Chapter 22

After the two finished their simple dinner—

Jiang Henian squatted on the ground, smashing a clump of greenish-black plant stems and leaves with a stone.

Earlier, she’d set up a persona for herself—kind-hearted and always ready to help others—just to gloss over the whole “accidentally fell on He Jinshan and kissed him” thing. Now she was hoping to gain some credit as his “life-saving benefactor.”

Who knew if one day he regained his memory of the real world and came collecting debts!

He Jinshan was still sitting against the edge of the brick bed, unwrapping the blood-soaked, tangled bandage around his waist.

“You did this bandaging?”

Jiang Henian looked up and nodded. Afraid he’d get suspicious, she added quickly, “I, uh… took the gauze from home without telling anyone. I’m not really good at this…”

He Jinshan didn’t say anything. Soon, he had the entire bandage off, revealing the wound at his waist.

It was a dark red gash on his lean, toned side, already starting to close up and no longer bleeding.

Looks like his life energy had been replenished—his body was now healing properly.

Having shared a meal, they were a bit more familiar now. Jiang Henian couldn’t help but ask curiously, “How’d you get this injury?”

He Jinshan: “Gunshot. Exit wound tore it open again.”

“And your leg?”

“Bitten by a wolf near the village entrance.”

His tone was so calm, it was as if these life-threatening wounds weren’t even his—as if they didn’t hurt at all.

Jiang Henian was puzzled. Wasn’t he supposed to be in the kitchen squad? How’d he get injured like this? Is that why he retired?

He seemed to have no memory of the modern world, but retained the full memory of his “original” self in this one. Totally unlike her situation…

She was busy running through possibilities when she noticed that He Jinshan had nearly finished unwrapping the makeshift splint and bandages on his right leg.

Startled, Jiang Henian rushed over. “Wait! Slow down! Your leg barely has any good flesh left, and the bone—”

She stopped mid-sentence.

The savaged flesh on his leg had already started to rapidly heal into angry dark red scars.

Even knowing they were “linked by fate,” Jiang Henian was shocked by the speed. That was insane!

Big Sweet Potato (her inventory system) never mentioned such magical effects!

She leaned in without realizing it, gently brushing aside the dried paste to get a better look.

Could it be… the herbal poultice helped?

Miracle medicine?!

He Jinshan looked down at the girl staring at his thigh—eyes focused and getting uncomfortably close.

Her braided hair tickled the side of his leg.

“Where do you think you’re looking?”

He pushed her forehead lightly.

“I’m just checking,” Jiang Henian rubbed her forehead.

“I found this herb in an old medical book. It said it can clean wounds, disinfect, and help them heal. Seems like it really works! If I’d known, I would’ve used it on your waist yesterday too.”

He Jinshan glanced at the strange-colored herbal mash on the ground, freshly picked by this little girl with a candle just earlier that evening.

Seeing her excited face, he tilted his chin. “You changing the dressing?”

Jiang Henian nodded eagerly and started pounding the herbs again, making the paste even finer—green juices flying everywhere.

“Just wait a sec! Almost done!”

She was totally into it. When her mom used to talk about old remedies, it never seemed this fun. But now—this felt super satisfying!

“It might sting a little. Try to bear with it.”

“Probably gonna hurt a bit.”

“You shouldn’t watch. Otherwise—Ah!”

She was half-squatting by the bed when she saw He Jinshan press the herbal mash onto his own waist with one hand—right where the wound was.

She blinked. “…Doesn’t that hurt?”

“If you keep dawdling, then it’ll hurt.”

He Jinshan’s forehead was already covered in sweat, but his tone was helpless, almost indulgent. He let go of the wound and gave her a look.

“…Okay,” Jiang Henian swallowed.

Last night, he’d been so unconscious that applying the medicine was no big deal. But now he was fully awake and watching her intently, and just imagining the pain made her hands freeze up.

She finally managed to slather his left leg with a thick coat of the herbal paste, making him look like a green monster.

