Li Jiyue could more or less guess it too. Fu Chengyu was born into a high-ranking cadre family, disciplined and outstanding in every way, a true favored son of heaven—always “someone else’s child” growing up. From an iron-blooded soldier who defended the country, he suddenly became a cripple, destined to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Forget carrying a gun onto the battlefield to kill enemies and protect the nation—his ideals, ambitions, and aspirations were all shattered, his body ruined, fallen from the altar. Even basic self-care became difficult. Going out to eat meant enduring ridicule. Anyone would find such a blow unbearable. If it were someone else, they might have long since fallen into depression, stopped seeing people, or even lost the will to live.
Li Jiyue asked, “Commander Fu, how have you thought about what I said last time—changing the marriage partner?”
Seeing this, Cheng Yang suddenly clutched his stomach and let out an “ow,” frowning with a constipated look.
“Commander, I drank too much water this morning. I need to go to the restroom.”
He supported Comrade Li and the regiment commander and wanted to create opportunities for them. He couldn’t stay and be a third wheel. He slipped away into the shadows to secretly observe. Heh heh! He really was clever—there weren’t many guards as sharp as him.
Fu Chengyu declined tactfully. “Comrade Li, you’ve seen my situation. I’ll never stand again in this lifetime. You deserve someone better, more outstanding. I’m not worthy of you.” In his current state, he despised himself. He was afraid she would regret marrying a cripple like him in the future.
“I’m a hundred percent confident I can heal your face, and ninety percent confident I can make you stand again.” In truth, she had full confidence in both, but she didn’t want to sound like she was boasting—otherwise he’d believe it even less.
“I can’t give you children.”
“That’s fine. I don’t mind. I remember reading a term in a book before—Platonic love. I like that kind.” Perfect fit. She wanted someone infertile anyway, to anger that dog system. She was only nineteen, in the prime of youth, not done enjoying life yet—no way she was having kids.
“This is a lifelong matter. You must think it through carefully. Military marriages are hard to dissolve. Your parents wouldn’t agree either. If you need a marriage partner, I can introduce someone. I know comrades in the army—their character and family background are solid.”
He was twenty-eight; Li Jiyue was only nineteen. The Li family had once done the Fu family a great favor. Now he was a useless man who couldn’t even take care of himself. If he half-heartedly married her, it would be ingratitude. He would despise himself for it.
Li Jiyue said, “You really want to introduce someone to me?” So she’d been overthinking it—he didn’t want to marry her at all.
“…Yes.”
Li Jiyue was so angry her breathing quickened. She’d said it so many times—why wouldn’t he believe she could really cure him? Don’t believe it? Fine. She’d show him a few tricks and leave him speechless.
“My home is nearby. Come to my place—I’ll take a look at you.”
Without another word, Li Jiyue pushed him toward the old Li family residence. Remembering Cheng Yang hiding behind a big tree, she waved at him to follow. Cheng Yang waved back and trotted over eagerly.
“Comrade Li, you’re still young, in the prime of your youth. You’ll definitely find someone ten or a hundred times better than me.”
Li Jiyue said seriously, “To me, you’re the best. I don’t want anyone else—only you.”
“We can get engaged first. If I can heal your face and make you stand, we’ll register our marriage immediately.”
In the original story, due to backward medical technology, Fu Chengyu never stood again after becoming disabled. But now it was different—she could cure him. If he was willing to be with her, treatment would be convenient and he’d stand again soon. If he wasn’t willing, when the time was right she might still treat him, but he wouldn’t stand up so quickly. Being with her, he wouldn’t lose out.
This was 1975. The special period would end next year. If they turned out incompatible, they could divorce.
Li Jiyue used high-tech from her space to clean the Li house thoroughly inside and out, without a speck of dust. Only the weeds at the entrance were waist-high, and the climbing rose vines on the wall were untrimmed, growing wildly over the ground and walls. She didn’t have time to trim them, nor did she want to—messy and dirty looked safer.
