“It’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave first. Madam Li, please take good care of your injury. I will come back in five days for a follow-up consultation.” Wen Zhile glanced at the bright sun. It would still take quite a while to return to town from here, so he could not delay any longer.
Li’s mother quickly said, “It’s almost noon. Why not stay and have a meal before leaving?”
“Yes, you treated my daughter and didn’t even accept consultation fees. Staying for a meal can count as payment.”
Wen Zhile looked at Li Xianglian awkwardly, thinking of how to refuse, when Li’s father added, “Our home is indeed poor. If you don’t mind…”
“Uncle, what are you saying? I was also born into a poor family. We are all from humble backgrounds. There’s nothing to mind or not mind. I’m just afraid…”
Li Xianglian asked, “Afraid of what?”
“Afraid it may not be appropriate.”
Li Xianglian couldn’t help but smile. “It’s appropriate. If you don’t accept the consultation fee and also refuse to stay for a meal, then I won’t let you treat me anymore.”
Wen Zhile had no way to refuse and bowed slightly with a smile. “Since Madam Li says so, then I shall respectfully accept.”
“Qinglan, stay and eat with us too. My legs aren’t convenient, can you help my mother?” Li Xianglian asked while holding Qinglan’s hand.
Qinglan felt a bit embarrassed. “Doctor Wen is here to treat you. I didn’t help with anything. How could I stay and eat?”
“We’re like sisters. If you say that again, I’ll be upset. I heard you’re alone at home today. Your in-laws went to your uncle’s house, and your husband is working and won’t return until evening, right?”
Qinglan nodded. “Yes, I’m alone. But it’s fine. The morning porridge is still warm in the pot. I’ll just have some.”
“That won’t do. Since you’re alone, just stay and eat with us.”
Li’s mother stood at the kitchen door peeling potatoes. “Qinglan, stay and have a meal. You can help me too.”
“Alright then.” Qinglan rolled up her sleeves. “Auntie, I’ll help.”
Wen Zhile helped Li Xianglian into the house. Li’s father poured tea for them.
The house had very few belongings, and the tables and chairs were simple. Noticing his accent didn’t sound local, Li Xianglian curiously asked:
“I never asked before. Your accent doesn’t seem from around here.”
Wen Zhile smiled and briefly explained, “I’ve been studying medicine with my master in other places for years. I only returned at the beginning of this year, so my accent is a bit different.”
“No wonder you don’t sound local. I’ve heard people in the village praise your medical skills. For poor families who can’t afford consultation fees, you even pay for their medicine yourself. You’re truly a kind person.”
Li Xianglian gave him a thumbs-up.
Wen Zhile blushed slightly and lowered his gaze, not daring to look at her. “You flatter me. It’s just what I should do.”
As they chatted, Li Xianglian suddenly felt her chest heat up. She frowned.
Could it be that Chen Lang and the children were suffering right now?
At that moment, Chen Lang, upon learning that Wen Zhile stayed at the Li family for a meal, became so angry that he flipped the table. The food scattered all over the ground, and the table struck Chen Jue’s foot, instantly bruising it.
Chen Jue held back his tears, while Chen Xuan was too frightened to make a sound.
“Li Xianglian, that vicious woman—she’s doing this on purpose!”
Chen Lang gradually calmed down but couldn’t figure out what went wrong.
Ever since Li Xianglian was injured, she had become completely different. No matter how he tried to coax her, she refused to return. What exactly had gone wrong?
The two children couldn’t endure it and had already fallen asleep. He glanced at them and covered them with blankets.
Alone, he took a jug of wine and sat in the courtyard under the moonlight, drinking in silence.
After two or three days passed, Chen Lang still hadn’t received a reply from the capital, so he went to the courier. After checking the records, the courier told him:
“Wasn’t it already collected?”
“Collected? That’s impossible. It’s my letter. Who would take it?”
The courier, busy sorting letters, didn’t even look at him. “Maybe your family took it. Go home and ask.”
“Do you remember who took it?”
The courier grew impatient. “I deal with so many things every day, how would I remember? Go, go, don’t get in my way.”
Unwilling to give up, Chen Lang decided to send another letter.
He even reminded the courier to pay special attention to any letters coming from the capital.
After receiving the money, the courier’s tone softened. “Alright, alright, got it.”
Not long after leaving, Chen Lang ran into Xu Caishan, who was dressed as a man. He called gently, “Caishan, Caishan.”
Xu Caishan’s eyes were red and swollen. When she turned and saw it was Chen Lang, she looked even more aggrieved.
“What happened?”
Chen Lang felt heartbroken. He took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but remembering her male disguise, he instead held her arm and led her aside.
“Why are you crying? Tell me who bullied you. I’ll teach them a lesson.”
Xu Caishan didn’t speak and only sobbed softly, making Chen Lang anxious.
He took her to a private room in a restaurant, ordered two dishes and a pot of wine, and even had a shop assistant buy a hairpin to cheer her up.
Seeing Chen Lang’s sincerity, Xu Caishan no longer felt as aggrieved. With no one around, she boldly leaned into his arms and asked sweetly:
“Cousin, when will you return to the capital? Are you going to stay in this small town forever, guarding Li Xianglian?”
Chen Lang, already irritated by Li Xianglian, sighed.
“I don’t know what’s going on. The letter I sent earlier hasn’t received a reply. I asked the courier, and he said it was taken. But aside from you, no one knows my surname is Zhao.”
“Could it be Li Xianglian?” Xu Caishan immediately suspected her.
Chen Lang slowly shook his head.
“No, she’s not that clever. Only you and the children know my identity. The children hate her deeply and wouldn’t tell her. Even if she knew, I wouldn’t take her back to the capital. Li Xianglian isn’t worthy.
In previous letters, my mother already made it clear—she will never accept her as a daughter-in-law.”
Xu Caishan felt satisfied and looked up with a smile. “What about me?”
Chen Lang lifted her chin with his fingers, leaned closer to her lips, and whispered:
“You are my only wife.”
Xu Caishan snorted softly, turning her head to avoid his kiss, acting coy.
“But she is still your wife right now. What am I then? You all just bully me. Today when I went for a consultation, it was clearly a hopeless case, yet they blamed my poor medical skills. I didn’t even take the consultation fee before leaving. I am a disciple of Divine Doctor Valley—how could they belittle me like that?”
Xu Caishan started crying again, making Chen Lang hold her tighter, comforting her.
“Cousin, don’t worry. My mother in the capital has already started making arrangements. You know the Zhao family is powerful, but my mother is only a concubine, so we must proceed carefully.
Just endure a little longer. I, Zhao Lang, swear I will never mistreat you in this lifetime.
As for Li Xianglian, she keeps embarrassing me. Divorce would be too easy for her. I will slowly torment her and make her pay the price.”