"You think my husband is your migrant worker husband? My husband is a man of status." Zhao Fen started screeching again.
Liu Defu smiled and tugged at Zhao Fen's hand. "Wife, it's fine. We are both people of status, so don't speak so loudly. You'll disturb the others eating."
Su Yaxian had been biting her tongue, but seeing the two of them putting on a double act and constantly targeting her while relentlessly humiliating Lin Xiaolong, she could no longer hold back.
Just as she was about to explode, Lin Xiaolong grabbed her hand again and sighed, "Sigh! What a pity. No matter how much money you make, you can't take it with you when you die, and you don't even have anyone to inherit it."
Chapter 31: Being a Salted Fish is Better Than Being a Cuckold
"What do you mean by that?" At this, Liu Defu, who fancied himself a man of breeding, couldn't help snapping.
"Nothing much. I just think that no matter how much money you earn, you need to have a child of your own to inherit it so that it hasn't been earned in vain. If it all ends up going to someone else in the end, you'd be getting the rawest of deals," Lin Xiaolong said pointedly.
At this, even Su Yaxian and Zhao Fen were left somewhat bewildered.
However, after only a brief moment of calm, Zhao Fen started shrieking again, "What on earth do you mean, you bumpkin? Are you jealous because we make a lot of money?"
"Are you really making that much?" Lin Xiaolong ignored Zhao Fen completely, leaving her thoroughly exasperated, feeling as though she had punched a pillow.
"Not bad, around a million a year," Liu Defu said, casting a very arrogant look at Su Yaxian as he spoke.
Su Yaxian and Lin Xiaolong both couldn't help laughing.
Su Yaxian had made over sixty thousand in just two hours today. Moreover, she supplied over a dozen high-end fruit shops in this county alone, earning vastly more in a year than this man did.
She honestly had no idea where he got his sense of superiority.
"What are you laughing at? A million! A broke migrant worker like you couldn't make that much in a lifetime," Zhao Fen yelled.
Lin Xiaolong nearly laughed his head off. "Right, right, I couldn't make that much. But what's the use of making so much when you don't even have a child?"
Hearing Lin Xiaolong put it that way, Liu Defu's expression instantly turned extremely ugly.
"Kid, are you daring to mock me?" Liu Defu said, his face turning livid.
"I'm not mocking you, just stating facts," Lin Xiaolong said.
"How do you know I don't have kids?" Liu Defu asked angrily. "Are you having me investigated?"
Lin Xiaolong was left speechless. "Investigated? What qualifications do you have for me to investigate you? Do you really think you're some kind of successful elite?"
Su Yaxian, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded. By the looks of it, the guy really didn't have children, but how on earth did Lin Xiaolong know that?
"Hmph! Whether we have kids or not is none of your damn business!" While Zhao Fen constantly accused others of lacking breeding, curses rolled right off her tongue.
"True, but since you're already pregnant now, I suppose you can't be considered childless. Once it's born, won't you have one?" Lin Xiaolong said, looking at Zhao Fen.
Gasp!
This time, it was Su Yaxian and Liu Defu who were left completely bewildered.
How on earth could anyone tell Zhao Fen was pregnant?
The crucial point was that this was the very first time Lin Xiaolong and Zhao Fen had ever met. How could he possibly know she was expecting?
This guy sure knew how to talk nonsense.
Yet Zhao Fen actually stood up abruptly, a flash of panic crossing her face.
"Don't tell me you aren't pregnant. Old Liu, having a child isn't easy; you should accompany your wife to the hospital for a checkup," Lin Xiaolong said immediately.
Liu Defu looked at Zhao Fen with a puzzled expression.
As for Zhao Fen, after a brief moment of panic, she immediately broke into a blissfully happy smile.
"Husband, I hadn't had a chance to tell you yet. I was planning to give you a surprise during dinner, but I never expected this bumpkin to figure it out." After sitting back down, Zhao Fen stroked her belly, instantly acting as if movement had become terribly difficult for her.
She was really pregnant?
Su Yaxian looked at Lin Xiaolong in surprise. What on earth was going on with this kid?
Liu Defu's expression, however, wasn't looking particularly pleasant; he still wore a puzzled look.
"Husband, it's true. I just had it checked yesterday. It's just that I hadn't had time to tell you yet. Aren't you happy that I'm carrying your baby?" Zhao Fen said in a sickeningly sweet voice.
That voice was so cloying it made people want to throw up.
"How far along?" A faint smile finally appeared on Liu Defu's face.
"Not even two months. Husband, I have a feeling it's a boy."
With that, Zhao Fen looked over at Su Yaxian and Lin Xiaolong. "Hmph! Didn't you say our wealth would have no one to inherit it? Rest assured, even if we amass a fortune of billions, there will be someone to inherit and enjoy it. Unlike certain people who are destined to remain bumpkins and paupers their whole lives. Even if they have kids, there's nothing for them to inherit—well, except for inheriting the status of a bumpkin and a pauper, I suppose. Nobody will fight you for that."
