The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

After leaving Wang Laosi's house, Yang Shuisheng hurried home with the five yuan in his pocket.

He was still thinking about Yu Qianwei, who was hiding at home, after all, he had promised to help her lure the tiger away from the mountain and go home to change clothes.

Back home, he pushed open the still flimsy door and saw Yu Qianwei sitting awkwardly on the only broken stool, wrapped in his coat. Hearing the noise, she looked up abruptly and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Yang Shuisheng, her face flushing red.

"How is it? Has the medicine been delivered?" Yu Qianwei asked softly.

"Yes, I sent it over. The child is fine," Yang Shuisheng replied simply, then looked her over. "Can you walk? Does your chest still hurt?"

"I can walk, but my arm is a little numb." Yu Qianwei nodded and tried to move her arm.

"Okay, let's proceed according to plan."

"Come with me, take the back path so no one can see us."

As Yang Shuisheng spoke, he led Yu Qianwei out from behind the house, carefully choosing the paths along the ridges of fields and vegetable gardens that were rarely used, and after many twists and turns, they quietly made their way to the vicinity of Yu Qianwei's house.

Yang Shuisheng told Yu Qianwei to hide in a dense bamboo grove behind her house, from where she could see the gate of her courtyard and the entrance to the main room.

"You hide here, and once I've taken your parents far away, you quickly slip home to change your clothes."

"Remember, be quick. I can only hold them off for about ten minutes."

"Ten minutes is enough time for you to go back, change your clothes, and hide the tattered clothes you took off, right?" Yang Shuisheng instructed in a low voice, his words clear and logical.

"That's enough, that's enough!" Yu Qianwei nodded quickly. "Ten minutes is definitely enough, but..."

She looked at Yang Shuisheng, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of worry. "What method are you planning to use to lure my parents out?"

"Ten minutes left... My dad's shrewd, he's not easy to fool."

"Don't worry about that, I have a brilliant plan."

Yang Shuisheng's lips curled into an enigmatic smile: "Just do as I say, and remember, wait until we're far away before you move."

"Yes! I'll listen to you!" Yu Qianwei nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with trust.

Having been saved by him in a life-or-death situation and seeing how methodical he was in handling matters, she now felt an inexplicable admiration for Yang Shuisheng.

Yang Shuisheng said no more, took a deep breath, put away his casual expression and put on a slightly serious one, then walked slowly toward Yu Qianwei's house.

"Is Director Yu home?" He didn't go straight in when he arrived at the gate, but instead stood outside, cleared his throat, and called out.

Footsteps soon came from inside the house, and Yu Jian came out wearing a coat.

"Oh, it's Cadre Yang?"

Upon seeing Yang Shuisheng standing at the door, a hint of surprise flashed across his face, followed by a forced smile. "A rare guest indeed! What brings you here? Is there something you need?"

Yu Jian stood on the steps without going down. His tone was polite, but the distance and subtle dislike he showed were undeniable.

Yang Shuisheng stood outside the courtyard gate, showing no intention of going in. He simply nodded and said calmly, "There is something I'd like to discuss with Director Yu privately."

"Oh? What's the matter? There's no one else here, so let's talk here." Yu Jian raised an eyebrow, seemingly wanting to see what Yang Shuisheng was up to.

"Say it here?" Yang Shuisheng shook his head, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the quiet courtyard and the direction of the neighbors' houses. "It's not very convenient. If someone happens to pass by and hears us, it won't be good for Director Yu."

His words were vague, but the phrase "not good for you" made Yu Jian's heart skip a beat.

Could it be something about the village?

His smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression: "Then come in, let's talk inside."

"Inside the house?" Yang Shuisheng shook his head again, even taking a half step back, with a look of avoiding suspicion on his face. "I won't go into Director Yu's house, lest something is missing and I can't explain it and blame it on me."

"Although I, Yang Shuisheng, am poor, I would never do petty theft or stealing."

