The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 414 Good Medicine
Jia Huan and his crew left Yangzhou on October 18 and sailed north along the Grand Canal. The further north they went, the colder it got. After crossing the Yellow River, it rained and snowed for days, and a thin layer of ice formed on the Grand Canal. Fortunately, it didn't freeze solid, otherwise they would have had to abandon the boat and travel by land. The land route was difficult to travel, and certainly not as comfortable as taking a boat. Unfortunately, Lin Daiyu caught a cold again these days, and her old illness suddenly came back. She coughed non-stop, and she looked sick.

Jia Huan was therefore feeling depressed and anxious, and just hoped that the weather would get better soon. If there were a few more rains and snows, he was afraid that the canal would be completely frozen. Given Lin Daiyu's current condition, if she took a carriage to travel, her condition would definitely worsen.

Fortunately, God was merciful. In the evening of that day, the sky, which had been gloomy for days, finally became a little clearer, and even a sunset glow appeared in the west. The next morning, the sky cleared up as expected, and the morning sun emerged from the horizon, shining brightly on the earth.

"Amitabha, the sky is finally clear." Xueyan saw the sun shining on the deck and could not help but clasp her hands together and silently chanted Buddha. She was about to tiptoe out of the room when a strange voice chanted: "I slept through the spring and did not know when it was dawn. I heard birds singing everywhere. There was the sound of wind and rain at night. I wonder how many flowers have fallen."

It turned out that the macaw in the birdcage suddenly spoke. Xueyan was startled and cursed in a low voice: "Don't make noise. The girl coughed for half the night and fell asleep almost at dawn."

"Cough cough cough, Snow Goose, I want to drink water... cough cough cough!" The macaw imitated a human cough, and the tone was very similar to Lin Daiyu's, so lifelike.

Lin Daiyu was a light sleeper to begin with, and the noise of the bird woke her up immediately. She asked, "Is it daybreak?"

Xueyan was both angry and amused. She slapped the bird cage angrily and scolded, "Damn flat-haired beast, you woke the girl up. I'll boil water and pluck your feathers and stew you for food."

The frightened macaw jumped around in the cage, shouting: "I hear birds singing everywhere. I can't sleep in spring. I hear birds singing everywhere..."

Lin Daiyu scolded: "Why are you scaring it again? Help me up... cough cough!"

Xueyan said hurriedly, "Miss, you went to bed late last night. You should sleep a little longer, or stay in bed a little longer. It's too cold this morning. Wait until noon when it's warmer before getting up."

Lin Daiyu sat up and said, "I'm freezing. My nose is hurting and I can't breathe. I might as well get up and walk around."

Xueyan couldn't resist and hurriedly helped Lin Daiyu get up and put on her clothes. However, she felt uncomfortable and refused to wear too much. She frowned and said angrily, "You are wrapping the rice dumplings. Just put on that light fur coat made of duck feathers for me."

Xueyan advised: "It's very cold in the morning, and you're still sick, so you can't let your temper get the better of you. Put on this cotton vest inside, and then the duck feather coat outside."

Lin Daiyu threw the vest aside and refused to put it on, coughing softly, "Don't be so long-winded... cough, cough, if you want to wear it, put it on yourself. It's so tight!"

Just when Xueyan was in a dilemma, the macaw imitated Lin Daiyu's tone and said, "Master Huan San is here, Xueyan, pour tea, pour-tea!"

At this time, Jia Huan just walked in from outside with his back bent, and said with a smile: "This beast has become smart, and learns things very quickly. How did Sister Lin train it?"

When Xueyan saw Jia Huan, she felt like she had found her savior. She immediately said, "Mr. Huan, you've come at the right time. The young lady is being stubborn and refuses to put on her clothes. Why don't you help her persuade her?"

Lin Daiyu's cheeks immediately flushed and she said angrily, "Who doesn't want to put on clothes? You little bitch always tells on me in front of Huandi." After saying that, she retreated back into the quilt in a huff.

Jia Huan smiled at Xueyan and said, "Let me do it. You go get some hot water for Sister Lin to wash up."

Xueyan clapped her hands and said with a smile, "I couldn't ask for more." Then she took the washbasin and went out, taking the birdcage with her and hanging it on the railing of the deck outside to bask in the sun.

Jia Huan picked up the cotton vest and sat down on the edge of the bed. In fact, it was not a bed, but just a few thick quilts and mattresses spread on the deck, which was equivalent to sleeping on the floor. After all, they were on a boat, and it would be a waste of space to install a bed on it.

"Good sister, please put on this vest too." Jia Huan patted Lin Daiyu who was hiding in the quilt and advised softly.

Lin Daiyu felt sweet in her heart, but she pulled up the quilt to cover her head and said, "I won't wear it!"