With that, Zhao Fen let out another shrill laugh.
"Old Liu, congratulations, congratulations," Lin Xiaolong said, showing not a shred of anger and actually congratulating Liu Defu.
"Kid, you know when to quit. A man has to be able to make money; otherwise, what's the difference between him and a salted fish?" Liu Defu said, glancing at Su Yaxian again.
"Being a salted fish might not be much, but it's still better than being a cuckold," Lin Xiaolong chuckled, casting his gaze toward the top of Liu Defu's head. "Especially a green-capped turtle."
"Damn it, what do you mean by that?" This time, before Zhao Fen could yell, Liu Defu shouted first.
"Yada yada, still got such a fiery temper, huh? Don't you even know where the root of your illness lies? Going bald just past forty—have you no sense of your own capabilities?"
Lin Xiaolong looked at Liu Defu. "Are you clueless about whether you can actually perform or not?"
"I..." Liu Defu's face turned beet red as he glanced around the room.
"Even when you occasionally manage it, it never lasts more than three seconds, does it?"
"You?" Liu Defu wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Ejaculating in three seconds is useless. You must know that much yourself, right?"
"How do you know that?" Although Liu Defu felt utterly humiliated, he never expected Lin Xiaolong to describe his symptoms with such precision. It instantly sent a chill down his spine. What kind of person was this?
"An ancestral traditional Chinese medicine doctor—inspection, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking. I've reached the highest realm; a single glance is all it takes to know," Lin Xiaolong said calmly, adopting the air of an otherworldly master.
Liu Defu was completely shaken by Lin Xiaolong.
He was crystal clear on his own flaws.
That area didn't work, which made having children impossible. He had consulted countless famous doctors, all to no avail.
However, he hadn't dared to tell Zhao Fen about this issue, terrified that she would despise him.
Consequently, Zhao Fen remained completely oblivious. She had been messing around behind his back and gotten pregnant, originally planning to quietly get an abortion. Never had she expected Lin Xiaolong to expose her on the spot today, leaving her with no choice but to brazenly confess.
She had been very secretive about her affairs outside, assuming Liu Defu had no idea. Pinning the child on Liu Defu meant he would be nothing but thrilled and would never suspect a thing.
Who could have foreseen that a bumpkin like this would pop out, spouting off like a charlatan and instantly breaking Zhao Fen out in a cold sweat.
"Old Liu, as a man, I sympathize with you. The crucial thing is that the money we earn ourselves shouldn't go toward being a cuckold while raising someone else's bastard," Lin Xiaolong said with a heartbroken expression.
"Husband, don't believe his lies. It's not like we've never succeeded before; maybe we just got pregnant," Zhao Fen hurriedly protested.
"The word 'maybe' is doing a lot of work there," Lin Xiaolong said with an evil grin.
"Shut your mouth, you pauper! Are you just jealous because we have money?" Zhao Fen screamed like a madwoman, causing many of the surrounding diners to turn and look over.
Lin Xiaolong ignored Zhao Fen completely and looked at Liu Defu with a sympathetic expression. "Old Liu, you weren't home last night, were you? This woman was clearly fooling around with someone else last night, and more than once, too. Sigh! I'll say no more. My condolences."
"You're talking nonsense, you're framing me, you're slandering me! I'm going to sue you." Growing even more panicked, Zhao Fen grabbed a plate from the table and made to throw it at Lin Xiaolong.
Liu Defu grabbed her arm with a dark expression and glared at Lin Xiaolong. "You can even tell that just by looking?"
"You simply have no idea how capable a traditional Chinese medicine doctor is. Believe it or not, as you wish." Lin Xiaolong's eyes were filled with sympathy.
Liu Defu turned his head to look at Zhao Fen, his eyes already stained a fierce red.
"Husband, husband, don't believe him. I didn't do it. I, I, I really was at a friend's place yesterday. I, I..."
"Go to hell, you stinking bitch!" Liu Defu lashed out and slapped her across the face.
Chapter 32: Sister Liu, Your Relative is Visiting
Liu Defu wasn't stupid.
On the contrary, having knocked about the world for decades, he was quite shrewd.
His equipment wasn't up to standard, with a failure rate approaching ninety-nine percent. No matter how many doctors he consulted, they were all helpless.
It was fair to say that doctors had already pronounced a death sentence on his chances of having children.
Coupled with the fact that this shaman-like fellow today had instantly diagnosed his condition, it cemented his conviction that he was utterly incapable of fathering a child.
Yet Zhao Fen had somehow gotten pregnant.
And Lin Xiaolong claimed that this woman had engaged in that sort of activity last night.
