The Little Fox Spoils Her Blind Husband - Chapter 2

The tips of Xu Yanqiu’s fingers brushed against Li Ting’s cheek before he quickly pulled them back. Li Ting guessed that the boy was likely not fully awake yet. Because he could not see, the boy had reached out to feel his surroundings to determine where he was. He had not expected to touch a warm face.

The little blind boy was startled.

Li Ting straightened his back. A bit of mischief rose within him as he wanted to see how Xu Yanqiu would react. Since he had saved the boy, he felt entitled to observe him for a moment.

The boy pulled his fingers back in fear and sat up while clutching the corner of the quilt. This simple movement took him quite some time. Hesitation and uncertainty were written clearly across his small face. Li Ting could almost read his thoughts. The boy likely felt the cold upon sitting up and wanted to pull the blanket tighter, but he worried about dirtying someone else’s bedding. His small hands hovered in hesitation, unsure whether to hold on or let go.

Li Ting noticed the various scars on the boy’s hands and set aside his mischievous thoughts. Before sitting down beside him, he spoke to alert the boy of his presence. “I saved you yesterday. Do you remember?”

Upon hearing someone speak, the little blind boy’s shoulders shook. Seeing how easily he was startled, Li Ting felt a pang of pity. He sat down and gently pressed the boy back into a reclining position, tucking the quilt around him. The boy spoke in a panicked, uneasy voice, “I remember. You are my benefactor. Thank you very much. Did I cause you trouble? I will leave right now.”

“Where would you go?” Li Ting interrupted. “You slept in my bed and made me pay triple the price to hire the only physician in the village. Now that you are awake, you want to leave?”

Xu Yanqiu froze. He knew he would bring trouble to his savior, but he had not expected to cause such a financial and physical burden. His lips, which had just regained a hint of color, turned pale with worry. He whispered tremulously, “I cannot afford to pay for the medicine. I am blind.”

“It is alright. I was only teasing you.” Li Ting never intended to ask for anything in return. However, as soon as he finished his explanation, the boy’s mouth twitched and he began to cry silently. Li Ting asked in surprise, “Why are you crying?”

“I will not let my tears fall on the quilt. If I get it dirty, I will wash it for you,” Xu Yanqiu said through his sobs, his sentences disjointed. “I truly do not know how to thank you. Perhaps you should just throw me away.”

He tried to wipe his tears with his scarred fingers, but a handkerchief soon replaced his cold hand. His benefactor was wiping his tears for him. The boy tried to push the hand away, but the man spoke in a low voice, “Do not move.”

Xu Yanqiu held his hands up and remained perfectly still. By the time Li Ting finished wiping his face, the boy had stopped crying. He bit his lip until it turned blue and white, struggling to maintain his composure.

Li Ting sighed at the pitiful sight. Before he could say more, he heard someone knocking at the courtyard door. To ensure the boy stayed put, Li Ting adopted a firm tone. “You are currently in a house my family purchased years ago. You do not need to pay for the medicine. Do not do anything reckless before I return. Just lie down and rest.”

Li Ting turned to leave but then remembered something. He looked back at Xu Yanqiu and said, “If you understand, give me a nod or a verbal response.”

He worried the boy might be stubborn in his grief and disappear while he was gone. He heard the boy give a soft, obedient reply. Fearing Li Ting had not heard him, the boy followed up with a quick nod.

Li Ting closed the bedroom door and walked through the untidied courtyard toward the faded red wooden gate. This residence had been bought by his father, Li Dongtang, several years ago when he was a teacher here. No one had lived in it for years, yet the house remained sturdy, though it was covered in fallen leaves and dead wood.

It was fortunate he had this house. Otherwise, he would not have known where to place the dying boy the night before.

The courtyard needed cleaning, and he needed to visit the market to buy daily necessities and the seeds he had brought with him. Thinking of the tasks ahead, Li Ting reached the gate and pulled the door ring. Standing outside were about a dozen villagers. Most were young men whom he did not recognize, but they all looked delighted to see him.

“Who are you?” Li Ting asked.

“You must be Young Master Li. We were all students of the esteemed Li Dongtang,” the leader said. He was a man in his thirties dressed like a scholar, yet he carried the scent of herbs. “It was my father who came to treat you last night. We only learned of your arrival through him. How is the elder Master Li? Is he well?”

Li Ting realized that the physician from the night before must have spread the news. However, to hide the fact that he had treated the blind boy, the physician had claimed he was treating Li Ting instead.

He wondered why the villagers viewed the blind boy with such intense avoidance.

The little fox felt a chill in his heart as he made a guess, but he kept his expression neutral. He followed the man’s lead and replied, “My father is very well. Thank you all for your concern.”

