Chapter 40

Watching the couple’s lovey-dovey display, Tang Yuanliang got goosebumps all over. 

If He Ting had the energy to act spoiled and playful in front of his sister, then his wound clearly wasn’t that painful. 

Realizing there was no need for them to stick around, Tang Yuanliang pulled Zhou Yanfeng along. 

“My sister’s here to look after him. Let’s go.” 

“Go? Go where?” 

Zhou Yanfeng didn’t catch on right away. 

Still annoyed by the couple’s public display of affection, Tang Yuanliang snapped, “Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat.” 

This time, Tang Yuanliang had driven the brigade’s tractor to the county. The big game they’d caught, along with the wolf He Ting had killed, was hidden under straw in the tractor bed. 

With nightfall approaching, he needed to visit a black market contact to deal with the game. 

But first, they had to eat. 

Fortunately, there was a state-owned restaurant not far from the hospital. 

After having their meal, Tang Yuanliang, before heading to the black market, stopped by the restaurant again to order a serving of braised pork, which he brought back to the hospital. 

“My brother Yuanliang loves meat, so he probably thinks all men do too, not even considering whether you’re injured,” Lu Baiwei teased. 

“Injured people should eat light. I’ll go to the hospital cafeteria and get you some porridge instead.” 

“No need, Baiwei. I love braised pork,” He Ting said, grabbing her hand to keep her from leaving. 

“The braised pork from the state-owned restaurant smells amazing, Baiwei. Here, let me feed you a bite.” 

He Ting picked up a piece with his chopsticks and offered it to Lu Baiwei. 

Knowing how much He Ting could eat, she pushed the chopsticks away. “No thanks, you eat it. It’s not even enough for you.” 

“I’ve already eaten!” 

Lu Baiwei explained, “Earlier, Brother Shen treated me to dinner. I also had braised pork, and even some soy-braised pig trotters.” 

She couldn’t stop thinking about the pig trotters from the state-owned restaurant. 

“They were so good, full of rich, savory flavor. You still need to get another anti-inflammatory shot tomorrow, so stay overnight in the county. I’ll get you some pig trotters to eat tomorrow.” 

“Wait, no—you shouldn’t eat pig trotters yet.” 

—

“You shouldn’t eat braised pig trotters yet,” Lu Baiwei declared. 

“When you’re injured, you should stick to light foods. Wait until my internship is over and I’m back at the brigade—I’ll make you some then. By that time, your wound will have healed.” 

What braised pig trotters? He Ting didn’t hear a word of that. 

The only thing echoing in his mind was the sharp and unpleasant mention of Brother Shen. 

Frowning deeply, He Ting looked at Lu Baiwei with a mix of accusation and grievance. “Baiwei, who is this Brother Shen?” 

Although He Ting’s question was simple—asking who Brother Shen was—Lu Baiwei couldn’t help but sense a faint whiff of jealousy in the air. 

The way he looked at her made her feel as if she were some kind of heartless cheater. 

After spending so much time together, Lu Baiwei had learned that He Ting tended to express his concerns and insecurities through his emotions. 

For instance, the last time she set a bone for Liu Zaicheng, He Ting’s tone was less than pleasant. 

Seeing him act the same way now, Lu Baiwei couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Brother Shen is Shen Director’s grandson,” she explained, proceeding to share how she and Shen Junqian had known each other since they were kids. 

One phrase popped into He Ting’s mind: childhood sweethearts. 

Completely unaware of the implications, Lu Baiwei continued recounting her past interactions with the Shen family. 

Meanwhile, He Ting caught onto something else entirely. He could hear it loud and clear: Director Shen was playing matchmaker, trying to pair his grandson with his wife. 

What an outrageous old man. 

Wasn’t there anyone else’s wife he could covet? 

He Ting decided then and there that letting Lu Baiwei stay in the hospital dormitory during her internship had been a mistake. He should’ve been cycling her to and from the hospital every day, making his presence known to that old man. 

If Shen Director had seen him more often, he’d have realized this flower was already taken. 

Determined, He Ting made up his mind. During Baiwei’s internship, he would make a point of visiting the Chinese medicine department frequently, ensuring Shen Director knew exactly who she belonged to. 

Before He Ting could put his plan into action, however, Shen Director came to the emergency department to see him first. 

And this matter had everything to do with Shen Junqian. 

At the black market, where a haul of two wild boars and one wolf had just been delivered, Shen Junqian had been busy until late at night. 

