Chapter 31: Massage

The homemade sorghum liquor had quite a kick. Zhou Yichen had been toasted by everyone in turn, and despite his current good physical condition and having practiced the Baduanjin to the fourth level, he still felt dizzy. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes held a touch of hazy intoxication.

Everyone had left the housewarming banquet thoroughly satisfied. Li Weidong and the other veteran educated youths, in particular, had not tasted such rich, oily food in a long time. The pork ribs were stewed until tender and fell off the bone, and the cured meat was savory and fragrant. Even though the pieces of meat each person received were not large, the long-missed flavor was enough to soothe stomachs that had been worn down by coarse tea and bland meals for so long. Their cravings had finally been satisfied.

Once their hunger was sated, the smiles on everyone's faces became much more genuine. Before they left, they didn't let him do all the work. The female educated youths nimbly helped clean up the bowls and chopsticks, while the men carried the tables and benches they had brought from their quarters back to where they belonged.

The small courtyard returned to a state of relative quiet.

"Yichen, we're heading back now!"
"Give us a shout if you need anything!"

The group greeted Zhou Yichen in a flurry of voices before leaving the courtyard one by one. Zhou Yichen responded with a smile, watching them depart. Once the noise faded, only he and Jiang Xiaoman remained. Under the dim, yellowish glow of the kerosene lamp, Jiang Xiaoman’s adorable baby-faced features were flushed a rosy, attractive shade.

She did not leave immediately. Instead, she turned and stepped into the simple kitchen, returning a moment later with a steaming bowl of strong tea.

"Yichen, drink some hot tea to sober up."

She handed the coarse porcelain bowl to Zhou Yichen, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible concern. Zhou Yichen took the bowl, feeling the warmth seep through his palm and spread through his body. He took a sip, the scalding tea sliding down his throat and dispelling much of the alcohol’s haze.

"Our Xiaoman really knows how to look after people," Zhou Yichen said, looking up at her with a playful smile. "So virtuous—whoever marries you in the future will be truly blessed."

At these words, Jiang Xiaoman’s cheeks turned even redder, and she cast him a reproachful glare.

"Pah! What are you blathering about!"

She raised a small fist, pretending to strike him. "I think you haven't sobered up yet, and you're asking for a beating, aren't you?"

Zhou Yichen laughed, feeling quite relaxed. This lighthearted banter with Jiang Xiaoman made him feel as if he had returned to the carefree days back in the city. The two chatted for a little while longer until, as the night deepened, the sky filled with stars.

Jiang Xiaoman noticed that Zhou Yichen’s eyes were much clearer, showing no signs of being heavily intoxicated, so she stood up to say goodbye.

"Yichen, it’s getting late, I should head back."
"We have to work in the fields to earn work points early tomorrow morning, so you should get some rest too."

Zhou Yichen nodded. "Alright, be careful on your way."

Jiang Xiaoman acknowledged him, wrapped her red scarf tightly around her neck, and turned to walk briskly out of the courtyard. Once she was gone, the courtyard fell completely silent. Zhou Yichen drank a few more sips of hot tea, and the remaining dizziness faded away. Checking his physical state, he found the alcohol’s effects had almost entirely vanished.

[Baduanjin LV4 (5/400)]

Looking at the proficiency level on his status panel, Zhou Yichen assumed his stance in the courtyard. The set of Baduanjin movements flowed like water, graceful and expansive, accompanied by steady, deep breaths. After finishing one round, he felt a faint warmth spreading through his body and a sense of ease in his limbs. He continued with a second round.

[Baduanjin LV4 (17/400)]

Feeling the small increase in proficiency, he knew that while it wasn't much, every little bit added up, and he would level up before long. After completing his practice, he washed up briefly and climbed onto the kang to sleep.

Here in Hei Jiang, the nighttime temperature was quite low. The northern wind whistled, rustling against the paper windows. However, the earthen bed was heated, and once he lay down, the bedding quickly warmed up, dispelling the chill. Of course, this warmth came at a price—heating the kang consumed quite a bit of firewood. It seemed he would have to find time to gather more in the mountains later. With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yichen drifted into a deep sleep.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, just as the sky began to brighten, Zhou Yichen opened his eyes. His consistent schedule over the past few days had allowed him to fully adapt to the rhythm of rural life; his internal clock was startlingly precise. Being young and in good shape, he felt refreshed after a sound sleep, and yesterday’s alcohol had vanished without a trace. He nimbly rolled off the kang and got dressed.

After a quick wash, Zhou Yichen walked to the courtyard gate and pulled the latch.

*Creeeak—*

The crisp, cool morning air, mingled with the scent of earth, rushed in, making him feel invigorated. He took a deep breath of the cold, fresh air and stretched his limbs, his joints popping slightly. Once again, he assumed the stance for the Baduanjin.

Once. Twice.

[Baduanjin LV4 (29/400)]

Seeing the increase in proficiency, a satisfied smile curled at the corner of his lips. The "Hard Work Pays Off" talent was truly effective—as long as he put in the effort, there would be results. He finished his practice and was about to head back inside when a crisp voice called out from outside the gate.

"Hey, Yichen, you're up so early!"

Before the words had faded, a petite figure skipped into the courtyard. It was Jiang Xiaoman.

Zhou Yichen smiled and greeted her, "Morning, Xiaoman."

"How did you sleep last night?" he asked casually.

To his surprise, Jiang Xiaoman’s adorable baby face immediately fell, and she complained with a bitter expression, "Don't even ask!"

"After working all day yesterday, my waist and legs are so sore and painful this morning that they don't even feel like my own!"

As she spoke, she rubbed her lower back, wincing, clearly in genuine discomfort. Zhou Yichen found her expression amusing and comforted her, "It’s like that when you first start working; your body hasn't adapted yet."

"Give it a few days, and you'll get used to it."

Jiang Xiaoman pouted in defiance. "Hmph! Easy for you to say!"

"You're a man, you're strong, and you're the brigade's health worker. You don't have to do backbreaking labor like us every day, so of course it's easy for you to talk!"

Zhou Yichen raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Oh? Is that so?"

"How about this," he changed his tone, speaking with a touch of coaxing, "when you come back from work today, I'll give you a massage. It’ll improve circulation, remove stasis, and clear the meridians. I guarantee it’ll make you feel much better."

Jiang Xiaoman, who had been huffing in annoyance, felt her eyes light up at the word "massage."

"Really?" she looked at Zhou Yichen in surprise, her voice rising an octave.

She knew how impressive Zhou Yichen’s medical skills were. Grandpa Zhang’s angina and Liu Cuilian’s back injury had both been treated by him with immediate effect! If he were willing to perform a massage on her, the results would be...