Forced to marry a disabled man in the countryside? I'll repay you tenfold!

Ding Zhigang, hands clasped, leaned against the doorframe. "Yanshen, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but since you're alright, why didn't you send a telegram home earlier? It wouldn't have been a big deal if you hadn't spent a few cents on the telegram, would it? You've wasted so many days of my and your cousin's time! We even took time off work to come here, just waiting for you to come back and uphold justice!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou's mother and Lin Tingting, who had heard the commotion, quickly came out of the house.

Lin Tingting's eyes lit up the moment she saw Zhou Yanshen. She put the bowl she was holding on the windowsill and exclaimed in surprise, "Cousin! Cousin, you're finally back! I knew you would be safe and sound!" She pushed past Ding Zhigang and tried to get closer, but Zhou Yanshen's calm gaze stopped her in her tracks.

Zhou's mother looked him up and down, and seeing that he was all right, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as usual, she put on a stern expression and said, "It's good that you're back. I knew it! What could have happened? Don't listen to your cousin's nonsense. The fact that you're back safe and sound is the best thing that can happen."

This was a rare moment that showed a touch of humanity, though it was still quite harsh.

Su Wanqing glanced at Zhou's mother but remained silent. This wicked mother-in-law rarely uttered a single pleasing word out of ten.

Zhou Yanshen's brows furrowed slightly. He glanced at his wife and, seeing her calm expression, knew that he had obviously known all along. "Cousin, cousin, what brings you here?" His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, but those who knew him well could sense the distance between them.

Su Wanqing shrugged, her tone relaxed: "Well, Yanshen, you should ask your cousins ​​yourself why they're still waiting for you here." She was quite surprised that the two of them hadn't left yet.

"Let's go inside and talk," Zhou's mother gestured for them to go inside.

Several people carried their things into the courtyard. Zhou Yanshen led the horse and ducks and settled them in the courtyard. When the educated youth around saw that Zhou Yanshen had even brought a horse down, they started chattering incessantly. It was likely that in a couple of days, the whole regiment would know that Dr. Su had brought back a horse. This was probably the most exciting topic to come.

For example, where did Dr. Su and Zhou Yanshen go? Why did they come back in a military vehicle? Why were they carrying so many valuable things? Why were there horses and ducks? Were those bees buzzing around on the military vehicle?

Once the door was closed, it shut out the curious noises of the educated youth outside. The villagers knew that Dr. Su had returned, so they all gathered at the door to watch the military vehicles.

Zhou Yanshen glanced around, slightly surprised. The vegetable patch he had planted before leaving the yard was lush and green, clearly having been carefully tended; the chicken coop and sheep pen were spotless, and the other corners were also neatly tidied up, completely different from the messy situation he had imagined.

The annoyance he felt from the unexpected visitor dissipated somewhat. The house was in perfect order, though he didn't know who had done it.

Zhou's mother followed behind and asked casually, "Have you eaten? I didn't know you were coming back today, so I didn't cook much. Just make do with this."

Su Wanqing carried her things into the house and was surprised to see the newly built sturdy shelves on the four walls, the spotless house inside and out, and the orderly arrangement of the items.

This is really unlike Lin Tingting and Zhou's mother's style.

She checked the lock on her bedroom door again; it hadn't been touched, good.

Lunch consisted of simple steamed buns, stir-fried cured pork and cabbage, and an egg drop soup. It was quite a hearty meal, and it was definitely not Lin Tingting's cooking.

Seeing his nephew safe and sound, Uncle Ding, who was lying on the bed in the inner room, finally felt relieved. "You little rascal, you really scared your uncle. You're finally back."

Zhou Yanshen finally managed a smile. "Uncle, I'm sorry to have worried you. I'm fine. Thanks to Wanqing's timely arrival, I was able to return so smoothly this time."

Ding Zhigang despised Zhou Yanshen's attitude. From a young age, his father had looked up to this cousin as a role model: obedient, capable, good-looking, and a decorated soldier. But in Ding's eyes, times were about to change; what was so great about being a military officer? He was the one destined to inherit the family business and restore its glory! So, he interjected sarcastically:

"Cousin, stop flattering your wife. She's a woman, going to a place like that. It's a miracle she's not a hindrance. What help could she possibly be? Even if she knew a few first aid skills, how much of a difference would that make? Besides..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yanshen suddenly turned around, grabbed his collar, and lifted him off the stool! His other fist slammed down with a whoosh.

Su Wanqing's anger subsided instantly. Ah, it's so nice to have her husband around. She doesn't even have to lift a finger. Thinking about the days when Zhou Yanshen wasn't around, she had to go up and slap people herself.

Ding Zhigang was terrified, letting out a bloodcurdling scream as he covered his instantly bruised eye, both shocked and furious: "Cousin! You hit me?! I... I was just saying something casually, and you actually attacked me?!"

He admitted that he had a sharp tongue, but this was not the first time he had teased Zhou Yanshen since childhood. The other party would only give him a cold glance and let it go. He had never really done anything serious.

Zhou Yanshen's voice was icy, each word deliberate: "Talking about me is fine. Talking about Wanqing is not." He released his grip, shoving the staggering Ding Zhigang back onto the stool. "Now, let's get down to business. What exactly are you and your cousin trying to do, coming all this way here? Back when Uncle was going to the countryside, you were nowhere to be seen; now, you've finally decided to come?"

Su Wanqing clicked her tongue twice, sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed), took out a steamed bun and started eating it, while watching the show. It was great to have Zhou Yanshen around; it was good to let Zhou Yanshen take the stage for such a grand performance.

Zhou's mother was even more audacious, acting as if it were none of her business. She picked up her bowl and chopsticks, picked up some cured meat and cabbage, drank some egg soup, and ate with great relish.

Ding Zhigang covered his face, "I...I haven't even asked you yet! You let your wife perform surgery on my dad like this, leaving a huge hole in his leg, and he's practically a cripple. I don't know what kind of spell your wife cast on my dad; he said that even if his leg can't be cured, he wants to leave all his money to her!" He then looked at Ding Xiaomei: "Xiaomei, say something, you be the judge!"

He originally planned to stay a few more days to expose Su Wanqing as a "liar" and then please the old man so he could get his hands on the inheritance left by his grandparents. But the old man immediately told him to give up on that idea; the money was meant for Su Wanqing. He exploded on the spot.

Ding Xiaomei sneered from the side, "I don't care who the old man's money goes to, but cousin, you really need to give us an explanation. The old man's legs are crippled, he can't walk now, he's completely bedridden. If he still wants to give his property to your wife in this situation, I won't agree. Yan Shen, what do you say to that?"

Zhou Yanshen frowned, but his first question hit the nail on the head: "One of you is abroad, and the other is in the capital. How did you know that Uncle had surgery and that it failed?" He glanced around, finally fixing his gaze on Lin Tingting, who was shrinking back. "Did you tell me?"