Chapter 185 - 75: Qin Mei, Thank You
"Go to sleep." Jie Jingchen didn’t offer any more explanation, simply rolling over onto his side.
Qin Mei didn’t think much of it, closing her eyes to sleep.
The next day, Qin Mei was up early, decocting medicine in the kitchen for Jie Jingchen and Jie Jingshan. She didn’t know how to start the fire, so Jie Jingchen had done it for her; her only job was to watch it.
Those with jobs went to work and those with classes went to school. Even Jie Jingjue had left for work. Shen Qing, however, hadn’t gone in and now came into the kitchen.
"Fourth Sister-in-law," Shen Qing called out.
Qin Mei froze, surprised to see Shen Qing still at home. "Third Sister-in-law."
"Jing Si said Jing Qi needs to have her medicinal bath today, so I took a half-day off," Shen Qing said, her tone neither warm nor cold.
"She needs acupuncture in addition to the medicinal bath," Qin Mei said.
Shen Qing arched an eyebrow, her voice cool. "Doesn’t she get acupuncture every day?"
Qin Mei hesitated for a moment, looking at Shen Qing before saying, "She does get it every day. But today is different. It’s going to hurt."
’I forgot to tell my mother-in-law last night,’ she thought. ’I was going to tell her this morning, but she left for work before I even got up. That patient from yesterday must be someone important.’
Shen Qing didn’t ask any more questions, simply doing whatever Qin Mei told her to do.
The water in the pot came to a boil. Qin Mei added more medicinal herbs and let them simmer for about ten minutes. Then, the water was ladled into a bucket, and Shen Qing carried it to Jie Jingshan’s room.
Once the first batch of medicine was ready, Qin Mei poured it into a bowl, added two more bowls of water to the pot to continue brewing, and called out loudly, "Jie Jingchen!"
Jie Jingchen was outside directing the construction crew. When he heard Qin Mei call his name, he came into the kitchen.
"Time for your medicine." Qin Mei handed him the bowl.
Jie Jingchen took the bowl, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. He set the empty bowl down and turned to leave.
Qin Mei carried a bowl of medicine to Jie Jingshan’s room. "Jing Qi, drink your medicine first."
Jie Jingshan took it, asking in confusion, "Fourth Sister-in-law, aren’t I supposed to take the medicinal bath first and then drink the medicine?"
"Today’s different." Qin Mei dipped her hand into the bath to test the water. It was scalding. She tossed another herbal packet into the tub. Noticing Jie Jingshan staring blankly at the bowl of medicine, she said, "Jing Qi, you’re so strong. You can do this."
Jie Jingshan looked up at Qin Mei and tried to offer a reassuring smile, but what came out was a grimace uglier than a sob.
Having already experienced the agony, this time she truly didn’t have the courage to say the words, ’I’m not afraid of the pain.’
"Jing Qi, this is the second time, and it’s also the last time. After today, you’ll be able to try moving a little," Qin Mei said encouragingly.
Jie Jingshan summoned her courage, took a deep breath, and drank every last drop of the medicine. "I’m ready, Fourth Sister-in-law."
"Amazing." Qin Mei gave Jing Qi a thumbs-up.
"So after today, Jing Qi’s legs will be cured?" Shen Qing asked, a hint of excitement in her voice. She looked down at Jing Qi’s legs, finding it all incredible.
"Not that fast. She’ll just be able to move them," Qin Mei said. Thinking of the medicine still simmering on the small stove, she grabbed the empty bowl and ran to the kitchen. She returned a moment later.
Together, she and Shen Qing managed to get Jing Qi into the bathtub. Qin Mei asked Shen Qing to keep an eye on Jing Qi while she went back to the kitchen.
Timing it just right, Qin Mei returned to Jing Qi’s room, closing the door and bolting it. The two women worked together to move Jing Qi onto the bed. Shen Qing started to help Jing Qi dress, but Qin Mei stopped her as she reached for her pants.
Qin Mei found a bedsheet and had Shen Qing tear it into strips. Though Shen Qing didn’t understand, she did as she was told without question. It wasn’t until she saw Qin Mei using the cloth strips to bind Jie Jingshan that she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer.
Shen Qing’s brow twitched, a sharp light hidden in her eyes. "Is all this really necessary?"
"Third Sister-in-law, I know your heart aches for Jing Qi, but please believe me, this is absolutely necessary." Qin Mei didn’t stop what she was doing.
"Third Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Fourth Sister-in-law would never hurt me." Jie Jingshan’s trust in Qin Mei was absolute. Lying on the bed, she obediently allowed Qin Mei to bind her. The last time, she had endured the excruciating pain through sheer willpower alone. This time, she had no such confidence and was willing to be restrained.
