When Li Yingtang got off the minibus in the township, the sky was not completely dark yet, but the moon had already risen.
Ahead of her, endless darkness seemed to stretch into the distance. Dense, eerie, and enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.
She should have arranged a time for Qin Xian to pick her up.
It was fine.
Walking alone at night…
She wasn’t scared.
Dad…
This is terrifying!
The howling wind screamed in her ears like ghosts crying.
After walking for a while, Li Yingtang spotted a figure ahead.
In the freezing weather, her hands and feet were already numb. If she ran into a bad person, she wouldn’t be able to fight back.
Thinking of that, she nervously hid behind a tree and carefully observed the approaching figure.
When the person came closer, the vigilance in her eyes instantly turned into delight, followed by grievance.
“A-Xian! Wuwuwu… I finally found you!”
Qin Xian stopped his bicycle.
Under the pale moonlight, the young woman ran out from behind the tree, threw herself into his arms, and burst into tears.
He froze for a moment before gently patting her back to comfort her.
Once she had calmed down, he asked, “Why didn’t you find a place to stay?”
“There aren’t any decent inns in the township. Even if there were, I wouldn’t dare stay there alone in a place I don’t know.” She looked up at him with tearful eyes. “Where were you going? Making a house call?”
A flicker crossed Qin Xian’s eyes.
“Yes. It’s not urgent. I’ll take you home first.”
“Okay. I’m freezing.”
Li Yingtang sniffled and climbed onto the back of the bicycle, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Then something occurred to her.
“Wait a second. Ordinary people don’t usually have doctors make house calls unless someone specifically asks them to. You came here to pick me up, didn’t you? How did you know I was coming back today?”
Qin Xian tightened his grip on the handlebars.
“I was passing by.”
Li Yingtang thought to herself, Keep pretending.
If he hadn’t come specifically for her, how could the timing be so perfect?
She decided not to expose him and gave him an out instead.
Changing the subject, she said, “Earlier you said you needed my home address to apply for an introduction letter. Listen carefully—my home is at No. 66 Xian’an Road.”
“Ah!”
The bicycle suddenly swerved violently.
Li Yingtang screamed in fright.
The village road was narrow, with deep ditches on both sides. Falling in would definitely leave them bruised and battered.
Qin Xian quickly steadied the bicycle.
“A branch got under the wheel.”
Li Yingtang was still shaken.
“You scared me to death. You remembered my address, right?”
He answered vaguely with an “Mm.”
His expression grew thoughtful.
Since she had gone into the city, why hadn’t she obtained the introduction letter herself?
And the address she had just given…
…was his own home.
What was she trying to imply?
Was she hinting that she wanted him to marry her?
Come to think of it, it really was time to give the young woman a proper status.
Li Yingtang smiled proudly.
The next second, her smile froze.
“Having you live with me without any official status isn’t a long-term solution,” Qin Xian said. “During the New Year holiday, I’ll visit your parents to discuss our wedding.”
Li Yingtang panicked.
Visit her parents?
Wouldn’t that expose everything?
“My parents told me this time that they’re being transferred to another city for work. They won’t be home during the New Year. You can just discuss it with me—I can make my own decisions.”
“I can’t do that.”
Qin Xian shook his head.
“Parents’ approval and proper matchmaking are still important. Even in a marriage based on mutual affection, the necessary etiquette shouldn’t be skipped. You’re still young and may not understand, but I can’t pretend not to.”
Li Yingtang immediately looked troubled.
What was she supposed to do now?
Two patients were waiting outside the health station.
As soon as Qin Xian returned, they hurried over.
One had a fever.
The other complained of back pain.
Qin Xian immediately got busy treating them.
Li Yingtang went into the kitchen, filled a thermos with hot water, mixed some warm water in a basin, and carried it into the room to wash up.
While soaking her feet, the door opened.
Qin Xian walked in holding an enamel cup.
“Drink some glucose.”
Li Yingtang accepted it and finished it in one gulp.
As she set the cup down, she noticed him reaching for his coat.
“Wait.”
She stopped him.
