Chapter 69

Fan Zhezhou saw Yu Xiangnian and, after a brief glance, shifted his gaze and went inside to call everyone.

His gaze was calm and unfamiliar.

Yu Xiangnian felt that Fan Zhezhou probably did not recognize her.

All the “sent-down youths” were gathered, and the village head asked if anyone knew about Fuxin Grass.

Everyone shook their heads in confusion, “Fuxin Grass? Never heard of it.”

The village head and Qiu Yang were somewhat disappointed. At this moment, Fan Zhezhou stepped forward and asked, “Village head, what does Fuxin Grass look like? What is it used for?”

Qiu Yang replied, “I’ve never seen it. It’s a medicinal herb for treating heart pain.”

Fan Zhezhou thought for a moment, “I’ve seen something like this in a book before. There is a herb for treating heart pain. It belongs to the orchid family and requires very specific growing conditions—on moist, shaded rocks in dense forests or valleys at altitudes between 500 and 1000 meters in warm regions. Is this the type of herb you’re looking for?”

Qiu Yang wasn’t entirely sure if this was the exact herb he was searching for. He had only heard from a friend that this herb was found in the mountains of Nancheng.

Since Nancheng is a warm region and Fan Zhezhou mentioned that this herb grows in dense forests or valleys, Qiu Yang felt hopeful.

Fan Zhezhou, looking like a well-read intellectual, spoke confidently and knowledgeably.

Qiu Yang decided to search for this herb. If it was the right one, that would be great; if not, he would come up with another plan.

Qiu Yang asked, “Have you seen this herb before?”

Fan Zhezhou responded, “I once saw it by chance in the mountains, but the book called it Xuan Bamboo Grass. I’m not sure if we’re talking about the same herb.”

Regardless of whether it was the same herb or not, Qiu Yang wasn’t about to give up this glimmer of hope.

He decided to have Fan Zhezhou lead them into the mountains to search.

Fan Zhezhou did not immediately agree but looked at the village head with a questioning gaze.

The village head’s authority was greatly satisfied.

See, even these educated youths from the big city must follow my arrangements.

“Comrade Fan, you should take Comrade Qiu and Comrade Yu to search for the herb in the mountains over the next few days. I’ll instruct the scorekeeper to credit you with ten work points,” the village head said.

“Okay, village head.”

Fan Zhezhou went inside to prepare. Yu Xiangnian asked the village head, “Village head, is Wu Xiaomin also a ‘sent-down youth’ from your village?”

The village head took a puff from the cigarette that Qiu Yang had offered, “Yes, Comrade Wu is educated and has medical skills. Her relatives in the military lent her to the health clinic in the family quarters.”

Yu Xiangnian further inquired, “I heard from the family quarters that Comrade Wu’s partner is also a ‘sent-down youth’?”

“That’s not true,” the village head said. “These youths are all hoping to return to the city one day. Getting involved with someone here would only delay their prospects. Besides, Comrade Wu is only nineteen, still very young.”

Yu Xiangnian wondered if she had indeed misunderstood Wu Xiaomin.

But what about the argument and breakup she overheard between them that day?

Yu Xiangnian awkwardly said, “It seems that Comrade Wu left a good impression on everyone.”

The village head agreed, “It’s not bad.”

There were more than ten “sent-down youths” in the village, and the village head had not had any special impressions of them before. It was only in recent months that Wu Xiaomin had occasionally visited him, bringing small gifts.

For instance, recently she had given him a rabbit, and a few days ago, she brought him a pound of pork.

Although the meat wasn’t much and only served as a small treat, he had remembered Wu Xiaomin and had a good impression of her.

Fan Zhezhou, wearing a straw hat and carrying a small hoe and a water bottle, came out of the house. He led Qiu Yang and Yu Xiangnian into the mountains.

Along the way, Qiu Yang asked him about Fuxin Grass, and Fan Zhezhou answered all his questions.

It seemed that he really had seen this herb before.

Fan Zhezhou did not speak to Yu Xiangnian, and his gaze towards her remained unfamiliar.

Yu Xiangnian thought that Fan Zhezhou completely had no memory of her.

After searching for most of the day, with the sun about to set, they still did not find the herb and returned empty-handed.

Qiu Yang drove Yu Xiangnian to a state-owned restaurant in the city for dinner.

Yu Xiangnian ordered several dishes: braised fish, stir-fried celery with beef, braised duck, dry-fried green beans, Mapo tofu, and a cabbage soup.

“Can you finish all this?” Qiu Yang said. “If not, you’ll have to pack it up!”

“That’s the plan!” Yu Xiangnian told the restaurant server, “Pack the sour and spicy fish and braised duck to go. The rest of the dishes can stay on the table.”

“…” Qiu Yang felt that his words had played right into Yu Xiangnian’s hands. “Are you taking it home for Cheng Jingmo?”

“Correct! You’re treating!”

Qiu Yang muttered grumpily, “Eating and taking away, you’re quite shameless!”

The two chatted while eating.

Yu Xiangnian asked, “What kind of friend is this of yours that you’re going to such lengths to find this herb?”

Qiu Yang replied, “He’s from Shanghai, a government-sponsored student I met abroad.”

“The medical conditions in Shanghai are among the best in the country. Didn’t they find out what the illness is?”

Qiu Yang said, “They only said there’s a heart problem, that he used to have occasional heart pain. Recently, it got worse, and my friend hurried back.”

Yu Xiangnian thought for a moment but decided to hold back her suggestion: otherwise, have your friend send the examination report, and I can see what the illness might be.

Since Qiu Yang had known her since childhood, he was aware of her basic skills. If he knew she could diagnose and perform surgery, he might have doubts.

After dinner, Qiu Yang took Yu Xiangnian back to the family quarters. It was already dark.

Back at home, Cheng Jingmo was reading a comic book to Xiao Jie.

Xiao Jie had recently developed a fascination with comic books and would cling to them whenever he had free time.

Yu Xiangnian regretted bringing these books from home.

“I brought back braised fish and braised duck for you. You two can reheat them tomorrow,” Yu Xiangnian said as she put the dishes in the cupboard.

Cheng Jingmo glanced at her and asked, “Did you find the herb?”

Yu Xiangnian lazily leaned on a chair, “No, we didn’t find it. We walked all day in the mountains, sweated all over, and my feet are sore.”

Cheng Jingmo noticed the mud on Yu Xiangnian’s cloth shoes, some on her pant legs, and several stains on her light blue shirt, likely from plant juices.

“I haven’t heard of Fuxin Grass. I asked several comrades today, and none of them had heard of it. Are you sure you’re looking in the right place?” Cheng Jingmo said.

Yu Xiangnian thought of Fan Zhezhou.

But she wasn’t sure of Fan Zhezhou and Wu Xiaomin’s relationship now. Without concrete evidence, she didn’t tell Cheng Jingmo about Fan Zhezhou.

“There’s a sent-down youth in the village who knows about this herb. He’s the one who led us to search,” she said.

The next day, Yu Xiangnian and Qiu Yang went back to the village’s youth station to have Fan Zhezhou lead them further into the mountains to continue the search for the herb.

Yu Xiangnian saw a familiar figure at the youth station, but when she looked more closely, the figure was gone.