Chapter 524 - 518_1
Nurse Xu had heard the servants at home mention the Zhao family’s past affairs and knew the master had quite a few troublesome relatives. Seeing Lin Yue’s attitude, she wasn’t surprised. However, the young man outside was quite pitiable—in such heavy snow, dressed so thinly, even his lips had turned purple from the cold. She couldn’t help but feel some compassion, yet the scholar was still trying to maintain his integrity. Even when coming to seek refuge, he stood tall and straight, as if there was a kind of stubborn pride about him.
"Where did the lady meet him?" Nurse Xu originally wanted to invite the man to the main hall, but the lady’s wounds had not fully healed yet, and with it being so cold outside. The master had instructed that the lady should not leave her room, and although the scholar claimed to be the master’s cousin, he was still a man, so it wasn’t convenient for him to enter the lady’s inner chamber. After weighing her options, Nurse Xu still asked Lin Yue.
"Let’s just meet in the main hall. It’s not good to call him to my room." Lin Yue was a bit happy at this moment, as this excuse finally gave her a chance to leave her room and get some fresh air. Even though she was sensitive to the cold and didn’t like going out in winter, staying cooped up in a room for so long, she couldn’t possibly not want to go out. It’s just that she was suppressed by Zhao Erhu, but fortunately, this time she said she was going to the main hall, and Nurse Xu didn’t try to stop her. After all, as someone who had come from the palace, she was more serious about certain proprieties, especially those concerning the separation of men and women.
"I will arrange it right away. I’ll go and light a few stoves in the main hall first to spare the lady from feeling cold when she gets there." Nurse Xu said and went out to make arrangements. She also hurriedly asked someone to invite the scholar to the main hall. It was so cold outside, and the scholar, unable to carry or hold much due to his frail constitution, shouldn’t freeze.
Zhao Anyu was not one of those thick-skinned sorts. On the contrary, as a scholar, he was somewhat proud. If the last of his assets hadn’t been seized by a local tyrant, leaving him with no other recourse, he wouldn’t have brought his entire family to Zhao family village seeking shelter. He hadn’t expected that after years of no contact, his uncle had already passed away. His cousins, upon knowing he was coming for refuge, refused to take him in. They didn’t even offer him a drink before shutting him out.
Zhao Anyu was truly desperate when he sought refuge; encountering such a situation only compounded his despair. In the heavy snow, his body was as cold as ice; he couldn’t feel any warmth. If it weren’t for the responsibility to care for his wife and children, he might not have been able to hold on. The world is indeed cold and unsympathetic.
The character of the Wei family and their son was well known in Zhao family village. Seeing the young man so pitiable in the heavy snow, dressed only in thin clothing, people felt sympathy and sadness for him. Nowadays, with an improved standard of living in the village, every household had some surplus grain and could afford to be compassionate towards others.
"Young man, standing in the snow like this, you might freeze. Come inside and have a hot cup of tea to warm yourself." Uncle Zhang invited Zhao Anyu into his house and inquired about his relationship with the Zhao family. After learning that Zhao Anyu had come to seek refuge with them, he generously shared with Zhao Anyu the family’s situation. He kindly directed him to seek help from Zhao Erhu. Knowing the kindness of Zhao Erhu and his wife, they wouldn’t just watch someone—even if it were a stranger, let alone a relative—starve or freeze to death in the snow.