“I bought you a watch. It’s in the inside breast pocket. See if you like it.”
Qin Xian reached into the pocket.
Inside was a beautifully wrapped box, along with a jade bracelet and a jade pendant.
Opening the box revealed an exquisite wristwatch that was obviously expensive.
“I can’t accept something this valuable.”
“Take it.” Li Yingtang quickly covered her mouth.
“I… consider it our token of affection.”
She had almost blurted out bride price.
He was highly educated and had a stable career.
If she had really said that, he probably wouldn’t have been pleased.
Qin Xian fell silent.
Shouldn’t the token of affection have been something he gave her?
He looked at the jade jewelry.
“Are the bracelet and pendant family heirlooms? Aren’t you afraid they’ll fall out when you keep them in your pocket?”
“I bought them. They’re not expensive. The pendant is for you too. I’ll keep the bracelet for myself.”
She dried her feet, slipped into her slippers, walked over, and personally fastened the watch around his wrist.
Admiring it, she smiled.
“Your hands are so beautiful. This watch doesn’t do them justice. When I get rich, I’ll buy you an even better one.”
Qin Xian felt awkward hearing that.
Buy one for him?
Was he some pampered little wife?
“Your elders don’t earn money easily. You shouldn’t spend it like this.”
“I earned it myself.”
“My money is completely clean. I didn’t sell my looks, and I didn’t break the law. Just accept it.”
“As for how I earned it… I’ll tell you slowly in the future.”
Qin Xian was puzzled.
Why couldn’t she tell him now?
The next morning, Li Yingtang woke naturally.
After breakfast, she took out the yarn she had bought a couple of days earlier and sat beneath the eaves, knitting in the warm sunshine.
“Dr. Qin’s wife is knitting?”
The sunlight was dazzling, so Li Yingtang narrowed her eyes at the visitor.
It was Wu Hong, the wife of Cheng Da.
Cheng Da and Cheng San—the man who had rescued Cheng Fang—were cousins.
The day Cheng Fang fell into the river, Wu Hong had gone home to fetch a quilt. Otherwise, Cheng Fang would have either frozen to death or suffered severe frostbite.
Li Yingtang smiled.
“I’m knitting a scarf. Sister-in-law Wu, where are you headed?”
“To see Old Fifth from Third Master’s family. Didn’t his wife smash his head open? I’m bringing him some eggs to help him recover.”
Wu Hong lifted the cloth covering the basket so Li Yingtang could see the eggs inside.
“They’re all good eggs. Our own family hasn’t even eaten them yet. That Fifth Brother’s wife is really fierce. She’s only been married into the family for three months, but she’s beaten her husband more times than his mother did in twenty years.”
Li Yingtang remembered the older woman who had scolded her daughter-in-law that night.
She wanted to criticize the old woman too, but it was someone else’s family business.
Instead, she joked,
“So the new wife is even tougher than the old mother.”
Wu Hong burst into laughter.
“Exactly.”
Li Yingtang changed the subject.
“How’s the girl who fell into the river the other day?”
“You mean Cheng Fang? That girl complains every day that something hurts or itches. Maybe falling into the river really damaged her. The very next day she couldn’t even walk anymore. She had Dr. Qin examine her, and he said it couldn’t be cured.
“She made such a fuss over marrying Cheng San before and refused to get engaged. Now she’s willing—but what’s the point? No matter how much Cheng San liked her, he wouldn’t marry a cripple and burden himself. Now her mother plans to marry her off to Feng, the widower from the neighboring village.”
Wu Hong sighed.
“Oh dear, I can’t stay chatting. I’ve still got a mountain of work waiting at home.”
“Take care.”
Li Yingtang walked a few steps with her before returning to the health station.
Since there were patients inside, she lowered her voice.
“Did Cheng Fang really lose the ability to walk? What caused it? Tell me—I want to know.”
She held onto Qin Xian’s arm as she asked.
Qin Xian glanced at her soft, fair hand resting on his sleeve. It was hard to look away.
“When she fell into the water,” he answered quietly, “her lower back probably struck a piece of ice and was injured.”