“He’s not breathing.” Shu Song shook her head regretfully, then her eyes flashed and she was about to leave: “Take him to the Forget-Worry Pavilion to see if Ashu can help.” But Nie Qingyue stopped her before she could move: “Help me lay him flat.” She frowned and said urgently and firmly: “There’s no time. Make sure you understand the steps for measuring his breath.”
Shu Song hesitated for a second, then immediately did as she was told.
Having attended at least three first-aid classes, Nie Qingyue still remembered them despite not paying attention, and she was somewhat grateful for the school's lengthy curriculum. After confirming there were no foreign objects in the mouth, Nie Qingyue unbuttoned the child's shirt, pressed one hand against his forehead, and lifted his chin with the other, tilting his head back. Then, she pinched her nostrils shut, took a deep breath, and carefully guided the child's head forward. The expansion of the chest wasn't obvious, but it was still visible. Nie Qingyue looked up, silently repeated the command after a second or two.
"Wait until I stop before you start." She gestured for Shu Song to come over, her voice trembling with anxiety, her fingers icy cold as they touched the child's skin. Nie Qingyue forced herself to calm down, found the spot she remembered, and pressed down with the heels of her palms, fingers curled up. The depth and pressure were slightly less than usual because the other person was a young child. The silent count of thirty felt both long and short.
Shu Songzao instinctively squatted down and supported the child's chin. When she saw Nie Qingyue stop, she took a breath and lowered her head to look over. Her movements were very clumsy but without hesitation, and she even mastered the timing perfectly.
This process repeated itself, and time ticked by. Nie Qingyue checked the vital signs once more, but there was no improvement.
I could already feel a thin layer of sweat beading on my forehead and a chill creeping over me, but my hands wouldn't stop. Don't die! Hold on! Only after dying once do you realize how terrible life can be, and how beautiful it can be. I can no longer stand by and watch a once vibrant life slowly slip away.
After her movements had become somewhat numb, she finally began to struggle slightly. "Because it's difficult to synchronize with the heartbeat, it's best to stop manual resuscitation once breathing resumes." Nie Qingyue recalled the school doctor's words and, with trembling hands, reached for her carotid artery.
A faint, not intense, yet powerful throbbing.
After the intense mental tension suddenly dissipated, Nie Qingyue felt a slight sense of exhaustion and leaned against an old tree on the riverbank, pretending to be dead. The feeling in her heart was indescribable; she should have been excited, yet there was a slight bitterness mixed in.
...
The lunch was bland and tasteless.
"These dishes don't suit Madam's taste?" Yan Shu, who had left early in the morning, saw Nie Qingyue's untouched rice bowl on the table as soon as he stepped into the house, while Shu Song was eating heartily and happily.
"No." Nie Qingyue snapped out of her daze and quickly shoveled some rice into her mouth.
“Little Yue, their whole family almost kowtowed to you just now, sending you wine, pastries, and gift boxes all the way here.” Shu Song blinked her beautiful eyes. “You didn’t appreciate it and refused, so why are you looking so bitter and regretful now?”
Nie Qingyue sighed and slapped him decisively: "Fool, that's not why I did it."
"Why is that?" Shu Song pitifully covered her head, while Yan Shu sat quietly, pouring tea as if waiting for her answer.
Nie Qingyue glanced at Yan Shu, then at Shu Song, hesitated, and waved her hand, saying, "Hey, let's eat!" She ate half of what she had eaten and then went back to her room to lie down on the bed.
"Tomorrow, the autumn festival is Ashu's birthday, the twenty-third."
—W-what?
"...No way, = = Little Yue, you're Ashu's wife and you didn't even know? It's rare for Ashu, who usually goes out alone, to spend his autumn festival and birthday alone this year."
—“…”
"Never mind, take that book as a gift. Ashu has been looking for it for a long time."
Nie Qingyue rolled over, clutching her pillow in annoyance. Why did they have to tell her a day in advance? They could have just let her find out naturally and then simply wished her a happy birthday. Why did it have to be with Qiu Ji? It felt like she'd be doing Qiu Ji a disservice if she didn't offer something. She couldn't bring herself to take the gift Shu Song had been searching for so long and pass it off as something else.
