Ruan Liuzheng happily finished her meal and then prepared to head to Auntie Niu’s house in the village.
She had heard that Auntie Niu was a Party member, had once served as the village’s Women’s Director when she was younger, and was also descended from a martyr. In this era, those credentials made her the very model of an exemplary comrade.
Her home was on the western side of the village. Several neat thatched houses stood together, and the courtyard was kept exceptionally clean and orderly.
As soon as she reached the entrance, she saw Uncle Niu sitting outside weaving a bamboo basket.
“Uncle Niu?”
He looked up. His face was lined with wrinkles, but his eyes were still bright and alert.
“You’re one of the new educated youths, aren’t you?”
Ruan Liuzheng nodded.
“Yes, Uncle Niu. I’m here to borrow a needle and some thread from Auntie Niu.”
Uncle Niu turned toward the house and called out,
“Old woman! The young educated lady is here to see you!”
Then he lowered his head and resumed his weaving.
Ruan Liuzheng stood naturally in the courtyard, watching him weave for quite some time.
Soon, a middle-aged woman wrapped in a headscarf and dressed in plain, patched clothing stepped outside. She paused in surprise when she saw Ruan Liuzheng, then smiled warmly.
“What a pretty girl!”
Ruan Liuzheng smiled shyly, her obedient demeanor instantly softening Auntie Niu’s heart.
“I heard everyone saying a beautiful educated youth had arrived. Now that I’ve seen you, you’re even prettier than they said.”
Ruan Liuzheng lowered her head bashfully, her cheeks turning pink.
“Auntie Niu, I’d like to borrow a needle and some thread.”
Auntie Niu was straightforward and cheerful.
“Of course! I’ll get them for you.”
Ruan Liuzheng accepted the sewing kit, then glanced once more at Uncle Niu, who was still weaving.
“What is it, girl?” Auntie Niu asked. “If you need a basket, you can just take one.”
Ruan Liuzheng hurriedly shook her head.
“No, Auntie Niu. I’m… I’m looking at Uncle Niu’s leg.”
Auntie Niu froze for a moment before laughing.
“His leg is fine. It’s just an old problem.”
Ruan Liuzheng pointed toward his leg.
“Auntie, I can cure Uncle Niu’s leg.”
Auntie Niu turned to look at her husband, suddenly intrigued.
“Girl, you really can?”
Ruan Liuzheng nodded confidently.
“Recently, his leg has been swelling more than before, hasn’t it? And when he walks, the pain has become much worse.”
That immediately convinced Auntie Niu halfway.
“That’s exactly right. Old Niu, roll up your pant leg and let the young lady take a look.”
Uncle Niu looked embarrassed, but under his wife’s insistent gaze, he reluctantly rolled up his pant leg.
One look was enough for Ruan Liuzheng.
Just as she had expected—it was beriberi.
She immediately said,
“Uncle Niu, your condition is actually easy to treat. I’ll gather some medicinal herbs from the mountain and prepare a decoction for you. Seven doses will completely cure it.”
“Really?”
Uncle Niu cried out in surprise.
His leg had bothered him for years. He had long believed that by the time he grew old, he would end up crippled. He had never imagined there was still hope for a full recovery.
Auntie Niu excitedly stepped forward and grasped Ruan Liuzheng’s hand.
“Girl, thank you so much. If you ever need anything in the future, just come find me.”
Ruan Liuzheng smiled and nodded.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
After leaving Auntie Niu’s house, Ruan Liuzheng tucked the sewing kit under her arm and returned to Xie Jinghuai’s home.
The sky was gradually growing dark, but he still had not returned.
She took down the torn pair of trousers hanging on the clothesline.
As she stitched them, she grumbled inwardly.
Heh. I never thought my excellent sewing skills would first be used here to mend a man’s trousers.
Then again, stitching up a patient saves the patient’s life.
Stitching Xie Jinghuai’s trousers saves my own.
Nothing embarrassing about that.
To become part of his life, she had to leave traces of herself everywhere.
Giving gifts was the clumsy approach.
Quietly weaving herself into the details of his everyday life—that was the best strategy.
