27 What are you looking for?

After returning to her benefactor's home, Su Qingyue went into the kitchen and scooped a bowl of water with a pottery bowl. She placed a handful of thin willow twig sections on the stove, picked one, bit one end to soften it, and brushed her teeth with a mouthful of water.

She brushed non-stop, front and back, left and right, inside and out...

After using nine willow twig sections, changing countless bowls of water, and brushing a few spots on her gums raw, she finally felt clean.

When she picked up the tenth twig, she took a pinch of salt from the seasoning pot on the stove, bit a twig section's end to soften it, dipped it in the salt on her palm, and brushed with saltwater. Her injured gums stung, but she didn't care, brushing until she'd used up all the salt in her hand. Only after rinsing her mouth with several mouthfuls of water did she feel her oral cavity was clean.