Chapter 70: Finding Her
That night, Lin Shuang indeed did not come back.
Jiang Huaizhen lay on the bed, tossing and turning like a flatbread, unable to sleep.
She finally made it to the next day when the rooster crowed.
She got up early, dressed and washed up, and after telling the sleepy Old Madam Jiang, she went out with her cane.
Her leg was only injured on the surface and had not injured the bone. It had already scabbed over. She was using a cane because she was afraid that if she used her leg, the skin would break open again.
By the time she reached the village entrance, there were still few people on the road. After waiting for over half an hour, a donkey cart passed by.
She casually got on one and headed for the county seat.
She entered the city and then went to the Everlasting Peace Apothecary.
When she reached the main door, she found that it was already crowded with all sorts of patients, who were lining up to get medicine.
Only then did she find out that they were getting free soup medicine.
The young apprentice recognized her and had also heard about her heroic deeds of saving people in this flood. He quickly and respectfully led her into the clinic.
“Miss Lin has been staying at the clinic for the past few days. She’s in the roasting room now, helping to prepare the medicine. The last room from here is it.”
Jiang Huaizhen thanked him and walked toward the room he had pointed to.
The apprentice had something to do outside and, after showing her the way, he quickly ran out.
Jiang Huaizhen soon reached the door. The door was slightly ajar, and a sweet smell of honey wafted out. At the same time, there were two voices talking, one of which was Lin Shuang’s.
She gently pushed open the door.
She saw a delicate back facing her, holding a kettle in her hand, evenly spraying honey water on the medicinal herbs.
Another medicine boy, seeing the change in the light at the door, looked over and let out a sound of surprise.
Hearing the sound, Lin Shuang also turned her head.
A tall figure stood at the door, backlit, her clothes and long hair fluttering in the wind, like an immortal.
She rubbed her eyes, hardly daring to believe it. When she was sure who it was, an indescribable joy bloomed in her heart, and her heart began to pound.
“Huai—Sister Jiang, why are you here?”
She put down the tools and medicinal herbs in her hand and walked toward the door.
Even though Jiang Huaizhen didn’t like her, she still missed her very much, not to mention that she had come to find her in person.
Jiang Huaizhen looked at her, her lips pressed tightly together.
They hadn’t seen each other for three whole days. Other than the night she had stayed with Ping’er at the clinic, they had never been separated. This time, they had been separated for a long time, and when she saw Lin Shuang at that moment, she felt a sense of daze.
“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? How did you get here? Is your leg alright?”
After Lin Shuang finished speaking, she bent down, lifted the corner of her skirt, and checked the wound on her leg.
Jiang Huaizhen did not stop her and let her roll up her pant leg.
“It’s scabbed over. It’s fine. But you still can’t use too much force.”
Jiang Huaizhen stared at her.
Lin Shuang turned to look at the little medicine boy who was looking at them curiously, then took Jiang Huaizhen’s hand and left the roasting room.
“Why are you here?”
Only then did Jiang Huaizhen say, “I haven’t seen you for a few days. I came to see you.”
Lin Shuang had been busy these few days and only had time to think of her when she was free. But as soon as she thought of her, she was tormented by the feeling of unrequited love, and it was very sad.
Now, seeing her come, her emotions were up and down, and she didn’t know how to describe her feelings.
“You’ve seen me now.”
Jiang Huaizhen hummed in agreement. “I’ve seen you.”
“Then… are you leaving now?”
Jiang Huaizhen shook her head. “When are you coming home?”
Hearing the words “coming home,” Lin Shuang’s heart suddenly felt a pang. She replied, “I’m busy here… The people outside are all waiting for their medicine.”
“Are you also busy at night?”
She didn’t need to be busy at night, but Lin Shuang, thinking that they would have to torture each other again when she went back, and that the state of being able to see but not eat was too painful, also wanted to calm down for a few days.
She shook her head. “I don’t have to be busy all night.”
“Then I’ll wait for you to go home together at night,” Jiang Huaizhen said.
Seeing her like this, Lin Shuang sighed softly and said, “Sister Jiang, I’ll go back when I’m done. I’m not going to run away.”
Jiang Huaizhen was such a stubborn person. For her to be willing to come and find her so early in the morning, she was probably afraid that she would be like her former relatives and would abandon her.
Because she understood her past, Lin Shuang could also understand her feelings at this moment.
Although she couldn’t give her the kind of love between a husband and wife, in the end, she couldn’t bear to abandon her. They were destined to be tied together in this life.
She also accepted it.
But she didn’t expect Jiang Huaizhen to reply, “I know. I just want to wait for you to go back together. Grandma and Ping’er both miss you very much.”
Lin Shuang didn’t think much of it and finally compromised. “I’ll finish up early tonight and go back. You can go back first. You can’t just wait here for me all day. Do you want to ride the horse? I’ll go and get the horse. You can ride slowly, so you don’t break open your wound—”
Jiang Huaizhen interrupted her. “I’m not going back. I’ll just wait for you here. We’ll go back together at night.”
Lin Shuang was a little helpless.
She now completely understood Jiang Huaizhen’s feelings. This person had been abandoned since she was a child and was afraid, which was why she had so many insecure emotions, and had even become so stubborn. If she didn’t go back, she wouldn’t go back either.
It was a good thing she knew that all she wanted was a sisterly relationship. Otherwise, with the other’s persistent attitude, it would be very easy to get lost and think that she was in love with her and couldn’t leave her.
She looked at Jiang Huaizhen’s red and swollen eyes and asked, “Did you not sleep well last night?”
Jiang Huaizhen hummed in agreement.
