But the truth was, he had no choice at all.
"You're forcing a decent person into prostitution!" Mo Sigui said resentfully.
An Jiu found his choice of words quite amusing and grinned.
Mo Sigui rolled his eyes—these two together could truly drive a person mad! One was scheming and profound, the other utterly heartless!
"Living on the island isn't bad, though it can only accommodate a few people," Chu Dingjiang said, completely ignoring his mood.
The island wasn't small, but its resources were limited. If besieged for months, they might run out of food.
Mo Sigui sat up straight. "Are you planning to send more people here?"
"Not for now," Chu Dingjiang replied.
"For now?" Mo Sigui raised his voice, pulling out a fan and waving it vigorously. "You can send a few normal women, but everyone else can stay the hell ten miles away from me!"
"Insomniacs really are prone to irritability," An Jiu remarked out of the blue.
Her train of thought was completely different from everyone else's, but her words struck Mo Sigui with precision and force. To think that he, a renowned Miracle Doctor, couldn't even cure a simple case of insomnia—it would ruin his reputation if word got out.
"I'm done playing with you people!" Mo Sigui scrambled to his feet and stormed into the house.
His insomnia had grown worse. At first, a few puffs of his self-prepared Medicated Smoke would quickly put him to sleep, but within days, the effects had diminished. Mo Sigui knew it was because he often tested Medicine on himself.
In the pavilion, Chu Dingjiang took out a small pouch and handed it to An Jiu. "These are poisonous flower seeds. They release toxic fumes when wet. Pass them to Mo Sigui and have him figure out how to set up a defensive perimeter around the island."
"Alright," An Jiu said.
Just as Chu Dingjiang was about to bid farewell, he sensed someone approaching.
Both turned to look.
In the dim light, Mei Yanran appeared, clad in a moon-white gown, holding a large yellow oil-paper umbrella and cradling a jar of wine in her arms. Her steps were light and graceful—no one would guess she was skilled in Martial Arts.
She had originally been passing by, but upon seeing An Jiu, she paused and changed course toward them.
"You're back," Mei Yanran said, standing at the foot of the steps. She glanced at An Jiu before turning to Chu Dingjiang. "And this is...?"
"I'm A Jiu's friend," Chu Dingjiang replied with a bow.
Mei Yanran inclined her head slightly in return. "My surname is Mei."
A brief silence followed before Chu Dingjiang spoke again. "Madam Mei, please join us."
"No, I must tend to others' wounds," she declined, then asked An Jiu, "Were you injured?"
A faint smile appeared on An Jiu's calm face. "No."
Mei Yanran nodded. "I'll leave you to your business, then."
As she walked away, Chu Dingjiang asked An Jiu, "Is she your mother?"
"Yes and no," An Jiu replied.
Chu Dingjiang understood. "It seems she knows the truth. A Jiu, don't expect her affection. Even if you get along well and share deep feelings, she will always harbor some resentment toward you."
From Mei Yanran's reaction, Chu Dingjiang could guess that she must have dearly loved her own daughter. Because An Jiu had risked herself for her sake, Mei Yanran had forced herself to come and check on her.
"Mhm," An Jiu fell silent.
Chu Dingjiang stayed with her in the pavilion until midnight before leaving.
Two days later, he sent Sheng Changying over.Although Sheng Changying wasn't the "normal woman" Mo Sigui had requested, he held no dislike for her. These past few days, he had been secluded in his room treating his insomnia. Yet for some unknown reason, Mo Sigui's insomnia not only failed to improve but became increasingly uncontrollable, leaving him constantly immersed in medicated smoke.
When Sheng Changying went to greet him, she was abruptly dragged out by the apothecary's apprentice and slept for two full days. (To be continued...)
PS: Sleeves got vaccinated against rabies yesterday and has been running a fever since, feeling quite unwell. Hence the shorter content these past two days.
Sick Leave Notice
Might not finish tonight's update. Sleeves has been extremely unwell recently and can't stay up late. Wrote a little bit—will continue after visiting the hospital tomorrow and try to make up for today's missed content. Apologies. (To be continued...)
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