Chapter 59: Stomach Pain in the Middle of the Night

Sleepiness vanished in an instant. She tilted her head, listening for a moment, then immediately scrambled out of bed. Wrapping herself in a cotton-padded jacket and slipping on her shoes, she rushed out without bothering to put on her hat and headed straight for the next shack. “Xiaobai, Xiaobai.”

Disregarding propriety, she lifted the straw curtain and stepped inside. Glancing around, she found Wen Mubai curled up on the left side, his back to the door, low moans escaping his lips.

Tang Banxia hurried over, squatted down, and shone her flashlight on him. Wen Mubai’s face was deathly pale.

She reached out, patting his cheek. “Xiaobai? Wen Mubai!”

Wen Mubai, still curled up, opened his eyes. Seeing it was Tang Banxia, he forced a smile. “Wife, what brings you here?”

Tang Banxia didn’t answer, taking his wrist to check his pulse intently. She switched hands after a long while.

Finally, she let go of his wrist, her expression grave. “Why didn’t you say you were feeling unwell?”

Wen Mubai tugged at her sleeve, his face bloodless but a smile still on his lips. He hooked his little finger with hers, pleading, “Wife~ Banxia~ Sister~”

Seeing his pallor, whatever temper Tang Banxia had vanished. She shot him a glare. “Stay still.”

She left the shack, lit a fire to boil some water, then returned to her own to fetch some fried flour and an embroidery needle.

Ignoring Wen Mubai’s protests, she stripped his upper body bare and, without hesitation, began acupuncture.

In the blink of an eye, Wen Mubai looked like a porcupine. When she finished, Tang Banxia warned, “Don’t move. If you drop a needle, I’ll have to do it all over again.”

Her gentle smile belied her words. “You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

Wen Mubai immediately behaved, not daring to move an inch.

Only then was Tang Banxia satisfied.

Half an hour later, she removed the needles.

Once the water had boiled, she made Wen Mubai a cup of fried flour thick with fillings. “Eat something to warm your stomach.”

She then filled a thermos with hot water, wrapped it in a towel, and placed it on his stomach to keep him warm.

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming: …

The aroma of fried flour filled the air. The two men quietly opened their eyes but dared not move. Even if they were fools, they knew that to make a sound now would mean death at the hands of their brother Bai.

Unaware that her two little brothers had awakened, Wen Mubai hugged the hot water bottle. The warmth seeped through the towel to his skin, radiating from his stomach to his heart.

Eating the loving fried flour, as it slid down his throat, he felt warmth blossom throughout his body.

Being cared for so tenderly while ill was something he had never experienced before.

In this moment, Tang Banxia’s gentle voice, her soft hand on his forehead, made him feel as though he was soaking in a warm bath, his heart melting into a puddle.

How wonderful—it turned out he, too, had a home now.

After he’d finished eating, Tang Banxia settled Wen Mubai down to rest. When she saw he’d closed his eyes, she was about to leave but realized his hand was still tightly clutching her sleeve.

Afraid to wake him, she stayed put until dawn.

Daylight spilled in.

Sun Wenming stretched, then quickly pulled his hand back under the quilt. He squirmed for a moment before sitting up.

Mid-yawn, his eyes widened. “Sister-in-law...”

After staying up half the night, Tang Banxia was exhausted and, affected by his yawn, let out one herself. “Ah—good morning.”

Sun Wenming replied mechanically, “Morning.”

Awakened by the noise, Hu Qixin saw the scene and felt a familiar pang of envy.

With Tang Banxia present, the two men didn’t linger. They rolled up their bedding and slipped out of the shack.

Just outside, they nearly collided with the anxious Hu Zhaodi.

Hu Zhaodi was flustered. “The educated youth Tang is missing—she didn’t come back last night. Hurry, gather people to search!”

At that moment, Hu Zhaodi’s head was spinning with conspiracy theories.

After speaking, she noticed the odd looks on the two men’s faces. When they just stood there silently, she urged, “Quickly now!”

Sun Wenming and Hu Qixin exchanged a glance. It was Hu Qixin who finally explained things to his cousin.

After listening, Hu Zhaodi was momentarily surprised, but quickly regained her composure. “So that’s how it is.”

“Let Tang rest, then. You two, come help me make breakfast.”

