Chapter Fifty-Four: Slaughtering Pigs and Giving Injections

In a haze, a faint fragrance drifted into his nose. He was reluctant to open his eyes, yet he sensed someone beside him—an elusive, familiar scent. In that instant, his memory seemed to pierce through time, returning to the past where a charming face with a gentle smile lingered in his mind, so close he felt he could reach out and touch it. But when he did, the figure slipped away, the face growing faint, and he couldn’t help but murmur, “Xiaoli…”

As he reached out, he suddenly realized he was gripping something—soft, comfortable, and pleasing to the touch. It seemed as though someone gave a quiet little hum.

At that moment, Zhang Can awoke with a jolt. Opening his eyes, he realized he’d just been dreaming, yet his hand was still clutching something. Glancing down, he was overwhelmed with embarrassment.

He discovered, to his mortification, that he was holding Liu Xiaoqin’s breast. No wonder it felt so soft and pleasing. Liu Xiaoqin, meanwhile, dared neither cry out nor push him away; her face was flushed to her neck, her hands at a loss.

She knew Zhang Can hadn’t meant it. From what she understood of him, he would never feign confusion to take advantage of her. If he ever truly acted with intent, she had already decided she wouldn’t resist.

But Liu Xiaoqin also knew that he would never lay a hand on her. If one day she truly fell for him, perhaps then he would act. But did she really love him now?

Even Liu Xiaoqin couldn’t be certain. When her aunt first arranged the match, she only hoped to find someone who could shoulder her father’s medical expenses. When Zhang Can came to her home in the county, learned the truth, and gave her half a million yuan in cash but refused to see her again, she realized she would follow this man for the rest of her life. Yet back then, what she felt was gratitude and resolve to repay kindness, nothing more.

But after arriving in Jincheng, especially after being sternly rebuked by Zhang Can today, when she resolved to end her life by leaping from the building, in that fleeting moment, Liu Xiaoqin realized she had fallen for him. But had she confessed her feelings then, would Zhang Can have believed her?

Even she wouldn’t have believed herself.

After Zhang Can fell asleep, Liu Xiaoqin and Zhang Hua went out to buy groceries. As Zhang Hua set the table, Liu Xiaoqin went to Zhang Can’s room to wake him for dinner. But in his drowsy state, he muttered and suddenly reached out, grabbing her chest. Embarrassed and timid, Liu Xiaoqin froze as Zhang Can awoke to this scene.

Contrary to his fears, Liu Xiaoqin wasn’t angry. She merely blushed, lowered her head, and said nothing, quietly enduring his grasp as if accepting her fate.

“Oh—sorry…” Zhang Can hastily withdrew his hand, his face burning. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I must’ve been dreaming and reaching out—really, I didn’t mean it…”

“I know you didn’t mean it!” At last, Liu Xiaoqin found her composure, lifted her head, and fixed her star-bright eyes on him, unblinking. Then she asked, “You… just now, you called out ‘Xiaoli.’ Who is Xiaoli?”

“Xiaoli? Did I call out Xiaoli?”

Zhang Can was startled. Had he spoken his dream aloud? Did the words escape his lips? Perhaps he would need to tape his mouth shut when sleeping in the future.

But Liu Xiaoqin pressed on, her gaze unwavering. “I’ve been here for a while. I kept hearing you say ‘Xiaoli, Xiaoli.’ So tell me, who exactly is this Xiaoli?”

Cornered, Zhang Can sighed. Truth be told, he hadn’t known Liu Xiaoqin long, but she was certainly clever—hard to deceive. After a pause, he said, “Fine, I’ll tell you. Your sister, Liu Xiaoli—she and I used to be classmates in middle and high school. You probably didn’t know that, did you?”

Liu Xiaoqin shook her head, her eyes as clear as a mountain stream, never leaving his.

“I was your sister’s classmate. In middle and high school, I won’t deny it—I secretly liked her for three years. Back in the eighth grade, I even hinted at my feelings once, but your sister was straightforward. She told me plainly I wasn’t her type. After that, I buried my feelings deep inside. For the next four years, I wondered what kind of person she did like, but even by graduation, I hadn’t figured it out. After high school, I didn’t see her again until recently.”

Liu Xiaoqin’s expression shifted, her lips quivering as a mist of tears clouded her eyes.

She looked so pitiful that Zhang Can’s heart softened, though he didn’t know how to comfort her.

After a long, sorrowful silence, Liu Xiaoqin asked softly, “Did you give me that five hundred thousand because of my sister? When you met me, did you already know I was her sister?”

Zhang Can shook his head slowly. “To be honest, it wouldn’t be wrong to say I thought about your sister for years. But just before I returned home this time, while staying elsewhere, I saw her again. It was then I realized I no longer liked her. Maybe I did before because she was pretty, or maybe I was just young and foolish. But now, I feel nothing for her—not the slightest bit. When my aunt introduced you to me, I only agreed to placate my family. Frankly, I dislike arranged meetings, but after meeting you, I found myself drawn to you, even liking you a bit. At that time, I had no idea you and Liu Xiaoli were sisters.”

