Chapter 23: Expressing Gratitude
Zhao Lan woke up early. Seeing Bai Zhi was still asleep, she planned to quietly get out of bed and fetch some water for her to wash up. The moment her feet touched the floor, Bai Zhi sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Mother, you rest. I’ll go get the water."
"No, no, you go back to sleep. I can still use my left hand, and I have the strength. It’s just a basin of water. It’s no trouble."
"Oh, Mother—just listen to me! That wooden basin is heavy. How are you supposed to carry it with one hand? Sit down, I’ll go get the water." She picked up the wooden basin and was about to leave when there was a knock on the door.
She opened the door to see Yingzi and her mother.
"Were you looking for me, Auntie?" Bai Zhi glanced at Yingzi behind her mother. Yingzi was carrying a bamboo basket, covered with a cloth that hid its contents.
Mrs. Yingzi squeezed into the room and said with a wide smile, "Zhi, you saved Yingzi’s life yesterday, and we haven’t had a chance to thank you properly. I just went to the Bai Family home, and they said you and your mother had moved here, so I came looking for you."
Bai Zhi smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "It was no big deal. We’re all from the same village. It’s nothing to lend a hand."
Mrs. Yingzi laughed. "It may have been nothing to you, but to us, you saved Yingzi’s life. I’m not one for pretty words, but in short, from now on, if you or your mother need help with anything, just ask. If it’s something I can do, I won’t hesitate."
Bai Zhi grinned. "That’s great! I’ll be sure to take you up on that in the future, Auntie."
Mrs. Yingzi was pleased by her straightforwardness. ’How did I never notice before what a likable girl she is?’
She took the bamboo basket from Yingzi’s hands and placed it on the wooden board where Zhao Lan was sitting. She said with a broad smile, "We mountain folk don’t have many fine things to offer. You and your mother are covered in injuries, and I doubt those cheapskates in the Bai Family are making things easy for you. We raise a few hens, and I’ve saved up some eggs. I brought some for you two. Eat them to build up your strength and get well soon."
Mountain folk were poor, and meat was a luxury reserved for festivals. On a normal day, eggs were the most substantial food they had, and every family treasured them.
Zhao Lan hurriedly tried to refuse. "Mrs. Yingzi, please take the eggs back. We can’t possibly accept your things. We’d be too embarrassed."
Mrs. Yingzi said, "Nonsense. It’s just a few eggs from our own hens. We have more at home, so please, eat them without worry."
Bai Zhi smiled. "Well, if you insist, then we won’t stand on ceremony. We’ll just consider it a loan. Later, when we’re a little better off, we’ll repay you."
Mrs. Yingzi nodded cheerfully. "Alright, it’s a deal."
After exchanging a few more words, Mrs. Yingzi finally took Yingzi’s hand and left.
The moment the two left, Bai Zhi eagerly lifted the cloth covering the bamboo basket. She saw at least a dozen eggs lying inside. The image of fried eggs immediately appeared in her mind, making her so ravenous she swallowed hard.
’It was almost embarrassing. She, a distinguished 23rd-century doctor with an annual salary in the millions, an elite among elites—was there any delicacy she hadn’t tasted? Yet here she was, practically drooling over a few raw eggs.’
"Mother, we have to hide these eggs somewhere safe. Mrs. Yingzi just came from the Bai Family’s place, so the Bai family must know she brought us something. With their character, they might just come after us and demand the eggs. We can’t let them have a single one."
Zhao Lan looked around the small, bare-walled hut, her expression troubled. "But in a place this small, where could we possibly hide them?"