"Impossible, right? He's so young, and if what you say is true, he's as powerful as Su Qinglan?"
"Besides, he's not using golden needles!" Xia Qingling countered.
"But this technique is undoubtedly Jin Zhen Du Xue (Golden Needle Crossing Acupoints). I interned with Master Su Qinglan, and I wouldn't mistake this technique," Guo Linqing explained.
"I even took a video. If you don't believe me, go ask your grandfather. He's a renowned TCM expert too, he'll definitely be able to tell if this is Jin Zhen Du Xue." Guo Linqing finished, proudly flashing her phone.
"Fine! Send it to me, I don't believe he can actually do Jin Zhen Du Xue!" Xia Qingling pouted.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiao Tian, pulling Li Ergai, had already gotten into the car heading home. This was tough on Li Ergai, whose left leg was disabled and who suffered from various chronic ailments. The bumpy journey exacerbated his conditions.
"Brother Ergai, when we get back, I'll cure your leg," Lin Xiao Tian said nonchalantly.
Li Ergai was stunned. Did Lin Xiao Tian mean he could cure his left leg?
"Xiao Tian, don't joke. I'll take it seriously."
"Do I look like I'm joking? I've already bought the medicine for you," Lin Xiao Tian said with a serious expression.
"Alright, alright, if you want to treat it, go ahead! My skin is thick, I won't die from it!" Li Ergai laughed carelessly, not taking Lin Xiao Tian's words to heart. Doctors at major hospitals couldn't cure his left leg; how could Lin Xiao Tian, who hadn't finished university, possibly do it? Li Ergai just assumed Lin Xiao Tian was joking.
After a bumpy journey, they finally reached the mountain road leading into the village. The road was narrow and in poor condition, so the tractor couldn't go. Lin Xiao Tian pulled Li Ergai onto a cart and pulled him into the village. As it was getting dark, Lin Xiao Tian slowed down considerably. Finally, just before nightfall, they returned to the village. Lin Xiao Tian pulled the cart to his doorstep and knocked on the door.
"Coming," Qin Yuxiang ran out. Seeing that it was Lin Xiao Tian, Qin Yuxiang was both surprised and delighted.
"Silly boy, I heard from the villagers that you pulled a cart out of the village. What were you doing? And you're only just back now!" Qin Yuxiang pinched Lin Xiao Tian. Having learned that Lin Xiao Tian had left the village, she hadn't felt at ease all afternoon. If she had known the way, she would have gone looking for him.
Seeing Qin Yuxiang's worried expression, Lin Xiao Tian sheepishly scratched his head. As he was still considered a fool, his sudden departure would surely worry Qin Yuxiang.
"Sister Yuxiang, don't worry. It was me who took Xiao Tian to the city to sell fish," Li Ergai patted Lin Xiao Tian's shoulder and stepped in front of Qin Yuxiang. Hearing that Li Ergai had accompanied him, Qin Yuxiang's expression eased considerably.
"It's too dangerous. Don't go out on your own anymore!" Qin Yuxiang couldn't help but pinch Lin Xiao Tian again.
"Sister Yuxiang... Xiao Tian... wants to earn money. Xiao Tian... wants to go to the city... with Brother Ergai. Xiao Tian... doesn't want you... to be bullied," Lin Xiao Tian said stubbornly. Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, Qin Yuxiang's eyes welled up. Looking at Lin Xiao Tian's travel-worn appearance, she knew he must have suffered a lot. With that thought, Qin Yuxiang couldn't help but pull Lin Xiao Tian into a hug.
"My little fool, you're a fool, it's too dangerous. No, I don't agree." Feeling the softness of Qin Yuxiang's embrace, Lin Xiao Tian felt dizzy. Qin Yuxiang had a perfect figure that fulfilled all a man's fantasies. Being held by such a beauty was a huge challenge for Lin Xiao Tian, who was still a virgin! Lin Xiao Tian quickly turned to Li Ergai, pleading with his eyes. But Li Ergai gave Lin Xiao Tian a meaningful look, a faint, sly smile on his lips, as if to say, "Brother, you're amazing." Only when Lin Xiao Tian glared at him did Li Ergai speak again.
