Chapter 8: Recompense

Song Ruizhe’s arm had been treated, but that didn’t mean his dislike for her had diminished. His aversion wouldn’t disappear just because of a trivial act of kindness. He still suspected she was up to something. Judging from the current situation, her attentiveness must be an attempt to secure a share of the spoils.

She seemed smarter than before, though it made sense. In the past, she would throw tantrums, and Song Yi would indulge her. Now that Song Yi was gone and no one could make him concede, she realized her old tricks were useless, so she switched to new ones to deal with him.

Qin Huiyin saw that Song Ruizhe was still as cold and indifferent as ever and truly wanted to just walk away. Whether he lived or died had nothing to do with her. But she couldn’t do that—having already saved him halfway, it made no sense to give up now. She was determined to make him owe her this favor.

Qin Huiyin rolled up Song Ruizhe’s pant leg.

“What are you doing?” Song Ruizhe finally reacted, grabbing her wrist and flinging her hand away with force.

“I’m checking the spot where you were bitten by the snake. That snake is venomous; we need to get the poisoned blood out right away.”

She could already see the wound on his right ankle. She pressed her fingers to the bite, squeezing as she spoke, “Hand me your dagger.”

“For what?”

“I need to cut the wound to drain the poisoned blood.”

Without waiting for her, Song Ruizhe made an incision himself.

“It’s your own flesh—how can you be so ruthless?” Qin Huiyin shuddered. “Wait here, I’ll go look for some herbs nearby to treat the snakebite.”

Song Ruizhe ignored her. If she left now, he wouldn’t be surprised. Her eagerness only proved she was after something substantial.

Soon, Qin Huiyin returned. She held a handful of herbs, and as she squatted down, she chewed them to a pulp in her mouth and applied them to his wound.

Song Ruizhe said nothing.

The wound felt cold and soothing, the pain fading.

Qin Huiyin glanced at him, tore off a strip of cloth from his pants, and bandaged the wound.

“There. Can you walk now? If not, I’ll go down the mountain and get help.”

“No need.”

“Then I’ll be going?” Qin Huiyin asked.

Song Ruizhe didn’t answer her.

“Are you sure you don’t want help? Maybe I should tell the village chief what happened so he can send someone up to get you.”

“I said, mind your own business,” Song Ruizhe replied coldly.

“You’ve got quite the temper! If you don’t want help, fine. You think I like meddling in your affairs? Anyway, Uncle Song took care of me for so long—I'm only helping you for his sake,” Qin Huiyin excused her unusual behavior.

“For him? Do I need to remind you of what you and your mother did after his death?” Song Ruizhe looked at her mockingly.

Qin Huiyin fell silent.

After Song Yi’s death, Song Ruizhe couldn’t accept the news and spent a long time searching the mountains. By the time he returned, Li Peach Blossom had already sold Song Yi’s land to his own brother. Song Ruizhe didn’t make a scene, just drove Li Peach Blossom and her daughter out. Back then, he wasn’t this tall or strong, but in such a short time, he’d grown both in height and in strength.

Qin Huiyin didn’t linger. She slung her basket on her back and ran off without a moment’s delay, afraid he’d suddenly lose control and kill her on the spot.

Screech! She stopped, looking up at a bird’s nest in the tree. Since she was already here, she might as well do more than dig up wild onions and garlic. The original owner couldn’t climb trees, but she could!

She straightened her clothes, tucked her skirt into her waistband, and hugged the trunk to climb.

“…Five, six… eight.” Qin Huiyin carefully collected the eggs before climbing down.

Maybe because of her fruitful harvest, her confidence grew. Instead of heading back immediately, she kept searching the treetops for more nests.

She was deep in the mountains now, where it was far more dangerous than at the edges. Dusk was falling, and the roars of wild beasts echoed nearby. She hurried down the mountain.

Li Peach Blossom was waiting anxiously at the door.

“Where has that wretched girl run off to? Just wait till she comes back—I’ll teach her a lesson.”

“Mother, I’m back!” Qin Huiyin’s cheerful voice rang out. “Mother…”

How shameful, for a woman in her twenties to act cute. But given her youthful face and fair skin, it was hard not to find her adorable. The original owner’s brows had always been shrouded in gloom; now, with Qin Huiyin in her body, that darkness had vanished, replaced by an open brightness.

“Where have you been?” Li Peach Blossom reached out as if to hit her, but Qin Huiyin dodged away. Li Peach Blossom had never truly intended to strike her. She took the basket from Qin Huiyin and, seeing only wild grass on top, scolded, “You were gone so long just for this? Are you planning to feed us weeds?”

“Mother, do you really think I’m that foolish?”

“You’ve never foraged before. It’s normal not to distinguish wild herbs from weeds—not stupid, just inexperienced,” Li Peach Blossom said.

Qin Huiyin moved the grass aside and pulled out a wild pheasant egg. “Look at this!”

“A wild pheasant egg!” Li Peach Blossom exclaimed in delight. “My daughter is so capable—she actually found pheasant eggs!”

“Shh, come inside before you say more.”

Li Peach Blossom carried the basket inside. Once the door was closed, she carefully removed the eggs hidden under the grass.

Qin Huiyin reminded her that there were bird eggs underneath as well. The bird eggs were much smaller, concealed by the grass, and needed to be handled with care.

Li Peach Blossom happily counted them, then summed up, “Twelve pheasant eggs, twenty-five bird eggs, and all these wild onions and mushrooms. That shrew Wang always brags about her daughter’s skills, always finding things no one else can—I’d love for her to see what my girl can do. But the outskirts have been picked clean by the villagers—where did you find all this?”

“The mountain’s huge; there are always hidden spots. I just happened upon a remote area no one usually goes.”

“Daughter, let me give you a word of advice: if you want to play, stay near the outskirts, don’t go deeper in. Understand?”

“I know. There are wild beasts in the mountains; someone as small as me would be swallowed whole! Don’t worry, I won’t go. But Mother, can we have a special meal tonight? I haven’t had meat in ages—my mouth is practically tasteless. Now we’ve got so much good food, let’s have scrambled eggs!”

“Of course. I’ll cook myself.”

“Make plenty, so everyone can have some.”

Li Peach Blossom frowned. “No need, just make it for you.”

“Mother, I don’t want it that way—everyone should eat together. Uncle Tang needs nourishing food most of all. Didn’t you say you’d listen to me?”