Chapter 64: Some Suffering is Self-Inflicted

After dinner, Zhang Er cleaned up the dishes, and Ye Zhiqiu prepared for the acupuncture.

His condition had improved significantly. He only needed final adjustments. Even the three times a day herbal medicine had been reduced to once a day, with acupuncture once at night.

Originally, Jiang Nian was in the best condition out of the three, but after the acupuncture, she was the most exhausted.

The commune’s militia began patrolling. The village chief called everyone for a meeting, saying that wild wolves had come down from the mountains. He told everyone to go out less and stay at home as much as possible to avoid encountering wolves.

Some bold villagers suggested that the village chief gather people to go up the mountain to kill the wolves, but the village chief suppressed them.

He hadn’t heard of any wolves coming down from the mountains, but the higher-ups had instructed him to say so, so he could only announce it.

Jiang Nian guessed that it might be related to the chase she had encountered in town yesterday.

As for the specific incident, it was unclear.

After the meeting, the village chief also spoke to Jiang Nian alone. “Jiang Nian, don’t go up the mountain lately. Stay away from the mountainside to avoid any danger.”

“I know. Thank you, Chief Zhou.” She said politely.

When she got home, she saw Li Rui and Niu Aixiang.

“Why are you here?” They had all been busy with their own things lately, and they had fewer opportunities to meet. They weren’t as close as they were when they first arrived, when they were almost always together.

But it was natural. They were new to the environment and the people around them, so they naturally needed to stick together for warmth and support.

Now, they had gradually become accustomed to their current way of life. Plus, they had different ideas, so they were drifting further apart.

Of course, this was their relationship.

From the beginning to now, Jiang Nian had always been on the periphery of their friendship. She didn’t take the initiative, but she wasn’t averse to them either. Plus, she was a doctor, so there was no conflict of interest or accidents. Instead, she maintained the best relationship with each of them.

“We thought it had been a long time since we sat down and chatted with you, so we came to see you.” The light in Niu Aixiang’s eyes had dimmed. The girl with the cheerful, round face had disappeared, replaced by a weary look, as if she was enduring hardship in life. She looked at Jiang Nian enviously. “Jiang Nian, how do you do it? You’re always going in and out of the deep mountains and forests, and your skin is still so good. You look even more energetic than when you first arrived. Unlike me…”

She still had the photos she had taken before coming here. The girl in the photos and the girl she was now were completely different people.

Of course, Li Rui and Zhao Heping had also changed a little, but not as much as she had… It was unbelievable!

“It’s not a special method. Your skin wasn’t bad to begin with. Just pay attention to sun protection, don’t stay up late, and don’t eat irregularly, and it will be much better.”

Li Rui looked at Niu Aixiang in surprise. “You’re actually eating irregularly? You can tolerate Zhao Heping exploiting you like that. Are you a turtle?”

After all, in terms of workload, Niu Aixiang was stronger than the two men. Zhao Heping, on the other hand, was slow and lazy. Half of his work was done by Niu Aixiang.

If it weren’t for Zhao Heping, she could clearly live better and wouldn’t have to work so hard.

“He hasn’t exploited me. He’s just not feeling well.” Niu Aixiang was still stubborn.

Li Rui was speechless. “Forget it. Some suffering is self-inflicted. You deserve it.”

“Li Rui!”

Jiang Nian interrupted their bickering. “Are you here to see me or to argue?”

They both shut their mouths and snorted coldly, refusing to look at each other.

Li Rui stood up. “Some people are just annoying. I’m going back to take care of my ducks. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to touch the ground. I’ve lost a few of my little darlings. I don’t know which heartless bastard stole them.”

Niu Aixiang’s eyes were red, clearly angry.

“As long as you feel your actions are right and you’re happy, then just be yourself.” Jiang Nian wasn’t trying to persuade her. Her past experience had taught her that Niu Aixiang, who wouldn’t turn back even after hitting a wall, couldn’t be persuaded.

So this statement had a premise: were her actions truly right? And would this current life make her happy?

Obviously not, otherwise, she wouldn’t be in her current state.

As expected, after Jiang Nian finished speaking, her mood became even more depressed.

She realized she was wrong, but she also felt that she had sincerely apologized so many times, always lowering her attitude, even trying other ways to compensate, but she still hadn’t been forgiven.

However, she didn’t realize how awkward Li Rui’s situation was when she defended Zhao Heping.

It was an idea he and Jiang Nian had discussed together, and he had been working hard to make plans for it. But someone else had taken the lead. When he spoke, no one believed him, making him, the victim, look like a villain trying to steal someone else’s credit.

If it weren’t for the newspaper article that made the public recognize him, people in the village would probably mention him with a sentence like, “You mean that Li Rui who wanted to steal Zhao Zhiqing’s credit? Was he wronged?”

After a long time, Niu Aixiang sighed. “I know. In his heart, he’s already labeled me and Heping as thieves. And it’s true. I can’t refute it. But Jiang Nian, I still hope you can persuade Li Rui. The Women’s Federation’s work is coming to an end soon. The Yanjiazhuang Elementary School will be established soon. Raising ducks is much easier than being a teacher. And it was his idea in the first place. I also want to compensate him. The school is just starting, and next year, it will only recruit first-graders. There are only a limited number of teachers needed for now. This position is not only coveted by the educated youth in our village, but also by educated youth from other villages. They’ve been inquiring about it. So I think now is not the time to be stubborn…”

In Niu Aixiang’s opinion, Li Rui was raising ducks out of spite. What future could raising ducks have?

But she didn’t know that he was just sincere, not stupid.

“Remember, I told you last time that I can’t help you with Li Rui’s matter. Everyone has their own thoughts and is working towards their own goals. Comrade Niu Aixiang, what you don’t value doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad. Instead of constantly thinking about how to apologize and compensate, why not learn to respect others, and respect their thoughts and actions?”

“I… I understand.” Her skin was darker, and her face didn’t look flushed when she blushed, but her shame was obvious.

Niu Aixiang was a very complex person. She was passionate and bold in love, but she always avoided reality in other matters.

Jiang Nian didn’t know if she understood or not, and she didn’t have the time to get involved in their grievances and love affairs. It was better to spend this time teaching her apprentice so that she could become independent sooner, and she could let go sooner.

Ye Zhiqiu and Zhang Er hid aside. When they were gone, she asked in confusion, “Did you understand what my Master said?”

She seemed to understand a little, but not completely.

Zhang Er smiled. “Doctor Jiang’s meaning is probably like this. She likes to eat rice, and you like to eat noodles. But you eat your noodles. You can’t think that eating rice is bad, and you shouldn’t always point fingers and tell others how good eating noodles is…”

“When did I ever like to eat noodles? I like whatever my Master likes. For me, as long as I can eat, it’s fine. Stop stirring up trouble between us.”

“I was just giving an example!”

Zhang Er was quite likable when he first arrived, but he had become less likable these past few days. He always tried to show off in front of her Master, and Ye Zhiqiu was like a child who was afraid of her Master being taken away.