Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Li Ruoyue listened intently to Village Chief Zhou's lively and captivating tale, a surge of admiration welling up within her. This Village Chief, so far-sighted and far-sighted, possessed such remarkable insight and foresight, how could he not ensure the prosperity of the entire village? With this in mind, she addressed him with sincerity and solemnity, "Your vision will surely come true! After enduring this harsh winter, when spring arrives, the layers of snow will transform into sweet rains that nourish the earth. You can be sure that next year will be a bountiful harvest!"

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Zhou burst into laughter. He said, "Haha, Doctor Li, you're such a talker! I'll take your good words for granted. I believe next year will be just as you said, a year of good weather, abundant harvests, and abundant fruits!" Just as Li Ruoyue was chatting and laughing with the village chief, not long after, the burly man beside the village chief swiftly brought out bowls of steaming hot porridge and greeted them enthusiastically, "Come on, everyone, drink this bowl of hot porridge while it's hot and warm your bodies! Although there are not many grains of rice in this porridge, we have added some vegetables and mixed rice, and even put in some freshly picked mushrooms. I guarantee that everyone will feel warm all over after drinking it!"

Upon hearing Village Chief Zhou's warm greeting, Li Ruoyue, Captain Qin, and the others abandoned formalities and each picked up the steaming, fragrant bowls of vegetable porridge before them. They carefully brought their bowls to their lips, gently blew away the steam, and then slowly sipped.

As soon as this bowl of warm vegetable porridge entered my throat, it felt like a warm current flowing into my stomach. With each mouthful, the warmth gradually spread, passing through the stomach lining and reaching every organ in my body. Soon, I felt as if I were wrapped in a cozy quilt, feeling warm from head to toe, and the previous fatigue and coldness were swept away.

Luzhu had been paying attention to her young lady. After she saw her finish her bowl of porridge, she quickly pointed at the untouched porridge in front of her and asked, "Is it enough for you? If not, drink my bowl too!" Li Ruoyue smiled slightly, looked at Luzhu gently and said, "You, drink it quickly. You will feel warm after drinking it. My bowl is enough."

Seeing how polite the two were, Village Chief Zhou smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Hey, everyone, come on, don't be so reserved! We have plenty of porridge here. If the pot isn't full, I'll get someone to get some more!" Turning to a young man standing beside him, he instructed, "Go, bring the pot of porridge over here so everyone can enjoy it to their heart's content!"

Despite hearing Village Chief Zhou enthusiastically offer a large pot of steaming, fragrant porridge, Li Ruoyue didn't touch it. She knew full well that in these difficult times, food was an extremely scarce resource for everyone. She knew she couldn't eat up the limited food at other people's homes just because of her visit, and she couldn't let them go hungry. So, she smiled and said to Village Chief Zhou, "Village Chief, you're so polite! I have a small appetite and eat very little. Half a packet is enough for me."

This will not only help us replenish our energy, but also prepare us for the next patients." After saying this, she turned to look at Captain Qin and the others beside her, signaling them to enjoy this rare delicacy first. Then, she instructed the village chief, "Village chief, please find us a table and two stools. I'd like to check everyone's pulse here later." Village Chief Zhou quickly agreed, then turned around and personally brought in a table and chairs, placing them next to the warm and comfortable kang to make it easier for Li Ruoyue to see the villagers.

Li Ruoyue, with a focused expression, began taking the pulses of the gathered villagers one by one. She gently placed her fingers on the wrist of the first villager, then narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully feeling the rhythm and strength of his pulse. Then, very patiently, she asked, "Uncle, have you been feeling unwell lately? Any symptoms like a headache, fever, or cough?" The man quickly replied, "I just feel weak all over. I can't muster the energy to do anything." Li Ruoyue nodded and continued to carefully observe his pulse, frowning occasionally.

Villagers after villager came to Li Ruoyue, and she remained patient and attentive. Each time she inquired about symptoms, she gently guided them to describe their discomfort in detail. Each time she checked their pulse, her gaze was as precise as a scanner. After a meticulous diagnosis, some villagers received timely and effective treatment recommendations, their faces lit up with relief. Others with less severe illnesses were assured by Li Ruoyue that they would gradually recover with more rest and a balanced diet.

