He Yue had someone she liked in her heart, and when she heard Liu Youxing’s teasing, she stamped her foot in frustration and pointed at him, scolding:
“Anyone who ends up marrying you, Liu Youxing, will have nothing but bad luck!”
Her coquettish demeanor fully displayed the air of a pampered young lady.
Shopkeeper Wang returned just in time to see their haughty squabbling and quickly stepped forward to mediate.
“Both of you, speak calmly. Don’t let two wooden boxes ruin your friendship.”
After leaving Lu Ban’s shop, Li Miaomiao went to a cloth store to buy needles, thread, and a bolt of the cheapest linen. She had originally planned to head straight to the bookstore, but passing the pharmacy, the image of Xiao Xian’s leg pain that night suddenly came to mind. She took out the half-jade pendant he had given her, bit her lip thoughtfully, and walked inside.
At that moment, Lin Dalang was taking Li Xiaorou to a tavern to meet Guo Ce. Seeing Li Miaomiao enter the pharmacy, both of them immediately thought of Xiao Xian.
Lin Dalang sneered coldly: “No matter how many medicines she buys, the cripple will always be a cripple.”
Hearing the hidden meaning, Li Xiaorou asked gently: “Lin Lang, are you saying Xiao Xian’s leg can’t be healed?”
Guo Ce had told Lin Dalang about Xiao Xian’s background. Though he didn’t go into details, Lin Dalang knew that Xiao Xian had once been a high-ranking official in the capital, but after offending someone, his legs were crippled and he was exiled to this place.
“Not only can’t it be healed—his leg will gradually rot,” Lin Dalang said.
Li Xiaorou gasped softly, her eyes showing fear, even more delicate than a newly bloomed flower.
Lin Dalang loved this fragile look in her most, finding it irresistible in private. He pulled her into his arms, speaking in what he thought was a strong, comforting voice:
“Xiaorou, don’t be afraid. This is what Li Miaomiao deserves. She chose Xiao Xian herself; no one else is to blame.”
With that, he completely dismissed both of them.
At the thought of Li Miaomiao lying in the same bed as Xiao Xian, waking up in the middle of the night to see his ulcerated, pus-filled legs, he imagined her frightened, panicked expression, and his heart felt especially satisfied.
“Husband, if Sister ever regrets and wants to reconcile with you…”
Before she could finish, Lin Dalang interrupted, his face triumphant as if he had already succeeded in some promotion or fortune.
“Xiaorou, don’t worry. Even if she kneels before me, I wouldn’t give her a glance.”
Hearing this, Li Xiaorou smiled happily.
But the happiness didn’t last.
The two entered a private room. At first, Guo Ce was polite, but when he learned Lin Dalang had no news of Xiao Xian’s every move, he slammed his sleeve, overturning the teacup on the table.
The cup shattered into pieces on the floor.
Opening his folding fan, the warmth on his face vanished completely, replaced with disdain and arrogance.
Li Xiaorou trembled, hiding partially behind Lin Dalang.
Even Lin Dalang was startled by Guo Ce’s sudden change. Since befriending him, he had never seen Guo Ce angry. Now, seeing the contempt on Guo Ce’s face, he felt a sudden chill.
Even his usually cold tone carried a hint of tremor.
“Brother Guo, what do you mean by this?”
Guo Ce shook his fan and returned to a calm demeanor, but his voice and words betrayed him entirely.
Looking down on Lin Dalang, he said with disdain: “Brother Lin, do you really think I’d earn that two hundred taels of silver so easily? Or do you think my father, the county magistrate, holds office for nothing?”
Hearing his father’s name mentioned, Lin Dalang’s face changed, nearly losing composure.
Earlier, he had boasted to his father that he could handle this; if he were taken to the office and locked up for three to five days, and the villagers found out, they would mock him. He couldn’t let that happen.
He stood and bowed respectfully to Guo Ce, no longer carrying his previous arrogance.
“Brother Guo, I never intended to cheat you, but Xiao Xian behaves like a young lady, staying in his room every day, never leaving…”
Before he could finish, Guo Ce interrupted with a subtle smile:
“Brother Lin, even if Xiao Xian is paralyzed and bedridden, I still need to know how he uses the restroom. Do you understand?”
Lin Dalang’s face flushed with embarrassment.
This meant reporting everything from Xiao Xian’s daily meals to even his most private activities.
Seeing Lin Dalang’s expression, Guo Ce shook his fan twice and said confidently: “If you can’t handle this, Brother Lin, I’ll find someone else.”
The thought of someone else doing it instantly brought Li Xiaorou’s mind to Li Miaomiao’s proud smile.
If that two hundred taels went to Li Miaomiao, her and Xiao Xian’s life would improve…
Impossible.
She wouldn’t let Li Miaomiao have that chance.
Seeing Lin Dalang lost in thought, she nudged his arm and gave him a meaningful look.
Lin Dalang snapped back to attention, understood her hint, and quickly masked his embarrassment, bowing once more to Guo Ce.
“Brother Guo, I admit this was my fault. Give me another chance, and I will satisfy you.”
Guo Ce gave a cryptic, sinister laugh, sipped his tea, and looked at them with pure contempt.
“Very well, I’ll give you one more chance.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t find someone else; it was that Lin Dalang was clever enough to catch his attention.
Lin Dalang and Li Xiaorou left the tavern, walking down the street with heavy expressions.
Li Miaomiao had just exited the medical clinic. She stood on the steps, exhaling heavily.
“This is too expensive,” she muttered.
She touched her coin purse, pressed her lips together, and sighed again. When would she gather enough silver to treat Xiao Xian’s leg?
As she hesitated whether to go to the bookstore or the blacksmith first, she noticed Lin Dalang and Li Xiaorou on the street and restrained the urge to roll her eyes.
She turned toward the blacksmith.
Li Xiaorou had already spotted her upon leaving the clinic. She patted Lin Dalang’s arm, signaling him to look ahead.
Lin Dalang immediately saw Li Miaomiao, showing no attempt to hide the coldness and disdain in his eyes.
“Everywhere we go, we run into her.”
Li Xiaorou, seeing Li Miaomiao leave, gazed up at the three characters above the clinic: “Yi An Tang.” After a moment, an idea formed in her mind.
“Lin Lang, if Guo Ce can pay you two hundred taels to supervise, why didn’t he just go to Li Miaomiao directly?”
Lin Dalang looked toward Li Miaomiao’s direction and sneered.
“Hah, her?”
“Guo Ce doesn’t know Xiao Xian is married.”
“Doesn’t know?”
“Mm.” Lin Dalang nodded before explaining to her: “I saw Li Miaomiao at the market last time. When Guo Ce asked me who she was, I knew for sure he hadn’t sent anyone to our village to investigate.”
“At first, I was as puzzled as you. But after thinking it through, I figured it out.”
Li Xiaorou didn’t fully understand. “Figured out what?”
“Xiao Xian used to be a high-ranking official in the capital. Now, exiled here, he’s essentially a prisoner. For Guo Ce and the others, such a minor matter isn’t worth investigating.”