She pushed Fu Chengyu into a first-floor guest room. There was a bed there. The second floor was locked. She mostly stayed in the space, occasionally resting in this small room.
“Lie down. I’ll check your pulse and examine your legs.”
Fu Chengyu pressed his lips together in silence. Letting her look was fine—once she understood his condition, she’d give up.
In the moment of his hesitation, Li Jiyue simply reached out and lifted him onto the bed. Cheng Yang didn’t even have time to react.
Were women nowadays all this strong? If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed Li Jiyue could lift the regiment commander. You really couldn’t judge people by appearances.
Li Jiyue rolled up his sleeve and immediately took his pulse. The explosion had caused severe damage to his internal organs, but he was young and strong, and after months of recovery, he was already seventy to eighty percent healed. One month of spirit spring water would restore him completely. The most serious issue now was his leg injury.
Cheng Yang clasped his hands nervously, watching Li Jiyue. Though he didn’t hold much hope, he still harbored a sliver of luck—maybe it really could be cured. The commander was such a good man and a hero. If heaven had eyes, it would give him a chance to recover and return to the army.
Li Jiyue summarized what she sensed through pulse diagnosis.
“The shockwave from the explosion caused severe damage to your internal organs—liver, spleen, and lungs—with the lungs suffering the most. You previously had symptoms of breathing difficulty and coughing up blood. There was abdominal bleeding and perforation, which have already recovered seventy to eighty percent.”
Cheng Yang was extremely excited when he heard this, nodding repeatedly like a pecking chick. “Yes, yes, that’s all correct! The military doctors said the same thing. The regiment commander also had symptoms of breathing difficulties, coughing up blood, and abdominal bleeding. Comrade Li, you could tell all that just by taking his pulse—your medical skills are incredible!”
Li Jiyue raised an eyebrow at Fu Chengyu. “Do you believe me now?”
In truth, pulse-taking alone could only reveal his current physical condition, not his past injuries. The main reason she knew so much was because she had checked his medical history using high-tech medical instruments from her space.
Fu Chengyu gave a slight nod in response. On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, his once-still heart was like a boulder dropped into a quiet lake, stirring up huge waves. Her medical skills were truly impressive—no wonder she was so confident. Could it be that he really might stand up again?
At the thought that he might one day stand, marry her, return to the army, and spend his life by her side, his once-gray life suddenly filled with brilliant colors and hope. The fist hanging at his side clenched tightly, the muscles in his arm bulging beneath his sleeve.
Li Jiyue patted the back of his hand. “Don’t be nervous. Relax. You’re my partner—I’ll definitely do everything I can to cure you.”
Then she added, “Take off your pants. I need to look at your leg injury.”
Fu Chengyu froze. “Take off… my pants?”
Li Jiyue replied, “Don’t be shy. Doctors don’t distinguish between men and women.”
He explained, “I’m not shy.”
If it were any other doctor, he wouldn’t feel awkward. But since it was someone he liked, he felt things were moving too fast.
Li Jiyue reached out quickly toward his waistband. Fu Chengyu instinctively raised his hand to stop her, his large hand covering the back of hers.
Her eyes curved with amusement as she teased, “And this isn’t shyness?”
“I’m not ready yet. I can do it myself.”
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. If I keep teasing, your ears will be boiling red. Comrade Cheng Yang, give him a hand. I’ll go to the pharmacy to get the silver needles and medicine.”
Cheng Yang stood to the side with his head lowered, silently pretending to be invisible, trying hard to suppress his laughter as his shoulders shook. When his name was called, he hurriedly looked up and responded, “Oh, okay.”
Li Jiyue went out. The Li family had a pharmacy right next to the guest room, stocked with silver needles, gold needles, and all kinds of needles—purely handmade, no worse than the high-tech ones from her space. She decided to use what was on hand. If the original owner’s parents knew it was to save someone—especially someone from the Fu family—they probably wouldn’t blame her for using them without permission.