Seeing this, Jia Huan laughed and said, "You are being a coward, huh? Then you can't blame me." After saying that, he reached his hand into the quilt and touched Lin Daiyu's neck.

Lin Daiyu was so frozen by someone's "frozen pig's hand" that she screamed and jumped up.

Jia Huan laughed and said, "My trick still works. If you refuse to put on clothes again, I will hit you in the armpits."

"Damn it, I let you bully me!" Lin Daiyu grabbed a pillow and threw it at Jia Huan.

Jia Huan reached out and caught it easily, put it under his nose and sniffed it, and said with a smile: "What a nice smell, it's the scent of Sister Lin." Lin Daiyu was very embarrassed and tried to snatch the pillow back, but Jia Huan held it in his arms and refused to let go, saying with a smile: "It's impossible to take it back now, unless Sister Lin puts on the vest."

Lin Daiyu tried to pull it twice but couldn't move it. She blushed and said, "Just act like a scoundrel. I don't want it anymore."

"It's best if you don't want it. I'll take it back for myself." Jia Huan was about to take Lin Daiyu's scented pillow and leave, but Lin Daiyu took the opportunity to suddenly reach out and snatch the pillow back, smiling and saying, "Don't even think about it!"

At this time, Xueyan had already returned with some hot water. Seeing the two of them playing and frolicking, she put down the hot water, clapped her hands and said with a smile, "Well, it turns out that the Third Master is the best medicine to cure the girl's illness. She will be much more energetic now than yesterday."

Lin Daiyu's face flushed. She glanced at Jia Huan who was looking at her with a smile. Jia Huan raised the vest in his hand and said with a smile, "Be good, put on the vest quickly. I'll give you some candy beans later."

Xueyan covered her mouth and giggled. Lin Daiyu spat, "You think I'm a child!"

Although she said this, Lin Daiyu still put on the vest obediently, and felt warm and sweet in her heart.

Jia Huan put the light fur coat on Lin Daiyu himself and said with a smile, "You won't be cold now."

Lin Daiyu looked down, frowned and said, "It's so ugly!"

"It's not ugly, as cute as a little penguin!" Jia Huan said with a smile.

As she was wearing too much, Lin Daiyu looked a little bloated at this moment, but there seemed to be no word "ugly" in the dictionary of beauty. With Lin Daiyu's appearance and temperament, she was pleasing to the eye even in beggar's clothes. At this moment, she looked delicate and cute.

Lin Daiyu asked doubtfully, "What kind of goose is a penguin?"

Jia Huan coughed lightly and said, "This... is a very cute little animal, but we don't have it in Dajin. They live in the faraway Antarctica. Oh, if Sister Lin wants to know what a penguin looks like, I can draw it for you."

"Okay!" Lin Daiyu said with a smile.

So Jia Huan took out paper and charcoal pencil, and with a few strokes he drew a penguin in the style of sketching. The drawing was vivid and full of strength, but the little look in its eyes seemed a little annoying.

“Is this the penguin?”

"Yes, this is the penguin!"

"Cute?" Lin Dai continued to look at Jia Huan with a smile.

Jia Huan asked in a serious tone, "Isn't she cute?"

"You cute big ghost, damn it, let you tease me!" Lin Daiyu raised her hand to give Jia Huan a slap, but the latter had already slipped out of the room with a smile.

Lin Daiyu looked at the stupid creature with a protruding white belly on the paper, then looked down at her bloated clothes and burst out laughing.

Xueyan had been laughing so hard that she couldn't even stand up straight. Lin Daiyu was both amused and annoyed, and she scolded her, "You little bitch, why are you still laughing? It's all your fault. I told you not to wear so many clothes, but now you're making fun of me!"

Xueyan tried hard to hold back her laughter and said, "This... penguin is really cute. Third Master is not making fun of you, hahaha... I can't take it anymore, Third Master, you mischievous fellow, is there really a goose like this in the world? Maybe Third Master made it up again, look at the look in its eyes... hahahaha!"

Lin Daiyu stretched out her hand to tear Xueyan's little mouth, but she couldn't help laughing.

Probably because of her cheerful mood, after a good laugh, Lin Daiyu felt as if her whole body was lighter, even her blocked nose was unblocked, and she felt much more energetic. After washing up with the help of Xueyan, she went to the deck for a walk and basking in the sun.

Jia Huan was relieved upon seeing this. Sister Lin was obviously in better health than the sickly Lin sister in the original novel. It looked like she would get better soon. Cough and asthma have been very troublesome since ancient times. Even with modern advanced medical technology, it is difficult to cure them. The only thing they can rely on is for the patients to strengthen their own physical fitness and immunity.

(End of this chapter)