He heaved a sigh. “It wasn’t until the next day, when I went to the county and visited your home, that I learned your situation and realized you were sisters. I gave you the five hundred thousand because I admired your filial devotion. I refused you because you deceived me. None of it had anything to do with your sister.”

Liu Xiaoqin gazed into Zhang Can’s eyes—clear as a mountain stream, unclouded by any impurity. After a moment’s silence, she finally smiled gently and said, “I believe you. Let’s eat.”

“All right.”

Zhang Can got out of bed and walked side by side with Liu Xiaoqin. As they stepped out, they saw Zhang Hua pouting at the door, looking displeased. Zhang Can asked in surprise, “What are you sulking about now?”

“Second Brother, you’re so unfair. You used to dote on me, but now that you have a pretty sister-in-law, you’ve forgotten me. The two of you are always sneaking around doing who knows what!” Zhang Hua grumbled.

Zhang Can was left speechless, and Liu Xiaoqin blushed scarlet. She dragged Zhang Hua quickly toward the kitchen.

Zhang Can paid them no mind and sat at the dining table. There were four dishes and a soup—simple home-cooked fare. After so long eating takeout in Jincheng, he’d grown weary of the taste. Seeing these familiar dishes, he felt a sudden joy.

There were shredded potatoes, hand-torn cabbage, stir-fried pork with green peppers, spicy tofu, and tomato egg soup—quintessential dishes from home.

Unable to resist, Zhang Can grabbed his chopsticks and sampled a bite, savoring the flavor. He could tell these weren’t made by his sister Zhang Hua. Whether it was his sister, sister-in-law, or mother, their cooking was all much the same, influenced by his mother’s style.

These dishes had to be Liu Xiaoqin’s work, distinct in taste. Maybe it was because she’d lived in the county, but there was certainly a difference.

Zhang Can enjoyed it immensely. He’d grown sick of takeout, and lately, now that he had money, price no longer mattered, but taste did.

When Liu Xiaoqin and Zhang Hua returned, Zhang Hua looked oddly amused, while Liu Xiaoqin kept her head lowered, clearly embarrassed by whatever Zhang Hua had said. Zhang Can knew his sister’s straightforward nature—she always spoke her mind and never hid what she saw.

Ignoring them, Zhang Can focused on his meal, appetite strong. After being starved by kidnappers on the mountain for two days and nights, then lying in the hospital another day and night, his body should have been weak. Yet, ever since gaining this strange power of x-ray vision, he seemed to recover faster.

When he finally emptied his bowl, he hadn’t noticed Liu Xiaoqin quietly get up to refill his rice. She set the bowl before him without a word.

Zhang Hua protested, banging her bowl. “Sister-in-law, I’m out of rice!”

Liu Xiaoqin couldn’t help but laugh, fetching a bowl to get Zhang Hua more rice. Though they’d only known each other a few days, Liu Xiaoqin understood Zhang Hua’s playful temperament by now.

Zhang Can ate three bowls of rice in a row, thoroughly stuffed—the most he’d eaten in ages.

Zhang Hua giggled, “Sister-in-law, your cooking is so good, my second brother nearly ate his tongue!”

“If you like it, I’ll cook for you every day,” Liu Xiaoqin replied softly.

“Say that to my brother! You’re clearly not being sincere…” Zhang Hua teased.

Liu Xiaoqin laughed, half embarrassed, half annoyed. Zhang Hua truly had no filter.

Zhang Can waved a hand. “I’ll be heading out this afternoon to see Old Zhu. You two go buy some necessities at the supermarket—quilts and such. There’s only one set here, not enough.”

“I don’t care. I’ll use yours. You can buy your own!” Zhang Hua stuck out her tongue, then added, “I’ll sleep with sister-in-law!”

Was she trying to put him on the spot?

Zhang Can barked, “Do you even care about your brother? What if I catch a cold?”

Zhang Hua pointed at Liu Xiaoqin, grinning. “Not to worry—my sister-in-law’s a nurse. She’ll just give you a shot!”

At the mention of injections, Zhang Can shuddered. Of all things, he’d feared injections since childhood. When it came time for vaccinations, his parents would have to chase him up the mountain to catch him, and it’d take several adults to hold him down. He’d even cursed the doctor’s ancestors three generations back.

Zhang Hua leaned in, still giggling. “Sister-in-law, come here—I’ll tell you a secret!”

“What is it?” Liu Xiaoqin asked, moving closer. Zhang Hua whispered in her ear, “When my brother was little, just for a vaccination, it took Dad, Mom, my big brother, and Doctor Liu to hold him down, and they still nearly failed. Even when we slaughter pigs for the New Year, it only takes four people! And once, after a shot, he hid in the cornfield behind the house until midnight, scared us all half to death…”

“Zhang Hua—!” Zhang Can shot up, glaring at his sister. Even though she was whispering, she made sure he could hear every word!