Chapter 8: 8. Chapter 8: Is He Mentally Ill?

Chapter 8: Is He Mentally Ill?

Seeing Li Lian's expression turn peculiar, Yu Tingwan added slowly.

"But he must be responsible, not some idle loafer on the streets. He must be honest at home and must not hit me."

Li Lian fell into thought. Connecting this to Yu Tingwan's past experiences, she had a few suspicions and couldn't help but feel a sense of pity while weighing the pros and cons.

She did not give a perfunctory answer, instead considering the matter seriously.

The Hu family was likely to produce a scholar; naturally, anyone wishing to become in-laws with them would downplay their prejudice against Yu Tingwan, let alone the fact that the girl was exceptionally beautiful.

"The Zhu family in our village has four generations living together and a flourishing lineage. Their four sons are all robust and unmarried, and they are all capable hands in the fields. They are all good young men."

"The Zhu sons are exceptionally filial, but the Zhu matriarch has been ill and taking medicine every day, which has drained them. That is why this marriage has been delayed until now."

"But the family is reasonable. If you marry the eldest son, it will only be hard for the first few years. Do you worry about not having a good life later on?"

No, she couldn't endure that kind of hardship.

If Mother Zhu was sick, as a daughter-in-law, she would have to care for her by the bedside.

She would have to take charge of all the housework, managing everything inside and out.

Never mind brewing medicine and cooking; as a junior and the eldest sister-in-law, besides washing the clothes of the four brothers, she would also have to wash the old clothes of the elders.

It would be even harder than being in the Hu family.

Then what would be the point?

She was getting married, not becoming a slave.

Yu Tingwan asked without hesitation, "Does Mother have any other suitable candidates?"

Li Lian was quite easy to talk to: "How about the son of that widow from the Shi family? Their family structure is simple, and that young man works as an accountant in town."

The Shi family had one of the best conditions in Xilin Village.

Yu Tingwan shook her head. "Widow Shi treats her son like the apple of her eye; being high-minded and proud, she likely wouldn't look at me. I don't ask for much, but at the very least, Mother must be a reasonable person."

This presented a dilemma for Li Lian.

Who hadn't gone from being a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law?

If the Shi son didn't only look at faces when finding a wife, countless girls in the village would be rushing to marry him.

Li Lian had a headache.

"I do have one more."

"As you know, every New Year, my family buys pigs from the neighboring Gao Village, and through this back-and-forth, we've developed a relationship with that butcher, Wu. This man is solitary by nature and five years older than you. He is the only one left in his house; his elders passed away long ago."

She hesitated for a long while: "Although you wouldn't lack meat to eat once you marry in, but..."

"But I cannot go against my conscience and introduce you to him."

"That boy is a decent person and quite generous, but he is solitary and doesn't like to talk. He has a body full of muscle and is tall and imposing, which can be quite intimidating. However, he was born missing a finger on his left hand, which is quite inauspicious. It's bad luck, truly. Who would dare be his wife?"

Yu Tingwan's eyes lit up. There was such a rare specimen!

So what if he had four fingers? With his two hands, if he could support himself, how was he inferior to anyone?

Her father had worked in a security bureau in his younger years. He had an ugly scar on his right cheek that looked like a centipede, and he often said

[Your mother had a hard first half of her life. Since she followed me, she must eat the best food, wear the most beautiful clothes, and live in the finest house.]

She thought her father was the most handsome!

Yu Tingwan recommended herself: "Me!"

No need to serve parents-in-law, no friction with sisters-in-law.

So what if he had a strange temperament? She wasn't someone to be trifled with either!

Li Lian:???

Are you serious!?

But if you stood next to Butcher Wu, you wouldn't match in any way.

She studied Yu Tingwan's expression; it didn't seem fake.

Li Lian couldn't understand it, but she respected it!

Yu Tingwan smiled, showing no bashfulness. "When he is free, Mother might as well arrange for us to meet."

Country folk didn't have so many rules, and after the drama with Mrs. Wang, Li didn't find the suggestion abrupt.

If the two didn't dislike each other and lived their lives steadily, it wouldn't be a bad match.