When he finally got home, instead of scolding him, Shen Director seemed pleased. 

“Where have you been?” he asked. 

“Where did you go?” 

Director Shen hummed a Hua Gu Xi tune and chuckled, “Now this is more like it. That little girl fixed my leg, and you taking her to a movie? Smart move.” 

“You’re overthinking it!” 

The black market had received two big game animals that evening, and Shen Junqian personally handled the transaction. 

Through the process of purchasing the wild boar meat, he became acquainted with Tang Yuanliang. 

From their conversation, Shen Junqian learned that the little girl his grandfather had his eye on was already married—to none other than the man who had accompanied Tang Yuanliang to sell wild boar meat last time. 

This time, that man had gone hunting and killed a wolf with a single stab. 

A remarkable man indeed, and one that little girl was married to. Yet his restless grandfather was still dreaming of breaking them up? 

Always on the go, never resting—if only his grandpa would stop meddling and trying to find him a wife. 

Well, let him crash into this brick wall. Perhaps only then would he calm down. 

“Tang Yuanliang’s sister is in town. Her family member is in our hospital’s emergency department.” 

Shen Junqian handed over a chicken he had brought home. “Here, take this chicken and stew it. Tomorrow morning, bring a bowl of chicken soup for her family member.” 

Well, well! His grandson was finally starting to catch on. 

Director Shen was thrilled. 

That enthusiasm lasted until the next morning when he brought the pot of chicken soup to the hospital’s emergency department, only to see Lu Baiwei sleeping by He Ting’s bedside, with He Ting’s hand resting protectively on her back. 

It felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over him. 

“Ahem, ahem!” 

Director Shen cleared his throat loudly to announce his presence. 

Lu Baiwei stirred awake groggily, and the noise also roused He Ting. 

Director Shen’s gaze fell on the strikingly handsome He Ting, his expression laced with hostility. “Baiwei, who exactly is this injured ‘family member’ of yours?” 

“Grandpa Shen, why are you here?” 

Over her internship at the hospital, Lu Baiwei had grown quite close to Director Shen. 

Under his insistence, she had even started calling him *Grandpa.* 

“This is my husband, He Ting,” Lu Baiwei introduced him with a smile. “The kind of husband with a marriage certificate.”

Lù Bái Wēi introduced Hè Tíng to Director Shěn.

Then, she introduced Hè Tíng to Director Shěn in return.

“Hè Tíng, this is Grandpa Shěn. I’ve been interning with him at the hospital.”

“Grandpa Shěn is a brilliant doctor and the backbone of the Traditional Chinese Medicine department at the county hospital.”

Upon hearing the unfortunate news that Lù Bái Wēi was already married, Director Shěn struggled to maintain his composure.

His first reaction was that the seemingly innocent girl had tricked him—she had silently gotten married without a word.

But he hadn’t asked!

How could the young girl be so eager to marry his grandson?

Over the past few days, he had imagined countless scenarios where Lù Bái Wēi and his grandson were destined to be together. Their names were even inspired by Chinese medicinal herbs—Jūn Qiánzi and Bái Wēi , a fateful match.

But now, the little girl was already married. Married.

Learning that Lù Bái Wēi had already married was a big blow to Director Shěn.

Luckily, he was an experienced person. He kept a straight face and placed the chicken soup on the table: “Your brother Shěn had this made for you, drink it while it’s hot to nourish your body.”

“Alright, you can’t let your partner’s hospitalization delay things. Pack up and come over to help.”

Director Shěn knew he couldn’t blame Lù Bái Wēi for this. His attempt to matchmake her with his grandson was entirely his own wishful thinking.

However, when facing Lù Bái Wēi, he felt uneasy.

Especially when he realized that Lù Bái Wēi had mastered the art of bone-setting from Old Tang, a skill passed down through generations. He still felt regretful that he had missed the chance to have such a granddaughter-in-law.

Now that he no longer saw her as a potential granddaughter-in-law, during her internship, Director Shěn handled official matters but still appreciated her talents. As her internship came to an end, he began to think about recommending her to stay in the county hospital’s TCM department.

“Wēi Wēi, other barefoot doctors are arranged for internships in a standardized way, but I kept you by my side with a selfish reason.”

“I wanted to evaluate the bone-setting technique you learned from your grandfather and see how proficient you are.”

“The TCM department has a gap in orthopedics.”

Director Shěn discussed with her: “If you’re interested, I can recommend you to the hospital leadership.”