Ch62.2 - I miss you so much

Feeling encouraged, Jian Mei began to speak more confidently. “I don’t fully understand what the adults say about our people not being able to tolerate foreign medicines, and I wouldn’t dare to argue with that, but the issues the crown prince pointed out—such as the inefficiency of the hospitals and the oppression of the lower classes—are very real. People with power should protect the weak, not exploit them.”

“The crown prince wants to reform the disorder in this society,” Jian Mei’s voice was clear and firm. “That’s why I think he’s not wrong.”

The young master listened carefully and then chuckled softly.

Jian Mei looked at him, confused, and asked, “Why are you laughing?”

“Mei, it’s okay to say this to me, but make sure no one else hears it.” The young master grew more serious, his expression turning much more somber. “You need to understand, there’s no such thing as absolute fairness in this world. Even when the weak are exploited, they still rely on the strong. The part that gets exploited is just the sacrifice they have to make for attaching themselves to the powerful.”

Jian Mei’s breath caught.

He was still too young to fully understand what those words meant.

“You only see the perks and treatment that those with divine power enjoy, but when the country or society is in trouble, it’s those same people who must step up first. The more powerful you are, the bigger your responsibility—that’s just how it works.” The young master’s voice was calm yet commanding. “Think about it: which of Stan Star rulers wasn’t a wise one? Who doesn’t see the chaos in society? Only this kind of system can keep things stable and fair.”

When unfairness had become the norm, maintaining it was considered fair.

Jian Mei blinked. He had felt as though he had just received a wake-up call, but he couldn’t quite refute it. He paused, his hands stopping their massage as he processed the words. Just when the young master had thought he had convinced the boy, Jian Mei looked up. His eyes were moist, but in the light, they seemed to sparkle. He said, “Young master, I think you’re wrong.”

The young master blinked in surprise. “Oh?”

“A society isn’t sustained by just one group of people. While those with divine power hold leadership roles, the commoners also play a crucial part in keeping things running—from infrastructure to daily life. Without them, the country wouldn’t even stand.”

Jian Mei didn’t really know much about international politics, but he shared his own thoughts.

“You said the strong protect the weak, and the weak sacrifice for the strong—that’s fair. Well, commoners contribute too, paying taxes, and the government’s funding for hospitals is part of their sacrifice. So, the priests in hospitals healing the commoners is just part of their job, and that’s fair.”

“Unfairness is when resources that should be shared equally are controlled by the powerful, who use them to exploit others even more and create deeply ingrained class divisions. A country that truly wants to develop in the long term must rely on its people. If things continue this way, sooner or later, wherever there is oppression, there will be resistance—it only takes a single spark.”

Jian Mei said all of this in one breath. When he finished, he looked at the young master with a bright smile, a bit lighter now, and said, “So, I think the crown prince isn’t wrong.”

In this messed up society, some people were treated like ants, their dignity trampled underfoot, while ordinary lives were viewed as insignificant. And the most horrifying part? Everyone accepted it as normal.

The young master remained silent for a long while after hearing Jian Mei’s words.

He then turned to Jian Mei, smiled, and said, “I really underestimated you before.”

Jian Mei felt a bit embarrassed and replied, “I was just expressing my thoughts.”

“It’s fine, I think it’s great. I don’t have that kind of mindset you do,” the young master said softly.

“But Mei, do you know? Even someone as powerful as the Crown Prince struggles in this environment. How much harder would it be for you? The issues with the Medical Bureau aren’t that simple. If you wanted to treat a friend, you could probably just take some time off or use a few connections. But changing the situation for everyone? That’s a whole different story.”

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And of course, there was no need to stop him. Just like when they first met, his greatest interest now was simply to observe—to see what path this child could carve out in this pitch-black world. Maybe one day, the light in his eyes would become a beacon that would light the way for this dark society.

……

A few days later, Jian Mei found Xiao Ban in the servants’ quarters.

Xiao Ban was even more excited than Jian Mei. “Meimei, my wound is almost healed!”

“Really?” Jian Mei asked, motioning for him to sit down so he could check. Before, the wound had been oozing pus but now, it was healing and forming a scab. Jian Mei nodded. “It’s looking much better.”

Xiao Ban couldn’t help but exclaim, “That green salve of yours really works!”

Jian Mei had still been a little worried a few days ago.

Because he had heard the priest mention that the people of Stan Star have a different body structure compared to those from other planets, Jian Mei had wondered if they might be resistant to herbs. He feared it might harm Xiao Ban but now that the wound was healing, it was clear there was no problem. Upon further reflection, Jian Mei realized that the people of this planet might simply reject foreign medicines and substances, but since these herbs were native to their planet, there was no such resistance.

As the two of them were talking, the other children who had finished their work returned.

One of the weaker children had been hit in the back by a cabinet while working today. Now, he was lying in bed, softly groaning in pain. His friends suggested he go to the hospital, but he hesitated, reluctant to spend the money. He even considered waiting a couple of days to see if the wound would heal on its own.

Xiao Ban said, “Meimei, can he use the salve you made for me? I’m almost healed, so he can have it.”

Jian Mei leaned in closer to examine the child’s wound. After confirming it was a real injury, he nodded. “Sure.”

Xiao Ban moved over to the child and spoke briefly. Since they worked together regularly, they trusted each other. With Xiao Ban’s wound now healed, his reassurance was more convincing. Before long, the frail child accepted the salve and said to Jian Mei, “Thank you, Meimei.”

