Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

"Is Tian Guang home?" A strange voice came from the courtyard gate.

Xia Lanyue looked over and saw an unfamiliar old man standing at the door. He looked older than Tian Guang and had a goatee. "Uncle Tian is out. Do you need to see him?"

Xia Lanyue turned her head, stuffed the handkerchief in her hand into Dai You's hand, and then walked towards the door.

"Who are you?" Xia Lanyue asked the man.

"I am the village head of this village, and my surname is Zhao."

"Village Chief Zhao, Uncle Tian isn't home. Is there anything I can help you with? I'll tell him when he gets back."

"It's nothing serious, I just want him to come to my house when he gets back," said Village Chief Zhao.

"Okay, I understand."

"By the way, young lady, what's your relationship with Tian Guang?"

"No, it's nothing. Uncle Tian saved me."

"They saved you?! How did they save you?" Village Chief Zhao asked.

“We fell into the water, and Uncle Tian rescued us from the river,” Xia Lanyue replied.

"Then why did you fall into the water? Where did you come from and where are you going?" Village Chief Zhao pressed.

"I..." Xia Lanyue hadn't expected so many questions, and she didn't have the answers to any of them.

“It rained heavily a few days ago, and we didn’t take shelter in time. Our boat sank and drifted to this side, where Uncle Tian rescued us in time,” Dai You said as he walked over. “Would Village Chief Zhao like to come in and sit for a while?”

"I won't sit here anymore. I'll wait for him to come back and have him visit me," Zhao, the village chief, said, waving his hand. "You guys go ahead with your work. I'm going back now," and left.

After Village Chief Zhao left, Xia Lanyue asked, "Who is the village chief?"

"The person who manages the village on a regular basis."

Xia Lanyue nodded. She remembered the scene when she woke up that day and had some concerns. "Does Uncle Tian know that we encountered thieves?"

“He saw the tear in my clothes on the day I rescued him, and he also gave me clothes to change into on the night I came to the village.”

Dai You seemed to sense Xia Lanyue's worries and comforted him, "There are many thieves in various places. It's just our bad luck to run into them."

Xia Lanyue nodded.

Seeing that she was not speaking, Dai You raised his hand in front of her. In his hand was the handkerchief that Xia Lanyue had just given him, but now it was neatly folded.

Xia Lanyue glanced at the handkerchief, remembered what had just happened, and didn't take it. She walked past Dai You, went to the corner to get a broom, and cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground.

Seeing this, Dai You quickly put the handkerchief into his pocket, walked over, and tried to take the broom from Xia Lanyue's hand to sweep, but Xia Lanyue dodged him.

"Are you angry?" Dai You asked cautiously.

"No, your hand is injured, let me do it," Xia Lanyue replied, without looking at him.

Dai You sensed the emotion in his tone and, somewhat at a loss, stood still.

Xia Lanyue wasn't angry, but she didn't understand why he had rejected her kindness. She glanced at Dai You's thumb, which he was pressing on with his index finger to stop the bleeding. If he wouldn't let her bandage it, surely she could at least get some hemostatic medicine? She certainly didn't have any in her room, and going to Wang Cui's room wasn't convenient, so she decided to borrow some. With that thought, she said, "I'll go borrow some medicine from my aunt," and then threw down the broom and ran out.

Xia Lanyue ran all the way to Mr. Xia's house.

"Is Aunt Xia home?" Xia Lanyue called from the doorway.

"Yes, who is it?"

The person inside responded; it was Xia Huifang's voice.

“Aunt Xia, I am Xia... I am A-Yue.”

After introducing herself, Xia Lanyue heard cheerful laughter from inside, followed by hurried footsteps. Soon, the door was opened.

"It's Yue!" Xia Huifang poked her head out. "Come quick!"

Xia Huifang stepped aside to invite her in, her smile widening. She took Xia Lanyue's hand and led her into the courtyard, saying, "Oh, I was just talking about you! We're so in sync!"

"Is Aunt Yue here to see me?" A Xiang ran out from the east room and grabbed Xia Lanyue's arm.

"You've come at the right time. Wang Cui and A Xiang are both here," Xia Huifang said, pulling Xia Lanyue toward the east room.

"I've come to borrow medicine from Aunt Xia. My brother's hand is bleeding and the bleeding won't stop," Xia Lanyue stopped and explained her purpose.

Xia Huifang thought for a moment, "There's medicine at home, I'll go find it. You go inside and sit for a while." After saying that, she pulled Xia Lanyue into the house.

Xia Lanyue realized something was amiss when she entered; she had gone into the bedroom!

A refined-looking man sat on the bed, leaning against the pillows. He looked somewhat weak, his face ashen, and his lips pale. However, even so, his handsome face and unique charm were undeniable. Perhaps sensing who had approached, he looked up.

