Chapter 10

The Chinese Valentine's Day was approaching, and Tonghua was clamoring to buy hairpins and pearls, so she went to the county with the two of them.

It was the first time that Chang Yuan left Luojia Village after being brought back by Jiang Fuying.

Anping County has beautiful scenery, with picturesque mountains and clear waters. People in the mountains live next to each other, and there are many villages.

Luojia Village is not big, but the atmosphere in the village is harmonious, and there are few disputes. Except for those idle people who call themselves the Tiger Gang, most of the others do their jobs and help each other.

The Jiang family has been here for nearly ten years.

Tonghua followed Jiang Fuying, holding her arm affectionately as usual.

"It's really gratifying! Sister Fuying, let me tell you, you haven't seen Qiu Er's broken legs. Ouch..."

She said as she walked, her smile rippling across the countryside, facing the early morning sun, startling the birds in the trees.

"Is it really that funny?"

Jiang Fuying thought her laughter was even more delightful. Tonghua had a crisp laugh and was always cheerful. Being with her was effortless.

"How can I not be happy! The county lady is so powerful. I heard from Su'e that the people around him were also beaten up - after being beaten by the county lady's people, they were also beaten up by the Zhang family."

Tonghua let out her anger and felt refreshed. "Why don't you lock them up in jail and prevent them from causing trouble?"

Jiang Fuying chuckled a few times. "Did Su'e see it too?"

Tonghua curled her lips when Su'e was mentioned.

"She lives at the village entrance, what can't she see..." She glanced around and lowered her voice. "I didn't tell you before, fearing you'd be angry. Back then, when the Zhang family had first taken a liking to you, she was still saying behind your back that you did it on purpose... Ugh!

That's so awful." "Why

bother with her?" Jiang Fuying shrugged. "It's not the first time she's framed someone."

Tonghua nodded. "Don't worry, everyone knows what kind of person you are, and no one believes her."

She spoke briskly, quickly changing the subject. "—That young man from the Zhang family got a good beating from the people around the county lady. He'll probably be out of commission for ten days, half a month. The county lady herself ordered the county magistrate not to allow them to harass or surround the young ladies again. If they do it again, they will be severely, severely..."

"Severely punished,"

Jiang Fuying added with a smile, rubbing Tonghua's head.

It was still the familiar voice and gesture, but Tonghua felt something was different today. Now that she had finished speaking, she calmed down and thought carefully.

Her gaze shifted to Chang Yuan, who was following behind Jiang Fuying without saying a word, and was silent, not knowing what he was thinking.

She opened her mouth and suddenly saw a wrist held by a slender hand under the sleeve.

The owner of the wrist handed her hand to another person, with her fingertips gently curled up and her palm facing inward, as if hooking back the soft and delicate hand.

Tonghua turned her head and suddenly felt a little hot.

How, how can you hold my hand in broad daylight!

Jiang Fuying didn't know what she was thinking, so she turned her head slightly and looked at Chang Yuan.

The road to the county was easy to walk, but there were several forks in the road. After thinking about it, she reached out and pulled Chang Yuan up.

Chang Yuan couldn't see, so she didn't feel shy to help him. She thought Chang Yuan was the same, so they were very calm along the way and didn't think too much.

"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Fuying took the initiative to talk. "We'll be there in a while, it's not far."

"I'm... remembering the way."

Chang Yuan moved his fingertips and continued to place them in front of him, giving himself completely to her and letting her lead the way.

"Can you remember it?" Jiang Fuying was curious. She had only led him through her yard once, and nothing happened after that. However, the yard was small and there were furniture and other things placed there, which was very different from a country road like this.

"Just trying hard." He said softly.

The light touch on his wrist made his heart tremble. The jasmine-scented vines wrapped around the gray fog in front of him, as if they were parting the thick fog and pulling him out of the depths of the swamp.

He had to remember the way. If he

didn't think about things in his mind, he would be bound by the vines that seemed to have claws and fangs, and be trapped in another soft place full of jasmine fragrance.

He lowered his eyes, concentrating for a moment before adding, "Even if you can't remember, don't you still have Madam Jiang?"

Jiang Fuying didn't detect the implicit dependence in his words and smiled to herself, "If you can't remember, come with me in the future. I'll hold your hand wherever I go."

Chang Yuan tightened his jaw and uttered a low, throaty "hmm.

"

Tonghua had last asked her how she knew there was such a county lady in Anping County.

Jiang Fuying smiled without saying anything. She now led her to the county's largest clinic, Wanhetang, and nodded to the middle-aged man behind the counter, saying, "Here, this is you."

As she entered, the man looked up, his eyes full of smiles.

"Here you are. How's the medicine I ordered last time? Is it working well?"

"Thank you, Uncle Sun. It's working great. Mother said it makes me feel more energetic during the day and sleeps better at night."

The man known as Uncle Sun was a bit plump, with a round, square face and a generous, blessed demeanor that was reassuring to look at.

