The Beautiful Brother of the Orion’s Family (Wearing Book) - 324

 

| TBBOTOF | 324

Lou Pingping and her mother-in-law were busy at home. As the year was drawing to a close, work on the new house had already been halted for a month. The men who had been working on it had all gone off to other jobs.

Although the foundation had been dug, there wasn’t much else to do during the winter. Wei Dong took Liu Yao and Tang Yang, and the four of them went up the mountain together.

At first, Wei Xi also wanted to join them. After all, he was now a teenager and no longer looked as skinny and weak as before. Although Wei Dong didn’t think he could handle much work, seeing the eager look in his eyes, he agreed.

The outcome was not unexpected. By the time they came down from the mountain that day, Tang Xu noticed that Wei Xi’s face was unusually red. He asked if Wei Xi was feeling unwell, and Wei Xi replied that he was just tired and would feel better after some rest.

However, during dinner, Tang Xu noticed that Wei Xi didn’t have his usual appetite.

Normally, he could eat two bowls of rice, but that day he only ate half a bowl before saying he was full.

When everyone had washed up and was getting ready for bed, Tang Xu couldn’t let it go and told his husband to go check on him.

“He’s old enough to know when he’s not feeling well, isn’t he?” Wei Dong said as he sat by the kang, drying his feet after washing them.

Tang Xu glared at him. “Kids his age are always awkward about these things. You didn’t even want to let him go up the mountain because you were worried he’d push himself too hard and get sick. Now he probably is sick and doesn’t dare to say so because he’s afraid you’ll scold him.”

He gave him a push when he didn’t move. “Hurry up and go check on him!”

Wei Dong sighed, stepping barefoot into his boots. After a moment's thought, he reached for his wooden-soled slippers instead and got up to head outside.

Tang Xu grabbed his arm, frowning disapprovingly. "It's so cold outside, why are you wearing slippers? Put on your boots!"

Wei Dong looked at him helplessly. "It's just a couple of steps. I just washed my feet and don’t want to wear socks."

"Then go barefoot," Tang Xu said, nudging the boots on the floor with his foot.

Wei Dong's face filled with reluctance. Putting on boots right after washing his feet? Wouldn't that make washing them pointless?

"Just put on socks," he said, exasperated. At times, his husband could be so particular about the smallest things.

Tang Xu crouched by the kang cabinet, pulling out a pair of clean cloth socks from the drawer. He handed them to him and urged, "Hurry up and wear them!"

Wei Dong reluctantly put on the socks and slipped into his boots. Grabbing the light jacket hanging nearby, he finally stepped outside.

As soon as he reached Wei Xi’s room, he heard muffled coughing from inside. Wei Dong’s expression darkened. He knocked twice on the door and pushed it open without waiting for a response.

To his surprise, Wei Xi wasn’t alone in the room—Tang Yang was there too.

"Brother-in-law?" Tang Yang looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Wei Xi was lying on the kang, a cloth resting on his forehead, with a basin of water beside him.

Wei Dong swept his eyes over the scene and asked, "Does he have a fever?"

Wei Xi’s face was flushed red from the high fever. He tried to speak but was overtaken by a fit of coughing.

It took him a while to calm the irritation in his throat. When he finally managed, he croaked out a weak "Yes."

"If you’re sick, why didn’t you call for Old Wu to come take a look?" Wei Dong’s voice was slightly cold, his expression disapproving.

As he spoke, he turned to leave, intending to fetch Old Wu. However, Tang Yang quickly stopped him.

"Brother-in-law, Brother Xi already took some medicine himself. He said he’s just overexerted and feeling unwell for now. He’ll be fine after a couple of days after taking medicine."

Wei Xi nodded weakly, clearly avoiding speaking again to prevent another coughing fit.

Wei Dong was not entirely convinced. His eyes fell on the small, empty bowl nearby, which had a thin layer of herbal residue at the bottom.

Without a word, he picked up the bowl and stepped outside, heading toward Old Wu's house for advice.

After all, his younger brother hadn’t been studying medicine for very long, and if the wrong medicine had been taken, it could lead to serious trouble.

The elderly man had a short sleep schedule, typically resting for just three or four hours, so he stayed up late. 

At this hour, his room was lit by three large oil lamps, and he was engrossed in reading a medical book.