Jian Mei shook his head. “No need to thank me.”

Seeing the injured child use it, the other children couldn’t help but feel curious too.

A few of them approached, asking cautiously, “Can I use some?”

Jian Mei turned around, and the child who spoke rolled up their sleeve to reveal a cut. “A couple of days ago, when we were cleaning the pond, I got cut by some water plants.”

They probably didn’t want to spend the money, so they hadn’t gone to the clinic.

At first, Jian Mei thought it was just this one child, but once someone spoke up, a few more kids came over:

“Can I have some? My foot really hurts.”

“Meimei, do you still have some?”

“Can I…”

There were about seven or eight children in the room, all with cuts and bruises from their work, some worse than others. The injuries weren’t serious and could be healed with a simple healing spell, but since they were poor, they couldn’t afford to see a doctor and chose to tough it out instead.

Jian Mei carefully examined each child’s wound and identified which herbs for inflammation and pain relief they needed. “It’s possible, but we’re out of the herbs for the salve,” he said.

The other kids looked a bit disappointed.

Jian Mei added, “The young master will be leaving in a couple of days. I’ll see if I can get some and bring them back with him.”

The children smiled in response and all thanked him.

Xiao Ban still had some herbs left over from before that weren’t grounded. With plenty of time before curfew, Jian Mei found a pavilion outside and started preparing the green salve with his homemade pestle.

As he worked, he heard footsteps and looked up to see Xiao Ban sitting beside him.

Jian Mei thought that Xiao Ban was just urging him to hurry so he said, “I’ll be done soon, don’t worry. I’ll finish this and go to bed, it won’t be too late.”

“No, I’m here to give you something,” Xiao Ban said, setting a small pouch on the table. “There are two gold coins inside.”

Jian Mei froze, looking at Xiao Ban suspiciously. “Why are you giving me money?”

Xiao Ban replied, “It’s for medical expenses.”

“Why are you giving me money?” Jian Mei said, clearly displeased. “Didn’t we agree that since we’re friends, there’s no need for money.”

Xiao Ban shook his head. “It’s not from me. It’s from Xiaoxiao and the others. Each person contributed a silver coin, and together they gave you two gold coins.”

Xiaoxiao was the frail boy with the back injury.

Jian Mei’s first instinct was to refuse, but Xiao Ban could tell what he was thinking. He stopped Jian Mei from pushing the offer away and said seriously, “Meimei, just take it.”

Xiao Ban said, “If you don’t accept it, they won’t feel at ease. And in the future, getting injured while working will happen often. You can’t keep giving without expecting anything in return. A hospital visit costs at least a gold coin, and a silver coin is already cheap. Plus, you used your wages last month for Ping Ping’s medical bills, so you should save some money too.”

He continued, “And later, if these plants really work, how will there be enough from the mountain? You’ve asked Ping Ping’s family to help with planting, but they have their own things to take care of. They still need to be compensated, and over time, everything requires money.”

Jian Mei thought to himself, “Xiao Ban’s words really make sense!”

“It really does seem that way,” Jian Mei said, looking at Xiao Ban with admiration. “You’re incredible.”

Xiao Ban shook his head. “No, you’re the incredible one, Jian Mei. Thank you for healing my wound, and thank you for helping Xiaoxiao and the others.”

Jian Mei had been feeling a bit tired, but after hearing Xiao Ban’s words, he suddenly felt energized. “No, helping each other is what friends do,” said Jian Mei. “You’re right. I really should start planning for the future. I haven’t yet figured out exactly what I want to do or which path to take, but I’ll work hard. Do you believe in me?”

Xiao Ban nodded firmly. “I believe in you!”

Jian Mei smiled brightly.

The ambition and grand plans he had shared with Xiao Ban made him feel happy to be able to help his friends. On the way back, the overwhelming sense of finally discovering his own worth was almost indescribable. He had even received recognition for it. He couldn’t wait to go back and tell Dazhuang-ge about it…

The wind blew softly in the garden, brushing past their clothes. The child, who was just full of energy, suddenly stopped smiling. It became a habit—whenever something happened, he’d go to Dazhuang-ge for advice. Whenever he did something good, he wanted Dazhuang-ge’s praise. Without even noticing, that person had become a big part of his life.

Back then, he could message him anytime, anywhere. He truly believed things would stay that way forever. Even in middle school, his mom had warned him, “How long do you think an online friend will stick around? They’ll leave sooner or later!”

At the time, Jian Mei had confidently replied, “He’d never do that!”

……

But now, they really had parted ways, and it was complete silence. There was no telling if they would ever meet again in this lifetime.

Jian Mei lowered his head, and the excitement he had felt earlier disappeared. A cool breeze swept by, and he looked at the flowers swaying around him, but he couldn’t bring himself to appreciate their beauty.

With a slight sigh of disappointment, he looked up at the natural moon again. In the past, it didn’t feel distant, even though it was separated by billions of star years. But now, it seemed that the distance between him and the moon had grown much closer, yet it also felt as though it was farther away.

he glanced up at the moon. Before, even though it was billions of light years away, it never seemed so far. But now, it felt closer, yet at the same time, impossibly distant.

Dazhuang-ge, where are you? Will we ever meet again?

I miss you so much.

Will you miss me?

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