Cui Shitou’s guess was completely groundless.
Just because someone carried a sword at their waist did not mean they were a murderer. If that were the case, the streets would be full of killers.
It was their first day as fellow disciples, so Ning Yuchan did not argue with him and simply treated it as something amusing.
Doctor Cui quickly examined the academy student Yao Jiaming. With acupuncture, herbal medicine, and medicinal plaster, whatever Cui Shantang had, he prescribed it, guaranteeing that Yao Jiaming could discard the splints in half a month and be lively and active again in one month.
They had come by carriage and originally planned to return to the academy overnight after treating the injury.
However, after the consultation, Yao Jiaming changed his mind.
While Doctor Cui was treating Yao Jiaming, Ning Yuchan had been following at his side.
She did not understand medicine, nor did she intend to learn any advanced medical skills. She only wanted to restore the Huo family plaster.
She was not particularly interested in Doctor Cui’s consultations.
But Yao Jiaming’s leg injury was exactly the kind that the Huo family plaster could treat, which was enough to arouse her interest.
When Doctor Cui wrote the prescription, he handed the task of bandaging the leg to her.
She had never done it before and was very unskilled. Cui Shitou stood nearby, guiding her.
Several times, she accidentally touched Yao Jiaming’s wound, causing him to bare his teeth in pain.
Ning Yuchan was shy and embarrassed, and she smiled apologetically at him. “I’m sorry, I hurt you.”
Ning Yuchan was beautiful. Her soft, fair fingers seemed almost boneless as they moved around Yao Jiaming’s leg again and again.
He was an adult who lived at the academy all year round. Apart from female mosquitoes, he never saw any females.
Now that he was in such close contact with such a beautiful young woman, his breathing gradually became unsteady.
His classmates suggested several times that they return to the academy overnight, but he refused each time, claiming that his leg pain was unbearable.
In the end, all four of them stayed at the medical hall.
Since Yao Jiaming had developed an interest, he naturally wanted to find out her background.
“Little sister, how old are you? Where is your home? How did you become Doctor Cui’s disciple?”
He asked more than a dozen questions in one breath.
While tending to his leg, Ning Yuchan answered, “My home is nearby. I just became his disciple today.”
As a man, Cui Shitou understood Yao Jiaming’s intentions all too well.
He had already noticed earlier that this man was staring straight at his junior sister, and now he was openly questioning her.
There was no way he could feel comfortable about it.
“Stop asking. My junior sister is already married.”
Yao Jiaming was startled. “Married?”
Liang Yunxian had been quietly watching Ning Yuchan all along.
He wanted to see something from her expression.
Unfortunately, Ning Yuchan remained calm the entire time. She neither showed polite engagement in her words nor gave him any response with her gaze. He was already feeling uneasy.
Hearing Cui Shitou’s answer, he could not help but clench his fingers.
Cui Shitou took the bandage from Ning Yuchan’s hands and tightened it hard, causing Yao Jiaming to let out a loud cry.
Realizing that he had been inappropriate, Yao Jiaming felt embarrassed to blame Cui Shitou.
He turned to Liang Yunxian and asked, “I remember your home is nearby. You don’t know such a beautiful girl?”
Liang Yunxian did not respond. Yao Jiaming then asked Ning Yuchan, “Where exactly is your home? My maternal grandfather’s house is also nearby. Maybe we’re from the same village.”
Ning Yuchan could not lie. Being pressed repeatedly, she could only answer honestly, “Huojia Village.”
Yao Jiaming was stunned. “Yunxian, isn’t that your village?”
Liang Yunxian nodded. “I’m not home often, so I’m not very familiar.”
Yao Jiaming laughed. “Even if you’re not home often now because of studying, when she was born, didn’t your family send any congratulatory gifts?”
Taohua did not like his persistent questioning and said unhappily, “My sister-in-law only married into the family this year. It’s normal that Brother Liang doesn’t know her. No wonder your leg got injured, you talk too much.”
Yao Jiaming clicked his tongue. “You little girl has quite a sharp tongue. Be careful or you won’t be able to get married.”
Taohua snorted. “Even if I don’t get married, I wouldn’t consider you. Give up.”
Yao Jiaming laughed in annoyance. “How old are you, and how old am I? You’re just a little child.”
