Wang Ben entered the family courtyard as his grandmother Chen Shuwen stopped two clan members carrying several rolls of bedding.
"Leave one roll here for anyone Wang Xiu needs close tonight," she said. "Take the rest to the outer courtyard."
One clan member set a roll against the wall. They carried the remaining bedding away.
Squad Commander Wang Daiyu stood near Chen Shuwen with a narrow board braced against one forearm and a brush in her other hand. She crossed out two names beneath the family-courtyard heading and copied them beneath the outer-courtyard heading. The ink had barely dried before Wang Xiu arrived with an older clansman leaning on her arm.
"The stairs are too much for him," Wang Xiu said.
Chen Shuwen looked at the man. "Keep him here. Move the two who can walk without help farther out."
Wang Xiu helped the older man sit along the sheltered wall. Wang Daiyu changed the sheet again.
By the time Wang Ben reached Chen Shuwen, three more people were waiting with questions about medicinal ointment, recovery pills, and oil for the spirit lamps.
A wooden chest stood beside them. Chen Shuwen answered the first question, then pointed to two clan members nearby.
"Put the chest under the eaves."
They carried it to the sheltered wall and set it down.
Grand Elder Wang Feng returned from his first look at the damaged courtyards while Chen Shuwen was deciding where to put the lamps. Dust marked one shoulder of his robe.
"I found roof damage over two courtyards," he said. "Keep both empty until I finish checking them."
Chen Shuwen looked at Wang Daiyu's sheet. "Move every name written beneath those two."
Wang Feng turned back toward the damaged buildings before Wang Daiyu finished writing.
Chen Shuwen sent one clan member to retrieve another lamp.
"Leave one lamp beside the treatment hall," she said. "Put the rest where people will sleep tonight."
Wang Daiyu marked the changes. "The sleeping place beside the hall?"
"Leave it empty."
Wang Ben looked toward the closed door. His grandfather had not woken. "For Grandfather?"
"For whoever your father calls for," Chen Shuwen said.
The treatment-hall door opened. Wang Tian looked at the people moving outside.
"Keep the noise away from this door," he said. "The patriarch needs rest."
Chen Shuwen nodded, and Wang Tian went back inside.
She turned to Wang Xiu. "Keep one helper with the patients nearest the hall. Tell Wang Daiyu who needs to remain nearby."
"I understand," Wang Xiu said.
"And rest before you check them again tonight."
Wang Xiu opened her mouth, then closed it and nodded.
The people waiting nearby began speaking again as soon as Chen Shuwen faced them. One needed somewhere dry for medicines brought from the medical pavilion. Another needed room for a third patient. Wang Xiu added that the older clansman needed quiet, away from people crossing the courtyard.
At Chen Shuwen's direction, one clan member put the medicines in the chest beneath the eaves. Wang Xiu found the older man a quieter space along the sheltered wall, while the two patients who could walk without help left for the outer courtyard.
When Chen Shuwen turned away from Wang Daiyu, Wang Ben was still beside her.
"Let me help here," he said.
Chen Shuwen looked at the arm pressed against his side. "What can you do without making those ribs worse?"
"I can still help."
"That was not my question."
Wang Ben took a shallow breath and grimaced.
"I can walk and keep watch," he said. "I can carry something light once, but not back and forth. I cannot hold anyone up."
"Stay outside the treatment hall until someone relieves you," Chen Shuwen said. "Keep the approach clear."
She nodded toward Wang Daiyu. "Send anyone asking where to sleep to me or her. If your father comes out, call Wang Xiu unless he asks for someone else."
"Only the entrance?"
"That is what I need."
Wang Ben nodded. "I can do it."
Chen Shuwen had already turned to the next person waiting.
Wang Ben took his post beside the door.
Wang Xiu's twin brother, Wang Jun, approached with a spirit lamp in each hand. Wang Ben stopped him before he reached the entrance.
"Outer courtyard," he said. "They need both."
Wang Jun turned back.
Later, someone came looking for lamp oil. Wang Ben sent her to Wang Daiyu. When one of Wang Xiu's helpers brought a man who needed her attention, Wang Ben kept two others from crowding the approach. Wang Xiu led the man across the courtyard to examine him. The treatment-hall door remained closed.
"Wang Xiu," the older clansman called from the sheltered wall.
She did not hear him. The older man supported himself against the wall and rose. After a moment, he tried to follow her.
"Wait," Wang Ben said.
The older man took another step. His knee bent.
Wang Ben started forward, then stopped with his arm pressed hard against his side.
"Here," he called.
Two clansmen nearby turned. One caught the older clansman beneath the arm, and the other supported him from the opposite side.
Wang Ben cleared the way while they helped the older man back to the sheltered wall.
"Wang Xiu needs to know," Wang Ben said. He pointed to one of the people waiting. "Find her. Tell her he tried to follow her and his leg failed."
The messenger went. Wang Ben returned to the door.
A clan member stood near Chen Shuwen with a sleeping mat under one arm when Wang Feng returned from the damaged courtyards.
"Neither roof is safe," Wang Feng said. "Keep both courtyards empty tonight."
The clan member set the sleeping mat down. "Then where do the two still waiting go?"
Chen Shuwen looked toward Wang Xiu, who had returned and was helping someone settle nearby. She did not answer for her.
"Which of them needs to stay near you?" Chen Shuwen asked.
"The one who cannot walk without help," Wang Xiu said. "The other can sleep in the outer courtyard."
Wang Daiyu recorded the change. "Who relieves Wang Ben?"
"Leave that line blank for now," Chen Shuwen said. "I have not assigned anyone."
Wang Daiyu nodded and went to tell the two people where they would sleep.
As people settled for the night, the damaged courtyards stayed closed and the approach to the treatment hall remained clear.
Wang Ben stayed beside the door while Chen Shuwen answered another question.