Chapter 42: Seeking Shelter

"Father!"

Sitting on the mule cart, Zhou Qing responded loudly.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Stop running, or you might trip again."

Ignoring these words, Zhou Huaishan ran up, panting heavily as he climbed onto the mule cart, looking at Zhou Qing eagerly, "Daughter."

Seeing his expression, Zhou Qing felt moved. "Father, I’m really fine."

Zhou Huailin was driving the cart. "Second Brother, is our house okay?"

Zhou Huaishan inspected Zhou Qing from head to toe, confirming she was indeed fine. He then turned to Zhou Huailin and said, "I went out as soon as it started raining, so I don’t know."

Zhou Qing suddenly felt choked up. "You’ve been out in the rain all this time?"

Zhou Huaishan nodded, feeling guilty. "I wanted to find you, but the rain was so heavy I couldn’t see the road clearly. I didn’t know where to look, daughter."

For the first time in his life, Zhou Huaishan felt a bit of resentment towards himself for being a good-for-nothing dandy.

Shen Li was able to bring her back, but he couldn’t even compare to a young lad and could only wait foolishly.

Pressing his lips together, Zhou Huaishan turned to Shen Li. "Thank you."

Shen Li smiled, "It’s my duty."

If he hadn’t gone to find Zhou Qing, he wouldn’t have discovered Zhou Wang.

As they chatted, the mule cart stopped in front of the Zhou family house.

The rain had stopped.

Zhou Ping heard the noise and ran out like a rabbit, hugging Zhou Huailin’s leg, "Father, you’re back! We were so worried."

Zhou Huailin picked up Zhou Ping, "It's okay, we’re back now."

Zhou Ping said, "Father, our house is leaking terribly."

Zhou Huailin’s heart sank.

What he feared had come true.

Not only was the third house leaking, but the second house too.

Inside, it was like a water curtain cave, with no place to step.

Zhao was using a basin to scoop water out with Zhou Yao and Zhou Ping, while the main house and the first branch were quiet, sleeping soundly.

The Zhou family had repaired the roof before the New Year.

At that time, Old Zhou said there wasn’t much money, so they repaired the main house and the first house first, using the leftover materials for the kitchen.

The second and third houses were left unrepaired until now.

Glancing at the main house and the first branch, Zhou Huailin gritted his teeth.

Weren’t they worried about him and Qing?

How could they sleep with the house leaking like this?

"Well, my courtyard was repaired a few days ago, so it shouldn’t be leaking. How about, master and third uncle stay there for now?"

Shen Li suggested, looking at Zhou Qing and then at Zhou Huaishan and Zhou Huailin.

When Zhou Qing suggested repairing the roof and was stopped by Zhou Huailin, Shen Li secretly repaired his own roof.

Once it was done, he secretly hoped for rain.

Unexpectedly, his wish came true.

With the house leaking like this, Zhou Huaishan and Zhou Huailin didn’t hesitate and immediately gathered their important belongings to move to Shen Li’s place.

Fortunately, the two courtyards were just in front and behind each other, making it easy to move.

When Zhou Ping entered the courtyard, his eyes widened. "Wow! Senior brother, you’ve done a great job with this place."

What was once an abandoned courtyard was now neatly arranged by Shen Li, with the three main rooms and the east and west wing rooms all clean and furnished.

"You live here alone, why did you get so much furniture?" Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

Shen Li smiled, "I don’t like empty houses. Having some furniture makes it feel like someone is with me."

Zhou Qing...

Her eye twitched, and she pointed to the west wing, whispering mysteriously, "Aren’t you afraid that there might actually be someone inside?"

Shen Li...

"Huh?"

"Someone invisible during the day but comes out at night to chat with you, usually named Xiao Qian, Qiu Yue, or Ying Ning."

Shen Li...

Zhou Ping, following beside them, got goosebumps. "Sis, are you telling ghost stories? It’s really scary at night."

Zhou Qing laughed, ruffling Zhou Ping’s hair, "Okay, I’ll stop."

Shen Li looked at Zhou Qing with a gentle smile, then turned to Zhou Huaishan. "Master, how about you take the east side of the main house, Qing and Yao take the west side, Ping and I will stay in the west wing, and Third Uncle and Aunt will stay in the east wing. Does that work?"

Zhou Huaishan smiled, "We're just temporary guests, we can't take the main house while you stay in the side rooms."

"That's right," Zhou Huailin agreed.

Shen Li sincerely looked at Zhou Huaishan, "Once a teacher, always a father.^[1] How can the master stay in the wing rooms while the student stays in the main rooms? Please, Master, accept my arrangement."

Zhou Huaishan...

This stubborn scholar is actually... quite good.

Considering that Shen Li braved heavy rain and hail to bring Zhou Qing back, Zhou Huaishan silently gave Shen Li a positive review.

A three-star rating, just above average.

"Alright, it's late, let's not drag it out. Let's do as you said."

They settled on the rooms and began to settle in.

The wing rooms each had two rooms. Zhou Ping and Shen Li each took one.

It was Zhou Ping’s first time sleeping alone in a room, and it was even better than his uncle’s house. He was so excited that he rolled around on the kang.

He suddenly didn’t want to go back to his own house.

Zhao lit a fire in the kitchen and cooked a big pot of ginger porridge with wild mushrooms and diced pork.

Zhou Qing brought a bowl to Shen Li.

When she entered, Shen Li had just changed into clean clothes and was about to come out. Seeing Zhou Qing, he immediately sat back on the kang.

He lay back, looking utterly exhausted, like a salted fish.

Zhou Qing was startled when she entered.

"What's wrong with you?"

She placed the porridge on the small table on the kang and touched Shen Li’s forehead, "No fever."

Shen Li smiled weakly, his face pale. "I’m fine, not sick, just a bit tired. I'll be fine after a rest."

Zhou Qing looked at him and after a moment of silence, sincerely said, "Thank you for today."

He braved the heavy rain, and there was even hail for a while outside.

They had only known each other for a few days.

Seeing Zhou Qing like this, Shen Li suddenly felt bad about pretending to be exhausted, "No need to thank me, it was my duty. Have you eaten? With this heavy rain why not take a hot bath? I have a large wooden tub here."

Zhou Qing...

Her eyes widened at Shen Li.

Not bad, the young man lives a very refined single life.

In ancient times, bathing wasn’t convenient. Since her time-travel, Zhou Qing had been busy making money for her family and had longed for a comfortable bath.

After chatting with Shen Li for a while, and seeing him finish the porridge, Zhou Qing happily took the bowl and left.

She placed the large wooden tub in the room she shared with Zhou Yao, and the sisters took turns bathing.

Back at the Zhou family house.

Sun and Old Zhou lay side by side on the kang.

Old Zhou, hearing no noise outside, felt uneasy. "Why don’t we call them over to sleep here? We can squeeze together for one night."

Sun spat in annoyance.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Let’s wait a bit more."

When the second and third houses started leaking, Old Zhou and Sun had already discussed it.

Since the last incident, the second and third branches had been at odds with them, especially with the first branch, the relationship was icy.

They finally had a chance. As long as the second and third branches asked for help, it would be an opportunity for the family to reconcile.

They were all family, after all. No matter the quarrels, they were still connected by blood. They couldn’t stay estranged forever.

_____

Footnotes:

[1] Once a teacher, always a father. Even if someone is your teacher for only a day, regard them as a parent for life. Knowledge is power, and as Confucius teaches, treat your parents, grandparents, and ancestors with filial piety.