The old mother could not hold out against her daughter's insistence and Chen Shi'an's sincerity. Besides, his words, "If you're healthy, Sister Wanyin can work away from home without worrying," had struck her weak spot. Finally, half willing and half reluctant, she let her two daughters haul her into the house.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the house was well lit too. The yang energy at this hour was ideal for inserting needles.
Chen Shi'an had Liu Lingjuan lie down on the solid wooden bench sofa in the living room, remove her shoes and socks, and roll her trousers above her knees, exposing calves that looked somewhat misshapen and dull-skinned from years of labor and recurring old injuries.
"Sister Wanyin, could you help lift Aunt Juan's clothes around her lower back?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Then let me take off my jacket first-"
Liu Lingjuan removed her heavy jacket and turned over to lie face down on the bench. Li Wanyin gently lifted the hem of her clothes at her lower back.
Seeing the long scar across their mother's lower back and her somewhat deformed spine, both sisters felt their hearts clench.
Chen Shi'an glanced at it too, his expression grave.
"The injury to Aunt Juan's lower back is much worse than the ones in her legs."
"Yes."
Liu Lingjuan put on a relaxed smile. "I was lucky back then. The doctor said I nearly ended up in a wheelchair."
"Mom! How can you say that! Why does it look worse than before? Every time I ask, you say you're fine!"
"It's fine, it's fine-"
Li Wanyin and Li Wanyue exchanged a helpless look.
Seeing how uncomfortable her mother was lying face down, Li Wanyin went into the bedroom and brought back two pillows to cushion her.
Chen Shi'an