mesbooks Chapter 275 The Red Birthmark Under the Hem
Chapter 275 The Red Birthmark Under the Hem
In just over half an hour, the children who had gone out to buy things returned.
"Brother, this is the medicine I bought for you, and these are your clothes." Ding placed the items in front of the man and introduced them one by one.
Didn't you buy any food?
"I bought it all! I bought ten steamed buns and four big meat buns, all fresh out of the steamer." As she spoke, drool dripped from her mouth, and she pulled two oil paper packages from Wu Shu's arms.
"You're injured, so the steamed buns are for you. The rest of us will eat regular steamed buns. Hehe."
After saying that, she looked up at the man staring at the oil paper package, her face full of expectation for praise.
"Is there not enough money? Why didn't you buy more buns?" The man looked at the different foods in the two oil paper packages and assumed that the money he had given was not enough.
"It's enough, but I'm thinking we have a long life ahead of us, right? We can't spend all our money on one meal. Here's the remaining silver, one tael and five mace, and two strings of copper coins." As he spoke, Ding Yi reluctantly took the silver out of his pocket and placed it in front of the man along with the other items.
Seeing the silver on the ground and the things they had bought, the man paused for a moment before speaking.
“Let’s eat first”
"Alright, let's eat, let's eat." After saying that, he picked up the bag of steamed buns and gave two to each of the children behind him.
"Eat quickly, it's fresh out of the pot, and it's very fragrant and tender."
Perhaps it had been too long since I had eaten such a hot and fluffy steamed bun, because I didn't even care that it was hot and took a big bite.
Ding Yi quickly finished his two steamed buns, and the man could tell he wasn't full.
"Big brother, this is for you." Seeing his older brother finish two steamed buns, Ding Er broke off half of the second steamed bun he was eating and handed it to him.
"Big brother, you're full, you eat," Ding Yi said, pushing away the steamed bun his second brother offered.
"Big brother, I'm small, one is enough for me, you can have this one." Ding San handed his uneaten steamed bun to Ding Yi.
"Big brother's full, you two hurry up and eat. If you can't finish, rest for a while before eating again. I'm going to get some water." After saying that, he ran to the well in the yard, scooped up two bowls of water from the bucket he had just drawn, and gulped them down. After finishing the two bowls of water, Ding Yi patted his stomach, which finally felt full, with satisfaction. He felt extremely happy; it had been a long time since he had felt truly full.
Soon, Wu Shu finished his steamed bun. Following Ding Yi's example, he ran to the well and drank two bowls of water. The younger Wu Lin only ate one bun; he carefully wrapped the other in oil paper and put it in his pocket. Unlike the Ding brothers, he didn't offer the uneaten bun to Wu Shu.
The man inside the house watched all this without saying a word, simply eating the steamed bun in his hand.
When Ding returned to the house, she brought the man a bowl of clean well water and placed it beside him. The man didn't mind that the bowl was old and broken, and ate his steamed buns with the water.
After finishing his meal, the man carefully examined the room he was in. It appeared to be three main rooms. The roof had some holes, but the doors and windows were still intact. There was a lot of dry grass on the ground, indicating that someone had lived there before he arrived.
Thinking of the lost letter, the man felt anxious, but his injuries prevented him from doing anything but worry. Seeing several teenagers playing in the yard after they had eaten, and considering his own situation, he decided to stay there and let his injuries heal.
Ding Yi
The children playing in the yard turned to look at the house when they heard the man's voice. Ding Yi ran in quickly.
"Big brother, what's the matter?"
The man told Ding Yi what he wanted, then pulled out a silver note from his waist and handed it to Ding Yi.
"You and Wu Shu go and buy everything I need. Can you cook?" the man suddenly asked, as all he wanted to eat right now was porridge.
"Yes, Ding Er, Wu Shu, and I can all cook, but the taste isn't very good." Ding Yi scratched his head a little embarrassedly.
"Can you cook porridge?"
Seeing Ding Yi nod, he then spoke again.
"I'll be staying here for a few days. Take this money and buy some pots, pans, and other cooking utensils. Also, buy some rice and millet. And buy the steamed buns we'll be having tonight."
Hearing what the man said, Ding Yi's face flushed with excitement. The cooking utensils had all been bought; it seemed this man was going to stay for a while. That meant his brothers would at least have enough to eat during that time. And when he left, he certainly wouldn't take anything with him; wouldn't it all be left for them?
"Okay, brother, I'll go buy it now. Could you buy more rice and flour?" Ding asked cautiously.
"Yes, buy more, so we don't have to go out every day."
"Okay, brother. You rest first, I'll go buy it right away." After saying that, he called Wu Shu and prepared to go out, but after seeing the few small houses in the yard, he couldn't help but say a few words of advice.
"You guys stay home and clean the kitchen, take out the ashes from the stove. Our eldest brother sent Wu Shu and me out to buy rice and flour, and we'll cook you something delicious when we get back tonight. Be good and work at home, don't go out, or the kidnappers will kidnap you and sell you."
After scaring the children a bit, the two of them felt relieved enough to go out.
After the two men left, Ding Er, along with Ding San and Wu Lin, found a broken broom and began sweeping the dust from the kitchen. The thought of a delicious meal that evening was too tempting for these children who were perpetually hungry.
The man inside struggled to his feet and went to the outhouse to relieve himself. His numerous cuts and abrasions were throbbing painfully, but thankfully they hadn't reopened and were bleeding again.
He went back into the house, closed the door from the inside, and took out the new clothes that Ding Yi and the others had bought for him that morning.
Upon opening the package, he found they had bought quite a complete set, even including new underwear. A smirk appeared on the man's face; he was quite interested in Wu Shu and Wu Lin's identities. Although the two hadn't spoken much, he had noticed a different accent in Wu Shu's earlier remark. Moreover, their relationship seemed more like master and servant than brothers.
I carefully changed into my new clothes, but when I put on my underwear, a red birthmark was faintly visible under the hem of my clothes.
After getting dressed, he took two of the pills Ding Yi had bought. Leaning against the wall, he hugged his sword and fell asleep again.
When he woke up again, it was already dark. He could hear several children talking outside, and the aroma of rice porridge wafted in the air. Feeling a bit cold, he touched his forehead and found that he was indeed feverish.
He struggled to sit up from the floor and opened the door.
"Big brother, big brother's awake!" Ding San, who was in the courtyard, excitedly called out towards the kitchen when he saw the man open the door. The porridge was ready, but his eldest brother wouldn't let them eat it, saying they had to wait for their new eldest brother to wake up so everyone could eat together. His stomach had been growling for a long time. How could he not be excited to see his new eldest brother awake?