Fortune Across the World

Chapter 24: Healing an Arm Injury and Returning Home with Warmth (Part 2)

Upon hearing Aunt He’s voice, Lian’er turned with a face full of grievance, her eyes red and teary. Though she didn’t utter a word, her expression spoke volumes: "Look at what happened to Qiyu!"

Well, now Aunt He knew too. Ding Qiyu had hoped to keep it from them, but as soon as she entered, her injury was exposed. She smiled awkwardly, "Auntie, it's nothing, just a minor accident today."

"Injured? Where are you hurt?!" Aunt He rushed over, her voice filled with concern.

"It's the left arm. I'm not sure if there's anywhere else... and he tried to hide it from us!" Lian'er interjected, her voice laced with indignation.

Ding Qiyu quickly added, "No, no, it's just the arm. Don't worry, I've seen a doctor and he said it's nothing serious. Let's go inside, and I'll explain."

Inside, they sat at the table, Lian'er and Aunt He surrounding Ding Qiyu as if in a protective circle. Lian'er's eyes never left Ding Qiyu, her gaze so filled with worry that Ding Qiyu felt as if it was Lian'er who was injured, her heart softening.

Carefully, Ding Qiyu rolled up her sleeve, revealing the thick bandage on her arm. The wound was deep and long, with the whip's barbs having torn the flesh significantly. Despite stitches, the wound still bled slightly, the bandage faintly stained with red. Aunt He’s heart clenched instantly, and tears welled in Lian'er's eyes. Ding Qiyu mentally criticized the doctor for not wrapping more layers and reassured them, "Auntie, Lian'er, it looks worse than it is. The doctor said a few days of rest will be enough. Don’t worry."

"What happened? How did you get hurt?" Aunt He’s voice trembled, fearing Ding Qiyu had been bullied, not considering it might have been an accident.

Ding Qiyu pulled down her sleeve, trying to hide the wound from their gaze. She had no choice but to recount the events, hoping to prevent their imaginations from running wild: "It's like this, I was inspecting one of the General’s brothels this morning..."

"Brothel?!" Lian'er exclaimed, her brow furrowing deeply, eyes filled with tears as she stared at Ding Qiyu.

Sensing the accusation in her gaze, Ding Qiyu hurried to explain, "Uh, don't misunderstand, Lian'er. I didn't want to go! But the brothel is part of the General’s properties, and as an inspector, I had to do my duty. I specifically chose the morning because brothels don’t operate then."

Lian'er muttered under her breath, "That's more like it... But why would the General run a brothel..." Then, noticing Ding Qiyu's injury, she asked, "What happened? How did you end up like this?"

"I was leaving after the inspection..." Ding Qiyu recounted the incident, glossing over the details of her injury. She took out the gold ingot from her bag and handed it to Aunt He, "So, my injury wasn't for nothing; this gold is worth a lot of silver!"

"Auntie would rather not have the gold, just for you to be safe!" How could she equate her safety with money? Although Ding Qiyu meant it as a joke to ease their worries, Aunt He couldn’t help but reprimand her. Lian'er wholeheartedly agreed, valuing Qiyu over any silver.

With their minds at ease, knowing Ding Qiyu wasn’t bullied, they accepted the situation. There was no one to blame—the man was captured and would be punished, and the woman with the whip acted unintentionally.

"What did the doctor say exactly?" Aunt He inquired.

"He said it's not a big issue, just keep changing the dressing and avoid water for a few days. Really, it’s fine. Let’s eat; I’m starving."

Lian'er nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand before heading to the kitchen to serve the meal.

Realizing her injury was already exposed, Ding Qiyu decided it was best to be cautious and recover quickly. She put the sling back around her neck, feeling the persistent pain likely from straining the wound.

Aunt He watched Ding Qiyu, her heart aching at the sight of her arm in a sling. Though she hadn’t seen the wound, the bandages covering the entire arm and the red stains hinted at the severity.

Lian'er sat beside Ding Qiyu at the table, grabbing her bowl and chopsticks, intending to feed her. Ding Qiyu protested, "Hey! Lian'er, it's my left arm that's injured; I can still eat by myself."

