Watching as Li Lian's expression turned odd, Yu Tingwan slowly added.
"But he must be responsible, not a loafer who doesn't have a proper job. At home, he must be honest and cannot beat me."
Li Lian, somewhat thoughtful, connected it to Yu Tingwan's experiences, guessing a bit and feeling some pity, weighing the pros and cons.
She did not brush it off, and thought carefully for a while.
The Hu Family might produce a scholar, and those wanting to forge family ties with the Hu Family would naturally downplay their prejudice against Yu Tingwan, not to mention the girl's outstanding appearance.
"The Zhu Family in our village thrives with four generations under one roof, and the four sons haven't married yet, but they're all strong and skilled at farming, all good lads."
"The sons of the Zhu Family are all filial, but because the mother of the Zhu Family fell ill and needs daily medication, it has exhausted them, which is why the marriage has been delayed until now."
"But the family is sensible; if you marry the eldest son, it'll just be tough for the first few years. Why worry about not having good days afterward?"
No, she couldn't endure that hardship.
The Zhu Mother was ill, so as a daughter-in-law, she would need to take care of her by the bed.
She would have to manage the household chores, inside and out.
Not to mention brewing medicine and cooking, as a younger generation and eldest sister-in-law, besides washing the clothes of the four brothers, she would have to wash the ones of the elderly above as well.
It was simply harder than being in the Hu Family.
What was she planning to gain?
She was getting married, not serving hard labor.
Yu Tingwan asked without hesitation, "Does the mother-in-law have any other suitable candidates?"
Li Lian was rather agreeable, "What do you think about the son of the Widow Shi family? Their family is uncomplicated, and that young man works as an accountant in town."
The Shi Family in Xilin Village had one of the best conditions.
Yu Tingwan shook her head, "Widow Shi regards her son like a treasure, and is so proud that she would look down on me. I don't ask for much, at least the mother-in-law needs to be sensible."
This put Li Lian in a dilemma.
Who hasn't turned from a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law?
If not for the Shi family's son only looking at faces when choosing a wife, how many girls in the village would rush to marry him?
Li Lian was overwhelmed.
"I do have another option."
"You know every New Year, my family buys pigs from the neighboring Gao Village, and over time, we got acquainted with Butcher Wu. He's a solitary person, five years older than you. He's the only one left in his family, his elders are long gone."
She hesitated for a while, "Though marrying him means you won't lack for meat, but..."
"But I can't in good conscience introduce you to him."
"He's a nice person, generous too, but solitary, doesn't talk much. He's muscular and tall, intimidating at a glance, but he was born with one less finger on his left hand, which is quite inauspicious and unlucky. Who dares to be his wife?"
Yu Tingwan's eyes lit up, such a rare find!
So what if he's missing a finger? As long as he can support himself with his hands, how is he inferior?
Her father once worked for an Escort Agency and had an ugly scar on his right cheek, like a centipede, but he often said,
"Your mother suffered in the first half of her life. After being with me, she must have the best food, wear the prettiest clothes, and live in the best house."
She thought her father was the most handsome!
Yu Tingwan volunteered, "Me!"
No need to serve in-laws, no sister-in-law conflicts.
So what if he has a strange temper? She isn't to be trifled with either!
Li Lian: ???
Are you serious!?
But standing with Butcher Wu, you don't match at all.
She studied Yu Tingwan's expression, it didn't seem fake.
Li Lian didn't understand, but respected it!
Yu Tingwan smiled calmly, without a hint of embarrassment, "Arrange a meeting for us when he's free, mother-in-law."
Country folks don't follow so many rules, especially after Mrs. Wang's spectacle, Li Lian didn't find it abrupt.
If the two don't mind each other and can live peacefully, it could be a good marriage.
Thinking it through, maybe it could really happen. Li Lian slapped her thigh, "Alright, wait for my news."
As Li Lian left, Mrs. Wang burst in.
She had a gloomy face, scrutinizing Yu Tingwan.
"What did you talk about with Li Lian?"
Talked so long! You mustn't have been badmouthing her, or why did Li Lian glare at her before leaving!
Recalling the villagers' pointing and gossip earlier, Mrs. Wang felt ashamed and angry.
Yu Tingwan hid her smile, her expression cooled down.
"Want to know?"
Mrs. Wang: ?
Yu Tingwan softly said, "Guess away."
Mrs. Wang: ??
Now that someone had your back, you were becoming outrageous!
————
The past few days, Old Man Qian was walking with a spring in his step.
Although he wasn't skilled in medicine, he knew somewhat about Wei Shen's condition.
Back then, when the villagers brought him in, he took a glance and told Shouzhong's wife to prepare for the funeral. But unable to resist the pleading, he left them there.
Old Man Qian had no choice but to give him a piece of old ginseng every day.
Yet Wei Shen still hadn't breathed his last!!
So there was hope.
Wei Shouzhong ran back to fetch Mrs. Wei, and Hui Niang returned to her mother's home to borrow money, hoping to send their son to a town medical hall once the roads cleared.
As it neared noon, Old Man Qian picked up his medicine box to change the dressing next door.
The room was dimly lit, and the man on the bed was pale as paper, eyes opening at some undefined time.
He leaned against the wall, mouth twisted downwards, slowly raising his sight, eyes empty yet seemingly surging with a raging tempest.
Just one glance, and Old Man Qian felt a chill in his spine.
The snow fell heavier, as if trying to destroy something.
As Wei Shouzhong arrived clutching the money bag, he saw Old Man Qian rushing out in a hurry.
"Quick, get the clay jar from the table next door!"
Leaving these words, Old Man Qian went back inside.
Panicked, Wei Shouzhong grabbed the clay jar from next door and rushed into the room.
His vision filled with red, seeing blood spurting from Ah Lang's chest, half his body covered in it.
Old Man Qian was somber, trying to hold the wound, but warm fluid still oozed through his fingers in torrents.
"Wasn't the wound stopped a few days ago?"
Wei Shouzhong's legs went weak, and he knelt with a 'thump': "Doctor Qian, please save Ah Lang."
"Please, prescribe the best medicine, if insufficient money exists, we'll raise more."
Old Man Qian, although bad-tempered, didn't dare to be negligent with a life's stakes.
"Okay, begging won't work, if the bleeding doesn't stop, I can't help."
Doctor Qian, somber, sweat beaded his brow, seized the clay jar, and poured the hemostatic powder over the wound.
"Quick, fetch several basins of water! Boiled ones."
Wei Shouzhong, tears reddened his eyes, dropped the cloth bag containing silver, and sprinted outside.
Time dragged on.
Nobody knew how long passed when Old Man Qian heaved a long sigh of relief.
Wei Shouzhong, anxious, "Doctor Qian, how's Ah Lang?"
"Your son is sick."
Wei Shouzhong: "Yes, isn't he being treated?"
Old Man Qian hadn't rushed to wash his hands: "He just woke up."
Wei Shouzhong: !!!
Overjoyed, he said, "Really!"
"Don't be happy too early."
Old Man Qian: "He just asked me if I had a knife. I said no, but I had scissors. He took them quite politely."
Wei Shouzhong felt gratified yet puzzled, "What did he want scissors for?"
Old Man Qian, with an odd expression, said, "To stab the wound."
Effortlessly executed.
Wei Shouzhong: ???
Old Man Qian sighed, "After stabbing, he pulled it out again, and before lying flat and closing his eyes, he complained that my scissors were blunt."
"Do you think his brain is sick?"