Cheng Tao had gotten married, and Cheng You was finally enjoying her freedom alone at home. With one less annoying person around, her days were incomparably pleasant.
She continued to help at Uncle Li’s place, and Qi Chengyan still came every day for acupuncture.
But Uncle Li racked his brain and gave him many medicines, yet his leg, already riddled with sores, showed no improvement.
Qi Chengyan remained stoic, appearing indifferent on the surface, but everyone could see the immense burden he carried.
Cheng You felt distressed watching him. He was such a proud man, and undoubtedly an excellent soldier in the army.
She knew her condensed dew could heal him, but she didn’t know how to administer medicine. Revealing it out of the blue would surely arouse suspicion.
One day, when Qi Chengyan came over again, she asked, “Uncle, after daily acupuncture, shouldn’t he be taking some medicine?”
“Medicine?” Uncle Li looked up at her.
Cheng You nodded, “Yes, taking some medicine, wouldn’t that be more effective?”
Uncle Li pondered for a moment, finding some sense in her words.
“No acupuncture today. I’ll research and prepare a medicinal decoction for him to try.”
Cheng You’s eyes brightened, “Then I’ll help you boil the medicine!”
Qi Chengyan narrowed his eyes slightly, finding Cheng You’s demeanor rather cheerful.
Of course, Cheng You was happy. Now she had a reason to give Qi Chengyan the condensed dew.
Uncle Li worked swiftly, revising and rewriting until he finally prepared a prescription.
“I had thought about giving him medicine before, but my skills are limited. If even acupuncture is ineffective for his leg, this medicine is unlikely to work either.”
He spoke in a low voice, not wanting Qi Chengyan to overhear.
Cheng You said, “Uncle, you can’t be like this! If you lack confidence, how can you expect Qi Chengyan to have any!”
Uncle Li glanced at her dismissively, “Do you think I’m a divine doctor? I’m just a barefoot practitioner.”
He had started learning medicine halfway through life, meeting his master in his twenties.
After he was initiated, his master returned to the city, leaving him a book to study on his own.
He was entirely self-taught.
Cheng You chuckled, “I’ll go get the herbs.”
She was already quite skilled at fetching herbs and boiling medicine.
Cheng You deliberately added two drops of condensed dew, daring not to add more.
The primary reason was that Chinese medicine was slow to take effect. If she added too much condensed dew, the dramatic change would make it seem like a miracle drug.
Furthermore, she only had a limited amount of condensed dew. She estimated it wouldn’t be enough to completely cure his leg.
What was lacking was time.
The medicine took a full two hours to decoct, after which Cheng You poured it out.
“Come, drink the medicine.”
The dark decoction was brought over and placed before Qi Chengyan.
It looked unappetizing.
And the smell was intensely bitter.
“Drink up, it will definitely work,” Cheng You urged, her eyes shining brightly.
Qi Chengyan remained still, his dark eyes fixed on her as he asked, “How do you know?”
Cheng You’s smile faltered, “Well… we need to maintain a positive mindset. Our physical condition is often closely linked to our mood. As long as hope endures, we can overcome any obstacle.”
Though her words sounded rather hollow, Qi Chengyan miraculously smiled.
The corners of his lips curved upwards, softening his noble and handsome features, like a crack in a glacier melting.
Cheng You was momentarily captivated, as if she could hear the frantic beating of her own heart.
How could a man be so perfect, with every detail precisely hitting her aesthetic?
Qi Chengyan cleared his throat and picked up the bowl.
The temperature was just right. He drank it in one gulp, his Adam’s apple bobbing as a drop of the medicine slipped from the corner of his mouth, tracing a path down his throat and disappearing into his honey-toned chest.
Cheng You’s gaze followed, her small mouth slightly agape.
It wasn’t a particularly aesthetic scene, yet she found it incredibly captivating.
Qi Chengyan wiped his mouth, put down the bowl, and then playfully tapped her forehead.
The scolding he had intended to deliver remained unspoken.
After all, Uncle Li was present.
Cheng You rubbed her forehead, pouting her red lips. Stingy.
Qi Chengyan washed the bowl and then took his leave to return home.
Cheng You glanced towards the kitchen, “Won’t you stay for dinner? We have meat today.”
“No need.”
He had no habit of taking advantage.
It was Uncle Li who interjected, “Stay for a meal, lest this girl pines for you every day.”
Cheng You immediately protested, “When did I pine for him!”
“Alright, alright, you don’t! It’s *I* who pines for him, satisfied?”
Cheng You puffed out her cheeks, like an angry little pufferfish.
Qi Chengyan’s finger flicked out, swiftly tapping her cheek.
The touch was so brief that Cheng You almost thought she was dreaming.
Cheng You stared at him, her dewy, deer-like eyes seeming to accuse, *How could you take advantage of me!*
Qi Chengyan’s expression remained impassive as he lightly rubbed his finger.
Cheng You wrinkled her nose and went into the kitchen to cook.
Hypocrite!
When Cheng You finished cooking and emerged from the kitchen, she saw that Qi Chengyan had already refilled the water缸 outside.
He was always like this, never taking undue advantage.
However, he worked hard and ate heartily.
Cheng You loved to watch him eat, finding him a bit rough but not uncouth.
Watching him eat always made her eat more.
By the end of the meal, Qi Chengyan voluntarily washed the dishes.
Before Granny Li went back to her room, she called Cheng You in.
“Girl, you like that fellow Chengyan, don’t you?”
Such a direct question made Cheng You blush.
“Grandma, you…”
Granny Li interrupted her, “I know young girls are shy, but with your mother gone, I have to explain things clearly. Chengyan is from Yancheng. With his demeanor, his family must have some standing. Yancheng, what a place! I’ve lived for over seventy years, and the farthest I’ve been is the city, I’ve never even left our Yongcheng, let alone that capital city?”
Cheng You’s gaze drifted into the distance. Yancheng, she had never been there either.
She hadn’t even been to the city Granny Li mentioned.
“Chengyan, he’s destined for greater things and will surely return to the city. If you commit to him, you’ll have to keep pace with him. What will you do if he returns to the city one day? Will he take you with him? You need to consider these questions carefully. Widow Lin from our village is a lesson for you.”
Granny Li was referring to Widow Lin, whose former husband was also a sent-down youth.
They hadn’t officially registered their marriage, just held a few tables as a ceremony.
Later, the man found a way to return to the city and never came back.
Widow Lin had nowhere to turn, even if she wanted to find him.
In the vast country of China, how could a woman who knew nothing easily survive on her own?
Soon, her own family married her off again, but her luck was bad; shortly after marrying, her husband died in an accident.
With no children, she lived alone.
She didn’t want Cheng You to become another Widow Lin.
Cheng You bit her lip, a seed of doubt sown in her heart.
But on second thought, she didn’t think Qi Chengyan was that kind of person.
When she was betrothed to Zhao Yunlin, he had never shown any inclination towards her.
How could such a man, who adhered to propriety, abandon his wife?
“Grandma, I understand what you mean. Thank you for your concern, but I still want to try. It’s not a gamble on whether he’ll return to the city, but a gamble on myself to work hard for him and follow him back. If I can go to Yancheng in the future, I’ll come back to bring you to see the Great Wall.”
Granny Li smiled with relief and stroked her hair.
“Good, Grandma will wait for you.”