"Auntie, if you need any medicine, I’ll find it for you," Ning Hui said.
Xia Xiao also chimed in, "Yes, if it’s something we can find in the mountains, we’ll go gather it too."
Zheng Xianghong nodded, feeling that Ning Hui, the girl, had it tough, being so young yet suffering from a cold uterus condition. This was troubling, so Zheng Xianghong also took it to heart.
Soon, Zheng Xianghong thought of a few herbs that could be found in the mountains. She said, "We can find them here in the mountains. We just need to keep an eye out during our land clearance, see if we can find any, and we also need ginger root."
Both Xia Xiao and Ning Hui took careful note of this. After Ning Hui’s matter was handled, Xia Xiao reached out to Zheng Xianghong, "Auntie, please also take a look at Sister Xuehua and me."
Zheng Xianghong also checked the pulses of Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua, "You two are fine, but you also need to be careful. When you have your periods, you can’t wash with cold water, and it’s best not to wash your hair."
The next morning, Xia Xiao and the others followed to the mountains to clear the land while also looking out for the medicinal herbs.
Ning Hui didn’t want to tell Li Zhenchuan, but Xia Xiao still felt it was necessary to talk about it. This was also a test for a man. If Li Zhenchuan disliked Ning Hui’s ill health and wanted to call off the marriage, then Ning Hui wouldn’t need to worry too much.
If Li Zhenchuan didn’t mind, Xia Xiao thought that Ning Hui could still marry Li Zhenchuan, of course, she would need to be in good health too.
After gathering herbs, Zheng Xianghong started helping Ning Hui with her health. Sometimes, the smell of traditional medicine would fill their home, which Sun Yuhua absolutely detested.
"Mom, you don’t have to do it all yourself. Doesn’t the Youth Point dorm have a stove? Let Ning Hui boil her own medicine. I can’t stand the smell when you cook it here," she complained.
Just as she said this, Xia Xiao and Ning Hui came by and overheard Sun Yuhua’s words. Ning Hui immediately felt embarrassed, "Auntie, I’ll boil the medicine in the dorm next time. Yuhua is pregnant; she’s not used to the smell either."
Xia Xiao nodded as well. They had indeed overlooked Sun Yuhua’s condition. Pregnant women are more sensitive, so they all showed understanding.
Zheng Xianghong didn’t insist either, and instructed Ning Hui on how to boil the medicine — reduce three bowls of water to one. After Ning Hui finished drinking a bowl of the medicine, Zheng Xianghong packed up the medicine pot and the herbs for Ning Hui to take with her.
After Xia Xiao and Ning Hui left, Zheng Xianghong had words with Sun Yuhua, "Yuhua, when you speak, you should also pay attention to your surroundings. It’s unpleasant for others to hear such things."
Sun Yuhua didn’t make a sound and went straight back to her room. She hadn’t expected Xia Xiao and Ning Hui to come over, but she didn’t take it to heart either.
The departing Ning Hui said awkwardly, "Auntie is too kind, I just don’t know how I can repay her."
Xia Xiao smiled, "Auntie isn’t helping you to get repayment. We’re all from the same village and know each other well. Besides, Auntie has a kind heart and is always willing to help. She has the skill and certainly would like to see you get better. Just don’t set your hopes too high; Auntie’s medical skills are limited."
Xia Xiao still reminded Ning Hui; although she would use spring water to help in her recovery, Xia Xiao hoped that Ning Hui wouldn’t harbor too great expectations. Xia Xiao also didn’t know if Zheng Xianghong’s medicine and her spring water could cure Ning Hui’s condition, considering Ning Hui’s dreams suggested it was incurable for life.
But more often, Xia Xiao thought perhaps Ning Hui was just seeing the wrong doctors in her anxiety, taking too much medication and dabbling in quack remedies, which might have made her condition worse.
Ning Hui smiled, "I know Xia Xiao cares for me. Don’t worry, I’ll only confide in you privately; I won’t tell others."
"You still need to beware of eavesdroppers," Xia Xiao reminded her again.
Ning Hui nodded, "We’re on the road now, speaking quietly, and nobody else can hear."
"Still, just be careful. I’ve reminded you many times," Xia Xiao reiterated.
"I understand, don’t worry, I won’t say more," Ning Hui replied. Then she said quietly to Xia Xiao, "But in my dreams, you’re the Bodhisattva Guanyin."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Hui ran off with the medicine pot, leaving Xia Xiao at a loss.
Xia Xiao didn’t believe she resembled the Bodhisattva nor any of those reincarnation stories—that was all nonsense.
However, it seemed like Ning Hui really believed it. Xia Xiao felt helpless, not knowing what caused Ning Hui’s delusion.
Watching Ning Hui faithfully drinking her herbal concoctions three times a day, both Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua felt bad for her.
Traditional Chinese medicine was incredibly bitter, and although it’s said that good medicine tastes bitter, it pained them to see Ning Hui force it down despite wanting to vomit. Their expressions were twisted with empathy.
Yet Ning Hui’s mood was much more serene than that of Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua. Initially, she would drink with a deeply furrowed brow, but later she could bravely guzzle the medicinal broth as if it were water, earning Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua’s immense admiration.
"Xia Xiao, I’ve found that this medicine doesn’t taste so bad after a while," Ning Hui said.
Xia Xiao shook her head. To her, it all tasted awful, and even sugar couldn’t mask the bitterness.
"Xia Xiao, Gu Weiguo is looking for you," Xu Mei approached and informed her.
Gu Weiguo was looking for her, and Xia Xiao paused before looking outside and seeing Gu Weiguo standing there. She went out to meet him.
"You were looking for me?" asked Xia Xiao.
Gu Weiguo looked at Xia Xiao and said, "I’m leaving."
"Oh," Xia Xiao simply acknowledged.
"I’m going back to the city to get married."
Upon hearing this, Xia Xiao gasped, then quickly asked Gu Weiguo, "What do you mean by that? You’re leaving? Where to, not staying in the production team anymore?"
"I’m going back to the city," Gu Weiguo replied.
"Back to the city? Can you do that?" Xia Xiao blurted out.
Gu Weiguo nodded, then added with a sarcastic smile, "If I sacrifice my marriage, then I can go back to the city."
Xia Xiao fell silent, unsure how to comfort Gu Weiguo, simply saying, "I won’t say anything superfluous. Take care."
"Xia Xiao, I consider myself not bad. Why don’t you like me?" Gu Weiguo had to ask.
Xia Xiao laughed, "There’s no particular reason, maybe it’s just a lack of chemistry. My first impression of you was that of arrogance and aloofness, not easy to approach. And when you say you like me, I don’t feel pursued by you. You seem like a prince, high and mighty, waiting for a serving maid to come forward."
Gu Weiguo fell silent, intently gazing at Xia Xiao before saying, "I don’t think of myself that way at all; how could I give you such a wrong impression?"