Goldfield
Chapter 47: Punishment

Xiaocao felt his heart warm with gratitude. Although she had told a ridiculous story, her father, who clearly loved her, decided to trust her completely and continued to show her concern. It was something that made her feel happy and grateful.

In Yu Hai's eyes, his precious daughter was pure like a water from a spring hidden deep in the mountains. Before his head injury, he never went out of the house and spent most of his days recuperating in bed. How did he learn how to deceive people?

Furthermore, how would an eight-year-old know about the Black and White Immortality god escorting the dead, the judge of the dead, King Yama, and what kind of Hell Palace was that? Would he be able to describe these things so clearly if he had not experienced them himself? He could not help but tighten his grip on his little girl's hand. His daughter did not have an easy life and almost experienced death. He secretly made the decision not to waste a second chance at life …

“Dad, we've arrived at the carpentry shop!” Yu Xiaocao noticed that his father was so immersed in his thoughts that he almost passed by the carpentry shop, so he could not help but pull his hand to remind him.

Yu Hai took his mind off his mind, saw a man with his hands up his sleeves standing beside the entrance, and walked up to him and said, “Master, will you take Yu Hang out? I'm one of his family members and I'm here to give him a padded cotton coat. ”

This man was clearly more polite than the last time. He looked at the father-son couple and only replied with a hint of impatience, “Wait here, some interns are being punished, the shopkeeper might not let anyone out!”

As the man walked towards the back hall, he muttered softly to himself, “They don't look like people who can't afford to raise their children, so why did they harden their hearts and send their young to this tiger's nest?”

After his body was rejuvenated by the mystical stone water, Yu Xiaocao's natural senses were sharper compared to the average person. He could vaguely hear the man's scolding and it reminded him of the bruises he had seen on his older brother's face the last time he visited him. Feeling uncomfortable, he said, “Dad, can we return the older brother? I feel that learning carpentry from here is not as good as going with you to learn hunting and fishing! ”

Yu Hai often came to the city and heard rumors about the bad temper of the woodworking shop owner. Apparently, whenever the man was drunk, he would use his fists on his comrades and disciples. Yu Hai frowned and then sighed softly, “Let's decide after we finish celebrating the New Year. Since we had to borrow money in order for you to see a doctor today, your grandmother would definitely take advantage of this and make a tantrum. If we bring your brother back without asking for his opinion, no one in the family can enjoy this year's celebration! ”

The father and son pair stood in the cold for a while before they saw Yu Hang running out of the side door. It had been nearly two months since Yu Xiaocao had last seen her brother. He looked at her from head to toe in sadness. Although he could not detect any new wounds on her, the color of her face was bad and her entire body became thin painfully.

He asked in a voice full of worry, “Sister, you have become very thin. Did your master not give you food to eat? ” Yu Hang put his hands on his sleeves and did his best to keep a smile on his face. He shook his head gently and replied, “I just grew a little. Nothing I eat seems to stick to me. Don't worry, little brother! The amount of food I get here is almost the same as what I get at home! ”

The amount was the same as at home, when they were still rationed and could not eat until they were full, but now he also had more work to do. However, Yu Hang had a reasonable personality and would not voice this inner thought in front of his family so that they would not worry.

Yu Hai gently tidied his son's fragile, yellowing hair. The boy is getting thinner. In fact, the appearance of his son is not much different than when his grandmother limited the ration to eat because both cheeks are still sunken. Her daughter was not wrong, she really needed to bring her son home as quickly as possible.

Yu Xiaocao used a lot of effort to wink tears in his eyes and take out some meat bread from his pocket. He put it in his elder brother's hand and said, “Boy brother, this meat bun just came out of the steamer, you should eat it now while it's still hot!”

“Don't I tell you that you don't have to buy me food to eat? If Grandma knew you were buying things haphazardly, she would definitely be angry at our branch! ” Yu Hang stared at the white and swollen meat bun which gave off a delicious aroma. He could not help but swallow back the saliva that had pooled in his mouth. How long had it been since the last time he had eaten something made of white flour?

The bread at the carpentry shop was all made of the lowest quality, roughest type of grain ever. The bread was stuck to someone's throat and they were only given a piece the size of a child's fist to eat. As for the soup, other than a few slices of cabbage, most of it was water. Not even a single drop of oil could be found inside the broth. And they never eat any vegetables!

The shop originally received around seven to eight apprenticeships, but about half of them left due to starvation. The rest would have stopped long ago if their biological families were not too poor to raise them. Just a moment ago, he had been cruelly punished along with the other two disciples who were older than him. The three of them had been sentenced to kneel on the snow-covered ground and had to hold a basin of ice-cold water in their hands. Yu Hang's eyes dimmed at that last memory.

“This steamed bun was given to us by Restaurant Chef Head Zhenxiu Wang, so we did not spend any money. Fast eating, it tastes bad when it's cold. ” Yu Xiaocao explained convincingly. He suddenly realized that the hand that his elder brother used to hold the bread was trembling nonstop. He couldn't help but ask impatiently, “Sister, what's with your hand?”

Yu Hang evasively replied, “We didn't complete all our tasks so the store manager punished us. It's not a big deal, I'll be fine after a short break. Father, sister, have you eaten yet? ”

“We've eaten. Xiaosha, is the work in the shop tiring? Hold on for a few more days. When I get back, I'll negotiate with your grandmother and after we finish celebrating the new year, we'll take you home. ” Hears that his obedient and hardworking son is punished solidifying Yu Hai's desire to bring him home.

