Chapter 88: Dispelling the Cold

Zeng Xiaofan nodded, “That sounds good!”

“Five-fingered fig is also called Dragon’s Claw. It strengthens the spleen and lungs, relaxes muscles and tendons, removes dampness, and reduces swelling.”

“It’s not only a common Chinese medicinal herb, but when used to braise chicken or make soup, it releases a truly unique aroma.”

“It’s also a wonderful ingredient for cooking and seasoning!” Li Bixian nodded in agreement. “Of course I know that. We rural folk are familiar with many herbs from the mountains.”

“So should I dig up some five-fingered fig?”

“Mm, dig as much as you can. I’ll do the same. There’s plenty of wild stuff out here, but let’s not stray too far from each other—”

“Otherwise, if a tiger carries you off, I might never know!” Zeng Xiaofan teased.

Li Bixian snorted, “Please—aren’t you just afraid a fox will lure you away?”

“Hey—there’s one right here!” With that, Li Bixian swung her hoe, digging briskly.

As the hoe struck the earth, her voluptuous figure shuddered. When she bent down, her fitted trousers traced every alluring curve.

Zeng Xiaofan felt his throat go dry, realizing how shamelessly he was staring. He quickly turned away and found another five-fingered fig to dig up himself.

Indeed, working together made the task effortless. Before long, they had dug up a large bundle of seedlings.

Just as both were sweating profusely, the mountain weather turned in an instant. A dark cloud rolled overhead, and suddenly, rain poured down in torrents.

“Ah!”

“It’s pouring!”

“What do we do…” Li Bixian cried anxiously.

Zeng Xiaofan hurriedly stripped off his shirt, holding it over Li Bixian to shield her.

“Follow me. I remember there’s an old tile house on the other side of the mountain, left behind by the reservoir keeper.”

He grabbed Li Bixian’s hand and ran.

But the rain came too quickly. As they climbed the slope, the downpour soaked their clothes through and through.

Li Bixian glanced down and saw Zeng Xiaofan’s bare torso, his eight-pack abs exposed, and blushed deeply.

As Zeng Xiaofan turned back, he also glimpsed Li Bixian’s swaying figure. Her already thin clothes clung tightly to her body in the rain…

After a frantic dash, the two finally reached the ramshackle tile house.

It truly lived up to its name—just a single small room, the roof tiles neglected for years. Rain leaked through as if it were an open courtyard.

Once inside, they realized the only dry spot was a corner where they could barely shelter.

So both squeezed into the corner, their bodies pressed naturally together.

By now, Li Bixian’s clothes were soaked through, and Zeng Xiaofan was bare-chested. So close, they could feel each other’s heartbeat.

Their bodies were acutely aware of one another.

“Ah-choo!” Li Bixian suddenly sneezed.

Zeng Xiaofan’s brows knit. “Sister Xian, this won’t do!”

“You just got sweaty digging, and now you’re soaked by rain. You’ll catch cold and fall seriously ill!”

Li Bixian rubbed her hands, shivering. “What should we do, then?”

“We’re so far from home, and the rain is heavy. We can’t go back right away.”

“If we force ourselves to run back, we’ll only get wetter and colder.”

“I feel… I think I’m starting to get a fever…”

Hearing this, Zeng Xiaofan’s frown deepened. He gently touched Li Bixian’s forehead—it was burning hot.

“No, we need to drive the chill out of you quickly, or it’ll be trouble!”

“If you’re left with lingering illness, you’ll be weak for a long time.”

Li Bixian nodded, trembling. “How do you do that?”

“Can you help me?”

“If you can, please do… I don’t know how myself…”

“Can you warm me up?”

“Make me feel better…”

Zeng Xiaofan nodded, scratching his head.

“It’s not difficult to help you…”

“I’m just afraid you’ll be embarrassed…”

“But out here, with rain pouring down, there’s no one else around!”

“If you trust me… I can help drive the cold out…”

Li Bixian’s delicate brows furrowed as she looked up at Zeng Xiaofan with suspicion.

“What are you suggesting…?”

“How exactly are you going to help me?”

“You’re not thinking of taking advantage, are you?”

Zeng Xiaofan chuckled and shook his head. “Of course not…”

“It’s simple. Just build a fire beside us, and you take off your clothes to warm up.”

“Since you’ve just caught cold, it’s still on the surface. A little warmth will drive it out.”

“Once your clothes are dry, put them back on to keep warm.”

“I’m only worried you’ll be embarrassed to undress in front of me…”

Li Bixian blushed, scolding softly, “Are you silly…?”

“Why would I undress in front of you?”

“Can’t you just turn away?”

“Well… I suppose that’s possible…”

Zeng Xiaofan grinned, quickly gathering the dry pine needles in the corner and stacking some firewood.

“I’ll make the fire first, then you undress…”

“You… you’re not allowed to peek!” Li Bixian said shyly.

“Don’t worry… I won’t peek!” Zeng Xiaofan vowed, patting his chest, and lit the pine needles.

The rich oils in the pine burned fiercely. Having been sun-dried earlier, they caught instantly, crackling as flames leapt up.

Smoke billowed upwards, the broken roof acting as a natural chimney.

The scent of burning pine was pleasant, and together with the blazing fire, it quickly dispelled the chill of the storm.

Li Bixian, who had been shivering, stopped trembling almost at once. Zeng Xiaofan laughed heartily.

“How is it?”

“Feeling better?”

Li Bixian nodded, “Mm… I feel warm all over now, even sleepy…”

She smiled, then frowned slightly. “Is it okay if I don’t undress?”

“It’s already warm by the fire, and my clothes will dry eventually, right?”

Zeng Xiaofan shook his head solemnly.

“That won’t work!”

“Your clothes are clinging to your skin, soaked through. When you warm them by the fire, the steam rises and you see it evaporate, but what you don’t see is that some moisture is forced into your body. When you feel warm, your pores open, making it easier for the cold to invade more deeply.”

“So you really should undress right away.”