Chapter 110: First Acupuncture Treatment

For the past few days, Ming Dai didn’t need to go to the county town. She began performing acupuncture on Zhou Sinian in her space.

Zhou Sinian had many health problems. On the surface, he seemed like a normal person, but in reality, his body was barely holding on. Various injuries had reached a balance inside him, but he was actually at a critical point.

Once treatment started, the balance inside his body would be disrupted. His body would begin to defend itself, and a series of problems would follow.

Without a proper examination, Ming Dai dared not take any risks. She decided to treat him gradually, slowing down the pace. She would first focus on his health and only address the injury to his head once his body could handle it.

Zhou Sinian’s legs were the most severe. Ming Dai decided to start with his legs and perform acupuncture. If left untreated, his legs would deform due to rheumatism.

When Ming Dai pulled out the golden needles, Zhou Sinian hesitated.

He looked at the long line of shiny golden needles in the needle case. “Ming Dai, how about you don’t do it? I’m fine like this.”

Ming Dai flashed a mischievous smile at him, raising the thickest needle to scare him. “No, it’s a must!”

Zhou Sinian lowered his head and earnestly begged, “Can you use a smaller one? This one’s too thick. I can’t handle it!”

Ming Dai: ??? Why does that sound a little odd?!!

She stopped joking and put the needle back.

“Alright, I’m not teasing you. Acupuncture doesn’t hurt.”

She asked Zhou Sinian to lie on the small bed she had prepared. “Roll up your pants leg. I’ll give you a quick massage first.”

Zhou Sinian obediently rolled up his pants leg, revealing his knee.

Ming Dai looked at his knee, which had become somewhat rounder, and nodded in satisfaction. He had finally reached a level of healthy plumpness. In this era of widespread malnutrition, Zhou Sinian’s thinness was no longer considered unusual.

She asked him to relax, poured some essential oil, rubbed her hands to warm them, and then placed them on his knee.

As soon as her hands touched his knee, Zhou Sinian’s body jolted, a reflexive defensive response from his body.

Zhou Sinian fought the urge to sit up and curiously watched Ming Dai’s movements.

Contrary to his expectations, Ming Dai’s pressure was quite strong. As her pressing became heavier, sweat started to form on his forehead.

Ming Dai noticed his discomfort and stopped, frowning as she asked, “Does it hurt this much?”

Zhou Sinian awkwardly shook his head. “It’s not too bad. It’s just a little more painful than usual.”

Ming Dai sighed. “If it hurts usually, why didn’t you say anything?”

Zhou Sinian’s thick lashes fluttered. “It’s fine, I’m used to it. It used to hurt more, but since you’ve come, it’s not as painful anymore.”

You really make my heart ache!

Ming Dai stood up and gave him a milk candy.

Zhou Sinian happily took it, popped it in his mouth, and smiled at Ming Dai as she continued to massage his leg.

After a while, Ming Dai went to the kitchen to heat some salt, poured it into a special bag, and placed it on his knee.

It was a little hot, and Zhou Sinian couldn’t help but feel the urge to move.

“Don’t move, it’ll be better soon.”

Twenty minutes later, Ming Dai removed the salt bag, took the needles from the needle case, and carefully pressed them into the acupoints on his leg.

Zhou Sinian looked at the thin golden needles in her fingers and sighed in relief.

When he realized the needles didn’t hurt at all, he let out a surprised sound. “Ming Dai, it really doesn’t hurt!”

Ming Dai smiled. “Of course, don’t forget who’s the one doing the acupuncture.”

Before long, Zhou Sinian’s two legs were covered in needles like a hedgehog.

Zhou Sinian’s face turned red. “Ming Dai, it’s a little itchy.”

Ming Dai placed a pillow under his head and handed him a new comic book. “It’s fine, the itching is normal. You can read for a while, and when it’s time, I’ll take the needles out. I’m going to make dinner first.”

By the time Ming Dai had finished making the sauerkraut and pork bones stew, she returned to remove the needles, only to find that he had already fallen asleep.

The light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on his sharp, well-defined face. The straight nose formed a beautiful shadow below, highlighting his handsome, three-dimensional features.

His hair had grown a little long, with tiny strands falling across his forehead, giving him an unexpectedly soft and obedient appearance.

His relaxed eyebrows, his face glowing softly, and his chest rising and falling gently in rhythmic motion. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if in a pleasant dream, and the entire atmosphere around him felt peaceful and at ease.

Ming Dai quietly exited the living room.

Let him sleep for a bit longer.

Zhou Sinian slept until 3 p.m.

The golden light filtered onto his face, making his slowly opening eyes glow with warmth.

He slowly sat up, dazed for a moment, realizing that a blanket had been placed over him and the needles on his legs had been removed.

“Are you awake?”

Ming Dai stood at the stairs, smiling as she asked him.

Zhou Sinian looked up and flashed her a wide grin. “Ming Dai, I’m hungry!”

