Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Chapter 107 Xia Yao "Seriously Injured"

Xia Yao lay on the bed, looking extremely weak.

Xia Huifang sat by his bedside, watching him quietly, as if afraid that if she didn't keep an eye on him, he would be gone.

Xia Lanyue stood at the foot of the bed like a child who had done something wrong, not daring to speak.

"I'm much better, so don't worry," Xia Yao finally spoke, but her weak voice made it hard not to worry.

"Acheng went to fetch Doctor Zhang, he won't be back for another hour. You should rest for a while," Xia Huifang said softly to Xia Yao.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'm fine," Xia Yao comforted Xia Huifang beside him.

"I hope you're alright. Tell me, how could he be so cruel? He didn't care about feelings at all. What if he had hurt you?" Xia Huifang said with heartache.

"I'm fine," Xia Yao said, glancing at Xia Lanyue as if he were speaking to her.

Xia Huifang turned to Xia Lanyue and said, "Lanyue, could you help me boil some hot water? I want to help him wipe away the blood."

"Oh, I'll go prepare now," Xia Lanyue said as she jogged out of the house.

Seeing that she had left, Xia Huifang turned to Xia Yao and said, "She's gone. Now, tell me, what are you going to do about you and A-Yue?"

"Why are we talking about her again?"

“Don’t hide it from your mother, I’ve heard everything about you and A-Yue… about the reeds,” Xia Huifang sighed and continued, “The villagers are gossipy, Dai You must have heard about it, that’s why he hit you. No matter what, A-Yue is a young woman, she has to maintain her reputation, so we’re in the wrong.”

“I have nothing to do with her,” Xia Yao explained.

“What can’t you tell your mother? I’m happy that you have feelings for A-Yue. It’s just that this matter has been handled so badly that it’s disgraced me. I’m ashamed. Now that things have come to this, we need to think of a way to make amends so that people don’t laugh at us. Besides, you’re a teacher. If you do something so immoral, what family would trust you to teach their children? Isn’t this ruining your future?”

"I...it's really not like that with her, there's nothing between us, you have to believe me," Xia Yao explained anxiously.

“Nothing wrong?! Then why is the medicine I gave her in your room? Did she come to your room to apply medicine to her injured foot? A young lady’s feet are not something to be shown to just anyone. I also saw her washing your handkerchief. And your lips, how did they get sore?! I’ve been through this, I understand. Young people are full of vigor and it’s okay to be impulsive, but you have to take responsibility afterwards. Besides, A-Yue is such a good girl, we’re lucky to have her,” Xia Huifang said.

"I...it seems you won't believe anything I say," Xia Yao felt his head throbbing even more. "Then tell me, what should we do?"

"How about we talk to A-Yue and say that you met A-Yue's father when you were in the capital taking the imperial examination, and he agreed to your marriage. She came here specifically to find you, but she lost her memory and doesn't remember you. What do you think?"

"Ha," Xia Yao scoffed, "Would she be willing?!"

"She's already done this kind of thing with you, what else could she possibly want? Getting married is just a matter of time!"

"Who told you this?" Xia Yao asked, puzzled.

“Your third aunt, Wang Cui.”

Xia Yao looked helpless, thinking that even Xia Huifang didn't believe him, so the villagers would be even less likely to believe him.

Suddenly, Xia Yao's eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something, and he stopped arguing.

Seeing Xia Yao lying down without saying a word, Xia Huifang complained, "You, why can't you be more careful about this kind of thing? Sigh."

"Sigh..." Xia Yao's sigh was even louder than Xia Huifang's.

"This child scared me," Xia Huifang said, clutching her chest. "You should discuss this with her as soon as possible, remember that."

Before dark, Acheng arrived with Doctor Zhang.

Doctor Zhang examined Xia Yao's injuries and told them that there was nothing serious, just superficial wounds that would heal in a while. Xia Huifang was relieved.

Following Zhang Langzhong's instructions, Xia Yao went to rest early.

Everyone went back to their own rooms.

Xia Lanyue tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep, her mind replaying the events of the day over and over again.

Dai You's fierce demeanor when he hit her made her feel unfamiliar and afraid. Perhaps she had never truly known Dai You. But what did the look in his eyes before he left mean? Why did it make her feel strangely sad?

She didn't know what Dai You had gone through to be so angry, but judging from his beating of Xia Yao, it must be related to him. But what could Xia Yao have done? She couldn't figure it out.

She was so eager to know the reason that she found herself standing by Xia Yao's window. The window, usually lit, was now dark. She knew Xia Yao was injured and resting, but still, clinging to a sliver of hope, she coughed softly. This time, no one answered, and gradually, disappointment crept in.

She lay back down on her bed and told herself that since she couldn't figure it out, she shouldn't think about it anymore. She should just rest and think about it again when she woke up tomorrow.

Xia Lanyue woke up early in the morning; she had been thinking too much the night before and hadn't slept well.

She gently opened the door and stepped out of the house, just as the door to the west room opened. Xia Lanyue was startled, and upon closer inspection, she saw it was Acheng.

It's really unusual for Acheng to get up so early.

Thinking of Dai You, Xia Lanyue asked, "Has he returned?"

Acheng shook his head. "No," he continued, "I'm going to tell the students to take a few days off. If I come back late, please save some food for me." After saying that, he left.

Xia Lanyue nodded blankly. She was somewhat surprised that Dai You hadn't returned home all night!

Xia Lanyue was no longer sleepy and strolled around the courtyard gate, occasionally walking to the gate to look around, searching for Dai You's figure.

When it was almost dark, she went back to the kitchen to make breakfast. But when she was about to serve the rice, she realized that all the bowls and chopsticks in the house were gone.

Soon, Acheng returned, carrying a bucket in his hand. Xia Lanyue recognized it as the bucket from home, which contained bowls and chopsticks.

She leaned closer and asked Acheng, "Did you bring this bucket back from outside?"

“Dai You left it in the reeds by the river yesterday. Luckily no one picked it up, otherwise we would have had to spend money to buy it,” A-Cheng complained.

The reeds?! Xia Lanyue remembered that Dai You had returned in a huff yesterday after washing the dishes. Could he have overheard some gossip in the reeds that caused him to misunderstand? She wondered what he had heard that made him so angry.

She looked towards Xia Yao's room, thinking about the questions she hadn't asked him yesterday, and decided to ask him when he woke up.