"The autumn sacrifice is approaching, and Madam should be back by now." Remembering Yan Shu's gentle tone when he said those words, Nie Qingyue buried her face in her hands, on the verge of tears. Did she really have to be turned into a medicinal herb and thrown into a pot, just like Shu Song had jokingly suggested?
"Does Madam have a headache?" The hand resting on her forehead was gently pulled up, and Yan Shu looked at the troubled expression on her face with a probing gaze.
Huh, you were so engrossed that you didn't even hear the knocking?
Nie Qingyue shook her head: "It doesn't hurt."
“Hmm,” Yan Shu slowly took out the silver needles: “Madam, turn around.”
"Oh." Nie Qingyue obediently turned over and lay face down on the bed. Warm fingers pressed and groped her neck towards the edge of her collar, and she felt her belt loosen. She was being undressed = = The fabric at the collar was pulled back loosely, revealing the skin of one shoulder and back. Soft silver needles were slowly twisted into her skin, bringing a mosquito-bite-like pain. So the scenes in TV dramas where needles are inserted quickly through clothing are all lies, Nie Qingyue came to this conclusion after a moment of bewilderment. She buried her face in the pillow, peeking out with her eyes to secretly look at Yan Shu. The elegant man beside the bed, his head bowed, looked calm and focused.
Seeing that Nie Qingyue hadn't spoken for a while, Yan Shu assumed she was shy. After thinking for a moment, he slowly said, "If Madam minds, how about I find a female doctor to take over tomorrow?"
"Eh? It's okay, I don't mind." Nie Qingyue, who was preoccupied with her birthday tomorrow, was absent-minded. As soon as she spoke, she came to her senses and felt that there was something subtly wrong with her previous nonchalance, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She quickly added, "Inviting others would be a waste of money. It's better to save the money and live a good life together."
"Hmm, Madam is right." Yan Shu nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Nie Qingyue realized how smoothly she had said such suggestive things; it was all because she had been thinking about his birthday.
Seeing Yan Shu's smug smile, Nie Qingyue got a little annoyed. Ignoring the needles on her back, she sat up, grabbed his collar, and asked directly, "Is there anything you want for your birthday? Confess now." Her clear, pure eyes stared directly into those eternally calm and indifferent eyes.
Those eyes flickered a few times, and the smile on his lips deepened, "If Madam doesn't kneel down soon, she might regret it."
"It's not like I haven't worn backless tank tops before." Nie Qingyue muttered to herself as she leaned back, her cheeks feeling a little hot.
The stinging sensation on her back continued, and the rough, warm fingers that accidentally touched her caused a slight itch. "Was Madam troubled by this issue at lunch?" he asked, still with a faint smile.
"Mmm." Nie Qingyue's voice was muffled, her head buried in the pillow.
"Methods for saving lives in the morning."
"Um?"
"I want a way to save people in the morning."
"Shu Song told you?"
“I was in a private room at the teahouse when I heard that someone had drowned and had already started rescuing them after they went downstairs.”
“Oh, Shu Song said you were at the Forget-Worry Pavilion. I thought you were with Ruoyun.”
"lady."
"Um?"
"Could this be considered a wife testing her husband's whereabouts?"
“…From now on, if I teach you, I’ll be considered half your master. This is a master’s legitimate concern for his disciple.”
"Hmm, how do you feel now?"
"I got a good deal." Nie Qingyue was secretly pleased; the CPR technique, which she could learn in three minutes, solved the gift problem.
"I meant here." Yan Shu pinched her back lightly, both amused and exasperated.
"Aches, numbness, swelling, and pain." "Hmm." Yan Shu deftly put away the needles and pulled her clothes up for her. "This is the first time I've been asked such a question." "What?" Nie Qingyue turned over, pulled the blanket over her head, and looked at him. The aches and numbness in her back seemed to have subsided a little.
"What do you want for your birthday?" He looked at her with a bright and energetic expression after tidying up his medical tools, and suddenly reached out to rub Nie Qingyue's head: "Madam, please rest early."
Even after Yan Shu left the room, Nie Qingyue was still lying on the bed in a daze. After a long while, she slammed her right fist into her left palm and said, "She must have been hanging out with Shu Song too much, otherwise why would she be smiling so wickedly?"
The distance between friendship and love
Without a rice cooker, juicer, or microwave, Nie Qingyue was busy like a spinning top from noon until almost evening, and in her haste, her lunch was burnt. Remembering her confident promise to Yan Shu, "Leave tonight's dinner to me," Nie Qingyue just wanted to dig a hole and hide.
