Chapter 28: The Peculiar Sister-in-Law

Zhou Yichen nodded, selected a few silver needles of appropriate length, carefully disinfected them, and began the acupuncture treatment for Old Man Zhang. His movements were steady, his ability to locate acupoints precise, and his technique of twisting, lifting, and inserting the needles was as fluid as flowing water.

After a short while, several silver needles were firmly placed into key acupoints on Old Man Zhang’s chest and abdomen. The old man felt a subtle sensation of soreness, numbness, and distension spreading from the points, which gradually transitioned into a faint, comforting warmth. His chest, which had felt tight and congested, seemed to loosen up significantly.

Zhou Yichen left the needles in for about a quarter of an hour before removing them one by one. Wiping the light sweat from his brow, he said to Old Man Zhang, "That’s all for today, Old Man Zhang. Come back at this time tomorrow for another session. I also plan to go into the mountains to gather some medicinal herbs; if all goes well, you can take some back with you when you come tomorrow."

"Oh! Good! That’s great!" Old Man Zhang’s face broke into a broad, joyful smile as he replied repeatedly. "Young man, your skills are truly miraculous! Just a few pokes and my chest feels so much clearer, and my whole body feels lighter!" He felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his chest, and he felt remarkably relieved.

Wang Zhenshan, who had been watching from the side, wore a satisfied smile on his dark, weathered face. He patted Zhou Yichen on the shoulder and praised him: "Not bad, lad! You’ve really got talent! It’s a blessing for our Xiangyang Brigade to have a health worker like you!"

"Come, walk with me to the brigade office; let’s get you reimbursed for these needles right away!" Wang Zhenshan was a man of action.

Zhou Yichen locked his gate and followed Wang Zhenshan and the thoroughly satisfied Old Man Zhang toward the brigade office. With the Fifth Team leader personally intervening, the reimbursement process went smoothly. Five yuan was not a small sum for an ordinary rural family, but for the collective brigade, it was negligible. Before long, Accountant Li counted out five yuan from his drawer, handed it to Zhou Yichen, and had him sign for it. The matter was settled.

After leaving the office, Old Man Zhang headed home happily, and Wang Zhenshan returned to his team. Zhou Yichen, clutching the five yuan, felt quite pleased with himself. As he walked toward his small courtyard, he ran into someone head-on: it was the helpful sister-in-law who had brought him cabbage and radishes earlier that morning.

Upon seeing Zhou Yichen, her eyes lit up, and she hurried over. "Doctor Zhou, I’m so glad I ran into you!" Her voice carried a hint of barely concealed delight.

"Big sister, is something the matter?" Zhou Yichen asked, looking at her with some surprise.

"Oh, Doctor Zhou, I don't know what happened, but my lower back has been aching terribly these past two days. I can't even bend over." She wore a pained expression, her hand unconsciously rubbing her lower back. "You’re the brigade’s health worker—could you... take a look for me?"

Zhou Yichen understood immediately. As the brigade's health worker, treating the members was his duty. Besides, he had received so many vegetables from her that morning that he had been wondering how to return the favor. Moreover, treating patients was an excellent way to improve his medical proficiency, an opportunity he certainly wouldn't pass up.

"Sure, big sister," Zhou Yichen agreed readily. "Come to my place, and I’ll take a closer look for you."

"Oh, thank you so much, Doctor Zhou!" Upon hearing his agreement, her face brightened instantly, her eyes and brows dancing with delight.

As they walked toward his courtyard, they chatted a little. Zhou Yichen learned that her name was Liu Cuilian. Her husband had died in an accident while gathering firewood in the mountains last winter, and she lived alone now, struggling to make ends meet. Listening to this, Zhou Yichen felt a pang of sympathy; in this era, a woman living on her own indeed had it difficult.

Inside the courtyard, Zhou Yichen had Liu Cuilian sit on the edge of the *kang*. "Sister, tell me specifically how it hurts and when it started."

Liu Cuilian described her symptoms in detail while rubbing her waist. Zhou Yichen carefully inquired about the cause, the precise location, and the nature of the pain, then had her perform a few bending and twisting movements to observe. After the examination, he had a clear diagnosis.

"Sister, this back pain is most likely a strained muscle from working, combined with some exposure to cold wind. It’s nothing major," he said gently. "I’ll give you some acupuncture to improve blood circulation and dispel the cold; you should feel much better afterward."

Hearing that it was treatable, Liu Cuilian’s smile grew even wider. "That’s wonderful! Doctor Zhou, you really are a blessing to our brigade!" She looked at Zhou Yichen’s young, handsome face, a strange gleam flickering in her eyes.

Zhou Yichen had her lie down on the *kang* and lift her shirt slightly to expose her waist. The *kang* still held some lingering warmth, and as Liu Cuilian lay on it, she felt a wave of comfort from beneath her. When Zhou Yichen’s fingers touched the skin of her waist to locate the acupoints, her body gave an imperceptible shiver, and a fine layer of goosebumps rose on her skin.

"Doctor Zhou, your hands... they’re so warm." Liu Cuilian’s voice carried a hint of subtle, feminine allure. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she spoke into her folded arms, her voice muffled.

Zhou Yichen assumed she was nervous about the pain or simply unaccustomed to being touched by a man, so he comforted her: "Don't be nervous, sister, it will be over soon."

He took out the silver needles, disinfected them carefully, and began the procedure with focused concentration.

"Doctor Zhou, you’re so young, yet your medical skills are already this good. It’s truly remarkable." Liu Cuilian turned her head, staring intently at his focused profile. "And you’re so handsome, too. Whoever marries you in the future will be truly blessed."

The heat behind her words made Zhou Yichen’s hand pause for a moment. As a red-blooded young man, being stared at with such an almost suggestive gaze by a widow, while hearing such comments, made him feel somewhat uneasy.

"You’re too kind, sister. I only know the basics; I’m just fumbling through it." He cleared his throat, trying to keep his tone calm, and quickened the pace of his acupuncture.

Liu Cuilian seemed not to notice his discomfort and continued on her own: "Doctor Zhou, do you live in this courtyard all by yourself? Is it convenient for you to cook and do laundry every day? Do you need someone to help out?" Her voice was soft, carrying an undefinable implication that felt like a feather lightly brushing against Zhou Yichen’s heart.

Zhou Yichen felt a subtle sense that something was wrong, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Was this Sister Liu being a bit too enthusiastic? He recalled the vegetables she had brought that morning and thought perhaps he was overthinking it; maybe she was just genuinely kind, grateful for the treatment, and simply concerned about the new health worker.

"It’s alright, I have a childhood friend who helps me with the cooking," Zhou Yichen replied vaguely. His hands never stopped, and he finished the acupuncture quickly. "Alright, sister, just stay still and lie there; I’ll leave the needles in for a quarter of an hour."

He stood up and let out a soft breath, feeling a light sweat on his back. This was much more exhausting than treating Old Man Zhang.