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“It’s nothing, it’s not my blood, it’s from the wild boar,” Wang Tiezhu waved his hand dismissively and pointed to a large basket in the yard.
“I ran into a wild boar in the mountains, but your brother took care of it.”
Wang Ling ran over and immediately cried out in surprise, “Mom, come out and look! Brother caught a huge wild boar!”
Wang Xiumei came out and was startled when she saw her son covered in blood. “Tiezhu, did you take down this wild boar? Are you okay?”
Wang Tiezhu waved his hand. “Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry!
Tomorrow, I’ll take the boar to the county and sell it. If I’m lucky, I might make twenty to thirty thousand yuan.”
Wang Xiumei sighed. “Tiezhu, we know the family has debts, but you don’t have to push yourself this hard. What if something happens to you? What would your dad, your little sister, and I do?”
“Mom, I know.”
Wang Tiezhu reassured her with a helpless smile. “Now go cook, I’ve been busy all day and I’m starving!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll go cook for you!”
After dinner, Wang Tiezhu treated his father’s injured leg.
“Dad, soak your leg in this medicinal bath for a while. Once the medicine seeps into the muscles, I’ll do acupuncture treatment.”
Wang Shuigen placed his legs into the wooden barrel and asked, “Tiezhu, do you really think my legs can be cured?”
“Dad, definitely!”
Wang Tiezhu spoke confidently. “I’m your son—I wouldn’t lie to you. Oh, and drink this bowl of medicine too.”
He handed over a bowl of liquid that looked just like water. Wang Shuigen hesitated but drank it all in a few gulps. Smacking his lips, he said,
“Tiezhu, this medicine isn’t bitter at all—it’s actually a bit sweet. Did you make it yourself?”
Wang Tiezhu nodded vaguely, keeping to himself that this was no ordinary medicine but mystical spring water—far more effective than any miracle drug.
After half an hour of soaking, he started the acupuncture treatment. From his past life, he had extensive knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, so he performed it with precision, each needle striking the exact acupoint with ease.
Wang Xiumei and Wang Ling watched in awe. Though they didn’t fully understand what was happening, the skillful technique alone was impressive.
Wang Ling clapped excitedly. “Brother, you’re amazing! You stick those needles in so deep, yet Dad doesn’t feel any pain at all!”
Wang Tiezhu simply smiled and continued his work. Fifteen minutes later, his father suddenly reacted.
“I can feel it! My legs feel warm and tingly! Tiezhu, I can feel my legs again!”
Gripping the armrests of his chair tightly, Wang Shuigen’s wrinkled, dark face lit up with excitement.
Wang Tiezhu remained calm and gestured for his father to relax. “Dad, don’t get too excited. I told you, your legs can be completely cured.”
Even he was surprised. Based on his earlier diagnosis, the nerves in his father’s legs had been severely damaged, causing blocked blood flow and muscle atrophy—an irreversible condition. His acupuncture was only meant to improve circulation.
Yet, after just one session, his father could already feel his legs again. It must have been the effect of the mystical spring water.
After half an hour, the treatment was complete. Wang Tiezhu packed up his silver needles and said,
“At this rate, in as little as a month or two, or at most half a year, your legs will be fully recovered, and you’ll walk like a normal person again.”
“Good! Good! Good!”
Wang Shuigen repeated the word three times, his excitement beyond words. At only forty-something, he was still in his prime. No man wanted to spend the rest of his life as an invalid.
Now that there was hope for recovery, his former despair and helplessness were gone.
He was regaining his pride as the strongest man in Wangjiapu Village!
“Xiumei, did you hear that? I’ll be able to stand up again! I can reclaim my former glory!”
Wang Xiumei’s eyes welled up with tears. She nodded repeatedly, her round cheeks blushing as she thought of something and responded with a shy “Mm.”
Seeing this, Wang Tiezhu knew it was time to leave. He picked up the medicine barrel and said, “Xiaoling, it’s late—go to bed early!” before heading outside.
—-
At dawn, Wang Dachui set off for the county on his tricycle, loaded with wild boar meat. His little sister, who had school, sat on the backseat.
On the way—
Wang Ling yawned repeatedly, looking exhausted. “Brother, what time did you sleep last night?”
Wang Tiezhu glanced back. “Why? Didn’t sleep well?”
Wang Ling nodded. “Mm… I don’t know what Mom and Dad were doing last night, but Mom kept making noises. Maybe her back pain flared up again? I could hear everything from my room. I didn’t fall asleep until late.”
Wang Tiezhu broke into a sweat. This girl was so clueless! He quickly changed the subject.
“If you’re tired, just lean on my back and rest. The county is still a ways off.”
“Mm!”
Wang Ling leaned against her brother and whispered, “Brother, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“You know Huang Beibei from our village, right?”
“Huang Beibei”
Wang Tiezhu nodded. “Yeah, she’s in your class. Of course I know her. Why?”
“Brother, I have a secret to tell you, but you can’t tell anyone,” Wang Ling said mysteriously. “It seems like Huang Beibei is working in the city… doing some improper, shameful work.”
Wang Tiezhu frowned. “What do you mean by ‘shameful work’?”
“She’s selling her body!”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Wang Tiezhu said seriously. “Where did you hear this? You know how gossip spreads in the village.”
“I’m not making it up!”
Wang Ling pouted. “I saw it with my own eyes! After school, she was picked up by a man in a Mercedes. Everyone in school is talking about it. They say she’s working at that nightclub, Da Lang Tao Sha.”
“It’s true!”
Wang Tiezhu’s frown deepened. “When did this start?”
“I don’t know exactly, but I found out last week,” Wang Ling said. “I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t listen. Brother, maybe you should try?
When we were kids, Beibei always followed you around. I don’t know why she’s changed so much.”
Wang Tiezhu nodded. “I understand.”
Forty minutes later, they reached the county. After dropping off his sister at school, he rode his tricycle to the market, parked in a good spot, and started calling out—
“Come and take a look! Fresh wild boar meat from Daniu Mountain! We have pork heads, pork hearts, pork livers, and even pork jewels—everything you need!”