Chapter 36: Presumptuous Desires

"Hehe, you'll see once we get home." Zhou Yichen kept her in suspense, his smile tinged with a hint of smugness.

Jiang Xiaoman pouted in dissatisfaction, though her large eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Chatting and laughing, the two moved briskly, and before long, they arrived back at their cozy little courtyard.

As soon as they stepped through the gate, Jiang Xiaoman couldn't wait any longer. "Yichen, quick! The surprise? What is the surprise?"

Her bright, shining eyes were fixed intently on the burlap sack over Zhou Yichen’s shoulder, as if she could see right through it.

Zhou Yichen set the sack down, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "Don't be so impatient; good things come to those who wait."

Carefully, he reached into the very depths of the sack and withdrew a bundle wrapped in wide leaves, placing it gently onto the small stone table in the yard.

Jiang Xiaoman held her breath, her eyes unblinking.

Zhou Yichen peeled back the leaves, layer by layer.

When that wild mountain ginseng—redolent with the scent of fresh soil, covered in distinct rings, and with its fine root hairs perfectly intact—was revealed, Jiang Xiaoman’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

"Wow—"

She let out an exclamation, cautiously reaching out a finger, wanting to touch it but afraid to do so.

"Yichen, is… is this ginseng?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Zhou Yichen tilted his chin up proudly. "Well? Genuine wild mountain ginseng. I reckon it’s at least fifteen years old!"

"Fifteen years?!" Jiang Xiaoman’s eyes went wide as she drew a sharp breath. "My goodness! How did you ever find something so precious?"

She couldn't believe her eyes, circling the ginseng in Zhou Yichen’s hands as if admiring a peerless treasure.

"Does this thing… really hold the power to save lives?" Jiang Xiaoman asked, blinking her large eyes in curiosity, her tone filled with wonder.

Zhou Yichen nodded with a smile. "That goes without saying. This wild mountain ginseng is excellent for nourishing vital energy and strengthening the foundation. For some critically ill patients, at a pivotal moment, it can save a life."

He paused, then added, "However, it shouldn't be used indiscriminately; you must match the treatment to the condition. The older the plant, the more potent its medicinal effects."

Jiang Xiaoman nodded repeatedly, her gaze toward the ginseng becoming even more reverent.

Seeing her expression, Zhou Yichen couldn't help but find it amusing. "Alright, don't just stare at it. We need to process this ginseng quickly, or its medicinal properties will dissipate, and it won't keep for long."

With that, he found his tools and began to meticulously tend to the wild ginseng.

He first used a small brush to gently sweep away the loose soil from the surface, his movements as soft as if he were handling a priceless artifact.

Then, he used a damp, soft cloth to carefully wipe away the stubborn dirt that the brush couldn't remove.

Every movement was infused with professionalism and focus.

***

Jiang Xiaoman didn't remain idle. Seeing Zhou Yichen busy, she headed to the kitchen.

"You take care of that, Yichen, I'll make lunch! You’re the big hero today, so I’m going to make you something good!"

The clatter of pots and pans soon drifted from the kitchen, accompanied by Jiang Xiaoman humming a disjointed little tune, bringing a sense of warmth and vitality to their small courtyard.

By the time Zhou Yichen finished the initial processing of the ginseng—wrapping it in a clean cloth and planning to leave it in a cool, ventilated place to air out before properly curing and storing it in a few days—Jiang Xiaoman had already set the meal on the table.

The meal was simple: a plate of leftover cabbage from the day before, with corn porridge as the staple, served with a bit of pickled vegetables. That was their lunch.

"Time to eat!" Jiang Xiaoman called out with a satisfied smile.

Zhou Yichen washed his hands and sat at the table.

He picked up his chopsticks to grab some vegetables, but his eyes unintentionally caught the way Jiang Xiaoman was holding her own chopsticks—her posture was somewhat unnatural.

"Xiaoman, what’s wrong with your hand?" Zhou Yichen set his chopsticks down and asked.

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoman instinctively tried to pull her hand back, a look of discomfort crossing her face. "Ah? It's nothing, nothing! I just got a little scrape while chopping wood."

Zhou Yichen frowned, pulled her hand toward him without argument, and took a look.

On her typically fair and delicate palm, several glistening blisters had appeared. Two had even broken, seeping blood—a red, raw patch that made his heart ache.

Zhou Yichen felt a pang of distress, but his tone was tinged with reproach: "You call this 'nothing'? Why didn't you say anything sooner? Are you stupid?"

Scolded, Jiang Xiaoman hung her head, feeling wronged, and muttered, "I didn't want you to worry..."

Zhou Yichen sighed, his voice softening. "How could I not worry?"

He stood up, walked to the corner of the room, and rummaged through the pile of herbs he had gathered that morning.

Before long, he picked out some dandelions and plantain leaves.

He placed the herbs on a clean stone slab and crushed them into a paste with a wooden stick.

Then, he pulled Jiang Xiaoman’s hand toward him and carefully applied the dark green medicinal paste onto the blisters and broken skin.

A cool, soothing sensation took over, and Jiang Xiaoman let out a comfortable "hiss."

Zhou Yichen found some clean gauze and carefully bandaged her hand, his movements gentle and focused.

"There, don't get it wet for the next few days, and be careful when you're working this afternoon. Don't tear the wound open again," he instructed, his tone full of concern.

Jiang Xiaoman stared blankly at Zhou Yichen.

He was looking down, his expression concentrated, his touch light. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft halo over his delicate profile.

Those eyes, which usually held a hint of playfulness and indifference, were now filled with earnestness and a trace of hard-to-detect tenderness.

***

She suddenly felt that this childhood friend who she had grown up with—this "buddy" who always seemed aimless and whom she felt she had to look after—well, he didn't seem quite like a "buddy" anymore.

Especially when he was being serious, he was actually… actually quite handsome.

Jiang Xiaoman’s heart skipped a beat for no reason, and a blush crept onto her cheeks before she even realized it.

After tending to her injury, Zhou Yichen looked up and caught sight of her flushed cheeks and flickering, avoidant gaze. He paused in surprise.

He studied her, and the more he looked, the more he felt something was off.

This girl—her face so red, her eyes darting around, and a shy, involuntary smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

She looked exactly like… a young girl experiencing her first crush!

Zhou Yichen crossed his arms, leaning back to watch her with a playful smirk.

"Tell me, Comrade Xiaoman."

He drew out the words.

"Since your face is so red, could it be… that you harbor some improper thoughts about me?"

The remark was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

Jiang Xiaoman jerked her head up, her eyes wide, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Zhou! Yi! Chen!" she hissed, practically grinding her teeth as she said his name.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"

Her face turned even redder, a sudden, deep crimson like a ripe apple, and even her ears turned pink.

"I… I was just… it’s hot in here! Yes, that’s it, it’s just hot!" she stammered in defense, though she dared not meet his eyes.

Zhou Yichen watched her obvious attempt to cover up her feelings, understanding dawning on him. The smile on his lips deepened.

He let out a slow "Oh," and nodded. "So, it’s just the heat, is it?"

"But then again..." he shifted his tone, his playful banter taking on a hint of sincerity. "If that person were you, I wouldn't have any objections."

Jiang Xiaoman was so choked by his words that she nearly lost her breath.

She opened her mouth to retort, but found that her throat felt as if it had been blocked by something.