When Grandma Xu heard this, her smile turned even brighter. “All right, all right. In that case, I will have to trouble Little Tang again.”
“It’s not a problem,” Yao Tangnodded politely. “Let’s head inside and go to your room first.”
Once the old woman was settled on the bed, Yao Tangtook out her silver needles.
Grandma Xu’s eyes glazed over as she watched the spindly thing glinting in the light, her thoughts traveling far back into the past. In the time that her mind wandered, Yao Tanghad already inserted five needles into the old woman’s body.
The last time she had administered acupuncture, Grandma Xuwas barely conscious and was therefore unable to witnessYao Tang’s technique. Things were different now, however. Her eyes widened in shock as she registered the girl’s actions.
Despite being young, Yao Tangwas extremely skilled. Her movements were graceful, yet swift and precise. Not once did her hands tremble.
Her technique was just the same as that person’s.
Grandma Xu couldn’t help but ask, “Little Tang, did you learn acupuncture from your grandfather, Old Master Yao?”
“What did you say?”
Yao Tang had just finished inserting a needle, and she looked up to meet the old woman’s gaze.
She had been so focused that she failed to catch the question.
When Grandma Xunoticed the blank look inYao Tang’s eyes, she quelled her suspicions and just smiled.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just… It was my first time seeing your technique, so I wanted to ask—”
A series of rapid knocks suddenly came at the door, interrupting their conversation.
They were in the slums, so there wasn’t any soundproofing to speak of in these old buildings. Even now, they could hear the bustle from the streets below.
The incessant knocking soon turned urgent.
“Mom, hurry up and open the door, or I’m coming inside! You’re there, aren’t you, Mom?”
Grandma Xu immediately scowled at the sound of the voice.
Before anyone else could speak, they heard the creak of the front door opening, followed by Xu Xuan’s greetings.
“Ah, Xu Xuan. So, you’re here. Why didn’t you open the door right away? I almost thought nobody was home! Oh, do you have guests?”
A shrill, female voice sounded from the living area and was gradually getting closer to Grandma Xu’s bedroom. Soon enough, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.
It was done with so much force that the door slammed against the wall beside it.
A woman wearing heavy makeup strutted in, leaving the cloying scent of cheap perfume in her wake. A man in a colorful beach shirt sauntered close behind her.
Xu Xuan brought up the rear, following the pair into the room.
Grandma Xu’s face darkened significantly.
“Who told you to come here?”
The woman merely smiled. “Come on, Mom. Do you hear yourself? Why are you asking me that? Liu Zhiand I were planning to come since a while ago. We’ve been worried about your health and wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
She tugged at the man’s sleeve then, prompting him to back her up. “Yes, yes, that’s right, Mom. Xu Hongand I would have come sooner, but we had other business to attend to. How have you been recently?”
The man called Liu Zhiwalked over to the bedside, his eyes darting back and forth along the old woman’s body, as if trying to discern something.
After a few seconds, he said, “I remember you were suffering from old cold legs, are they better now?”
His eyes narrowed at Grandma Xu, taking in every minor shift in her expression.
“Would you look at that, Mom? Liu Zhiis really filial, isn’t he? He still remembers your previous ailment after all this time.”
However, Grandma Xu’s scowl only deepened as she listened to their vapid ramblings.
“You’re mistaken,” Xu Xuansuddenly said, her voice cold and distant. “My Grandma is suffering from a stuffy chest. She’s been having difficulty breathing. She never had cold legs.”
Xu Hong’s face turned ugly at that, as well as Liu Zhi’s.
Xu Hong lookedXu Xuanup and down and sneered. “It looks like Xuanxuan has really grown up, huh? Your mouth has become sharper over the years. Is it because your Grandma is ill and could not teach you proper manners? You’re getting more and more rebellious each time I see you.”
Liu Zhi, on the other hand, studied Xu Xuanwith wide, lecherous eyes. “This little girl has grown up indeed,” he leered. “Her body has matured quite nicely. Not bad, I say. Not bad at all.”
