Ever cautious, she habitually left herself an escape route, never one to overpromise. But now, facing Jie Jingshan’s expectant gaze—perhaps out of sympathy, perhaps fueled by the confidence from inheriting her grandfather’s superb dical skills—she challenged her own principles and gave a firm promise.
Outside the courtyard entrance, Jie Jingchen’s pupils contracted in sheer disbelief.
’In front of , she said she was seventy percent sure. In front of Mom, eighty percent sure. And now, in front of Jing Qi... good heavens, she’s claiming one hundred percent certainty.’
’This woman is a real chaleon, telling everyone what they want to hear. She gives a different promise to every single person.’
’Just how much of what she says is true, and how much is a lie?’
’Seventy percent? I could believe that. Eighty percent? I could grudgingly accept it. But one hundred percent? Honestly, I don’t buy it for a second.’
"Fourth Sister-in-law," Jie Jingshan said, her voice filled with excitent. She squeezed Qin i’s hands, her eyes shining with hope. "Really? You’re not lying to ?"
"I’m being completely honest," Qin i said, hiding a wince of pain. Jing Qi hadn’t noticed the wound on the back of her hand. Qin i subtly pulled her hand free and patted the girl’s leg. "As long as you cooperate with the treatnt and let work, I’ll give it my all. I guarantee you’ll be able to stand on your own within three months. As for walking or running, that will depend on your rehabilitation afterward."
Jie Jingshan was so stunned, she couldn’t find the words to express her gratitude to Qin i.
It wasn’t just Jie Jingshan who was stunned; Jie Jingchen, listening from outside the courtyard, was shocked too.
"When does the treatnt start?" Jie Jingshan asked eagerly.
"We’ll wait for Aunt Zhang to get back," Qin i replied.
Jie Jingshan frowned in confusion. "Why do we have to wait for Aunt Zhang to get back?"
Jie Jingchen was also puzzled. ’What does treating Jing Qi’s leg have to do with Aunt Zhang?’
Qin i looked at Jie Jingshan with a troubled expression. "To treat your leg, we need more than just acupuncture; you’ll also need to take herbal baths. I have to go to an apothecary to buy the ingredients, but so herbs might not be available there. I might have to go into the mountains to find them. I’m new here and can’t even tell north from south. What if I go out to buy the herbs and end up getting lost?"
"Have Fourth Brother go with you," Jie Jingshan said.
Qin i feigned contemplation, then shook her head. "No, that won’t work. Your Fourth Brother needs to stay here and look after you."
"I don’t need Fourth Brother to look after . I can manage on my own," Jie Jingshan insisted, clearly desperate for Qin i to start the treatnt right away.
"No, absolutely not," Qin i maintained. "Given your condition, we can’t just leave you ho alone. We’d be worried sick. If sothing happened, everyone would bla us."
Jie Jingshan thought for a mont, then said, "Then have Fifth Brother co back and look after ."
When Aunt Zhang had returned to her hotown, and her Fourth Brother and new sister-in-law hadn’t yet arrived, it had been her Fifth Brother who took ti off work to stay ho and care for her.
Qin i’s mouth twitched. ’This girl is so stubborn. She’d rather call Jing Wu back to look after her than go out with us to buy the dicine.’
’At that mont, Qin i felt that having a big family wasn’t always a good thing. Jing Wu, for instance, was just getting in the way.’
Treating Jing Qi’s leg was a major event for the Jie Family, and everyone would cooperate fully. If Qin i asked, even their workaholic father, Mr. Xie, would take ti off to stay ho and await her instructions.
"Jing Wu has to work," Jie Jingchen’s voice cut in as he stepped over the threshold and walked toward them.
"Fourth Brother!" Jie Jingshan’s eyes lit up. "Fourth Sister-in-law says she can fix my leg!" she exclaid.
"She said that yesterday," Jie Jingchen replied, shooting Qin i a look. He took two aluminum lunch tins from a sh bag, handing one to Jie Jingshan and the other to Qin i.
Jie Jingshan accepted the tin, looking a bit sheepish. Her sister-in-law had said so yesterday, but she hadn’t believed her. "Yesterday was yesterday," she said. "Today is today."
’Yesterday, it was just words. Today, it was a promise.’
Jie Jingchen said nothing, but the look he gave Qin i was profound and complicated.
When Jie Jingshan opened her lunch tin to reveal plump, white dumplings, Qin i slumped over the stone table without opening hers. "It’s not dumplings again, is it?"
’She’d chased after him to tell him her order but hadn’t caught him. Instead, she’d gotten a front-row seat to the drama between him and Teacher Lin.’
Jie Jingchen’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Open it and see," he said softly.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t you like dumplings? They’re delicious!" Jie Jingshan loved dumplings, and her cheeks were puffed out with food, making her look adorable.
’Her good mood today made the dumplings taste even better than usual.’
Qin i forced a smile. ’She wasn’t a fan of anything made with flour; she was a rice person, through and through.’
Opening her lunch tin, Qin i’s eyes lit up. Inside was sweet potato congee with a side of savory pickles. It wasn’t her absolute favorite, but it was a thousand tis better than dumplings.
"Jie Jingchen, thanks," Qin i said gratefully. She picked up her chopsticks and ate every last bite of the congee.
User Comments
0 comments from readers