Chapter 117: Acupuncture — Does It Really Not Hurt?

At this moment, Chu Yue’s heart was also heavy. Although she and Mrs. He had only exchanged a few words and met twice, Mrs. He’s gentle and loving attitude toward her was something Chu Yue had never felt from anyone else.

If Mrs. He could have maintained her health, they might have become close friends despite their age difference.

But Mrs. He’s illness was not just any problem — it was Alzheimer’s disease.

Not to mention the 1970s, even in Chu Yue’s own future, before the apocalypse, the level of medical technology still could not conquer Alzheimer’s. Aside from some drugs that slow down the progression, there was no cure.

As time passed, Mrs. He’s condition would only worsen. She would forget more and more, eventually losing all memories of her past with Commander He, even forgetting who she herself was.

The thought made Chu Yue sigh deeply.

In front of her were not only Commander He but also Mrs. He, both looking at her.

“I can do my best to try. However—” After careful consideration, Chu Yue added with emphasis, “all treatments can only alleviate symptoms, not completely cure the disease. Commander He, Mrs. He, please understand.”

Commander He furrowed his brows tightly, his expression heavy. For a soldier, 1 is 1, 2 is 2; he did not like Chu Yue’s vague answer — especially since this involved Mrs. He.

But… there was no other choice but to follow Chu Yue’s advice.

Mrs. He knew Commander He best. She tightly held his hand and still smiled gently at Chu Yue.

She said, “In this life, from the moment we open our eyes to when we close them, everyone faces these kinds of experiences — it’s just a matter of early or late. From birth to marriage, and now, I’ve lived a smooth and happy life, and I’m quite content. Ayue, please feel free to try boldly; I trust you.”

Those gentle three words, “I trust you,” were undoubtedly the greatest support Chu Yue could receive.

Chu Yue replied, “Alright,” then asked Commander He and Mrs. He to wait a moment before standing and entering another room.

Inside the room, Chu Yue closed her eyes and entered her system space. When she opened them again, a square box resembling a medical kit appeared in her hand.

This was the secret to Chu Yue’s survival before the apocalypse.

Aside from food, this was the most important item.

She had originally thought that in peaceful times, this wouldn’t be needed, so she hadn’t taken it out.

She opened the box, took out a small rolled-up cloth package, and also an alcohol lamp.

As Chu Yue stepped out again, she overheard Mrs. He chatting with Commander He.

Mrs. He joked, “Long March, you weren’t afraid of anything on the front lines back then; how come you’re scared of such a small thing today?”

Commander He retorted unhappily, “Who said I’m scared! Anything related to you is never a small matter.”

Mrs. He coaxed him like a child, “Alright, alright, it’s not that you’re scared, nor that I’m scared — neither of us are. Besides, Ayue is here. We were fortunate to meet her today; it was her careful observation that discovered I was ill. As the saying goes, early detection, early treatment. This is a good thing.”

Even though she was the one sick, Mrs. He was calmer and more resilient than anyone.

Her inner strength was no less than a man’s. No wonder Commander He loved her for life.

When Mrs. He saw Chu Yue come out, she ended her chat with Commander He and apologized to Chu Yue, “Ayue, I’m really sorry. Today was supposed to be the first day of the Lunar New Year, such a good day, but I made you worry.”

“Mrs. He, you’re too polite.”

“Don’t call me Mrs. He. You’re too formal. Just call me Aunt He like Meijiao does.”

“All right.”

Chu Yue nodded gently in agreement, then placed the alcohol lamp and the small cloth package on the tea table.

After opening the small cloth pouch, the contents were rectangular overall, with a softer cotton lining inside. Inserted into the cotton were slender silver needles.

The silver needles were thin and long, gleaming with a cold silver light.

Seeing Chu Yue take out this row of silver needles, not only was Commander He startled, but even Lu Zhanlin’s eyes flickered in surprise, and Lu Yuanbao’s eyes widened in curiosity.

Lu Zhanlin knew that Chu Yue was skilled in medicine, proficient in bones and acupuncture points, but he didn’t know she also practiced acupuncture.

If children who fear injections saw these silver needles, they would probably cry out loud in fright.

“Y-you, you—you—”

Just thinking about these silver needles being inserted into Madam He’s body made Commander He’s heart race.

Madam He only said briefly, “You’re not allowed to speak, Ayue might get nervous.”

Commander He had a bunch of words stuck in his throat, suddenly unable to say anything.

It seemed Madam He not only could use softness to overcome hardness but could also handle toughness head-on.

From observing Madam He and Commander He, Chu Yue picked up some ways to get along with others — perhaps these could apply to her future relationship with Lu Zhanlin.

Lu Zhanlin: Suddenly, why does my back feel chilly?

At that moment,

Chu Yue struck a match to light the alcohol lamp, then took out the thin silver needles and heated them over the blue flame of the lamp.

This step was for sterilization.

“Aunt He, don’t worry. The silver needles are very thin. As long as they’re inserted at the correct acupuncture points, it won’t hurt.”

While speaking, Chu Yue held a silver needle in one hand and gently supported Madam He’s head with the other. The needle pierced through the hair and into the scalp.

At that moment, Madam He’s claim of not being nervous was false.

Normally, even a needle prick would hurt, let alone having needles inserted deep into the skin.

But…

Madam He closed her eyes tightly, and the expected pain did not come. Only the moment the needle tip broke through the skin caused a sensation like a mosquito bite—almost negligible.

Just that?

“Relax…” Chu Yue continued to remind her.

Madam He slowly relaxed, and even the mosquito-bite-like pain vanished.

While she felt nothing, Chu Yue’s silver needles were inserted one by one, moving from one acupuncture point to another. Gradually, more than a dozen needles were in place.

Chu Yue and Madam He grew more and more coordinated: one was a skilled doctor, the other the most cooperative patient.

Meanwhile, the two men beside them watched with wide eyes, not daring to breathe too loudly for fear of disturbing Chu Yue’s movements.

After finishing the needle insertion, Chu Yue instructed, “Aunt He, stay still for fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes, we’ll remove the needles.”

Madam He responded softly, “Okay.”

Seeing that Chu Yue no longer moved, Commander He finally spoke, “Yulan, does it really not hurt?”