Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Old Madam Hu knew her husband well. Seeing him so happy today, she let it go and said with a smile, ”That old man of mine has always wanted to hold an art exhibition, but the circumstances never allowed it. Even now, his wish remains unfulfilled. I doubt we’ll live to see it, so I hope He Qiang and Nuanyang can keep up the hard work and organize an exhibition for your teacher in the future.”

’An art exhibition?’

’Is that really his only wish?’

’That seems far too simple.’

”Auntie Hu, is that really Master Hu’s wish?” Zhao Nuanyue asked, finding it hard to believe. ”That’s not difficult at all!”

”How is it not difficult!” Old Madam Hu sighed. ”The situation in our country simply doesn’t allow for it. Nothing is truly your own. We live in fear that if someone took a fancy to the paintings your master has treasured, they’d be confiscated. That’s why he’s never dared to show them.”

Upon hearing this, it dawned on Zhao Nuanyue.

”So that’s why,” she said, nodding repeatedly. She now understood what Old Madam Hu meant. It was true; the environment in the country was simply not right for it.

When Zhao Nuanyang heard this was his master’s wish, he nodded. ”Master, I promise you, I will hold a grand art exhibition for you one day. It would be even better if you could be there to see it, though.”

”Good, good!” Master Hu was in high spirits today. Zhao Nuanyang’s clear, innocent eyes, in particular, filled him with hope for the future.

’So pure, so clear, with a heart untainted.’

’This is the disposition a true master must have. It’s remarkable, truly remarkable, for someone as young as Zhao Nuanyang to already possess it.’

That evening, Zhao Nuanyang and Zhao Nuanyue took their leave, with Little Red Carp in their arms.

The three of them walked along a road still covered in unmelted snow. The dim, yellow streetlights cast their long shadows on the ground.

In that moment, they were happy.

New year, new beginnings.

The joy of the Lunar New Year also filled every corner of Immortal Grass Hall. On New Year’s Day, the disciples lined up by seniority to kowtow and offer their greetings to Sun Haoran and Madam Sun.

Since they were his sister’s master and master’s wife, Zhao Nuanyang only needed to bow. Later, after their meal, they would go to Master Hu’s home, where Zhao Nuanyang, as his final and most personal disciple, would have to perform a formal kowtow.

Little Red Carp saw everyone getting a red envelope from Sun Haoran and Madam Sun. She ran over, knelt with a THUMP, and said with a wide grin, ”Wishing you great fortune! Time for my red envelope!”

”Haha!” Sun Haoran roared with laughter and produced a thick red envelope. ”I was wondering how long you could hold out!”

”Honestly,” Madam Sun said, laughing, ”teasing Little Red Carp on New Year’s Day. Little Red Carp, come over here. I not only have a red envelope for you, I also have a little red cloak!”

With that, Madam Sun took out the red envelope and tucked it into the pocket on the front of Little Red Carp’s clothes. Then, from a nearby parcel, she pulled out a red cloak. It had a hood trimmed with white rabbit fur, and on top of the hood were two fluffy pom-poms also made of white rabbit fur.

Zhao Nuanyue saw that a large red carp had been embroidered on the cloak, so lifelike it seemed ready to swim.

”Madam Sun, thank you,” Zhao Nuanyue said gratefully. ”You do so much for us already, and yet you still found time to make this for Little Red Carp.” Although she hadn’t been at Immortal Grass Hall for long, she had felt her master’s protection, Madam Sun’s care, and the support of her senior-disciples.

While draping the cloak over Little Red Carp, Madam Sun chuckled. ”Hehe, we’re all family here. Don’t be a stranger. Little Red Carp is just so adorable, and I happened to have the materials at home, so I just had to make it for her. When our finances are better and things ease up a bit, I’ll make her something even nicer.”

That morning, Little Red Carp was wearing a floral, cotton-padded jacket and pants that Zhao Nuanyue had made for her, making her look just like a Lucky Doll. With the new cloak on, she looked even more adorable.

Little Red Carp pulled the hood over her head, wobbled unsteadily, and giggled. ”It’s so pretty and so fun! Thank you, Grandma Sun!”

After the meal, Zhao Nuanyue took Zhao Nuanyang to Master Hu’s house for their New Year’s visit. She left Zhao Nuanyang and Little Red Carp there to keep Master Hu and Old Madam Hu company, then headed to the hospital alone.

’Every family is celebrating the New Year, but Hua Yusen is all alone in the hospital. The poor thing.’

Inside the hospital room, the windows were decorated with paper cuttings Zhao Nuanyue had made by hand. A ”Fu” character, representing good fortune, was taped to his headboard, bringing a small touch of the New Year’s spirit to Hua Yusen.

Zhao Nuanyue was reading the newspaper aloud when Hua Yulin and Hua Yufen entered the room.

Feng Wanru and Hua Zhiqiang hadn’t come. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but their home was swamped with New Year’s visitors, and they couldn’t get away. Still, they hadn’t forgotten their eldest son in the hospital, so they sent Hua Yulin and Hua Yufen instead.

When they arrived, Zhao Nuanyue was already inside, reading the newspaper to him.

Standing in the doorway, Hua Yufen said quietly, ”In all honesty, I could never be as meticulous or as thoughtful as Zhao Nuanyue. The amazing thing is that she comes every single day, rain or shine.”

”I agree. I couldn’t do it either,” Hua Yulin nodded. ”A woman like her is hard to find. That’s why, when our parents were hesitating, I convinced them to accept Zhao Nuanyue and make her relationship with our brother official as soon as possible. It would be a comfort to him, and it would only be fair to her. Otherwise, as an unmarried woman spending so much time with him, her reputation would suffer, and people would gossip.”

Hua Yufen nodded. ”Yes, you’re right. They need to do it soon.”

They entered the room. Zhao Nuanyue, who was in the middle of reading an article, simply smiled at them and continued. Once she had finished the last story, she set the newspaper down, picked up a nearby cup, and took a sip of warm water to soothe her throat.

”Yufen, Yulin, since you’re here, I’ll head home,” Zhao Nuanyue said softly. ”I’ll keep Hua company in the mornings, and you two can take the afternoons. That way, he won’t be lonely.”

”Okay, go on. We can take it from here,” Hua Yulin said. Then, thinking of the thick snow outside, he added, ”You didn’t walk all the way here again, did you?”

”Hehe, it’s fine. A little jogging and walking keeps me warm,” Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. ’The walk was long, but she didn’t want Hua Yulin to drive her. She hoped that he and Hua Yufen would spend this New Year’s time with Hua Yusen.’

Zhao Nuanyue finished packing her things, gave them a nod, and walked out of the hospital room.

”Yufen, you stay with our brother. I’m going to give our sister-in-law a ride,” Hua Yulin said, grabbing his car keys and hurrying after her.

Hua Yufen was surprised for a second, but then she understood. It was a long walk back for Zhao Nuanyue, so it was only natural for her brother to drive their sister-in-law home.

Hua Yulin caught up to Zhao Nuanyue. ”Sister-in-law, I’ll give you a ride!”

Zhao Nuanyue turned to see Hua Yulin had caught up with her. ”Oh, you really don’t have to. I can get back by myself.”

Seeing Zhao Nuanyue’s large, luminous dark eyes fringed with long, curling lashes, Hua Yulin found he couldn’t look at her for too long. He averted his gaze and said, ”It’s too cold out. Just let me drive you.”