Chapter 67 Lu Cheng recovered

Lin Yuexi was also happy for him. She nodded vigorously, “Lu Cheng, you have to believe in me and believe in yourself. You’ll be able to stand up again soon, and you’ll be a real soldier again.”

A spark of excitement flickered in Lu Cheng’s eyes. He tightly grasped Lin Yuexi’s hand, as if he had grasped the power to stand and walk again. He was truly grateful to fate for giving him such a good wife.

In the days that followed, Lin Yuexi took even better care of Lu Cheng. Every morning, she would get up early and fetch spiritual spring water from her space to boil the herbs, enhancing their medicinal effects. Lu Cheng, no longer passively accepting treatment, actively cooperated with the rehabilitation plan Lin Yuexi had devised, drawing upon the unwavering willpower he had developed in the army.

Finally, one day, as the morning sun shone through the thin clouds and fell upon the small courtyard, casting a golden glow on this ordinary day, Lin Yuexi, as usual, got up early to prepare to change Lu Cheng’s dressing and massage him. She gently pushed open the door, but she saw Lu Cheng standing by the bed, his legs trembling slightly, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. But his eyes held an unprecedented determination and resolve.

“Lu Cheng, you…” Lin Yuexi’s voice held a hint of surprise and disbelief.

Lu Cheng looked up at Lin Yuexi, a faint smile playing on his lips, a smile that was slightly tired but filled with hope. “Yuexi, I want to try.”

Lin Yuexi quickly put down what she was holding and hurried to Lu Cheng’s side. Her hands hung nervously in the air, wanting to support him but afraid of interfering.

Lu Cheng took a deep breath, tightly gripping the railing at the edge of the bed. He slowly shifted his weight onto his legs. His legs, having not borne weight for so long, were a little weak, but he gritted his teeth, relying on the steely willpower he had developed in the army, and straightened his back.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Lu Cheng let go of one hand that was holding onto the bed railing and slowly lifted his other hand forward. His whole body swayed slightly.

Lin Yuexi’s heart leaped into her throat. She almost couldn’t help but reach out to support Lu Cheng, but she held back. She knew that this was a hurdle Lu Cheng had to overcome on his own.

A look of pain crossed Lu Cheng’s face. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and dripped onto the floor. But he didn’t give up. He continued to move cautiously, step by step. One step, two steps… Every step was incredibly difficult, but every step was also filled with strength.

Finally, Lu Cheng, without the support of a wheelchair or crutches, successfully took his first step after standing up again. His eyes sparkled with tears of excitement. It was a farewell to the countless nights and days of painful struggle, and a yearning and anticipation for a new life in the future.

Lin Yuexi was already in tears. She excitedly threw her arms around Lu Cheng, holding him tightly, as if she wanted to use her embrace to support him, to never let him fall again. “Lu Cheng, you did it! You really did it!” Lin Yuexi’s voice choked with emotion, filled with joy and pride.

Lu Cheng hugged Lin Yuexi tightly, feeling her warmth and support. He knew that he couldn’t have overcome the hardships without Lin Yuexi’s meticulous care and unwavering presence.

When the news of Lu Cheng’s miraculous recovery and return to standing spread through the village like a gust of wind, and then further afield, the once quiet village became the center of attention.

The first to arrive was Li Da-captain. He rushed over, his face filled with surprise and disbelief. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he shouted in a booming voice, “Lu Cheng, you can stand up! That’s wonderful news! You not only won us honor, but you also created a miracle!” As he spoke, he strode over to Lu Cheng and gently patted him on the shoulder.

“Da-captain, I can stand up thanks to Yuexi’s medical skills and her unwavering encouragement. I married a good wife. She gave me a second life.” Lu Cheng said sincerely.

Li Da-captain was chatting with Lu Cheng and Lin Yuexi when Zhao Shuji from the commune arrived. Zhao Shuji walked into the courtyard with steady steps, looking around. Seeing that Lu Cheng was truly standing in the courtyard without relying on a wheelchair or crutches, he couldn’t help but nod repeatedly. “Good, good! This is great news for our commune. Comrade Lu Cheng, you are truly a soldier! Your perseverance and courage are worthy of learning from by everyone.”

Before everyone could recover, Li Fu-shuji’s red flag sedan appeared at the entrance of the courtyard. As soon as Li Fu-shuji entered the courtyard, his eyes fell upon Lu Cheng, filled with relief and admiration. “Comrade Lu Cheng, the news of your rebirth and standing up has spread throughout the county. This is the pride of our entire county. You have not only shown your tenacious personal will, but you have also set an example for everyone.” As he spoke, he walked over and shook Lu Cheng’s hand warmly, holding it for a long time before letting go.

For a while, Lu Cheng and Lin Yuexi’s courtyard was bustling with activity. Villagers came to visit on their own initiative. Even Zhao Gang came over. As soon as he entered, he walked up to Lu Cheng and said, “Good boy, since you’ve stood up again, should we practice again? I remember when we were kids, you were the only one who could go a few rounds with me.”

“Zhao Ge, not yet. We’ll spar a few rounds in a while…” Lu Cheng’s words made Zhao Shuji from the commune, Li Fu-shuji from the county committee, and Li Da-captain all burst into laughter.

Lin Yuexi then learned that Zhao Gang and Lu Cheng had grown up together, but Zhao Gang had joined the army earlier and retired early for his mother.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Yuexi quickly said, “Li Fu-shuji, Zhao Shuji, Li Da-captain, and Zhao Ge, today is Lu Cheng’s recovery day. How about I cook a few dishes and we all have a drink together?”

The group was delighted to hear Lin Yuexi’s suggestion. “Alright, we’ll trouble Mrs. Lu Yingchang then…”

Lin Yuexi turned and quickly went into the kitchen, thinking about how to make a table of home-cooked dishes that everyone would enjoy with limited ingredients. In this time of scarcity, if she were to eat meat and drink heavily at home to entertain the leaders, it would spread and might affect Lu Cheng’s future. Thinking about this, she only made a stir-fried vegetable dish, a home-style tofu dish, a braised pork dish, a scrambled egg dish, a pickled vegetable stir-fried bamboo shoots, and a bone soup with kelp.

After Lin Yuexi finished cooking, she served each dish. The stir-fried vegetables, with their emerald green color, were pleasing to the eye. The home-style tofu, fried to a golden crisp, was paired with a delicious sauce, making it a perfect accompaniment to rice. The cold bean sprouts were refreshing and delicious, just right for relieving the summer heat. Then there was the scrambled egg dish, the golden egg liquid was fried fluffy and soft, with a fragrant aroma. Finally, there was a pickled vegetable stir-fried bamboo shoots, the salty and fragrant flavor was just right. The kelp and bone soup was light and refreshing, nutritious and delicious.