Lin Shuang pulled her sleeve and led her through a few twists and turns, finally reaching a side room with a few straw beds.
“We usually rest here when we’re tired. You can sleep here for a while. When it’s time to eat, I’ll come and get you, okay?”
Jiang Huaizhen asked, “Which one do you sleep on?”
Lin Shuang pointed to the one in the corner. “I sleep there.”
Jiang Huaizhen then walked toward the bed she had pointed to, supported herself on the table, and slowly sat down. She looked at her and said, “Then… you can go and get busy.”
Lin Shuang nodded.
She turned and walked out, closing the door.
Jiang Huaizhen listened to the footsteps fade away, let out a soft sigh of relief, and lay down with her clothes on.
The pillow on the straw bed was also made of straw, but it was covered with a piece of clothing, which was Lin Shuang’s. When Jiang Huaizhen lay down, she smelled her scent on the clothes, and her originally restless heart slowly calmed down.
She placed her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, footsteps came, and then the door was pushed open, and a smell of medicine wafted in.
Jiang Huaizhen hadn’t slept all night, and now that she had relaxed, she was so sleepy she could barely open her eyes.
She only heard that familiar voice in her ear, gently calling her name.
“Huaizhen—”
“Good girl, open your mouth and drink the medicine. There are patients coming and going here. You’re not wearing a cloth mask, and you’re still injured. It’s easy to get sick. You’ll be fine after you drink this…”
She couldn’t open her eyes, but she obediently opened her mouth.
But her head was throbbing and not listening to her commands. It was swaying from side to side, and some of the medicine seemed to have spilled out.
The person seemed to sigh, and then a wave of damp and warm breath rushed to her face. Her lips were parted, and the warm medicine was sent into her mouth, flowing down her throat.
Jiang Huaizhen only felt that the smell at the tip of her nose was familiar and reassuring, warm and soft. She opened her mouth and sucked, unwilling to let go.
It wasn’t until the person let go of her lips and placed her head back on the pillow that she tilted her head and fell into a deep sleep.
Lin Shuang, who was sitting by the straw bed, looked at the two lips that had been reddened by her sucking and rubbed her brow.
How could she be so unrestrained? If this person were awake and knew that she had kissed her while feeding her medicine, who knows how angry she would be?
But if it weren’t for such an opportunity, she was afraid that she would never have the chance to kiss such sweet lips in this life.
Lin Shuang touched her own lips, feeling her still-trembling heart. Sweetness mixed with disappointment, and she couldn’t help but sigh again.
Jiang Huaizhen, oh Jiang Huaizhen, why don’t you love me?
When Jiang Huaizhen woke up, it was already past noon.
She had slept very soundly and felt that her energy and spirit had returned. Her whole body felt refreshed.
She propped herself up and saw a note by the bed. It said, “[Sister Jiang, you were still asleep when I came at noon. I was afraid the food would get cold, so I didn’t leave any for you. When you wake up, you can come and find me in the roasting room. I’ll take you to eat.]”
Jiang Huaizhen looked at the words “Sister Jiang” on the note and, for the first time, found that she hated these words so much.
She stood up, tidied her clothes, and went toward the medicine storeroom.
Just as she reached the door, the person inside heard her footsteps and poked her head out. Her gaze lingered on her lips for a moment, and she smiled. “Sister Jiang is awake. Wait for me for a moment.”
Jiang Huaizhen pursed her lips and stood still.
Before long, Lin Shuang came out. “The clinic has a kitchen. I’ve saved some food for you. We can just heat it up.”
Jiang Huaizhen then followed her closely toward the kitchen.
It was long past mealtime, and there was no one in the kitchen. Lin Shuang had already told the people at the apothecary in advance and pushed open the door.
The fire in the stove was covered with ash, and the rice was in a steamer on top, still a little warm.
Lin Shuang took the food from the steamer, placed it on the table, and greeted Jiang Huaizhen. “Come and eat.”
Jiang Huaizhen hummed in agreement and walked to the table to sit down.
“Are you eating with me?”
Lin Shuang shook her head. “I’ve already eaten. I’m still full.”
Jiang Huaizhen hummed in agreement, picked up her chopsticks, and lowered her head to eat.
Halfway through, she looked up and saw that Lin Shuang’s eyes were fixed on her. She cleared her throat and asked, “Am I affecting you by being here?”
Lin Shuang shook her head. “It’s alright. Not really.”
Not really, but it still affected her.
Jiang Huaizhen lowered her head and continued to eat in silence.
When she finally finished, she stood up, cleared the dishes, and went to wash them.
Lin Shuang said, “Your hands are not yet healed. I’ll wash them.”
Jiang Huaizhen looked at her carrying the bowl and chopsticks she had just eaten from to wash, and her heart was a little sour. She felt like a good-for-nothing and had ended up troubling her after all.
After Lin Shuang had finished washing the dishes, she came over and, seeing her gloomy expression, asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well anywhere?”
Jiang Huaizhen shook her head. “You go and get busy. I’ll go home by myself.”
Lin Shuang quickly grabbed her. “Don’t. It’s already the Hour of the Monkey(3 PM to 5 PM). We’ll be back in another hour or so. Your leg is still injured. There’s no hurry.”
She had been so stubborn about waiting for her just now, and now she was thinking of going back. Lin Shuang had seen through this person’s awkward thoughts.
Jiang Huaizhen lowered her head and finally said, “Then I’ll go and wait for you in that room just now.”
The clinic was different from other places. Lin Shuang couldn’t just take her around. She thought for a moment and said, “Alright then. You can go and rest there for a while. I’ll come and find you when I’m done.”
