Time Travel: A Fisherwoman Goes to the Sea to Raise a Baby

Chapter 478 Handsome Young Man

"Really? I can still grow?"

Ah Xiu's wife nodded firmly: "Of course! You're only twelve now, there's no worry about you not growing."

Upon hearing this, Xu Anyang couldn't suppress the urge to smile.

Having chosen the color she wanted, she happily went to work.

Sihai was a natural vain child, and seeing the adults busy choosing fabric colors, he came over to join in the fun.

The little boy tiptoed and pulled out a small piece of the most delicate pink fabric from the cloth samples brought by Ah Xiu's mother. He draped it over his shoulders with great seriousness, twirled around in a pose, and then pounced on Xu Yiyi's legs, tilting his little face up, his big, dark eyes full of expectation.

"Big sister, big sister, do you think I look pretty in this color? Does it look good on me?"

While discussing the design with Ah Xiu's wife, Xu Yi looked down and saw that the chubby little boy was wrapped in thick fabric like a colorful little rice dumpling, with only his fair and tender little face showing.

People can't help but laugh.

Xu Yiyi smiled helplessly, her tone full of affection: "Beautiful! You look beautiful in any color."

Hearing what his older sister said, Sihai happily ran into the house to show off to Sanchuan.

But Sanchuan pushed him away.

"Third brother, do you think I'm pretty?" The child's eyes were full of expectation.

San Chuan's eyes were glued to the book in his hands, and his tone was somewhat perfunctory: "Beautiful! Very beautiful."

Sihai snorted when he saw his reaction.

"Third Brother, you didn't even look at me."

Sanchuan clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to Sihai.

"Hmm..." Sanchuan put down the book in his hand, then stroked his chin. "Don't you think this color is too delicate? It's more suitable for eldest sister and second sister, isn't it?"

"Who said this color can only be worn by women?" The child immediately pouted, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice.

"There's no rule that says anything, it's just... everyone dresses like this," Sanchuan said somewhat uncertainly. "If you want to wear a different color, that's fine too."

"Then I'll take this color."

As he spoke, he excitedly ran out to tell his older sister.

Unfortunately, Xu Yiyi had already decided on the style and color of winter clothes for several children with Ah Xiu's wife.

Sihai was arguing with his older sister, clutching the fabric.

Seeing this lively scene, A-Si couldn't help but feel regretful. She sighed and looked at Xu Honglian.

"It's a pity that Er'er isn't home when everything is so complete. She would be happy if she knew that new winter clothes are being made for everyone."

Xu Yiyi also had strange thoughts when she heard A Si mention Er'er.

It's getting colder and colder, and I have no idea where she's gone.

Meanwhile, far away in a fishing village hut in the Qiongzhou Strait, where the sea breeze was biting, Er'er was calmly resting her fingertips on the withered wrist of an old fisherman.

The sea breeze, damp and cold, seeped in through the cracks in the simple window.

"Ah - sneeze!"

She sneezed loudly without warning, her body jerking, interrupting her concentration on taking her pulse.

Wu Yunzhi, who was tidying up the medicine box next to her, looked up when he heard the sound. He couldn't help but frown when he saw that she was already dressed very warmly.

"How many times have I told you? It's getting cold, so wear more clothes. Doctors must first take care of themselves. If you catch a cold, how can you treat patients? Go and put on another cotton robe."

Er'er looked down at her arms, which she could barely lift because she was wearing so many layers of clothing, and shook her head helplessly.

Just as he was about to speak, Wu Yunzhi sneezed.

"Master, please don't scold me yet. The most important thing is for you to put on this cotton robe quickly," Er'er said helplessly.

Achoo! Achoo!

Wu Yunzhi sneezed twice more loudly, making his gray beard tremble.

Seeing this, Er'er shook her head helplessly, blew the ink off the written prescription, and looked up at her master.

She handed the prescription to the patient, carefully explained the precautions for decocting the medicine, and then turned around and, without saying a word, picked up the half-worn cotton robe folded aside and draped it over Wu Yunzhi.

"Your health isn't as robust as your disciple's," Er'er teased.

Wu Yunzhi felt a little embarrassed by what she said and reached out to pull her clothes tighter.

"Master, shall we go now? We've been in this fishing village for seven or eight days now, and the number of fishermen coming to see us for medical advice has been decreasing these past two days." Er'er cleaned the pen on the table.