Yu Hang could no longer hold back. He took out a steaming hot meat bun and bit off a large mouthful. The boy almost cried after tasting a blend of tender and tender bread with rich and fragrant ground meat.

After hearing what her father said, she hesitated for a moment before shaking her head, “Dad, Grandma will not agree. No matter how much work we do, kids, it doesn't mean anything in his eyes. He won't let me go home for ‘living an easy life’! In addition, if we want to break the apprenticeship contract, we need to pay money to the store manager. Dad, do you think Grandma will take money for anyone other than our Young Uncle? ”

If he could not survive, then he could only be moistened by ice-cold water. As a student who came from a poor family, he was considered lucky to even have one piece of warm clothing. Had it gotten wet, he had no other clothes to exchange for. Without something to keep him warm in this kind of cold weather, wouldn't it ask for his life?

That's why he didn't turn down the offer to take her home. Although he was usually very wise, he only voiced his concerns about the plan.

Yu Hai's determination grew stronger and he patted his skinny son's shoulder, his eyes reddened as he said, “Don't worry about that! I can solve money problems. Stay there a little longer.take these strands of cash and keep them safe. Whenever you are hungry, you can buy some steamed bakpao and meat bakpao to fill your belly. After the New Year's celebration, I'll come and visit you again. ”

Yu Xiaocao looked at the strand of copper coins and his attitude towards his father changed for the better. It seemed that his father's piety had not reached the point where he was without reason now.

“Male brother, this coat was sent by Third Young Master Zhou and it was quite thick. Remember to wear it when you return. ” Yu Xiaocai had noticed that her brother's hand was covered in pus-filled wounds from frostbite and there were also cracks in the blood-filled skin. A ten-year-old boy had a hand that looked like someone much older. The sight made him feel bad. Next time he would definitely need to make frostbite ointment for his elder brother with extra mystical stone water. The combination should raise his hand!

After seeing Yu Hang eat three meat sandwich in a row, Yu Hai warned him to stop, “Don't eat any more, you can be bloated. Drink hot water when you get home and leave food scraps for tomorrow. It's late, your sister and I have to go back. Take care of yourself.”

Yu Hang carefully wrapped the remaining steamed meat bread and put the food package into the package containing his coat. He refused to say goodbye to his father and sister. If only I could convince my grandmother to bring him back early. Otherwise, he would likely end up like Little Mu and be on the verge of death before his family was told to bring him back.

Silence reigns as the father and daughter pair continue on the journey. As they passed through the Tongren Medicine Hall, Yu Hai insisted that his daughter be examined by Doctor Sun.

[Haha! Spiritual energy is everywhere, I can absorb more spiritual energy now!] The little sacred stone ‘glide’ towards the cupboard full of precious medicinal plants and sitting on it like a gecko that has found a resting place and refuses to let go. After all, no one else could see him other than his master, so it didn't matter what he looked like.

Doctor Sun still has an impression of the couple's father daughter. He stroked his long beard while asking the little girl, “Where do you feel unwell?”

“I feel fine ..” Before Xiaocao finished answering, his father interrupted.

“Doctor Sun, my daughter passed out this morning. Please look at him and check if this is a recurrence of his old illness. ” In the past, Xiaocao had often fallen ill from a slight touch, and the experience had left a deep impression in Yu Hai's heart. There were times when Doctor You could do nothing for him and only Doctor Sun could save his daughter's life.

Yu Xiaocao knew he could not fool the highly skilled Sun Physician and hurriedly said, “Dad, earlier I was only scared a little by Grandma. I've said that I've been cured of my old illness for a long time, why do you still not trust me? ”

Doctor Sun carefully examined his pulse and examined Xiaocao's skin. She smiled faintly and said, “Don't worry, the chronic condition of this little girl has already healed. A little extra attention should be given in the future. The child should not be afraid because sometimes being too scared can cause other major problems to occur. ”

“Thank you doctor. Please prescribe some medications to stabilize the condition .. ”

“Doctor Sun has already said that I am fine. What is the point of prescribing medication? ” Yu Xiaocao really did not want to take bitter medicine.

“Each drug has side effects. This little girl had a good head on her shoulders and did not need to take medicine anymore. ” Doctor Sun's words were like a beam of light in the darkness and he was able to cut off Yu Hai's stubborn persistence. The old man then smiled broadly at Xiaocao.

Yu Xiaocao smiled in embarrassment. This Doctor Sun is quite an interesting old man. Suddenly, he remembered his mother's extremely apprehensive condition. He explained his mother's symptoms and pulse condition at the start of the recent attack in great detail to Doctor Sun.

“Small girl, you have medical knowledge?” Doctor Sun revealed a flabbergasted expression.

Yu Xiaocao chuckled and said, “This really isn't much. I just spent time with Doctor You, our village doctor, for a few days and picked up a few things. That is not an actual treatment skill, and I dare not show my bad skills in front of you. ”

Doctor Sun smiled and did not respond further. He pondered for a short time and then explained, “From what you explained to me about his pulse condition, I can say that this is an old disease. If it continues untreated, he will end up with chronic lung disease. First, ask him to take the medicine I will prescribe for him. After a few days, it was best that he came alone to be evaluated. ”