“That is good,” the young man said with a relieved smile. “If you need anything, Young Master Li, please do not hesitate to ask us. We will do our best to help.”

The others echoed his sentiment. Li Ting felt they seemed easy to get along with and decided to learn more about the blind boy from them. “Actually, there is something I would like to ask about. May I know your name?”

“My name is Chang Shouye,” the man replied with a smile. “What would you like to know?”

“I want to know what happened to Xu Yanqiu’s family.”

The smile vanished from Chang Shouye’s face. His companions fell silent, their expressions becoming difficult to read. Li Ting knew his suspicions were correct.

“Why does Young Master Li wish to ask about that blind boy?” Chang Shouye lowered his voice. “Did he offend you?”

“Not at all. I arrived in East Xu Village yesterday and saw people trying to drown him in the river,” Li Ting said while scanning their faces. “I saved him.”

“Young Master Li, that blind boy carries an evil aura. Those who get close to him meet a bad end. Take my advice and leave him alone,” Chang Shouye said with difficulty. “This is not an exaggeration. He even caused the deaths of his own parents.”

“That is exactly what I want to know. How did his parents die?” Li Ting interrupted. Chang Shouye exchanged looks with his former classmates. One of them spoke up reluctantly. “His mother died of a hemorrhage while giving birth to him. His father fell and injured himself while hunting in the mountains last year and eventually died of illness.”

Li Ting nodded. “How does that involve the boy? Was it necessary to try and kill him?”

If Li Ting had spoken with indignation, the group might have argued with him. However, he remained calm and steady, even sporting a curious smile. Chang Shouye hesitated before the other man spoke again. “If it were only that, it might be fine. But a month ago, his sister-in-law lost her nearly full-term baby because of him.”

“Did he push her?”

“No. I do not know,” the man stammered. Li Ting laughed. “Thank you all. If I need help, I will certainly come to find you. I hope you will not mind.”

Chang Shouye swallowed and nodded. “Of course. Certainly.”

After seeing them off, Li Ting recalled a phrase his father often used: Words can kill.

He assumed no one else would disturb him for the day and prepared to cook something for the boy. Just as he closed the gate, he heard another knock. He thought Chang Shouye had returned, but it was the physician from the night before.

“Doctor Chang,” Li Ting said, seeing the medicine bags in his hand. “Is something the matter?”

Doctor Chang realized his son must have visited. He looked slightly embarrassed. “My small schemes cannot hide from you, Young Master Li. I came to deliver some herbal medicine.”

“I thought you were avoiding this place like the plague,” Li Ting said as he stepped aside to let the doctor in. The doctor glanced at the closed bedroom door. “How is he?”

“He is awake and in good spirits.” Li Ting watched the doctor head toward the kitchen. “Why did you come back? Are you not afraid of trouble?”

The doctor hesitated and lowered his head as he sorted the herbs. “I was the one who delivered him when he was born. Perhaps I do not want to see him die either.”

Li Ting said nothing more. He watched the doctor’s hunched back for a moment before returning to the room. He was still new to the world and did not know how much of these people’s words to believe. He could only trust his own heart.

He wanted to save Xu Yanqiu. Perhaps it was out of a desire to do good, or perhaps there was another reason. It was also possible he simply found the boy beautiful and thought it a waste for him to die.

Li Ting chuckled softly and checked the bed. The little blind boy was lying there obediently. He appeared not to have moved since Li Ting left, and his body looked a bit stiff.

“I am back. What would you like to eat? Green vegetable porridge or a stir-fry?” Li Ting sat on the bedside. “If you want stir-fry, I will have to wait until I return from the market.”

Xu Yanqiu relaxed upon hearing the footsteps. “Benefactor, are you going to let me stay?”

“Do you want to stay?” Li Ting opened his bundle and found a clean outer robe to put on. After a long pause, the boy whispered, “Yes.”

Li Ting felt his fox tails twitching with excitement. “Then stay.”

“Thank you, benefactor,” the boy said, his voice thick with tears. Li Ting glanced at him. It was good that he was not actually crying this time.

“Do not call me benefactor. It is a bit of a mouthful.” Li Ting finished changing and caught the scent of the medicine the doctor was brewing. He stood by the bed and looked down at the boy. “My surname is Li.”

The boy paused. He lifted his face toward the sound of Li Ting’s voice and tried to keep from sobbing. “Then may I call you Big Brother Li?”

“Let me hear you say it.”

Xu Yanqiu gripped the quilt and looked up. “Big Brother Li,” he said softly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Li Ting patted his head twice. He heard Li Ting’s smiling voice, “Good boy.”