Chapter 3, Calling the Souls

The old man responded with a sound, then got up and went to the kitchen stove, took out half of a still warm white bun, and handed it to the child on the bed, who still had sleepy eyes and was not in very good condition

Feng Bingwen exhaled with some difficulty, and then, with his grandmother's assistance, slowly drank the warm water. After feeling a bit more comfortable, he succumbed to the overwhelming drowsiness and lay down to sleep

Am I the only one feeling hot

Just as Feng Bingwen was at a loss, the sounds of laughter and noise came from outside the house, and several lively little monkeys dashed in from outside.

Feng Bingwen looked at his grandmother's kind and gentle face, as if a fever were not a serious issue. However, if he remembered correctly, a cold and fever could also pose a life-threatening risk

I want boiling water

Second Master

So you were not scared yesterday

The old woman also knows that her grandson has his preferences. At first, she didn't quite understand, but after a few years, she has gotten used to it. If he likes to drink boiled water, then let him drink it. That old fellow has a decent monthly salary, and he can afford a little firewood money.

He lay on the bed, drowsily listening to the adults muttering a few words. The aunt who had returned with his grandmother took her leave. As the night deepened, he succumbed to sleepiness, resting his head on a somewhat uncomfortable pillow, and fell into a hazy slumber.

Indeed

Drinking untreated water over a long period significantly increases the likelihood of being infested by strange parasites, and one may also contract various unusual diseases. Once infected, most of the time one can only hope that their body is strong enough to endure it.

Do you all know if I can be well today

A child, resembling a thin monkey, replied with a grin, his pitch-black eyes swirling around restlessly, appearing particularly clever

Looking at these few playmates from the same village, Feng Bingwen, who was particularly energetic at that moment, thought of something.

In fact, his family has already become a well-off household that most people in the surrounding area envy. Ordinary families cannot afford for a child to drink boiled water every day

Brother Wenzi! Brother Wenzi!

I will pour you some water

Call

Aren't you just scared? Your grandmother shouted in the village last night, so you will definitely be fine today

Why am I the only one who is sick

Line

If everyone else is unfortunate, that would be one thing, but it is particularly intolerable that he alone is thriving

Wen Er

Why didn't you all come to find me yesterday

In the astonished gaze of Feng Bingwen, he watched as his grandmother turned the bowl she was holding upside down on the bedside, then covered it with a pillow—an inexplicably familiar scene that seemed to have appeared in a dream before.

Well

I am still a bit sleepy

Although he felt extremely weak, Feng Bingwen truly had no appetite. However, he understood that after falling ill, he should find ways to put something in his stomach.

Are you awake? Are you hungry? Your grandmother has warmed up two steamed buns for you, they are kept warm in the pot. If you are hungry, I will bring them to you

I do not know

Listening carefully, he could faintly hear his grandmother's calls coming from outside the window, calling his childhood name. What struck him as strange was that every time his grandmother called out, there would be a voice responding in return

The two voices, one singing and the other responding, gradually faded away in the dusk, and the village suddenly became exceptionally tranquil, as if no one were moving about

How amazing!

When ordinary children encounter adults, it is as if a mouse has met a cat, but Feng Bingwen very generously called out to the elderly man

Feng Bingwen sat on the bed, nibbling on half a white steamed bun. Just as he was about to finish it, he saw his grandmother entering the room, holding a white porcelain bowl with a warm smile on her face, accompanied by a rather familiar aunt.

Unable to comprehend the situation, Feng Bingwen, accompanied by a group of followers, left his home and immediately spotted an elderly man carrying a hoe, walking towards the fields outside the village

He had a fever, but he didn't take any medicine at all. He just lay in bed, drank some boiled water, and nibbled on some plain bread. Then his grandmother went outside to call for help, and when she returned, she brought a bowl for him to rest his head on while he took a nap. The next morning, he woke up as if nothing had happened. It was as if the illness had vanished as if it were a lie.

Although somewhat embarrassed, Feng Bingwen still resolutely made the request

Feng Bingwen glanced at the half-exposed white porcelain bowl beneath the pillow, feeling a sense of calm in his heart. He remembered that after doing this, he would surely be fine after taking a nap and waking up.

In the early morning, accompanied by the crowing of a rooster outside the window, Feng Bingwen suddenly opened his eyes. The warm and gentle sunlight had already streamed in through the window, illuminating the uneven, muddy floor of the room, which appeared quite shabby

A group of children rolling in the mud naturally does not understand such matters. They only know that when they are ill, they lie in bed waiting for adults to treat them

The grandmother with gray hair looked at the spirited Feng Bingwen and felt very pleased

I only need to eat half of it

Wen Er has woken up? It's nothing, just wait until you take a nap, by tomorrow morning everything will be fine.

What is this

In a state of confusion, Feng Bingwen opened his eyes. The sky outside was dim, indicating that it was already dusk. Slightly turning his head, he could see his grandfather writing something at the desk in the room. Under the glow of the setting sun, the old man's face inexplicably bore a hint of majesty

The old woman brought a bowl of steaming hot water, which had been prepared on the stove long ago

Giggling

Feng Bingwen happily got out of bed, stretching his body, for he was now full of energy. The heavy-headedness and uncomfortable heat he felt yesterday had completely vanished, leaving him feeling clear and refreshed, even more comfortable than before he fell ill.

My mother does not allow me to come find you, saying that you were scared and surely could not get up yesterday, feeling weak

I have returned home

Grandma

I will ask someone

Wen Er

Feng Lingjun noticed Feng Bingwen opening his eyes and asked with a smile, in a very good mood

Buddha observes a ladle of water, home to forty-eight thousand insects. He understands how filthy the living water is, and he does not wish to harbor a multitude of insects within his belly. He certainly does not have any sugar-coated treasures to consume

I have indeed recovered

Are you still feeling sleepy

Feng Bingwen felt somewhat regretful; how did this unfortunate incident happen to him alone

Understood, my young master

Just drink some water and continue sleeping, you will be fine when you wake up tomorrow

Feng Bingwen was aware that his habit of frequently drinking boiled water was rather extravagant, but he felt there was no alternative, as he considered the risks of drinking raw water to be too great

We had such a great time yesterday, but we wanted to come find you, and the adults wouldn't allow it

I have returned home

Feng Bingwen felt it was unfair; why was it that everyone else had played in the wasteland behind the village, yet he was the one who fell down?

Feng Bingwen felt somewhat surprised

No

The few little kids who came to find Feng Bingwen thought it was quite normal; they were not well-behaved children like Wenzi Ge, and had long since sneaked over to the wasteland behind the village