Chapter 1

The blazing sun of June scorched the summer skies. 

A mountain stream flowing from Daqing Mountain meandered leisurely through the valley. 

On both sides of the stream, the plants in the fields drooped under the heat, their leaves wilting, only to be briefly revitalized whenever the mountain wind swept down. 

Standing by the stream, one could see the stark contrast between the vast and towering Daqing Mountain, stretching over 200 kilometers from east to west, and the humble Xiaoqing Mountain to the south, which looked like a small hillock in comparison. 

Xiaoqing Mountain resembled the final stroke of a poet’s pen as it curled backward, or perhaps a modest comma nestled at the feet of the majestic Daqing Mountain. Enclosed between these two mountains was Qingxi Village, a place peaceful and serene. 

However, this tranquil scene was abruptly shattered by a sharp, heart-wrenching cry. 

The summer solstice had just passed yesterday, and today was the Dragon Boat Festival. What was the Dragon Boat Festival without venturing up the mountains to collect some mugwort and calamus? 

Typically, the villagers of Qingxi Village gathered firewood from Xiaoqing Mountain, as Daqing Mountain was rarely visited due to its reputation for being infested with snakes, insects, and other creatures. 

Yet precisely because it was less frequented, the mugwort and calamus on Daqing Mountain grew exceptionally lush. Some young men, relying on their physical strength and ignoring the elders’ warnings, often sneaked up Daqing Mountain. 

Their reasoning was simple: with a bit of luck, they might even snag a wild pheasant to make some chicken soup. 

But as the saying went, “He who disregards the elders’ advice will soon suffer the consequences.” And sure enough, trouble had struck. 

Li Da, the only son of the Li family, had been bitten by a venomous snake. His panicked companions carried him down the mountain in haste. 

Li Da’s face was deathly pale, his lips a sickly shade of purple, saliva dribbling from the corners of his mouth, his limbs convulsing. At first glance, he looked as though he was on the brink of death. 

Li Da’s mother, Zhang Cuihua, clutched her son tightly, wailing so hysterically she nearly fainted. Thankfully, Li Da’s younger sister, Li Tao, sprang into action. The girl dashed off to the village chief’s house, knowing they had an antidote pill there. 

Upon hearing of Li Da’s predicament, the village chief, Yang Guozhu, hurried over with the village’s last remaining antidote pill and quickly fed it to Li Da. 

After some time, Li Da weakly opened his eyes, looking slightly more alert. 

But it wasn’t enough—the dosage was too light. Typically, two pills were required for snake bites. Someone needed to climb up the mountain and ask Doctor Xu for more antidote pills. 

Doctor Xu wasn’t from Qingxi Village; he was a herbalist who frequently ventured into Daqing Mountain to gather medicinal herbs. 

Though the villagers feared Daqing Mountain, it was a treasure trove of rare and valuable herbs. For generations, professional herbalists had ventured into the mountain, and there was even a state-owned herbal medicine company in the nearby county. 

Doctor Xu was one of the most frequent visitors to Daqing Mountain and the only herbalist to have a wooden hut there. He had a good relationship with the villagers of Qingxi, often trading commonly used pills with them. 

Wu Gui volunteered to go ask for the antidote. However, not only did he fail to obtain the medicine, but he also ended up being beaten by Doctor Xu’s disciple. 

Amid the chaos, Wu Gui, furious after being struck, loudly stoked the flames of anger, accusing the outsiders of being heartless and indifferent to human life. 

The village erupted in curses and insults. 

“How could Doctor Xu take in such a disciple? She doesn’t know how to handle anything!” 

“Outsiders are just cruel-hearted!” 

“That wretched girl deserves a beating!” 

“If I ever run into her, I’ll make sure she cries for her parents!” 

“Call on the able-bodied men in the village! Let’s storm up the mountain!” someone shouted angrily in the heated crowd below. 

