"Great-Grandfather, your medical skills have improved quite a bit!"
Lin Zhang, the village head, looked at Lin Xian and said. Young people were always quick to learn, and he had heard about what happened earlier that evening. It was surprising that Great-Grandfather’s healing process had become so efficient.
"Haha," Lin Xian chuckled, carrying a medical kit in his hand. Inside were his acupuncture needles and some medication needed for tonight. Ah Hua had injured her lower back as a child, and whenever the weather turned damp or rainy, she would be in discomfort. She couldn’t sit for long periods or do heavy labor. While she had taken plenty of medicine, it had never been fully cured. Since obtaining the title of Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lin Xian now had the ability to heal her completely.
"Ah, the villagers owe you too much, Great-Grandfather," Lin Zhang said, looking at Lin Xian with deep emotion. To say nothing of other things, the money Lin Xian gave out every year to help the people of Linjiacun Village alone likely exceeded two million. They truly didn't know how to repay such kindness.
"Haha, since I am your Great-Grandfather, there is no need for such distant talk," Lin Xian replied with a smile. The wealth accumulated by the Lin family had been built by the ancestors of these very people. Now, it was simply a matter of taking from the people and using it for the people.
The two arrived at Ah Hua’s home. Ah Hua was wearing cotton pajamas. A fire was burning in the hearth inside the room.
"Great-Grandfather, Village Head, you're here," Ah Hua said, looking at Lin Xian. Her face was flushed red, though it was unclear if it was from the heat of the fire or her own shyness.
"You wait outside. I’ll go in and examine Ah Hua," Lin Xian said to Lin Zhang.
"Very well."
Lin Zhang stroked his beard and sat down beside the stove. Although the winter in the south wasn’t particularly cold, the temperature in the mountains dropped below freezing at night, and every household needed to keep a fire burning.
Inside the room, Ah Hua lay prone on the bed. Lin Xian placed his medical kit on a nearby table.
"Ah Hua, this is an issue with your lumbar spine. I’ll align the bone, and it should be fine. If you exercise more and sit less later on, there’s basically no risk of it recurring," Lin Xian said.
"Mm."
Ah Hua’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum. She was dying of shyness inside; every time Great-Grandfather massaged her, her body would feel strange. For one, his massage technique was truly masterful. For another, Great-Grandfather was the man of every woman’s dreams in Linjiacun Village—handsome, wealthy, and capable. Still, Ah Hua knew they could never win his favor; to say nothing of anything else, even this newcomer, Liu Ruyan, was far prettier than any of the women in their village. Of course, their village beauty hadn't returned for the holidays yet; otherwise, even that woman might not be better than her.
"It might hurt a little. Try to bear with it," Lin Xian said.
Ah Hua let out a soft moan.
...
"Huh? Why are you here?"
Lin Zhang looked on in surprise as Liu Ruyan and Wang Heng walked in. He quickly stood up; he knew this person was a host for national television! That was an official state entity. Moreover, Great-Grandfather had said that he wanted to help Linjiacun Village prosper and become famous both at home and abroad. The first step was relying on this host. Therefore, Lin Zhang treated her with great respect.
"Er... we were wondering if we could livestream the night view of Linjiacun Village, and just happened to see Lin Xian walk in, so we followed to take a look," Liu Ruyan explained hurriedly.
"Oh, I see. Then you wait for a moment. Great-Grandfather is inside giving Ah Hua a massage—"
"Ah! It hurts! Master! Please, be gentle!"
Before Lin Zhang could finish his sentence, a cry of pain suddenly rang out from the room, followed by other voices. Lin Zhang wasn't surprised; Ah Hua’s back had always been in bad shape, so a massage would naturally be painful. He had been massaged by Great-Grandfather too, and it had made him wince and grimace as well.
But to Liu Ruyan, the sound was all wrong. She thought to herself that Lin Xian really didn't have good intentions! She couldn't imagine what kind of harassment that pretty villager was enduring inside.
The viewers in the livestream were in an uproar.
"What the hell? What are they doing in there? Is the village secretary forcing himself on a village girl?"
"Sounds like it! Damn, and there's a guard at the door—the village head! No wonder nobody in this village can escape Lin Xian’s clutches."
"Damn, is this show really this intense?"
"Why isn't Ruyan stopping him? Isn't this technically a crime?"
Liu Ruyan was in internal turmoil. Should she go in? What was the situation turning into inside?
"Great-Grandfather, please, can we stop? It’s too painful..."
The voice came out again—it sounded like the villager begging for mercy.
"No!"
But in the next second, Lin Xian’s stern voice followed. This wasn't some other place; a spinal condition could not be dragged out! It had to be cured thoroughly. Otherwise, when she grew older, she might even end up paralyzed. Enduring a moment of pain was worth it for a lifetime of health.
"How could you hold on before!"
"This... that place is a first!"
"No, lay still for a bit longer. If we don't do it now, you'll be suffering for a long time!"
Lin Xian’s threatening voice drifted out from the room. The chat was filled with outrageous comments.
"Damn, the night stream is really different. Now *this* is an exciting show."
"Are you guys serious with these jokes? That’s someone’s suffering, and you’re making fun of it?"
"This is too much! The village head is even acting as an accomplice, keeping watch for him!"
"Seriously, those villagers living in Linjiacun are so miserable. They’re living in hell!"
"Isn't Sister Ruyan going to do something? She could call the police! Abducting a woman in broad daylight!"
Hearing this, Liu Ruyan could no longer hold back. She stepped forward immediately, and Wang Heng hurriedly followed. The bedroom door had been left slightly ajar, and as Liu Ruyan pushed it open, everything in the room was instantly revealed to the camera.