Chapter 7: A Night of Peaceful Sleep

Chapter 7: A Night of Peaceful Sleep

In the evening, Zhou Yun returned with the prepared medicine. During dinner, they were enveloped in the medicinal aroma that filled the kitchen.

There was a sweet fragrance in the medicine. After dinner, he saw Zhou Yun pouring out the thick medicinal liquid to cool down, then mixing in some honey before offering it to him to drink.

He took a sip and found it to be a tart and sweet taste with a hint of bitterness. He looked at Zhou Yun suspiciously, "Is this medicine or a placebo?"

Zhou Yun was startled and chuckled, "Of course, it's medicine. Why would you think it's a placebo?"

Guan Yuanfeng said, "It doesn't taste like bitter medicine, and..."

He paused, then frankly said, "The doctor said I have phantom pain, a psychological issue. My leg is gone, and they suggested psychological treatment, prescribing some painkillers and antidepressants."

But he didn't take them. Even though he was now disabled, he instinctively resisted medications that would dull his senses.

He had intended to refuse the doctor's help but felt that since the offer was so tactful, a blunt rejection wasn't necessary. Even if it didn’t work, it was just a bit of herbal medicine.

Indeed, the doctor didn't ask about his specific condition but just took his pulse and prescribed medicine, which made him feel at ease.

He didn't want to recount and explain his injuries and illnesses in detail, as if tearing open the painful scars that caused him sleepless nights to show them to someone else, especially when the doctors said the wound had healed and the pain was psychological.

He didn't want to admit that he had been defeated by phantom pain. Phantom pain meant pain that didn't exist. Yet, he was tormented by genuine pain every night, a defeated soldier, utterly vanquished. Even his iron will couldn't convince his subconscious that his leg was gone and the pain was non-existent.

Zhou Yun showed him the prescription, "From your pulse, I see that your meridians are blocked, stagnated, with liver and gallbladder qi not flowing, deficient vital energy, and depleted qi and blood, leading to restless sleep and frequent pain, which worsens in cold and wet weather."

"You're probably taking Western medicine prescribed by the hospital, so I've focused on tonifying qi in the traditional medicine I've prescribed, deliberately choosing good-tasting herbs like angelica, and added some ligusticum, scorpions, and centipedes, which help promote circulation and treat neuralgia."

"But since this is your first time drinking this, and these medicines contain insects, I'm afraid you might not adapt."

"So, I've used mulberries first. Mulberries are effective for neuralgia, and when combined with longan, goji berries, ginseng, and roses, they nourish qi, soothe the nerves, and are relatively mild."

"I've added some honey to improve the taste, which also has pain-relieving effects to help you sleep better and improve your digestion."

Once you see the results and feel more comfortable, we can move forward with a more structured treatment plan.

Zhou Yun didn't explain in such depth, looking at Guan Yuanfeng sincerely, "If it's an amputation, the severed nerve endings can form nerve knots or scar tissue, causing pain. For phantom pain after amputation, acupuncture in traditional medicine has many effective empirical cases."

"It only requires needling a few acupuncture points on the head and wrists, without needing to undress, and it only takes a quarter of an hour, very convenient. Would you like to try?"

Guan Yuanfeng was about to refuse outright. Doctors in the military hospital had also recommended acupuncture, but he had refused because he didn't want anyone to see his disfigured amputation.

But hearing Zhou Yun say that acupuncture was only on the head and wrists, and looking into his dark, earnest eyes, sensing a hint of urgency in his tone, he reconsidered. He had just borrowed 200,000 from him, and perhaps Zhou Yun felt indebted and was eager to repay him.

Might as well give it a shot. Even if it was likely ineffective, if it could alleviate the other's need to repay him psychologically, it would be worth it. He could just tell him tomorrow that the pain had lessened.

So, he nodded. "Sure, let’s give it a try."

A smile appeared on Zhou Yun's face, "Great, let's take a walk on the rooftop first. It's not good to do acupuncture right after a meal. You and the dog go upstairs first, while I disinfect the needles."

