Chapter 91: The Weary Age More Quickly

Faced with such earnest determination from Yu Xiu Zhong, Principal Guo found himself unable to voice any further words of dissuasion.

“In that case, tomorrow you’ll come with me to the medical university.”

Delight welled up in Yu Xiu Zhong’s heart. “Very well, I’ll trouble you then. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. The best gratitude you can show me is to focus on your research.”

Leaving the principal’s office, Yu Xiu Zhong went to find Professor Ding. “Professor, are you finished for the day?”

“I am. What did Principal Guo say?” Professor Ding straightened in his rattan chair.

“Principal Guo will take me to the medical university tomorrow to meet President Xu. The details will have to wait until we meet.”

Professor Ding nodded thoughtfully. “That’s how it should be. Work hard.”

“I will.” Yu Xiu Zhong nodded solemnly. How could she not strive? In this life, if one doesn’t work hard and keep learning, life loses much of its meaning.

After school, Yu Xiu Zhong parted ways with Professor Ding, intending to take Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo straight home. Unexpectedly, at the school gate, she spotted Yan Rushan standing tall and straight, and couldn’t help but pause.

Seeing her stop, Yan Rushan stepped forward and asked softly, “Yu Xiu, what’s wrong?”

“Have you been very busy these past few days?” He looked exhausted, stubbled along the jaw, his whole bearing one of fatigue and weariness.

“I have. Shall we walk and talk?” Yan Rushan managed a smile and turned slightly, inviting her to walk with him.

Yu Xiu Zhong walked up to join him, and together they left the school, heading toward the compound; Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo followed at a distance.

Yan Rushan glanced down, a faint smile on his lips. “Yu Xiu, that remedy you mentioned—Grandfather tried it. It worked well. His old rheumatism flared up yesterday, and after using your remedy, he was able to sleep through the night.”

“I’m glad it helped. Elder Yan can suffer a little less.” These senior figures were worthy of respect. If her restorative solution could be developed, many more would be freed from the torment of illness.

“Yes.” Joy flickered in his eyes, and before Yu Xiu Zhong he couldn’t help but smile. “Grandfather even mentioned you, said he’d visit you in a few days.”

Yu Xiu Zhong pressed her lips together and asked, “And you?”

“Me?”

A faint flush crept up Yan Rushan’s handsome face, the tips of his ears tingling. Sweetness rose within him, and under her shining gaze, he nodded with rare conviction. “I missed you.”

Since it was what she wished to hear, he would say it.

A warm flush spread through her chest, her heart racing; Yu Xiu Zhong found herself at a loss for words. For Yan Rushan, it was the first time he’d spoken such plain words of affection, and he felt awkward and shy.

Neither of them spoke again.

Entering the compound and returning home, Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo slipped into the kitchen, leaving space for the two of them.

Yan Rushan led Yu Xiu Zhong to the sofa, fetched hot water, and as he warmed her hands, he spoke gently: “Yu Xiu, I’ve been busy these past days and haven’t managed to come by. Please don’t mind. Once I finish what I’m working on, I’ll have more time to spend with you.”

His words were sincere, his deep eyes focused and apologetic.

“All right.” Yu Xiu Zhong smiled. She was delighted, even comforted, to see him embracing the role of boyfriend.

In love, they were both novices. Both would have to strive to make their days together good ones.

Lowering her gaze to the basin, she saw their hands side by side, one large and one small. His fingers were long and well-boned, tanned but not unattractive; hers were slender and fair. Together, they made a pleasing sight.

It was true what they said: in the eyes of a lover, beauty is everywhere.

“All done. Your hands are warm now—put them in your pockets and keep them there,” Yan Rushan said, rising to fetch a towel from the bathroom. He carefully dried her hands, then took the basin away. When he returned, his own hands were dry and warm.

Sitting down beside her again, he noticed she hadn’t put her hands in her pockets. “Didn’t I tell you to keep your hands in your pockets? They’ll get cold again.”

“They’re warm now, not cold at all.” Yu Xiu Zhong shook her head, making no move to comply.

Yan Rushan’s gaze deepened. He reached out and clasped her delicate hands in his, enveloping them in his warmth. Yu Xiu Zhong found herself regarding him anew; since they’d become a couple, he’d grown ever more attentive and considerate.

“Brother Yan, is it risky, your dealings in the black market?” She had wanted to ask, but had never found the moment until now.

“It’s not dangerous. The black market is quite relaxed these days. The Red Guards have disbanded, the Revolutionary Committee is preoccupied with its own troubles, and no one has the energy to interfere in black market affairs.”

Yu Xiu Zhong nodded slightly. “Just be careful. Money isn’t as important as your life.”

“All right,” Yan Rushan replied agreeably. “I’m mindful of the risks, don’t worry. I’d never put myself in danger. All my brothers grew up with me. We share the same goals and, together, their network is wide. If anything happens, we hear about it immediately.”

Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to get involved with such a group.

Those who worked together had all been carefully chosen over the years—trusted friends who looked out for one another, making everything more secure and the risks that much lower.

“Tomorrow I have to go to the medical university with Principal Guo.” Now reassured, Yu Xiu Zhong shifted the conversation.

Yan Rushan’s hand stilled, then slowly relaxed. “What for?”

“I want to study medicine.”

“Medicine? Isn’t physics good enough?” After all, that was her chosen major.

Yu Xiu Zhong shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t like it, but I’ve been working on a new project—about pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, I know too little about medicine, so I want to study more. Today I finished my final year’s exams at school. I won’t need to be on campus every day, so I plan to study at the medical university for a couple of years, then return to my research on pharmaceuticals.”

“If that’s what you want, then go for it. I’ll come with you tomorrow, all right?” Though he didn’t quite understand, Yan Rushan supported her without hesitation.

“No need. Principal Guo knows the president of the medical university. He’ll take me.”

Yan Rushan was silent for a moment. “Could you ask Principal Guo to bring me along too? I could donate a few hundred pounds of cabbage to the school.”

“You must be rolling in money,” she teased.

“My money isn’t that much.”

“Then why are you squandering it?” Yu Xiu Zhong shot him a look. “With money in hand, you’re still venturing into business. Don’t you know how important capital is?”

Why give away hard-earned money for nothing?

Yan Rushan fell silent. Yu Xiu Zhong continued, “We don’t even know what the arrangements are yet. It’s no use for you to come. Once it’s settled, I’ll let you know. If you’re free tomorrow, take the day to rest—a haggard man ages fast, and an old man is no longer pleasing to the eye.”

Yan Rushan: “...” So, was it only his looks that counted?

“Comrade Zhong, Comrade Yan, it’s time for dinner,” Tian Shangguo called from the kitchen doorway, then turned back inside.

A moment later, Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo emerged carrying bowls, chopsticks, and dishes, trailed by Gou Dan, whose mechanical hand balanced a tray of steaming white rice.

“Let’s eat. I’m starving,” Yu Xiu Zhong said, pulling Yan Rushan to his feet. The two made their way to the dining room and took their seats.

The table was laden with sumptuous dishes: twice-cooked pork, steamed pork with rice flour, spicy boiled beef, three vegetable stir-fries, and a pot of cabbage soup—the broth simmered long with meat.