Saying nothing, Lian'er continued to hold the bowl and chopsticks, insistently maintaining her gesture. Overwhelmed by her silent determination, Ding Qiyu conceded, allowing Lian'er to feed her the meal.

After dinner, Aunt He and Lian'er shooed Ding Qiyu away from helping. Retiring to her room, Ding Qiyu pulled out her roster, planning her inspections for the southern district. Using her good hand, she made some adjustments, postponing visits to more valuable shops until her arm healed.

Though autumn had arrived, the evening remained warm. Ding Qiyu stood to remove her outer robe. She awkwardly removed the sling and tried to loosen her belt when Lian'er entered the room, carrying a basin of water, "What are you trying to do? Let me help you."

Ding Qiyu chuckled awkwardly, "It's hot; I wanted to take off my robe."

"Okay... let me." Lian'er pursed her lips, stepping close to untie Ding Qiyu's belt, placing it neatly on a chair. Throughout, she kept her head down, revealing only the simple hairstyle and slightly flushed ears. Removing the belt, she returned to Ding Qiyu, untying the front strings of her robe, revealing the white undergarment. She carefully slipped the robe off Ding Qiyu's right shoulder, then gingerly eased the left sleeve down.

They stood close, and Lian'er felt Ding Qiyu's gaze on her the whole time, her cheeks growing warmer. Ding Qiyu, appreciating the harmonious atmosphere, resolved to protect this girl for a lifetime, ensuring her happiness.

After folding the robe, Lian'er, with a flicker of hesitation, said, "I brought water for you to wash up." She led Ding Qiyu to the chair, wrung out the towel, and gently wiped her face. Though somewhat inexperienced and awkward, her tenderness was evident.

With Lian'er's attentive care, Ding Qiyu quickly finished freshening up. She encouraged Lian'er to rest early. With her injured hand making tasks difficult, Ding Qiyu extinguished the lamp and lay in bed, tossing and turning in the dark. It was still early, and the pain in her arm was hard to ignore. No position seemed comfortable; straightening it pulled painfully, while bending it felt oppressive. After much struggling, she finally drifted into a restless sleep.

Lian'er had quietly stood outside for a long time, listening to the sounds within. She hesitated several times at the threshold. Finally, hearing no more movements, she tiptoed inside. By the moonlight, she saw Ding Qiyu's pale face, still frowning in sleep, her injured arm at her side, the other hand supporting her shoulder, as if trying to ease the pain.

Sitting by the bed, Lian'er gently touched the bandaged arm with her fingertips, afraid to cause more pain. "Does it hurt, Qiyu..." she silently asked. The position must be uncomfortable. Lian'er fetched her pillow, carefully placing it under Ding Qiyu's arm and covering it with a light garment. Finished, she sat, lost in thought. How can I seize the opportunity? How do I tell you? After a moment's hesitation, she leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Ding Qiyu's fingertips. For Lian'er, this small act was a significant gesture, leaving her cheeks tomato-red as she quickly fled back to her room.

Ding Qiyu, hovering between sleep and wakefulness, felt the pain in her arm ease, enveloped in a gentle softness. Her furrowed brow finally relaxed.

The next morning, Ding Qiyu awoke early, her biological clock unfailing. Seeing the pillow under her arm, she felt a wave of gratitude. "That girl..."

Leaving her room, she encountered Lian'er heading to the kitchen. She raised the pillow with a smile, "Thanks!"

Lian'er, recalling something, nodded quickly and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Ding Qiyu puzzled.

Starting her work in the southern district, Ding Qiyu found the shops smaller than those in the north, with many individually owned. The General’s businesses were fewer here, but some sizable workshops held valuable insights. After inspecting the southern district, she planned to visit the General's farmlands around Xingcheng, hoping to learn about agricultural tools.

Following her revised plan, Ding Qiyu visited a teahouse and a pawnshop, drawing amused looks from the staff who dared not laugh openly. Through trade gossip, they had heard of the diligent young inspector meticulously taking notes during inspections, earning the nickname "most responsible inspector" in the industry. Everyone now rigorously self-regulated to avoid his scrutiny, speculating that his diligence might have led to his arm injury!