Chapter 41

By the way, I have two sets of clothes here. Jiang Bai remembered the clothes she had packed away at home, all of which she had worn when she was a little girl. They would be just right for Little Radish to wear as winter garments. She had been too busy lately to send them over, but today she finally found the opportunity.

Jiang Bai rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out two neatly folded small outfits. One set was a pale cyan padded jacket and skirt, and the other was a light pink padded jacket and matching trousers. She unfolded the garments and gently shook them out; the fabric was somewhat worn with age, but still soft and comfortable.

"Little Radish, come and try this on." Jiang Bai handed the pale cyan padded skirt to Little Radish. "I wore this when I was a little girl. Although it's a bit old, it wasn't worn many times, and it will be just right for you to wear through the winter."

Little Radish put down the pastry in his hand, wiped his hands clean with a handkerchief, and took the clothes with great care. He looked down at the clothes from Jiang Bai's childhood that he was currently wearing, then looked at the padded skirt in Jiang Bai's hands, pressed his lips together, and seemed lost in thought.

"It feels very soft to the touch." The clothes in Little Radish's hands had a certain weight to them, and he could clearly feel how thoroughly they had been laundered into something exceptionally soft.

Jiang Bai was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "My mother made this for me when I was little. You can't say the style is particularly fancy, but it will certainly keep you warm through the winter without any problems."

Little Radish stood up, began to untie his sash, and prepared to try on the two outfits to see if they fit. Seeing this, Jiang Bai hurriedly turned around. "Go ahead and change; I'll go pour you a cup of tea."

When Jiang Bai returned with the tea, Little Radish had already changed. The pale cyan padded skirt made his skin look even fairer; although he was short in stature, his whole demeanor seemed much more spirited.

"It looks truly wonderful." Jiang Bai praised him sincerely. "Come, give me a spin so I can see."

Looking somewhat abashed, Little Radish turned around in a circle, the hem of the skirt swaying gently with his movement. He looked down at himself, then raised his gaze to Jiang Bai with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Watching Little Radish dressed in the pale cyan padded skirt, a wave of warmth welled up in Jiang Bai's heart. Although the clothes were a bit old, they fit Little Radish exceptionally well, as if they had been custom-made for him in the first place. She gently patted Little Radish's shoulder and smiled, saying, "It suits you indeed. It seems this outfit was destined to belong to you."

Little Radish lowered his gaze, tugging at the hem of the skirt with a shy smile on his face. He looked up at Jiang Bai, his eyes carrying a measure of earnestness and certainty. "I will cherish them."

In a gentle tone, Jiang Bai unfolded the other set of clothes. "Why don't you try the size of this one as well? Since they were made around the same time, there shouldn't be any issues."

Hearing this, Little Radish nodded and proceeded to change into this second outfit to test it out.

Both sets fit extremely well without needing any alterations. However, this second one seemed even more fitting; while the pale cyan set would actually look better with twin braids, this light pink set was better suited for double hair buns. Topped with Little Radish's double buns, it made him look lively and utterly adorable.

"It should be matched with a pair of silk ribbons tied to the double buns." Looking at the bare double buns on Little Radish's head, Jiang Bai decided to buy a couple of hair ribbons for him the next time she went out so they could be tied on.

Hearing these words, a rosy blush spread across Little Radish's face. He lowered his head and stopped speaking, his fingers gently stroking the corner of his garment as if still getting used to the sensation of the new clothes, when he suddenly caught a familiar scent. "Jiang Elder Sister, the clothes smell so good! What is this fragrance?"

"This? It's the scent of mandarin oranges and cloves—tart and fresh with a hint of sweet spice and woody notes. It smells pretty nice, doesn't it?" All of Jiang Bai's clothes were scented with this aroma. Most of the spices used for incense were exceedingly rare and expensive—such costly materials were far too precious for Jiang Bai to part with. Orange peels and cloves, however, possessed a unique fragrance at a low cost, making this a scented material Jiang Bai could easily afford.

Little Radish nodded and sniffed again. He had caught this scent the last time; it lacked the heavy quality of ordinary incense and carried an extra touch of playfulness. Changing back into his original clothes, Little Radish obediently sat down at the table, cradling the teacup in both hands and sipping it in tiny increments. Wisps of tea steam rose upward, lingering between the two of them and bringing a touch of tranquil atmosphere.

Sitting across from him, Jiang Bai watched Little Radish as he lowered his head to drink his tea, a sudden feeling of sentimentality rising in her heart. She remembered when she was little, sitting beside her mother just like this, wearing garments sewn by her mother's own hands, drinking the herbal tea brewed by her father, and watching little Jiang Ye play nearby. Although those days were simple, they were filled with warmth and reassurance. Now, her mother was gone, and she had become the one taking care of others.

