Chapter 15: Collecting the Goods

"Dr. Qin, I’ve scalded my hand. Could you please take a look and see if it’s anything serious?"

Another patient had arrived at the infirmary.

Li Yingtang retreated under the eaves to continue knitting her scarf.

The sun shone down on her, making her feel lazy.

Tired of sitting, she stood up to stretch and, seeing Auntie Liu and her daughters-in-law passing by, asked casually, "Where is the whole family headed?"

Auntie Liu replied, "Dashun and Yulan in the village are getting married today and hosting a banquet. They definitely invited little Qin, too. Are you coming with us?"

Li Yingtang put down her work and went into the infirmary to ask.

Before she could open her mouth, Qin Xian proactively took out two one-yuan bills. "I heard. This is for the gift money. You go ahead first; if I have time, I’ll go. Don't eat too many cold dishes."

"Got it." Li Yingtang grabbed the money and went with Auntie Liu and the others to the groom's house.

In the short five-minute walk, she learned the most explosive gossip in the village.

There was a father-in-law who drove his daughter out of the house for the sake of a live-in son-in-law.

There was a brother-in-law having an affair with his sister-in-law.

And the pork seller’s wife’s niece was getting cozy with the pork seller.

Once they arrived, everyone shifted the topic to the groom welcoming guests outside the door.

He was about twenty-five or twenty-six, with regular features and a medium build. He was wearing his usual clothes, with a fake flower made of red cloth pinned to his chest.

"Dashun looks so handsome today! When are you going to pick up the bride?"

"Leaving right now."

After exchanging a few pleasantries at the door, everyone signed the gift book and went inside.

The interior was simple, with adobe walls and old wooden windows.

A girl in red sat by the wooden bed. She was eighteen or nineteen, with pretty features and a matching fake flower pinned to her chest. She kept her head down, wiping away tears from time to time.

Li Yingtang thought to herself: *This is the bride? I thought she hadn't arrived yet?*

"Yulan, why are you crying? The man’s family is well-off, and they gave a generous dowry. You’ll be living in luxury once you marry over there."

"The couple is young, too. In the future, they won't just help you earn money; they can even help you look after your kids."

"Stop trying to persuade her. This stubborn girl is thick-headed; she doesn't know when she's well off!" Yulan’s mother said, hands on her hips. "When the groom comes later, if you dare to pull any stunts, I’ll have your father beat you to death!"

Li Yingtang understood.

A bride swap!

She had seen it on TV.

Parents on both sides, in order to save money, would marry their own daughters to each other's sons.

How could there be such selfish parents and brothers?

To profit by stepping on their daughters and sisters—could their consciences be at ease?

Yulan said nothing, silently shedding tears.

Li Yingtang felt great sympathy, but there was nothing she could do except offer her own handkerchief.

Yulan’s mother acted as if she had found a savior. "Dr. Qin’s wife, you’re a city girl with a lot of experience. Please, talk some sense into this stubborn girl."

"How am I supposed to talk sense into her? My family doesn't make a habit of trading daughters for daughters-in-law," Li Yingtang retorted.

Yulan’s mother’s face turned red and then white. She wanted to scold Li Yingtang but didn't dare offend Qin Xian, so she shut her mouth in frustration.

Li Yingtang wanted to comfort the girl, but Auntie Liu called out to her, "Little Qin’s wife, hurry over here."

She thought it was something urgent, but when she got there, she realized it was just to save a seat.

After they sat down, the food was served.

There were eight cold dishes, which looked like a lot, but they were all vegetarian.

Cold tossed cilantro, cold tossed spinach, cold tossed kelp shreds, cold tossed tofu...

There were ten bowls of meat dishes, but most of those were vegetarian, too.

Even so, Li Yingtang couldn't get any. After reaching for food a few times and coming up empty, she simply put down her chopsticks.

Auntie Liu grabbed a piece of vegetarian chicken for her. "Little Qin’s wife, eat up."

"I'm not hungry."

"Then I'll eat it." Auntie Liu took the vegetarian chicken back.

Li Yingtang: "..."

At the health station.

