Chapter 104: Would You Dare Seek Her Treatment?

The end of winter slipped by lazily yet swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

One clear day, when the roads to the commune and the city were open again, Lin Jingyue suggested that the Yu family and the Zhao family go for a proper medical checkup.

At first, both families were reluctant. They knew better than anyone what condition their own people were in. Half a month had been enough to reveal the general outcome.

But because it was Lin Jingyue’s suggestion, they dared not delay. They set out at once in the production brigade’s ox cart.

During those half-months, the two families’ houses had also been cleared out and tidied up once more. They had not collapsed entirely; what could be repaired had been repaired.

That evening, both families returned.

When the people in the brigade asked about the results, Granny Zhao and Granny Yu smiled broadly.

“The doctor said they’re recovering very well. Comrade Lin treated them wonderfully. If it hadn’t been for her, Big Ya and my eldest daughter-in-law would have been delayed……”

“Yes,” Granny Yu added, still shaken with lingering fear, “the people at the hospital even said my Big Ya would’ve been lame. If Comrade Lin hadn’t handled it in time, and we’d jolted her all the way to the city, I’m afraid she might not have survived at all.”

Everyone listening could not help sighing in sympathy.

It gave them a vivid impression of Lin Jingyue’s medical skill.

“Oh, then if we ever get a headache or fever, we can go to Comrade Lin and have her take a look,” one old woman said at once.

The plump aunt beside her rolled her eyes so hard it was almost visible. “She may know medicine, but going to her for treatment…… do you dare?”

It was like a bucket of cold water poured over them.

Everyone sobered at once, and their feelings grew complicated. No, they didn’t dare. Lin Jingyue’s temper, that ferocious and frightening demeanor……

Forget it. Better to find someone else.

At that moment, Lin Jingyue was back at the educated youth compound, eating and drinking to her heart’s content while enjoying Jiang Xun’s feeding her.

This man’s cooking skills were truly formidable. The brown sugar cakes he made were irresistible, and Lin Jingyue ate three large pieces in one go.

She still wanted more, but Jiang Xun stopped her.

“Eat too much now and you won’t be able to digest it when it’s time for dinner.”

“All right then. Braised salted ribs tonight?” Lin Jingyue withdrew her hand with some regret.

There was too much delicious food.

Fortunately, she had the chance to keep eating it forever.

“Mm, there’s enough salted ribs for one more meal.” Last time, after the two wild boars were brought back, apart from what had been mailed home, there was still plenty left.

Lin Jingyue had simply taken it over for the three of them to eat, and even sent some to Xie Yunzhen next door.

Xie Yunzhen and Zhou Yan were not the kind to take advantage of others either; they gave Lin Jingyue some coupons and other things in return.

Anyway, it was all give and take.

While Jiang Xun cooked, Lin Jingyue sat beside the stove knitting a scarf. Yes, the very scarf she had said she would make for Jiang Xun.

Only now had she actually started.

“That’s not how you knit……” Xia Nan came out to fetch water, and when she saw the tangled mess of yarn in Lin Jingyue’s arms, she could not help pressing a hand to her forehead.

“But yesterday I saw you knit like this,” Lin Jingyue said in confusion.

Xia Nan set down the basin, sighed, and came over to continue teaching her. “Your stitches are wrong. It should be like this……”

She took the yarn from Lin Jingyue’s hands, knitted two stitches, and then explained carefully.

It was so complicated.

Lin Jingyue could not help scratching her head.

“Shall I knit it for you instead? I can have it ready by tomorrow morning,” Xia Nan said, feeling that what Lin Jingyue was making was rather hard on the eyes.

“No need. I can do it myself.” Lin Jingyue hurriedly refused.

What a joke. This was a scarf for Jiang Xun. How could she let someone else do it for her?

Xia Nan probably guessed why she was so insistent on knitting it herself, and with a smile she returned it to her.

Lin Jingyue resumed her battle with the yarn.

Jiang Xun watched and could not help but laugh softly. In his eyes, starlight flickered; the bright moon seemed to bloom with flowers, and everything around them paled by comparison.

The atmosphere here was so warm and pleasant that Chen Chunlan across the way could not help feeling sour. She glanced at the person lounging inside like some sort of lord and could not stop herself from slamming things around.

Yet even so, it did nothing to affect Lin Jingyue, nor the cozy peace of Wang Xueping and the others.

Wang Xueping was already more than four months pregnant, though it was hard to tell because of her thick clothes.

Yang Ming took very good care of her.

The two of them also received parcels from home quite often, and their life was not bad at all.

Watching them, even Xie Wenjuan felt a bit envious.

That night after dinner, Xie Wenjuan was talking with Luo Jianhua. After some hesitation, she said, “Have you ever thought about……”

“Wenjuan……” Luo Jianhua interrupted her before she could finish.

Xie Wenjuan felt a little disappointed. They understood each other without words; they both had feelings, yet there was also an unspoken agreement not to break the silence.

Because both of them firmly believed that one day they would be able to return to the city.

She steadied her thoughts and gave a bitter smile. “I’ve been too influenced by other people.”

Luo Jianhua felt guilty and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that. I understand what you mean,” Xie Wenjuan said, shaking her head, helplessness in her heart.

She knew Luo Jianhua cared for her.

But……

The two of them had been sent down to the countryside the longest. If not for the stubborn fire still burning in their hearts, they would long ago have been unable to endure.

Among those who had come down with Luo Jianhua, only one was still trying to find a way back to the city. The others had already settled in the brigade.

Now they were no different from the local people.

After talking for a while, Xie Wenjuan left. Luo Jianhua thought about things and drifted into a daze.

After a long while, he came back to himself, his face blank, his eyes somewhat numb.

They would keep holding on, but no one knew whether that day would ever come.

The road ahead was uncertain; he dared not make promises to the one he loved.

If there truly came a day—if there truly came a day—he would never fail his girl.

The next day, the mailman came to deliver letters, and Lin Jingyue received one as well. It was from Song Qinglan.

She said she had sent her two quilts made of cotton padding, and that the weather was getting cold, so Lin Jingyue must not let herself freeze.

She also said that if she ran out of money, she should call home and she would send more.

There were also two other matters. After the New Year, Wu Shanshan would have to go down to the countryside, and she would lose her job.

After that came the matter of Old Madam Wu’s death.

Only now was she telling Lin Jingyue, and she felt guilty about it, but thinking of how the Wu family had ignored Lin Jingyue for so many years, she was also angry.

Reading the letter, Lin Jingyue could not help smiling.

Song Qinglan was truly an interesting person.

Still, Wu Shanshan was going down to the countryside? Well then…… after all the twists and turns, she still had not escaped her fate.

Lin Jingyue also planned to write back to Song Qinglan. She did not say much, only a couple of lines telling her that she lacked nothing and not to waste her concern.

“My mother said there are some imported snacks at home. She’s sending them over and asked me to give them to you. She also said she received the cured meat you mailed and told you not to send any more next time, to take care of yourself first,” Jiang Xun said when he came over a little later.

“The last batch I sent still hasn’t been finished,” Lin Jingyue said helplessly.

“It’s fine. No one at home even eats snacks,” Jiang Xun said with a laugh. “My mother has always wanted a daughter. Just let her have her wish.”

The corner of Lin Jingyue’s lips curved, and she felt genuinely happy.

After all, it was good to be remembered by someone.

The parcel from Song Qinglan arrived together with the one from Jiang Xun’s mother—it was a coincidence.

Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun went into the city together to pick them up.

Since Jiang Xun was with her, Lin Jingyue did not go to the black market.