“Who is it?” Her husband was talking in his sleep.

“Relax, just the old friend again.”

Mrs. Yi went outside and saw a man standing in the pale moonlight. Was it Gray? The man soon disappeared like a shadow. It couldn’t be Gray.

Mrs. Yi didn’t see the weasel, but she knew it must be hiding nearby. She was full of pity for the weasel. The pity she felt for the weasel was the same as the pity she felt for her Shanbao. The chickens were silent, perhaps terrified. Like everyone else, Mrs. Yi raised chickens and ate them. She couldn’t explain why she felt sorry for both the weasel and the chickens.

The herbs in the garden were thriving. Was it because of the good soil or because of her careful cultivation? She knew some people disliked the smell of herbs, but she had always been fascinated by their powerful fragrance. She often smelled them in her dreams as she traveled through the mountains and forests. Once, some herbs in her garden had withered because of over-fertilization. Unable to sleep, she had arisen at midnight and gone to the garden. She took a flashlight with her. All night long she squatted there and observed carefully. Under her care, the herbs finally came back to life. The herbs were like children to her: she needed to give all her attention to looking after them.

The person appeared again. He was leaving. It was indeed Gray. Mrs. Yi thought, This young man was really genuine: he became a barefoot doctor because of love, and then he gave up the job because of love. A young man like this would not have an easy life. She did not see his face, but seen from behind she felt that he looked sad. It could just be her imagination. Why did she think he was sad? Hadn’t he already found his love? He should feel very lucky.

“I saw Gray in the garden just now,” she said in the darkness.

“Really?” Mr. Yi woke up. “What’s he up to?”

“Just came to take a look, I think. He’s a good kid.”

“But I suspect he had something to do with the previous destruction.”

“Don’t say that. Let’s go to sleep.”

Mrs. Yi was in a very good mood, so she fell asleep immediately. But unable to fall asleep again, her husband quietly dressed and went out. At first he couldn’t believe his eyes, so he rubbed them and looked again. Yes, it was Gray. Had something happened to him?

“Gray, it’s midnight. What are you doing here?”

“I came to check on them. They keep bothering me,” Gray mumbled.

“Do you mean the herbs?” Mr. Yi whispered.

“Yeah.”

“You can come any time during the day. Mrs. Yi would really like that.”

“But I betrayed them. I’m ashamed to come during the day.”

“Gray, feel your chest—is your heart beating fast?”

“I don’t have to feel it, Mr. Yi, it almost jumps into my throat.”