Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Neither the National Doctors nor the Western ones could guarantee her son would wake up, yet this Master Yuan actually made such a claim.

”Huh?” Feng Wanru was taken aback. While she secretly hoped that a marriage could wake her son, she knew it was just an old superstition, a way to comfort herself. ”You... Master Yuan, can you really do it? So many famous doctors were at their wits’ end, yet just arranging a marriage can solve everything?”

’This isn’t scientific at all!’

Master Yuan saw Feng Wanru’s disbelief but paid it no mind. After all, there were profound principles at play here. He had never suggested this method before because he never thought he would find someone with a birth chart as compatible as Zhao Nuanyue’s. Speaking of it without such a person would have only brought harm to some innocent young woman.

But now, such a person had appeared. And what’s more, the young woman was willing to marry Hua Yusen. It was a match made in heaven, which meant they could achieve twice the results with half the effort.

”That was because he hadn’t met the right person,” Yuan Jingang said. ”Now that this person has appeared, there is a glimmer of vitality. As long as we choose an auspicious date, the chances will be very high.”

No matter how hard it was to believe, hope began to blossom in Feng Wanru’s heart.

”Then I’ll be relying on you, Master Yuan,” Feng Wanru said gratefully. ”If my son truly wakes up, I will owe you a great debt. In the future, as long as it’s not something illegal like murder or arson, I will do anything in my power to help you.”

”Mm, then we have a deal,” Yuan Jingang said with a smile. ”Rest assured, I won’t ask you to do anything illegal—it would hinder my own spiritual practice. When the political climate eases up, I hope you can return my small Daoist temple to me, and perhaps have it renovated as well.”

Hearing this, Feng Wanru happily agreed. ”Master Yuan, I don’t think this current climate will last for long. The moment the policies allow it, I will personally see to the matter of your temple.”

”Good. My thanks, then,” Yuan Jingang said with a smile. ”Alright, you can go home now. Come back in half a month’s time, and I will give you the auspicious date.”

”Thank you, Master Yuan,” Feng Wanru said, her heart filled with gratitude and hope for her son’s early awakening.

After arriving home, Feng Wanru told Hua Zhiqiang what Yuan Jingang had said.

Hua Zhiqiang was skeptical, but he figured it was worth a shot—like trying to save a dead horse.

The New Year was approaching. Zhao Nuanyue was nimble-fingered, having learned the art of window paper-cutting from the women in Nianqiao Village. She went to a shop and bought a large stack of festive red paper. To liven up the holiday atmosphere, the regulations from on high had been relaxed, and people were allowed to put up paper-cuttings, couplets, and peach wood charms this year.

Zhao Nuanyue cut many designs. She gave six to her master and his wife, with themes like a bountiful harvest, overflowing wealth, achieving great success, and Chang’e flying to the moon. Little Red Carp insisted on having a design made just for her, so Zhao Nuanyue cut out a paper-cutting of a chubby little girl hugging a red carp. It was so vivid and lifelike that Little Red Carp adored it and immediately pasted it onto her window.

Zhao Nuanyue also gave two paper-cuttings to Zhao Nuan Yang. She prepared three other gifts, making four types in total, and took Zhao Nuan Yang and Little Red Carp with her to Master Hu’s home to deliver the holiday presents.

Master Hu’s children were not living with them. A caregiver was there to look after the old couple’s daily needs. Thanks to various connections, their children were working in other cities and had not been swept up in the recent turmoil, which was a silver lining in a dark time.

”Master, Madam. This is my older sister, Zhao Nuanyue, and this is my younger sister, Zhao Hongli. We’ve come today to wish you an early happy New Year,” Zhao Nuan Yang said, making the introductions. His master’s knowledge was incredibly profound. Although he hadn’t been his disciple for long, he had already received so much guidance and benefited immensely.

”It’s a pleasure to meet you, Master Hu, Auntie Hu,” Zhao Nuanyue said respectfully. ”Please forgive us for coming so abruptly.”

”Haha, you’re Nuanyang’s sisters, and Nuanyang is my final disciple. That makes us family,” Master Hu chuckled. ”I never expected to accept a disciple like him in my old age. It is a true honor!”

”Master Hu, you’re too kind,” Zhao Nuanyue said softly. ”Nuanyang is the one who is blessed to have a master like you to guide him. It’s a fortune he’s lucky to have in this lifetime.”

”Haha, enough with the flattery, you two,” Old Madam Hu said with a laugh. ”Come, come. This must be Little Red Carp. You are just adorable.”

With her own grandchildren living so far away, Old Madam Hu felt an immediate urge to pull Little Red Carp into a hug the moment she saw her.

Little Red Carp had a way of melting the hearts of older women; her sweet little face was utterly endearing.

”Hello, Grandma,” Little Red Carp chirped. ”Grandma is cute, too.”

”Haha!” Old Madam Hu was even more delighted. ”Nuanyue, Nuanyang, you must bring Little Red Carp to visit often. This child is just so precious.”

”Of course, Madam,” Zhao Nuan Yang agreed. He was also happy that his sister was liked by so many people; it was as if Little Red Carp possessed a special kind of magic.

At noon, Zhao Nuanyue helped the caregiver prepare lunch. She made a few of her specialty dishes, earning high praise from Master Hu and Old Madam Hu.

After they finished eating, Master Hu asked, ”How is He Qiang doing in the countryside?”

”I just received a letter from them yesterday. They’re doing fine,” Zhao Nuanyue answered. ”I think they might be able to come back next year.”

”Sigh.” Master Hu let out a long breath. ”It’s about time. The weeds are growing taller than the people.”

Everyone paused, taken aback.

”Master Hu, all of this will pass,” Zhao Nuanyue said softly. ”Please, take good care of your health. There will surely be a time when your skills are needed again!”

”I’m afraid not. The years that have passed will never return,” Master Hu said, shaking his head. ”I am already old.”

Zhao Nuan Yang poured his master a cup of tea. ”Master, think of yourself as an old warhorse in its stable, still dreaming of galloping a thousand miles.”

”Haha, that’s right. Master Hu, as long as you have your health, as long as you’re alive, there’s always a chance to fulfill your past wishes,” Zhao Nuanyue chimed in, supporting her brother. ”It’s what I always tell myself and my brother to encourage us.”

”Good children,” Master Hu nodded. ”You speak the truth. Only the living can fulfill their wishes. Death is the end of it all.”

”Alright, you old man, don’t talk about death and such things, especially with the New Year upon us. It’s bad luck,” Old Madam Hu said with a smile. ”You’ve finally found a good disciple. Even if you can’t fulfill your dream, you have a disciple to help you achieve it!”

Hearing this, Zhao Nuanyue’s curiosity was piqued. ”Master Hu, what is this dream of yours?”

”Haha, it’s nothing, really. Just a trivial matter,” Master Hu said, looking a bit uncomfortable and too embarrassed to elaborate.