Hearing the sound of someone entering, he put down the book and turned his head to see Wei Dong lifting the thick cotton curtain as he stepped inside.

“Something wrong?” The old man squinted and smiled.

Wei Dong handed him the small bowl he had brought. Old Wu took it, sniffed it, and asked, “Who’s sick?”

“Wei Xi,” Wei Dong replied. “He’s running a fever. He brewed this medicine for himself.”

Old Wu nodded. “That kid has a knack for medicine. For most people, this might clear things up in a couple of days, but it won’t work for him. He needs a different prescription.”

“Why’s that?” Wei Dong asked, puzzled.

“That boy’s constitution was carefully nursed by me in the past. The medicine he drank early on wasn’t casually thrown together—it took a lot of effort. Although he hasn’t fallen ill these past couple of years, it doesn’t mean his body is as steady as it looks.”

With that, Old Wu got off the kang, stepped into his boots, and headed toward the side room.

Old Fu, hearing the commotion, came over and asked, “Master, what do you need?”

Old Wu waved him off. “Go back to bed. I’m just fetching a few herbs.”

Despite his age, his eyesight was still sharp. Under the dim glow of a single oil lamp, he opened several small drawers, carefully selecting herbs from each. 

Once he had gathered the ingredients, he handed them all to Wei Dong in one bundle.

"Take these back and boil them. He’ll feel better after drinking this," Old Wu said with confidence.

Wei Dong glanced down at the small dustpan in his hand and asked, “How many doses should he take?”

“It’s a single dose,” Old Wu replied, waving his hand. “Have him drink it first, then let him get a good night’s sleep. I’ll come over tomorrow morning to check on him.”

Wei Dong thanked him and turned to leave with the dustpan full of herbs.

“Wait, wait, leave that little thing here. Wrap it up in some oiled paper,” Old Wu called after him, pointing to a rack nearby.

Wei Dong grabbed two sheets of oiled paper, carefully wrapped the herbs into a package, and then headed out the door.

Instead of going back to Wei Xi’s room, he returned to the main house. “Ah Xu,” he said, “you’ll have to sleep on your own tonight. I’ll stay with Wei Xi—he’s running a fever.”

Tang Xu climbed down from the kang, letting out a sigh. “I knew he’d end up sick. Did Old Wu take a look at him? What did he say?”

“I didn’t call him over,” Wei Dong replied. “Wei Xi brewed his own medicine and drank it. I brought the leftover dregs to Old Wu for a look. The old man said the medicine wasn’t right, so he prepared some new herbs. He said this dose should help him sleep through the night, and tomorrow morning he’ll come over to examine him.”

Tang Xu blinked and took the oiled paper packet from Wei Dong’s hand, bringing it close to his nose for a sniff. The strong aroma of herbs wafted up. 

He couldn’t identify the ingredients, but just the smell was enough to imagine how bitter the brewed medicine would be.

“I’ll go brew the medicine,” he said, shaking the herb packet lightly. “You go keep an eye on him. If anything seems off, call Old Wu over immediately.”

After a busy night, Wei Xi’s fever finally broke by the early hours of the morning. Tang Xu glanced at the boy sleeping soundly on the kang and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Tang Yang, who had been leaning against the kang cabinet, was starting to nod off. His body tilted bit by bit, and he was about to fall over when Tang Xu reached out and gave him a gentle push.

Tang Yang jolted awake, blinking. “What is it?”

“Go back to bed. Xiao Xi’s fine now,” Tang Xu said softly.

Tang Yang turned his head to look at the sleeping Wei Xi, thought for a moment, and shook his head. “I’ll just sleep here. If Brother Xi starts feeling unwell, I’ll hear it.”

“There’s no need,” Wei Dong said, ruffling Tang Yang’s hair. “You spent most of the day running around the mountain and must be exhausted. Go back and rest. I’ll stay with him.”

Tang Yang gave a small “Oh” in response, obediently got off the kang to put on his shoes. Stifling a yawn, he made his way to the door. “Big Brother, Brother-in-law, I’m going to bed then.”

Once he left, Wei Dong turned to Tang Xu. “You should go rest in our room too. I’ll stay here.”

Tang Xu didn’t argue. He nodded and said, “He’s fine now. You should get some rest too.”

Wei Dong leaned over and kissed the corner of his lips. “Got it.”

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