Up on the mountain, oblivious to the villagers’ wrath, Guan Yue, the disciple of Doctor Xu, sat cross-legged on a thick bed of pine needles. She was casually teasing her tiny puppy, a soft, gray-black furball no bigger than two adult palms. The puppy’s plump little belly was so round it nearly touched the ground, making it clear that it was still a very young pup. 

Guan Yue dangled a strip of dried meat in front of the pup, smirking. “Gou Sheng’er, do you want this?” 

The little puppy bared its tiny teeth, its shiny black eyes fixed on the jerky. With a determined push of its short hind legs, it charged toward Guan Yue. 

But halfway there, its clumsy little paws slipped, and with a soft thud, the pup landed flat on its back, legs splayed in all directions. 

Guan Yue burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking. She reached out, grabbing the pup by the scruff of its neck, lifting it up. “You’re such an adorable little idiot!” she chuckled. 

The puppy let out a soft, high-pitched growl, wriggling in an attempt to “duel” the woman holding it. 

Amused, Guan Yue placed the pup back on the ground, finally tossing the strip of jerky into its eager mouth. Dusting off her hands, she stood up, turning toward the deeper parts of the mountain. 

“Stop growling now. Let’s go catch a couple of wild pheasants for roasted chicken tonight,” she said nonchalantly. 

The little puppy tilted its head, watching as she walked away. It quickly grabbed its precious jerky and wobbled after her, stumbling over its too-short legs in an effort to keep up. 

Seeing the pup struggle, Guan Yue flicked her wrist, and a vine she had wrapped around her arm extended. It stretched out like a living thing, curling around the little dog and lifting it gently. The puppy let out a few surprised yelps, squirming, but the vine held it snugly as Guan Yue continued on her way. 

Back in the village, chaos still surrounded Li Da as people scrambled for a solution. 

The village captain, Zhou Baohe, strode into the scene with a few young men and women in tow. “What’s going on here?” he asked, his voice cutting through the commotion. 

Yang Guozhu, the village chief, hurried over. “Captain, you came just in time! Do you have any antidote left? Li Da was bitten by a snake!” 

“What? Bitten by a snake?” Zhou Baohe exclaimed, alarmed. 

Gu Sui, a young Barefoot Doctor assigned to the village, immediately dropped her luggage on the ground and rushed over. After examining Li Da, she looked up and asked, “Has he already been given the antidote?” 

Zhang Cuihua, still clutching her son’s hand, nodded desperately. “Yes, yes, we gave him one pill, but it’s not enough. Usually, you need two pills for a snakebite. That wretched girl up the mountain wouldn’t give us another one! If anything happens to my son, I’ll fight her to the death!” 

Tears streamed down Zhang Cuihua’s face as she spoke, her voice trembling with emotion. 

Gu Sui nodded thoughtfully. “The dose might indeed be insufficient, but the fact that he was treated promptly is a good sign. He should be out of danger. Take him home and make him drink some vinegar. I’ll prepare some medicine later to help him recover fully. He’ll be back to normal in no time.” 

“What’s this…?” Zhang Cuihua asked, her tear-streaked face full of curiosity as she observed the young woman who had just stepped forward. 

Captain Zhou Baohe quickly introduced her, “This is Gu Sui, the new Barefoot Doctor. She’s a top student from Beijing, specifically assigned to help you all. With Doctor Gu here, getting medical care will be much more convenient in the future.” 

A few years ago, during the establishment of people’s communes, the regulations stipulated that only areas with more than 100 households could qualify as an independent brigade. Qingxi Village, with fewer than forty households, was merged into the nearby Qingsong Village in the valley, becoming part of what was now the Qingsong Brigade. 

After the merger, during the challenging years of the famine period, the dangers of living in the mountains were outweighed by the advantage of being close to Daqing Mountain, which still offered resources for survival. Coupled with the lax oversight from the commune, the people of Qingxi Village never moved out. 

This arrangement left the former Qingxi Village chief, Yang Guozhu, in a new role as vice-captain of the Qingsong Brigade, continuing to manage the affairs of Qingxi Village. Zhou Baohe, the captain of Qingsong Brigade, made periodic visits to check on the mountain community. 