Shu Song had already ridden his horse back to his home in the neighboring city yesterday afternoon to reunite with his family. Nie Qingyue didn't want Yan Shu's help, so now she was in a dilemma, which she had brought upon herself. After washing her hands, she shamelessly took out a plate of steamed perch. Yan Shu was engrossed in reading a medical book in the main hall.
"Um, the rice is burnt. I'll cook it again. You can eat the vegetables first."
"Hmm." Yan Shu put down the medical book in his hand. Seeing that she was covered in sweat and looked weak, he didn't ask any more questions. He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and tasted it. The fish was tender, fragrant, sweet and soft. From the finely chopped scallions on the fish to the delicate and distinct strips of ginger, it was clear that a lot of care had been taken.
Yan Shu poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Nie Qingyue. "Madam, please sit down and rest. This is enough. There will be many special snacks at the Qingfeng Festival later, so there's no need to eat so much now."
The Celebrating Harvest Festival is a traditional autumn festival, held annually by the people. Nie Qingyue understood immediately and, worried that Yan Shu and the others might get hungry after a long afternoon, nodded and said, "Then I'll go and bring out the rest of the dishes."
Steamed sea bass, osmanthus-flavored rice wine dumplings, seasonal vegetables, and a pot of steaming, light soup.
Without Shu Song's chatter, the two at the dinner table were somewhat silent, with only the slight clinking of bowls and plates.
Are doctors generally more inclined to maintain healthy lifestyles, which is why they don't like to talk while eating? Nie Qingyue picked at the food, glancing over with her cat-like eyes.
Yan Shu looked back at her: "What's wrong?"
"Uh, it seems a bit strange not to eat."
"Hmm, a little."
Nie Qingyue didn't respond and continued to silently eat her food. There was no need for such directness. Yan Shu found her pitiful expression amusing and put down his chopsticks: "The food is delicious, thank you for your trouble, Madam."
"You really think it's delicious?" Nie Qingyue's fur immediately lit up upon hearing the praise.
Yan Shu gave her a smile: "Eat until you're half full, save room for when you go for a walk."
"Hmm." Nie Qingyue swallowed the meatball in her mouth and stood up.
What kind of situation is it when there are crowds of people shoulder to shoulder? Nie Qingyue looked at the countless unfamiliar faces with a dizzying sense of disorientation, feeling as if she was about to be drowned in the enormous noise.
The stalls on both sides were packed with people, as if everything on the street was free. Nie Qingyue walked by without even knowing what was being sold. "Tonight, snacks, lanterns, ornaments, and other small items will be sold at lower prices than usual. Most of the stall owners are from rural areas outside the city. After winter sets in, they usually stay at home and don't go into the city, so they're selling off most of their goods tonight," Yan Shu explained briefly when he saw her confusion.
"Price reductions are indeed incredibly powerful, both in ancient and modern times," Nie Qingyue murmured in admiration. She noticed a stage, taller than a person, built in the open space at the street's intersection, without any railings. The stage was flat and orderly, with a huge wooden pillar in the center surrounded by short, protruding branches for climbing. Even before the celebration began, the stage was already surrounded by people.
"Are we going to look at this here later?" Nie Qingyue asked, turning her head. Amidst the throng of people, she felt a sharp pain on her shoulder as she was pushed a meter away. Yan Shu frowned and walked over through the crowd: "Oh, I see." He then grabbed Nie Qingyue's wrist.
There was a strange sense of security in having her wrist held by long, strong fingers. Nie Qingyue smiled as she looked at the man's elegant back. He was the first person she had met since arriving here. Before waking up, she had judged him by his voice to be the aloof type, and told herself to keep a safe distance and not cross the line. But after spending time with him, it seemed that wasn't entirely true.
Following Yan Shu's footsteps, they arrived outside a restaurant, where he suddenly stopped. His hand, which had been clasped around her wrist, slid down and grasped her delicate, fair fingers. Yan Shu turned around, lowered his head, and softly asked her, "Madam, shall we go to a private room on the second floor?" The warm breath from their intimately close lips made Nie Qingyue's previously cool ears feel hot.
