Chapter 25: First Encounter with Lin Qiushui

The latecomer, a female educated youth, was dressed much like the local villagers in a dark gray padded jacket and black cotton trousers that had been washed until they turned grayish-white.

Yet, at first glance, there was something about her that set her apart from the other delicate and pampered girls in her group. Lin Qiushui possessed a light wheat-toned complexion, a healthy, vibrant glow showing through the bronze. Her hair was short—not styled in the trendy braids of the day, but trimmed just below her ears. Kept neat and tidy, she appeared clean, modest, and poised.

Her eyes, in particular, were luminous. They were clear and untouched by worldly cynicism, leaving an unforgettable impression on anyone who saw them.

"Lin Qiushui, so you finally decided to show up?" Du Shujun sneered. "I thought you’d long since stopped considering yourself part of our educated youth team."

The other young women glared at the latecomer with cold, hostile eyes.

"That bookworm," one muttered. "Aside from burying her head in those books every day, she doesn't even see the rest of us."

"And yet, Brother Yiming was always so good to her, taking care of her at every turn! He knew she was from the south, so whenever it was his turn to cook, he’d always cater to her tastes..."

"Some people are just ungrateful wretches. They take others' kindness for granted. Now that Brother Yiming is nearly dead, she has the nerve to be the last one to visit..."

"What a thick-skinned girl!"

The women’s barbs were sharp and unforgiving. Zhang Yang, who had no intention of getting involved in their affairs, found he could no longer stand by and listen.

"This is a clinic, not your youth team barracks," he said, his voice carrying an authority that belied his young age. "Shen Yiming needs quiet to recover. If you want to squabble, take it outside!"

Zhang Yang’s clothes were still stained with the dark, dried blood of a wild boar, which gave him a rather intimidating air. Added to that was the hunting rifle slung across his back. Seeing his stern expression, the women immediately fell silent.

"What are you all huddled here for?" Zhang Yang asked. "Weren't you supposed to be heading back?"

The women hurried out in a file. As Du Shujun passed Lin Qiushui, she gave her a deliberate bump. Lin Qiushui lost her footing, her body swaying, and a frown instantly creased her brow.

Du Shujun scoffed, "Save your 'fragile flower' act for the men. Who do you think you're performing for in front of me?"

Lin Qiushui glanced at her sideways. "Your own heart is filthy, so you see filth in everyone else."

"You!" Du Shujun raised her hand, ready to slap her.

Zhang Yang stepped forward. "Still at it?"

The other women quickly held Du Shujun back. "Forget it, forget it... she’s lucky today. We’ll see her around often enough; we’ll have plenty of chances to settle this later!"

The crowd surged out. Zhang Yang took a look at Lin Qiushui’s ankle. "You’ve sprained it. If you don't treat it right away, it’ll swell up by tomorrow, make it hard to walk, and hurt for quite a while."

Without waiting for her input, he called out to the doctor. "Uncle Dong, this girl sprained her ankle. Give her a bottle of liniment; put it on my tab."

The doctor beamed. "What’s a bottle of liniment worth? Take it, Yangzi, it’s on the house!"

Zhang Yang took the medicine and handed it to Lin Qiushui. She blushed and whispered a thank you.

"Don't mention it. Use it quickly."

He glanced at the sky outside, thinking it was time for him to head home, and started toward the door. Suddenly, Lin Qiushui called out to him.

"You’re Zhang Yang, the newly elected militia captain, right? You were the one who led Shen Yiming to catch that rabbit, weren't you?"

"I was." Zhang Yang gave her a lingering look.

Lin Qiushui continued, "That rabbit is too small; it probably hasn't even been weaned yet. I was late because I was boiling some thin rice paste for it."

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow. "You know how to raise rabbits?"

"I wouldn't say that... well, we used to keep cats at home. My grandmother and I raised a litter of kittens on rice paste after the mother died." She spoke very softly, fearful of being overheard. "But times are hard for everyone now, so I didn't dare use the communal grain. I used a little bit I saved from my own ration..."

Even so, she looked worried, asking with a hint of pleading in her voice, "Can you keep what I just told you a secret?"

"I understand." Zhang Yang gestured to her foot. "Since you’ve sprained it, don't rush back yet. Rest here at the clinic. I’ll go home and get some tender grass seeds for your rabbit. My mother dried them before winter; she meant for them to be snacks for the younger kids..."

"No, no, how could a rabbit snatch food from the children?" Lin Qiushui quickly refused. "I can go into the mountains to gather seeds. I asked some of the aunties how; it’s not difficult..."

Zhang Yang smiled faintly. "My family's kids have twist-bread to eat now; they don't need grass seeds. Besides, wild plants are meant for wild animals; it’s hardly taking food from children."

At the mention of "twist-bread," Lin Qiushui’s eyes sparkled. Zhang Yang guessed that her life back in the city must have been comfortable, and she had likely enjoyed such treats often. He even anticipated that she might ask him for some.

However, she didn't bring it up; instead, she offered to follow him home to get the seeds.

"I know you were out patrolling the mountains all night, and then you stayed to watch over Brother Yiming. You haven't had a chance to rest, have you?" Lin Qiushui said sincerely. "You’ve sacrificed so much to protect the village; you’re a hero of our peaceful era! How could I trouble you further with my little rabbit? My foot is fine. I’ll just come with you to get them; no need for you to make another trip!"

This was unexpected for Zhang Yang. Lately, he had been running ragged, but aside from his family and his brother Zhao Dong, Lin Qiushui was perhaps the first person to praise him like this. And she truly didn't seem to care about her own injury; her heart and mind were entirely focused on the rabbit and his well-being.

She was indeed a very considerate girl. Zhang Yang’s impression of her deepened, and he couldn't help but study her face. Lin Qiushui was much like a dandelion—a "little paratrooper" that could take root and sprout wherever it landed. People like her possessed incredible resilience. Moreover, her heart was simple and direct; she was a good person.

Her blessings were yet to come.

Zhang Yang’s tone softened. "Apply the medicine first. Once you're done, we'll head out."