Old Wu only took one look before starting to insert the needles. The silver needles that were as thin as hair pierced into Zhou Heng’s legs one after another until his legs were full of them.

In places, spots of blood even oozed out.

Zhou Heng seemed to be in pain, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

Su Xiaoling turned and left.

Su Xiaolu blew on his legs and said sweetly, “Big Brother Zhou Heng, don’t be afraid. It won’t hurt after I blow on it. I’ve already learned it. I’ll prick it for you tomorrow. It won’t hurt so much.”

Su Xiaolu also knew how to use silver needles for acupuncture. Her precision should be stronger than Old Wu’s. Zhou Heng would definitely feel better if she used them instead.

Zhou Heng listened to Su Xiaolu’s childish words and forced a smile. He coaxed, “Okay, thank you, Xiaolu.”

Old Wu smiled and stoked Su Xiaolu’s hair. He did not take her words to heart.

“I’ll come and collect the needles in an hour.”

Old Wu said to Zhou Heng and then said to Su Xiaolu, “Little girl, don’t touch these needles, okay?”

Su Xiaolu nodded obediently. She straightened her back and patted her chest as she said to Old Wu, “I know. Don’t worry, Grandpa Wu. I’ll call you to get the needles when the time comes.”

Old Wu was amused. This little girl was really interesting.

At this moment, Old Wu did not think that Su Xiaolu really knew anything. He could not afford to make any mistakes when administering acupuncture to Zhou Heng. He was already a little tired. It was useless for him to stay here. With the little girl of the Su family here, Zhou Heng could feel at ease.

Old Wu touched Su Xiaolu’s hair and went out.

Su Xiaoling returned very quickly. She brought a basin of water, wrung out a towel, and wiped Zhou Heng’s sweat.

Zhou Heng pursed his lips and whispered, “Thank you.”

Su Xiaoling smiled and said, “You’re welcome. You’re my younger brother. I must take care of you.”

Su Xiaoling treated Zhou Heng as her younger brother. She wiped Zhou Heng’s sweat and went out again. Soon, she came back and accompanied Zhou Heng with Su Xiaolu.

“Little Brother Heng, why don’t you talk to us?”

Su Xiaoling smiled at Zhou Heng. Zhou Heng’s face was pale. It might be better if they chatted and distracted him from the pain.

Zhou Heng looked at Su Xiaoling and seemed to be asking, “Talk about what?”

Su Xiaoling smiled and said, “Little Brother Heng, do you have any siblings? What was your life like back in your home? Is farming the same as here?”

Su Xiaoling threw out a few questions at once.

Su Xiaolu lay by the bed as if she was dozing off. When she heard her third sister’s question, she propped her head up with her hands.

Zhou Heng looked at Su Xiaoling and Su Xiaolu and said slowly, “I have a younger brother. Our hometown is a little different from here. I’ve never farmed…”

He lived inside the palace gates and was pampered. To be honest, he didn’t even know what farming was. What he had to learn wasn’t farming either.

2

However, now that he was here, he seemed to be able to lead another life. Thinking of this, Zhou Heng felt much more relaxed.

Su Xiaoling smiled and said, “You’ve never farmed before? That’s fine. When you’re better, we’ll teach you. August is the autumn harvest season. When we’re not so busy, let’s go to the mountains to pick wild fruits. I’ll ask my brother to carry you.”

“XIaolu, tell your Big Brother Heng what’s in the mountains in the autumn.”

Su Xiaoling looked at Su Xiaolu and said gently.

Su Xiaolu understood. She blinked and said sweetly, “Big Brother Zhou Heng, there’s a lot of delicious food in the mountains in Autumn. There are hickory, wild grapes, and mountain dates. There are also raspberries. They’re sweet and sour. Well… I like them very much.”

Su Xiaolu would drool at the thought of those wild fruits in the mountains. They were a gift from nature.

She was still a carefree child who could enjoy the happy times all year round.

She also did not mind sharing her pleasures.

Zhou Heng was more reserved. Hearing Su Xiaolu’s vivid descriptions, his eyes showed yearning. He said softly, “I’ve never seen those before.”

He didn’t know what Su Xiaolu was talking about, but looking at Su Xiaoling’s beautiful eyes, he couldn’t help but yearn to see and taste them.

“Then I’ll take you to see them in a few days. We’ll hunt wild chestnuts too. When we get home, we’ll bury them in the ashes. It’ll taste good when we dig them out to eat.”

Su Xiaolu thought of the sweet and creamy wild chestnuts she had every year. She really loved them.

“Xiaolu is a little glutton.”

Su Xiaoling smiled and scratched Su Xiaolu’s nose. Her gentle smile was filled with affection.

Su Xiaolu stuck out her tongue and said playfully to Zhou Heng, “I can give you some too.”

Zhou Heng smiled and said, “Thank you, Xiaolu.”

Perhaps because he was distracted, the unbearable acupuncture time passed quickly this time.

When Su Xiaolu suddenly exclaimed, Zhou Heng and Su Xiaoling looked at her.

Su Xiaolu said with a smile, “It’s time. I’ll ask Grandpa Wu to come and get the needles.”

With that, Su Xiaolu ran out.

Only then did Zhou Heng realize that it had already been an hour.

“Thank you both.”

Zhou Heng thanked him softly. Because of them, this difficult time passed so quickly.

Su Xiaoling smiled gently and shook her head. “You’re welcome. If we’re free in the future, we’ll come and talk to you when you get acupuncture.”

Zhou Heng pursed his lips and nodded gently.

Unknowingly, he was closing the distance between them.

Su Xiaolu quickly called Old Wu over. Su Xiaoling immediately moved aside. Old Wu sat down and collected the needles from Zhou Heng’s legs while Su Xiaolu watched from the side.

Old Wu looked at the little girl’s focused and serious expression and couldn’t help but smile. “Little girl, do you want to learn?”

Old Wu was just asking casually. Unexpectedly, Su Xiaolu smiled and said, “Grandpa Wu, I’ve already learned it. This is so simple.”

Old Wu glanced at Su Xiaolu and was about to say, “Kid, you don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.” However, Su Xiaolu quickly picked up a silver needle and took it out. She even looked at Old Wu and said proudly, “Grandpa Wu, look, I didn’t do anything wrong, right?”

Old Wu had always been calm and steady, but this time, he was really shocked. While he was in a daze, Su Xiaolu had already quickly and steadily taken out a few silver needles and kept them properly.

“Stop it, Xiaolu!”

It was Su Xiaoling who came back to her senses first. She did not dare to pull Su Xiaolu and could only reprimand her sternly.

Su Xiaolu stopped and blinked at Grandpa Wu. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Old Wu took a deep breath and came back to his senses. He looked at Su Xiaolu and said, “Little girl, you didn’t do anything wrong. Who taught you these?”

If he remembered correctly, Su Sanlang’s daughter was only three years old. Who wouldn’t be shocked to see her removing the needle so smoothly and skillfully?

However, Su Xiaolu’s next words shocked Old Wu even more