The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

Before leaving the town, Yang Shuisheng went to a general store and bought a small bag of iron nails, and also spent two cents to buy a sturdy old burlap sack.

Instead of taking the main road, he turned onto a dirt road that was the only way back to Taohua'ao.

There are no villages or shops in sight here, and it's usually quiet with few people around.

Most people going to Taohua'ao choose this route, since it saves them several miles of walking.

Zhao Hu was no exception.

He estimated the time, scattered nails sparsely in the middle of the road, and hid behind the bushes at the edge of the woods, waiting patiently.

Sure enough, not long after, the sound of a bicycle bell and the humming of a tune could be heard coming from afar.

Zhao Hu returned on his old bicycle.

He had a smile on his face, and it seemed he had successfully completed his business in town and was in a good mood.

"Ouch!"

The front wheel of the bicycle suddenly went flat. Zhao Hu was caught off guard, and the bicycle tilted to one side. He quickly braced himself with his feet to avoid falling.

He got out of the car cursing and swearing as he checked the tire. When he saw the nail stuck in the tire, he became even angrier.

"What the hell was that bastard who scattered nails down the road?"

"If I find out, I'll skin him alive."

Zhao Hu squatted down, looking at the flat tire with heartache, cursing under his breath.

Just then, a sack fell from the sky.

It accurately covered his head and upper body.

"Who?"

"Who the hell... ah!"

Zhao Hu's vision went black, and before he could even cry out, a hail of fists and feet rained down on him.

Every punch landed squarely, every kick was vicious, targeting the thickest and most painful spots.

"Ouch! Stop hitting me! Mercy, sir!"

"Big brother! Grandpa! I was wrong."

"The money's in my pocket, take it all, stop hitting me."

Zhao Hu was beaten senseless and curled up on the ground, clutching his head and begging for mercy.

Yang Shuisheng remained silent, only silently beating the victim.

Remembering how that bastard tried to bully Liu Yulan yesterday, how he smashed up her house, and how he conspired with Zhao Youcai to kill her, she became even more ruthless.

He beat Zhao Hu for several minutes until Zhao Hu cried out in pain and his voice weakened, then he stopped.

He darted into the nearby woods and ran quickly back to the village along the familiar path.

After Zhao Hu finally managed to struggle and pull the sack off his head,

My face was bruised and swollen, and my whole body ached as if it were falling apart.

There was no one in sight except for the empty dirt road and the bicycle with a flat tire.

"ah--"

Zhao Hu was so angry that he roared furiously towards the woods.

"You bastard! Don't let me find out who you are."

"Or I'll kill your whole family!"

The only response he received was the rustling of the wind through the trees.

When Yang Shuisheng returned to the village via the path behind the mountain, it was just noon.

He dusted himself off, composed himself, and went around to the back of the village chief's house.

The back door was ajar, and he gently pushed it open a crack.

Zhou Caifeng had been waiting for a while. As soon as she heard the noise, she leaned out and pulled him inside.

Today she wore a light red short-sleeved shirt, with two buttons undone at the collar, and black silk trousers that tightly hugged her round buttocks. She also had some fragrant face cream on.

"You've finally arrived! Quickly, this was reserved just for you."

Zhou Caifeng glanced at him with burning eyes and took out a large bowl from the stove.

Inside was a big, oily chicken leg and two plump, white meat buns.

"Eat it while it's hot, Youcai has gone to town and won't be back for a while."

As she spoke, she leaned against Yang Shuisheng, her fingers lightly tracing his strong forearm, her voice low and seductive: "How about... we go inside to eat? It's hot outside..."

Yang Shuisheng took the bowl, broke open a bun, and ate it in big bites. The aroma of chicken whetted his appetite.

But he kept his ears perked up, listening to what was happening in the front yard.

Zhao Youcai's trip to town to see Brother Kun shouldn't take too long.

"No, I'll eat here."

Yang Shuisheng shook his head, ate the steamed bun in a few bites, and then grabbed a chicken leg to gnaw on.

Seeing him eat so heartily, Zhou Caifeng could no longer suppress her desires. Her voluptuous body almost pressed against his arm, her breath sweet as orchids: "Shuisheng... then, when should we start the treatment?"

"Auntie is feeling terrible, both emotionally and physically..."

Her eyes were watery, filled with an undisguised longing.

"No rush."

After finishing his chicken leg, Yang Shuisheng wiped his mouth and said seriously, "First, do as I told you yesterday: find some lily bulbs, jujube seeds, and floating wheat, boil them in water, and drink it for a few days."

"Let's calm down our anger first before we talk about it."

"Oh? We have to wait a few more days?" Zhou Caifeng looked disappointed, tugging at Yang Shuisheng's clothes and shaking them in a coquettish tone, "Can't we... take care of ourselves first, and then drink that water?"