Li Ruoyue had been busy for an unnoticed moment. Beads of sweat now beaded her forehead, but her eyes remained focused. Just as she was about to take a break, an elderly villager, limping slowly towards her. His wrinkled face brimmed with gratitude, he grasped Li Ruoyue's hands and said excitedly, "Thank you, Doctor Li! If you hadn't come to see us, we wouldn't know what would become of us old bones! You're truly our lifesaver!" Faced with such sincere thanks, Li Ruoyue smiled and shook her head, responding, "Sir, please don't say that. Healing is my duty as a doctor, so there's no need to be so polite. Seeing everyone healthy is more important to me than anything else." She patted the back of the man's hand, offering him a reassurance.

Time flew by, and the number of villagers seeking treatment grew steadily. Li Ruoyue, completely absorbed in her work, had forgotten her physical fatigue. Her exceptional medical skills and genuine kindness touched the hearts of every villager, earning their sincere respect and gratitude.

After a series of intense and hectic treatments, darkness had unknowingly fallen. Li Ruoyue was already ravenous, but she ignored her hunger, focused solely on completing her work as quickly as possible. However, the village chief, feeling sorry for her exhaustion, urged her, "Doctor Li, it's so late! You haven't had a sip of water or a bite of food since this morning! You need to eat something first!" Faced with the village chief's enthusiastic entreaties and concerned gaze, Li Ruoyue could no longer refuse, so she agreed to stay and have a simple meal.

After a quick meal, Li Ruoyue stood up to leave the village. Just before departing, she thoughtfully signaled to Captain Qin to leave some food with their belongings as payment for their meal. Although the village chief repeatedly insisted no compensation was necessary, Li Ruoyue, knowing the villagers' hardships, insisted on expressing her gratitude in this way. Then, she and Captain Qin and his group embarked on their return journey, their figures gradually fading into the night...

Only after they gradually faded from sight did Village Chief Zhou slowly turn back inside. He dragged his slightly exhausted body to the kang, where he sat down and rested gently on the blankets at the head of the kang. As he did so, his mind was still reeling in the memory of his recent farewell, and a smile of relief crept across his face.

After settling down for a while, Village Chief Zhou decided to fill his stomach first before getting a good night's sleep. After all, the days are short and the nights are long in winter, and people with nothing to do seem to have no other choice but to go to bed early to while away the long, cold nights. Just as Village Chief Zhou was quietly waiting for dinner to be served, the villager in charge of cooking for the day walked in with half a bag of grain. He looked a little puzzled and walked straight up to Village Chief Zhou and asked, "Village Chief, when I went to get some grain to cook just now, I found half a bag of rice there! Where did you get it from?"

Hearing this, Village Chief Zhou quickly straightened up and cast his gaze towards the half-filled bag of rice in the villagers' hands. Seeing the large, radiant bag of rice, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved. He sighed softly and said with emotion, "Ah, it must have been left here by those kind-hearted people today! We only treated them to a simple meal, yet they were so generous that they not only didn't finish the rice they brought, but also left so much for us... What kind people!"

Then, with a smile on his face, Village Chief Zhou waved to the villager in charge of cooking and said kindly, "Come here, go get those things." The villager hurried over to Village Chief Zhou, nodded respectfully, and prepared to leave. Then, Village Chief Zhou added, "Remember to get them all down! Today, we're going to improve the food! Cook them all and make white rice porridge. Let's give everyone in our village a delicious meal today."

Hearing this, a hint of excitement flashed in the eyes of the villager who was cooking. He grinned, revealing a row of white and neat teeth, and responded in a loud voice: "Don't worry, Village Chief! I guarantee to complete the task. I will cook the rice until it is soft, glutinous and thick, and everyone will drink it comfortably and satisfied!" After saying that, he patted his chest and made a promise. Then, while chatting and laughing with Village Chief Zhou, he turned around and hurried towards the place where the ingredients were placed, ready to start cooking rice.