Chapter 18: Testing the Waters

Grandma Bai was changing Tang Wan’s dressing in the courtyard.

The lighting in the courtyard was good, and after wiping off the medicine from Tang Wan’s face, the wounds were almost healed.

Originally, the facial injury was just a scrape, so it was normal that it healed quickly.

The wound on the palm was more serious. Tang Wan hadn’t been using much force while eating, so the wound hadn’t reopened and was recovering quite well.

At first, Qin Zheng stayed nearby watching, but when Grandma Bai was about to change the dressing on Tang Wan’s foot, he excused himself and busied himself in the backyard to avoid awkwardness.

The redness and swelling on the foot had subsided a bit, but it still looked alarming.

Tang Wan had drunk some spring water from the space yesterday and felt that the pain in her foot was much less severe than it appeared.

Grandma Bai glanced at it a few times and said it would heal soon.

While the two were talking, there was suddenly a knock on the door.

Surprise showed on Grandma Bai’s face. Clearly, with Qin Zheng’s reputation, it was unusual for anyone to come to her door.

When she opened, it was Zhong Ling and Sister Yanhong.

“Grandma Bai, sorry to disturb you. We’re here to see Tang Zhiqing,” Zhong Ling said with a smile, explaining their purpose.

Since they said this, Grandma Bai couldn’t refuse them and opened the door to let them in.

Once inside, they saw Tang Wan sitting on a stool with her red, swollen ankle.

“Tang Zhiqing, I heard you accidentally injured your foot. We came to see if you need any help,” Sister Yanhong said as she looked over at Tang Wan.

There were only a few people at the educated youth camp, so helping each other was natural. Otherwise, if conflicts arose with the villagers, no one would stand on the side of the educated youth.

The atmosphere in the Hongqi Brigade was somewhat better; in other places, female educated youth had been humiliated by villagers multiple times, often ending with forced marriage, and those with strong spirits sometimes committed suicide.

The situation for female educated youth in the countryside was not good — this was well known.

Especially…

Sister Yanhong looked at the scars on Tang Wan’s face, which made her look even more pitiful.

Especially since Tang Wan was pretty, she was even less safe in the countryside.

When Grandma Bai came yesterday, many thoughts had flashed through her mind.

Having been in the village for two years, she knew Grandma Bai’s household included Qin Zheng — a man who looked easygoing.

Tang Wan stayed at his house; if he had any bad intentions, no one could do anything.

Especially since Grandma Bai was very protective, it was unclear whether she had intentionally kept Tang Wan there…

Sister Yanhong had already thought about this when Grandma Bai came to get something yesterday, but she hadn’t followed her back, only hoping Tang Wan would be lucky.

Now it seemed she had overthought it.

Tang Wan, however, was unaware of Sister Yanhong’s concerns.

“It’s nothing serious, just a sprain. Thank you for your concern, and sorry for troubling you to come all this way,” Tang Wan smiled, thanking them.

Zhong Ling approached and carefully examined Tang Wan’s injury, as if trying to confirm something. “How did it get so bad? I thought you just sprained your ankle.”

Zhong Ling’s tone was genuinely concerned.

“It happened when I went up the mountain to pick mushrooms… I slipped…” Tang Wan naturally couldn’t say the real reason.

“It’s also my fault. Tang Zhiqing is kind-hearted. When she was picking mushrooms, I lost my footing. She tried to help me, but I ended up falling down the mountain, which caused her injury to be so severe,” Grandma Bai added.

In front of Zhong Ling and Sister Yanhong, Grandma Bai wasn’t so gentle, but more like a stubborn old woman.

“I see. Looks like you have to be careful when picking mushrooms in the mountains,” Zhong Ling said with some curiosity.

Tang Wan instantly understood what Zhong Ling was thinking.

Though Zhong Ling hadn’t cared about Tang Wan’s affairs in her previous life, she knew nothing like this had happened before.

So this time she felt something was off.

“I went out to pick mushrooms a bit late in the afternoon. On the way, I met Grandma Bai, and we went together. I was careless and didn’t expect the mountain to be slippery after the rain,” Tang Wan said, seeming a bit guilty.

When Zhong Ling heard she went out late, she let go of most of her suspicions.

It must have been because Zhao Donglai gave her an umbrella, causing the delay, which then led to Tang Wan meeting Grandma Bai and the current situation.

Last time, Zhao Dong didn’t deliver an umbrella at this time, so it didn’t happen.

Thinking like this was correct.

Zhong Ling relaxed, and her smile became more sincere.

Although she still doubted Grandma Bai’s stubborn nature and how she could be picking mushrooms with Tang Wan, relationships between people often depended on affinity, so nothing was certain.

Anyway, having gotten the answers she wanted, Zhong Ling no longer cared.

“Do you want to go back to the youth camp to recover? If you want, Zhong Ling and I can help you,” Sister Yanhong asked.

“No need. The youth camp sent me here to recover, so I shouldn’t make her go back like this. I’ll stay here for a few days; it’s also easier for her to change my dressings. Going back to the camp means you’d have to take care of me, which would trouble you,” Grandma Bai refused directly.

Maybe because of Sister Yanhong’s usual impression of Grandma Bai, she didn’t dare to argue when Grandma Bai spoke.

Zhong Ling spoke up: “In that case, Tang Zhiqing will stay with you. We’ll send her daily rations from the camp.”

“Do you need us to pack some clothes and bring them over for you?” Zhong Ling asked again.

“No need. You won’t have much time to rest at noon anyway. I’ll go get them myself with my crutches in the afternoon,” Tang Wan said, picking up the crutch beside the stool.

“All right. As long as you’re fine, we’ll leave now.”

Zhong Ling and Sister Yanhong said their goodbyes and left.

After they left, the smile returned to Grandma Bai’s face: “These two really know how to put on a show.”

Tang Wan looked at Grandma Bai, who continued, “Sometimes appearances matter more than actions. People like that can get things done.”

Grandma Bai was saying that they were just putting on a front.

Tang Wan knew this too but didn’t expect Grandma Bai to say it so bluntly.

She feared Tang Wan might mistake them for close friends if she didn’t say it.

Tang Wan felt grateful to Grandma Bai — not everyone is willing to point things out like that.

Especially someone like Grandma Bai, who seemed perceptive and wise to Tang Wan, but in front of outsiders, appeared as an unreasonable old woman.

Grandma Bai must have her reasons for doing this, but Tang Wan didn’t feel it was the right time to ask.