Li Yingtang: “.”
Ingrateful!
Wasn’t she just worried he’d get reported and have his performance bonus deducted? If he really lost money, how would he support her?
Ignoring him, she went into the infirmary, took a thermometer from a bamboo container on the desk, and handed it to Cheng Fang. “Take your temperature first.”
“Li Yingtang, come peel some garlic.”
Li Yingtang: “.” Damn, he was ordering her around so naturally.
Was he really treating her like his wife already?
She went back to the kitchen to get garlic, ready to peel it in the infirmary. Just as she turned, she was called back.
“Sit here and peel it.”
“What if that woman stays in the room and steals something?” Li Yingtang sat in the office chair in the infirmary, staring at Cheng Fang.
Cheng Fang was also looking at her, feeling a tightness in her chest.
Why was Qin Xian so superficial?
A hardworking, tough girl like her he didn’t like, but instead he insisted on marrying a decorative vase.
That face, those hands—did she look like someone who could work?
She didn’t even cook, and still needed him to serve her.
What was he even thinking?
“Dr. Qin has been here for two years and never mentioned you to me.”
“You’re not his father. Why would he mention me to you?” Li Yingtang said as she finished peeling the garlic. “Time’s up, check your temperature.”
“I can’t read it,” Cheng Fang said, walking into the kitchen. “Dr. Qin, check my temperature.”
As she handed over the thermometer, Li Yingtang snatched it first.
“37°C, normal body temperature. No fever.” She added, “But your complexion looks bad—sallow. Probably weak spleen and stomach or insufficient qi and blood. Eat more pork liver and spinach, and make red date, longan, and red bean porridge. Take some vitamin C too. Your neck pain might just be from a strain—rest a bit and you’ll be fine. Right, A-Xian?”
“Mm.” Qin Xian paused. “You know quite a lot.”
Cheng Fang glared at Li Yingtang so hard she could’ve drilled a hole through her.
She thought bitterly: I didn’t ask you, why are you showing off?
“Are you also a doctor?”
Li Yingtang nodded hard. “Of course.” When traveling, your identity is self-given.
“There isn’t much food at home, so we won’t keep you for dinner.”
In other words: you can leave.
Cheng Fang could no longer find a reason to stay, so she turned and left.
But thinking of how the man she had been interested in for two years was suddenly taken by this woman, how could she accept it?
If she couldn’t scheme against Dr. Qin, could she really not scheme against this decorative vase?
Once she reached the main road, she suddenly screamed and fell to the ground.
The road led east, while Li Yingtang was in the western kitchen. When she looked out, she saw Cheng Fang collapsed.
Cheng Fang called out for help: “I think I sprained my ankle. Can you help me home?”
“Sure. I was just thinking of taking a walk in your village anyway. Let those who’ve never seen me get a look, so some blind girls won’t keep circling around our A-Xian.”
Li Yingtang helped her up, but as she bent down, a strange smell drifted into her nose.
It smelled a bit like camphor balls, but it quickly faded.
She didn’t think much of it, assuming Cheng Fang’s clothes had just been worn too long.
Cheng Fang thanked her meaningfully.
After walking a short distance, Qin Xian’s voice rang out from behind.
“Li Yingtang! Take one more step forward and don’t come back.”
Li Yingtang turned around. Goodness—he was standing right in the middle of the road, trying to assert dominance like he owned the place.
Luckily, it was cold and no one was around, or she’d be humiliated.
“…Sorry, you can go by yourself.”
She let go of Cheng Fang and ran back.
She couldn’t live without him.
Cheng Fang stomped her foot in frustration. If she had walked just half a li further, she would’ve met villagers.
By then, the drug should’ve taken effect, and Li Yingtang would’ve made a fool of herself like she did today, disgracing herself completely. She might even leave the village.
Then she and Dr. Qin would have a chance.
So infuriating!
Li Yingtang panted as she ran back. Qin Xian was already eating noodles.
For some reason, he looked even more handsome and more attractive than before. Those long model-like legs were folded casually, making her heart itch.
Even in bulky winter clothes, his waist still had shape.
It would definitely feel comfortable to hug him.
After hesitating for a long time, she gathered courage and said:
“Do you have abs? Can I touch them? I won’t do it for free—I’ll wash the dishes after dinner.”
Qin Xian: “.”
Looks like he was still one step behind Cheng Fang.
Fortunately, she asked for his permission, meaning her mind was still clear and she wasn’t deeply affected.
He needed to check her pulse. If he let her act freely, she would likely take advantage of the situation.
Silence was the best response.
“If you don’t refuse, I’ll take it as agreement.” Li Yingtang grinned and sat beside him, reaching for his stomach.
Before she could touch him, he grabbed her wrist.
She instinctively tried to pull back, but his grip was like a lock, tight and painful. Just as she was about to apologize, he released her.
“You’re not eating?”
“I am.”
She got up to serve noodles and tasted them. Surprisingly, they were pretty good.
Maybe the noodles were too hot—after a few bites she started sweating. Even after unbuttoning her cotton coat, she still felt hot, so she simply rolled up her sleeves.
“So hot… aren’t you hot?”
“I’m cold,” Qin Xian replied.
Li Yingtang wiped the sweat from her nose. “You’re really beautiful. I like you a lot. Tonight we should just get married. I’ll kiss wherever you’re cold and make sure you’re warm.”
Qin Xian’s heart skipped a beat and his face flushed red.
“What nonsense are you learning? Eat your meal!”
Li Yingtang: “.”
What nonsense? They were all adults—what was there to be embarrassed about?
After finishing the noodles, Li Yingtang washed some persimmons. They had thawed and softened, sweet and juicy. She handed one to him.
“These persimmons are really good. Try one.”
“I’ll take it myself.”
She pouted a little. Was he rejecting her?
But she wasn’t someone who got discouraged easily. She continued talking:
“There are still a lot of persimmons on the tree. Want to pick them with me? And are you free tomorrow? Come buy some daily necessities with me.”
Qin Xian’s refusal reached his throat, then turned into: “Mm.”
……
As it grew darker, they prepared bamboo baskets and sacks and went into the mountains together.
At the destination, Li Yingtang pointed at the persimmon tree.
“Right here, A-Xian, look.”
Qin Xian looked up. The tree was full of orange-red persimmons hanging like lanterns—very beautiful.
“I’ll climb up and pick them. You catch them.”
Qin Xian was surprised. “You can climb trees?”
“Of course. I’ve loved outdoor adventures since I was young. I often went camping with friends. Climbing and doing risky stuff is what I’m best at.”
Qin Xian found it fascinating.
Outdoor adventure, camping—he had only read about those in books.
For a girl to do that with friends, her parents must have allowed it.
Li Yingtang quickly climbed the tree. She kept the big fruits for selling and carefully threw them down to him, while eating the small ones herself.
From higher up, she noticed something dark red on the snow in the distance.
“A-Xian, walk toward the 7 o’clock direction and check what’s on the ground.”
Qin Xian was confused for a moment before understanding.
He walked over and saw clusters of hawthorns on the ground.
After brushing away the snow, there were even more.
“Hawthorn.”
Li Yingtang got excited.
“We’re going to make money! We can turn these into candied hawthorn or hawthorn cake and sell them.”