Ming Dai couldn’t help but laugh at his innocent words and walked down the stairs. “It’s already three o’clock. You’ve slept for more than four hours—of course, you’re hungry. Get up. I made sauerkraut and pork bones stew.”

Sauerkraut and pork bones stew!!

Zhou Sinian eagerly got up, making sure to fold the blanket neatly and place it on the small bed. He stretched his arms in a big yawn, feeling so comfortable.

He kicked his legs and was amazed to discover, “Ming Dai! My legs don’t hurt as much anymore! They don’t feel as heavy either! They’re warm!”

Ming Dai heated up the food. “Take it slow. The pain will completely go away in time. Listen to me—you can’t let yourself get cold again.”

Zhou Sinian obediently agreed and went to the kitchen to help bring out the dishes.

“Go wash your hands. Big bones taste best when you hold them and bite into them!”

Zhou Sinian: Slurp, slurp!

This time, Ming Dai used the pickled vegetables they had made themselves. Compared to the ones from the space and those given by Aunt Huang, theirs lacked the bitterness of coarse salt but had a tangy freshness from the probiotics, which perfectly balanced the richness of the bone broth.

Zhou Sinian ate happily, alternating between bites of meat and pickled vegetables, shaking his head in delight.

After finishing the meal, he carefully picked out all the bones.

“What do you need those for?”

Zhou Sinian replied mysteriously, “I have a use for them.”

Ming Dai didn’t question it further. She would have just thrown them in the trash anyway.

The trash bins in the villa had a built-in cleaning function, making them incredibly convenient.

Over the next few days, the two of them continued with herbal baths and acupuncture in the space. Ming Dai also fed Zhou Sinian various medicinal dishes, making his face practically glow with health.

She soon noticed that after eating the same food for a while, not only had her hair become smoother, but she had also grown taller!

Before, she had only reached slightly above Zhou Sinian’s waist, but now she was almost at his chest!

Exciting!

When Aunt Huang and Huang Dalian arrived with a cart full of goods, they were both shocked by Zhou Sinian’s condition.

Since he was at home, Zhou Sinian wasn’t wearing a headscarf or a hat, revealing his entire face.

Although he didn’t have the currently popular square-shaped face, his skin was fair, and after being well cared for by Ming Dai, he had a healthy glow. With his naturally good features—sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a tall, upright posture—his noble aura couldn’t be hidden, even under an old cotton-padded jacket. He was the kind of person who would stand out in a crowd at first glance.

Huang Dalian found herself feeling inexplicably flustered.

What was going on?!!

That strange feeling completely disappeared when Huang Dalian saw the knitting needles in Zhou Sinian’s hands.

A grown man, sitting there knitting with delicate, poised fingers—and doing an excellent job at it?!

Where was the logic in that?!

Meanwhile, Ming Dai stared in a daze at the cart full of goods. Aunt Huang must have completely drained her old friends of their resources!

“Xiao Ming, girl, this is just part of it. There are still some trades left to complete. I plan to exchange the rest with my family in the mountains. My nephews will come down before the festival. By the way, has there been any news from the person looking to buy tiger bones?”

Ming Dai shook her head. “We need to wait a little longer. No word yet.”

Aunt Huang nodded. “Alright, no rush on that.”

Just as she finished speaking, Huang Dalian tugged on her sleeve. “Mom, look!”

Following her gaze, Aunt Huang turned her head. On the heated brick bed, Zhou Sinian sat upright, hands moving skillfully. A red sweater with white floral patterns had already taken shape.

Aunt Huang’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh my goodness… He—he actually knows how to knit?!”

Zhou Sinian didn’t even lift his eyelids, carefully working on the sweater’s neckline.

Ming Dai laughed and lifted the hem of her cotton-padded jacket, revealing her own new sweater. “Zhou Sinian is very skilled. Look, he made this for me.”

Aunt Huang curiously reached out to touch it, but her thick calluses nearly snagged the fabric. She quickly let go.

“Oh dear!”

Clicking her tongue twice in admiration, she sighed, “Something this fine—we wouldn’t even dare to wear it!”

Ming Dai lowered her clothes back down. “It’s pure wool and really hard to come by. I found it at the county supply and marketing cooperative and bought it immediately. It’s incredibly warm to wear.”

Huang Dalian also looked tempted, but her rough hands made her hesitant to touch it.

Meanwhile, Aunt Huang suddenly remembered the tanned sheepskin she had processed.

“Xiao Ming, dear, that sheepskin I tanned—it’s ready now. Do you want me to make a vest for you? The size should be just right.”

Ming Dai thought for a moment before shaking her head. “Auntie, just give it to me. I’ll make it myself.”

Aunt Huang nodded. “Alright, I’ll have Tiedan bring it over later.”

After chatting a little longer, they unloaded all the goods before finally leaving.

Once they were gone, Zhou Sinian finally put down the knitting needles, got off the brick bed, and helped Ming Dai organize everything.