Yet last night, this stinking woman had clearly claimed she was spending the night at her best friend's place.
Connecting all these dots together, he could be one hundred percent certain that this stinking bitch Zhao Fen had slapped a massive green hat on his head.
This woman ate his food, drank his drink, and spent his money, only to cuckold him behind his back. As if being cuckolded wasn't enough, she even wanted him to raise another man's little bastard!
Did she seriously think he, your daddy, was made of soft dough?
*Slap!*
Liu Defu delivered a vicious blow that knocked Zhao Fen straight to the floor.
Then, he followed up with a kick to her heavily made-up face.
Watching him lay it on so thick, even Lin Xiaolong felt that it was... thoroughly satisfying.
"Husband, I was wrong. Stop hitting me, I know I was wrong."
"I'll never dare do it again."
"I'll get rid of this bastard child and live a proper life with you from now on."
"I'm begging you, husband, you know I love you."
...
Clambering back up, Zhao Fen threw her arms around Liu Defu's legs and wailed loudly for mercy.
"Go to hell! Whether you love me or my money, your daddy is crystal clear on that. Get the hell out of here. From now on, every time I see you, I'll beat you once." Without a moment's hesitation, Liu Defu threw another punch. Judging by that look, he genuinely wanted to beat this woman to death.
"Sir, this is a restaurant, a public place. If you and your wife have a dispute, please take it outside to resolve yourselves. Don't disrupt the other guests' dining experience." At that moment, the manager Liu Hong walked over, her face dark.
"It's not disruptive at all."
"No problem, this is quite entertaining to watch."
"This is way more explosive than anything on the trending lists."
"Why are you making them leave? You need to let me finish filming."
...
To Liu Hong's surprise, not a single person around them claimed to be disrupted; instead, everyone was more than happy to watch such a good show.
"Stinking bitch, get outside and see how I deal with you."
Liu Defu felt humiliated too, but the pent-up rage inside him had yet to be vented. Grabbing her by the hair, he prepared to drag her out.
Yet after taking only a single step, he looked back at Lin Xiaolong. "Esteemed... Old TCM Doctor, since you could tell the root of my illness at a glance, may I ask if my condition can still be cured?"
Lin Xiaolong frowned. "Any illness can be cured, but your condition is rather special and requires many precious Chinese herbs. It's somewhat troublesome."
"I'm not afraid of trouble, and I'm certainly not afraid of spending money, as long as it can be cured!" Liu Defu was overjoyed.
He had already spent over a million trying to cure this affliction, to absolutely no avail.
He never expected this young man to say the condition was merely somewhat troublesome.
Naturally, he wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.
He hurriedly pulled out a business card and handed it to Lin Xiaolong. "Sir, please give me a call later. Money is no object."
Lin Xiaolong didn't even glance at it, casually tossing the card aside. "Do I look like someone who is short on money?"
Liu Defu was left speechless.
You don't just look like it, you look obscenely wealthy.
Yet, because he currently needed a favor, he certainly didn't dare voice those thoughts.
"Then how can I contact you, sir?" Liu Defu asked respectfully.
"Sigh! Seeing that you're so pitiful, I'll help you out this once, and spare you from constantly wearing a green hat in the future and losing face for all mankind."
Lin Xiaolong picked up the order-taking pen lying nearby and scribbled a number and the character "Lin" onto Liu Defu's business card. "If you want treatment, call this number."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Lin." Liu Defu looked at the information on the card, instantly overwhelmed with excitement. "Then I won't disturb your meal any longer. I'll go take care of this stinking bitch who showed you disrespect first."
With that, Liu Defu grabbed Zhao Fen by the hair and dragged her outside.
The entire dining hall echoed with Zhao Fen's ear-piercing shrieks of terror.
Liu Hong had no idea what had just transpired, but seeing how deferential Liu Defu had been to Lin Xiaolong, her curiosity about him spiked even further.
"Handsome, I never would've guessed you actually understand traditional Chinese medicine," Liu Hong said, looking somewhat skeptical. "Aren't you a bit too young for that?"
"In learning there is no distinction of senior and junior; expertise has its own masters," Lin Xiaolong said calmly.
"Then take my pulse and tell me what ailments I have," Liu Hong said with a smile.
"Sister Liu, your relative is visiting, and you're having cramps in waves, right? Drink more brown sugar water," Lin Xiaolong said, looking at Liu Hong.
"Ah!" Liu Hong's face instantly flushed beet red.
Beside them, Su Yaxian burst out laughing with a snort.
"What are you laughing at?" Liu Hong blushed. "Well, that was pretty accurate."
With that, she hurried away because her stomach was starting to cramp up again right then.
Watching Liu Hong leave, Su Yaxian looked at Lin Xiaolong with intense curiosity.