His eyes still drifted toward Ning Yuchan, and he remained curious. “Since she’s married, why isn’t she staying at home? Where is her husband? Isn’t he worried about her being out alone?”
No one answered him, so he turned to Liang Yunxian again. “She already calls you ‘Brother Liang.’ Why don’t you have any reaction?”
Liang Yunxian said directly, “She is Huo Mingqian’s niece.”
Yao Jiaming made a sound of realization, seeming to understand why Liang Yunxian had remained silent all along.
Liang Yunxian had passed the county-level examination five years ago. In the previous provincial-level examination, the academy had high expectations for him and believed he would succeed.
Unfortunately, he failed.
Huo Mingqian passed the county-level examination three years ago.
Although Huo Mingqian had passed the county-level examination a few years later than Liang Yunxian, it was as if he had awakened late. Over the past two years, his results had consistently ranked at the top, matching Liang Yunxian.
The two could be said to be in a competitive relationship.
Even though they were from the same village, they rarely interacted.
Many people did not even know that the two were from the same village and were related.
At this moment, when Liang Yunxian mentioned that the two girls were relatives of Huo Mingqian, it became clear why he had not shown any sign of recognizing them.
Since they were Huo Mingqian’s relatives, Yao Jiaming could not act too attentive and could only reluctantly suppress his thoughts.
“How about we head back to the academy overnight?”
Liang Yunxian cast him a displeased glance. “The mountain roads are difficult, and the city gates are closed. Are you sure you can get out?”
Yao Jiaming sighed. “Then get me a roast chicken. It’s not often we come down the mountain. Let me eat well before going back.”
After dinner, Ning Yuchan helped the workers clean the front courtyard.
The two workers were brothers. The elder was thin and called Dazhuang.
The younger was chubby and called Erzhuang.
Both of them were cheerful. They snatched the broom from Ning Yuchan’s hands and would not let her work. “Our medical hall finally has two young ladies. You don’t need to do this kind of work.”
Erzhuang grinned foolishly. “If you really want to do something, help Master turn the medicinal herbs.”
Before getting married, Ning Yuchan had done all kinds of work.
Washing, cleaning, tidying up, steaming buns, and making pastries. Ning Yuqiao never touched such chores. In order to lighten Old Man Ning’s burden, Ning Yuchan had to do more.
After marrying into the Huo family, it was not the busy season yet, and Mother Huo was efficient at work. Aside from helping with cooking, she did not need to do anything.
Helping the two workers tidy up the medical hall was already very easy.
But Dazhuang and Erzhuang would not let her do rough work and insisted on sending her away.
So she went to help her master sort the medicinal herbs.
Liang Yunxian and his classmate Li Yanbin, who had come together to accompany Yao Jiaming, went out to buy two roast chickens and some buns and pastries.
After entering the medical hall, Liang Yunxian took out two pastries, tore off a chicken leg, and said to Li Yanbin, “You go inside and eat with them. I’ll stay outside for some fresh air.”
Liang Yunxian was naturally withdrawn and did not like to talk much, so Li Yanbin did not think much of it. He carried the food into the patient’s room and ate with his two classmates.
Liang Yunxian stared at Ning Yuchan’s back for a moment, his gaze deepening, then walked over and handed her the chicken leg and pastries.
“This is for you.”
When Ning Yuchan met his deep gaze, a sense of guilt gradually filled her chest.
“Brother-in-law…”
Liang Yunxian did not like this form of address. “I do not acknowledge this marriage. Changsheng has already left. I am not in a hurry to force you to return. After I take the provincial level examination, I will go to the Huo family to bring you back.”
During the five years of their engagement, Ning Yuchan had no dissatisfaction with Liang Yunxian.
Although he was not good with words, whenever he returned home, he would go to Dayang Village to accompany Old Man Ning and talk with him.
During festivals and holidays, he would also send gifts.
As for her, there was nothing about him she could find fault with.
Moreover, he was handsome and refined. Because he had studied for many years, his whole person carried a strong scholarly air.
Today, he was wearing the academy’s standard attire, a moon-white long robe.
The flowing hem made him appear even more elegant and extraordinary.
For these five years, Ning Yuchan had never imagined that she would miss out on Liang Yunxian and marry someone else.
