Chapter 28: Disciplining Ning Xiaoxiao — Basic Operation, Nothing More
Ning Xiyue took a small cloth pouch out of her bundle — inside were several thick, heavy needles normally used for stitching shoe soles.
“I just so happen to have learned a bit of something recently — a little barefoot doctor knowledge. The book said that if someone faints, you need to pierce their toes to let out some blood. The bigger the needle, the better. And it just so happens I have a few big ones here. Help me out: take off Ning Xiaoxiao’s shoes and pierce every toe. It’ll work immediately, guaranteed — no side effects at all, I promise.”
“I’ll help hold her down. Wu Zhigang, you’re a man — it’s not appropriate for you to be holding her. Move aside.”
Wang Fenglan’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she looked at Ning Xiaoxiao. She walked over and pushed Wu Zhigang out of the way.
She had been watching Ning Xiaoxiao carefully — the way she “collapsed” was far too cautious and deliberate. Not even trying to make it convincing. She thought no one noticed because everyone’s attention was on Ning Xiyue, but she was always scheming.
Liu Yao rubbed her hands together and happily squatted down. “I’ll help take her shoes off.”
“Xiyue, I can help with the needles,” Chen Yechu said quietly, raising one hand and reaching out the other for a needle.
Ning Xiyue gave a knowing smile and handed one over. “Sure. Let’s do it together. I guarantee Ning Xiaoxiao will be jumping around in no time.”
“Will this really work?” Wu Guifang asked from the side, sounding doubtful.
“It will, Sister Guifang. Don’t worry. If toes don’t work, fingers will. Just pierce a few and let the blood out — it’ll definitely help.” Ning Xiyue nodded sincerely.
“I’ve actually heard of this,” Wang Jiandong chimed in. “The older generation often said that when someone faints or has a seizure, piercing their toes or fingers to let out some blood works.”
“Hmm, I think I’ve heard of that too,” Zhao Jianshe said, stroking his chin.
“There is such a saying. A doctor back home once told me that someone who had already stopped breathing came back to life after being pricked and letting some blood out,” Yu Zhiyu added, habitually pushing up his glasses.
Everyone nodded silently, as if agreeing, and stood around watching.
Even Wu Zhigang started to feel like he’d heard of this somewhere. “Then hurry and pierce her! Save Xiaoxiao!”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you. Let’s save her. Once Ning Xiaoxiao wakes up, she’ll definitely thank you.”
“Come on, let’s move quickly and not waste time.”
Ning Xiyue pulled out the thickest needle, held it close to Ning Xiaoxiao’s toe, and mimed a few jabs. “Sister Fenglan, hold her tight. Comrade Jianshe, please pass me the candle so I can sterilize the needle before I start.”
The cold needle tip touching Ning Xiaoxiao’s skin made her instinctively curl her foot. She cautiously cracked one eye open — under the candlelight, she saw the glint of the thick needle. Fear welled up inside her. Ning Xiyue wasn’t bluffing — she really was going to do it.
If those needles went into her toes, she’d lose half her life from the pain. The thought alone made her shiver.
When Ning Xiyue finished sterilizing the needle and slowly brought it closer to her big toe, Ning Xiaoxiao’s heart screamed, every hair on her body standing on end. Her lashes fluttered — she wanted to “wake up.”
But Ning Xiyue, who had been silently watching her every move, noticed immediately. Just as Ning Xiaoxiao was about to open her eyes and speak, Ning Xiyue suddenly pressed down hard — the needle sank half an inch deep, piercing firmly into Ning Xiaoxiao’s right big toe.
Chen Yechu quickly followed suit, stabbing a needle into her right pinky toe.
“Ahhhh—!”
A blood-curdling scream ripped through the educated youth compound. The whole building seemed to shake.
Hearing that scream, Ning Xiyue felt utterly refreshed. Chen Yechu was indescribably satisfied. So damn satisfying!
The other educated youths all shuddered — just hearing it was painful.
Wang Mengmeng swallowed hard and took a frightened step back. Her thoughts were now firm: No matter who I offend, I must never offend Ning Xiyue. She’s too ruthless.
“She’s awake! She’s awake! It really worked — as soon as the needles went in, she woke up!” Liu Yao clapped her hands happily and gave Ning Xiyue a big thumbs-up. “I didn’t know you knew medicine too, Xiyue. Amazing!”
Wu Guifang sighed in relief when she saw Ning Xiaoxiao awake. “It really worked — just one or two jabs and she’s fine.”
Pfft!
Ning Xiyue laughed wildly inside, but kept a serious expression as she looked at Ning Xiaoxiao, whose face was twisted in pain. “Ning Xiaoxiao, you really ought to thank us. If it weren’t for us, you’d be dead.”
She paused for a second and added, “Oh, and you must especially thank Comrade Wu Zhigang. It’s thanks to him that we saved you.”
Wang Fenglan nodded. “Exactly. And don’t forget to thank me too. If I hadn’t held you down, the damp ground’s cold air would have entered your body. Even if the fainting was cured, you’d probably have caught a cold.”
“You guys…”
Ning Xiaoxiao was in so much pain she could barely speak. Furious beyond belief, she still couldn’t scold them. So this is what they mean by ‘lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot.’
The pain of ten fingers (or toes) connected to the heart was no joke.
Wu Zhigang carefully avoided the needles in her toes as he crouched down. “Xiaoxiao, are you feeling better? I’m so glad you’re awake. I was worried sick.”
Ning Xiaoxiao glared daggers at him, remembering how he had urged them to hurry up with the needling. Idiot.
Seeing that Ning Xiaoxiao had regained some strength, Ning Xiyue turned her gaze to the needles still stuck in her toes, her lips curling slightly. She spoke urgently: “Step aside, everyone. There’s one crucial step left — we haven’t removed the needles to let the blood flow yet. We can chat after that.”
As she spoke, Ning Xiyue gave Chen Yechu a meaningful look. The two crouched down, and before Ning Xiaoxiao could react, they each grabbed a needle and, without hesitation, yanked them out.
“Ahh… Ahhh—!” Two more screams of sheer agony echoed through the compound.
“Quick, a few people come and hold her down! Don’t let her touch the wounds and risk infection. A little bleeding is necessary for complete recovery,” Ning Xiyue said quickly.
The surrounding educated youths immediately helped Wang Fenglan pin Ning Xiaoxiao down.
After the needles were pulled, Ning Xiaoxiao nearly fainted for real. But she clenched her teeth — she couldn’t pass out. If she fainted again, they’d probably stab her a few more times. Repeated over and over, even a healthy person would end up with problems.
Ning Xiyue cleaned the blood off the needles, sterilized them, and put them away. Seeing that there wasn’t much blood from Ning Xiaoxiao’s toes, she felt a twinge of regret. Looks like the needles were still too small — they didn’t go deep enough. No blood spurting out… she’ll probably just be in pain all night.
Chen Yechu saw how Ning Xiaoxiao was sweating from the pain and gave Ning Xiyue a big thumbs-up behind her back, grinning from ear to ear.
Ning Xiyue smiled back: “Basic operation. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