Once she had finished, she folded the trousers neatly and placed them on the stool.
Only then did she leave.
She needed to get back early.
Chen Wenjuan was still waiting for her.
There was a grand performance waiting to unfold that evening.
Ruan Liuzheng hurried back to the educated youths’ residence by taking a longer, roundabout route.
Xie Jinghuai emerged silently from the darkness, carrying two rabbits.
His gaze grew deeper.
He had already returned while Ruan Liuzheng was sewing his pants.
He hadn’t expected her to still be there so late at night.
With her head lowered, she carefully stitched his torn pants under the moonlight, one stitch after another.
It felt as though something had struck Xie Jinghuai’s heart.
He reached out to take the pants, then frowned and went to wash his hands first.
Looking at the neat, dense stitches that made the tear completely invisible, his brows knitted tightly together.
Just then, Jia Weihua arrived. Seeing the door open, he walked in and found Old Xie staring blankly at a pair of pants.
“Old Xie, what are you thinking about? Your pants were torn. I was going to patch them up for you. Why are you acting so serious?”
As he spoke, he noticed the perfectly repaired pants in Xie Jinghuai’s hands.
“Oh? They’re already fixed? Who did you get to sew them? Those are some impressive sewing skills—way better than mine.”
Just as Jia Weihua reached out, Xie Jinghuai swiftly pulled the pants to his side.
“If you’ve got nothing else to do, take one rabbit to Old Zhang’s house. Leave the other one here.”
Jia Weihua immediately brightened.
“What? We’re having an extra meal? Didn’t expect you to be so thoughtful. Come on, let me skin it.”
Xie Jinghuai lifted the rabbit away with one hand.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
Watching him turn and walk away with the rabbit, Jia Weihua called after him, “Hey, Old Xie, are you taking it to that young lady?”
Then something suddenly clicked.
Could it really be what he was thinking?
If it was…
Jia Weihua quickly covered his mouth.
Old Xie’s lifelong happiness was important, but someone as secretly affectionate as him was truly a rare sight.
Pinching his voice into a mocking imitation, he said, “I definitely won’t give her any special treatment!”
Xie Jinghuai’s footsteps came to an abrupt stop.
Sensing danger, Jia Weihua grabbed the other rabbit and bolted, shouting as he ran,
“I absolutely won’t give her any special treatment!”
Xie Jinghuai’s face darkened.
Looking down at the rabbit drooping in his hand, an inexplicable irritation welled up inside him.
It was obvious that Ruan Liuzheng was affecting his emotions, and that realization annoyed him.
He was only giving her the rabbit to thank her for mending his pants.
Just this once.
There would absolutely, positively never be a next time.
Xie Jinghuai took a deep breath.
That settled it.
Meanwhile, Ruan Liuzheng knew nothing about what had happened on Xie Jinghuai’s side.
As soon as she returned to the educated youth residence, she was pulled into the weekly political study session.
Every week, all the educated youths gathered together for ideological study.
By the time she finished reciting everything until she was dizzy and exhausted, Ruan Liuzheng secretly stifled a yawn.
She glanced at Chen Wenjuan walking outside, the corners of her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
Sure enough, only moments later, Chen Wenjuan let out a terrified scream.
“Snake!”
She fainted on the spot.
Kong Youping was startled and hurried over to take a look.
Where was the snake?
It was nothing more than a short piece of hemp rope that happened to resemble snakeskin.
After Chen Wenjuan was revived, she shrank backward in terror.
Kong Youping couldn’t help frowning.
He had already heard the older educated youths complaining about what had happened the previous night.
Unable to hold back, he said, “Comrade Chen, this won’t do. You’re so distracted that you mistook a rope for a snake. Maybe you should go see a doctor.”
Meeting his gaze, Chen Wenjuan instantly snapped back to her senses.
“N-No… I’m fine, Captain Kong. I’ve just been too nervous lately.”
Kong Youping’s expression became even more serious.
“Then you should pay more attention to your health, Comrade Chen.”
Watching him leave, Chen Wenjuan felt a chill run down her back.
She had nearly been mistaken for someone who had lost her mind.