Chapter Forty: The Joy of Moving

It was Mrs. Tang’s words that proved most effective; a single sentence spared Tang Jun, at least temporarily, from the ordeal of testing medicine. But it was only a reprieve. Judging by Tang Wei’s resolute expression, it was hard to say when Tang Jun would eventually have to face his fate as a guinea pig.

When Zi Xuan finally finished, he was utterly exhausted, his body limp and eyes vacant. Tang Jun carried him out, and Mrs. Tang, seeing his deathly pale face, scolded Tang Wei fiercely and instructed her to take good care of Zi Xuan during the day for the next two days. After hearing Mrs. Tang’s orders, if you looked at Zi Xuan’s eyes, you’d see that although he was too weak to smile, those slyly bright eyes betrayed his excellent mood.

For the next two days, Tang Wei was nearly driven mad. Except for the hours spent treating Grandma Yao, she had to devote all the rest of her time to taking care of Zi Xuan.

No one knew how, but Zi Xuan suddenly became a VIP patient in Mrs. Tang’s eyes. He had to be fed, supported when walking, even accompanied while lying down! Zi Xuan accepted this service with perfect composure, and even offered serious suggestions for improvement.

Someone was about to explode with anger. “Uncle can bear it, but auntie cannot!” Given an inch, you take a mile! Just wait for Tang Wei’s Nine Yin Skeleton Claw and Dragon Subduing ‘Ten Slaps!’ Unfortunately, before she could deliver the main course, Mrs. Tang had already intervened, admonishing her with a tap on the head.

Tang Wei rubbed her sore forehead and looked at Zi Xuan, who was acting obediently before Mrs. Tang. “Auntie, don’t mind it. Wei Wei saw I was bored and was just playing with me.”

Tang Wei rolled her eyes behind them, and after hearing Mrs. Tang’s response, she was gritting her teeth in fury. “Xuan, you’re too honest! Wei Wei needs to be firmly managed, otherwise who knows how lawless she’ll become?” She then turned to Tang Wei, stern-faced, “Wei Wei, behave yourself. Zi Xuan treats you so well, and all you do is bully him. If I see you behave like that again, you’d better watch your head!”

Tang Wei, dutifully receiving her lesson, caught sight of Zi Xuan’s triumphant smile behind Mrs. Tang and lost her composure. But, faced with her mother’s authority, she could only plan her revenge for later. “Fine, I’ll endure it for now. Just wait, I don’t believe I won’t get you back someday!”

Seeing the change in Tang Wei’s expression, Zi Xuan immediately understood and switched to a pitiful look, hinting, “I’m innocent. Of course, I have to smile for Auntie, I can’t very well cry.”

Tang Wei turned her head away in refusal, but forgot Mrs. Tang was still in front. Only when she felt a sharp tap on her forehead did she realize she’d been struck again. “What are you turning your head for? Are you dissatisfied? You child—” and another long lecture followed.

Sigh! Misunderstood by her mother, Tang Wei hurried to extinguish the situation. She grabbed Mrs. Tang’s hand and swung it gently, pleading, “Mom, it’s not like that. There was a mosquito bite on my face, so I turned my head, not on purpose. Please don’t be angry! I promise I’ll take good care of Zi Xuan…”

After expending Herculean effort to pacify Mrs. Tang, Tang Wei watched her leave and close the door. She turned around, took a deep breath, and saw Zi Xuan holding back laughter until his face was red. She exhaled sharply, then put on a sweet, charming smile, walked over, gently took Zi Xuan’s hand, and said softly, “Zi Xuan, you’ve worked hard. Come, lie down and rest.” As she spoke, her right hand pinched a bit of flesh under his arm and twisted it fiercely. Only when Zi Xuan’s eyes and nose scrunched up in pain did she feel satisfied, nodded, and left the room smiling.

Zi Xuan rubbed the sore spot and muttered, “The heart of a woman is indeed the most dangerous! No wonder people say it’s better to offend a villain than a woman. That’s absolutely true!”

At last, Tang Wei’s days of hardship came to an end. The Tang family planned to move to the bamboo house in the valley on the twentieth day of the fifth lunar month. After consulting with someone about the date, it was decided this was the best day of the month.

Thus Tang Wei was released, and the Tang family cheerfully began moving.

It was a move, but there wasn’t much to carry. The bamboo house had all new furnishings; all they needed was to move in themselves.

They set up a few tables in the valley, invited everyone from the village for a simple meal, just to mark the occasion, and that was that—the move was complete.

The village elders, after seeing the bamboo house, remarked, “Everyone else thinks of moving to the city, living in high-rises, but you’ve built a small house in such a secluded spot. Still, this bamboo house is so beautiful, it must be comfortable. And with this summer heat, the valley must be cool. We’re even thinking of building one ourselves! Ha ha ha!”

The happiest of all were Tang Feng and Tang Jing’s families. They had finally developed a little interest in cultivation and planned to focus on it, but after just three days Tang Wei called to say the house was too crowded and asked them to wait patiently in the city until the day they moved into the bamboo house.

Those few days taught them the meaning of “a day feels like a year.” The daytime was fine, with work and errands, but in the evenings they longed for the carefree life of cultivation in the space, and most of all, the delicious food there. Just thinking of it made their mouths water. Tonight, at last, they could satisfy their cravings.

They all wore silly smiles; anyone who didn’t know better would think they were simple-minded.

Moving in with them were Grandma Yao and her two caregivers, the Li family’s grandfather and grandson. Tang Wei arranged for them to stay in the bamboo rooms on either side.

Each side of the bamboo house had eight rooms. The central section contained eight master bedrooms and a large hall in the middle, with a dining room and kitchen at the back.

The central bamboo house served as the main family quarters for the Tang family. Father Tang, Mother Tang, and Grandmother Tang occupied the rooms on either side of the hall. Next to Grandmother Tang were Tang Wei, Tang Feng’s family, and Tang Jing’s family. Mother Tang’s side was assigned to Tang Jun and Zi Xuan. There was one extra room, for now left unallocated.

Now that the house was divided, Tang Wei and Zi Xuan agreed that from now on, he would take Father Tang, Mother Tang, and Tang Jun into the space from that side, while Tang Wei would handle her side. This arrangement avoided having too many people enter at once and risking exposure.

As for Shi Xiaolin and her brother, along with Shi Jin’nan, the day before the move they volunteered to stay in the old house outside the valley to look after things. They would only come into the valley to report if someone came or something happened; otherwise, their cultivation and daily life would remain there.

When Shi Xiaolin made her suggestion, Tang Wei was deeply moved. She had always intended for Shi Xiaolin, her brother, and Shi Jin’nan to stay outside. First, someone was needed to watch over things, and second, as fellow cultivators, she didn’t want her secret discovered. Yet she didn’t know how to broach the subject.

She should have told them earlier, but Tang Wei felt bad about leaving just the three of them outside, so she kept putting it off. Unexpectedly, the problem was solved so easily. Because of this, Tang Wei resolved to always treat them well in the future.