Chapter 8: Is Something Wrong with Him?

 

Li Lian’s expression turned peculiar as Yu Tingwan slowly added, “But he must be responsible, not some idle loafer from the streets. At home, he must be well-behaved and cannot hit me.”

 

Li Lian mulled this over, connecting it to Yu Tingwan’s past experiences. A trace of sympathy crept into her heart as she weighed the pros and cons.

 

The Hu family was likely to produce a scholar, and those wanting to be in-laws with them would naturally soften their prejudice against Yu Tingwan, especially given the girl’s striking appearance.

 

“The Zhu family in our village has four generations under one roof,” Li Lian said after careful thought. “Their sons are all strong and hardworking. None of them are married yet. They’re great farmhands, all fine young men.”

 

“The Zhu sons are all filial, but their mother is chronically ill and takes medicine daily. It’s drained the family, which is why the marriages have been delayed.”

 

“Still, they’re sensible people. If you marry their eldest son, you’ll only have a tough time for the first few years. After that, wouldn’t you enjoy better days?”

 

No way. She couldn’t endure such hardship.

 

With the mother-in-law ill, she’d have to care for her at the bedside. She’d end up handling all the household chores, both inside and out. Besides cooking medicine and meals, as the younger generation and eldest sister-in-law, she’d have to wash not only the four brothers’ clothes but also the elders’ clothes.

 

It would be even worse than her life with the Hu family.

 

What would she be marrying for? She wasn’t looking for a life of servitude.

 

Without hesitation, Yu Tingwan asked, “Are there any other suitable candidates?”

 

Li Lian was straightforward: “How about the widow Shi’s son? Their family is small and simple, and the young man works as a clerk in town.”

 

The Shi family was one of the most well-off in Xilin Village.

 

Yu Tingwan shook her head. “Widow Shi treats her son like a treasure. She’s proud and arrogant—she wouldn’t look favorably on me. I don’t ask for much, but at least the mother-in-law must be reasonable.”

 

This put Li Lian in a bind. Every daughter-in-law eventually becomes a mother-in-law. If not for the fact that the Shi son only cared about looks when choosing a wife, there’d be plenty of village girls eager to marry into their family.  

 

Li Lian sighed. “I do have one more option.”

 

“You know how every New Year we buy pigs from Butcher Wu in the neighboring Gao Village. Over time, we’ve built a connection. He’s five years older than you and lives alone—his elders passed away long ago.”

 

She hesitated before continuing: “Though you wouldn’t lack for meat if you married him, I can’t, in good conscience, recommend this match.”

 

“The fellow is decent and generous, but he’s reclusive and doesn’t talk much. He’s muscular and tall, quite intimidating to look at. However, he was born missing a finger on his left hand, which is considered very unlucky. Who would dare to be his wife?”

 

Yu Tingwan’s eyes lit up—what a rare find!

 

What’s wrong with four fingers? 

 

Supporting himself with his own hands made him no less worthy. Her father, who once worked for a security bureau^[1]escort business, had an ugly scar like a centipede on his right cheek. He used to say, “Your mother endured hardship in her early years. Now that she’s with me, she’ll eat the best food, wear the finest clothes, and live in the best house.”

 

In her eyes, her father was the most handsome man alive.

 

Yu Tingwan volunteered eagerly: “I’ll marry him!”

 

No in-laws to serve, no sister-in-law conflicts.

 

So what if his temper is strange? She wasn’t exactly easy to deal with either!

 

Li Lian: ??? Are you serious?! But you and Butcher Wu don’t match at all.

 

She studied Yu Tingwan’s expression. It didn’t seem like a joke.

 

Li Lian couldn’t understand it, but she respected the decision!

 

Yu Tingwan smiled without embarrassment: “When he’s free, we can arrange a meeting.”

 

Rural folk weren’t bound by many rules, and after Madam Wang’s dramatic outburst earlier, Li Lian didn’t find the suggestion inappropriate.

 

If they didn’t mind each other and could live a steady life, it might actually be a good match.

 

After some thought, Li Lian slapped her thigh: “Alright, leave it to me!”

 

The moment Li Lian left, Madam Wang barged in, her face dark as she scrutinized Yu Tingwan.

