Bai Guang felt as if he should have checked the almanac before leaving the house today, for he had run into that disaster, Zhao Tiezhu.
Not only could he not beat him, but he had also been pummeled into a pulp in public, several teeth sent flying, leaving him whistling through the gaps when he tried to speak. Trembling, he retrieved the IOU and held it above his head. Seeing Zhao Tiezhu reach out, he flinched and ducked his head in terror.
"Coward!" Zhao Tiezhu cursed, snatching the paper away. He scanned the contents, confirming that they matched what Wang Cuilian had said. He delivered a brutal kick to Bai Guang's back, sending the three men crashing into one another, followed by another chorus of wails.
"Dammit, it's written clearly right here—you were only owed twenty-five thousand! Where did you get the extra twenty thousand from?"
Bai Guang, dazed from the beating, stammered and couldn't come up with a coherent explanation. To avoid further pummeling, he was forced to accept the twenty-five thousand transferred by Zhao Tiezhu, and the IOU was torn up on the spot.
"Get lost, all of you! If you dare harass my sister-in-law again, I won't just beat your faces—I’ll break your third legs!"
Amidst the furious shouting, he kicked each of them out the gate. The three men scurried away like stray dogs, not daring to look back once.
Zhao Tiezhu followed them to the threshold and scanned the crowd. He saw Zhou Erhu limping away, clutching his waist, his eyes narrowing slightly. That menace was surely still harboring designs on his affairs! In this village, one could never show weakness; otherwise, everyone would want to step on you.
"Oh my, the college student is back! You’ll have to teach my kid later so they can get into college, too!"
"Tiezhu, you’ve offended Bai Guang. You’d better be careful; he’s going to retaliate!"
"Let’s go, let’s go. Don't talk to Zhao Tiezhu, or we’ll get dragged into Bai Guang’s crosshairs!"
The villagers didn't say much more before scattering in all directions. Wang Cuilian grabbed Zhao Tiezhu’s arm and quickly pulled him back into the house, asking nervously, "Tiezhu, is there really a tumor in your brain? Let’s go to the hospital right now and get a proper checkup!"
She was terribly anxious. Having finally found a pillar of support, she didn't want him to collapse again. In her urgency, she hadn't noticed how close she was standing to him, her soft, delicate body sending waves of agitation through Zhao Tiezhu’s mind. The arm clutching his was particularly distracting, fueling endless fantasies.
Zhao Tiezhu quickly said, "Sister-in-law, I’ve already checked. The doctor said if I go home and rest for a while, I might just recover! Don’t worry, I’m fine!"
He could feel that his body was likely no longer an issue. His personality had been too weak before, but having been through a grave illness, what else was there to fear? In this life, you have to fight for yourself—why suffer the bullying of others?
"Huh?" Seeing that he didn't appear to be lying, Wang Cuilian opened her mouth slightly, stunned. Then, realizing how intimate their posture was, she stepped back abruptly and kept her head down as she said quickly, "Tiezhu, I’m going back to make some noodles. You come over later to eat."
Being a man and woman alone in the same room made her shy, and she hurried toward the outside. Her primary goal was to return the money to Zhao Tiezhu.
Watching her bashful demeanor, Zhao Tiezhu’s heart pounded. His cousin was truly... He forced down the wandering thoughts and began to organize the memories he had gained. The *Shennong Classic of Materia Medica* contained information on herbs, acupuncture, formations, feng shui, and more. It was truly all-encompassing. The only thing he could practice for now was the *Myriad Woods Everlasting Formula*, which could absorb the essence of nature’s flora to strengthen the body. As for the rest of the medical knowledge, it had all been imprinted on his mind, but it would take time to understand and master.
"Incredible! I have to find a chance to test my medical skills," he murmured, sitting cross-legged on the large bed to begin practicing the *Myriad Woods Everlasting Formula*. He could feel streams of pure, vital energy from plants and trees entering through his pores, nourishing every part of him. The areas where he had been struck during the fight felt the pain quickly fading away.
...
Two hours later, Zhao Tiezhu stopped his practice. His body, which had been tortured for days, felt deeply nourished and incredibly comfortable. Even the blurriness in his vision had vanished. The tumor must be gone! With a smile on his face, he got up and went to his sister-in-law’s place for noodles.
"You're here? Sit down quickly. I’m just stir-frying some salted vegetables with pigeon meat, and then we’ll eat!" Wang Cuilian was busy in the kitchen, a small basin of cold-water noodles set out by the stove. Zhao Tiezhu walked over and picked up the noodle basin and the egg sauce.
"Sister-in-law," he praised, "it has to be your fried sauce noodles—they’re the best! In the heat of summer, there’s nothing better to eat." He had eaten her cooking before, and the sentiment was sincere.
"If it’s good, eat plenty!" Wang Cuilian smiled, bending over to stir-fry the vegetables in the large wok. Her rounded figure radiated an alluring curve that made Zhao Tiezhu forget to leave. Truly, a beautiful woman looked captivating no matter what she did. It wasn't until Wang Cuilian’s gaze swept over that Zhao Tiezhu sneaked away.
Watching his retreating back, Wang Cuilian felt her face burn. *He is someone to rely on, but I...* Many questions swirled in her mind, and she let out a quiet sigh. She was a woman who had already been married, and Tiezhu was like a younger brother—and a college student at that. She felt she wasn't good enough for him.
She served the dish, splashed a ladle of cold water to cool it down, and carried it into the dining area. Zhao Tiezhu sat on a wooden stool, looking at the room that was nearly as bare as if it had been stripped of everything, and his heart ached. He remembered that when she had first married into the Zhao family, the Lin Family had provided furniture like a television, a refrigerator, and a washing machine, giving the place a sense of warmth. But now... How much had she suffered since marrying into the Zhao family?
The Zhao family owed her more than just that—even when his grandfather was bedridden, she had been the one to care for him! The others were as good as useless. He would make it up to her!
As he was thinking, Wang Cuilian placed the stir-fried pigeon and salted vegetables on the table and smiled awkwardly. "We don't have much, so just make do."
She then turned and walked into the bedroom on the west side. While Zhao Tiezhu watched in confusion, she came out holding a cloth bundle. She placed it before him and said sincerely, "Tiezhu, there is twenty thousand here. As for the remaining five thousand, I will work hard and pay you back slowly."
She had scrimped and saved for two years and even sold all the appliances, but it still hadn't been enough. Zhao Tiezhu put down his bowl and chopsticks, pushed the money back, and said sternly, "Sister-in-law, we are a family!"
"I have more money here; you take this and spend it first! From now on, I’ll be the support for the Zhao family. I will never let you suffer again!"
Hearing this, Wang Cuilian grew anxious. "That won't do. How can I..." She reached out to put the money into Zhao Tiezhu’s pants pocket, but he grabbed her small hand.
The momentary touch of skin against skin made both of them freeze. Wang Cuilian quickly pulled her hand back and said, "Tiezhu, this money..."
"Sister-in-law, listen to me!"
Both spoke at once. After a brief pause, Zhao Tiezhu continued, "Keep the money with you. If the house needs anything, just buy it. I’ll make more money and bring it back. The Zhao family owes you too much—I have it all recorded in my heart."
Wang Cuilian couldn't argue with him and put the bundle away again. Suddenly, his shadow occupied her mind, and she ate distractedly, unable to even finish her small bowl.
"Slurp, slurp..."
*Clack!*
Zhao Tiezhu set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said, "Sister-in-law, get some good rest. I’m heading back!"