The instruments in the Space quickly provided analytical data. Though the injury looked severe, it was limited to extradural bleeding with minimal blood loss—a stroke of luck amid misfortune.
“This silly girl is quite fortunate.”
As she spoke, Ruan Tong took out a set of silver needles from the Space and began treating Gu Qin.
Of course, this stroke of luck was also due to Ruan Tong marrying into the Gu family.
Gu Qin’s injury wasn’t critical, but it was on the head. With the village’s half-trained barefoot doctors, there was an eighty percent chance her condition would be mishandled, causing her unnecessary suffering.
When Wu Minzhen entered the room carrying a basin of water, she saw her daughter’s head covered in silver needles. Tears immediately streamed down her face.
But she dared not make a sound, biting her lips tightly as she wept silently, afraid of upsetting Ruan Tong and risking her refusal to treat Gu Qin.
“Mom, Xiao Qin is fine, but she needs to rest at home for a while and won’t be able to go to school,” Ruan Tong paused her work to comfort Wu Minzhen.
“Tongtong, is Xiao Qin really okay? Don’t comfort me—tell me the truth. I can handle it,” Wu Minzhen asked tearfully.
Ruan Tong patted Wu Minzhen’s back reassuringly. “She’s really fine. I’ll handle everything.”
Seeing Ruan Tong’s confident demeanor, Wu Minzhen felt a flicker of surprise.
After spending some time with this daughter-in-law, Wu Minzhen realized that rumors couldn’t be trusted.
Now, thinking about it, it was possible that her daughter-in-law’s exceptional medical skills and talents had provoked jealousy, leading others to slander her relentlessly!
Initially, Wu Minzhen had prepared herself for a long-term internal struggle with this daughter-in-law, who had a less-than-stellar reputation.
However, reality had exceeded her expectations.
Ruan Tong was clearly a blessing to their Gu family!
As Wu Minzhen’s thoughts wandered, Ruan Tong had already finished treating the injuries on Gu Qin’s face.
After removing the silver needles, Ruan tidied up while saying to Wu Minzhen, “Mom, I’ll leave Xiao Qin in your care now. I’m a bit tired and need to rest for a while. I’ll come back tonight to give her acupuncture.”
Only then did Wu Minzhen snap out of her thoughts. Seeing Ruan Tong’s pale face and remembering she was pregnant, had just fought with Xu Yan, and had treated Xiao Qin, her expression changed abruptly.
“Tongtong, are you… okay?”
Ruan Tong smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine, just a bit tired. I’ll go rest for a while.”
Though she smiled, her pale face showed deep exhaustion, and her eyes lacked their usual brightness.
Watching Ruan Tong’s frail figure retreat, Wu Minzhen suddenly realized she should have had Dabao call the men working in the fields back earlier!
What a mess this was!
Ruan Tong slept deeply.
But her mind kept fixating on something important, urging her to open her eyes.
So, she wrestled with the Sandman and narrowly emerged victorious.
Opening her bleary eyes, she was met with a handsome face looming close.
“Fourth Brother…”
“You’re awake?” Gu Bai’s voice was slightly hoarse, his eyes filled with undisguised concern.
“What time is it?”
Ruan Tong turned to look at the window. Seeing the curtains drawn, she propped herself up. “Is it already evening?”
Gu Bai helped her sit up and nodded. “It’s almost nine.”
“It’s that late already?” Ruan Tong threw off the covers and got out of bed. “I need to give Xiao Qin acupuncture, or she’ll run a high fever tonight.”
Gu Bai held her shoulders. “Don’t rush, get dressed first.”
Upon hearing this, Ruan Tong looked down and realized she was only wearing a small tank top.
Her face flushed deeply as she glanced at him with wavering eyes. “Um… did Mom help me change my clothes?”
“Mhm,” Gu Bai responded softly.
The person getting dressed didn’t notice the man’s ears turning red.
Once dressed, she went to Gu Qin’s room accompanied by Gu Bai.
Just as she was about to knock, she heard Gu Qin’s choked sobs from inside.
“Mom, I always thought Ruan Tong was the worst, most malicious woman. Everything she did in our family was an act, so I always hated her! I never imagined that the truly wicked one was actually Xu Yan. She’s really too cruel!”
Ruan Tong blinked and looked up at the man beside her, whispering, “Fourth Brother, do I really look like a bad woman?”
Gu Bai glanced at her bright, lovely face and said calmly, “Probably because you’re pretty.”
Ruan Tong blinked again, slowly curling the corners of her lips. She had actually been complimented by a handsome man.
Wow, this was the first time in two lifetimes she had experienced such a thing. What an honor.
Gu Bai sensed her good mood, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
This little woman—sometimes so naive, other times so clever—was truly impossible to dislike.
But… thinking of how she used to be, Gu Bai felt a faint doubt in his heart.
Can a person really change overnight?
After a moment, Ruan Tong gently knocked on the door.
The mother and daughter inside immediately fell silent.
When Ruan Tong entered and saw Gu Qin’s swollen, bun-like face wearing an expression of shame and anger, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey, looks like you’re prettier when you’re a bit chubby,” Ruan Tong teased deliberately.
“Ruan Tong!” Gu Qin gritted her teeth.
Although their relationship had eased somewhat, it was far from affectionate.
Seeing Gu Qin’s cheeky little expression, Ruan Tong couldn’t resist provoking her.
And Gu Qin, like a firecracker, ignited at the slightest spark.
Just as the two were about to start bickering again, Wu Minzhen quickly interrupted them. “Tongtong, I just went to your room. Weren’t you asleep? Why are you up?”
Mentioning this, Ruan Tong scratched her head sheepishly. “Mom, didn’t we agree to give Xiao Qin acupuncture tonight?”
Wu Minzhen slapped her forehead. “Right, right, look at my memory. Are you hungry? Let me make you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry, Mom, don’t trouble yourself.”
As she spoke, Ruan Tong walked to the bedside and “swished” open the rolled-up cloth pouch of silver needles.
Seeing the rows of gleaming needles, Gu Qin immediately widened her eyes, her lips twitching uncontrollably. “You… what are you going to do to me?”
Ruan Tong grinned mischievously at her. “Of course, I’m going to give you acupuncture. Scared?” She picked up a silver needle and waved it in front of Gu Qin’s eyes.
“No, no! Mom, save me!”
Though she cried for help, she didn’t try to escape, merely covering her face with her hands, looking weak, helpless, and easy to bully.
Wu Minzhen felt a pang of sympathy. “Tongtong, will it hurt a lot?”
“It won’t hurt much. Just bear with it for a bit,” Ruan Tong reassured with a smile.
Gu Bai spoke up then, saying his first words since entering the room. “It doesn’t hurt at all. Don’t be so delicate.”
Gu Qin uncovered her eyes and shot a resentful little glare at Gu Bai.
She suddenly remembered what Wu Minzhen had said—that Ruan Tong was treating Fourth Brother every day, probably with acupuncture as well.
Fine, she would trust Fourth Brother this once.
Half an hour later.
A certain little girl, utterly despondent, lay curled under the covers, her back turned to the others.