"Oh, Huang Cai, I remember you used to apply a pale yellow ointment to your hands and feet before bed when it was scorching hot, what was that for?" Jiang Biyun leaned in with interest and took a whiff, "It smells very fragrant."
"It’s to prevent mosquitoes and such~" Huang Cai replied, "I made a small box of it before the semester started using herbs I gathered from the mountain."
"You can make this?" He Zhilan exclaimed, "That’s impressive."
"What’s so impressive? In our village, every family knows how to make a simple salve for minor injuries. There are plenty of these herbs growing wild on our mountain. When the season comes, they cover the entire area." Huang Cai shrugged nonchalantly.
"You’re really something, keeping all the good stuff to yourself. Didn’t you see us cursing and swearing from all the mosquito bites we got in the summer?" Chen Xiting scolded, leaping towards Huang Cai and wrapping an arm around her neck in a jokingly interrogating manner.
"I...." Huang Cai was a little embarrassed, "These are all just homemade remedies from our village, nothing fancy."
In the dormitory, Chen Xiting was the most attractive to mosquitoes. Huang Cai saw how badly Chen Xiting was bitten and many times wanted to give her some of her remedy. However, her insecurity kept her from voicing it out, fearing that city girl Chen Xiting would look down on her homemade remedy.
Chen Xiting’s words were not to criticize but to tease Huang Cai. After hearing Huang Cai’s explanation, she dropped the subject.
"Huang Cai, are you going home for winter break?" He Zhilan asked.
"I should. If I go home for winter break, I won’t go back in the summer. This is my first time being so far away from home and my family would like me to come back for Chinese New Year." Huang Cai nodded. Considering the expensive round trip cost, she won’t be able to afford another trip home in summer if she goes back for winter break.
"Could you bring some of that ointment from your village back for me after school starts? My brother is a soldier and sometimes he has to train in the woods. It’ll be great if he has some mosquito repellent ointment." He Zhilan hesitated asking for a favor from Huang Cai, but if she offers to pay, Huang Cai might overthink it.
"He Zhilan, soldiers in the wild always wear long sleeves and long pants, no matter how hot it is. They cover their hands and feet and have camouflage paint on their faces. Where can mosquitoes bite?" Jiang Biyun teased, "You’re taking this too seriously, aren’t you? It’s like, your brother gets bitten and you feel the pain, huh~"
"So, you think when their face is painted, mosquitoes won’t bite? Do you think these insects are as blind as you?" Chen Xiting laughed out loud, "Trying to show off your little knowledge about the military, even making fun of our dear He Zhilan."
Jiang Biyun rolled her eyes at Chen Xiting, knowing she was intentionally making fun of her.
"He Zhilan, I remember you said your brother has a scar on his face near his ear, right? I have a scar removal ointment here that’s very effective. It’s just a little stinky. If you and your brother don’t mind, I can give it to you." Seeing that He Zhilan wasn’t joking but actually wanted to use her homemade remedies, Huang Cai didn’t feel the need to hide her ointments anymore. She pulled out a large hemp bag from under her bed and found the small ointment she mentioned.
"Thank you, Huang Cai!" He Zhilan took it gratefully. The ointment was in a wooden box; upon opening, she found a solid emerald-green ointment inside, very color appealing, but the smell was indeed disagreeable.