Everyone knew why Liao Four-Eyes was called that. But without his glasses, Liao… well, he became “Educated Youth Xiao Liao.”
“Educated Youth Liao, why aren’t you wearing your glasses?” Wang Lifen was the first to notice something was wrong.
Liao Zhixian couldn’t see clearly at all. He could only hold onto the ridges between fields, fumbling as he worked. Fortunately, today’s task was gathering straw, not anything delicate. After doing it a few times, he managed to get the hang of it.
“My… my glasses are broken.”
“That’s no small matter. Why don’t you stop working and go to the hospital to get a new pair?”
“Exactly. Even with glasses he can’t recognize people, and without them he’s practically blind.”
The women spoke bluntly, but Liao Zhixian didn’t get angry. He simply couldn’t tell the truth yet. He wasn’t ungrateful—he knew Qin Laidi had kindly offered to treat his eyes—but he didn’t hold much hope. If he boasted now and it failed, people would only say she was showing off without real ability. He didn’t want her kindness to backfire.
“Brother Four-Eyes, then why did you go up the mountain with Sister Laidi to gather herbs yesterday?” a child asked.
Since Cui Lao Wu’s wife had recovered enough to work again, Qin Laidi had once again become a hot topic in the village. Everyone turned to look.
Liao Zhixian grew nervous. “I… I just…”
Widow Liu rolled her eyes. “Oh, Four-Eyes, could it be Laidi is treating your eyes? Be careful—don’t go from half-blind to fully blind!”
Someone burst out laughing. “I’ve lived this long and never heard of nearsightedness being cured.”
“Exactly. That girl just loves showing off her half-baked skills,” Widow Liu added bitterly.
But Cui Fifth Aunt immediately retorted loudly, “Why not? She even cured someone like me who was half-dead! Don’t forget who’s treating you all for free now!”
Wang Lifen crossed her arms and scolded, “She treats you for free, teaches you to gather herbs, saves you money—and you still mock her? Have some shame!”
The women lowered their heads, partly guilty, partly unwilling to argue with Wang Lifen.
Liao Zhixian also spoke up, “I was the one who asked Comrade Xiao Qin to treat me. She only agreed after I begged her. Whether it works or not, I’m grateful. Please don’t speak ill of her—she’s a good comrade.”
This was the first time he had spoken so much, so clearly, in front of so many people.
Widow Liu was about to continue when suddenly something hit her back—a dried cow dung patty.
“Which little brat did that?!”
Before she could react, another one hit her. Soon she was shouting and cursing, and chaos erupted in the fields.
Despite the commotion, Liao Zhixian never missed a dose of medicine.
His condition was caused by internal heat toxins affecting the liver, clouding the sensory orifices. Since the eyes are linked to the liver meridian, this led to declining vision. Treatment wasn’t difficult—the key was the right herbs.
Qin Laidi’s prescription included mulberry leaves and Baiwei, both available in the mountains. But one ingredient—dendrobium—was extremely hard to find.
Cui Lao Wu volunteered to search for it.
Three days and two nights later, he finally returned—dirty, exhausted, but triumphant.
Not only had he found dendrobium, it was wild Tiepi dendrobium—an extremely valuable medicinal herb.
Qin Laidi was stunned. “Where did you find this?”
“Three mountains over, on a red cliff to the north,” he said proudly.
She could hardly believe it. This was a rare treasure—known in later years as “gold among medicines.”
Fresh dendrobium worked quickly.
By the next day, Liao Zhixian felt his vision improving. Objects were no longer blurry or doubled.
By Sunday morning, he could even thread a needle without glasses.
The entire village was shocked.
Liao Four-Eyes could now thread a needle!
People rushed to see for themselves. When they confirmed he could clearly read characters from several meters away, they finally believed Qin Laidi truly had real skill.
Meanwhile, Qin Laidi was not there.
She had gone to the county hospital to deliver processed medicinal herbs. Because of the large quantity, she earned fifteen yuan.
That was nearly half a month’s salary for an average worker.
For the first time in her life, she experienced the joy of earning and spending her own money freely.
She quickly made plans—buy meat, make new clothes, prepare for winter.
In the end, she bought a fat rooster for three yuan and fifty cents, along with cloth and cotton.
That evening, the Qin family finally had meat.
Half the chicken was stewed, filling the air with rich aroma. The other half was salted and hung to smoke.
Children from next door peeked over the wall, drooling.
Even Widow Liu couldn’t hide her envy.
After dinner, Qin Laidi spoke up, “Grandma, I want to change my name.”
“I don’t want to be called Laidi anymore.”
That name had brought her ridicule all her life. It symbolized expectations she never chose.
“I want to be myself.”
After much persuasion, she and her sister finally changed their names.
Qin Laidi became Qin Jiao.
Qin Pandi became Qin Pan.
Life slowly improved.
Their rabbit gave birth—to twelve babies.
They planned to raise them and exchange them for medicine later.
Meanwhile, Qin Jiao continued working tirelessly—treating animals, caring for pigs, gathering herbs.
One day, Liao Zhixian returned from visiting home, bringing gifts—milk candy, malted milk, and more.
But more importantly, he handed her a package.
“It’s from the provincial capital.”
Qin Jiao was puzzled. Who would send her something?
She examined it carefully—the postage had been tampered with.
Her mind raced with possibilities.
Was it from He Liansheng?
A secret message? Important documents? Or… a gift?
With curiosity and anticipation, she opened the package.
Inside—
Human Anatomy.