Today was the most depressing day since Minnie came to this world.
Other things could be tolerated, but this kind of thing... thinking about how it would happen every month made her mood even worse.
Looking at the white item beside her pillow, Minnie sighed helplessly and muttered, "If I can't go back, I'll treat you as a family heirloom and pass you down from generation to generation."
What was beside Minnie's pillow wasn't anything rare. It was a small item used by women in modern times every month.
That's right, it was a sanitary pad.
Minnie was always careful. She would keep one in her bag when going out just in case.
Today, while chatting with Jax, she suddenly felt something strange in her body. Thinking of the possibility, she panicked and her face turned pale.
When she went back to her room to check, sure enough, her period had come.
Minnie couldn't help but groan in despair. She found that single sanitary pad in her backpack, but hesitated when she was about to use it.
It was the only one she had. Once it was used, there wouldn't be any more.
But if she didn't use it, then what could she do?
After thinking over and over, Minnie knew she had to ask someone from this world.
Servant He had been dealing with her quite a lot recently and was older, so she was the first person that came to mind.
When Servant He heard Minnie shyly ask the question, she couldn't help but chuckle a bit. After finding out she hadn't prepared anything, Servant He said, "It's not hard to make. I'll sew one quickly for now. You can change into new ones later."
After all, this was a private item. It wouldn't be good to give her something used.
It was better to make fresh ones. "Thank you so much."
Minnie held Servant He's hand tightly. Without her, what would she have done?
Servant He was still a bit puzzled. This Miss Minnie didn't seem that young.
How could she be so clueless? She had traveled far yet hadn't even brought a woman's most essential item.
Luckily, Minnie couldn't hear Servant He's thoughts, or she would've felt even more miserable.
This strange and sudden journey through time—who would want that? Actually, she should be thankful the place she ended up in wasn't too bad.
Women had high status here. All the good things were prioritized for them.
Families that were even slightly well-off would buy soft and absorbent grass paper for their daughters.
It wasn't as good as modern toilet paper, but it was way better than ash or leaves.
So, Minnie used grass paper too. She felt down and embarrassed that Sanruwi and Jax had found out about this.
She stayed in her room and refused to go out. It wasn't until dinnertime, when her stomach started growling and Servant He knocked to ask if she wanted her meal brought in, that Minnie finally pulled herself together.
I'm not a child. It's not like I've never experienced embarrassing moments. It's just a period, the most normal biological function.
No need to hide. More importantly, this isn't something that will be over quickly.
It'll last a few more days. She couldn't hide in her room forever.
Still, even though Minnie gave herself that pep talk, when she saw Jax and Sanruwi, her face flushed and she avoided their eyes.
She simply kept her head down and ate. "Eat the drumstick." "Eat the drumstick."
Minnie paused when she saw two extra drumsticks in her bowl. Sanruwi and Jax exchanged a glance but didn't say anything.
"Two? I don't think I can finish them."
The chicken was quite fatty, and the drumsticks were large. Minnie liked good food, but since she'd always been chubby, she tried to watch what she ate.
She never ate too much in one sitting, but she often snacked. She had originally wanted a classmate to do acupuncture for her to lose weight, but in the end, she ended up learning acupuncture herself and doing it on others.
Naturally, she didn't lose any weight. She didn't like to exercise either.
Whenever she had free time, she stayed in the dorm reading or browsing the internet. So her rounded figure never really changed.
"You two eat one for me." Minnie picked up one drumstick. Sanruwi noticed it was the one he had put in her bowl.
He gave a small cough and said, "This chicken was stewed with red dates and fish maw.
It helps with energy and blood, and is great for beauty and skin. You… you should eat more."
"I already ate a lot. If I eat more, I'll gain weight again." Minnie touched her face with concern.
"Minnie, you really don't have to worry. Compared to when I first met you, you've already slimmed down."
What Jax said was true. These days, Minnie was always being ordered around by Sanruwi, often working with firewood and sweating in the summer heat.
She also kept running off the mountain trying to find a way back home, so she'd been moving a lot.
She had indeed lost weight. But with her naturally round face, she still looked soft and plump, making people want to pinch her cheeks.
"But even if you gain a little, it doesn't matter." Jax smiled. "You're so adorable."
"I don't want to." Minnie wrinkled her nose.
Even though she said that, she still ate both drumsticks. After finishing, she rubbed her belly and groaned, "I'm stuffed, I'm stuffed."