Raising his head, Little Radish saw Jiang Bai looking at him with such tender eyes, and a profound sense of sadness welled up inside him. Jiang Elder Sister was so good to him, even willing to give him her own cherished clothes, but what about him? He was hiding such a massive secret from Jiang Elder Sister; would she be upset if she found out how much he had concealed from her?

Jiang Bai had been disturbed by the neighbors again today. It had been the same noisy commotion yesterday, but she hadn't expected the noise to be even louder today. Right next to the medical camp, goodness knows what they were constructing; it had been going on for many days, carrying on just like this.

"Dr. Chen, what on earth are they doing next door these past few days to make such a racket?" Jiang Bai couldn't help asking aloud.

"Huh?" Chen Ji beside her wore a blank expression, clearly driven out of his mind by the noise as well, taking a long time to react to what Jiang Bai had asked. "Oh, isn't that space next door vacant? The general and the others decided to move the granary here."

"Even so, there's no need for it to be this noisy." Jiang Bai rubbed her ears. The dwelling was simply too close—that was the sole drawback.

"Who's to say otherwise?" Chen Ji also felt a throbbing ache in his brain from the din.

"How many more days is this going to last? Shall we go ask? If it's going to go on for much longer, we should head back first and only come back over when there are patients who need us." The fact that she had run into Little Radish by leaving early yesterday was partly due to how unbearable the noise was. She prepared to inquire; if conditions were going to remain like this for the next few days, she would retreat and only return when necessary.

"I think that's fine too." Chen Ji had no desire to wait around passively; staying put here would drive a person out of their wits with all the clatter.

After conferring with each other, Jiang Bai and Chen Ji decided to seek out the military officer in charge of the granary relocation to inquire about the situation. The two of them stepped out of the courtyard and walked along the bluestone path toward the granary. Along the way, Jiang Bai couldn't help complaining, "This noise is truly maddening; I haven't been able to accomplish a single thing these past two days."

Chen Ji nodded and let out a sigh. "Indeed. Who knows how long it will take to build the granary? If this din keeps up, we really will have to head back."

As the pair drew near the granary site, they saw a crowd of soldiers bustling about, hauling timber, stones, and adobe bricks. The shouts, footfalls, and rolling cart wheels blended together to create a particularly chaotic din. Jiang Bai frowned, glanced around, and finally spotted a soldier who appeared to be in charge.

"Officer, if I may ask, how much longer will this granary relocation take?" Jiang Bai stepped forward and asked politely.

The officer turned around, and upon seeing Dr. Jiang and Dr. Chen, a look of apology crossed his face. "Ah, it's Dr. Jiang and Dr. Chen. I am truly sorry for the disturbance. Relocating this granary is an order from above; the schedule is tight and the task heavy, so we have no choice. We estimate it will take another ten days to half a month to complete the new granary."

Hearing this, Chen Ji furrowed his brows even deeper. "Ten days to half a month? That is far too long. Our place is close by, and every day we are subjected to this relentless racket, making it impossible to even find peace of mind for reading."

Jiang Bai chimed in as well, "Quite right. Can't you find a way to make the workers keep the noise down a bit? Or change the working hours? Daytime noise is one thing, but carrying on such a disturbance through the night is truly more than one can bear."

With a wry smile, the officer shook his head. "Honored doctors, it's not that I don't want to help, but the pressure from above is simply too pressing. This granary relocation concerns the food supply of the entire army and cannot be delayed; the workers are laboring day and night just to barely keep up with the progress. If we stopped working at night and slowed down during the day, I'm afraid if the superiors laid the blame, none of us could bear the consequences."

Jiang Bai and Chen Ji exchanged glances, both feeling rather helpless. Sighing, Jiang Bai said, "Since that is the case, we won't say any more. We only hope the officer can take pity on those of us living nearby and instruct the workers to keep the noise down as much as possible, especially at night—do not drag the disturbance on too late."

The officer nodded. "The two doctors may rest assured; I will do my best to make arrangements. However, with such a tight schedule, certain matters are beyond my control. If the two of you truly cannot endure it, why not temporarily relocate your quarters elsewhere for a few days? You can return once the granary is built."

Chen Ji offered a bitter smile. "Relocate? It's not nearly that simple. Our living quarters are right inside here; where on earth are we supposed to move?"

Hearing this, the officer looked apologetic once more. "That is true, I failed to consider that. Very well then, I will do my best to have the workers move more quietly at night so as not to disrupt your rest. We'll also pay heed during daytime operations and try our best not to intrude upon you."

