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

"Are you tired today? Go to bed early?" he asked in a low voice, and then carried her onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"If you say you're tired, does that mean you're really going to sleep?" Su Wanqing smiled and hugged his neck.

Zhou Yanshen nodded seriously, "Of course." Although he also wanted to do some exercise after dinner, if his wife was tired, he would naturally prioritize her rest.

Su Wanqing wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm not tired today, so we can do it twice. But more than that won't do, or I'll have to get up early tomorrow."

She herself didn't know why, but lately, although she had been somewhat lazy, she was particularly interested in this matter—especially when Zhou Yanshen served her.

Zhou Yanshen nuzzled her cheek, clearly pleased. "Okay, whatever you say." At worst... he'd control the duration. He understood his wife meant not to stay up too late.

……

Ding Xiaomei has been staying here for a few days now, but she doesn't want to stay any longer. She plans to go back home as soon as her father's leg gets a little better, because her child and husband are waiting for her.

"Cousin, aren't you going to sleep yet? You won't be able to sleep if it gets any later." Lin Tingting skillfully took out a cotton ball and even made herself a simple earmuff.

Ding Xiaomei waved her hand: "You guys go to sleep first, I'll fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow." She has never had trouble sleeping.

Lin Tingting sighed and shook her head. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully anywhere tonight. If she didn't go to sleep now, she wouldn't get any sleep at all.

Before Ding Xiaomei could understand the deeper meaning of those words, she saw Zhou's mother and Lin Tingting stuff cotton balls in their ears and put on earmuffs. Soon after, they actually fell asleep.

However—she soon understood.

Early the next morning.

The next morning, Ding Xiaomei, sporting dark circles under her eyes, prepared the family's last breakfast. She glanced resentfully at Su Wanqing, whose face was rosy and who looked radiant, then at Zhou Yanshen, who was full of energy, and said softly, "I'll head back after breakfast."

The whole family was somewhat surprised. Uncle Ding even asked, "Didn't you say you wanted to stay for a few days to see for yourself how well my legs are back?" In fact, he was able to walk yesterday, and today he was even more agile.

Ding Xiaomei yawned widely and shook her head repeatedly: "I'm not staying here. My children are waiting for me at home. I'm relieved that you're eating and staying well here and that you can still walk."

Lin Tingting tugged at her sleeve anxiously, "Cousin! Have you forgotten why you came here? Didn't you say you were going to help me? Why are you leaving already?"

Her cousin, after arriving, didn't help at all. At least Ding Zhigang made a scene, but her cousin, apart from putting on a show on the first day, remained completely uninvolved afterward, not even caring who would inherit the family property.

Ding Xiaomei quickly waved her hand: "I can't help you, I can't help you. I advise you to give up on that idea and find a man to settle down with. Don't think about things you can't have. I have to leave now."

Su Wanqing looked at Ding Xiaomei with some surprise, wondering what had gotten into her that made her insist on leaving so early in the morning.

Zhou Yanshen nodded: "I'll take my cousin to the station."

Zhou's mother then said, "Let Yan Shen take you to the station. Wan Qing, prepare some local specialties for your cousin to take with her."

Ding Xiaomei coughed lightly: "Auntie, no need for the local specialties. Please take good care of my father."

That being said, preparations still needed to be made. Ding Xiaomei hadn't caused any trouble these past few days; on the contrary, she was incredibly diligent. Su Wanqing had initially thought she was there to cause trouble, but unexpectedly, Ding Xiaomei took on all the household chores herself…

Su Wanqing then included Ding Xiaomei in the list of "relatives with whom she had a reasonably good relationship" and prepared some food for the journey: boiled eggs, boiled corn, a dozen large steamed buns, a bag of dried mushrooms and red dates, and a piece of warm and lustrous Hetian jade.

Ding Xiaomei took the items and said with mixed feelings, "Now I understand why my father would rather give the family fortune to you than leave it to Ding Zhigang."

After saying that, she got into Zhou Yanshen's truck and waved to Uncle Ding: "Dad, I'm going back! Send a telegram if anything happens!"

Uncle Ding waved his hand. Although he was eccentric and had never been with his children since childhood, he felt strange spending a few days with them all at once. But with his children gone, he felt empty inside.

Zhou Yanshen leaned out of the car window: "Wanqing, you go to work. I'll return the car after dropping off my cousin and be right back."

"it is good."

As the truck drove away, Su Wanqing also picked up her medicine kit and headed to the clinic. Uncle Ding felt restless and itchy to do something, so he decided to find something to do—cutting grass, feeding the chickens, and tidying up the yard—to distract himself.

Su Wanqing arrived at the clinic a little late today, and there were already five or six people waiting for her.

"Dr. Su is here!"

"Dr. Su!"

Su Wanqing was somewhat surprised—with the spiritual spring water readily available, how could so many people still be sick? She composed herself and said, "Everyone, please line up in order of arrival."

"I'm the first one!" A sprightly old woman in her fifties squeezed in first. Her face was rosy and her eyes were bright; she didn't look sick at all.

Su Wanqing asked her to sit down: "Grandma, where do you feel unwell? Come, let me take your pulse first."

Her pulse was steady and strong, her blood and energy abundant; she was so healthy she could practically topple a bull with her bare hands. Su Wanqing withdrew her hand: "Grandma, you're in great health! Is there anything you'd like to see, or is there something bothering you?"

Upon hearing that she was in good health, the old lady beamed with joy: "See, I told you I was healthy!" She leaned closer, slightly embarrassed.

"Here's the thing, my eldest son and daughter-in-law went to the provincial capital, and my second daughter married and moved back to our hometown; she won't be coming back for the New Year. I want to have another child. But my husband can only come once a year, which is too unlikely. Dr. Su, is there any medicine... that can make my husband come ten times?"

"Pfft—" Su Wanqing almost spat out her saliva.

Auntie, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! What do you mean by "medicine that will last ten times"?!

Seeing Su Wanqing's shocked expression, the old lady gave her a "Don't pretend, I understand" look, leaned closer and lowered her voice: "Doctor, just prescribe it for me! Acupuncture is fine too! My nephew is Erzhuzi, I've heard you can even cure him... Or, how about one or five sessions?"

Su Wanqing then realized: it was Erzhuzi's relative. She took the old lady's pulse again and tentatively asked, "Auntie, do you... still have your period?"

The old lady waved her hand: "That thing? It's long gone, four or five years ago."

Su Wanqing: "..."

"Then you can't get pregnant. Even if your husband is still healthy, your body... is past the age where you can conceive."

After explaining, the old lady left with regret.

Su Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and announced, "Next."

A couple entered. The woman was burly and tall, and she was dragging along a refined man who looked reluctant.

The man struggled and complained, "Honghong, I already told you I won't mind if you can't get pregnant! It's so much more comfortable without children; you can focus on taking care of my mother. What's the point of having a child? We're here to buy medicine; don't listen to her nonsense!"