Chapter 2: The Family Compound

Yang Qingyan looked ahead and immediately saw the little boy lying there, barely breathing. His face was as pale as a sheet, completely devoid of color, and his chest rose and fell weakly, as if his frail thread of life could snap at any moment.

Her heart clenched with urgency. Without a second thought, she rushed forward, swiftly kneeling beside him. Her slender, slightly pale fingers precisely pressed against the boy’s wrist, carefully sensing his faint and erratic pulse. In just a few seconds, she had reached a conclusion—drawing from the medical expertise honed through countless life-or-death situations in the apocalypse, she knew that taking him to a doctor was already too late. Immediate on-the-spot treatment was the only option; otherwise, the child’s fate was sealed.

“I can treat him! Quickly, lay him flat on the ground!” Yang Qingyan commanded without hesitation, her voice steady and firm, cutting through the panic of the crowd.

Mu Nanhe, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. His eyes flickered with surprise as he asked softly, “You know medicine?”

Yang Qingyan didn’t bother with explanations. She simply nodded resolutely.

However, the people around her hesitated, their gazes filled with doubt as they looked at her frail frame. In their minds, a young woman so thin she seemed like a gust of wind could knock her over hardly looked like someone capable of saving a life.

“This girl looks so weak… Can she really do it? What if she delays proper treatment?” an older woman voiced her concern, her tone full of worry and skepticism.

“That’s right! We should find a medic instead. We can’t let her mess around!” a young man chimed in. The crowd erupted in a chorus of doubt, some even reaching out to stop Yang Qingyan from approaching the child.

Yang Qingyan ignored them and turned to Liang Huantao, Luo Huihong’s wife. “Does he often feel weak and get fevers, especially when the weather turns cold?”

Liang Huantao’s expression changed as she nodded hurriedly. “Yes! I fell into the water when I was pregnant with him and didn’t take care of myself properly. He’s been weak since birth, and now that the weather has turned cold, he’s been getting worse.”

Hearing this, Liang Huantao’s eyes filled with both confusion and hope as she looked at Yang Qingyan. “Can you really treat him?”

Yang Qingyan nodded firmly. “I’ll start with acupuncture to stabilize his condition, then we’ll proceed with long-term treatment.”

Mu Nanhe spoke up decisively, his expression unwavering. “She’s my wife. If she says she can cure him, she has her reasons. Let’s do as she says.”

With Yang Qingyan’s firm resolve and Mu Nanhe’s support, Commander Luo and his wife gritted their teeth and finally stepped aside, carefully laying their child on the ground to make space for her to work.

Yang Qingyan immediately knelt down and retrieved a set of silver needles from the small pouch she carried with her. Her eyes sharpened with focus as she prepared to engage in this battle against death itself.

These silver needles were something she had obtained while learning from an old Chinese medicine doctor in a cattle shed. Holding one steady, she inserted it into the boy’s acupoint with practiced precision. At the same time, she silently guided the mysterious wood-based energy within her body, letting it flow through the needle in fine, invisible threads, seeping into the boy’s system.

For a brief moment, silence engulfed the area.

Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the child without blinking.

One second. Two seconds…

After a full thirty seconds, a miracle unfolded. The boy’s previously deathly pale face showed the faintest hint of warmth, a soft flush of pink akin to the first rays of dawn brushing against the sky. His tightly shut eyelids twitched, as if an invisible hand had gently nudged them.

Then, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd—

“He’s waking up! He’s awake!”

Little Hu slowly opened his eyes, blinking in confusion at the circle of people around him. Instinctively, he turned to his mother and asked, “Mom, what happened?”

Tears welled in Liang Huantao’s eyes as she choked out, “You fainted earlier, but this kind lady saved you.”

Hearing this, Little Hu struggled to turn his head toward Yang Qingyan. In a soft, childish voice, he said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Yang Qingyan smiled warmly. “You’re welcome. Just rest well.”

She then tried to stand up, but after crouching for so long and expending a great deal of energy, her legs went numb, and a wave of dizziness hit her. Her body wobbled slightly.

Mu Nanhe reacted quickly, stepping forward to catch her. His face was full of concern. “Are you okay?”

Yang Qingyan shook her head. “I’m fine. Just stood up too quickly.”

After steadying herself, she continued, “Little Hu’s condition can be treated, but it will take time—about six months. He’ll need consistent acupuncture and some dietary adjustments.”

Liang Huantao’s eyes lit up instantly. “He’s been like this for years. If he can be cured, we’re willing to do whatever it takes! Thank you so much!”

Yang Qingyan nodded slightly and said gently, “I’ll write a prescription. You’ll need to gather some warming herbs and cook them with his regular meals for a week. Go get some paper and a pen.”

Commander Luo hurried back to fetch them. Yang Qingyan sat on a nearby rock, thought for a moment, and quickly penned down the prescription. Handing it to Liang Huantao, she said, “Follow this exactly. The ingredients and dosages are all noted clearly—don’t mix them up.”

Liang Huantao accepted it like a priceless treasure, nodding repeatedly as she carefully tucked it away.

But before she could express her gratitude again, Yang Qingyan suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Her vision blurred, and before she could react, her knees buckled.

Mu Nanhe had been watching her the whole time. The moment she collapsed, he dashed forward like an arrow and caught her firmly in his arms. His voice was filled with panic as he called out, “Qingyan! Qingyan! What’s wrong?”

The once lively crowd instantly fell into tense silence, their faces filled with worry.

Holding Yang Qingyan tightly, Mu Nanhe didn’t waste another second. He lifted her into his arms and rushed toward the house, muttering anxiously, “I’m getting you a doctor right now!”