Before Ling’ai began studying forensic medicine under Yan Qing, she had always devoted herself to the study of traditional Chinese medicine, with a particular passion for acupuncture.

If she were asked to practice clinical medicine, she might have lacked the experience to speak with confidence, but when it came to performing acupuncture, she had one hundred percent confidence in herself. Speaking without false modesty, she could locate every acupoint on the human body with her eyes closed.

“Would everyone mind stepping outside for a moment?” Doctor Sun suggested. “With all of you watching like this, you might affect Miss Ling’s performance.”

Ling’ai could see how worried Little Xing’s parents were, so she said, “It’s all right. The child is still young—having his parents by his side will help him be a little braver.”

Little Xing, hearing this, looked up at his parents with a pitiful, pleading gaze.

Since Ling’ai had no objection, everyone stayed. On one hand, they were worried about Little Xing; on the other, they were curious to see how she would perform the acupuncture.

“Little Xing, be good now. Don’t look at the needles as though they’re long and sharp—they don’t actually hurt,” Ling’ai said gently. “And once the needles are in, your tummy won’t hurt anymore.”

Little Xing sniffled and nodded obediently.

Ling’ai looked at this child. Something about his brow and eyes gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Looking at his young, childlike face, she seemed to glimpse a shadow of someone she knew.

“Sister, will it really not hurt?” Little Xing asked, blinking his wide, innocent eyes.

“It’s like being bitten by a tiny little mosquito,” Ling’ai smiled. “A very, very small mosquito.”

“Around here in summer, there are so many mosquitoes. I always end up covered in big welts.” Little Xing noticed how pretty Ling’ai was, and how sweet her smile was, and he felt an instant warmth toward her.

“Are you afraid of mosquitoes then?”

“No. I can slap them dead in one go.”

“Then are you afraid of acupuncture?”

Little Xing thought about it, then finally shook his head. “No.”

“Then Sister is going to start now.”

Little Xing’s father watched as Ling’ai coaxed the boy into accepting the acupuncture with just a few words, and he felt an immediate surge of gratitude toward this girl who appeared so clean and bright.

Ling’ai had not deceived Little Xing. Her technique was exceptionally practiced, and the insertion of the needles caused no pain.

Not long after the needles were placed, Little Xing’s stomachache did indeed ease.

“Little Xing, does it still hurt?” his mother asked anxiously.

Little Xing shook his head.

The couple was overjoyed, and the people around them grew excited as well.

“Miss Ling is truly remarkable!”

“Yes, yes—just a few small silver needles and the stomachache is gone!”

“Miss Ling, can those needles treat other ailments too?”

Ling’ai smiled. “That depends on what the ailment is. I’m particularly skilled with lower back and leg pain.”

The Hui Village suffered from widespread back and leg ailments, so Ling’ai had put particular effort into this area. Under her acupuncture care, even the most serious cases of back and leg pain in Hui Village had nearly made full recoveries.

“Miss Ling, my old back has been bad for years—I haven’t been able to get out of bed for the past few days. Do you think you could take a look?”

“My leg flares up terribly whenever it rains. Miss Ling, can you treat that?”

Everyone began to speak at once, and Ling’ai didn’t know who to respond to first. It was Doctor Sun who said, “What’s the rush? Let Miss Ling finish treating Little Xing first, then line up behind everyone else.”

“Of course, of course. Little Xing first. We’ll wait our turn.”

Ling’ai looked at these honest, simple village folk and couldn’t help but smile.

He must have grown up in just such a warm and harmonious place. She wondered whether, if she mentioned his name, any of these people would recognize it.

He had been away from home for so long, and returned so rarely—probably not many people here would know him anymore.

Doctor Sun prepared the medicine according to Ling’ai’s prescription. Together, the two of them compounded it into pill form according to the formula’s proportions. After Little Xing swallowed the pills, he was taken home to be observed.

By dusk, Little Xing’s parents arrived carrying a basket. Inside was freshly stewed chicken and some salt-cured dried peaches.

“Miss Ling, we truly cannot thank you enough,” said Little Xing’s mother gratefully. “We don’t have anything fine to offer, but this is a rooster that Little Xing’s grandmother just slaughtered, along with some of our cured peach slices. Please don’t think it too humble a gift.”

Ling’ai couldn’t bear to accept it and quickly declined. “I study medicine—this is what I’m supposed to do. Please don’t be so formal.”

“Miss Ling, you must accept it,” Little Xing’s father added. “Since coming home, Little Xing’s stomachache has been completely gone. He even ate a bowl of rice porridge this evening. Little Xing hadn’t eaten a single proper meal in three days since the pain started. Seeing the child able to eat again—his grandparents were so overjoyed.”

“That’s right. If you won’t take it, we simply won’t leave.”

Ling’ai had no choice but to take the basket. “Then I’ll keep just a little, and you take the rest home for yourselves.”

She had gone with Zheng Yun to handle cases in the village before, and she knew that in the countryside, slaughtering a chicken or lamb was reserved for hosting guests—these were things the villagers themselves were reluctant to eat.

“Don’t be so polite!”

Under the couple’s repeated insistence, Ling’ai finally accepted the gifts.

After putting them away, she reached into her case and took out a bar of chocolate. “This is for Little Xing. Once his stomach has fully recovered, he can have it.”

The couple naturally refused, but after much back and forth, Ling’ai kept the food, and the couple accepted the chocolate.

Early the next morning, Ling’ai had just finished washing up when a small figure came running into the courtyard.

“Sister!”

Ling’ai saw it was Little Xing and hurried over. “Why aren’t you resting at home? Did you sneak out?”

Little Xing grinned wide, revealing a row of white teeth.

For a moment, Ling’ai felt as though the world had shifted beneath her. When he smiled like that, he truly resembled that person.

“Sister, I’ve already put away the chocolate you gave me,” Little Xing said earnestly. “Once I’m better, then I can eat it.”

“Little Xing is so responsible!”

“My little uncle bought me some before. It was so delicious.”

“Your little uncle bought it for you?”

“Yes.” Little Xing nodded vigorously. “My little uncle is so good to me. Every time he comes back, he brings me and my sisters delicious things and fun things.”

“Does your little uncle work in the city?”

“He catches bad people for a living.” Little Xing’s face filled with pride when he mentioned his little uncle. “He’s incredible at martial arts. Even my father and Second Uncle together couldn’t beat him. I’m going to train hard too, and one day I’ll be the one who defeats him.”

Hearing Little Xing speak this way, Ling’ai felt something stir inside her. Her intuition told her that Little Xing’s little uncle might truly be that person.

“Then… what is your little uncle’s name?” Ling’ai asked, and the moment the words left her mouth, her heart began to beat very fast.

“Zheng Shuzhi—his full name is Zheng Yun.”

The moment that familiar name reached her ears, Ling’ai felt her nose sting with unshed tears.