The black mud that Lin brought was indeed effective. In just three or four days, the swelling on Yan Zheng's face had subsided, leaving a few pimple-like bumps. It would probably take some time to recover.

However, Jiang Xi noticed that his eyes were getting redder and redder, and sometimes Yan Zheng couldn't help but rub his eyes.

Jiang Xi suddenly thought of Lin's eyes. Could it be that the black mud caused an allergic reaction in his eyes?

I'll have to ask Lin if he has these symptoms later.

Although Yan Jing'an was not allergic, his injuries were much more serious than Yan Zheng's. Although the swelling in his eyes had subsided, his face was still quite swollen. Fortunately, his hands had recovered, and he shamelessly declared that it would not affect his work.

So Yan Zheng and Jiang Xi gave him a good talking-to, and he was allowed to rest for two more days before the house repairs were put back on the agenda.

The rocks and clods of earth that fell from the house last time had not yet been cleared away. In order to prevent a second collapse, Yan Zheng and Yan Jing'an first conducted an inspection.

Fortunately, the overall structure and load-bearing capacity were not severely damaged. The two discussed using wood to reinforce the intact walls and preserve the current intact walls and structure.

All the remaining collapsed walls were demolished and rebuilt to support the structure, with some areas being refilled with clay.

Although the repairs would be more complicated, Yan Zheng and Jiang Xi felt that it concerned personal safety and could not be ignored.

For safety reasons, Jiang Xi wove safety helmets for the four of them out of vines, although they might not be very effective.

But she thought: if it can't block the stones, it can at least block the clods of dirt; it's just for comfort.

Yan Zheng and Yan Jing'an refused to let Jiang Xi get involved in such work, so she and Lin had to take on some odd jobs in the yard.

Once we started working, it was from morning till night, and we couldn't relax for a moment.

The two men were building the wall inside. They marked the length of the wood they needed with knots on a rope and then handed it to Jiang Xi. Jiang Xi and Lin cut the wood into pieces the same length and width as the knot marks.

When they weren't needed, Jiang Xi would take Lin to the fields to pull weeds, dig wild vegetables, or cut vines.

In just two days, Lin had identified most of the edible wild vegetables, and even learned about the effects and cooking methods of Crescent Moon Grass with the help of Jiang Xi.

Of course, Jiang Xi also learned a lot from her, such as how to make black mud. Black mud is not actually silt, but a kind of ordinary yellow soil.

A special herb was mixed in, and Lin led Jiang Xi to the edge of the forest to search for it.

It was a plant with dark green leaves, larger than those of a dandelion, and irregularly elliptical in shape. The entire plant creeped along the ground, resembling a flower, and was not easily spotted with the naked eye unless one carefully parted the weeds.

Lin crushed the leaves of this grass and mixed the juice with yellow mud. Amazingly, the mud turned black in less than two minutes.

Jiang Xi asked Lin, "Who told you this method?"

Lin thought for a moment and said, "The bear... it eats it itself."

Jiang Xi asked in surprise, "You mean, that injured bear eats this kind of grass?"

Lin quickly nodded.

Jiang Xi had indeed heard of animals finding their own medicine before, but she never expected there to be a real case, which helped Yan Zheng with his itchy eyes.

She asked Lin, "Will your eyes itch if I apply the black mud?"

Lin saw that Jiang Xi was pointing to her eyes, and she realized what Jiang Xi was asking, so she quickly nodded.

Jiang Xi advised her, "There aren't that many bugs in the village, you don't need to apply it."

Lin thought for a moment and then agreed.

Jiang Xi thought that since this grass was useful, she might as well collect half a basketful to dry in the sun, just in case in winter.

Back in the courtyard, Yan Zheng and Yan Jing'an had just finished work.

Yan Zheng went inside and brought out a basin, then plucked two soap pods from the drying basket. Yan Jing'an did the same. The two greeted Jiang Xi and walked towards the hot spring in their slippers.

Before they even stepped out of the courtyard gate, Yan Jing'an suddenly turned around and said, "Lin, aren't you going to take a shower?"

Lin was startled when asked about taking a bath and quickly waved his hand.

Yan Jing'an, annoyed that she kept hovering around Jiang Xi, came over and pulled her away with a look of disgust: "You're filthy. Look at your hair, it's all tangled."

He then tried to pull her out of the yard.

Jiang Xi was also startled and quickly pulled Lin away, saying, "No."

Amidst the chaos, Yan Zheng grabbed Yan Jing'an's shoulder from behind with one hand and said through gritted teeth, "Stop talking nonsense and let's go."

Yan Jing'an was held from behind by Yan Zheng. When Yan Zheng loosened his grip, Lin took the opportunity to break free and quickly hid behind Jiang Xi.

Yan Jing'an said bitterly, "Brother, look at that kid, look how smug he is."

His voice gradually faded into the distance.

Only after they left the village did Yan Zheng let go of him, saying with exasperation, "Lin is a woman."

Yan Jing'an was stunned. He felt his intelligence had been insulted. He rubbed the back of his head and chased after Yan Zheng to ask, "Big brother, how did you know?"

Yan Zheng glanced at him and said seriously, "Go if you want."

After saying that, he left a bewildered Yan Jing'an behind and went into the mountain valley.

Thinking? Thinking about what? How would I know she's a woman?

On the other side, Jiang Xi comforted Lin: "He's a bit mischievous and didn't know you were a girl. Don't mind him."

Lin lowered his head and shook it without saying a word.

Jiang Xi unloaded her basket and spread the herbs in a flat basket. After thinking for a moment, she advised Lin, "Actually, they won't hurt you. As time goes by, you won't be able to hide this anymore. It's better to tell them clearly sooner rather than later, so that everyone can get along more comfortably in the future."

Lin, standing to the side, seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to. Jiang Xi thought it best for Lin to figure this out herself, so she didn't try to persuade her further.

After a while, Lin seemed to have made up her mind. With a firm look in her eyes, she said, "Xiao Xi... I'll tell them."

Jiang Xi was happy for her and thought her expression was very cute.

He wanted to pat her head, but his smile froze when he saw her long, tangled hair.

She suddenly remembered that Lin had neither showered nor washed his clothes in the two days since he arrived.

She remembered that when she made her bed and tidied her clothes before, although they were all made of fur, there was no strange smell, which showed that she was usually very clean.

Jiang Xi realized she had been careless and quickly asked Lin, "Do you want to take a shower?"

Upon hearing this, Lin's eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly nodded, then smiled shyly.

Jiang Xi said, "Then go and prepare your things, take the basin and a change of clothes with you, I'll come find you in a bit."

Later, Jiang Xi steamed the sweet potatoes and washed all the vegetables. When Yan Zheng and Yan Jing'an returned, she took out a basin and a change of clothes and went to the front yard to find Lin.

She had originally planned to give Lin her own clothes, but then she thought that since Lin wasn't very tall, her clothes might not be suitable.

In addition, the temperature difference between day and night is quite large here, and the fur coat is not too hot, so she thought she might as well go back and make her a new one.