17 – Born Stupid
Gu Pingting’s health had improved somewhat, and she could now endure the jostling of travel.
Feng Shan borrowed a small donkey from Uncle Li in the village for Gu Pingting to ride, planning to take her to the county town to have a doctor properly examine and treat her leg.
The journey was long, so Feng Shan set out early with Gu Pingting in the morning.
In the early hours, the villagers were squatting at their doorsteps eating breakfast, while others gathered at the village entrance with bowls, chatting idly. When they saw Feng Shan, they greeted him, “Feng Shan, you’re out so early. Where are you headed?”
Feng Shan led the small donkey and replied, “Taking my wife to the market to buy some things.”
Gu Pingting immediately retorted angrily, “Who’s your wife? Don’t talk nonsense! I’m not your wife!”
Most of the people gathered at the village entrance were women who loved gossip and excitement. Upon hearing this, they all turned to look.
Feng Shan chuckled and explained, “My wife had a fight with me this morning and is throwing a tantrum.”
Gu Pingting clenched her fists. How could this man lie without even blushing?
A woman in her forties or fifties laughed and said, “Feng Shan, don’t mind my nagging. What couple doesn’t argue? You’re a big, strong man, so you should give in to her.”
Feng Shan nodded. “I know how to cherish my wife.”
The people gathered at the village entrance burst into laughter, all saying that Feng Shan was a caring man. Gu Pingting’s face flushed with embarrassment as she repeatedly insisted she wasn’t Feng Shan’s wife.
But no one believed her, and Gu Pingting eventually gave up.
As Feng Shan led the donkey out of the village, Gu Pingting overheard the people behind them chattering, “That girl is really pretty and lucky to have found a good man like Feng Shan.”
“Exactly! Feng Shan is capable and considerate, and his family is well-off. With him, she’ll never worry about food or clothing, and he’ll take good care of her. How wonderful!”
…
“Oh, this girl is truly blessed. Not like Old Zhang’s second daughter, who was so eager to marry Feng Shan but didn’t have the chance.”
“This couple is a perfect match—the girl is beautiful, and the man is strong!”
“Yes, a perfect match!”
…
As they moved farther away, Gu Pingting could no longer hear the rest of the conversation. She pouted.
Bah! They’re not a perfect match at all!
She was a princess, after all. How could this rough mountain man be a match for her?
Gu Pingting glared at Feng Shan walking ahead. This rough mountain man might be liked by the village girls, but this princess didn’t care for him at all!
The journey was long, and Gu Pingting grew tired from riding the donkey for so long. Feng Shan led her to rest under the shade of a tree by the roadside.
Feng Shan handed her the water flask, and Gu Pingting took a small sip.
A breeze blew from the distance, cool and refreshing, gently lifting the stray hairs on her forehead. Her light amber eyes reflected the blue sky and white clouds, set in her porcelain-like, delicate face. She was so exquisite, so elegant, so lively and fair.
Feng Shan hadn’t read many books, but after meeting Gu Pingting, he had specifically looked up the meaning of her name.
“Pingting” meant a beautiful woman, often used to describe a woman’s graceful appearance and delicate figure.
Feng Shan felt that the name “Pingting” suited Gu Pingting perfectly. She was beautiful—light and delicate, soft and gentle.
So beautiful that in just half a day, she had completely captured his heart.
Feng Shan gazed at her with fiery eyes again. Gu Pingting raised her pink fist and hit him, “Don’t look at me like that! You’re definitely trying to take advantage of me again, you scoundrel!”
The curses that once took her a long time to stammer out now came to her lips effortlessly.
Feng Shan laughed heartily and slightly averted his gaze. “Alright, I won’t look.”
Indeed, Feng Shan had just wanted to steal a kiss.
But kissing her was something that could happen once or twice, but not a third time. If he truly provoked her, Gu Pingting would sulk and cry, and Feng Shan would feel sorry for her.
His wife—teasing her was fine, but he couldn’t bear to truly bully her.
After Gu Pingting had rested under the shade of the tree, the two of them continued their journey. It was already noon by the time they reached the county town.
