Qiu Yan and Gu Qian took Old Zhao home together.

If she could, Qiu Yan really wanted to lock the courtyard gate for him, but she was afraid something might happen to the old man.

Although Old Zhao was senile, what he had learned in his early years was deeply ingrained in his mind. It should be said that he had a deep obsession with medicine.

He later gave Qiu Yan several medical books, including prescriptions and folk remedies, which Qiu Yan learned a lot from.

"Great-Grandpa, please wait at home. I'll bring you some meat soup later. Don't leave, or I won't be able to find you."

After seeing Old Man Zhao off, Qiu Yanqian repeatedly told him not to wander off.

Just as Qiu Yan and Gu Qian came out of Old Man Zhao's house, they saw Qiu Dayong driving an oxcart past them.

What a small world!

Now, everyone in the village knows that Yang was sent to jail by Qiu Yan.

Just as Qiu Yan had guessed, the villagers were in an uproar when they found out.

Although Qiu Dayong and his wife deliberately spread rumors about Qiu Yan in the village, most of the villagers, except for a few who were not clear-headed, were still quite sensible.

They wouldn't easily believe Qiu Dayong's one-sided story.

Qiu Dayong was furious, not only because Yang was in jail, but also because Qiu Yan had completely manipulated his family.

Furthermore, he resented the rich and wished Qiu Yan could live a better life than him, especially now that the rumored man had reappeared.

"Qiu Yan, are you satisfied now!"

Qiu Yan disdained to bother with a nobody like Qiu Dayong, who couldn't possibly cause any trouble. "Of course, our family even had a big celebration because of Yang's imprisonment."

Gu Qian was curious about the relationship between Qiu Yan and Qiu Dayong, so he took a few more glances.

Qiu Dayong's eyes were full of hatred when he looked at Qiu Yan, which made Gu Qian very uncomfortable.

In his view, Qiu Yan was a kind girl and should not be treated like this.

Hearing Qiu Yan speak like this, and knowing that Qiu Yan had been ignoring him, Qiu Dayong became even more furious.

Seeing Qiu Yan and the other woman getting away from him, Qiu Dayong quickly urged the oxcart on and caught up with them. He said to Gu Qian:

"Young man, do you know who Qiu Yan is? Not only does she disown her grandmother, but she also personally sent her to prison. Tell me, how many grandchildren in the world have such a vicious heart!"

Qiu Dayong was deliberately trying to sow discord. "Would you still dare to want a girl like that?"

After Qiu Dayong finished speaking angrily, Gu Qian sneered. He already knew about Qiu Yan's family background when he came last time.

"Miss Yan Yan is one in a million, and I, Gu, would be more than happy to have her. I just don't know if she would even look at me?"

"If Miss Yan Yan is willing to marry me, I will definitely bring her home with a grand wedding procession and a sedan chair carried by eight men!" Gu Qian said, glancing at Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan's indifferent expression softened a bit because of Gu Qian's words.

Gu Qian was an open and honest person, and he made no attempt to hide the emotions in his eyes.

He was somewhat arrogant, yet upright. For Qiu Yan to think of Gu Xiaoran's mother when such a man showed interest in her…

Gu Qian felt somewhat disappointed when he didn't receive a response from Qiu Yan. He didn't know what was wrong with him.

Qiu Dayong almost fainted from anger on the spot. So all his talking hadn't changed the man's attitude towards Qiu Yan at all, but had actually strengthened their relationship.

When he looked up again, Qiu Yan and Gu Qian were already far away from him, so he could only leave indignantly.

...

In the mountains and forests, Qiu Yan continued her search for medicinal herbs as always.

Qiu Yan has recovered very well and is no longer as weak as she was when she first arrived.

She was much luckier today than in the past few days, and in just half a day, she had already gathered quite a few medicinal herbs.

Gu Qian circled around Qiu Yan, looking for prey, and soon he had caught quite a few.

Gu Qian couldn't help but think that if he were to make a living by hunting, he would be better off with a bow and arrow.

Looking at Qiu Yan in the distance, he suddenly understood why his master and mistress were unwilling to leave the village.

The outside world is full of turmoil and constant strife, unlike the relaxed and peaceful life in this mountain village.

Perhaps, there are people I care about here, which is why I feel this way.

As he pondered this, he looked at the woman ahead of him, quickened his pace, and walked alongside her.

Qiu Yan turned around, looked at Gu Qian's silly grinning face, and glared at him. "What are you thinking about?"

"I miss you." Gu Qian felt flustered. Qiu Yan rejected him. Was it because of her childhood sweetheart?

Thinking about it this way, he became somewhat unsettled.

He shook his head to clear his mind of the jumbled thoughts, and when he looked at Qiu Yan, she was already sitting on the rocks in front of him.

Seeing Qiu Yan take off her shoes and rub her little feet, Gu Qian jogged after her.

Upon approaching, Gu Qian was surprised to find a spring in front of him.

He was already a little thirsty, so after washing his hands, he cupped some spring water in his hands and drank it.

The spring water is sweet and delicious. Wouldn't it be wonderful to bring some back for Qiu Yan and her master and mistress to make tea?

Gu Qian was lost in thought when he took another sip, and in the blink of an eye, his expression changed!

He discovered that Qiu Yan had taken off her socks sometime earlier, and her entire pair of clean white feet were soaking in the mountain spring water.

Pfft... Gu Qian spat out all the spring water in his mouth. Qiu Yan heard the sound, turned her head, and smiled.

"Gu Qian, how does the spring water taste?"

A beautiful woman's smile seems to be able to peel away layers of gloom.

Gu Qian stepped forward, sat cross-legged on the ground, and scooped up Qiu Yan's little feet. "The water is cold; spring water won't relieve your fatigue."

Qiu Yan ignored him and put the spring water in again, retorting, "It's not cold, it's clearly warm."

Gu Qian smiled, took off his shoes and socks, and soaked in the spring with Qiu Yan. Looking at their reflections in the spring water, they felt that the mountain forest was exceptionally beautiful today.

Unable to bear Gu Qian's harassment, Qiu Yan dried her feet, put on her shoes and socks, and left him.

Gu Qian followed again.

"Yan Yan, don't walk so fast, wait for me."

Qiu Yan quickened her pace; this man was really difficult to deal with.

Because of Qiu Yan, Gu Qian felt somewhat insecure, a feeling he had never experienced before.

Gu Qian caught up with Qiu Yan, "Yan Yan..."

Qiu Yan shook off Gu Qian's outstretched hand.

"Gu Qian, you've been married before, yet you still come to seduce me. Do you want me to be your concubine? I've told you, keep your little schemes to yourself!"

Gu Qian panicked and blurted out, "I've never been married!"

Qiu Yan stopped in her tracks. "If you've never been married, where did Xiao Ran come from?"

Could it be that he was born to a mistress? Qiu Yan imagined it all, "That's even more outrageous!" There was no way she could be with Gu Qian before she truly understood him.

Gu Qian was stunned by Qiu Yan's words, "That's even more hateful." "How is it even more hateful?"

"You're not being honest."

Qiu Yan left a few words that made Gu Qian stop in his tracks.

As dusk approached, the last rays of the setting sun cast their light upon the mountains.

Gu Qian watched the departing figure and ran a few steps faster, calling out, "Yan Yan, wait for me..."