Chapter 16

For breakfast, Jiang Ning made noodles and added some spiritual spring water to the water used to cook the noodles.

When Grandma Ji saw the bowl of noodles in front of her, which were as white as jade, her eyes almost popped out.

“Ningning, where did you get this white flour?” asked Grandma Ji.

“Grandma, just eat it. I exchanged the noodles for fish, so you can eat it without worry!” Jiang Ning said with a faint smile.

“What? Ningning, you didn’t go to town, did you? We are cracking down on speculation and profiteering now, so don’t do anything stupid!” Grandma Ji said nervously.

“Don’t worry, I’m back safely!” Jiang Ning said nonchalantly.

Without waiting for Grandma Ji to say anything else, she turned and left the kitchen.

The room was dark. Ji Yanli was sitting on the kang with his legs on the ground. He was supporting himself with his hands and trying to stand up.

His knuckles turned white from the exertion, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Jiang Ning walked into the room and saw this. He quickly walked over, put the bowl aside, and used his free hand to support his arm. “Don’t worry, you can take your time.”

Ji Yanli felt a little embarrassed, “I don’t want to lie like this.”

Jiang Ning didn’t say anything when she heard this. She helped Ji Yanli stand up slowly. Ji Yanli’s body swayed, but fortunately Jiang Ning held him steadily.

Ji Yanli was overjoyed to see himself standing up. He tried to lift his feet and take a step, but the next second he lost his balance and fell backwards.

Jiang Ning was quick to pull him into his arms, and the distance between them was instantly shortened.

The two of them fell onto the kang at the same time. Ji Yanli instinctively turned around and held Jiang Ning in his arms to minimize the impact of her fall.

Ji Yanli fell on the kang, Jiang Ning pressed on him, the two of them pressed tightly together. Ji Yanli could clearly feel Jiang Ning’s strong heartbeat, and his face turned red all the way to his ears.

Jiang Ning was also a little embarrassed. She quickly stood up and said, “Your injury hasn’t healed yet. You have to take it step by step. Let’s eat first!”

Ji Yanli nodded, took a deep breath, and stood up with Jiang Ning’s support.

“What about these noodles?” He asked in surprise, looking at the noodles in the bowl.

“I traded the fish at the black market.” Jiang Ning explained calmly.

Ji Yanli frowned slightly, “The black market is too dangerous, don’t go there anymore.”

Jiang Ning didn’t take it seriously. “It’s okay. I’m being careful. I’ll exchange some white flour for you and grandma to replenish your bodies.”

Ji Yanli wanted to say something, but was interrupted by a rumbling sound from his stomach. He felt a little embarrassed.

Jiang Ning handed the chopsticks to him and said, “Eat quickly.”

Ji Yanli took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of noodles and put it into his mouth. The noodles were smooth and chewy, and the taste was particularly delicious.

His eyes lit up, “This noodles tastes really good.”

Jiang Ning raised the corner of his mouth, “If it tastes good, eat more.”

Just then, there was a sudden noise outside.

Grandma Ji hurried in, looking anxious. “Oh no! The village chief is here! Is he here to investigate speculation?”

Ji Yanli’s heart tightened when he heard this. Before he could say anything, Jiang Ning spoke to comfort him, “Grandma, don’t worry, everything will be fine!”

“Why did the village chief come here suddenly?” Grandma Ji asked nervously.

Jiang Ning took a deep breath and comforted her, “Grandma, don’t panic, it’s okay.”

She asked Ji Yanli to sit back on the kang first, and she and Grandma Ji went out to take a look.

When we arrived at the gate of the yard, we found that there were several people who looked like village cadres.

“The village chief is here, come in and sit down!” Grandma Ji walked up and greeted him with a stiff smile on her face.

“No, I just want to ask your granddaughter-in-law a few questions.” Village chief Qiu said, his tone full of anxiety.

“Village chief, what do you want to talk to me about?” Jiang Ning asked calmly.

“Little Jiang, I heard that you went to the river yesterday afternoon, right? Did you see my son Qiu Liang?” Village Chief Qiu asked, staring into Jiang Ning’s eyes.

