Chapter 14: Stubborn

When Li Yingtang arrived at the village by minibus and stepped off, the sky hadn't gone completely dark yet, but the moon had already risen.

Ahead of her, the view seemed to hide an endless darkness—dense, gloomy, and chilling.

She should have agreed on a time for Qin Xian to pick her up.

But it didn't matter; it was just a night walk.

She wasn't afraid.

Oh, heavens!

It was so scary.

The wind roared in her ears, sounding like ghosts wailing.

After walking for a stretch, Li Yingtang noticed a figure ahead. In the freezing cold, her hands and feet were already numb. If she ran into a bad person, wouldn't it be dangerous if she couldn't fight back? Considering this, she nervously hid behind a tree to observe carefully.

As the person drew closer, her vigilant eyes instantly turned to surprise, followed by a sense of grievance.

"A-Xian! Wuwuwu... I finally see you."

Qin Xian stopped his bicycle. In the faint moonlight, the woman ran out from behind the tree and threw herself into his arms, crying.

Qin Xian stood stiff for a moment, then raised his hand to gently pat her back in comfort. Once she had calmed down, he asked, "Why didn't you find a place to stay?"

"There aren't any decent small inns in the village. Even if there were, I wouldn't dare stay in a place where I don't know anyone. Where are you going? To see a patient?" Li Yingtang asked, her wet eyes wide with curiosity.

Qin Xian’s eyes flickered. "Mm. No rush. I'll take you back first."

"Good, I'm freezing to death." Li Yingtang sniffled and sat on the back, wrapping her arms around him. As if just remembering, she said, "Wait, that's not right. When ordinary people get sick, how could a doctor make house calls personally? Unless someone invited you, you must have come specifically to pick me up, right? How did you know I was coming back today?"

Qin Xian gripped the handlebars tighter. "I was passing by."

Li Yingtang thought to herself, *Just keep being stubborn! If you didn't come specifically for me, how could it be such a coincidence? Should I call him out? I'll give him some face and let it go.* She changed the subject: "Didn't you say before that you needed my home address to issue a referral letter? Listen carefully, my home is at 66 Xian'an Road. Ah!"

The bicycle suddenly swerved as if out of control.

Li Yingtang screamed in fright.

The village road was narrow, with dry ditches on both sides; if they fell, she’d end up bruised and battered.

Qin Xian steadied the bike. "I ran over a branch."

Li Yingtang was still shaken. "You scared me to death. Did you remember my home address?"

Qin Xian gave a vague "Mm."

His deep gaze was full of doubt. Since she had already entered the city, why didn't she go get the referral letter herself? And the address she gave was actually his own home.

What was she planning?

Was she hinting that he should marry her?

It was indeed time to give the girl a proper status.

Li Yingtang smiled triumphantly, but a second later, her smile vanished because he said, "It is not a long-term solution for a young woman like you to live with me without status. When the New Year holidays come, I will visit your parents to discuss a wedding date."

Li Yingtang panicked. A visit? Wouldn't her cover be blown? "My parents told me when I went home this time that they are being transferred to work elsewhere and won't be back for the New Year. You can just discuss it with me; I can make my own decisions."

"I cannot listen to you. The commands of parents and the words of matchmakers—even in free marriage, the proper etiquette cannot be skipped. You are young and don't understand, but I cannot pretend not to know," Qin Xian insisted.

Li Yingtang’s face was full of worry. What was she to do?

There were two patients standing at the entrance of the health station.

Seeing Qin Xian return, they immediately stepped forward; one said they had a fever, the other complained of back pain.

Qin Xian was busy with consultations.

Li Yingtang went into the kitchen to fill a thermos, mixed in some hot water, and carried it into the room to wash up.

While she was soaking her feet, the door was pushed open from the outside. Qin Xian stepped into the room, holding an enamel mug. "Drink some glucose to build up your strength."

Li Yingtang took the mug and drank it in one breath.

As she set it down, she caught a glimpse of him picking up his coat.