His words were clearly sarcastic, alluding to the previous attitude of Yu Jian's family towards him.

Yu Jian's face darkened, and he suppressed his anger, letting out a snort: "Fine! Then tell me, where should we talk?"

"Let's go outside, find a quiet place where no one will bother us," Yang Shuisheng said, then seemed to remember something and asked, "Oh, by the way, is Auntie home? Just telling you, Director Yu, might not be enough."

"What does it matter whether your aunt is here or not?"

Yu Jian frowned even more deeply: "What's going on? Why are you being so secretive?"

"Of course it's related."

Yang Shuisheng looked at Yu Jian, his tone becoming somewhat meaningful: "There are some things that not only you, as the father, need to know, but the mother also needs to be aware of."

"After all, it concerns Yu Qianwei."

Yang Shuisheng emphasized the name Yu Qianwei a little more.

Yu Jian's unease and doubts deepened.

Is it related to Qianwei?

This kid is acting so strangely today...

He glanced into the room, hesitated for a moment, and finally turned around and called out, "Qiuju! Come out for a second, we need to go out and talk to Cadre Yang about something."

Inside the house, Yu Qianwei's mother, Zhang Qiuju, was sewing shoe soles. Hearing her husband call, she immediately put down her work and came out.

When she saw Yang Shuisheng at the gate of the courtyard, her face immediately showed her usual annoyance and dislike, and she didn't even bother to pretend.

"What's wrong? What's there to talk to him about?" Zhang Qiuju's tone was sharp, clearly showing her extreme disgust for Yang Shuisheng, this poor young man who might be after her daughter.

"Just come out when I tell you to, stop talking nonsense, let's go!" Yu Jian was also annoyed and scolded his wife.

Zhang Qiuju reluctantly dusted herself off and followed Yang Shuisheng out, but kept glancing at him with the whites of her eyes.

Yang Shuisheng ignored Zhang Qiuju's terrible attitude and simply said to Yu Jian, "Director Yu, Auntie, come with me."

After saying that, he turned around and led the way, heading towards a relatively secluded hillside behind the village that was rarely visited.

Hiding in the bamboo forest, Yu Qianwei saw that her parents were indeed led out of the yard by Yang Shuisheng, and they walked further and further away until they disappeared around the corner of the village road.

She felt both nervous and admiring; she hadn't expected Yang Shuisheng to actually have a solution!

She didn't dare to delay, so she quickly emerged from the bamboo grove, slipped into her house, and went straight to her room.

On the other side, Yang Shuisheng led Yu Jian and Zhang Qiuju through a maze of turns until they arrived at someone else's cornfield.

The terrain here is slightly higher, offering a wide view. There are no other residents around, only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the corn leaves.

Yang Shuisheng stopped and turned around to look at Yu Jian and his wife who had followed him.

"Alright, Yang Shuisheng, what is it?"

Yu Jian glanced around to make sure no one was there, then asked impatiently with a sullen face, "Can you tell me now? Why are you being so secretive!"

"Speak your mind, or shut up."

Zhang Qiuju crossed her arms and sneered, "We don't have time to waste here with you."

As Yang Shuisheng looked at the two of them, the seriousness on his face slowly faded, replaced by a half-smile that was also somewhat enigmatic.

"Director Yu, Auntie, it's nothing really."

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and asked slowly, word by word, in a volume only the three of them could hear, "I just wanted to ask... if I were to marry Yu Qianwei, how much dowry would your family be asking for?"

"..."

The air seemed to freeze instantly.

Yu Jian's impatience and anger, and Zhang Qiuju's sneer and disdain, all froze on their faces, then were quickly replaced by shock and disbelief.

The two stood there dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning, their eyes wide open and mouths slightly agape, unable to react for a long time.

Marry...marry Yu Qianwei? Dowry?

Yang Shuisheng wants to marry their precious daughter?