Chapter 4: Courage

Li Yingtang: "." How ungrateful!

Am I not worried that you’ll get a complaint and have your performance bonus docked? If they really dock your pay, what will you use to support me?

Ignoring him, she went into the infirmary, took a thermometer from the bamboo tube on the desk, and handed it to Cheng Fang: "You should take your temperature first."

"Li Yingtang, come over and peel the garlic."

Li Yingtang: "." Damn, she’s so natural at ordering her around.

Does he really think she’s his wife now?

She went back to the kitchen to get the garlic, intending to go into the infirmary to peel it, but was stopped just as she turned around: "Sit right there and peel it."

"What if I leave that woman in the room to steal things?" Li Yingtang entered the infirmary, sat on the office chair, and stared at Cheng Fang.

Cheng Fang was also looking at Li Yingtang, feeling a suffocating tightness in her chest.

Why is Qin Xian so shallow?

He doesn't appreciate a hardworking, resilient girl like her, but insists on marrying a "flowery pillow."

Look at that face, those hands—do they look like they can do any work?

She doesn't even cook; she expects him to wait on her.

What does he see in her?

"Dr. Qin has been here for two years and has never mentioned you to me."

"You aren't his father, why would he mention me to you?" After finishing the garlic, Li Yingtang reminded her: "Time's up, check what your temperature is."

"How would I know how to read it?" Cheng Fang stepped into the kitchen: "Dr. Qin, you check my temperature."

As the thermometer was handed out, it was snatched away by Li Yingtang, who had followed behind: "Thirty-seven degrees, standard body temperature, no fever. But you look pale and sallow; it’s likely a weak spleen and stomach or a deficiency of qi and blood. I suggest eating more pork liver and spinach, and red bean porridge with red dates and longan. Take some Vitamin C as well. Your neck pain is probably just a strain, so just get plenty of rest, right, A-Xian?"

Qin Xian: ".Hmm." She knows quite a lot.

Cheng Fang’s eyes were so full of hatred she could have burned a hole through Li Yingtang.

*I didn't ask you,* she thought, *you just love showing off.*

"Are you a doctor too?"

Li Yingtang nodded vigorously: "Of course." When you're away from home, you define your own identity: "We don't have much grain left at home, so we won't be keeping you for dinner."

The implication was clear: you should leave.

Unable to find another reason to stay, Cheng Fang turned and left.

But the moment she thought about the man she had been eyeing for two years being snatched away by a woman who appeared out of nowhere, how could she be content?

If she couldn't scheme against Dr. Qin, couldn't she scheme against this "flowery pillow"?

Once she reached the main road, she let out a loud cry.

The main road ran east, and Li Yingtang was in the kitchen at the far west end. She poked her head out and saw her collapsed on the ground.

Then she heard her plea for help: "I think I sprained my ankle. Could you help me home?"

"Sure, I was just thinking of wandering around your village anyway, let the people who haven't seen me get a look, so some girls who lack common sense stop hovering around our A-Xian." Li Yingtang said pointedly. As she stepped forward to help Cheng Fang and bent down, a strange smell drifted into her nose.

It smelled a bit like mothballs, but it dissipated quickly.

She didn't think much of it, assuming Cheng Fang’s clothes had just picked up a musty scent from being worn too long.

Cheng Fang thanked her with a hidden meaning. After walking a short distance, Qin Xian’s voice rang out: "Li Yingtang! If you dare take one more step forward, don't bother coming back."

Li Yingtang turned her head. Good grief, he was standing on the main road trying to assert his dominance, wanting to tell the whole world that he was the master of the house. Luckily, it was cold and there was no one on the road, otherwise, everyone would have seen her backing down, and he would have been so smug. ".Sorry, you’d better walk yourself." She let go of Cheng Fang and ran back.

She was a woman with nothing to her name; she couldn't afford to be without him for a second.

Cheng Fang stomped her feet in frustration. If she could have just walked another half-mile, she would have run into people from the village.

By then, the effects of the drug on this woman would have kicked in, and she would have made a fool of herself just like she had today, losing all face. If she couldn't bear to stay in the village, she might just head back to the city.

