Chapter 63 : Dating

Ugh! A cruel man dug his throat and vomited all the pork he had just eaten.

The rest of the guests ran to the toilet, some foaming at the mouth, and were sent to the health center by the few who were still standing.

The newly married daughter-in-law left for her parents’ home on the spot, taking even her dowry with her, threatening to break up!

As expected, Qin Xiaoting followed Jiang Li to the Bailutang Brigade, and Jiang Li took her to find the place where the barefoot doctor in the village usually worked.

It was two unused bungalows at the team headquarters. One was used to store the medicinal herbs that Liu Lixin collected from the mountains, and the other was where he treated patients.

Jiang Li walked Qin Xiaoting to the door, waved her hand, and was about to leave. Qin Xiaoting gave her a thumbs up and said, “Lizi, you are so considerate.”

“Comrade Qin Xiaoting!” Liu Lixin, holding a plate of herbs, was about to put them out to dry when he saw her and asked, “What happened to your face?”

Qin Xiaoting frowned, her eyes immediately turned red, and she pointed at the wound on her cheek, saying, “I was beaten.”

Jiang Li was so startled by her drawn-out tone that she shuddered and quickly ran away. “I won’t delay you two young people. No, I won’t delay Doctor Liu’s treatment. I’m leaving first.”

Liu Lixin ignored Jiang Li’s teasing and focused on the wound on Qin Xiaoting’s face. “Who hit you? This is too much. Come in quickly, I’ll give you some medicine.”

Qin Xiaoting smiled and said, “Thanks to this wound, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to see you.”

As they entered the room, there was a curtain dividing it into two halves. On one side, there was a wooden cabinet for medicine, and on the other side, there were two beds made of broken wooden boards.

Qin Xiaoting didn’t notice the bed behind the curtain and was more focused on teasing Liu Lixin.

An old lady, who had her eyes closed behind the curtain, sat up, pricked up her ears to listen to their conversation, and then peered through the curtain at Qin Xiaoting.

Fearing Qin Xiaoting might say something more explicit, Liu Lixin quickly pulled open the curtain and asked, “Auntie Geng, are you awake?”

Aunt Geng smiled awkwardly. “Yes, I feel much better after a good sleep. Tiedan, please prescribe some Analgin for me, and I’ll take it home.”

“Auntie, you can’t prescribe too much Analgin, and you can’t take it casually. And don’t even think about taking it home to save it. The medicine costs ten cents.”

Liu Lixin blushed. No matter how old he was, Aunt Geng still called him by his nickname. His eyes glanced at Qin Xiaoting’s face, and his face turned even redder.

Aunt Geng unzipped her panties and took out some money while looking at Qin Xiaoting. “Who is this girl? She looks really Western. Why haven’t I seen her before?”

“Auntie, I’m an educated youth from the next brigade, and I’m here to see a doctor,” Qin Xiaoting said gracefully. She recognized Aunt Geng immediately, seeing the big mole on her face.

In her previous life, Liu Lixin had told her that Aunt Geng was a warm-hearted person, but she was also a chatterbox and a famous loudmouth in the village.

“Hey, it’s good to be an educated youth. You are educated and become one of us after you go to the countryside. How old are you? Do you have a family? Are you looking for a good man here?I know a lot of good boys. If you’re willing, I’ll introduce you to someone…”

Aunt Geng kept talking for a long time but was immediately interrupted by Liu Lixin. “Auntie, please stop talking. It’s exhausting. You’re already sick. Go home and rest.”

But Aunt Geng didn’t stop. She spoke even faster. “Look at our Tiedan, he’s good, he has a job, he looks like a little girl, he has a good temper…”

“Auntie, please go home quickly!”

Liu Lixin looked at Qin Xiaoting with some trepidation. He didn’t dare to think about it.

Qin Xiaoting’s family was well-off, and in recent years, the conditions for returning to the city had been relaxed. As long as someone in the city accepted them, it was only a matter of time for the educated youth to return to their homes.

Qin Xiaoting was like a phoenix in the big city, and sooner or later, she would go back. She couldn’t and wouldn’t be trapped in the small Yongfang County.

“Auntie, I can tell from the first glance that you’re a warm-hearted person with good taste. You must have chosen the right person.”

Liu Lixin’s hands began to tremble, and the girl’s playful voice lingered in his ears. He looked up in disbelief and met Qin Xiaoting’s smiling eyes.

What did she just say? She said she was good?

Liu Lixin pinched his thigh hard, thinking he must have heard it wrong.

After hearing this, Aunt Geng became excited. “This girl is good, she speaks well and is a good person. Tiedan, you are a grown man, take the initiative.”

Aunt Geng was disappointed that the new boy was good-tempered but lacked some courage. If she came to see him, the girl would be happy, so why not strike while the iron is hot and express her affection as soon as possible?

Aunt Geng teased Liu Lixin, “Well, girl, I’m leaving now. I won’t delay your medical treatment. Tiedan, after you finish seeing the patient, please send her back to Dashuping. It’s not safe for a little girl to walk on the road at night.”

Liu Lixin was speechless. The sun was shining brightly outside, and there was no sign of it going down the mountain.

Aunt Geng was lying with her eyes wide open, and her intention to bring the two together was too obvious.

“Doctor Liu, why are you still standing there? Apply the medicine to me.”

Qin Xiaoting took the initiative to greet Liu Lixin. The conditions in the rural clinic were basic, and Liu Lixin only had a bottle of mercurochrome that had been used by who knows how many people. He picked it up and put it down again.

“Qin Xiaoting, wait a minute.”

After a while, he came out from behind, panting, with a head full of dust. He smiled and raised the small white porcelain bottle in his hand.

“This is the medicine my grandfather prescribed before he died. It’s made from the finest medicinal materials. It’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It won’t leave scars after you apply it.”

Qin Xiaoting smiled. This idiot. “How much?”

“No, it’s free. You can use it. It’s from our family anyway.”

On a quiet afternoon in the countryside, with the sound of cicadas, Liu Lixin took a cotton swab, dipped it in a little milky yellow ointment, and gently applied it to Qin Xiaoting’s face.

There was a deep nail mark on her plump, rosy face, and Liu Lixin felt a pang of pain in his heart for some reason.

“Qin Xiaoting, who did you have a conflict with? Why did they bully you so much?”

Qin Xiaoting told him about the educated youth camp. Liu Lixin was furious. “How could there be a comrade with such bad character? She stole your things and beat you. Did you tell the team leader?”

“What’s the name of the guy who’s taking sides?”

“His name is Guo Haifeng, a fool. Don’t pay attention to him. He has a problem with his brain.”

“Okay, it’s best not to get the wound wet for the next few days. Otherwise, it will get inflamed in this hot weather. Take this medicine home.”

After applying the medicine, Liu Lixin locked the door. Qin Xiaoting turned around and said, “You really took me home.”

Liu Lixin scratched his head, stammered, and couldn’t say anything for a long time.

“Let’s go, what are you still standing there for!”

Qin Xiaoting turned her head, a big smile appeared on her face, and the two of them walked towards Dashuping, one in front of the other.

—

“Tiedan is dating a young girl from the neighboring brigade in the village!”