Thinking carefully, it might actually work. Li Lian slapped her thigh: "Done! Just wait for my news."

As soon as Li Lian left, Mrs. Wang burst in.

With a dark face, she scrutinized Yu Tingwan.

"What did you say to Li Lian?"

They talked for so long! She couldn't have been badmouthing her, could she? Otherwise, why did Li Lian glare at her before leaving!

Recalling the pointing and whispering of the villagers just now, Mrs. Wang felt humiliated and indignant.

Yu Tingwan tucked away the smile in her eyes, and her expression cooled.

"Want to know?"

Mrs. Wang:?

Yu Tingwan said softly, "Go guess."

Mrs. Wang:??

Now that someone was backing you up, you've become lawless!

————

Old Man Qian had been walking with a spring in his step these past few days.

His medical skills were not profound, but he understood Wei Shen's condition clearly.

When the villagers first brought the man in, he took one look and told Shouzhong's wife to prepare the funeral arrangements. But unable to withstand their desperate pleas, he had kept the man.

Old Man Qian had no choice but to stuff a slice of old mountain ginseng into his mouth every day.

And that Wei Shen actually hadn't breathed his last!!

Thus, there was hope.

Wei Shouzhong had run back to find Old Lady Wei, and Hui Niang had returned to her maiden home to borrow money, all hoping that once the road was unblocked, they could send their son to a clinic in town.

As noon approached, Old Man Qian picked up his medicine box to change the dressings next door.

The light in the room was dim. The man on the bed was as pale as paper, and at some unknown moment, he had opened his eyes.

He leaned against the wall, the corners of his mouth drooping. He slowly raised his eyes; his gaze was hollow, yet it seemed to be churning with a massive, raging storm.

That single look made the spine of Old Man Qian go cold.

The snow fell even harder, as if it were trying to destroy something.

When Wei Shouzhong came over clutching a money bag, he saw Old Man Qian rushing out of the room in a panic.

"Quick, go get the ceramic jar on the table next door!"

Old Man Qian left those words and turned back.

Panicked, Wei Shouzhong grabbed the ceramic jar from the next room and rushed inside.

His vision was a blur of bright red; blood was spraying from A-Lang's chest, covering half his body.

Old Man Qian's expression was grave as he tried to press down on the wound, but the warm liquid continued to gush out through his fingers.

"Wasn't this wound stopped a few days ago?"

Wei Shouzhong's legs went weak, and he fell to the ground with a 'thud': "Doctor Qian, please save A-Lang."

"Please use the best medicine. If the money isn't enough, my wife and I will go gather more."

Old Man Qian had a bad temper, but he wouldn't be careless when a life was at stake.

"Enough, begging me won't help. If this bleeding doesn't stop, there's nothing I can do."

Doctor Qian's expression was solemn, sweat dripping from his forehead. He snatched the ceramic jar and poured the hemostatic powder onto the wound.

"Go get several basins of water! It must be boiling!"

With bloodshot eyes, Wei Shouzhong dropped the cloth bag containing the silver and ran outside.

Time was agonizing.

After an unknown amount of time, Old Man Qian let out a long sigh of relief.

Wei Shouzhong asked anxiously, "Doctor Qian, how is A-Lang?"

"Your son is mentally ill."

Wei Shouzhong: "Yes, aren't we treating him now?"

Old Man Qian didn't rush to wash his hands. "He just woke up."

Wei Shouzhong:!!!

He was ecstatic: "Really!"

"Don't be happy too soon."

Old Man Qian: "He just asked me if I had a knife. I said no, but I had scissors. He was quite polite when he took them."

Wei Shouzhong was relieved, but expressed confusion: "What does he want scissors for?"

Old Man Qian's expression was strange: "To stab the wound."

He did it with such decisiveness and efficiency.

Wei Shouzhong:???

Old Man Qian found it hard to describe: "After he stabbed it, he pulled it out again. Before lying back down and closing his eyes, he even complained that my scissors were too blunt."

"Tell me, is there something wrong with his head?"

*The daughter is about to go on a matchmaking meeting.*

*Wei Zhao: Don't panic, I'll stab myself once first.*

(End of Chapter)