpack and pulled out two crimson ribbons, intricately woven with fine silk threads, each end adorned with a plump little pig—utterly adorable.
After examining the ribbons, Lin Fang handed them to Li Cuilan, who began brushing and tying her hair. Lin Fang couldn’t help but laugh at Lin Wu. “Fifth Brother, you’d better not wander around outside. You look like you’ve eaten all the food yourself—starving refugees might riot if they see you.”
Compared to when he’d returned for summer break, Lin Wu had grown even rounder, resembling the little pigs on the ribbons. His already small eyes were now nearly hidden in his plump face, making him look comical rather than unattractive.
Lin Wu chuckled sheepishly. “Heh, Father said he’ll assign me to the town guard during winter break and have Uncle Liuzhi give me extra duties to help me slim down.”
Liuzhi was now the head of the town guard. Since his arrival in Lin Town, most of his former subordinates from the county yamen had followed him. Not only did Eldest Brother pay them monthly wages, but Lin Town had also been designated by the imperial court as a winter vegetable and black fungus cultivation site. Though the benefits weren’t yet obvious, everyone knew working in Lin Town would eventually surpass the perks of the county yamen.
As for County Magistrate Lin Chengxiang, he was seething with resentment. He had schemed endlessly to make the Lin family’s businesses the county’s hallmark, only for Lin Town to effortlessly become an imperial stronghold. Now, as magistrate, he had to humble himself to meet Lin Town’s demands. When the county clerk mentioned that Lin Zhongsi had already greased the palms of every official in the county and Bai Shui Town—except for him, the magistrate—during the land purchase years ago, his frustration deepened.
Once ready, the group escorted Lin Fang to the main hall where the monks usually held their rituals. Li Cuimei and Eldest Brother were already waiting anxiously at the entrance. Seeing them approach, the couple flanked Lin Fang and guided her inside, seating her on a cushion at the center of the hall.
True to Yuan Li’s words, the hall wasn’t exactly warm, but it was no longer icy. Two braziers stood nearby. Lin Fang glanced around—her entire family was indeed present.
The men sat on the eastern side, led by Second Grandfather, followed by Old Uncle, Father, Uncle Zhang Tieshuan (Aunt Lan’s husband), Second Uncle Lin Erlang, Sixth Uncle Lin Liulang, Qi Biao, Eldest Brother Lin Meng, and Fifth Brother Lin Wu. Surprisingly, Qi Biao occupied the spot that should have been Eldest Brother’s, pushing him to Second Brother’s place. The only missing man was Second Brother.
The women sat on the western side, led by Second Grandmother, followed by Old Aunt, Mother, Aunt Li Cuilan, Aunt Li Cuihong, Sixth Aunt Yuan Li, Third Sister Lin Juan, and Fourth Sister Lin Xia. Little Lin Yan was an exception—technically a boy but seated among the women, firmly held by his mother. The little rascal struggled fiercely, his face red, yet he didn’t cry.
Lin Juan had become Mother’s right-hand woman, practically half the household manager, handling both internal and external affairs with ease. She must have been helping Mother prepare the hall earlier.
Facing Lin Fang were rows of monks, seated solemnly. At the front was a large cushion—undoubtedly the old monk’s spot.
Once everyone was in place, the old monk made a grand entrance, draped in ceremonial robes, a string of prayer beads around his neck, his expression solemn—a far cry from his usual jovial self. He exuded the aura of an enlightened master, making even Lin Fang straighten with reverence.
“Amitabha—” With this invocation, the old monk seated himself on the cushion and began chanting, striking a wooden fish rhythmically. The monks behind him joined in. Lin Fang had expected some preamble, but the ritual had begun without fanfare.
Looking at her family, she saw that aside from little Lin Yan’s wriggling and Yuan Li’s flustered attempts to restrain him, everyone else seemed deep in meditation—hands clasped, eyes closed, lips moving silently. Unable to understand the monks’ chants but recognizing this was for her sake, Lin Fang closed her eyes, pressed her palms together, and adopted a reverent posture.
Gradually, Lin Fang felt her world grow quiet, her mind reaching an unprecedented tranquility. It reminded her of a time in college when she’d rented a boat and rowed to the middle of a lake. Lying back in the boat, she’d gazed at the shifting clouds in the blue sky, the boat drifting freely with the current. She’d felt as if she had wings, soaring effortlessly through the air.
Silence—a deep, soulful silence.
Just as she was immersed in this serenity, a voice pulled her back: “Fang’er, drink this medicine while it’s hot.”
Opening her eyes, she saw her mother’s expectant, solemn face. Lin Fang took the bowl and drank it all in one go. Instantly, a familiar metallic tang filled her throat—the same taste as in the pastries Qi Biao had fed her last night. Instinctively, she glanced at Qi Biao, who met her gaze calmly, his expression unreadable.
Looking around, she noticed the others watching her with curiosity, especially Lin Wu, who stared at the bowl as if about to ask something. When her eyes returned to Qi Biao, he had already turned away, whispering with Sixth Uncle.
After the medicine, the old monk led another round of chanting before concluding the ritual. But by then, Lin Fang’s mind was swirling with questions, her earlier calm long gone.
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