Nodding, Jiang Bai said, "Then we thank you in advance. We understand your difficulties as well; it's simply that these days are terribly hard to bear."

The officer waved a hand. "The two doctors are too kind. You treat the soldiers while we build their granary; we are all working toward everyone's well-being. It's only a matter of mutual understanding."

Having concluded their discussion, Jiang Bai and Chen Ji took their leave and walked back along the path they had come, the distant commotion still ringing in their ears. Jiang Bai sighed, "It seems we will simply have to endure this for a while longer."

Chen Ji gave a wry laugh. "Indeed, we have no choice but to bear it. Still, the officer's promise to have the workers minimize the noise is at least some small comfort."

Returning to their courtyard, the two of them briefly tidied up their affairs before preparing to leave. Before departing, Jiang Bai made a point of going to greet Yang Bin to explain the situation. Yang Bin proved quite understanding and readily agreed, saying, "It's fine for you to head back; things should be quiet on your end recently anyway. There's no harm in returning once matters here are finished."

After Jiang Bai and Chen Ji departed, Chen Ji, having no wish to go back and listen to the noise, invited Jiang Bai for a walk outside. The distant construction site still echoed with commotion; though the officer had promised to keep the disturbance down, the pressing schedule meant the bustling of the workers could hardly be entirely avoided. Looking up at the sky, Chen Ji saw that the setting sun had already dipped low, casting a layer of orange-red evening glow across the distant mountain ridges and making the scene appear remarkably tranquil. Yet this tranquility was shattered by the clamor of the construction site, inevitably breeding a sense of irritation within one's heart.

"It appears we'll have to slog through another sleepless night," Chen Ji sighed, his tone laced with resignation.

"Indeed. Although the officer gave his word, with the schedule so tight, the workers cannot simply halt their work," Jiang Bai said, feeling a headache coming on at the thought of the noise.

"Dr. Jiang, you have it slightly better since you live with the General. His quarters are farther away, so you can manage a decent night's sleep no matter what," Chen Ji laughed bitterly.

"But daytime is just as difficult, isn't it?" Jiang Bai wore a face full of sorrow; for the past two days, she hadn't been able to focus on reading or accomplish a single task.

The two walked on in silence all the way back to the medical camp. The courtyard housing the medical camp was situated beside the armory—initially a rather secluded and quiet location, but ever since the granary relocation project began, it had turned into the epicenter of the noise. By day, the shouts of workers and the pounding of tools were incessant; by night, though slightly quieter, the occasional sounds of timber planing, sawing, and worker chatter still made sleep elusive.

Bidding farewell to Chen Ji, Jiang Bai stepped back into her courtyard. Jiang Ye had gone off to studies; Jiang Bai stood there in the quiet courtyard where only a few fallen leaves drifted gently across the ground in the breeze. She walked indoors and lit an oil lamp, its dim, yellowish glow illuminating the room.

The next day, while Jiang Bai was indoors preparing medicinal pills for Duan Jing, Chen Ji's voice sounded outside her door.

Opening the door, Jiang Bai saw Chen Ji standing outside with dark bruises beneath his eyes. "Ah, Young Friend Jiang, you're awake. I have a small matter I'd like to trouble you with."

Jiang Bai led Chen Ji to a nearby side room to talk. Once they were seated, Chen Ji remained silent for a moment, unsure of how to begin.

"We simply cannot endure this any longer. The nighttime movements have indeed become lighter, but it's still too heavy—I didn't sleep a wink all of last night, and the daytime noise is even worse, making it completely impossible to catch up on rest. If this drags on for another ten or half-month, I truly won't be able to hold out." Chen Ji broke the silence.

"So Dr. Chen means..." Jiang Bai looked in astonishment at the dark circles nearly reaching Chen Ji's cheeks.

Chen Ji pointed to the bluish-black shadows under his eyes. "It's too noisy, I simply can't bear it any longer, and I must move out! And not just me—all the medicine apprentices at our place are planning to move out as well."

Seeing the dark shadows under Chen Ji's eyes, Jiang Bai felt a pang of sympathy. Pondering for a moment, she asked, "Dr. Chen, I've heard there is a vacant dwelling in the west of the city. Though somewhat farther from the medical camp, it is at least quiet. You and the apprentices could temporarily move there to stay for a few days until the granary is built, and return afterward."

Chen Ji's eyes lit up. "That is indeed a sound solution."

Seeing Chen Ji's approval, Jiang Bai continued, "However, I haven't inspected that courtyard myself; I've only heard that it is a bit old, though it should still be habitable with some tidying up. It would be best to actually take a look first. If Dr. Chen trusts me, I can go speak with the landlord on your behalf, and once terms are settled, you can move right in."