Xia Lanyue's eyes met his, and she was instantly captivated by his charm, unable to look away, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

“This is my son, Xia Yao,” Xia Huifang’s voice interrupted Xia Lanyue’s thoughts.

When Xia Lanyue regained consciousness, she immediately lowered her eyes. When she looked up again, she had composed herself and nodded to Xia Yao on the bed in greeting.

It turns out that Mr. Xia's name is Xia Yao.

"This is Yue...?" Xia Huifang didn't know her name.

“My name is Dai Xiyue,” Xia Lanyue said.

“Good name,” Xia Huifang nodded. “I’m going to get the medicine. You guys talk here for a bit.”

Xia Huifang went to another room, and the room fell silent again.

"What medicine are you looking for? Is everything alright at home?" Wang Cui's words broke the quiet atmosphere.

Xia Lanyue was startled by the sudden voice. She turned around and saw Wang Cui sitting on a stool by the window. "My brother cut his hand and wanted to borrow some medicine from Aunt Xia. I wonder if you have any?"

"Dai You is injured?!" Wang Cui exclaimed with a pained expression. "Where is he injured? How serious is it?"

"I hurt my finger, but it's not serious. I'd like to borrow some hemostatic medicine."

"Ah..." Wang Cui was relieved.

Ah Xiang, who had been quiet just moments before, ran over and knelt beside Xia Yao's bed. "Uncle Xia, your medicine was something Aunt Yue and I got from town."

Xia Yao smiled, looked up at Xia Lanyue and said, "Thank you, Miss Yue."

Even his voice was so magnetic; Xia Lanyue's heart was stirred with emotion.

"It was nothing, no need to be so polite," Xia Lanyue said with a gentle smile. She immediately looked away, not daring to look at Xia Yao, afraid that she would blush and lose her composure.

"The medicine has been found." Xia Huifang walked in, holding a bottle of medicine in her hand. She handed it to Xia Lanyue, then turned and smiled at Xia Yao.

Xia Lanyue, having received the medicine, dared not waste any more time. After thanking them, she hurriedly prepared to leave.

Seeing that she was about to leave, everyone saw her off. Xia Yao also lifted the blanket and prepared to get up, but was stopped by everyone.

"Don't bother seeing me off, we're all family here, just lie down and relax," Wang Cui said first.

“Yes, Mr. Xia, don’t worry about these formalities right now,” Xia Lanyue said. “I’ll come see you another day.”

Xia Yao smiled and nodded.

Ah Xiang insisted on finding Uncle Dai, so Xia Lanyue had no choice but to take him back with her.

On the way, Xia Lanyue's mind was filled with Xia Yao's image. His appearance, voice, smile, and every move lingered in her mind. He was the kind of person who had infused his temperament with a scholarly air. In him, it was as if she could see the saying, "A person with a wealth of knowledge naturally exudes elegance."

Is this what they call love at first sight? Xia Lanyue couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Ah Xiang, did Mr. Xia's feet turn that color after applying medicine?" Xia Lanyue remembered being shocked when she first saw Xia Yao's feet; they were swollen and dark purple.

"His feet are purple; he's sick," Ah Xiang couldn't explain either.

Xia Lanyue frowned. This must hurt a lot.

When they returned to the Tian family courtyard, Dai You was cleaning up the broken bamboo on the ground.

"Uncle Dai, what's wrong?" A Xiang ran into Dai You's arms and hugged him.

"Uncle Dai is alright."

Dai You waved his hand in front of A Xiang, his thumb already wrapped in the handkerchief Xia Lanyue had given him. It was unclear whether he was waving it for A Xiang or for Xia Lanyue. Then, he picked A Xiang up with one arm and spun him around twice.

"Hahaha," Ah Xiang laughed nonstop, amused.

"I've brought the medicine back. Apply it here," Xia Lanyue said, handing over the medicine bottle.

Dai You put down A Xiang, took the medicine bottle, and looked at the smile that Xia Lanyue had been wearing ever since she came back. "A Yue, is there something happy about it?"

Xia Lanyue was taken aback, realizing she had used the wrong expression, and immediately stopped smiling, saying casually, "No, I just went to find medicine."

"Aunt Yue met Mr. Xia today," A Xiang shared her experience of the day.

Xia Lanyue was stunned again. Ah Xiang, that big mouth.

"Oh?" Dai You looked at Xia Lanyue with interest.

"Yes, Mr. Xia is ill; his feet are very swollen," Xia Lanyue said casually.

Dai You looked into her eyes.

Xia Lanyue smiled, looked at his wound, and asked, "Shall I apply the medicine for you?"

Dai Youyao shook her head, "I can do it myself," then turned and sat on the stool, unwrapped the handkerchief, and applied the medicine to herself.