Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

Upon hearing that he was going to see a doctor, Ji Manchuan anxiously asked, "What's wrong? Is something wrong with you? Are you going to have to have surgery again?"

"What's the rush? Let Young Master Lin wash up and rest first! Can't you see how exhausted he is?" Jia Ronghua said with concern when she saw Lin Shengwen's tired and weary face. "Young Master Lin, please sit down. I'll make you some noodles!"

"Oh, I was too impatient! Wash up and rest first!" Ji Manchuan hurriedly invited Lin Shengwen to sit down, and then called Guowa and Shaowa to bring water for Lin Shengwen to wash up.

When Guowa and Shaowa heard that Lin Shengwen had arrived, they were so excited that they ran out of the grain storage room and ran back and forth to serve tea and water.

Lin Shengwen had just sat down and hadn't even exchanged a few pleasantries with Ji Manchuan when Ji Manqing and his family, who had heard the commotion from the neighboring courtyard, came running over.

Although it was getting dark, it did not affect the liveliness in the courtyard at all. Ji Manqing and Ji Manchuan asked about everything from what Lin Shengwen had been doing since he returned home, to why he had come to Ningping County again; from whether Lin Shengwen's family was in good health, to whether Lin Shengwen himself was married.

However, Lin Shengwen didn't feel offended at all; on the contrary, he felt very warm towards them. That's how villagers are; their concern for you is always so trivial.

Actually, Lin Shengwen really wanted to talk to Ji Yongling, but ever since he entered the courtyard, Ji Yongling had been busy in the kitchen helping Jia Ronghua, and he hadn't been able to say a word to her.

"The food is ready," Ji Yongling said, carrying a plate out of the yard and serving noodles to Lin Shengwen. Lin Shengwen blushed slightly as he took the bowl from Ji Yongling, for he suddenly remembered, "Through the long years, with you by my side, three meals a day, simple food, four seasons a year, plain joy—that is the best thing in life!"

However, it was already getting dark, and no one noticed Lin Shengwen's blushing face.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lin Shengwen slurped down three bowls of noodles with minced meat sauce before feeling much better, and all the fatigue of the past few days was swept away.

He put down his chopsticks, looked at Ji Yongling, and quickly continued the lie he had just made up; he didn't want to be kicked out after just one night. He said, "Ji Yongling, actually, the reason I came to see you again is to ask you to take a look at my illness. I don't know when my big toe started swelling up. I didn't notice it at first, but it's been hurting a lot these past few days. Could you please take a look?"

Upon hearing that his big toe was swollen and painful, Ji Yongling blurted out without hesitation, "It's probably paronychia!"

"Huh? Paronychia? Oh, what kind of disease is that?" Ji Manqing asked, puzzled.

"Paronychia is the same as onychomycosis!" Ji Yongling explained.

"It's carbuncle! Quickly stick out your toes so I can see!" Upon hearing that it was carbuncle, Ji Manqing hurriedly looked down at Lin Shengwen's feet and urged him.

"This...isn't this a bit inappropriate..." Lin Shengwen looked at Ji Yongling, his face showing some embarrassment.

Ji Manqing slapped Lin Shengwen on the shoulder and said disdainfully, "Hey, Tian Guang Shen, it's been so long, why are you being so coy! People say heroes have smelly feet and good men fart a lot. I don't mind your smelly feet, so why are you being so coy! Come on, take them off!"

As he spoke, he called out to Spoon Boy, "Spoon Boy, bring the lamp over here, and make the wick brighter! Otherwise, you won't be able to see!"

Lin Shengwen stole a glance at Ji Yongling and saw that she looked completely serious, without any shyness, disgust, or intention to avoid him. Well, she was still the same as before, seeing no distinction between men and women, only patients.

When Lin Shengwen took off his shoes, the smell made Ji Manqing, who was closest to him, pinch his nose and get up and run away.

Lin Shengwen said somewhat aggrievedly, "Uncle Ji, you promised you wouldn't mind!"

Ji Manqing fanned his nose, swallowed what was in his throat, and tried to open his eyes wide to say, "I don't mind that your feet smell, but I didn't say I didn't mind that your feet are sore! Oh my, this sour smell is so strong, it's like three-year-old vinegar!"

I said, "You rich kids are so clueless! Wouldn't it be better to wear straw sandals in this heat? Why do you have to wear deerskin boots? Look at your feet, they're so sour and smell worse than rotten pickled vegetables!"

Lin Shengwen sheepishly shrank back, stealing a glance at Ji Yongling. Thankfully, she only frowned; she didn't seem disgusted with him!

After mentally preparing himself, Ji Manqing sat back down next to Lin Shengwen, fanned his nose, and said, "If I don't sacrifice myself, who will? Let me take a look at your feet!"

As he spoke, he lifted Lin Shengwen's leg and placed it on his own thigh. Lin Shengwen's big toe was severely swollen and red, and had already become infected.

"Goodness, Guangguang, you're too good at enduring pain! It's swollen like this, and you don't even feel any pain?" Ji Manqing exclaimed in a loud voice.

Lin Shengwen glanced at Ji Yongling's reaction again, then said apologetically, "It hurts, but I can bear it. I mainly ride horses, it's fine!"

"Tsk tsk, you kid, I respect you as a hero!" Ji Manqing nodded approvingly.

Ji Yongling took the oil lamp from Shaowa's hand, frowned as she looked at Lin Shengwen's toes, and asked, "Didn't I give you medicine earlier? Why didn't you apply that golden powder sooner? Look at your toes, they've gotten to this point, the nail definitely can't be saved, it'll have to be removed!"

Seeing Ji Yongling's apparent "concern," Lin Shengwen felt a surge of secret delight. He smiled ingratiatingly and said, "That medicine... is finished..."

Ji Yongling stared at Lin Shengwen for a long time before saying, "For it to have developed to this extent, it must have taken quite a while. If you don't have medicine, why don't you go to a prefecture or county town you pass by to see a doctor and apply some herbal medicine?"

"It's all so I can see you sooner!" Lin Shengwen didn't dare say what he really felt. But hearing the complaint in Ji Yongling's tone, a sweet feeling welled up inside him.

So Ji Yongling still cares about him and cherishes him! This girl will definitely become a good wife in the future! Lin Shengwen thought to himself with delight.

Ji Yongling didn't have time to ponder Lin Shengwen's little scheme. She glanced at the flickering flame of the oil lamp and said, "Your fingernail needs to be pulled out. It's too dark today, I'll pull it out for you tomorrow morning!"

"Will it hurt a lot?" Lin Shengwen asked cautiously.

"Nonsense! Pulling out fingernails isn't like pulling out hair!" Ji Yongling said speechlessly.

"Ah—" Not only Lin Shengwen, but also Ji Yongning, Guowa and the others let out a howl.

But the next moment, Lin Shengwen put on a fearless and resolute expression, saying, "What's a mere nail pulling? It's nothing!"

"That's right! We men can lose our heads and bleed, but we can't back down! Uncle has faith in you!" Ji Manqing patted Lin Shengwen on the shoulder again.

It was completely dark when a guest arrived at the house—a rather distinguished young gentleman. Ji Manchuan was now troubled about how to arrange his lodging.