Everyone was stunned once more, they hadn't expected to find a single bachelor in the village wanting An Jing. It wasn't until they watched Xiao Changyi carrying An Jing disappear from their view that they snapped back to reality, immediately bursting into a torrent of gossip.
"Did I see that right, was that Xiao Changyi?"
"Yes, yes, that was him," they agreed. "I really didn't expect it, him wanting An Jing. An Jing can't have children, if he brings her home won't he be cutting off his own lineage?"
"She's free; doesn't cost anything. Moreover, he's got An Jing's servitude contract, it's not like he has to marry An Jing for certain. It's very possible he's just making An Jing a servant."
"An Jing is truly skilled at work. If she becomes a servant, then Xiao Changyi is making a fortune."
"Isn't that the truth."
Losing a daughter like that, stripping the family of an able worker was one thing, but not to gain the slightest benefit from it, Lin's mother really wept upon hearing everyone's discussions.
...
Possessing Lin Anjing's memories, An Jing was aware of what Xiao Changyi's residence looked like— a dilapidated thatched cottage, a large courtyard surrounded by a fence, and aside from a small vegetable plot, there was nothing else in the yard.
Oh, no, there was also a small stool.
How desolate and bleak.
Although Lin Anjing's family was poor, they weren't this destitute. An Jing looked at her surroundings and couldn't help but want to laugh. They were truly poverty-stricken.
The thatched cottage had four rooms—inner room, main hall, kitchen, and woodshed.
Xiao Changyi carried An Jing into the main hall, which contained only a table and two long benches. Fortunately, the main hall wasn't large, so it didn't seem empty.
An Jing was seated on one of the long benches by Xiao Changyi.
Xiao Changyi took the bamboo basket off An Jing's back and first glanced at the Niu Jin Grass inside. Then, he looked at An Jing.
An Jing immediately caught on, "Mashing it and applying it will work."
Xiao Changyi turned and left. When he returned, he brought back the mashed Niu Jin Grass.
An Jing thought to herself, "What a nice man."
She removed her right shoe and sock. The injury had been aggravated during a scuffle earlier, and her right ankle was even more swollen and red than before.
Xiao Changyi knelt in front of An Jing, frowning at the severely swollen ankle, "We should have Dr. Shen look at it."
"No need, it's just a small injury. The Niu Jin Grass will do," An Jing refused. Going to a doctor would cost money which she didn't have, and seeing how dilapidated his house was, she figured he wouldn't have much either.
Had she not fought with those two house servants, her injury might have healed in six or seven days. Now, it would probably take half a month.
Since An Jing was insistent, Xiao Changyi didn't bring up the doctor again. Instead, he applied the mashed Niu Jin Grass to An Jing's right ankle.
Watching Xiao Changyi apply the herbal remedy with utmost seriousness and care, An Jing found it amusing and couldn't resist teasing, "We've had 'skinship' once again~"
Xiao Changyi paused in his movements, then, continued to apply the remedy.
"Hehe..." An Jing couldn't stop laughing because of Xiao Changyi's reaction.
In truth, her injury was quite painful to even the slightest touch. No matter how gently he applied the remedy, it hurt. She had held back from showing it before, but now she was happy, so happy that it made her ignore the pain coming from her ankle.
After he finished applying the herbal remedy to An Jing's right ankle, Xiao Changyi used a long strip of cloth to wrap the injured area.
"Thank you," An Jing said. Accustomed to being self-reliant, under normal circumstances, a minor injury like this would have been dealt with by herself, without the need for anyone's help. Yet today, like someone weak, she had accepted Xiao Changyi's help.
Simply because she was willing.