Chapter Forty: One Must First Endure Hardship to Strengthen the Spirit

This black barley horse was brought from a farmer’s home just over a month ago, and it had remained vigorous ever since, never causing any trouble. Under Zhou Zhi’s careful feeding, the horse had grown much stronger. With winter setting in, it was the season for the black barley horse to put on weight. Yet now, unexpectedly, it had fallen ill at this critical time—truly baffling.

The authorities stipulated that when villagers raised official horses, if the horse became weak or thin, they’d be fined silver. The amount wasn’t fixed; the headman would decide based on the horse’s condition. If the official horse died, the fine would be ten taels of silver.

The Zhou family was poor; where could they find silver for such fines? If the black barley horse really died, those ten taels would force the family to sell their land, ruin them completely.

Little brother Zhou Shaocheng’s illness had shown no improvement, already enough to trouble the family. Now the official horse was sick as well. Zhou Zhi worried that his mother might not be able to bear such heavy pressures and that something worse might happen.

Therefore, the horse’s illness had to be kept secret.

But how could such a thing be hidden? Tomorrow was the day for the headman to inspect the official horse again. That loathsome headman, Wang Qi, had extorted five eggs last time even though the horse was in perfect health. Now that the horse was truly ill, who knew what Wang Qi would do?

Father was away on corvée labor, so though Zhou Zhi was only fifteen, he had to shoulder the task of managing the household, becoming its mainstay. This only added to his anxiety and stress.

He was, after all, someone who had traveled through time from the future, with many experiences behind him. Zhou Zhi knew that in times of hardship, one must remain calm and never lose composure.

Life is full of difficulties, but as long as one stays strong, suffering will eventually give way to happiness.

As the saying goes: “When Heaven is about to place great responsibility upon someone, it first tests his resolve, exhausts his muscles and bones, starves his body, deprives him of possessions, and disrupts his endeavors, so as to strengthen his mind and spirit and increase his capabilities.”

Standing outside the stable, Zhou Zhi’s gaze was cold and resolute as he quickly pondered how to cope.

Suddenly, he recalled a transmigration novel from the future, which mentioned a simple remedy for horses with diarrhea—feeding them roasted sorghum flour could stop it. Perhaps the writer had made it up, but Zhou Zhi thought it worth a try.

Luckily, there was still some sorghum flour at home. Without hesitation, Zhou Zhi took a basketful, placed it in the pot, and began roasting it over the fire.

His mother, Zhou He, and his sister, Zhou Lüyun, were tending to Shaocheng in the inner room. The little brother had eaten little these days, still running a low fever, his face pale and body weak. He had just taken a new herbal medicine brought back from Doctor Qiu this morning, now lying on the heated bed, unable to move.

At dawn, Zhou Zhi and his sister, Zhou Lüyun, had visited Doctor Qiu Huichun’s home again. According to Qiu Huichun, a low fever at this stage was normal; after all, illness strikes like a mountain, but recovery is as slow as drawing silk.

He prescribed several more herbal mixtures, saying these were much stronger than before and the recipe had been changed to more potent medicines. Qiu Huichun was certain that after taking these, Zhou Shaocheng would recover in a few days.

“Zhi, why are you roasting sorghum flour?” his sister, Zhou Lüyun, asked as she emerged from the inner room, puzzled.

Because of Shaocheng’s illness, Zhou Lüyun had been anxious, her face growing haggard these days. Zhou Zhi glanced at his sister, his heart aching.

He had to keep the horse’s illness hidden for now, so he smiled lightly and replied, “To feed the horse. Tomorrow is the headman’s inspection day. I’ve heard that feeding sorghum flour makes a horse’s coat shinier and smoother. I don’t want him to extort another five eggs, so I’m trying it out.”

“Is it really effective? Our official horse is strong; we mustn’t let him extort eggs again. Shaocheng is ill, and Mother only allows him two eggs a day. Giving them away to that awful headman is such a waste,” Zhou Lüyun said angrily.

Zhou Zhi nodded gently and continued his work. As long as his sister didn’t notice the horse’s illness, everything could be managed.

Once the sorghum flour was roasted, Zhou Zhi hurried to the stable.

The black barley horse stood listless. Seeing Zhou Zhi enter, it tried to greet him with its usual snorts, but lacked the energy, merely rolling its eyes before remaining motionless and sickly.

Zhou Zhi cleared all the feed from the trough and poured in the roasted sorghum flour. The rich aroma wafted through the stable, and the black barley horse, despite its malaise, couldn’t resist and finally plunged its head into the trough to eat.

Normally, the horse would have devoured the feed with gusto, but now, though it ate slowly, at least it was eating. Zhou Zhi felt somewhat relieved.

When the horse had finished licking the trough clean, Zhou Zhi returned to the bedroom.

After taking Doctor Qiu’s strong medicine that morning, Shaocheng’s spirits had improved a little. Zhou Zhi reached out to feel his forehead; though still feverish, it was clearly better than earlier—a sign that Doctor Qiu had some skill.

Mother Zhou He sat by Shaocheng’s side, worried and sleepless through the previous night. Her eyes were bloodshot and red.

Zhou Zhi’s heart ached for his mother and he comforted her, “Mother, go rest in your room. I’ll look after Shaocheng. It seems the medicine is working and he’ll recover soon.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not tired. I just need to watch over Shaocheng. Once his illness passes, I’ll rest,” Zhou He replied softly.

Even with Zhou Lüyun’s persuasion, Mother Zhou He was resolute, insisting on staying with Shaocheng.

It had been four days—four days with her heart in suspense. Now, seeing Shaocheng finally show signs of improvement, she could relax a little. She would only be truly at ease once his illness was gone.

“Mother, I want a boiled egg,” Shaocheng suddenly pouted.

“Alright! Lüyun, go boil some eggs for Shaocheng—make more this time. Eating well will help him recover faster.” Hearing Shaocheng ask for food, Zhou He was delighted and hurried to instruct.

“Yes!” Zhou Lüyun’s face lit up with joy, and she rushed to the kitchen.

For four days, Shaocheng only ate eggs reluctantly under his mother’s insistence—one or two each day. Now he was asking for them himself; how could they not be happy? It seemed his illness would soon be gone.

Zhou Zhi was pleased as well. He tucked in Shaocheng’s quilt and quietly comforted his mother, then returned to the stable.

Shaocheng’s improvement was a source of great joy, but “Master Horse” still worried Zhou Zhi.

All day, he shuttled between the bedroom to check on Shaocheng and the stable to check on the black barley horse. After Shaocheng ate three eggs, his pallor eased a little and he could sit up, though he kept holding his stomach and complained of pain.

Having eaten little for days, suddenly consuming three eggs might naturally cause stomachache. Zhou Zhi, his mother, and sister all thought so.

No matter what, Shaocheng’s illness was improving, and he got better hour by hour.

By evening, Zhou Zhi was even more surprised—the black barley horse no longer had diarrhea and was much more energetic.

Ha! It seemed the remedy from that transmigration novel really worked.

Tomorrow, headman Wang Qi would come to inspect again. Now that the official horse was back to health, let’s see what Wang Qi has to say this time.