Zhou Liyun was startled by Li Yang’s strong reaction. After a moment, she said, "There are quite a few in the gully on the mountain behind my house. I usually pick them there. I never thought there’d be a snake."
"Come on, let’s go take a look!" Li Yang was already getting excited.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this flower was likely one of the herbs he had been looking for. In the medical classics, it was called "Shedding Flower."
It meant that eating this flower could make one shed their skin.
Making them more beautiful, with better skin!
’I can’t believe a flower like this actually exists, and right here in my own village.’
"But there’s a snake!" Zhou Liyun asked worriedly.
"It’s fine, I’m here!" Li Yang laughed. "Come on, take me to see."
Zhou Liyun nodded and led Li Yang to the gully on the mountain behind her house.
"Xiaoyang, it’s right over there! See? The little yellow flowers!" Zhou Liyun said, pointing. "I discovered them by chance. They’re especially fragrant when you steep them in water."
Li Yang’s heart ached.
’Using something this good just to make tea is such a waste!’
’So extravagant!’
"I’m going to take a look..." Li Yang said. "You just stay here."
"Hey, don’t go over there! The snake!" Zhou Liyun suddenly shouted.
Sure enough, beneath the largest stalk up ahead, a patterned snake was flicking its tongue, watching them warily.
Clearly, this was its territory.
Li Yang understood. The snake had obviously discovered the flower’s benefits and was now guarding it.
"That must be the one that bit me!" Zhou Liyun said, a little worried. "Xiaoyang, that snake is huge—thicker than our arms. Maybe we should just forget it."
"Forget it?" Li Yang laughed and picked up a tree branch. "How could we just forget it?"
With that, he began walking forward, keeping a wary eye on the snake.
In fact, ever since surviving that near-death experience, he felt that his entire constitution had changed. He couldn’t explain why, but he felt lighter and had boundless energy.
Moreover, the sensitivity of his ears and eyes had increased significantly.
Seeing Li Yang still daring to approach, the snake was clearly getting angry and began to hiss at him.
Zhou Liyun tensed up, not daring to make a sound.
Li Yang focused on the snake’s every move, slowly inching closer.
Finally, he trespassed on the snake’s territory, provoking its ire. In an instant, the snake opened its great maw and lunged at Li Yang like a bolt of lightning.
’So fast!’
From Zhou Liyun’s perspective, all she could see was a blur.
But at that very moment, Li Yang swung his arm, and the branch in his hand shot out.
THWACK!
The snake was instantly struck seven inches from its head, falling to the ground, dead.
Zhou Liyun was dumbfounded. ’That was so fast and accurate.’
Li Yang wiped the sweat from his brow. ’Looks like my skills have improved a lot.’
’To be able to react like that at such a speed... getting into a fight would be no problem at all.’
"What a prize!" Li Yang said, his eyes lighting up as he picked up the snake.
’Didn’t that guy Manager Fang say he wanted some medicine? Steep this snake in alcohol, add a few herbs, and it’ll make a top-quality aphrodisiac wine.’
After stowing the snake away and picking some of the Shedding Flowers, Li Yang returned to Zhou Liyun’s side.
"Sister-in-law Liyun, let’s head back. Oh, right, it’s best if we don’t tell anyone else about how amazing this stuff is. Let’s just keep it between us."
"Okay!" Zhou Liyun nodded. "Xiaoyang, how are you so strong? You killed the snake in one strike just now! And what are you doing carrying it around?"
"There are other ways I’m even stronger..." Li Yang glanced at Zhou Liyun beside him. ’She’s so beautiful, and her figure is so good. I was so focused on treating her earlier that I didn’t get a chance to properly appreciate the view.’
"Sister-in-law Liyun, if you ever feel unwell anywhere on your body, just come find me. I’m going to be our village’s doctor from now on."
"Okay!"
The two parted ways, and Li Yang headed straight home.
When he got home and pushed open the door, he was met with an angry shout. "Li Yang, you don’t even knock before coming in!"
Li Yang looked up, stunned, only to find Aunt Xiu standing before him wearing the clothes he had bought for her. The key point was, she hadn’t put on the outer layer yet, leaving her in just that very... suggestive... lingerie!
Li Yang felt like he was about to get a nosebleed.
’She looks so good!’
"You little brat!" Flustered, Aunt Xiu quickly ran back into her room and put on her outer clothes. Only then did she come out, hands on her hips, and say angrily, "Getting bold now, are we? Daring to barge in and peek. Are you itching for a beating?"
Li Yang gave a dry laugh. Watching Aunt Xiu’s chest rise and fall as she fumed, he couldn’t help but swallow hard. "Aunt Xiu, how was I supposed to know..."
Seeing his expression, Aunt Xiu’s anger subsided. "Those clothes... can they be returned?"
"Returned?" Li Yang was taken aback. "How can we return them? We didn’t buy them; they were a gift."
"I know..." Aunt Xiu hesitated before speaking. "The heavy rain a few days ago opened up a crack in our elementary school. It’s a hazardous building now. If we don’t repair it soon, I’m afraid something bad will happen. But where would the village get the money...? We applied to the higher-ups, but who knows when the funds will be approved. I was thinking of returning the clothes. They’re worth over eight thousand yuan, which would be enough to hire someone to fix the building."
Li Yang froze.
Aunt Xiu had dedicated her life to two things. One was being a teacher, pouring half her heart and soul into the village’s elementary school.
The other was raising him.
"Aunt Xiu, how much money is needed?" Li Yang asked.
"Just for repairs, ten thousand yuan would probably be enough..."
"I’ll earn it for you!" Li Yang immediately declared.
"You?" Aunt Xiu said testily. "Selling vegetables? How long would that take!"
"Aunt Xiu, don’t look down on my vegetable selling. I’m cooperating with the Golden Pavilion Hotel now. Plus, my mushroom crop should be ready for harvest in a few days. Don’t worry, I’ll not only earn the money for the repairs, but I’ll also earn enough to build a whole new schoolhouse."
"You little brat, your stories are getting more and more ridiculous!" Aunt Xiu couldn’t stand to see Li Yang bragging and started scolding him again. "Why don’t you just say you can fly to the moon while you’re at it?"
"Aunt Xiu, I really can earn it!" Li Yang said, a little frustrated.
"If you can earn it, I’ll..." Aunt Xiu paused. "I’ll sleep with you!"
Excited, Li Yang leaped up from his chair and said hurriedly, "Aunt Xiu, you said it yourself."
Aunt Xiu froze for a moment. ’What’s wrong with me? How did I end up saying what I was thinking?’
The words were already out, and it was too late to take them back. She could only huff and say, "I said it. If you can manage to renovate our school *and* pave the village’s dirt roads, then I’ll sleep with you."
’Heh, she’s pretty sly, adding another condition like that.’
But Li Yang just waved his hand. "Alright, I’ll remember that. Don’t you worry, I’ll get it done soon, and then we’ll sleep..."
"Get out! Do the work first, then we’ll talk!" Ye Xiu said, annoyed.