Given his health condition, he shouldn't have been able to work hard. Yet after ten days of labor here, not only had he not fallen ill, but he felt stronger with each passing day. It seemed Ivy had been moved and had put medicine in his tea. He was grateful and drank the entire cup in one go.

Handing the cup back to Ivy, he said, "Not tired. Could I have another cup?"

Ivy opened his hand, "The next cup is in four hours. Don't play dumb - I've told you this before."

She put ...