Guan Yuanfeng raised his eyebrows slightly. He appreciated that Zhou Yun didn't treat him like a disabled person.

The electric wheelchair could go up the stairs, albeit with some trouble. But he hated feeling helpless when people hovered around to help him, which was also why he had hastily chosen to retire.

He couldn't accept that his former subordinates, the soldiers he had personally trained, would now wait on him with pity in their eyes.

The rooftop was filled with the unique scent of sun-dried grass in the summer, and despite the presence of numerous animals, there was no unpleasant odor. It was evident the owner kept things spotless, and the livestock pen was well-designed to prevent odors from spreading.

The vegetables, grapes, and plants were neatly arranged and thriving. Clean leaves and abundant fruits showed that they were well cared for. Several dragonflies hovered or glided between the plants.

The Comet was very happy, running around the rooftop chasing dragonflies and curiously watching the long, strange eel-like electric eels by the fish pond for a long time.

Guan Yuanfeng watched for a while, feeling that the pet didn’t quite match Zhou Yun’s personality. There were many fish in the tank, likely for some research project.

He went through the middle door to his own balcony opposite, looking at the herbal seedlings. Each had a label card indicating when it was planted, its name, and any important notes. He had set up several control groups for comparison.

On the balcony, a drying rack was set up outdoors, with some dried vegetables laid out. Guan Yuanfeng didn’t recognize all of them, but he could vaguely tell they were dried radish, mustard greens, and preserved vegetables.

Over the past few days, Zhou Yun had used these semi-dried vegetables to cook for him, experimenting with different dishes: sometimes making bone soup, other times stir-frying them with pork cracklings, or steaming them with bacon and sausages. His cooking was varied and thoughtful.

He wasn’t just lending money to someone he’d only known for a few days. Zhou Yun was clearly dedicated to his work and lived a life filled with purpose.

He grew herbs as if he was meticulously collecting research data. He lived his life with attention to detail, showing his love for life. He was diligent, efficient, and though he spoke little, he made people feel comfortable.

Such a person naturally earned trust, especially since he was genuinely helping Guan Yuanfeng.

It was dusk, and the building stood on a mountaintop. From the rooftop, the mountain breeze gently swept across the landscape. The sky was painted with a magnificent sunset, casting a golden glow over the mountains and waters. In the distance, the hills silently melted into the fading light, while the reservoir’s surface shimmered like a mirror.

On this rooftop, dragonflies rested on flowers, their delicate wings reflecting the evening light. The air was filled with the fragrance of honeysuckle and fresh vegetables, creating a peaceful, almost timeless atmosphere. It felt as though the world had paused, leaving only him in the moment.

Although he lived on the top floor, he had never noticed how enchanting the rooftop view was.

Zhou Yun had prepared the needles and came up to call Guan Yuanfeng down, letting him sit in a wheelchair. He swiftly and deftly inserted needles into the Fengchi, Fengfu, Si Shencong, and Shenting acupoints on his head, and the Shenmen and Neiguan acupoints on his ears and wrists.

Watching Zhou Yun handle the needles with confident and steady hands, Guan Yuanfeng assumed his medical skills were quite advanced.

The needles were very fine, and after insertion, there wasn’t much sensation, but Guan Yuanfeng noticed a faint herbal scent in the room, somewhat like mugwort and a bit like the smell of mosquito-repellent grass. The room was clean and quiet, and he began to feel drowsy.

Zhou Yuanfeng then took out a box of press needles, saying, “I’ll place a few press needles on your ears. They can help relieve nerve pain and improve your sleep.”

He used a fine needle to test several spots on Guan Yuanfeng’s ear, all the while observing his facial expressions.

At first, Guan Yuanfeng didn’t pay much attention, but suddenly, when a spot was needled, a tingling pain surged from his amputated area.

He furrowed his brows and suddenly opened his eyes, seeing Zhou Yuanfeng’s face very close, looking down at him with dark, calm eyes.

Noticing the change in Guan Yuanfeng’s expression, Zhou Yuanfeng quickly took the press needles and fixed them at the responsive spot, and swiftly placed a few more on the corresponding areas of the other ear.

