It was Xu Xuan who had asked the doctor not to tell Grandma Xu the truth about her illness.
In fact, the doctor had advised her that the prospect weren’t optimistic, hence Xu Xuan’s constant worry for her grandmother.
She had been preparing all this time, certain that Grandma Xu’s illness had no remedy. But now…
Xu Xuan took a deep breath and asked, “Is that really true,Yao Tang?”
Her hands clenched into fists as she braced herself for the answer.
Yao Tang slowly let go ofGrandma Xu’s wrist, her facesmoothand devoid of emotions.Xu Xuancouldn’t help but hope.
If Yao Tangwas telling the truth…
‘That means that Grandma can be cured.’
Xu Xuan’s heart raced. She stifled the urge to pinch herself to see if she was only dreaming.
Grandma Xu, on the other hand, was still staring at Yao Tangin a daze.
Xu Xuan leaned forward and stroked the old woman’s arm. “Grandma, shall we give Student Yao’s suggestion a try and get acupuncture treatments?”
She stopped short as soon as she spoke the words out loud.
Only then did Xu Xuanrealize thatYao Tangwas still just a high school student, the same as her. Even if she did know acupuncture, could they really expect it to be any good?
Wouldn’t there be risks to having someone so young administer such a dangerous treatment?
Grandma Xu blinked, but her eyes never leftYao Tang’s face. “Little Tang, do you know acupuncture as well?”
“Just a little,” Yao Tangsaid again.
Qin Jing’s brow furrowed. She thought back to the time when Yao Tanghad treated her. She had a fast andsmooth technique; how could she say that she only knew a little?
Despite her reservations, Xu Xuanclung to this single thread of hope.
“All right,” Grandma Xunodded. “Let’s give it a try, then. With bones as old as mine, I’m no longer afraid of anything. When can you come back with your needles?”
Her eyes had dimmed a little.
She, too, wished to get better soon, but her common sense told her that she shouldn’t expect much from this young lady.
The problem was that she couldn’t bring herself to turn down Yao Tang. It must be the girl’s face that got under her skin.
She looked much too similar to that person.
In any case, with the current state of her body, Grandma Xudidn’t see how a session or two of acupuncture could make it any worse. She might as well give it a shot.
“I can do it today,” Yao Tang suddenly said.
Needless to say, everyone was shocked.
Without missing a beat, she instructed them to retrieve a black pouch from her backpack in the living room and asked them to stay outside for the duration of the treatment.
She produced a black cloth from the pouch and laid it out on the bed, revealing a row of needles of various lengths.
Grandma Xu’s eyes were wide with curiosity. “Did you go home and fetch these needles earlier, when I was still unconscious?”
“No, they’ve been with me all along.”
“Little Tang, do you mean to say that you carry these needles with you at all times?”
“Yes.” Yao Tangwiped her hands clean and picked out a few silver needles.
She disinfected them and began to prick specific acupuncture points on the old woman’s body.
Grandma Xu lay still on the bed, but a storm was brewing inside her.
Yao Tang was only a high school student, wasn’t she? She shouldn’t have any business carrying acupuncture needles around. It didn’t make sense for her to do so.
Grandma Xu’s gaze drifted to the girl’s deft fingers as they inserted needle after needle.
This technique… She was sure she had seen it somewhere else before. If she didn’t know any better, she would even go so far as to say that it was the same as that person.
She grabbed Yao Tang’s free hand before she could stop herself. “Little Tang, who taught you to use the needles like this?”
Yao Tang paused and looked the old woman in the eye. “My grandfather.”
Her answer seemed to distress Grandma Xu.
Her grip tightened around Yao Tang’s hand, and her body trembled slightly.
It was clear that she was deeply affected by this matter.
But before anyone could raise the alarm, Yao Tangcarefully inserted a needle in another one ofGrandma Xu’s acupuncture points. “Try to keep your emotions stable.”
Her soothing voice helped to calm the patient down, and she regained her composure shortly after. She gave Yao Tangan apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Little Tang. I got carried away just now.”
Yao Tang nodded asGrandma Xureleased her hand, then she continued with the treatment.
Now and then, she would ask the old woman some questions regarding her health.
Grandma Xu was pretty forthcoming with the details and even shared her daily habits.
Soon enough, it was time for Yao Tangto take out the needles.