Only then would she and Dr. Qin have a chance.

It made her so angry!

Li Yingtang returned, panting. Qin Xian was already sitting down eating noodles. For some reason, he looked even more handsome and charming. Those long, model-like legs were bent, and it felt like they were scratching at her heart, making it itch.

Dressed in bulky winter clothes, his waist still looked well-defined.

It must be comfortable to hug.

She hesitated for a long time before gathering the courage to say

"Do you have abs? Can you let me touch them? I won't touch for free; I'll wash the dishes after we eat."

Qin Xian: "." It seems he was still one step behind Cheng Fang.

At least she asked for his opinion, which meant her mind was clear and she wasn't too far gone.

He needed to check her pulse to be sure. If he took the initiative to let her reach out, given her personality, she would likely take a mile if he gave her an inch.

Staying silent was the best strategy.

"If you don't refuse, I'll take that as a yes." Li Yingtang grinned, sat next to him, and reached toward his stomach.

Before she could touch him, he grabbed her wrist.

She instinctively tried to pull back, but his hand locked onto her like a shackle, gripping her wrist so hard it hurt. Just as she was about to apologize, he let go: "Are you not eating?"

"I'm eating." Li Yingtang got up to serve the noodles. She took a bite, and it actually tasted pretty good.

Maybe it was because the noodles were too hot, but after two bites, she was sweating all over. Unbuttoning her cotton jacket didn't help, so she just took it off and rolled up her sweater sleeves. "It's so hot, aren't you hot?"

Qin Xian: "I'm cold."

Li Yingtang touched the fine beads of sweat on her nose: "You look so beautiful, I like you so much. Let's have our wedding night tonight. Wherever you're cold, I'll kiss, I guarantee I'll keep you warm."

Qin Xian’s heart skipped a beat, and his cheeks instantly burned: "Who did you learn such brazen words from? Eat your food!"

Li Yingtang: "." What brazen words? Everyone is an adult, what is there that can't be heard?

After finishing the noodles.

Li Yingtang washed the persimmons. Once thawed, the persimmons softened. She bit a hole in one and gently sucked; it was sweet and smooth. She handed one to him: "This persimmon is really delicious, try it."

"I'll take it myself."

Li Yingtang pouted. Is he disgusted by her?

She wasn't the type to be discouraged by a little rejection. She continued talking to him: "There are still plenty of persimmons on the tree, want to come pick them with me? Also, are you free tomorrow? Accompany me to town to buy some daily necessities." It would be a good time to sell the persimmons.

Qin Xian’s refusal passed through his throat: "Hmm."

………

As the sky gradually darkened, the two prepared bamboo baskets and sacks and headed into the mountains together.

Upon reaching their destination, Li Yingtang pointed to the persimmon tree: "This is it, A-Xian, look."

Qin Xian looked up. The whole tree was covered in persimmons, hanging like orange-red lanterns, looking very beautiful.

"I'll climb up and pick them, you catch them, okay?"

Qin Xian was surprised: "You can climb trees?"

"Yeah, I've loved wilderness exploration since I was a kid. I often went camping with friends, and all the climbing and high-altitude work was done by me."

Qin Xian found it fascinating.

Wilderness exploration, camping—he had only ever seen those in books.

For a girl to do that with friends, her parents actually agreed.

Li Yingtang climbed the tree in a few quick movements. She left the large fruits to sell, carefully picking them and tossing them to him, while eating the small ones herself, throwing them directly into the basket.

Standing high, she could see far. By the light reflected off the snow, Li Yingtang caught a glimpse of something dark red on the ground not far away: "A-Xian, walk toward seven o'clock and see what that is on the ground."

Qin Xian was stunned for a moment before he realized where seven o'clock was.

He walked over as instructed, and the ground was covered in hawthorn berries.

Brushing away the snow, there were even more.

"Hawthorn."

Li Yingtang was excited. They were going to be rich! "If we make them into candied hawthorns or hawthorn cake, they'll definitely sell for money."

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(End of chapter)