Qin Xian sent off the last patient and rolled up his sleeves to check the time. It was just lunch hour, so he locked the door to find Li Yingtang.

He had just pulled out the key when a man’s hearty voice came from behind him.

"Qin Xian, where are you off to?"

Qin Xian turned his head, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "It’s you. Something up?"

The man’s surname was Xi, his given name Yue. He worked in the West District Criminal Investigation Team. He had been desk-mates with Qin Xian in high school and had kept in touch after they went to their respective universities. "I wouldn't come to your temple without a reason. The team received a major case, and we’re short on autopsy staff. I need your help."

Qin Xian declined tactfully, "I’m busy here, too. You have so many talented people in the city; you don't need me."

"I don't trust anyone else. You'll be back in a couple of days. Look, I’ve even filled out the application for you." Xi Yue waved the stamped application letter in his hand.

Qin Xian’s gaze lingered on the stamp. "I also have something I’d like your help with."

"As long as it’s within my power, I’ll go through fire and—" Xi Yue suddenly stopped, pointing at the white nightgown drying under the eaves. "You got married?"

Qin Xian paused for a moment, then nodded. "Mm."

"Where is she? What does she look like?" Xi Yue looked around.

"At a banquet in the village ahead. You want to see?"

Qin Xian was so blunt that Xi Yue felt embarrassed instead. "Are you crazy? Why would I want to see your wife? Let's focus on the real business."

After the banquet ended, Li Yingtang went home.

The front door was locked.

Where was he?

The room's window was open. She lifted the curtain and found a key, then opened the door and walked in.

There was a note on the table.

"Had to go out for something. Might be staying away for two or three days. Take care of yourself."

Li Yingtang: "..." He left? Who was going to cook for her for the next two days? If he was leaving, she was leaving too!

Immediately, she collected the clothes drying in the courtyard, packed two changes of clothes, locked the door, closed the windows, and left.

By the afternoon, she reached the township, caught a minibus to the city, checked into the same guesthouse as last time, and appeared at the second-hand market the next day.

She wandered around, picking and choosing. The items she liked had high asking prices, and she couldn't haggle them down, so she planned to stroll elsewhere to look for other business opportunities.

As she exited the main gate, a thin, gaunt middle-aged man blocked her path. He looked left and right, then pulled her aside and whispered, "Miss, want to see my goods? They’re cheap and high quality."

Li Yingtang: "I only look at jade."

"It is jade. I noticed you the moment you walked in."

Li Yingtang said guardedly, "Why notice me? I’m no sucker."

"I know, just take a look at my goods first." The man hurriedly pulled a wooden box from his chest, opened it gently, and revealed a yellow-white jade Pixiu inside.

Li Yingtang reached out, but pulled back as she neared the box. The old saying went: *Jade doesn't pass through hands, gold doesn't leave the eyes.* What if he let go while she was taking it? Wouldn't she be in trouble? "Put it on the ground first. Let me pick it up and put it down myself."

"Sure." The man complied with nimble movements.

Only then did Li Yingtang dare to take it. She touched it and examined it under the light, confirming it was genuine—and a perfectly flawless piece at that. She immediately asked for the price. "How much do you want?"

"Thirty."

Li Yingtang: "Cheaper."

"That's the lowest. If I weren't in urgent need of money, I definitely wouldn't sell it."

Hearing this, Li Yingtang decided to drop the price by a third. "Twenty yuan. If you're willing to part with it, I'll buy it."

This person’s goods definitely weren't obtained through proper channels; otherwise, why not go to a legitimate shop?

The buyer could see the situation and took the opportunity to drive the price down.

He didn't want to sell it for a pittance, so he had picked her, thinking she was the easiest to manipulate.

The man gritted his teeth. "Twenty it is."

Li Yingtang paid the money and took the goods. This time, she went to an inconspicuous antique shop to sell it.

She had found out about this shop from the craftsman who had polished her smoky purple pendant.

They specialized in buying treasures of questionable origin.

"Boss, sorry to trouble you, but take a look at this treasure I have and tell me how many steamed buns it's worth."