Nie Qingyue was puzzled for a while, then blinked and hummed in agreement. She lowered her head shyly and leaned on Yan Shu's shoulder as they went upstairs together. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a pink figure standing quietly by the building. Even after they entered the private room, they could still see the lonely and forlorn figure of the woman standing out against the crowded railing. It was Ruoyun.
"If you don't like someone, just say so. It's too much trouble to pretend." Nie Qingyue rested her chin on one hand and held a bottle of wine in the other.
“Yun’er is stubborn by nature, so there’s no use in talking to her.” Yan Shu had a slight bitter smile on his lips.
"Tsk." Nie Qingyue shook her head and sighed.
"Isn't Madam curious about my relationship with Yun'er?"
"Hmm, let me guess. One: My husband is a womanizer and falls in love with a proud and aloof beauty at first sight, but unfortunately, she is interested but he is not. Two: My childhood sweethearts later suffered family misfortunes, one of them fell into prostitution while the other became famous. My husband, fearing that he would lose face, has since treated her as a brother and sister." Nie Qingyue nodded, "Well, for now, these are the two versions."
"Does Madam think I am the second version of this kind of person?" The question even carried a smile, without any anger.
"Sigh, someone who left his wife in a brothel for a month, it's hard to say," Nie Qingyue argued illogically.
“Yes, I think so too.” Yan Shu touched his chin, his eyes reflecting the light from the colorful lights.
A deafening drumbeat suddenly erupted, its imposing force making hearts pound in rhythm with each heavy beat. It seemed this festival wasn't suitable for heart patients. Nie Qingyue squinted, taking in the entire scene on stage.
Two actors playing seasonal gods, dressed in red and white robes and wearing pointed masks respectively, were engaged in a martial arts battle, but in Nie Qingyue's eyes, it was more like a dance battle. Every move they made was graceful and fluid, with their robes fluttering, and they moved with rhythm and cadence to the beat of the drums.
The cheers and shouts of encouragement from the audience rose and fell in waves, surging with the crowd. The two gods vied to climb the wooden pillar, vying for a bunch of wheat ears tied tightly at the top, symbolizing a bountiful harvest in the coming year. The real competition seemed to have just begun. Their moves were simple, agile, and swift, their ups and downs on the ten-meter-high pillar keeping the audience holding their breath.
In the original tradition, the red-clad seasonal deity would fall behind the white-clad one, allowing the white-clad one to claim the wheat ears. However, this made the harvest competition less exciting and attracted few spectators. As time progressed, this custom changed, allowing two warriors representing different teams to compete fairly for the wheat ears symbolizing a bountiful harvest. After all, it's just a commemorative and celebratory format, and public participation and support make it more enjoyable.
Just as everyone was focused, a gasp suddenly came from the audience. They saw the actor in red fall from the center of the pillar and land on the stage. Having always invited experienced and skilled martial artists, they hadn't anticipated such an accident, and chaos erupted in the audience.
Yan Shu didn't flinch, but Nie Qingyue patted his shoulder and said, "If your professional habit is kicking in, go and take a look."
Yan Shu casually ruffled her hair, saying, "Wait for me to come back." He then leaped from the second floor, his robes fluttering, and nimbly jumped across the upturned eaves onto the stage. Nie Qingyue was stunned for a moment. Did people in ancient times all have special skills?
Back in the private room, Nie Qingyue ate some food and wine with little appetite. She realized that Yan Shu hadn't eaten much since they left. Feeling a bit stuffy after a while, she went downstairs for some fresh air. She figured he could see her from the doorway. Nie Qingyue squatted on a stone altar in the corner of the restaurant, resting her chin on her hand, when suddenly two copper coins appeared before her eyes.
Huh?
"Clatter." Two more.
"Huh?" Nie Qingyue chuckled and clutched her stomach. She was dressed simply and plainly, her hair casually tied back with a cloth ribbon and a little messy from the wind; surely no one would mistake her for a beggar? Nie Qingyue counted the copper coins in front of her under the bright yellow light of the restaurant. Hmm, at this rate, maybe when Yan Shu returned, we could use this money to buy a bowl of noodles together.
She was still pondering when a shadow suddenly fell upon her. Nie Qingyue looked up, her eyebrows arching as she smiled happily, "Husband, you're back." Yan Shu stared at the copper coin in her hand, slightly taken aback, then nodded, smiled, and pulled her up, "Let's go home."