"That's good," he replied, looking behind Jiang Fuying, "This is..."

Tonghua and Jiang Fuying had been to Wanhetang once or twice, so they knew each other. However, Tonghua didn't like the taste of bitter medicine, so she always stood guard at the door, letting Fuying go in alone. She really didn't know that this Doctor Sun was so well-informed.

"This is Chang Yuan," Tonghua spoke before Jiang Fuying, her voice drawn out, "Our Madam Jiang's heart..."

"New... friend."

Jiang Fuying couldn't help feeling shy. Uncle Sun was her elder, and she didn't feel comfortable saying things to her elders that she could say in front of her friends. Even if it was her own mother, she didn't say much.

...Let's just be friends for now.

Chang Yuan nodded politely, "Uncle Sun."

Uncle Sun also knew that Jiang Fuying had saved someone a few days ago, but the injury was too serious to move, and he was often too busy at Wanhetang, so he met her for the first time today.

"It's you," Uncle Sun said, patting his shoulder. Just by looking at his face, he knew he was fine. "You're feeling much better. I'll check on you later. You have such good eyes, you can't really be blind."

He instructed his apprentice to prepare the medicine according to the newly written prescription, and he himself led Chang Yuan to feel his pulse. Jiang Fuying and Tonghua were in Wanhe Hall, breathing in the endless bitter aroma of herbs and talking in low voices.

"Uncle Sun is a skilled doctor and a kind person, so many ladies often invite him to their homes for treatment. He's become a familiar figure. Last time, the county magistrate's wife had a headache, and when she asked Uncle Sun to come, the county mistress happened to be there, and she even helped take her pulse."

Tonghua's eyes widened. "That's all right, Sister Fuying. What other connections do you have that I don't know?"

Jiang Fuying was amused by her tone, and finally said, "Anyway, this matter has come to an end. I think they've learned their lesson, and they won't cause trouble again for a while."

She glanced to the side. Uncle Sun's face was solemn, his fingers resting on Chang Yuan's wrist, breathless in thought.

After a while, Uncle Sun raised his head and shook his head at her.

"It can be cured," Uncle Sun sighed, "but it's difficult."

He had injured his head, and was lucky to be alive. Now he was blind and had amnesia, which was just the sequelae of hitting his head.

This injury was not easy to cure, and Uncle Sun was somewhat helpless.

"The injuries on your body are healing well," he said to Jiang Fuying, "but for the rest, we can only take more care of it first. Who knows, one day when you open your eyes, you will be able to see and remember everything."

Jiang Fuying could vaguely guess that this would be the result, and patted Chang Yuan on the shoulder, ready to comfort him. But she saw that Chang Yuan did not look sad, and his eyebrows were not sparse. "Thank you, Uncle Sun." Tonghua

was simple-minded. Seeing that Chang Yuan did not show any sadness, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Sister Fuying, can we go pick out hairpins now?"

The Qiqiao Festival was approaching, and she was anxious to compete with Luo Su'e, and she had to look beautiful.

"I've just finished picking. My brother's getting out of school soon, so we can go back together."

Jiang Fuying touched Chang Yuan's arm, and seeing that he looked normal, she replied, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

The place was crowded and noisy, and the bitter smell was strong.

His head, still bruised with blood, ached again.

Wanhetang was a pharmacy, and many who came groaned and lamented, their faces sick, their backs hunched in agony. Chang Yuan's figure stood tall in the hall, striking a striking presence.

Chang Yuan felt the approach of the jasmine scent, diluted by the bitter aroma of the herbs. Pain shrouded his eyes, blinded by the light. His brows furrowed slightly, and he grasped the woman's hand, which had just begun to withdraw.

The moment his fingertips touched, a warm sensation spread from his palm to his brain. His throat rolled slightly, and he tightened his grip slightly, enveloping her fingers in his.

"What's wrong?"

As the group prepared to leave, Jiang Fuying turned and glanced at their intertwined hands. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Chang Yuan's face paled.

"It's still because of what Uncle Sun said just now..." Knowing that most patients were suffering, she didn't withdraw her hand, but soothed them gently, "Don't be too sad. We'll find a way, and everything will be fine."

Even without their gazes meeting, one could sense her thoughts from her tone.

Jiang Fuying had always been like this. She had a calm demeanor, always comforting, always trying to persuade. She always cared for those around her, never knowing when her true emotions would show.

Or perhaps it was just that way.

It seemed as if everyone in the world could receive her compassion and care.

"Okay,"

Chang Yuan said suddenly, as if to show weakness. "...There are so many people here, I'm a little uncomfortable."

Having made his decision and finding a place to call home, what did it matter whether those fleeting, distant memories returned or not?

He lowered his brow, his expression gentle and reserved.

Jiang Fuying paused, then slowly returned her hand.

"Then hold my hand," Jiang Fuying said, "don't get lost."