Chapter 46: Entering Winter

Each of the twelve books brought Tang Banxia immense delight. This was the most precious inheritance of a family steeped in traditional medicine, containing a complete and comprehensive medical system—ranging from beginner’s acupuncture techniques to the once-lost methods detailed with utmost care.

To Tang Banxia, these books were treasures beyond compare, exactly what she needed most at this time. She carefully put away most of the volumes, taking out only the introductory acupuncture manual to study.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed, and the weather had turned thoroughly cold.

"Tang, the educated youth!"

Aunt Hu entered from outside with her daughter-in-law. Tang Banxia set down her book and went out to greet them. "Aunt Hu, Sister-in-law Hu."

"Banxia, I’ve brought you some goods from the mountains," said Sister-in-law Hu, dragging a burlap sack. "My brothers from my family said the animal medicine you gave them works wonderfully. They asked me to buy more from you."

"I’m glad it works," Tang Banxia replied. "No problem, I still have plenty here."

"This is from my family to you," Sister-in-law Hu said, pulling out the contents of the sack—an array of mountain goods: walnuts, mushrooms, black fungus, and more. "Would you be willing to trade animal medicine for these?"

"That’s fine," Tang Banxia said with a glance, having no objections.

She handed over ten packets of animal medicine to Sister-in-law Hu, then invited the two into the kang, the heated brick bed. "Aunt Hu, come sit on the kang. It’s warmer up here."

Aunt Hu climbed onto the kang. "Young Tang, your kang is wonderfully warm."

"I’m sensitive to the cold, so I keep it well heated."

"Young Tang, my knees have been aching terribly these past days. Could you take a look at them for me?" Aunt Hu said as she sat down.

Of course, Tang Banxia agreed. She asked about the symptoms, then rolled up Aunt Hu’s pant leg to examine her knee before speaking: "Aunt Hu, this is an old ailment, isn’t it? You must have caught a chill when you were younger..."

"I’ll give you some acupuncture."

She fetched embroidery needles, disinfected them, and swiftly inserted them. "Aunt Hu, stay put here. I’ll go prepare some herbal packs for you."

After a thorough acupuncture treatment and some pain-relieving herbal packs, Aunt Hu finally left with her daughter-in-law, both thoroughly satisfied.

"Mmm~"

Stretching, Tang Banxia called out, "Xiaobai~"

Wen Mubai poked his head in from the outer room. "Banxia?"

"What should we have for lunch today?"

"How about noodles?" Wen Mubai sat down beside her, gathering up the things.

Seeing him acting the part of a devoted husband made Tang Banxia feel perfectly content.

She leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Whatever you say—my Xiaobai is such a good homemaker."

Wen Mubai smiled gently, slipping an arm around her waist. "Wife~"

Tang Banxia placed a hand on his chest. "What are you up to?"

...

It was two hours past noon before they finally sat down to eat. During the meal, Wen Mubai served Tang Banxia dish after dish, his attentiveness at its peak.

Tang Banxia huffed, "You’re getting bolder by the day, I see."

Wen Mubai put on an innocent face. "Not at all."

She gave him some spicy pickled cabbage with her chopsticks. "Just remember you’re my little kept man, understood?"

Wen Mubai nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. Is there anything you’re not satisfied with?"

Tang Banxia fell silent for a moment.

Honestly, she couldn’t find fault. She was quite satisfied with her little kept man. He was handsome, diligent, always listened to her, and had become increasingly motivated. With him, Tang Banxia never felt constrained—it was her ideal marriage.

"No, I’m very satisfied. Keep it up," she said. "No, wait—keep striving even harder."

Wen Mubai beamed like a man hopelessly in love. "As long as you’re happy, Banxia."

After the meal, the ever-thoughtful Wen Mubai volunteered to wash the dishes and even made Tang Banxia a cup of honey water. "It’s so dry in winter—drink some honey water to soothe your throat."

Chin resting on her hand, Tang Banxia watched him do the dishes. "Wen Mubai, let’s go into the mountains in a few days."

"Why do you suddenly want to go?"

"It just occurred to me—we haven’t gone out together yet," Tang Banxia said, sipping her honey water. "Let’s have a date in the mountains."

"Let’s bring some food and have a picnic."

A picnic in the dead of winter—just thinking about it was exciting.

Wen Mubai truly couldn’t fathom her train of thought, but since it was his wife, he naturally agreed. "Alright."

"I know a good spot where no one will disturb us," he added, playing along.

Tang Banxia’s smile blossomed. "Let’s go the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow I need to go to the commune to send some things to my parents."

The second letter she’d sent to Shijie Village had, unsurprisingly, vanished without a trace.

So she was now certain—her parents were indeed in Shijie Village. But, brow furrowing, she said, "Go gather some walnuts and mushrooms and the like. Not too much, just enough. And some cornmeal—three jin will do."

Wen Mubai nodded. "Just those things? Not the cotton-padded clothes you made?"

Tang Banxia shook her head. "Not for now."

"My parents’ situation is more difficult than I imagined. I sent two letters in a row, but got no reply. That means they’re still under surveillance."

"The things I send might not even reach them, so this will suffice."

Nothing too extravagant, just enough to fit the image of a rural educated youth.

"But won’t someone else benefit instead?" Wen Mubai caught himself. "You’re thinking of going to Jiangcheng, aren’t you?"

So these things were just a test run?

Tang Banxia gave him an approving look. "Smart."

You could call it a test, or a bribe—it was obvious these things would never reach her parents’ hands.

But Tang Banxia sent them anyway, hoping to improve her parents’ situation, if only slightly. Even if it was just for these goods, those watching her parents might loosen their grip a little, hoping for greater benefits.

Yet Wen Mubai hesitated. "But first-year educated youths aren’t allowed home leave."

Carrying some firewood to the brazier, Tang Banxia replied, "I asked the brigade leader. He said there’s room to maneuver."

"This year, Guyue Village is on the roster for dam repairs. I can volunteer as a barefoot doctor, and that’ll give the brigade leader a reason to green-light me."

She had planned all this long ago.

"I’m going too," Wen Mubai said, seeing she had it all worked out. "If you’re going to repair the dam, I’ll go. If you go to Jiangcheng, I’ll go."

Tang Banxia hesitated.

Dam repair was backbreaking work, and she couldn’t bear to see Wen Mubai suffer. "You can come to Jiangcheng, but forget the dam. It’s too hard—I don’t want you to go through that."

Wen Mubai’s lips curled up, but he shook his head. "I’m not afraid. I want to be with you."

His gaze was resolute. "I’ll go with you."

Tang Banxia frowned at him, but after a while, relented. "Do as you wish."

Wen Mubai finished the dishes, dried his hands, and said, "I’ve arranged with Wenming to go up the mountain this afternoon."

Tang Banxia nodded. "Go ahead, and be careful."

Wen Mubai filled a hot water bottle for her before donning his black cotton jacket and heading outside...

Tang Banxia continued her study of the medical books...