But fate was just so cruel.
She had already bowed in marriage to a rooster. There was no going back for the two of them.
She did not even dare to look into his eyes.
“My sister is doing well. Treat her well.”
Liang Yunxian was very stubborn. He stared into Ning Yuchan’s eyes without blinking. “I don’t care whether she’s doing well or not. You are my fiancée. The person I have always wanted to marry is you.
You can’t treat me like this.
I won’t accept it.”
After saying this, he stuffed the Kraft paper bag containing the chicken leg and pastries into Ning Yuchan’s arms.
“Don’t refuse me. Otherwise, I’ll go to the Huo family right now and make things clear about the marriage.”
Ning Yuchan held the paper bag, unsure whether to accept it or return it.
Liang Yunxian appeared gentle, but in truth, he was stubborn and rigid. If he really went to the Huo family to make a scene, how could she still have the face to remain in the Huo family or face the people of Huojia Village?
There was only one reason why Liang Yunxian was not forcing Ning Yuchan.
That was because Huo Changsheng was presumed dead.
Once he passed the provincial level examination in the autumn, he would have status, position, and authority. He would not fear that the Huo family would refuse to release her.
Moreover, from what he had heard from Tian Fengying, if Huo Changsheng did not return within three years, Ning Yuchan would be free to remarry.
At worst, he could wait until three years had passed.
He did not know what Ning Yuchan truly thought, and there was no need to force her to make any promises now.
Li Yanbin was Huo Mingqian’s closest friend.
He had just noticed from the window that Liang Yunxian had gone to find Ning Yuchan, and doubt arose in his heart. Now he stood at the doorway, watching him with an unreadable expression.
When Liang Yunxian walked up to him, Li Yanbin grabbed him. “Care to explain?”
Liang Yunxian pushed his hand away and said coldly, “There’s nothing to explain.”
Ning Yuchan brought the chicken leg and pastries back to the inner residence.
She did not know how to deal with them, yet she could not throw them away.
Food was precious. So many people could not afford to eat and even sold their children. How could she waste food?
After hesitating for a moment, she decided to give them to Doctor Cui.
Doctor Cui treated her like a daughter. How could he possibly take food from a child?
“It’s enough that you have this filial heart. Share it with Taohua.”
Ning Yuchan understood in her heart that Doctor Cui had practiced medicine for many years and had eaten all kinds of good things. He did not care about what she had brought.
She could only take them back and share them with Taohua.
Worried that Taohua would ask where they came from, she could only lie and say that Yao Jiaming had given them to thank her for helping treat his injury.
Taohua stuffed pastries into her mouth while cursing, “Bah, you can tell at a glance he’s up to no good. His eyes were fixed on someone else’s wife. Shameless, bah—”
Ning Yuchan only ate one pastry. The rest all went into Taohua’s stomach.
“Sister-in-law, actually it’s not bad to have someone like you.”
Ning Yuchan asked curiously, “Why?”
Taohua said, “You get to eat big chicken legs.”
……
Ning Yuchan and Taohua had left home together with Tian Fengying, but when she returned, she was alone.
Both girls had become Doctor Cui’s disciples. Tian Fengying was delighted. She told everyone she met and even exaggerated the story of Doctor Cui setting a test.
She wished she could recreate the scene so the villagers could see it for themselves.
Although Tian Fengying was somewhat overbearing, she had always been fair and just in her dealings. The villagers all liked her.
They had no doubt about what she said.
Of course, this did not include Eldest Aunt Huo.
“The second household has always been short on money. Second Brother’s leg is not good, and they don’t even have much land. The whole family is about to starve, and now the second sister-in-law sends both girls out. Isn’t that a joke?”
Eldest Uncle Huo did not doubt it. “Sending them out means two fewer mouths to feed. Isn’t that a good thing?”
Eldest Aunt Huo did not think so. “What good thing? Two little girls learning medicine, can they even become doctors? I think Tian Fengying has never had good intentions. Maybe she sold the two girls…”
She paused mid-sentence. “Sold them?”
She hurriedly put on her clothes. “No, I have to go to the Liang family and tell Scholar Liang’s wife. Tian Fengying has sold the Ning family’s girl. If we go after them now, maybe we can still bring them back. If we’re too late, we won’t be able to catch up.”