"Wait," Li Yingtang said. "I bought you a watch. It's in the inside chest pocket. See if you like it."

Qin Xian reached in and felt a beautifully packaged small box, a jade bracelet, and a jade pendant. Inside the box was an exquisite wristwatch; one look told him it was worth a fortune. "This is too valuable. I cannot accept it."

"Just take it. Consider it my... our token of affection." Li Yingtang carefully covered her mouth; she had almost said "dowry."

He was a top student with a stable job.

If he heard her say that, he wouldn't be happy, would he?

Qin Xian: "..." Shouldn't the token come from him? "Are the jade bracelet and pendant family heirlooms? You shouldn't just leave them in your pocket; aren't you afraid of losing them?"

"I bought them; they aren't worth much. The pendant is for you, too. I'll wear the bracelet for fun." Li Yingtang dried her feet, put on her slippers, and stepped forward. She took the watch from his hand to put it on for him, admiring and praising it: "Your hands are so good-looking. This watch is too shabby for you. When I get rich, I'll buy you a better one."

Qin Xian felt awkward hearing this. Buying things for him?

Was he some kind of little wife?

"It's not easy for elders to earn money; you shouldn't spend it like this."

"I earned it myself. The money is very clean—I didn't sell my looks, and I didn't break the law. Rest assured and keep it. As for how I earned it, I'll tell you slowly later."

Qin Xian was puzzled. Why couldn't she say it now?

The next morning.

Li Yingtang slept until she woke up naturally. After breakfast, she took out the yarn she had bought two days ago and sat under the eaves in the sun to knit.

"Knitting a sweater for Dr. Qin's place, are you?"

The sunlight was blinding, and Li Yingtang squinted to look at the person.

She recognized the visitor; it was Wu Hong, the wife of Cheng Da from the entrance of the village. Cheng Da and Cheng San, who had saved Cheng Fang, were first cousins.

That day when Cheng Fang fell into the water, it was thanks to Wu Hong going home to get a quilt; otherwise, Cheng Fang would have suffered frostbite if she hadn't frozen to death.

She smiled and replied, "It's a scarf. Where are you going, Sister-in-law Chen?"

"To see the fifth son of the Third Master's family. Didn't his wife crack his head open? I'm bringing him some eggs to help him recover." Wu Hong lifted the cloth on her vegetable basket to let Li Yingtang see the eggs inside. "They're all good things; I couldn't even bear to eat them myself. That fifth son's wife is too shrewish. She's only been married for three months, and she's beaten her husband more than his mother has in twenty years."

Li Yingtang remembered the woman who had been scolding her daughter-in-law that night. She wanted to say something against the old woman, but it wasn't her place to speak, as it was someone else's family business. She teased, "Is that so? This new bride is really something compared to the mother-in-law."

Wu Hong chuckled. "You said it."

Li Yingtang changed the subject: "How is the girl who fell into the river the other day doing?"

"That dead girl Cheng Fang? All day long, it's either this hurts or that itches. I don't know if she caught something from the freezing water, but by the second day, she couldn't walk. They called Dr. Qin to look at her, and Dr. Qin said it couldn't be cured.

At first, she made such a fuss about the business with Third Brother and refused to get engaged. Now she's agreed, but what's the use? Even if Third Brother likes her, he can't possibly marry a cripple to be a burden, right? Now, her mother wants to marry her off to Feng the Bachelor in the next village, whose wife died." Wu Hong sighed, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, I can't dawdle here. I have to get these things delivered; there's a pile of work waiting at home."

"Walk slowly," Li Yingtang said, standing up to see her off for a few steps. She turned and headed back to the infirmary.

Because there were patients inside, she had to lower her voice to gossip: "Is Cheng Fang really unable to walk? What's the reason? Tell me, I want to hear." She asked, tugging on his sleeve.

Qin Xian glanced at her hand resting on his sleeve—white and soft, making it hard to look away. "When she fell into the water, she likely hit an ice block and injured her lower back."