“What is this?” Guan Yuanfeng asked.

Zhou Yuanfeng showed him the box of needles, which looked like small thumbtacks. “Press needles, also known as intradermal needles. They are fine and short, painless, and can continuously stimulate the acupoints when left in place, providing stable and reliable efficacy, rapid onset, and enhanced therapeutic effects.”

“Just be careful not to get them wet when bathing. In traditional medicine, ear acupuncture is very effective for pain relief. The ear has points that correspond to different parts of the body, and stimulating these points can help regulate qi and blood flow. It’s often used to treat conditions like neuralgia, headaches, and stomachaches.”

“I’ve placed ear needles on both sides of your ears. Try them out and see if they work. Rest assured, these needles are inserted very shallowly into the body, making it a very safe technique.”

Guan Yuanfeng, seeing Zhou Yuanfeng’s detailed explanation, felt a bit grateful. “It’s okay, let’s proceed with your treatment method.”

As Zhou Yuanfeng slowly manipulated the needles, Guan Yuanfeng furrowed his brows again. He actually felt a slight, dull ache in the area that usually hurt, emanating in waves. Was he really reacting to the acupuncture? Could acupuncture on his head affect the nerves in his leg, even the severed ones?

Guan Yuanfeng didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit more confident in Zhou Yuanfeng’s medical skills.

After half an hour, Zhou Yuanfeng indeed removed all the needles and briefly instructed him, “Wait another half an hour before showering. You can wipe your ears, just avoid getting them wet, and it’s best not to wash your hair yet.”

When seeing Guan Yuanfeng back to the opposite door, Zhou Yuanfeng handed him a glass lunch box filled with neatly arranged green bean ice cakes. “I made these today. Keep them in the fridge and have them as snacks when you’re hungry,” he said with a smile.

Guan Yuanfeng didn’t refuse and took the mung bean cakes back into his room. He wasn’t much of a snacker, but before putting them in the fridge, he opened the box and tried two pieces.

Today, he had seen Zhou Yun making the mung bean cakes. It looked pretty simple, but the taste was entirely different from those sold outside.

The cakes were cool and creamy, with the delicate, light flavor of mung bean powder perfectly blended with the silky sweetness of butter, not overly sweet at all.

Comet watched him eagerly, so Guan Yuanfeng poured some freeze-dried dog treats for him. Comet sniffed and took only a small bite before losing interest. Clearly, Zhou Yun had already fed him, so he wasn’t hungry. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who had become picky about food.

Back in his own room, he suddenly felt that the space was too empty and quiet. The suitcase he’d brought back after retiring from the military was still there, with just a few clothes folded inside. He couldn’t be bothered to hang them in the closet.

With a total of five rooms and one living room across two floors, only the attic and the bathroom on the upper floor belonged to him. The other rooms were filled with old furniture from his parents' and younger brother’s previous home—things that weren’t suitable to move into the new house but were too precious to throw away.

Even though they lived in a villa, his parents often came upstairs to rummage through things and constantly reminded him not to touch or toss out their stuff.

Compared to Zhou Yun’s place, which felt lived-in, his own room felt like it belonged to a guest.

And indeed, he was just a guest. This was his parents' resettlement house. He had previously sent money to let his younger brother help buy a villa in the neighborhood, genuinely intending for his family to live together.

But he hadn’t expected to retire early, and certainly not due to a disability. The villa had been renovated, but he had become an unwelcome guest, a burden for the rest of his days.

But the neighbor across the way had been treating him to hot meals, fresh fruit, snacks, and desserts. In some ways, this neighbor was better than his blood relatives.

Moreover, the neighbor had a rare, quiet personality. He didn’t pry into why Guan Yuanfeng had been amputated or ask about his past, present, or future. He spoke little but acted thoughtfully—a very nice neighbor indeed. Because of this neighbor, the resettlement house, which he had disliked so much, now had some redeeming qualities.

After washing up, Guan Yuanfeng read for a bit and then went to bed.

For once, he slept through the night.