Then she scraped up the rest of the paste to apply another layer—only to have her wrist grabbed by He Jinshan.

“What is this, making pancakes? Why so thick?”

“The thicker the better—it’ll heal faster!”

She looked up, eyes pure and full of confidence in her “miracle medicine.”

He Jinshan went quiet for two seconds, then let go. His gaze drifted toward the corner, where the candle flickered faintly.

Jiang Henian, now more practiced, finished layering the worst injury on his left leg and secured it again with two straighter wooden sticks.

Then, with filthy hands propped on her knees, she looked up and said, “There’s no more gauze. Try not to rub it off while you sleep.”

She actually had a whole box in her space, but she couldn’t risk pulling more out. Too suspicious.

He Jinshan picked up an old enamel mug with red flowers on white. “Stand up. Hands out.”

Jiang Henian stood and obediently stretched out her green, herb-covered hands.

Warm water trickled onto her palms, tickling her skin.

She grinned and scrubbed her hands clean.

“All done! Save some water for drinking.”

He Jinshan let out a quiet laugh. “You’re pretty considerate.”

His voice was low and lazy, with a teasing lilt. In the dim light, it made Jiang Henian’s ears feel inexplicably warm.

She rubbed the back of her hand, feeling a little guilty.

After all, He Jinshan had ended up in this state because of her.

The powerful and privileged Mr. He, who once drove a Range Rover and walked big dogs, was now a “cripple” everyone wanted to avoid or dump.

And she… had gained valuable resources thanks to him.

She lowered her gaze to his injured leg, her voice soft with worry: “Can your leg still walk…”

He Jinshan froze.

The yellow candlelight fell on the girl, making her look soft and delicate.

The oversized, faded blue shirt made her shoulders seem extra narrow. She was tiny, with a loosely braided plait and messy baby hairs sticking out like a scruffy kitten.

He reached out and plucked a few stray bits of wheat from her braid. “Worked in the fields today?”

She was caught off guard by the sudden topic shift but nodded. “Cut some wheat.”

Then added, “A lot of it.”

He Jinshan chuckled under his breath.

“I can walk.”

He was answering her earlier whispered question.

Jiang Henian’s eyes lit up, smiling so wide that the little mole at the corner of her eye came alive.

“That’s great! I’ll come back tomorrow to change your dressing again. You’ll get better even faster!”

As she was about to leave, Jiang Henian stood at the door, staring into the pitch-black night and gathering her courage.

So what if I have night blindness? No big deal!

I’ve walked this path plenty of times, I won’t trip. The moon in the countryside is bright. Once I get past the trees, I’ll see fine.

And the wolves… they probably ate well last night. Shouldn’t come back today, right?

Clutching the doorframe, she stared determinedly into the dark—like someone preparing to join a secret mission. From the back, she looked like a sneaky little kitten.

He Jinshan bent his left leg slightly, lounging casually on the bed—though really, the herbal mash had paralyzed him into a statue.

He watched her with mild amusement before speaking:

“Little girl.”

“I’m going now! Be careful sleeping tonight!”

She didn’t turn around. Her voice rang clear and bright, filled with righteous energy.

She was all prepped to charge into the darkness—no hesitation!

Ready—set—go!

“Come back.”

Jiang Henian was promptly called back by the man’s low, commanding voice.

“What now? I need to go.”

“You’re a grown-up now, don’t be scared here alone. I’ll come back tomorrow and change your dressing…”

She stood in front of the bed, fiddling with her fingers, eyes downcast, mumbling nervously.

He Jinshan’s gaze swept over her obvious signs of anxiety, then reached over to pick up the basket.

Still muttering to herself and not getting a reply, she frowned. “If you don’t say anything, I’m leaving!”

She looked up—and saw the flickering light of a candle being held out.

In He Jinshan’s long, jointed fingers was the freshly lit half-candle. He held it out casually, his face turned slightly away as he stared into the dark night.

“Take it with you.”