"How on earth did you know about all those things just now?" Su Yaxian asked Lin Xiaolong.
Being a very smart person, she could naturally tell that Lin Xiaolong didn't know Zhao Fen or Liu Defu at all.
Yet not only had he been able to see that Liu Defu was infertile, but he had also diagnosed Zhao Fen's pregnancy.
What shocked her even more was—
Lin Xiaolong had actually been able to tell that Zhao Fen had cheated on him the night before.
This kid...
Wasn't this getting a bit too ridiculous?
"I guessed," Lin Xiaolong said.
"Guessed?" Su Yaxian curled her lips. "Who are you trying to fool?"
"Duced it from their symptoms," Lin Xiaolong chuckled.
"You... are you really an ancestral TCM doctor?" Su Yaxian asked in surprise.
"Actually, I'm self-taught," Lin Xiaolong said. "I majored in medicine in college, but I dropped out after half a semester. However, I've always been quite interested in traditional Chinese medicine, and I read plenty of TCM books in the library back when I was in school."
"You're still trying to fool ghosts," Su Yaxian said speechlessly.
Being able to deduce a person's condition at a single glance, and even tell if they'd slept around—how could anyone achieve that just by reading a few TCM books?
If that were all it took, the world would be crawling with divine doctors.
"Believe it or not, I can't help it." Lin Xiaolong said with an air of indifference.
Though he trusted Su Yaxian deeply, there was no way he could tell her about obtaining the inheritance of the True Person Longyang.
That really would be treating her like a fool.
"Xiaolong, actually... I have the same problem as Sister Liu," Su Yaxian suddenly said with a blush.
"Huh?" Lin Xiaolong looked at Su Yaxian. "You have stomach cramps too? But I didn't see that your relative was visiting?"
"What are you talking about?" Su Yaxian shot Lin Xiaolong a coquettish, reproachful glance. "I mean, when *that* time of the month comes for me, it hurts too. But my time hasn't come yet."
Lin Xiaolong felt a bit dizzy, taking a moment to process what she meant.
"No problem, just let me know when the time comes and I'll give you a massage," Lin Xiaolong said magnanimously. "When your relative visits, just remember to give me a call."
Chapter 33: Chen Ying Blocked
Zhao Fen had originally intended to make Su Yaxian and Lin Xiaolong's stomachs turn.
Instead, a series of maneuvers by Lin Xiaolong directly ruined her reputation and left her half-beaten to death by Liu Defu.
It was entirely asking for trouble—evil getting its just deserts.
However, this incident only made Su Yaxian, who was already deeply interested in Lin Xiaolong, even more curious about him.
After the meal, Su Yaxian offered to drive Lin Xiaolong back to Longyang Village, but Lin Xiaolong refused adamantly.
"Sister Yaxian, just drop me off at the bus station. I'll take the coach back."
"Xiaolong, your cherry business is doing so well. If the rest of your cherries turn out like this, you're going to make a fortune. You should really get a driver's license and buy an affordable car; it'll make coming to town much more convenient."
"My family situation is a bit complicated. I'll talk about that once I get everything at home sorted out," Lin Xiaolong said.
"That's fine. Tomorrow morning, Brother Yong and I will head to your village again."
"Alright, Sister Yaxian."
Su Yaxian didn't insist on driving Lin Xiaolong all the way home. Instead, she dropped him off at the entrance of the bus station and drove away by herself.
Just as Lin Xiaolong was about to head into the station, he saw a compact car pull up right in front of him.
Huh?
Isn't this the car belonging to Chen Ying, the village's beautiful doctor?
While Lin Xiaolong was wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him, the car window rolled down, revealing Chen Ying's delicate, mature face.
"Xiaolong, what are you doing here?" Chen Ying asked with a smile, exuding boundless charm.
"Sister, I came to town to sell cherries. What about you?" Lin Xiaolong knew Chen Ying lived in the county town, but he had no idea where she was headed right now.
"Get in the car. I happen to be heading back to Longyang Village anyway," Chen Ying said.
"Huh? Today's the weekend, aren't you resting?" Lin Xiaolong asked.
"Never mind all that, hurry up, I'm in a rush."
Hearing Chen Ying say this, Lin Xiaolong opened the front passenger door and got in.
Chen Ying immediately started the car and headed in the direction of Longyang Village.
However, along the way, Chen Ying's expression darkened, looking heavy with worry.
"Sister, is something the matter?" Lin Xiaolong asked probing.
Chen Ying was startled for a moment, then forced a smile. "Yeah, when are you going to teach me your miraculous acupuncture technique?"
"Anytime you want," Lin Xiaolong chuckled.
Only Lin Xiaolong knew that his acupuncture technique was inherited from the Agricultural God's arts and required genuine *qi* to function effectively.
Even if he taught the technique to Chen Ying, her results using it would be severely limited.