Qin Mei felt a wave of relief. This kind of trust—placing one’s life in another’s hands—was immense pressure, but also deeply comforting. She not only bound Jie Jingshan’s upper body but also secured her to the bed itself. Then, she placed a towel in Jing Shan’s mouth. Last time, it had been a rolling pin, but it was too hard; Qin Mei had been worried about her breaking a tooth. This time, she used a towel.
Shen Qing pressed her lips together and said nothing, taking a step back. A flicker of pity crossed her cool gaze.
"Jing Qi, I’m starting the needles now." Qin Mei gave Jie Jingshan a few seconds to brace herself. At a signal from Jie Jingshan’s eyes, Qin Mei inserted the first needle.
A muffled groan of pain escaped from between Jie Jingshan’s towel-clenched teeth. Standing to the side, Shen Qing could almost physically feel Jie Jingshan’s agony.
’She’s not afraid of pain,’ Shen Qing knew. ’For her to be in this much agony from just the first needle... how excruciating must it be!’
Qin Mei’s expression was one of intense concentration. No matter what agony Jing Qi was enduring, the hand placing the needles moved without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing Jing Qi tormented by the excruciating pain, Shen Qing was deeply moved. She sat on the edge of the bed, wiping the sweat from Jing Qi’s brow. With every needle Qin Mei placed, the pain intensified. While her legs remained immobile, Jing Qi’s bound upper body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Shen Qing’s heart ached. Her eyes reddened as she gripped Jing Qi’s hand.
Jing Qi latched onto Shen Qing’s hand, gripping it like a lifeline. She squeezed with all her might, her nails digging into Shen Qing’s flesh. Shen Qing didn’t cry out, nor did she pull her hand away.
The muffled cries of pain were audible even to the workmen in the back, who all turned to look at Jie Jingchen.
"Jing Si," one of the workmen finally ventured. "Aren’t you going to go check on her?"
"It’s fine. My wife is treating Jing Qi’s legs," Jie Jingchen said, appearing perfectly composed. His deep voice betrayed no emotion, but the hand holding the architectural drawings trembled slightly.
’Jing Qi made it through last time,’ he thought. ’She can make it through this time, too.’
’Healing her legs was never going to be easy. There’s no success without sacrifice.’
The workmen said no more. Everyone in the neighborhood knew that the Fourth Wife of Jing was treating Jing Qi’s legs. Some people were even placing bets on it—some betting she could cure them, others betting she couldn’t.
"Master Li, you all carry on. I’m going to boil some water for you." Jie Jingchen turned and walked away before he even finished speaking.
"He’s not going to boil us water. He’s obviously worried about his sister," Master Liu remarked, glancing at his own full water canteen. He hadn’t even had a single sip.
"The Jie Family isn’t short on money. Over the years, trying to cure Jing Qi’s legs, what method haven’t they tried? What folk remedy haven’t they used? Nothing has had the slightest effect," Master Li sighed.
"The best doctors at the hospital couldn’t do a thing. It’d be a miracle if some young woman who knows a little traditional Chinese medicine could," Master Niu added with a sigh.
"If she were an old, experienced traditional doctor, there might be a sliver of hope. But a young girl? Not a chance." Master Liu, standing behind Jing Qi’s room, pointed to the wall and whispered, "Just listen to that. Does that sound like they’re treating her legs? Sounds more like they’re slaughtering a pig for New Year’s."
"All right, that’s enough talk. Let’s get back to work," Master Li urged.
Jie Jingchen paid them well, so they put their backs into the work.
The weather wasn’t hot, yet Jing Qi was drenched in sweat. Qin Mei’s back was soaked through, and beads of perspiration dotted Shen Qing’s brow.
Jing Qi endured the agony, her gaze losing focus. Both her will and her body were on the brink of collapse.
"Jing Qi!" Shen Qing saw blood trickle from the corner of Jing Qi’s mouth. Her pupils constricted, her eyes filled with terror, and she cried out in a panic, "Qin Mei!"
At the sight, Qin Mei’s heart seized. Her expression froze for an instant before she quickly forced herself to remain composed, though a flicker of unease betrayed her in her eyes.
’I’ve never felt this kind of pain, but I know it’s agonizing, almost beyond what a person can physically endure.’
’If Jing Qi can’t withstand the pain of this treatment... if she actually dies from the pain... it will be all my fault.’
Outside the door, hearing Shen Qing’s panicked cry, Jie Jingchen could no longer stay calm. A single, cold word escaped his lips: "Qin Mei."
’The door is bolted.’ He couldn’t get in. He fought to suppress the urge to kick it down.
"Shut up!" Qin Mei snapped, her eyes flashing with a fierce light. After a moment’s hesitation, the words tumbled out of her in a rush. "I’m already distracted, and now you’re interfering! Jie Jingchen, you need to be perfectly clear about this: if I misplace a single needle, the best-case scenario is that we lose all our progress. The worst-case scenario is that today becomes the anniversary of Jing Qi’s death."