“Your son? I didn’t see anyone by the river.” Jiang Ning shook her head. She had just been married for two days and didn’t know Qiu Liang.

“Didn’t you see him when you went to the river yesterday?” The village chief asked suspiciously.

“Village chief, our Ningning has just been married for two days, and she doesn’t even know Liangzi.” Grandma Ji interrupted.

Since the village chief was not here to investigate Jiang Ning’s trip to the black market, she felt relieved.

“Village chief, I went to the river to wash clothes and didn’t see anyone passing by.” Jiang Ning also echoed.

Village Chief Qiu frowned, his eyes full of suspicion. “Did you really not see anything? Someone saw my Liangzi go to the river yesterday afternoon, and he hasn’t come back yet. Many people in the village also said they saw you go to the river.”

Jiang Ning’s heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm. “Village Chief, I really didn’t see it. I was just busy washing clothes.”

Grandma Ji also chimed in, “Yes, Village Chief, how could our Ningning tell a lie?”

The village chief looked at Jiang Ning’s frail body and sighed, “Okay, I won’t bother you anymore.”

Village Chief Qiu took a few steps and suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed on Jiang Ning again. “Xiao Jiang, do you really have no clues? This is a matter of life and death.”

Jiang Ning shook his head firmly, “Village Chief, I really don’t know.”

Village Chief Qiu sighed and hurried away with his men.

Grandma Ji looked at their departing backs and breathed a sigh of relief. Their departure meant that Jiang Ning’s trip to the black market had not been discovered.

“Amitabha, may God bless me!” Grandma Ji bowed her hands and prayed silently in her heart.

In the room, after Ji Yanli finished his meal, he felt full of energy, and even his numb legs gradually regained control.

He stood up again by supporting himself on the edge of the kang, and this time, his body did not shake.

He held on to a chair beside him and tried to take a step forward. He took each step with extreme caution, as if challenging his limits.

Slowly, he was able to walk a short distance with the help of a chair.

Ji Yanli showed a bright smile on his face, his eyes full of excitement and pride.

Jiang Ning walked into the room and saw this scene. He raised his eyebrows and said, “Not bad, quite impressive.”

After she finished speaking, she walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out a needle bag from the space using her body as a cover.

She turned to Ji Yanli and said, “Go back and sit on the kang. I’ll give you acupuncture. It will help you quickly recover the strength of your leg muscles.”

The early morning glow shines through the window paper, casting a warm orange glow on the kang.

Jiang Ning took out the silver needle and burned it carefully over the kerosene lamp to disinfect it.

Ji Yanli leaned on the head of the kang, his eyes following her slender fingers as she arranged the silver needles one by one on the white cotton cloth.

“Roll up your trouser legs.” Jiang Ning said without looking up, his fingertips lightly touching three inches above his knees, “Start from here.”

Ji Yanli did as he was told in silence.

The scars left by years of marching meandered across his wheat-colored skin. His muscle lines were still clear, but seemed a little loose due to lying in bed for so long.

Jiang Ning’s fingertips slowly moved down along the meridians and stopped at the Zusanli acupoint.

“It will be a little painful.” Before she finished speaking, the silver needle had already accurately pierced the acupuncture point.

Ji Yanli’s muscles tensed instantly, but he said nothing.

Jiang Ning glanced at his clenched fists, his knuckles turning white, and couldn’t help but slow down his movements.

Her slender fingers wandered over his legs, each needle was inserted with just the right amount of force. The silver needle trembled slightly with her movements, emitting tiny glimmers of light in the morning sunlight.

“Tell me if it hurts.” Jiang Ning whispered, his fingertips accidentally brushing against the tense muscles on the side of his leg.

Ji Yanli’s breathing became noticeably heavier: “It doesn’t hurt.”

Jiang Ning raised his eyebrows and deliberately increased the force of twisting the needle on the Yanglingquan acupoint.

Ji Yanli took a deep breath, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“You’re just being stubborn.” Jiang Ning snorted, but still slowed down his movements.