66. Empty words or real threats?
Shu Ya sighed. ''Have you been born hungry or do you have two stomachs? Look at you, all thin but can eat like five people. You are healer, check your stomach. Do you have some sort of worms? Mother told me once a long time ago that some people have many worms in their intestine so they re hungry all the time and stay thin. But those people get sick and die young, so I really hope its just hunger and not those things. You are too young to die.''
He almost choked in anger about her words. But as he looked at her innocent big eyes filled with worry he just humphed. ''I just have a good appetite. You will have enough rice to feed me. I promise I will be a good teacher.'' He grabbed rest of meat in front of him and then started eating vegetables as well. Suddenly the small hand started filling his plate with meat.
He looked at her face that had worried expression. ''Later I will tell boys to prepare double portions only for you. Now eat more. I am a small child, I can't eat so much anyway.''
Looking at her eating with relish the vegetables he sighed. ''You are fist child I saw in my life enjoying the greenery. As a physician, I know that vegetables are extremely healthy, but I love meat so much.''
Shu Ya added few things that she knew that he might like and smiled at him. ''Try these. they are good for health and have a nice structure. In a few days, the sour vegetables will be ready and I will prepare it, trust me, you will love those.''
He stopped. ''Sour? How sour?'' Actually he loved sour things. Not many people can handle sour things but he loved such things. In the far south, there are many fruits that are slightly our and he got addicted to eating them. But here on the north, everything is or too sweet or filled with sugar.
Looking at his face Shu Ya sighed in relief. ''Not many people like sour. As I saw you nibbling on sweets in my room I thought you like sweet stuff. Well, then we shall make a few dishes you might like. I will cook tomorrow.''
She was almost done when she remembered. ''I actually forgot. I see that these days the weather is becoming colder but not rainy. Before earth freezes, I wanted to find people to plough the land. Mingli could you find someone to do that? We need to finish turning land before the first frost. Then in springs, we will have fewer weed problems.''
Mingli sighed. ''After this, I will go to neighbours and see if any of them have animals and ploughing tools. If nothing we can call a bunch of people to do it with shovels or spades. It will cost us about the same.''
Shu Ya thought about it. ''In that case, call people. I do not mind paying them. After ploughing one part of the land nearby will be covered with a bunch of straw. I want to try something.''
Mingli nodded. ''How much straw should I buy?''
''Two carriages of straw will be enough to try my idea. And try to find straw covers or we can give those people two-day job one day ploughing field, one day making straw covers.'' Shu Ya just drank a bit of tea to lift the taste out her mouth and had huge wish to invent toothbrush. But thinking bout only brushing teeth but not having the toothpaste...
With a smile, she turned her head towards Wen Delun. ''Tell me how people on north clean their teeth.''
Her suddenly question surprised him. ''Uhm, what?''
Her innocent eyes stared directly at him and so she repeated her question. ''How do people you met or how ar you cleaning your teeth?''
Everyone went silent while suddenly she realized many things. ''I can see most of you have white teeth, but how do you do it. Is it different form both to south or to the capital city? Is there something different between us and foreigners?''
Wen Delun stared at her with open mouth she realized she really meant that question. ''I will answer to that question if you tell me what is the reason for such interest?''
Shu Ya put her finger on her chin and tapped on it. ''I was suddenly curious.'' She stood up from the table and walked towards the door. ''If you re bored come to me and explain to me. If you have finished the plan of teaching I will read it and see what else we could implement into classes.''
Wen Delun dropped his spoon as she left and looked at the rest of astonished faces. ''Why is she asking such weird question?''
Mingli nodded then shook and then suddenly smiled. Whenever miss asks weird questions she has weird ideas. If you explain to her, you might hear something that could be useful. Trust me. Our miss has many strange ideas.''
Wen Delun nodded. ''I realized that long time ago. Let me finish this and then I want to see what kind of idea that brain has. I fear that in future I will be bound to her like all of you. fell into her woven net and stuck here. But to tell you the truth, I don't mind. This child might give ma again wish to be healer again. Someone with an idea and wish to do own work. I lost that wish so many years ago.''
Mingli wanted to ask something but then he just sighed and stood up. ''I am leaving to city. Bolin, our miss will probably sit outside. If it gets too cold send her in. I fear that she will get too cold.''
Wen Delun shook his head. ''She needs as much fresh air as possible. She was stuck in bed for days, let her. When the snow starts falling we all will be stuck one small space.''
Mingli sighed. ''Fine. You are a physician. If she falls ill because cold wind passed her body while she is still weak I will just beat you up myself.'' He spoke such treat with nonchalance and left the room making Wen Delun again drop his spoon.
He turned his head towards Bolin and saw him shrug. ''Mingli says, Mingli does. He is right, she gets sick it's your fault. Fresh air is fine. I believe its good for her health, but she still fights her sickness. But what do I know? I am just her guard...'' Bolin smiled at him eerily and left as well, making Wen Delun drop his spoon third time and this time he lost his appetite...