Gu Pingting was hungry, so Feng Shan took her to a restaurant for lunch.
The food at the restaurant was delicious, and Gu Pingting enjoyed it very much. After eating, Feng Shan led Gu Pingting to find a doctor.
At the pharmacy, the doctor stroked his beard as he took Gu Pingting’s pulse and carefully examined her lame leg. With an air of solemnity, he said, “The internal organs have suffered some shock, but they can be gradually nursed back to health. However, the leg is more troublesome. Even if it heals, there will be lasting effects.”
In other words, even if she recovered, she would still be lame.
Gu Pingting couldn’t accept it. Her eyes instantly reddened. She didn’t want to be lame, to have to rely on crutches every day, unable to walk normally—to be a cripple…
Seeing she was about to cry, Feng Shan quickly pulled her into his arms, patting her back gently as he comforted her in a low voice, “Don’t worry yet. The doctor hasn’t finished speaking.”
Gu Pingting forced herself to calm down and nodded.
Feng Shan asked the doctor, “Is there medicine that can help?”
The doctor hesitated for a moment before saying, “There is a prescription that is very effective for broken bones. However, the ingredients used in this prescription are extremely rare and potent, so one dose costs thirty taels of silver. Moreover, it must be taken continuously for ten doses to take effect.”
Gu Pingting bit her lip—that meant three hundred taels of silver.
Feng Shan’s thick brows furrowed as he asked solemnly, “Does she need to take the medicine as soon as possible to have a chance of fully recovering?”
The doctor nodded. “Her leg bones are currently healing. The sooner she takes the medicine, the better. If she waits until the bones have fully healed, even medicine will be useless.”
Hearing this, Gu Pingting tightly gripped her sleeve. That meant if she missed the window of opportunity, she would be lame forever.
Sensing the tension in the little woman in his arms, Feng Shan held her tighter and said firmly, “Then please prepare the medicine for me, doctor. Within ten days, I will come to collect it.”
The doctor was somewhat surprised by Feng Shan’s determination. After all, three hundred taels was an astronomical sum for an ordinary family.
However, the doctor knew Feng Shan and understood that he was a man of his word. If he said he would do it, he would. The doctor agreed, “Very well, I will prepare the medicine and wait for you to collect it.”
Seeing that the two had settled the matter, the heavy stone in Gu Pingting’s heart finally lifted. She looked up at Feng Shan, feeling a surge of gratitude.
This man had not only saved her life but was now also helping her treat her illness. In that moment, Gu Pingting’s mind was filled with thoughts of Feng Shan’s kindness toward her.
Her heart felt warm and tender, her nose tingling with emotion. Just as she was about to shed tears of gratitude, she heard Feng Shan ask the doctor, “Doctor, aside from her leg, didn’t my wife’s brain get damaged from the fall?”
The tears Gu Pingting was about to shed instantly retreated! She glared fiercely at Feng Shan. This scoundrel really thought her brain was damaged! He really thought she was a fool!
Unable to contain her anger, Gu Pingting abruptly broke free from Feng Shan’s embrace and snapped, “Feng Shan! You’re the fool! Your whole family are fools!”
Feng Shan looked at Gu Pingting and said hesitantly, “Gu Pingting, you’re the only one left in my family.”
Gu Pingting: …
The doctor chuckled and said, “Judging by her pulse, there’s nothing wrong with her mind. No need to worry.”
Gu Pingting said indignantly to Feng Shan, “Listen, just listen! The doctor said my brain wasn’t damaged from the fall.”
Feng Shan laughed, “So it’s not that you fell and became foolish—you were just born that way.”
Gu Pingting stomped her foot in anger, stood up, and said, “You’re teasing me on purpose. I’m ignoring you!”
With that, Gu Pingting stormed toward the exit of the clinic, only to realize when she reached the wall that she had gone the wrong way!
Gu Pingting froze awkwardly in the corner, her face flushing red before she finally turned and walked back.
Feng Shan and the doctor couldn’t help but burst into laughter at her adorable clumsiness!