Jax couldn't help but laugh at her look. He poured her a cup of tea.
"This is hawthorn water Servant He brought. It helps with digestion and quenches thirst."
Minnie's eyes lit up. She picked up the teacup and drank it all in one go. Then she sighed, "If only it were chilled."
"You can't have anything cold right now." Sanruwi frowned when he heard that.
"I know, I know," Minnie said with a smile. "I was just saying." Then she drank another cup.
Luckily, summer on Phoenix Mountain wasn't too hot. Life would've been unbearable otherwise. When Minnie went to pour a third cup of hawthorn water, Sanruwi stopped her.
"No more. Even if you like it, you have to wait. Too much will upset your stomach."
"Alright." Minnie looked longingly at the hawthorn water but didn't dare go against him. She agreed obediently.
She thought to herself that Sanruwi used to be cold and barely spoke. Why was he acting like a nag today? Jax saw how Sanruwi was talking and understood that he was starting to care about Minnie.
Otherwise, someone like him who always hated women wouldn't bother lecturing her over hawthorn water. He felt comforted inside. His good friend had finally found someone.
Still, alongside that comfort, Jax also felt a vague sadness. He somewhat understood why, but not fully. "Mr. San?" Minnie called out just as Sanruwi was about to leave.
Sanruwi frowned slightly. In the past, when Minnie called him "Mr. San," he didn't mind it. But now it suddenly felt distant.
"Mr. San, are you going out to treat someone again? Why didn't you call me?" As she spoke, she reached for the big medicine bag in his hand.
Sanruwi pulled his hand back. "You need to rest for a few days." "Seriously?" Minnie's eyes widened. "Even if that's true, this is a bit much."
"I'm not some endangered animal. And today's the herbal bath, right? How will you handle it alone?"
"I'll ask Servant He to help," Sanruwi said plainly. "Let me come instead. I'm already trained. What if Servant He messes up and scalds someone?"
"That'd be trouble." Sanruwi hesitated, but still said, "Go back to your room and rest."
"Mr. San," Minnie followed him persistently, "don't be like this. This kind of rare and tricky case—I already did half the work."
"And now you want someone else to take over? I'll feel so unsatisfied." "Let me go, I'm perfectly healthy."
"I used to perform surgeries on stage, it won't affect anything. It absolutely won't get in the way of your treatment." Cases like Madam Qing's were one of a kind.
Plus, Sanruwi had clearly come up with a new angle yesterday when he asked her to help with questioning. Minnie didn't want to miss this chance to learn something valuable.
Besides, staying in her room was boring. No books, no internet. Jax had disappeared somewhere, and the others were too friendly.
It made her uncomfortable. Better to follow Sanruwi instead. Sanruwi walked quickly with his long legs.
Minnie had to jog to keep up with her short legs, trying to persuade him all the way. Following behind him, she couldn't see the small upward curve at the corner of Sanruwi's lips.
They arrived at the kitchen. Servant He and Boss Hayes were already waiting. Minnie watched as Sanruwi shut the door in her face.
She sighed and crouched down, feeling bored. She didn't dare talk to Boss Hayes. Just looking at his face made her nervous.
"Minnie. Minnie." She didn't need to turn to know it was Kane. Only he called her that on Phoenix Mountain.
Kane came running, out of breath. "Minnie, I went to your place to find you but you weren't there. I've been chasing you this whole way."
Then he bowed to Boss Hayes who stood nearby. Boss Hayes just nodded, not interested in talking. Minnie stood up.
"Kane, did you need something?" Kane's face turned a little red as he handed something over. "I made this. Try it and see if it fits?"
"You made it? What is it?" Minnie curiously opened the cloth wrapping. Before she could see anything, the wooden door behind her opened.
Sanruwi's face appeared, cold as ever even in the heat. "Since you're so free, come in and help." Minnie was thrilled.
She quickly shoved the bundle back into Kane's hands. "Hold onto it for now. I'll look at it later." "Minnie."
Kane said helplessly as he watched her go in. Then he saw the cold gaze from the unpredictable Sanruwi and felt a chill in his heart.
Once Minnie entered, Servant He said she'd wait outside and to just call her if they needed anything. Sanruwi nodded, and Servant He stepped out.
She was older now. Watching the young people go back and forth just made her want to laugh. Especially this Sanruwi, whose mouth said one thing while his heart felt another.
She figured he'd have a rough time when it came to love.