PCJ – Chapter 61 Grabbing water to Drink

Looking at the way Hu Xiaoqing was acting, if it weren’t for the fact that he still considered his nephew as family, Zhang Youping wouldn’t even bother. But what could he do? Originally, the relationship between the two brothers was good. But ever since Hu Xiaoqing came into the picture, his elder brother’s ears had become too soft, and the family completely followed her lead. And then there was this nephew. Zhang Youping used to buy him candies often, and whenever he saw this Uncle Man, he would call him affectionately. But after Zhang Youping had a child, Hu Xiaoqing started causing trouble again. It seemed that in the old Zhang family, her son was treated like the legitimate grandson, while Zhang Youping’s son was just seen as an accompaniment to her son.

Zhang Youping walked into the room and called out softly, “Son, come here, You’ll prepare a bowl of bone-melting water for your brother Yuanbao.”

Zhang Jiaohua was about to go over but was stopped by his mother.

Liu Qiaoye sat on the edge of the bed, glaring at Zhang Youping, “Son, don’t go. If others don’t treat you with respect, why bother going over?”

“Don’t look at the person’s face but at the Buddha’s face. After all, Yuanbao is our nephew. Let’s not get involved. You understand?” Zhang Youping knew what his wife was thinking.

With Zhang Youping’s words, Liu Qiaoye naturally had nothing to say and let go of her son’s hand.

“Let’s not stoop to her level.” Zhang Youping knew his wife was feeling uncomfortable. Seeing her sad, he couldn’t help but soften.

“I know all these principles. But I don’t want our son to suffer.” Liu Qiaoye’s eyes were already moist. Her son was her heart and soul, and she felt distressed whenever he suffered.

Zhang Youping held his son’s hand, “Son, go and prepare a bowl of bone-melting water for your brother Yuanbao. Don’t mind what your aunt says. Got it?”

“Mmm.” Zhang Jiaohua didn’t like his aunt, nor did he like his unreasonable cousin Yuanbao, but he listened to his parents. He went to the cupboard, found a porcelain bowl, scooped up some water from the tank, and then walked around the hall, holding the bowl in his left hand and using his right hand to draw patterns in the bowl while murmuring incantations.

“Invoking the Bone-Refining Immortal, the Bone-Connecting Immortal, Yin Bone Refinement, Yang Bone Refinement, bone turns to bone, mountain turns to mountain, wood turns to wood, copper turns to copper, iron turns to iron, ascending to the heavens, descending to the sea, the house turns into a taboo, the person turns into a mountain, the method water turns into the depths of the Nine Waters…”

As Zhang Jiaohua performed the ritual, the entire Zhang family gathered in the hall.

Zhang Jiaohua’s chanting was similar to the usual incantations of a water priest, with a soft voice and a singing-like tone. It was difficult for ordinary people to hear the content of the incantation clearly.

Zhang Manyin’s expression was solemn. He had broad knowledge, and such rituals used to be quite common in the countryside. After the liberation and the campaign against the Four Olds, such practices became rare. After all, they were deemed superstitious. Even if such rituals were performed, they were done discreetly. He could tell that Jiaohua’s ritual was authentic. These steps couldn’t be faked by a child playing house. However, he was puzzled. Jiaohua had never apprenticed with a master, nor had he heard of anyone in the village who could perform such rituals. Where did Jiaohua learn this from?

Ma Donghua’s eyes were also filled with confusion and worry. At the same time, she was worried whether Jiaohua’s water was effective. Yuanbao was too delicate. If he could endure a bit and wait until morning, they could take him to the hospital in town to have the bone spur removed. It wouldn’t be such a big deal for a child to endure this kind of pain in a rural household. This child was just too delicate. This eldest daughter-in-law was usually too domineering, and now the eldest grandson was completely following her example. It wouldn’t be a good thing in the future. It seemed that she would have to find an opportunity to talk to Hu Xiaoqing about this.

Zhang Youlian was focused on comforting his son and was softly coaxing him. But the more he comforted, the more Yuanbao cried, thinking that something terrible had happened.

Hu Xiaoqing, on the other hand, stood at the door with a contemptuous look, still not believing that her nephew could produce any bone-melting water. In her heart, she scorned the family’s hope for Jiaohua’s bone-melting water: “Feudal superstition!”

Others might think that Jiaohua’s jumping around and chanting were just fooling around. But Jiaohua himself knew that these steps were not just for show. During the process of refining water, Jiaohua could feel a mysterious substance flowing into his body from between heaven and earth, gathering at his fingertips, and merging into the water in the bowl. When that mysterious substance entered the bowl, the water in the bowl was no longer ordinary water but a medicinal potion! Jiaohua couldn’t describe this feeling, nor could he explain the existence of that mysterious substance. It was invisible, colorless, and tasteless. But Jiaohua could feel its presence distinctly.

After the ritual was completed, Jiaohua carried the bone-melting water to his father, but he didn’t directly give it to Yuanbao.

“Hurry, give it to Yuanbao to drink.” Zhang Manyin urged anxiously.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. After drinking this bowl of bone-melting water, the bone stuck in your throat will naturally dissolve.” Zhang Youping came to his nephew with the bowl in hand.

Zhang Youlian exclaimed excitedly, “Yuanbao, Yuanbao, don’t cry, after drinking the bone-melting water, you’ll feel better.”

Hu Xiaoqing also walked over. Although she didn’t believe it, she still hoped for a miracle.

Zhang Manyin and Ma Donghua were both looking forward to the bone-melting water taking effect.

Yuanbao was still sobbing uncontrollably. After taking a small sip, he choked a bit. Water came out of his nose, and he couldn’t help but cry out loudly.

“I told you not to believe in feudal superstition. Look, the bone hasn’t dissolved, and now you’re even choking to death because of you wanting to force it down.” Hu Xiaoqing had been holding back for a long time, and now she finally had a chance to burst out.

Zhang Manyin and Ma Donghua were also somewhat disappointed.

Zhang Youping said unhappily, “He hasn’t even finished one mouthful, how could it take effect so easily?”

“He’s already choking, what should we do? Are you going to drown my son?” Hu Xiaoqing turned around and glared at Zhang Jiaohua. Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t afraid of this fierce aunt and stared back at her. He thought to himself, if this fierce woman dared to lay a hand on him, he would show her what he’s made of.

Although he choked a bit, some of the bone-melting water still entered Yuanbao’s mouth. Yuanbao choked for a moment, swallowed some saliva, and found that the throat that had been painful just now was much better. The pain seemed to have eased a lot.

“Dad, I want more water!” Yuanbao said loudly.

Hu Xiaoqing was still preparing to continue her outburst, but she didn’t expect Yuanbao to grab the bowl from Zhang Youping’s hand himself and gulp down all the water.

At first, everyone thought that the bone-melting water was ineffective. But they didn’t expect Yuanbao to suddenly grab the water and drink it all.