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming obediently followed.

Inside the shack, Tang Banxia, hearing the commotion outside, finally relaxed and crawled into Wen Mubai’s bedding, closing her eyes...

The next time she woke, it was hunger that roused her.

Her bright eyes cracked open, and she rubbed her stomach, which immediately responded with a series of loud rumbles.

“Hungry?” A smiling voice came from above.

Tang Banxia’s eyes flew open. Seeing that beautiful face, all her morning grumpiness vanished—indeed, beauty could cure pain. “Does your stomach still hurt?”

Wen Mubai shook his head and helped her sit up. “I just warmed some rice balls. Want some?”

“Yes.”

Wen Mubai brought the food into the shack.

After they finished eating, Tang Banxia finally stepped outside.

The snow had stopped; the world was blanketed in pristine white, a tranquil beauty to behold.

After taking in the snowy landscape for a while, she looked away—staring too long could cause snow blindness.

“You’re up, Comrade Tang,” Hu Zhaodi greeted her, carrying a bundle of firewood. “It’s nearly noon. What shall we have for lunch?”

“Let’s make shredded radish soup, stir-fry some cabbage, and bake some flatbread,” answered Tang Banxia, rolling up her sleeves to help.

Wen Mubai followed closely behind.

Once the meal was ready, the laborers came back.

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming flanked Wen Mubai.

“Brother Bai, are you feeling better?”

Wen Mubai gave each a smack. “Keep your hands to yourselves!”

Sun Wenming teased, “Oh, come on, it’s not like you’re a delicate maiden. Afraid we’ll break you?”

Wen Mubai shot him a cool glance and flexed his fists.

Sun Wenming wisely shut his mouth.

Hu Qixin couldn’t bear to watch. “Really all right now?”

Wen Mubai nodded. “I’m fine.”

Sun Wenming piped up again, “All thanks to sister-in-law’s careful care, our Brother Bai recovered so quickly. That’s the power of love!”

Wen Mubai punched him. “Shut up!”

Yet the smile tugging at his lips couldn’t be suppressed.

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming: So jealous, truly envious!

After the meal, once everything was tidied up, Hu Zhaodi said, “Comrade Tang, I’m going to the riverbank to see if I can catch some fish.”

Since the snow made it impossible to go up the mountain, they still had some meat left, but not enough to last until the end.

Having become accustomed to eating meat at every meal, Hu Zhaodi had to seek alternatives.

Tang Banxia checked their remaining stores. Thanks to their daily servings of meat, everyone had enough oil and fat, so grain consumption hadn’t been as high as expected.

What was left would easily last another week.

In five days, they would be able to return home.

But as Zhaodi’s suggestion was well-intentioned, Tang Banxia saw no reason to refuse. “Wait for me, I’ll come with you.”

Wen Mubai said nothing, simply following along.

The three of them reached the riverbank, where the surface was coated with a thick layer of ice. Peering through, they could spot a few fish swimming below.

Wen Mubai found a stone and hacked a hole in the ice, waiting patiently for the fish to come up for air.

But the fish seemed to have grown wise and ignored the tempting opening.

Left with no other choice, Tang Banxia reluctantly took out the last of her beast-attracting powder. Facing Hu Zhaodi’s expectant gaze, she explained dryly, “I can’t guarantee it works on fish.”

The powder was meant to lure wild animals, after all. Who knew if it would work on aquatic creatures? She’d never tried.

Hu Zhaodi, however, had unshakeable faith in it. “Of course it’ll work.”

Tang Banxia could only shrug mentally.

She tore a leaf of cabbage, sprinkled it with the powder, and placed it around the breathing hole. The three of them held their breath, waiting.

Once again, the beast-attracting powder proved its worth.

Before long, fish were leaping out of the breathing hole, eager to get close.

The three of them, stationed by the opening, wasted no time—quick as lightning, they slapped the fish onto the ice.

Tang Banxia gathered them up with glee.

By the end of the afternoon, they’d hacked five holes in the ice and caught eight fish.

Though they were all small, barely the size of a palm, and didn’t provide much meat, they would make enough soup for everyone.

That evening, the people of Guyue Village enjoyed milky white fish soup, feeling the cold seep from their very bones.

With the boost from good food, time flew by, and soon, the last day of dam construction arrived...