Wu Yunzhi looked around the simple hut where he was temporarily staying and nodded: "Well, most of the illnesses of the people here have been treated and cured. It's time to move on to the next place."

As they spoke, the master and apprentice began packing their belongings, carefully arranging the silver needles, pestle, and remaining medicinal herbs.

Just then, a faint sound came from outside, as if something had been bumped.

Er'er's ears twitched slightly, and she frowned in confusion. She got up, pushed open the half-closed door, and looked outside.

A boy, barely a teenager, was seen running frantically outside, his steps unsteady, and he quickly disappeared among the low houses.

"What's wrong?" Wu Yunzhi asked, puzzled.

Er'er paused for a moment, then closed the door.

"He's just a kid, probably here to play with me," she said casually.

During my stay in the fishing village, children often came to visit.

She was busy during the day, but often went beachcombing with them at night.

"I guess it's because you've gotten used to taking care of your younger brother at home, and you unconsciously show more care for these kids, so they always want to come to you."

Wu Yunzhi said with a smile.

After they finished packing and carried their bags out of the hut, ready to leave the fishing village, they were stunned by the sight before them as soon as they reached the village entrance.

Suddenly, twenty or thirty fishermen, men, women, and children appeared out of nowhere on the previously deserted village road, silently surrounding them and blocking their way.

Everyone had something in their hands, more or less.

Before Er'er and Wu Yunzhi could react, the fishermen swarmed over and stuffed things into their bundles.

"Little miracle doctor, take this, keep it for the road!"

……

"Nothing fancy, just things we dried ourselves, please don't mind!"

……

"You cured my father's illness, so you must accept this small token of your appreciation!"

What was handed over were mostly dried fish strung together with straw rope and dried until hard, or dried shrimp wrapped in lotus leaves or coarse cloth and dark red in color.

The dried fish were of varying sizes, and the dried shrimp were clearly carefully selected, each one plump and full.

Although the items are not expensive, they are the most presentable and sincere tokens of appreciation from these fishermen who make their living off the sea.

They were rushing to stuff the food in, afraid that the two of them would leave empty-handed.

Er'er and Wu Yunzhi's arms were quickly filled with these seafood, and they couldn't refuse them, so they were a little at a loss for what to do.

"No, absolutely not!"

Er'er looked at the dried fish and shrimp that had suddenly appeared in his arms, waved his hands repeatedly, his handsome face full of difficulty, "We appreciate the kindness of our fellow villagers, but we cannot accept these things. Practicing medicine and helping the world is our duty..."

Wu Yunzhi also chimed in, saying, "Please take these back and leave them for your children! My master and I are used to traveling and can't carry so much stuff."

But the fishermen wouldn't listen and stubbornly kept stuffing packages into their hands; some even tied the packages directly to their pack straps.

"Little miracle doctor, please take it, otherwise I'll feel... guilty!" An old woman said, holding Er'er's hand with tears in her eyes.

In the midst of the shoving, Er'er and Wu Yunzhi's refusals were drowned out by the fishermen's insistence.

Seeing that they couldn't persuade him otherwise, the master and apprentice exchanged a helpless glance.

Finally, Er'er blushed and raised her voice, "Okay, okay, we'll accept it, alright? Stop stuffing it in!"

Hearing her agree, the fishermen finally smiled with satisfaction and slowly stopped.

So when the master and apprentice finally left the fishing village and embarked on a new journey, they looked quite disheveled.

In addition to their original medicine kits and luggage, the two of them also carried several bulging packages in their hands and on their backs, filled with fragrant dried fish and shrimp.

When the sea breeze blows, the rich, salty aroma can travel far and wide.

Er'er looked back at the simple faces still standing at the village entrance waving, then looked down at the things in her hands, sighed softly, and a smile involuntarily curved her lips.

Wu Yunzhi couldn't help but exclaim, "These fishermen are really honest people!"

"It's true, but I can hardly lift Master anymore!"

Er'er said listlessly, her luggage was already heavy, and now with the addition of various dried fish given to her by the fishermen, her journey was even more difficult.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunzhi silently took some of the luggage from her.

The two had been out of the village for a short while when they stopped in the woods.

"Disciple, take a rest first, I'm really too tired." Wu Yunzhi put down the various bundles he was carrying, panting heavily.

