CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68: RUMORS DISPELLED ON THEIR OWN

Beisitian strolled around the live poultry market. The smell here was strong, and there were often muddy puddles on the ground, with a fishy odor wafting up, making people nauseous.

Beisitian walked around and bought three native chicken chicks—one rooster and two hens. She didn’t buy too many, fearing that carrying so much might attract attention, because she also bought a free-range chicken intended to be stewed for soup at home.

Beisitian looked at the live fish and decided to buy them next time, as she couldn’t carry too much at once.

The three chicks were placed in a bamboo cage, while the free-range chicken had its feet and wings bound, carried upside down.

After buying these items, Beisitian went home to wait for a message from Zhou Jiren’s side.

Beisitian took a donkey cart home and got busy upon arrival, picking up some branches and wooden sticks to make a temporary fence to enclose the chicks.

Luo Anping could already walk without crutches, although he hadn’t left the yard yet. He sat at the stove outside and watched Beisitian busy, wanting to join her, wondering how to persuade her to let him go out herding sheep with her today.

The five-year-old child had already been cooped up miserably for more than twenty days.

"Ping’an, come out for a walk with me today."

Just as Luo Anping was racking his brains for a solution, Beisitian’s words were like a gift from heaven, leaving him staring blankly for a long time without reacting. When he did, he whooped and jumped up, only to ’hiss’ and bend over, tugging at the wound on his belly.

Mrs. Qin’s voice came from inside, laughing and scolding, and she came out shortly afterward. Her eyes were still covered with a layer of white mist, and her vision was as before, causing her some disappointment.

The eyes had been blind for so many years; they couldn’t be cured just like that. Mrs. Qin understood this, and she didn’t blame Beisitian; her hopes had simply diminished, no longer as excited as before.

Beisitian didn’t offer any explanation; the toxin had accumulated for a long time in her eyes, and her spirit hadn’t fully recovered yet. It had to be taken step by step.

Beisitian killed the free-range chicken and stewed it for over three hours. The bones were tender, and the nutrients from the chicken had flowed into the soup. The medicinal properties of He Shouwu slices and Black Goji were thoroughly dispersed as well.

Finally, when the soup cooled slightly, Beisitian added prepared talismanic water. The talismanic water couldn’t be used with overly hot water; hence, she always used room temperature or cold water, as high temperature would reduce the effect of talisman powder.

At this point, the soup was most nutritious, with the chicken meat providing little nutrition, leaving only protein and fat.

Meals had been very bland during this period, with only a bit of salt, as Luo Anping was only five years old; adding too much soy sauce and such would make the big scar on his belly difficult to reduce.

Without these adverse ingredients, she only needed some simple talismanic water to help diminish the scar.

Luo Anping was eating heartily, complaining that his stomach was too small; otherwise, he could eat the whole chicken!

Luo Anguo scolded him for being worthless, and Luo Anping didn’t dare speak anymore, just focused on drinking the soup.

The four people finished the pot of soup, and comfortable naps were taken in the afternoon.

Beisitian still got up after an hour to practice writing. She practiced penmanship, shaping her letters quickly.

Luo Anguo and Mrs. Qin recently weren’t sleeping as much. Previously, they always felt sleepy, never waking refreshed; now, sleeping just an hour left them particularly energetic.

They knew it was thanks to the medicinal meals Beisitian had been preparing, unexpectedly effective, and they paid special attention to the things Beisitian advised.

Luo Anguo looked at the words Beisitian wrote, astonished at her strong learning ability; as long as he led her through the door, she would quickly find the method suitable for her. It had only been so few days, and she had already written like this!

Being praised like this by Luo Anguo, Beisitian felt a bit embarrassed; she had some foundation herself, so some things weren’t unfamiliar to her.

By around four o’clock, Beisitian prepared to go herding; Luo Anping had been dressed early, waiting by the sheep pen.

"Don’t run around recklessly like before; listen to your sister if anything happens!"

Before going out, Mrs. Qin reminded them once more.

Luo Anping responded and followed Beisitian out.

At this time, there were quite a few people on the streets and alleys, and it was rare to find families like Luo Er’s, who slept all afternoon. No family like them stayed at home sleeping?

"Hey look, isn’t that the little lame one from Luo Er’s family!"

"It really is. Can he already walk so soon?"

The surrounding voices gradually came toward them. Luo Anping naturally heard them, and hearing the word ’little lame one,’ was utterly incredulous as he wasn’t lame at all!

Beisitian gently patted his shoulder, telling him not to mind them. Gossip spreads this way; people usually believe what they think is true.

Thus, they believed Luo Anping was lame; even without seeing him limp, they gave him the nickname ’little lame one.’

These nicknames, however, were not spoken by children but came from women who only cared for the moment of pleasure in their mouths, never considering what psychological harm these rumors might cause a five-year-old child!

Public opinion is fearsome, indeed!

People often think villagers are simple, but it depends on the aspect; some villagers are only simple in dress and appearance.

Beisitian didn’t mind these rumors because once Luo Anping emerged, they would collapse naturally.

Indeed, those who kept calling ’little lame one’ were astonished to see Luo Anping walking steadily.

When the incident first happened at Luo Er’s family, many gathered to watch, hearing Yang Wulang say the child’s leg seemed crippled.

Yang Wulang couldn’t see illnesses, but he had a good eye; if he said it was crippled, it was likely to be true.

Some were gleeful, and others lamented Luo Er’s family’s misfortune, saying there wasn’t a single whole person in their family!

Thus, the theory of Beisitian’s tough fate was passed around again.

"Do you think he’s pretending?"

"If lame people can pretend to be normal, there wouldn’t be lame people; they’d all pretend!"

"But surely, he’s not lame; I saw him covered in blood myself..."

"Wasn’t it said a slash across the belly left a big wound? Heard the intestines were out; certainly, the blood was from the belly wound."

The old women sitting at the door discussed various things, pointing at the big and small figures. Beisitian was calm, ignoring the village women’s chatter.

Luo Anping initially felt indignant, hanging his head in silence as before. Seeing Beisitian’s upright back inspired him to straighten his chest unconsciously.