"Maybe with some treatment, the heat will subside?"

"No." Yang Shuisheng's tone was firm, carrying an undeniable domineering air. "Haste makes waste."

"I'm here to treat your illness, so you have to listen to me."

"Give them water to drink first, and let them rest for a few days."

His domineering and unyielding demeanor made Zhou Caifeng's heart tremble, and a strange feeling welled up inside her.

Zhao Youcai either bossed her around or treated her perfunctorily. She had never experienced being so strongly directed by a man, yet she also vaguely felt that he was reliable.

Looking at Yang Shuisheng's angular profile and steady eyes, her face flushed even more, and her affection for him grew stronger. She obediently said "Oh" and nodded.

"Colorful Phoenix! Colorful Phoenix!"

Just then, Zhao Youcai's shout came from the front yard.

"Where have you been? Get me a glass of water!"

Zhou Caifeng was startled and quickly pushed Yang Shuisheng, whispering, "Quick, let's go through the back door."

Yang Shuisheng was prepared. He shoved the bowl into her hand, then slipped out the back door and gently closed it behind him.

He walked quickly away along the path behind the house, still holding another uneaten meat bun in his hand, nibbling on it as he went.

He was thinking to himself that he had to go into the mountains that afternoon and find all the medicinal herbs as soon as possible.

Time waits for no one.

Yang Shuisheng munched on a steamed bun as he walked home. If he went into the mountains, he would have to go back to get his wood-chopping knife.

There aren't many families living on the west side of the village. His house is located at the foot of the mountain, and Liu Yulan's house is not far from his; they are neighbors.

As I passed by Liu Yulan's row of mud-brick houses, I happened to see Liu Yulan coming out carrying a quilt.

She was wearing a faded floral blouse with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing a section of her pale arm.

When she bent over and patted the blanket, her rounded buttocks and slender waistline were clearly revealed.

Liu Yulan looked up and saw Yang Shuisheng walking over.

Their eyes met, and her face flushed instantly, like a ripe peach. Her gaze darted away, and her hands stopped moving, clearly remembering the embarrassing things that happened by the pond last night.

Yang Shuisheng nodded to her as a greeting, but did not stop walking.

"Hey, Shuisheng, wait a minute."

Liu Yulan suddenly called out to him, her voice soft and slightly flustered.

She looked around, saw no one, turned and went into the house, and soon came out again.

He was holding two steaming hot flatbreads wrapped in oil paper.

"For you."

She walked quickly to Yang Shuisheng and stuffed the flatbread into his hand.

"I was planning to bring it to you later... but since you're passing by, here you go."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head, not daring to look at him, and her voice became even softer.

"There's nothing fancy at home, just plain flour with some chopped green onions."

Yang Shuisheng looked at the warm, fragrant flatbread in his hand.

Looking at Liu Yulan's slightly flushed cheeks, I felt a warmth in my heart.

He knew that Liu Yulan was struggling financially; her husband had died, and her mother-in-law was mean-spirited. These two white flour pancakes might be a decent meal for her.

This gesture was much more meaningful than the chicken leg bun Zhou Caifeng gave me.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law Yulan." Yang Shuisheng took the cake and thanked her sincerely.

Hearing his voice steady, unlike his usual blank expression, Liu Yulan felt both ashamed and flustered. She nodded haphazardly, wanting to hurry back to continue airing the quilts.

"Clang—"

Just then, the door to the adjacent main room was suddenly pushed open.

A thin, short old woman with high cheekbones and slanted eyes rushed out.

She was Liu Yulan's mother-in-law, Sun Lanhua, whom everyone called Granny Sun.

Granny Sun had sharp eyes and immediately spotted the two large white cakes in Yang Shuisheng's hand.

He was instantly enraged, rushed forward in a few steps, and snatched the pancake from Yang Shuisheng's hand.

"You shameless little hussy, did the grain in your house come from a strong wind?"

"Dare to secretly feed this idiot?"

Granny Sun pointed at Liu Yulan's nose and started cursing, spitting everywhere.

After scolding Liu Yulan, she turned to Yang Shuisheng.

With her hands on her hips, her slanted eyes were full of disgust and meanness.

"And you, you shameless idiot, coming to our house begging for food again?"

"Get out! Get the hell away from me right now!"

"If you dare come again, I'll break your legs with a broom."

"We wouldn't feed our food to a dog, not to a piece of trash like you."

She clutched the two flatbreads tightly in her hands, as if protecting some precious treasure, and launched into a torrent of insults at Yang Shuisheng.

Liu Yulan's eyes reddened as she was scolded, and she tried to defend herself: "Mom, Shuisheng, he..."

"Shut up!" Granny Sun interrupted her sharply. "Go back inside and stop making a fool of yourself here."