For the villagers, not having to relocate was ideal. However, this came with its drawbacks, such as access to medical care. A brigade only had one Barefoot Doctor, who naturally resided in the more populated areas outside the valley, making it difficult for Qingxi villagers to get timely treatment. 

Recently, the commune had announced the arrival of several new Educated Youth. While the term “Educated Youth” sounded prestigious, most brigade leaders were reluctant to take them in, believing they were inexperienced and unskilled. 

Zhou Baohe, cautious by nature, inquired about the newcomers and discovered that one of them was a certified doctor. Early this morning, he rushed to the commune to collect them and arranged for Gu Sui to be stationed in Qingxi Village. 

Of course, his main goal was to bring Gu Sui. The other Educated Youth were merely a side effect of the deal. 

Zhou Baohe had only wanted Gu Sui, but the commune secretary refused to let Qingsong Brigade benefit so exclusively. If they wanted the doctor, they had to take the others as well. 

After introducing all five Educated Youth, Zhou Baohe said with a smile, “Yang Guozhu, you should feel lucky! For such a small group of people, you’ve been assigned a doctor. Make sure you treat her well.” 

The village chief, Yang Guozhu, thumped his chest in assurance. “Don’t worry, Captain! I’ll take good care of her. You can count on me!” 

Qingxi Village had three vacant houses, left empty when their owners moved to Qingsong Brigade a couple of years ago to join their children. These houses were now perfectly suited to accommodate the Educated Youth. 

Gu Sui quickly settled in, ate a modest meal, and picked up a Barefoot Doctor handbook. Borrowing some tools from the neighbors, she prepared to head into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs. 

One of the elderly women in the village stopped her. “Young man, you’re new here and don’t know the mountain paths. Wait a moment—I’ll find someone to guide you.” 

“Thank you, ma’am, but I won’t go far. I’ll just wander around the base of the mountain,” Gu Sui replied with a polite smile before heading off. 

Gu Sui wore long sleeves and trousers as protection against poisonous insects while searching in the mountains. He dared not stray far from the main path, but he still couldn’t find the last herb needed for the antidote. Unconsciously, he wandered deeper into the forest. When he finally realized how far he had gone, he prepared to turn back but caught the scent of something burnt drifting through the air from ahead. 

Curious, Gu Sui approached slowly. Soon, he heard the faint cries of a small puppy. 

“Gou Sheng’er, keep yelping, and I’ll toss you into a wolf’s den!” 

A young woman with long, flowing hair was crouched near a fire, holding a stick in her hand. She was poking at a charred, unidentifiable mass with visible frustration. 

Guan Yue muttered to herself, “The outside is burnt, so the inside should be cooked by now.” 

She had failed several times before, each attempt filling the air with delicious smells, only for the meat to still be raw inside. 

Hearing someone approach, Guan Yue lifted her head. 

To Gu Sui’s surprise, she was stunning. Her fair cheeks glowed softly, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with charm, her delicate nose was refined, and her pink lips had a natural youthful blush. Her rounded cheeks, still carrying a hint of baby fat, only added to her youthful allure. 

As she tilted her chin up slightly, sizing him up, her almond eyes sharpened at the corners, giving her an air of cold elegance despite her otherwise adorable demeanor. 

What kind of family could raise such a spirited girl? Gu Sui wondered. 

Raising an eyebrow, Guan Yue’s voice turned icy. “You dare come here after smashing my Teacher’s home? I guess I went too easy on you earlier.” 

It dawned on Gu Sui that she was referring to the incident that morning. Though he was new to the village, he had heard plenty about it from the villagers’ chatter. 

“You’ve got the wrong person,” Gu Sui said calmly. “I’m not with those people. I’m here to collect herbs.” 

His eyes flicked to the ground, noticing scattered chicken feathers. “It looks like your chicken got burned.” 

Guan Yue scrutinized him, then relaxed slightly when she decided he posed no threat. “You think I don’t know that?” she replied lazily. 

