Chapter 262: The Moon of Today

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: The Moon of Today

After a moment’s rest, the homeless man stood up to try again.

Because he was wearing the recovery boot, his left foot was turned out at a forty-five-degree angle, which made walking difficult and unstable.

To be on the safe side, he stopped after just a few steps.

"You need to exercise in moderation. If you do too much, you’ll put too much strain on your left foot. The newly reattached tendon isn’t stable yet, and I’m afraid it could lead to long-term complications."

As she spoke, Ji Huan motioned for the homeless man to rotate his ankle.

It seemed much more flexible.

She then pressed the top of his foot.

"Well? Does it hurt?"

The homeless man first shook his head, then paused before nodding.

Ji Huan’s brows furrowed instantly. ’Does it hurt or not?’

This time, the homeless man spoke up on his own.

"My heel... the wound... feels a bit tight."

Ji Huan’s gaze shifted to the back of his foot. It was indeed a little swollen. She felt the sutured area on his Achilles tendon; it was thicker and harder than when the cast had just been removed.

’Symptoms like this are common in the early stages of physical therapy, but it had clearly been getting better these past two days...’

"Does it hurt?" Ji Huan asked again, pressing on the spot.

This time, the homeless man thought for a moment before nodding, and his movement was a little stiff. It seemed admitting the wound hurt was an incredibly difficult thing for him to do.

Ji Huan found it strange, too. ’He didn’t even cry out once during the surgery, so why is he suddenly being so delicate?’

’Or was the pain just that severe? He wouldn’t have said anything otherwise.’

"What kind of pain is it? A constant, dull ache, or a sharp, stabbing pain when you move?"

The homeless man hesitated for a moment. "The latter kind."

Ji Huan stood up and looked down at the homeless man.

"Be honest with me. You didn’t listen and overdid your exercises, didn’t you?"

The homeless man was unruffled.

"I didn’t overdo it."

’He doesn’t seem like he’s lying,’ Ji Huan thought.

’Well, if he didn’t overdo the exercises, then Hu Dacheng must not have been watching him properly.’

"That careless Hu Dacheng! I knew it... Never mind. From now on, I’ll watch over you myself."

A flicker of emotion crossed the homeless man’s eyes, but he said nothing on the matter.

It seemed to make no difference to him who took care of him; he had no objections either way.

After such a long delay, the food had grown a bit cold. Ji Huan offered to take it to the kitchen to reheat it, but the homeless man shook his head and said there was no need.

Fine by her. Ji Huan was happy to be saved the trouble.

When the homeless man finished eating, Ji Huan handed him the three books.

"One is a book on geography, one is a collection of light essays, and the last one is... *Strategies of the Thatched Hut*."

As she said the four words, *Strategies of the Thatched Hut*, Ji Huan instinctively glanced at the homeless man.

The homeless man’s expression, however, was placid. He didn’t seem at all surprised that Ji Huan knew he was literate and had given him a book on military strategy.

Ji Huan, on the other hand, was quite impressed by his composure.

’His cover’s been blown, yet he’s acting as if nothing’s wrong. You really have to hand it to him.’

"I asked Aunt Xie to buy them. I don’t know if they’ll be to your taste, but you can read them for now to pass the time. It’ll be good to have something to do. I’ll get you different ones later. But don’t say I didn’t warn you: you can use your right hand, but be careful, even with small movements like turning a page. Understand?"

The homeless man nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

Ji Huan huffed. ’Good, as long as you appreciate it,’ she thought.

"Your Achilles tendon is a little swollen, but it’s not a major issue, so don’t worry too much. You still need to continue with your physical therapy. Just be careful."

At this stage, the homeless man’s daily routine consisted mainly of foam roller exercises and walking in the recovery boot. His range of motion had improved, and the tendon was gradually stretching out. Ji Huan felt he could start incorporating wall stretches.

"Place both hands on a wall and get into a lunge position. Bend your left leg and lean toward the wall while stretching your right leg back. Then switch, bending your right leg forward and stretching your injured leg straight back. This will help restore the range of motion in your ankle. Do this ten times a day, switching legs back and forth, for about five minutes."

Ji Huan demonstrated it herself, then watched the homeless man do it once before she left, feeling reassured.

She had dinner at her own home. Shortly after she finished, Widow Xie showed up at her door with her whole family in tow.

"You left our place this afternoon without the mooncakes I’d prepared for you, so I had to come and deliver them myself."

Widow Xie said with a playful reproach.

Ji Huan smiled. "Is Granny Xie asleep?"

Hu Ximei chimed in, "She fell asleep after dinner and a bit of conversation. She was already snoring when we left."

Once Granny Xie was asleep for the night, nothing could wake her, otherwise they wouldn’t all have been able to come over.

The moon was just beginning its ascent. It seemed to climb in tiny increments, but before long, it was high overhead.

Ji Huan called for Hu Dacheng’s help to move the small, square dining table into the middle of the courtyard.

Then, she brought out a spread of snacks from Dabao’s cupboard: pomegranates, pears, sesame crisps, ruyi cakes, and roasted melon seeds and peanuts.

Finally, she found a large platter, arranged the mooncakes from Widow Xie on it, and placed it right in the center of the table.

It all looked quite festive.

Everyone gathered around the table. The children played and ate, while the adults chatted idly.

"Your Uncle Niu just got back from Yeyang and said they’re having a lantern festival in the city. It’s packed with people, unbelievably lively! I also heard that the wives and daughters of wealthy families light candles and set up altars in their own courtyards. Their offerings are fruits and pastries we’ve never even seen before, and they have a mooncake as big as a millstone! After the whole family prays to the moon, they cut that giant mooncake up and share it, cutting one piece for every person in the family."

Widow Xie shook her head and clicked her tongue in amazement as she spoke. With her limited experience, she couldn’t even begin to imagine just how big a millstone-sized mooncake really was.

But for Ji Huan, this moment was already perfect.

’In the future, the Mid-Autumn Festival had become less and less interesting. Celebrating in the countryside as a child had been fun, but as technology advanced and living standards rose, that rich, festive atmosphere had vanished. Even when families did manage to gather, most people just stared at their phones or watched TV.’

’How wonderful was this—sitting in the courtyard, sipping tea, chatting, eating snacks, and admiring the moon.’

"No matter how big the mooncake is, it probably all tastes the same. A steamed bun is still just a steamed bun, no matter its size, right?"

Widow Xie thought about it. That did seem to make sense.

"Forget the mooncakes, then. Why don’t you all follow the city folks’ example and pray to the moon? They say it wards off disaster and brings blessings."

Ji Huan paused. "Didn’t you say this morning that there was no point in praying to the moon?"

Widow Xie said sheepishly, "Well, if the rich people are praying, there must be a reason for it. I’d rather be safe than sorry."

In the end, only Hu Ximei and little Hua prayed to the moon. Due to the custom that "men don’t pray to the moon, and women don’t offer sacrifices to the Kitchen God," Dabao, Hu Dacheng, and Xiao’an were exempt.

Ji Huan didn’t pray either, instead finding herself gazing at the moon, lost in thought.

The people of old never saw the moon of today, yet this same moon once shone upon them.

’For her, what was once the moon of the ancients had now become the moon of her time.’

’Widow Xie was right, actually. The moon was always the same moon; only the people beneath it changed.’