Chapter 2: He Miao is Rejected for Marriage

After a while, thinking the medicine should have cooled down, He Miao gently lifted the man’s upper body, propped a pillow behind him, and then took the medicine bowl, trying to feed him spoonful by spoonful.

However, the man’s lips remained tightly sealed, his teeth clenched. He Miao worked hard for a long time, but no matter what, most of the medicine spilled out, unable to get into his mouth at all.

He Miao was sweating with frustration and had no idea what to do, so she tried to coax him.

“Brother, you need to open your mouth and drink this medicine. You’re badly injured and lost a lot of blood. If you don’t drink the medicine, you might not survive. Wouldn’t that mean all my efforts to save you would be in vain? Open your mouth, don’t bite down, relax a bit, yes, like that!”

He Miao spoke in a gentle voice, her sweet, clear tone resembling a melody as she coaxed him.

It seemed like the man could hear He Miao’s words, as he began to cooperate. 

Seeing that it was working, He Miao quickly continued, feeding him the medicine slowly and carefully, one spoonful at a time, with extreme patience. In the end, only a small amount spilled from the corners of his mouth, and most of it went into his stomach.

After feeding him the medicine, He Miao noticed the man’s clothes lying by the bedside. His outer robe was a dark green with an ink wash pattern. The style was elegant and simple, with a refined and dignified aura. The fabric was smooth and shiny, and there was exquisite dark golden embroidery on it, with intricate patterns and fine stitching. Although there were several layers of clothes, they were well-matched, made of light, breathable, and smooth silk.

He Miao had grown up in a rural village. At sixteen, she had only been to the nearby town a few times. She rarely went to the county town, so she was not used to seeing such elegant, high-quality clothes. She also noticed the jade crown that had been taken off while He Miao’s uncle was treating the man’s head injury. The light green jade crown was beautifully carved, its surface smooth and warm to the touch. He Miao thought it was beautiful and must be very precious. 

She felt that such valuable things should be kept safe, so she put the jade crown in a drawer, planning to return it to the man when he recovered. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

It was He Xiangxiang, her cousin, He Miao’s aunt’s daughter. They were close in age and had grown up together, sharing a strong bond. After He Xiangxiang returned home and heard about the situation from her father, she became curious and came to check it out.

“Miao Miao, I heard you saved a man? Is he awake yet?” He Xiangxiang asked.

He Xiangxiang was pretty, with a bright and smooth voice, though she stuttered a bit.

He Miao took her cousin’s hand and led her into the room. “Xiangxiang, you’re here. Come in. He hasn’t woken up yet.”

As they spoke, they entered the utility room. He Xiangxiang took a few glances at the man, then said, “He’s quite handsome.”

“He’s really good-looking,” Xiangxiang added, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You know, in our village, it’s easy to bring a man in, but getting one to stay out there is difficult. Why not just keep him and let him become your husband?”

Upon hearing this, He Miao’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Xiangxiang, what are you saying? I just happened to find this man injured and unconscious in the forest. I saved him, and once he’s better, he’ll definitely leave. Besides, look at him! He’s so tall. Who would be able to trap him here?”

“Well, yes, you’re right,” Xiangxiang responded. “But…”

“We’re not bandits in the village! Why do you always think of such things?” He Miao said, gently tapping Xiangxiang on the forehead.

Xiangxiang pouted and said, “I just don’t want you to be upset.”

He Miao, a little more serious now, replied, “I’m fine, really. I don’t want to get married. I just want to live a simple and stable life here in the village. Don’t worry about me.”

Xiangxiang’s face softened, but she quickly shifted the conversation. “By the way, Miao Miao, my dad wants me to tell you that you’re living alone, and taking care of him is difficult. He wants you to move him to my house for now.”

He Miao thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Uncle has just treated his wounds. If we move him now, the wounds might reopen. Plus, you don’t have any extra rooms at home. Let him stay here for a few days.”

“Well, if that’s the case… but aren’t you worried about what others might say?” Xiangxiang asked.

He Miao smiled slightly. “Look at him, injured like this. He can’t even move. Who would have time to gossip? If anyone dares to spread rumors, it’s because they have bad intentions. I won’t care about them.”

After a moment of thought, Xiangxiang agreed. “Alright, he won’t be lying here forever. Once he wakes up and can move, we’ll figure it out then.”

The two continued chatting for a while before Xiangxiang left. He Miao went to the courtyard to dry the mushrooms she had picked earlier that morning.

***

The next day, as soon as it was light, He Miao got out of bed, went to the utility room to check on the man’s condition. His brow was no longer furrowed, and he appeared to be recovering. Although his complexion and lip color weren’t fully restored yet, they weren’t as pale as the day before.

He Miao went to the courtyard to prepare the medicine again and then began to make breakfast. It was simple, just some white rice and sweet potatoes cooked into porridge, which she ate with some side dishes. After finishing, she also finished preparing the medicine.

As before, He Miao gently helped the man sit up, propping him with a thick cushion behind him and tying a cloth around his neck. She spoke softly, coaxing him as she slowly fed him the medicine.

This time, the process went smoothly. He Miao managed to feed him half a bowl, and the man’s fingers moved slightly beneath the thin blanket. His brow furrowed for a moment. Suddenly, he choked and coughed.