Chapter 29: A Group Visit

Although it was somewhat uncomfortable, it was not without its benefits.

At the very least, it had increased his medical proficiency by several points.

[Medical Proficiency LV1 (722/1000)]

After Zhou Yichen’s acupuncture treatment, Liu Cuilian felt a sense of ease wash over her entire body. The waist that had been aching faintly just moments ago now felt completely free of pain.

"Oh my! Yichen, your skills are truly miraculous!"

Liu Cuilian sat up from the kang, tried moving her waist, and a smile of pleasant surprise bloomed on her face.

"It’s really not hurting anymore! Not at all! I feel so light all over!"

This made her gaze toward Zhou Yichen grow increasingly ardent, as if she were about to melt him.

Liu Cuilian’s looks were not exactly top-tier, but they were certainly not bad, possessing a delicate, girl-next-door charm. However, since her husband had passed away last winter, living alone had been quite difficult. She had long been looking for another man to lean on. While a few bachelors in the village had made advances toward her, she had no interest in any of them.

That was until Zhou Yichen appeared. This young, handsome educated youth with a knack for medicine had stirred her long-dormant heart back to life.

His status as an "educated youth"? She didn't care! She was confident that with her own looks and wiles, she could eventually bear him a child and firmly capture this young man’s heart.

Zhou Yichen was, of course, completely oblivious to the swirling thoughts in Liu Cuilian’s mind. He only felt that the way this sister-in-law was looking at him was... a bit too intense. Having removed the needles and given her a few careful instructions on daily precautions, he assumed the matter was settled.

But to his surprise, Liu Cuilian acted as if she had forgotten to leave. She remained seated on the edge of the kang, looking at him with lingering, flirtatious eyes and a smile on her lips.

"Yichen, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I don't know how long this back pain would have lasted!" Her voice was so soft it could almost drip water.

This left Zhou Yichen in a bit of a predicament. A lone man and a woman together in one room—if word got out, it wouldn't sound very respectable. But she had just brought over a load of cabbage and radishes that morning; he couldn't very well turn around and chase her out.

Zhou Yichen gave a dry laugh. "You're too kind, sister-in-law. It’s just what I should do."

He wondered if he should find some excuse to step out. To be honest, Zhou Yichen had absolutely no ulterior motives regarding Liu Cuilian. He was currently pouring all his energy into living a good life in the countryside and working hard to improve his various skills; he had no time for romantic distractions. Even leaving Liu Cuilian aside, he didn't have those kinds of thoughts about Jiang Xiaoman either. Although that girl was spirited and cute, they were simply too close—having grown up together like siblings, it felt wrong to even consider it.

Just as Zhou Yichen was contemplating how to tactfully ask her to leave, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the courtyard.

Immediately following that, Jiang Xiaoman’s crisp, cheerful voice rang out: "Yichen! Are you home?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yichen felt as if he had been granted a reprieve. He quickly called out, "I’m here! Xiaoman, come on in!"

As soon as he spoke, Liu Cuilian’s eyes flickered, but she quickly resumed her smile, though there seemed to be a different meaning behind it now.

Jiang Xiaoman’s cute, doll-like face poked in first. She caught sight of Liu Cuilian sitting on the edge of the kang and Zhou Yichen standing nearby, and she paused for a moment.

"Oh, Yichen, you have a guest?" Jiang Xiaoman greeted them casually.

Liu Cuilian quickly stood up, her face full of smiles. "You must be Xiaoman, right? My waist was feeling a bit uncomfortable, so I came over for Yichen to take a look." As she spoke, her gaze darted between Jiang Xiaoman and Zhou Yichen.

Following behind Jiang Xiaoman were several others: Zhao Weiguo, who wore glasses and looked thin and scholarly; Lin Xiaoyue, who was quiet, introverted, and reserved; and Li Weidong, an older educated youth from the settlement.

Zhou Yichen scanned the group. Good heavens, had the entire group of educated youths assigned to the Fifth Production Team arrived? Were they... visiting as a group?

Zhou Yichen had been feeling incredibly awkward, and the arrival of Jiang Xiaoman and the others was like a rescue party arriving from the sky, instantly diffusing the tension.

Seeing the courtyard suddenly crowded with so many men and women, Liu Cuilian, as a widow, naturally found it inappropriate to stay.

"Well... Yichen, Xiaoman, you two go ahead and chat. I'll be heading back now." She still wore a smile, though it seemed a bit fainter than before. She offered a polite greeting to the group and turned to leave.

"Sister-in-law, wait a moment," Zhou Yichen quickly called out. He stepped into the room and brought out the bamboo basket she had used to bring the vegetables that morning. "Here is your basket back. Thank you again for the vegetables."

Liu Cuilian took the basket, gave Zhou Yichen one last deep look, and then turned to leave with quick, mincing steps.

Watching her slightly hurried back, the reserved Lin Xiaoyue frowned slightly. She felt that the way the woman looked when she left, combined with the faint, lingering atmosphere of ambiguity in the room, was a bit strange. But as an unmarried young woman, she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

The older educated youths in the group, who had seen more of the world, looked in the direction Liu Cuilian had gone with thoughtful expressions.

"Yichen, we didn't interrupt anything, did we?" Jiang Xiaoman asked casually, blinking her bright, watery eyes. She had also felt that Liu Cuilian’s gaze toward Yichen was a bit too warm, but she was usually thick-skinned and didn't think too deeply about it.

"Not at all! I’m glad you all came!" Zhou Yichen laughed, the embarrassment finally dissipating completely.

"We heard you were assigned a new courtyard, so they specifically wanted to come over and see your place," Jiang Xiaoman explained with a grin.

Li Weidong, the head of the educated youth settlement, nodded in agreement. "That's right, Yichen. You’re our Yangyang Brigade’s health worker now—that’s a huge occasion!" He paused, looked around the clean, tidy courtyard, and suggested, "I think there's no time like the present. Since everyone is here today, why don't we all chip in some grain and vegetables, and hold a simple housewarming banquet right here? It’s a chance to welcome you and have a little fun. What do you think?"

"Yes, yes! Great idea!"

"Yichen, let us help you warm up your new home!"

As soon as Li Weidong finished speaking, the others chimed in with enthusiastic smiles. Zhou Yichen was the production team’s health worker now, and with his excellent medical skills, who wouldn't need his help eventually? Building a good relationship with him was absolutely beneficial.

The atmosphere grew lively as everyone chimed in. Zhou Yichen looked at their smiling faces and didn't refuse. They were so enthusiastic about hosting a housewarming for him that it would seem heartless to push them away. Besides, they were all educated youths sent down to the countryside; they would be seeing each other every day, and in this unfamiliar environment, making more friends was always a good thing.

"Sure!" Zhou Yichen laughed heartily and nodded. "Since you all think so highly of me, let's have a great time today!" He added, "I actually brought back over two pounds of pork ribs from the commune this morning. I was just wondering how to cook them—it’s perfect, let's add them to the feast!"