Chapter 17: Rescuing Madam Zhou

While waiting for her food to arrive, Lin Nuo walked to the window, gazing at the bustling street below. The sounds of vendors calling out their wares made the atmosphere lively. It struck her that she hadn’t yet had a chance to stroll through the streets since arriving in this world.

Taking a seat on a stool, she rested her head on her hand and enjoyed the current vibrancy of the city.

Suddenly, a commotion from next door interrupted the peaceful moment.

“Yuer, Yuer, wake up, wake up! Quickly, call for a doctor! Quickly, get a doctor!” The sound of a door opening and cries echoed through the walls. The voice seemed strangely familiar. Lin Nuo stood up and walked over to investigate.

She found a woman lying on the floor, with a man holding her in his arms, whispering and sobbing.

“Yuer, you can’t leave me. Wake up, please. The child is still at home. Don’t leave us. Wuwuwuwu…” The man was crying uncontrollably, his figure hunched over the woman.

There were also two women kneeling nearby, dressed like servants, with their heads nearly touching the ground in grief.

As Lin Nuo looked at the man more closely, she realized that it was Zhou Tong, the county magistrate she had come to find.

She quickly walked over and said to him.

“Lord Zhou, may I examine this lady first?”

She wasn’t entirely sure of the woman’s identity, so she referred to her as “Lady” for now.

Zhou Tong looked up at Lin Nuo and, upon recognizing her, seemed relieved, as if seeing a lifeline. After all, she had already shown exceptional medical skills the last time they met, and he trusted she would have a solution.

“Of course, Miss Lin. Thank you so much. Please help Yuer.”

Lin Nuo quickly examined the woman and determined that it was an asthma attack. She immediately ordered,

“Lay her flat on the ground and everyone leave the room. I need a quiet environment right now. Please leave.”

When no one moved, she grew frustrated and said,

“If you want her to survive, everyone must leave, or she won’t last a minute.”

With that, she pushed the others out of the room. Once alone with the woman, she took her pulse and confirmed the asthma diagnosis, along with a congenital weakness, likely something she had been born with.

She sent everyone out so she could retrieve a spray from her space.

Lin Nuo quickly brought out an asthma spray and applied it under the woman’s nose. After one or two minutes, the woman slowly began to wake up.

Confused, the woman looked at Lin Nuo and asked,

“Who are you, and what happened to me?”

She lay on the ground, noticing the empty room around her. She had come to eat with her husband, Zhou Tong, but had suddenly fallen ill, forgetting to bring her medicine.

“I was just passing by and saw that you were unwell, so I offered to help. Don’t worry,” Lin Nuo reassured, helping her sit up in a nearby chair.

As the sounds of movement from outside reached the room, Zhou Tong hurried in. Upon seeing that his wife was alright, he rushed to her side, holding her tightly and murmuring,

“Madam, you’re alright, thank heavens. If something happened to you, how would I go on living? Wuwuwuwu…”

A strong man, nearly nine feet tall, was crying in front of everyone.

To be honest, it should have been a touching scene, but seeing a grown man cry like a flower in the rain made it a bit awkward.

Cough cough. Madam Zhou was the first to react and gently pushed her husband away.

“Husband, I’m fine now, thanks to this young lady’s help. We should be thanking her properly,” she said, attempting to downplay the situation.

The couple had a very deep bond, and this sort of emotional outburst was nothing new for them. However, in public, especially with her husband being the county magistrate, it could undermine his official stature.

Zhou Tong stood up, wiped his tears, and, seeing Lin Nuo’s smile that seemed a bit teasing, he couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. He awkwardly tugged at his lips before bowing to Lin Nuo.

“Thank you, Miss Lin, for saving my wife again. I’m at a loss for how to repay you. If you ever need anything, I will do whatever it takes—I’ll go through fire and water if necessary.”

He even hiccuped with emotion.

Uh… how should one say this? It was definitely an awkward moment.

Lin Nuo smiled gently. “Lord Zhou, Madam Zhou, there’s no need for such formalities. It was just a small matter. Besides, as a doctor, it’s my duty to save lives.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“The saving of a life is never a small matter. Miss Lin, if you don’t mind, you can call me ‘sister’ from now on. If you ever need anything, I’ll help you with it,” Madam Zhou said, stepping forward and taking Lin Nuo’s hand, guiding her back to a seat.

“Yes, yes, saving a life deserves to be repaid like a spring of water. Miss Lin, don’t hesitate. If you ever need anything, just come to me,” Zhou Tong added, nodding enthusiastically.

With that, Lin Nuo felt a little more comfortable with the situation. After all, she had come seeking help, and now it seemed she had gained an opportunity to speak more freely.

She took a sip of tea and spoke.

“To be honest, sister, Lord Zhou, I came here today to ask for your assistance.”

“I’ve settled in Taohua Village with my younger brother, and we plan to live there from now on. I’ve purchased the house I was renting before and am planning to build. Since I don’t have many connections here, I was hoping you might know someone in the construction business who could help me out.”

Hearing that Lin Nuo was building a house, Madam Zhou’s face brightened. It turned out she had a connection after all.

Madam Zhou pulled Lin Nuo’s hand again and said,

“Little sister, you don’t know this, but my brother works in the construction business here in Peach Blossom County. His men are very skilled, and I’m sure he can handle everything for you. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Before, she hadn’t taken a closer look at Lin Nuo, but now, seeing her up close, Madam Zhou couldn’t help but marvel at her beauty. She thought Lin Nuo looked like “a lotus flower emerging from the water, pure and unadorned.”

Her gaze toward Lin Nuo was filled with admiration, as if she were gazing at a rare piece of art.

That intense gaze made Lin Nuo’s ears redden slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Thank you, sister. I’ve brought the blueprint with me. I was hoping to settle things today, as I’m a bit pressed for time. Would you mind introducing me to him today? I’d like to finalize it as soon as possible.”