Volume 1, Chapter 5: Wasting Good Things When You're Already On Death's Door!

In the past, Yu Bai Shen was the pride of the Shen family, but now he had become a burden, and naturally, no one cared about him.

Mrs. Luo’s face was pale, her frail body trembling.

“Yu Bai will get better.”

“Sister-in-law, we are all one family. We believe Yu Bai will recover, but even if he does, he won’t be able to keep up with the clan school’s progress. It’s better for him to return home to farm. Hong Ye is the hope of the entire family now; you must have a broader perspective,” Shen Shouzhong said with dissatisfaction.

He had not expected that in front of their parents, Mrs. Luo, a mere woman, would dare to refuse.

When a heavy accusation was laid upon her, Mrs. Luo was left speechless, though deeply unwilling in her heart.

That inkstone was specially purchased by Yu Bai’s late father from the official city—it was the last thing he left for his son.

After Yu Bai’s father passed away, Yu Bai washed the inkstone inside and out every day and carefully wiped it dry with a cloth.

He handled it with great care, afraid it might get chipped or damaged.

Last year, when they had no money for medicine, Mrs. Luo wanted to pawn the inkstone, but Yu Bai refused.

No matter how much he coughed up blood day and night, he couldn’t bear to part with it. Now, if the Shen family took it away, all his remaining hopes would vanish.

Seeing Mrs. Luo silent, Shen Shouzhong grew even more dissatisfied, his round, bright eyes fixed sternly on the lone widow.

Shen Shouzhong’s wife, Mrs. Jiang, smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, think about it. With Yu Bai’s current health, even farming will be difficult. If Hong Ye has a bright future, he can help support Yu Bai later, right?”

Mrs. Zheng nodded repeatedly: “With his condition, he’ll have to rely on uncles and brothers in the future.”

Mrs. Luo looked at Old Master Shen with hope.

Old Master Shen lowered his eyelids, tapping his long tobacco pipe on the wooden bench beneath him, each tap sinking Mrs. Luo’s heart further.

“Since Yu Bai is here, let him decide what to do,” Old Master Shen finally said.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Yu Bai.

Yu Bai lifted his eyes and said to Old Master Shen, “It’s good that Brother Hong Ye can apprentice under Mr. Zhu.”

Shen Shouzhong and Mrs. Jiang relaxed with smiles.

How could a lone widow stand firm?

See, he’s obediently lowered his head.

Old Master Shen’s expression softened considerably: “Yu Bai understands the bigger picture.”

But Mrs. Luo looked at Yu Bai with concern, unable to detect any reluctance or panic on his calm face.

Yu Bai respectfully said, “The family needs to buy a gift for the apprenticeship ceremony. My inkstone, having been used for many years, has quite a few chips. If we present it to Mr. Zhu, I fear he might think we don’t value him.”

The Shen family, of course, did not believe him.

Everyone knew how precious Yu Bai was to his inkstone; how could he bear to let it chip?

Yu Bai did not argue and let Mrs. Luo help him back to his room to fetch the inkstone.

Shen Shouzhong snatched it away.

The heavy inkstone was shaped like a golden toad, exquisitely crafted.

Even without knowing its value, he knew it was far better than the inkstone his son used.

“It looks fine to me. Mr. Zhu will definitely like it,” Shen Shouzhong said with a smile, handing the inkstone to Old Master Shen.

Old Master Shen’s rough, aged hands took the inkstone, feeling its weight.

“Good material. Where are the chips?”

Yu Bai respectfully replied, “At the bottom.”

Old Master Shen flipped the inkstone over, and his expression stiffened when he saw the marks underneath.

Shen Shouzhong had a bad feeling and leaned closer. When he saw the marks at the base, he almost cursed.

“Let me see.”

Mrs. Zheng sensed something wrong and snatched the inkstone away.

On the delicate inkstone were many crooked strokes, like a spider web.

“What is this?”

“Yu Bai Shen’s name!”

Shen Shouzhong nearly ground his teeth, eyes fixed fiercely on Yu Bai.

It was deliberate—definitely deliberate.

He didn’t want to give his inkstone to Mr. Zhu, so he deliberately carved his own name on it.

Such an inkstone could never be given away; not even Hong Ye could use it!

“You prodigal! How could you ruin such a fine inkstone?”

Mrs. Zheng angrily scolded Yu Bai.

Mrs. Jiang was also deeply distressed: “Yu Bai, if you really can’t bear to part with it, just tell us clearly. We wouldn’t force you. There’s no need to ruin the thing.”

Yu Bai said calmly, “I have no strength left to even walk now. How could I carve my name on the inkstone? When I was young, afraid someone would covet it, I carved it bit by bit with a knife. Back then my handwriting was poor and loose, completely different from now.”

His words made everyone awkward.

Sure enough, he was worried about someone coveting his inkstone.

Shen Shouzhong’s face was full of resentment, about to speak, but Old Master Shen stopped him.

“Since the inkstone bears Yu Bai’s name, we’ll prepare other gifts for the apprenticeship.”

Old Master Shen looked deeply at the inkstone and waved his hand: “Return it to Yu Bai.”

Mrs. Zheng slammed the inkstone heavily into Mrs. Luo’s hands. “Quickly take him back to the room, don’t cause trouble.”

Mrs. Luo clutched the inkstone protectively, ignoring the family’s disdain, and helped Yu Bai to leave.

Yu Bai mustered his strength to bow to Old Master Shen, then leaned heavily as he left the room.

After all that, he was drenched in a cold sweat.

His legs were weak, and he could only move slowly, clutching the wall for support.

From the main room came Shen Shouzhong’s angry voice, “You’re about to die and still ruining good things!”

Mrs. Luo bit her lip hard, tears welling up.

Yu Bai paused, tightened his grip on his mother’s hand, then, calming his breath, turned back to the doorway and said, “Uncle, please don’t worry too much about Yu Bai. I will strive to live, never to be unfilial by leaving my elders in grief.”

The sound of the bench crashing to the ground echoed, and muffled voices murmured.

Yu Bai lifted the corners of his lips and said to Mrs. Luo, “Mother, let’s go back.”

“I’ll carry you!”

Mrs. Luo wiped her tears with relief and crouched before Yu Bai.

She was dressed lightly for summer, and as she bent down, Yu Bai could clearly see her protruding spine.

Yu Bai smiled, “I can walk.”

Mrs. Luo had no choice but to support him, helping him move step by step into the room.

Just a few steps took Yu Bai the time of a whole incense stick burning.

Back in the room, Yu Bai felt as if he had been pulled from water, his heart pounding as if it might leap from his throat.

Mrs. Luo hurriedly found a cloth to wipe his sweat.

Sweat left on the skin could easily cause chills.

Yu Bai was panting heavily, but his eyes grew brighter.

For the first time in three years, he had managed to walk such a long distance.

After taking medicine twice, his body was much better than before.

He had never been so sure he could live.

After finishing, Mrs. Luo took out the inkstone and tenderly wiped it, lamenting, “Such a good inkstone, all scratched.”

“That way, no one will covet it,” Yu Bai said, then suddenly coughed violently.

His whole body shook with the cough, his throat tasting metallic sweet. He spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Faint cries of alarm echoed nearby.

His vision blurred, consciousness fading.

He forced himself to reach under the pillow for the medicine, but the single movement seemed to drain the last ounce of his strength.

A strange thought flashed through his mind: if Miss Su Jin sent a message soon and he couldn’t reply in time, would it anger her?

Darkness engulfed him; he could no longer see his surroundings. His body slumped on the bed, unconscious.

Yet in his hand, he tightly clutched the medicine wrapped in oiled paper.