Inwardly, Guan Yue thought to herself: *Not only is the chicken burnt on the outside, but it’s also raw on the inside. I’ve learned this through a lot of failed attempts.*

“I just want to say… I can cook.” 

The words caught Guan Yue’s attention instantly. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she looked at Gu Sui, full of anticipation. 

Gu Sui stepped forward, gently moving the burnt chicken to the side. Rolling up his sleeves, he began to work. 

After some time, a pot of richly flavored chicken soup simmered in a clay pot, its aroma wafting through the air. Beside it, a small iron skillet held stir-fried wild mountain yams, crisp and sweet. In another pot, a half-filled batch of perfectly steamed rice was ready. 

Since her Teacher had left, Guan Yue hadn’t tasted such a proper meal. Without hesitation, she picked up a pair of chopsticks and dug in. 

Surrounding the wooden hut were towering trees, their leaves rustling gently in the cool mountain breeze. Birds chirped melodiously from the branches above, adding to the serene atmosphere. Beneath the canopy stood a sturdy wooden table, about a meter wide and two meters long. 

In such an idyllic setting, watching a stunning girl devour a meal was a first for Gu Sui. 

Guan Yue was clearly enjoying herself while the little puppy, Gou Sheng’er, was frantically circling her feet, whining for attention. Annoyed by its persistent cries, Guan Yue finally picked up a piece of meat, placed it on a leaf, and tossed it to the puppy, who happily began gnawing away. 

Gu Sui sat across from Guan Yue, a glass of plain water in front of him. Watching her savor the food, he couldn’t help but smile, though he wasn’t entirely sure what he found so amusing. 

After finishing her meal with great satisfaction, Guan Yue finally lifted her head and glanced at the glass of water in front of Gu Sui. “Are you hungry? Do you want some?” she asked. 

It was purely out of politeness; she had no real intention of sharing. 

In the post-apocalyptic world she had survived, people had been willing to fight to the death over a single potato. Guarding one’s food was practically instinctive. 

“No need, I’m not hungry. You go ahead and eat.” 

Guan Yue was pleased. This guy seemed decent enough. Since he had come to gather herbs, she decided to gift him some. 

“What are you looking for?” 

“I’m missing gentian root.” 

Longdan grass, known for its ability to clear heat, detoxify, and drain liver and gallbladder fire, was something Guan Yue understood well, given her knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine. Upon hearing it, she immediately recognized its purpose.

After finishing her meal, Guan Yue walked to the back of the hut, and after a while, she returned with a handful of fresh longdan grass, its roots still clinging to the soil.

Gu Sui thanked her, but Guan Yue waved her hand dismissively. “No need to thank me. If you ever run low on herbs again, come find me. You cook for me, and I’ll give you the herbs.”

Gu Sui chuckled lightly. Seeing that she was in a good mood, he decided to ask about the antidote. 

“The antidote isn’t free,” she said. “You’ll need to cook me one meal for one dose of antidote. No, make it three meals.”

Gu Sui raised an eyebrow. This girl was easygoing, yet she’d ended up in a conflict earlier that morning. 

Guan Yue quickly explained what had happened, and with a cold laugh, added, “If that person dares show up in front of me again, I’ll deal with him myself.”

Her words seemed casual, almost like a girl venting in frustration, but for some reason, Gu Sui sensed the seriousness in her tone.

She handed him a bottle of medicine. “Thirty pills. From tomorrow on, you cook for me.”

Before Gu Sui could respond, Guan Yue shooed him away. “I’m going to take a nap now.”

Gu Sui took a few steps, paused, then turned around and called out, “I know your name is Guan Yue. I’m Gu Sui.”

“Got it!” Guan Yue waved her hand, turned around, and went into the house, with the little puppy clumsily following behind her.

As Gu Sui slowly made his way down the mountain, he couldn’t help but wonder about the person who had slandered Guan Yue earlier that morning. What was their motive?

Once Gu Sui had gone, Guan Yue scooped up the little puppy and rubbed its belly. “You’re not eating meat yet, you should be drinking milk. Gou Sheng’er, let’s go get some milk for you.”