 

“What did you and Li Lian talk about?” she demanded.

 

They talked for so long! Surely she hadn’t been badmouthing her, right? Why else would Li Lian glare at her before leaving? Remembering the villagers’ pointing and whispers earlier, Madam Wang felt both humiliated and furious.

 

Yu Tingwan’s smile faded from her eyes, her expression turning indifferent.

 

“Want to know?”

 

Madam Wang: ?

 

Yu Tingwan spoke softly, “Then keep guessing.”

 

Madam Wang: ?? 

 

Now that someone was backing her, she’d grown fearless!

 

*

 

In these past few days, Old Man Qian walked with a spring in his step.

 

Though his medical skills were limited, he understood Wei Shen’s condition well. When the villagers first brought him in, one look was enough for Old Man Qian to tell Wei Shouzhong’s wife to prepare for the worst. But unable to resist their desperate pleas, he had kept the patient.

 

Old Man Qian had no choice but to feed him a slice of wild ginseng daily.

 

Remarkably, Wei Shen hadn’t died! There was hope.

 

Wei Shouzhong had gone back to seek help from Wei Shen’s grandmother, while Hui Niang returned to her maiden home to borrow money. They hoped that once the roads cleared, they could send their son to the town’s medical clinic.

 

As noon approached, Old Man Qian carried his medicine chest next door to change the dressings.

 

Inside the dim room lay a man whose face was as pale as paper. He opened his eyes at some point without anyone noticing.

 

Leaning against the wall with his mouth turned downwards, he slowly raised his gaze—his eyes were hollow yet seemed turbulent with raging waves beneath them.

 

That one look sent chills down Old Man Qian’s spine.

 

The snow fell heavier outside, as if intent on destroying everything.

 

When Wei Shouzhong arrived with the money pouch, he found Old Man Qian rushing out of the room in panic.

 

“Quick, fetch the clay pot from the table next door!” Old Man Qian shouted before hurrying back.

 

Alarmed, Shouzhong grabbed the pot and rushed inside.

 

His vision filled with red—blood was spurting from his son’s chest, soaking half his body.

 

Old Man Qian’s expression was grave as he tried to staunch the flow, but warm blood continued to seep through his fingers.

 

“Wasn’t this wound stopped days ago?”

 

Shouzhong’s legs gave out, and he fell to his knees with a thud. “Doctor Qian, please save my son.”

 

“Use the best medicine—if we don’t have enough money, my wife and I will find more.”

 

Though Old Man Qian had a bad temper, he dared not take a life-and-death matter lightly.

 

“Enough! Begging me is useless. If we can’t stop this bleeding, there’s nothing I can do.”

 

Old Man Qian’s face was serious; sweat dripped from his forehead as he snatched the jar and poured hemostatic powder onto Ah Lang’s wound.

 

“Go get several basins of water! Boiled water!”

 

Wei Shouzhong, his eyes bloodshot, left the money behind and rushed outside.

 

Time crawled by..

 

After what seemed like forever, Old Man Qian let out a long sigh of relief.

 

Wei Shouzhong asked anxiously, “Doctor Qian, how is my son?”

 

“Your son is sick.”

 

Wei Shouzhong nodded. “Yes, that’s why we’re treating him.”

 

Old Man Qian didn’t bother washing his hands. “He woke up earlier.”

 

Wei Shouzhong: !!!

 

His face lit up with joy. “Really?!”

 

“Don’t celebrate yet,” Old Man Qian warned. “He asked me if I had a knife. I said no, but I had scissors. He was quite polite when taking them.”

 

Wei Shouzhong was grateful but confused: “What did he need scissors for?”

 

Old Man Qian’s expression turned strange. “To stab his wound.”

 

He did it quite efficiently too.

 

Wei Shouzhong: ???

 

Old Man Qian was at a loss for words. “After stabbing himself, he pulled them out again, lay back down, and closed his eyes. Before passing out, he even complained that my scissors were too dull.”

 

“You tell me—is there something wrong with his head?”

 

*

 

Author’s Note:

 

The little goose was about to go matchmaking.

 

Wei Zhao: Don’t panic, let me stab myself first.