"And thatâs not even the main issue," Luo Linhao paused, then mumbled, "What if it doesnât work? Wouldnât all my care have been in vain? I wouldnât be able to join the military either. Then how could I earn military honors and make a name for myself, let alone do anything else?"
"Linhao, that way of thinking isnât right," Yang Chuxia said, persuading him, "Every situation has two sides, with equal chances of good and badâwhy not think about the good half? Besides, itâs not as if failing to cure your eyes this time means it can never be done again. If we fail this time, with Brother Shaolingâs character, heâll surely learn from the failure, study it deeply, and wait for another opportunity to treat you again. Itâs just a matter of time."
Seeing that he was listening attentively, as if he had taken her words to heart, she couldnât help continuing, "Moreover, youâre still young and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Joining the army isnât something that needs to be rushed. Some people are young heroes while others are late bloomers. Being a hero depends partly on personal ability, but opportunity plays a role as well. Otherwise, how could there be a saying that âHeroes emerge from chaotic timesâ? We can set aside the domestic strife of the Great Zhou court and just consider foreign relationsâIâm afraid there wonât be any turmoil within the next three to five years, and without turmoil, there wonât be wars, and without wars, soldiers wonât have the opportunity to earn merits and make their mark. So, whether you join the army now or five years later, the difference is only between being a green recruit and a seasoned one."
Luo Linhao, after hearing all she had said, was stunned for a long while, and then circled around her several times.
Yang Chuxiaâs eyes questioned him, What are you doing?
Then she saw him sit back on the stone stool and say, "I never would have guessed my cousin-in-lawâs insights to be so exceptional. Tell me, are you really just a farmerâs daughter, not some noble familyâs daughter lost to the outside world?"
"Pfft, you think too much; my dad and mom are both born and bred farmers."
"Tsk tsk, not just LinhaoâI, the young master, also wanted to ask that question," Mu Shaoling chimed in, having emerged from the room at some point, his eyes filled with admiration and inquiry, "Such insight isnât even possessed by all those young ladies from noble families. If all farmerâs daughters had insights like yours, our Great Zhou would have quite a different outlook."
"Isnât that the truth," Luo Linhao said, propping his chin with his hand, "If everyone were like my cousin-in-law, who would want to marry those young ladies at all? Each of them is as lifeless as a stump, either crying or overly scheming like a sieve, always scheming against each other."
Being alternately praised by both men, Yang Chuxia felt inwardly that she was quite remarkable indeed, but thankfully, Mu Shaolingâs probing gaze kept her from becoming smug.
Instead, she calmly said, "Youâre praising the wrong person; these insights arenât mine but borrowed from my husband. Alright, enough talk; itâs time for lunch. Iâll come back tonight."
Although she explained it this way, Mu Shaoling wasnât entirely convinced. He had always known that this woman had secretsâsecrets that he couldnât unravel.
That evening, true to her word, Yang Chuxia did come over, instructing Xiuâer to wait outside the door.
Inside were Mu Shaoling and his servant, as well as Luo Linhao.
By then, Luo Linhao was ready, and the medicine barrel had been prepared, with the servant accompanying him inside the inner room.
"Why does he need to be in a barrel to treat his eyes?"
"Thatâs the anesthetic soak. I need him to be conscious but unable to feel pain. It would be inconvenient for my work to place needles on his head."