Chapter 139: Beautiful Wife, Very Capable

Ten minutes later, the acupuncture and moxibustion session was finished.

The mugwort was something Chu Yue had taken out from her personal storage space. She had prepared a large bag of it and gave it to Auntie Qi to take home, also teaching her how to use it.

Once Auntie Qi stood up and got dressed, Chu Yue asked,
“Auntie Qi, how do you feel now?”

Auntie Qi placed her hands on her belly, feeling the changes in her body, and slowly said,
“It feels… warm… kind of bloated… like there’s a hot-water bottle in my stomach…”

(*Note: A “hot-water bottle” here refers to a 汤婆子, a traditional Chinese heating item.)

“That’s a good reaction,” Chu Yue replied. “You’ll need to come back once every half month for acupuncture.”

“I will, I definitely will!” Auntie Qi nodded vigorously, so emotional she nearly cried again.

Just as they were about to walk out of the house, Auntie Qi suddenly started fumbling around herself, reaching into a hidden pocket sewn into the inner layer of her clothes and pulling something out with effort.

It was money.

That same night when they returned the child to Wang Chunling, they had also gotten back the 100 yuan they had paid to buy the child.

That 100 yuan had represented their hope for a child. Now, it was in Auntie Qi’s hands — and she held it out to Chu Yue with trembling hands.

“Comrade Chu, please take this money… My husband and I spent our whole lives saving this… This is all we have. You’re not just treating my illness, you’re saving our lives… We only have this much, it’s all here. You must take it.”

“Auntie Qi, I won’t take your money,” Chu Yue said, gently pushing the money back. “You still need to go to town to buy herbs. Your condition won’t improve overnight — it needs time and care. You’ll need money later for many other things.”

“But… I… the money…” Auntie Qi stood there awkwardly, holding the money — wanting to give it, but feeling embarrassed to offer too little, and at a loss because Chu Yue refused to take it.

In the end, it was Song Hongmei who settled the matter once and for all.

“Chu Yue didn’t accept the pork Captain Han gave her earlier, so she definitely won’t take your money either. Just keep it. Your kindness — she understands it.”

And just like that, Auntie Qi, with red eyes, put the money back.

She kept murmuring,
“Comrade Chu, you’re a good person… Good people will be rewarded, definitely. I’ll pray to the Bodhisattva to bless your family with peace and safety.”

This was the most sincere blessing that a rural woman like her could offer.

After that, Chu Yue walked the three of them out of the courtyard.

As soon as she stepped outside, she immediately sensed someone’s gaze on her from behind.

Without making a fuss, Chu Yue subtly glanced over her shoulder — and caught a glimpse of a figure hiding around the corner.

It was Wang Xiulan.

Wang Xiulan had been waiting outside Chu Yue’s home for a long time. After being reminded by Zheng Yue’e, she realized the strained relationship between herself and Chu Yue — if she barged in uninvited, Chu Yue might not welcome an “enemy” like her.

So she stayed outside the whole time, hoping to learn what happened with Auntie Qi’s treatment — but from such a distance, she couldn’t hear anything that was said.

When footsteps echoed from inside the courtyard, Wang Xiulan instinctively felt guilty and quickly hid around the corner.

She thought she hadn’t been discovered. Peeking out, she saw Auntie Qi holding a piece of wood and thanking Chu Yue over and over again with an excited expression.

Anyone with eyes could see that she had received good news.

Could it be that this old, skinny Auntie — who looked nearly past childbearing age — could now have children?

Then why is it, Wang Xiulan thought bitterly, that she herself, only thirty years old this year, still doesn’t have a single child?

Wang Xiulan felt a wave of sour jealousy surge through her—what a strong mix of envy, bitterness, and resentment!

Han Shi had left with Aunt Qi, and Song Hongmei had gone back to the room next door.
In no time, only Chu Yue was left.

She appeared to be turning back toward her home, but then suddenly twisted her head and glanced sharply at the corner where Wang Xiulan was hiding—her gaze cold and piercing.

Oh my god!

Wang Xiulan was so startled she nearly jumped on the spot.
She didn’t even dare to meet Chu Yue’s eyes. Shivering from fear, she turned around and ran off, leaving only a panicked, flustered silhouette behind.

Chu Yue silently smiled—so, she’s just a coward.

She hadn’t interacted much with Wang Xiulan before, only remembered that she often hung around He Meijiao—especially that time they met at the state-owned restaurant.

To be fair, it didn’t seem like Wang Xiulan was particularly malicious.

She just cared too much about saving face, loved petty bargains, and was loud-mouthed.
She clung to He Meijiao hoping to benefit from her—finally scored a fancy meal, ate her fill, and couldn’t help but brag about it to others, only to end up humiliated in the end.

This kind of person—truly pitiful, and a little ridiculous.

After seeing Wang Xiulan flee in fright, Chu Yue didn’t bother to dwell on it. She simply closed the door and went back inside.

In the courtyard, Lu Xiaobao heard everyone leaving and was finally able to come out of the small room.
He looked up and asked Chu Yue,
“Are they all gone now?”

“They are,” Chu Yue replied with a warm smile. “Are you hungry? Come on, let’s go to the kitchen—it’s time to make lunch.”

Lu Xiaobao immediately ran ahead, excitedly shouting,
“I’ll start the fire!”

Just like that, the mother and son’s life returned to its normal rhythm.

—

That afternoon, Chu Yue’s “heroic deed” not only spread throughout the entire compound, but even made its way into the military camp.
Even the soldiers now knew that the new wife of Commander Lu wasn’t just beautiful—she was also a skilled doctor, with hands that could bring the dead back to life.

She treated the villagers and saved lives—without charging a single penny.
Beautiful face, even more beautiful heart.

—

Later in the afternoon, during training, Xu Feng walked up to Lu Zhanlin.
He couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked,

“Commander Lu, is what they’re saying really true? Does your wife really know medicine? And she’s that good?”

He raised his brows, his cheerful grin tinged with teasing.
It sounded like casual gossip, not something he expected a serious answer to.

Xu Feng’s lightheartedness sharply contrasted with Lu Zhanlin’s usual demeanor.

Lu Zhanlin had always been strict and stern, cold and composed.
He and Xu Feng were opposites—fire and ice—but both equally sharp. In everyday life, they were completely different kinds of men.

But today, Lu Zhanlin’s expression, while still solemn, carried an extra layer of earnestness.

He didn’t treat Xu Feng’s words as a joke.
Instead, he answered firmly,
“Ah Yue knows medicine. And she’s very good at it.”

The word “very good” actually came out of Lu Zhanlin’s mouth.

Xu Feng scratched his ear in disbelief.

“I know she’s good at cooking—the food she makes is amazing. But treating illnesses and saving lives? That’s no joke! Commander Lu, even if you’re biased toward your wife, you shouldn’t exaggerate. She doesn’t even dare kill a chicken—how could she be sticking needles in someone’s veins?”

It wasn’t that Xu Feng refused to believe it—
It was just hard to picture a delicate and pretty little woman like Chu Yue as a doctor in action.
To his rough, manly mind, it didn’t make sense.

That was Xu Feng’s bias at play.

Lu Zhanlin glanced at him, his dark eyes carrying a hint of cold mockery,
“Did you already forget? On her first day here, she delivered Commander Zhou’s wife’s baby.”