The village was filled with jubilation after the clinic was built, and the villagers' lives seemed to have become more stable thanks to the availability of medical care. Sunlight shone on the newly built clinic roof, making the simple yet hopeful building the warmest presence in the village. Lin Yue was busy in the clinic every day, her slender figure moving constantly in the limited space, attentively treating each villager who came for medical treatment. Her eyes shone with endless warmth and care, patiently inquiring about and carefully examining each ailment. The simple medical instruments in her hands seemed to be imbued with magical power under her operation, making illness nowhere to hide in her presence.
That day, Lin Yue was performing acupuncture on an elderly woman suffering from rheumatism. The woman lay on the bed, her body trembling slightly with tension, her eyes filled with fear of the unknown. Lin Yue smiled and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, ma'am. This acupuncture will relieve your pain, and it will be over soon. Just think of it as a rest." Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, yet her movements were incredibly precise. Each needle placement reflected her dedication to medicine and her care for her patient. Under Lin Yue's reassurance, the woman gradually relaxed.
Chen Yu was helping organize herbs in a corner of the clinic, skillfully and efficiently categorizing and placing different types. He glanced at Lin Yue every now and then, his eyes filled with love and admiration. In his eyes, Lin Yue was like a shining star, illuminating the entire village in this difficult era. Her kindness, resilience, and medical skills captivated him. He often thought how fortunate he was to have met such a special woman in this unfamiliar time.
However, in these seemingly peaceful and beautiful days, rumors, like poisonous weeds, quietly sprouted in the corners of the village.
Ever since Wang Ermazi was criticized by the villagers for what happened with Grandpa Liu, his jealousy had intensified, burning like a raging fire in his chest. Unwilling to see Lin Yue receive such admiration and love, he gathered with several idle and resentful villagers and began fabricating rumors about Lin Yue.
"You know what? That Lin Yue, she suddenly appeared in our village and knows such strange medical skills. Maybe she's an ominous person," Wang Ermazi said mysteriously to the people around him, his eyes narrowed into slits, gleaming with cunning. A twisted expression appeared on his rough face, as if such rumors brought him some kind of satisfaction.
“Yeah, I find it strange too. How could she know so many things we’ve never seen before? Could she bring disaster to the village?” A tall, thin man chimed in, his face showing worry, but more so, blind faith swayed by the rumors. He scratched his head, a flicker of unease in his eyes, yet he still chose to believe these baseless gossips.
"I heard that the methods she uses are really weird, maybe she's dealing with some kind of demons or monsters," another person added, his eyes showing a hint of fear, yet also excitement fueled by that fear.
These rumors spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the village. Villagers began whispering amongst themselves, and an atmosphere of unease enveloped the once peaceful village.
At the village well, several women were drawing water. They talked in hushed tones as they pulled the rope. One of the women whispered, "I heard that Lin Yue's methods aren't righteous; they might offend the gods. Our village can't suffer because of her."
Another woman looked around nervously, as if afraid of being overheard, and then said, "Really? What should we do? It would be terrible if she brought disaster to the village. We have to think of something."
"What can we do? We should stay away from her and not bring bad luck into our own homes," the third woman said, shivering and her eyes filled with fear.
These words were like thorns, piercing the hearts of the villagers who had once trusted Lin Yue. Some villagers began to look at Lin Yue with complex emotions—suspicion, fear, and a barely perceptible distance. The once bustling clinic gradually saw fewer villagers seeking treatment. When people passed by, they no longer greeted her warmly as before, but instead avoided her, as if Lin Yue were a source of misfortune.
When Aunt Liu heard these rumors at the market, she was furious, her face turning red. Holding her vegetable basket, her hands trembled with anger. She rushed towards the villagers who were gossiping and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about! Lin Yue is a benefactor of our village. She saved Grandpa Liu and cured so many patients. How can you slander her like this? Don't you have any conscience?" Her eyes burned with anger, a condemnation of the rumor-mongers and a defense of Lin Yue.
The villagers who were spreading the rumors were taken aback by Aunt Liu's imposing manner, but one of them stubbornly said, "Aunt Liu, we don't want to say this either, but everyone is spreading it, so maybe there really is a problem. We're just doing this for the good of the village."
"For the good of the village? You're destroying the peace of the village! Lin Yue has done so many good things for us, and yet you're here maliciously slandering her. Have you all lost your conscience?" Aunt Liu stomped her feet angrily, glaring at the group. "If it weren't for Lin Yue, Uncle Liu would have been gone long ago. When you were sick, didn't you have to beg her to treat you? Now you're here listening to this nonsense. How can you face her?"
Those people, somewhat flustered by Aunt Liu's scolding, exchanged glances, not daring to utter another sound, but a hint of resentment still lingered in their eyes. Aunt Liu, seeing their expressions, felt even more indignant, but she knew these people had been blinded by rumors and couldn't be reasoned with in a short time.
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