As soon as he sat down, he quickly took off his cotton robe.

"I'm so tired!"

Wu Yunzhi wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

In the past, when he traveled alone, he would do whatever was convenient for him, but things are different now.

Er'er squatted down and tidied up the scattered items.

"Master, where are we going next?"

Wu Yunzhi pondered for a moment and then took out the map to examine it.

They are still in Shecheng County. The master and apprentice practice medicine while carefully collecting local medical knowledge, which has taken them quite some time.

Er'er also recorded the unique uses of southern Chinese medicines such as areca nut for expelling parasites and Alpinia oxyphylla for strengthening the spleen and calming the mind in the medicine book.

"This trip was quite successful," Wu Yunzhi thought to himself.

He remembered that Yilun County was plagued by miasma, and if he went there, Er'er could learn more.

This makes it difficult to travel by sea.

“Let’s take the land route southwest to Yilun County,” Wu Yunzhi said after a moment’s thought.

Er'er peeked her little head at the map and looked at it again and again: "Okay, Master."

The two decided on their next location and rested against a tree trunk.

Er'er was young and recovered quickly; soon she curiously opened the fish she had obtained from the fishing village.

Suddenly, I found a note inside a small bundle.

She opened it out of curiosity, and her face instantly turned red, her eyes darting around.

Wu Yunzhi found her reaction strange: "What's wrong?"

Er'er shook her head shyly.

Wu Yunzhi glanced at the small bundle in front of her and remembered that it seemed to have been handed to her by a girl.

He turned his head and carefully examined Er'er.

The young apprentice was wearing a new indigo-blue cotton robe that Xu Yiyi had specially prepared for her before she left home. The style was a straight-cut style common among young men at the time, slightly loose, but it concealed some of her feminine features very well.

Her hair was tied up on top of her head like a man's, secured with a simple wooden hairpin.

Although upon closer inspection, there is still a hint of girlish delicacy and gentleness in her eyes and brows, and her skin is more delicate and fair than that of an ordinary man, with a subtle hint of powdery makeup.

Overall, he does indeed appear to be a handsome young man with striking features and a tall, upright figure.

Wu Yunzhi nodded approvingly, a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Did a little girl pass you a note?" he joked with a smile.

"Master!"

Er'er smiled shyly, and her face turned even redder as she recalled the words on the note.

The two laughed for a while, then Er'er took out the small note, smoothed it out, folded it neatly, and put it in her handkerchief.

"What else?" Wu Yunzhi asked, puzzled.

Er'er shook her head: "We can't just throw it away, can we? This was written with care."

As she spoke, she placed the handkerchief at the very bottom of the bundle.

After resting, the two immediately set off again, carrying their heavy packs and several large bags of dried fish and shrimp given to them by the fishermen.

“Master, at our current pace, we may have to spend the night in the wild again.”

Er'er looked at her master, who had only walked a short distance before stopping to rest again, and said helplessly.

Wu Yunzhi waved his hand: "I'm getting old..."

Back in his youth, he could walk all day without taking a break.

Er'er lowered her eyes and touched the silver coins she had put in her sleeve.

When she left, her eldest sister gave her some money, and after arriving in the prefectural city, her aunt Jiuya also gave her money.

Putting everything else aside, I still have enough money to buy a donkey.

So she couldn't help but suggest, "Master, we have too much luggage. Carrying it on the road is too tiring. How about... we buy a donkey? It can carry the luggage and get around when we get tired. It's also much cheaper than buying a horse."

Wu Yunzhi glanced at the large and small bags hanging on the two of them, and then, thinking about the long road ahead, he pondered for a moment.

Although buying a donkey is a considerable expense, it does save them a lot of effort and makes it more convenient for them to travel.

He stroked his beard and finally nodded: "Hmm, that makes sense. Then let's buy one."

So, the master and his apprentice dragged their heavy steps and walked for a long time before finally entering the territory of Chengmai County on the second day.

Upon entering the county town, without even taking a break, they headed straight for the market where livestock were traded.

……

"Apprentice, you stay here and watch the luggage. I'll go in and pick some out."

As Wu Yunzhi spoke, he took off all the things he was carrying.

"Master, you know how to choose, right?" Er'er asked, still worried.

Wu Yunzhi nodded with a smug look on his face: "Don't worry! I have experience."