Chapter 7: It Is Not a Mother's Greed

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Uncle Song glanced at the way she was reaching out and frowned, then firmly grasped her left elbow.
“Ow!”
Huan Ya quickly covered her mouth with her other hand. When she caught the man’s gaze out of the corner of her eye, her face flushed bright red.
Oh no, would the master’s son think poorly of her?
Afraid of being driven away, no matter how much it hurt, Huan Ya didn’t dare to make another sound.
“You had a slight dislocation earlier, but it’s fine now,” Uncle Song said as he pressed her limping leg again.
Mrs. Song’s brow tightened. “It won’t affect your work, will it?”
“No, no,” Huan Ya hurriedly replied, “It doesn’t hurt.”
“What doesn’t hurt?” Uncle Song squeezed hard.
Huan Ya silently wailed inside, her face turning pale, yet she kept quiet.
“Oh, quite the endurance, huh?” Uncle Song chuckled. “This little girl’s got good stamina—a real hard worker.”
Hearing this, Huan Ya nodded eagerly, her eyes seeming to say: Yes, yes, I’m great at working!
Seizing on her momentary distraction, Uncle Song suddenly applied more pressure.
Crack!
“Mm!” Huan Ya bit her lip hard, losing all composure, tears streaming down her cheeks.

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“All right, it’s fine now,” Uncle Song clapped his hands. “Get up and try walking.”
Huan Ya covered her mouth, slowly rose, and took a few tentative steps. Her eyes lit up.
It really was better!
From the bed, Song Tiancheng watched this scene, a faint smile flickering in his eyes, but quickly realizing it was inappropriate, he covered the upward curve of his lips with his fist and cleared his throat.
“Thank you, doctor. Thank you, auntie,” Huan Ya stammered, bowing awkwardly first to the doctor, then to Mrs. Song.
“All right, all right,” Mrs. Song said with a smile at the sincerity on her face. She took hold of Huan Ya’s arm to stop her from bowing again, then turned to Uncle Song. “Could you check her injuries again? What medicine should we prescribe?”
“Just for bruises and sprains, but the one on her face...”
Huan Ya froze, quickly interrupting, “No, no, it’s nothing. No need to check, no need...”
She trailed off as she caught the looks exchanged among the three in the room and found herself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Huan Ya didn’t understand what those looks meant, but she knew she didn’t dislike them.
She lowered her head, nervously biting her lip, and fell silent.
Mrs. Song withdrew her gaze and shook her head. “Prescribe something, the best for scar removal. After all, she’s still a young girl.”
Uncle Song nodded and wrote a prescription, telling Huan Ya to come back with him to get the medicine.
Huan Ya glanced at Mrs. Song and, after receiving her permission, followed Uncle Song out.

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Only after everyone had left did Song Tiancheng lying in bed finally speak. “Mother, who is that girl?”
Without hesitation, Mrs. Song replied, “A distant relative.”
Song Tiancheng watched his mother in silence, his expression clearly skeptical.
Mrs. Song couldn’t help but smile, then explained, “I met her in town. She looked like she’d been bullied by some ruffians, probably being sent somewhere unsavory. That’s why her face was cut. I ended up taking her in.”
Recalling how Huan Ya clung to her leg without begging, Mrs. Song sighed softly. “I was afraid my kindness might end up hurting our family, but that child gave me this.”
She pulled a silver hairpin from her sleeve. “It’s probably all she has left. I’m not greedy, but we need someone to watch over things here. That way, I can work without worry and take care of your leg, right?”
Hearing this, Song Tiancheng pressed his lips tight. “Thank you for your hard work, Mother.”
“Oh, who else but your mother?” Mrs. Song said with a warm smile. “Right now, I just hope you get better soon and can get back on your feet. Then I won’t have to worry so much.”
“I understand, son.”
“That’s good,” Mrs. Song tucked him in, “No rush. You’ll get better, won’t you?”
Meeting his mother’s slightly reddened eyes full of hope, Song Tiancheng nodded firmly, “I will.”
Mrs. Song smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, “All right, I’ll go make you something to eat. Huan Ya should be back soon, too.”