"Sister Yuxiang, just let Xiao Tian come with me. I wouldn't harm Xiao Tian. And you know how much we earned selling fish today?" Li Ergai said mysteriously. This was the story Lin Xiao Tian and Li Ergai had concocted in the car. Lin Xiao Tian knew Qin Yuxiang wouldn't agree to him traveling far, so he had Li Ergai cooperate in putting on a show.
"How much?" Qin Yuxiang asked. Li Ergai got straight to the point, pulling out a wad of cash and handing it to Qin Yuxiang.
"This is ten thousand yuan. The rest of the money, Xiao Tian and I used to buy some daily necessities. And Xiao Tian picked them out himself!" Li Ergai said, then pointed to the cart. Seeing the heavy wad of cash in her hand and the goods on the cart, Qin Yuxiang was stunned. She had thought Xiao Tian's claim of being able to earn money was just a foolish remark, but he had actually done it.
"But he's a fool, and you have mobility issues. What if you're cheated in the city? I still don't agree." Although she had received the money, Qin Yuxiang still refused for Lin Xiao Tian's safety.
"Yuxiang, don't worry! We've signed a contract with a restaurant. We'll supply goods regularly from now on, and we only need to make one trip through the mountain path," Li Ergai said, and then, as if on cue, produced the agreement signed with the restaurant. Qin Yuxiang took the agreement and examined it carefully.
"It seems like there's no problem..." Qin Yuxiang was still hesitant.
"Sister Yuxiang, you... please... let me... go," Lin Xiao Tian, holding Qin Yuxiang's hand, began to act cute.
"Yes, Yuxiang, Xiao Tian has good intentions, can you bear to refuse? And with me here, what problem could there be?" Li Ergai added. Their cooperation was seamless, and Qin Yuxiang's heart eventually softened.
"You can go, but don't come back this late. You must be back by 4 PM at the latest every day."
"No problem!" Lin Xiao Tian and Li Ergai said in unison. Following that, Lin Xiao Tian carried the goods from the cart into the house and then bid farewell to Li Ergai. Qin Yuxiang brought out the fish soup from lunch. She hadn't drunk it all, saving most of it for Lin Xiao Tian.
"Sister Yuxiang, I bought bento boxes, we can eat those," Lin Xiao Tian took out several bento boxes.
"Xiao Tian, are you back to normal now?" Qin Yuxiang looked at Lin Xiao Tian, who was no longer stuttering, and knew he had regained his senses. Lin Xiao Tian nodded. After dinner, Lin Xiao Tian moved the daily necessities he had bought from the supermarket into Qin Yuxiang's room one by one. He had mainly bought them for Qin Yuxiang. Since Li Dazhu had run away, Qin Yuxiang's room was almost empty. After arranging the room, Lin Xiao Tian returned to his own room. Qin Yuxiang glanced at the items Lin Xiao Tian had bought, including mosquito repellent, tissues, toothpaste, shampoo, soap... and even sanitary napkins. Qin Yuxiang's face instantly turned red. When she reached the table, Qin Yuxiang suddenly saw a small box. Upon opening it, she found a set of skincare products. Qin Yuxiang knew these products; a set would cost at least several hundred yuan. She had never been able to afford to buy them before, but now that Lin Xiao Tian had earned money, he had bought them for her.
"Silly boy, always wasting money," Qin Yuxiang chided, but her heart was filled with warmth. Meanwhile, after arranging Qin Yuxiang's room, Lin Xiao Tian went out. A few minutes later, Lin Xiao Tian arrived at a house.
"Knock, knock, knock!" Lin Xiao Tian knocked on the door.
"Who is it? It's so late!" Li Ergai opened the door reluctantly. In the countryside, there was no nightlife, and most people went to bed as soon as it got dark. Seeing Lin Xiao Tian standing at the door, Li Ergai was taken aback.
"Xiao Tian? What are you doing here so late at night?"
"To treat your illness!" Lin Xiao Tian replied.
"Treat my illness? What illness?" Li Ergai hadn't grasped what was happening.