The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

Recently, I have been able to go up the mountain to pick mushrooms, which has finally brought a glimmer of hope for improvement in my difficult days.

"Don't be polite to me. Neighbors should help each other. Besides, you are the hero who has led our whole village to prosperity. We can't thank you enough. This little thing is really nothing."

As Mrs. Xiong spoke, she walked into the kitchen with familiarity and began to get busy. Her back looked so strong and warm.

Seeing this, Chen Xi said no more and turned around to continue helping Chen Rong process the mushrooms.

Soon, the mouth-watering aroma of food wafted out of the kitchen.

Perhaps it was because everyone's appetite had been whetted by a day's hard work, or perhaps it was because Mrs. Xiong's cooking skills were so superb, the dishes tonight seemed to be more delicious than usual.

Even Chen Rong, who usually had a big appetite, ordered three big bowls of rice. The whole family sat together and praised Mrs. Xiong's good cooking skills.

After dinner, Mrs. Xiong packed up briefly, got up and said goodbye, returning to her own cottage.

With her departure, the courtyard returned to peace again.

As the night deepens, everything becomes silent.

Chen Xi carefully washed Xie Tianyi's feet and took out an ancient acupuncture bag from the cabinet.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her expression was focused, because she knew that only through repeated acupuncture treatments could it be possible to gradually dredge Xie Tianyi's meridians that were blocked due to old injuries and relieve his pain.

Chen Xi gently inserted the first needle into Xie Tianyi's acupuncture point. She operated carefully, her eyes full of concern and heartache for Xie Tianyi.

"Be patient, the next shot will be here soon."

Xie Tianyi felt Chen Xi's attentiveness and nervousness, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

"I'm a seven-foot-tall man, this little pain is nothing, just go ahead and stab me, I promise I won't make a sound."

His words were full of open-mindedness and trust.

After hearing this, Chen Xi felt relieved but also a little embarrassed. She avoided Xie Tianyi's encouraging eyes, lowered her head, and performed acupuncture more attentively.

Three silver needles, each one was inserted accurately into the designated acupuncture points. They stayed there quietly, waiting for the passage of time to take effect.

According to convention, you need to wait for a quarter of an hour before slowly pulling it out to achieve the best treatment effect.

During this time, Chen Xi gently massaged the soles of Xie Tianyi's feet, hoping to promote blood circulation and speed up the body's recovery through this ancient method, while silently praying that this treatment would have a significant effect.

Xie Tianyi lay there quietly, closing his eyes and resting.

A quarter of an hour passed in a flash like a meteor across the night sky. Chen Xi's fingertips lightly and quickly pulled out the silver needle with a cold luster from Xie Tianyi's leg.

"Do you feel any different after this treatment?" she said in a soft voice.

Xie Tianyi's expression changed slightly, and his eyes revealed subtle changes in emotions.

"Soon after you removed the needle, I started to have a strange feeling in my legs. It was a little numb, but also a feeling that I couldn't completely release."

"Having a feeling is the beginning of improvement."

The corners of Chen Xi's mouth curled up into a confident and gentle smile, and there seemed to be light dancing in her eyes, illuminating the haze in Xie Tianyi's heart.

"This means that your meridians are gradually recovering. As long as we persist and receive more treatments like this, you will definitely be able to stand up again."

These words are an encouragement to Xie Tianyi, and also a reflection of his deep trust and persistence in her medical skills.

After hearing this, Xie Tianyi felt an indescribable touch of emotion on his face.

His cheeks flushed unconsciously.

He quickly looked away, trying to hide the sudden feeling of hope and gratitude for his renewed life.

"I had almost given up all my fantasies about this leg. But you, Chen Xi, made me see the light and made me believe again that there are infinite possibilities in life. Really, thank you very much."

Chen Xi's eyes became unusually gentle when he heard this.

"Actually, I should be thanking you. It's you who gave my brother and I a stable home, saving us from wandering and being abandoned by our family. So, please believe me, I will use everything I have learned to do my best to get you back on your feet. But at the same time, please promise me that you will actively cooperate with the treatment. Let's work hard together, okay?"

Her voice was full of sincerity and determination, which made Xie Tianyi feel unprecedented warmth and strength.

Xie Tianyi said nothing, just nodded slightly.

In the darkness of the night, two hearts that had been lonely for a long time quietly drew closer.

"You should rest earlier. Look at the dark circles under your eyes."

Chen Xi said with concern while carefully packing the medicine box.

The moonlight filtered through the window and shone onto her focused profile, revealing a kind of tenacity and gentleness that was unknown to others.

"They will continue to go up the mountain to pick fruits tomorrow, but I can stay at home and don't have to join in."

Chen Xi's voice was relaxed, which made Xie Tianyi feel inexplicably relieved.

"I heard from Chen Rong before that you collected so many mushrooms to dry and store them, right?"

Xie Tianyi's curiosity was aroused, and he wanted to know more about Chen Xi's story.

"Yes, although fresh mushrooms are delicious, they are not easy to preserve for a long time. Once they are dried, they will rot and deteriorate. However, if they are dried, their shelf life can be extended, and they can be used whenever they are needed by simply soaking them. The same is true for wood ear mushrooms. This processing method is not only convenient for storage, but also ensures the fresh taste of the ingredients."

Chen Xi explained in detail, and every word revealed his wisdom and meticulous consideration of life.

Xie Tianyi listened carefully, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"Your idea is really great. This way, not only can we enjoy it whenever we need it, but if there is any surplus, we can also sell it to exchange for some for home use. It's really the best of both worlds."

This feeling of being understood and supported was a rare comfort for her during those difficult times.

As the night deepened, Chen Xi shared his ideas about the future with Xie Tianyi on the bed.

As she spoke, fatigue finally overcame her and she slowly fell asleep.

Xie Tianyi, on the other hand, sat quietly by the side, staring at the sleeping Chen Xi.

Her peaceful sleeping face made his heart surge with mixed emotions - heartache and determination.

He secretly vowed to recover as soon as possible, to use his own strength to protect this hard-earned peace, and to share the ups and downs with Chen Xi.

He carefully tried to move his stiff legs again, even though the slight numbness still lingered like a thin mist that refused to dissipate in the night.

Then, his eyes fell gently and deeply on Chen Xi's peaceful and resting face.

He was unwilling to break this tranquility and allowed himself to immerse himself in the endless protection of Chen Xi until his consciousness gradually blurred and the two of them sank into a gentle dream together.