Zhang Fangyuan was humming a little tune at home, happier than during the Chinese New Year.
He boiled some water and took a shower in the bathroom in the backyard, washing his head and body thoroughly. He would not go into the city tomorrow, but planned to go out with his fourth uncle.
After his parents passed away, their own fields were in a hurry. His fourth uncle couldn't bear to see the fields go to waste, so he took all their 20 acres of land to plant crops. There were only three people in the family. Xiaomao is older now and can help out in the fields or cook at home. In the past, everything was managed by his fourth uncle and his wife.
Halfway through washing, he suddenly heard a knock on the door outside the yard.
"Who is it, it's so late!"
Zhang Fangyuan wanted to finish his shower before going out. The person who came at this time was most likely Chen Si, so it would be okay to let that brat wait for a while. However, the knocks on the door were getting more and more urgent. He impatiently pulled a piece of cloth hanging on the side, tied it around his waist and walked out: "Why are you rushing? Do you need more people?..."
Xu He was worried that Zhang Fangyuan had fallen asleep, so he raised his hand to knock harder, but the gate was suddenly opened.
Zhang Fangyuan was shirtless, with water drops still flowing from the tips of his hair, sliding down from his collarbone to his firm and full chest. Xu He's eyes widened inadvertently, and when he saw that there was only a thin piece of cloth tied around his waist, he quickly turned his head away.
Zhang Fangyuan hadn't expected that the person coming was Xu He. He wanted to say something to cover himself up, but there was no shelter in the yard. He could only half cover his body with his hands: "What's wrong?"
Xu He avoided his gaze and briefly explained his father's situation: "I want to borrow your carriage to go to the city to get a doctor as soon as possible."
Zhang Fangyuan frowned and said without further ado: "The horse is in the backyard, just go and lead it out. I'll go into the house and put on some clothes."
After saying this, he strode back into the house, and Xu He quickly followed.
When he led the strong black horse to the front yard, Zhang Fangyuan came out wearing an outer robe. He was so busy with his hands and feet that he didn't even put on his inner lining. His clothes were hastily tied up. Zhang Fangyuan's chest was exposed, with wet hair scattered on his back. He grabbed Xiao Hei and climbed onto the horse.
"I'll ride to the city to get a doctor. It'll be quick. Don't worry, just go back and look after your father."
Xu He nodded quickly. When Zhang Fangyuan was about to leave on his horse, he remembered that it was not appropriate for Xu He to be here alone, so he pulled him onto the horse again, gave him a ride for a while, let him go home, and then he rode out of the village at full speed.
The horses ran very fast in the night, and only a few clicks of hoofbeats were heard before they were far away. Xu He didn't stay outside for long and hurried back.
"Did he really ride to the city himself to fetch the doctor?"
Liu Xianglan was walking around outside the yard, fearing that Xu He would not be able to persuade the King of Hell to borrow his carriage. She didn't expect that he would go there in person. It should be noted that the two families did not have very close relations.
"Yes, I'm afraid it has already reached the official road by now."
"That's good, that's good, ride the horse faster, faster..." The panicked Liu Xianglan breathed a sigh of relief. If anything happened to her man, she wouldn't know how to live.
Xu Shaochun was a little worried: "He Ge'er, how could he be so kind to agree to this?"
Zhang Fangyuan is not necessarily a very enthusiastic person. His temper is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Although he occasionally brings some things to the villagers, it is just a small favor. The villagers will also send him some vegetables and fruits in return. If he wants people to go to the city in the middle of the night with such trouble, even if they are brothers, they must be on good terms with them.
"Did you tell him something? The college entrance examination will be held in mid-February, and I want to get engaged to the Fei family."
Liu Xianglan has always been partial to Xu Shaochun, but at this time, seeing that her daughter was still thinking about her marriage, she frowned slightly.
"Don't worry, I didn't mention my second sister at all."
"Then why did he agree so readily?"
Xu He was too lazy to argue with her: "Maybe he is a kind-hearted person."
After saying that, he went into the house to see Xu Changren. There was some porridge in the pot. It was almost ready now, so he added a little and gave it to Xu Changren.
The family waited anxiously, perhaps for more than an hour and a half, when they heard the hurried sound of horse hooves outside the yard. Liu Xianglan quickly got up and went out to see.
"You are so clumsy, you are almost breaking my old bones."
"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Doctor Wang, please be considerate." Zhang Fangyuan got off the horse, supported the old doctor, and carried the medicine box into the house. He introduced Liu Xianglan who was standing beside him, "This is Doctor Wang who specializes in orthopedics at Shencaotang in the city."
Liu Xianglan and the doctor thanked them for coming so late at night and led the patient into the house to see the patient.
Although Doctor Wang complained a few words, he didn't say anything more after entering the room and seeing the patient. He immediately examined the patient's injuries and asked questions. Seeing that Xu Changren was being watched by the doctor and Liu Xianglan, Xu He stood up and brought a stool and poured tea to Zhang Fangyuan who was at the door as if he was entertaining a guest.
Zhang Fangyuan looked at Xu He with gentle eyes. Although he did not speak, when their eyes met, it seemed as if they said a lot of words. While taking the bowl of water, he gently touched Xu He's hand with the back of his hand.
The people in the room were unaware of the little tricks between the two. Instead, Xu Shaochun thought that Zhang Fangyuan was running errands for him out of favor, so he hid in the room embarrassedly.
"The injuries on my body are just minor. My legs and feet are the most serious. I have injured some bones and muscles, and lost too much blood. I need to rest and recuperate. It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. You can't go out and do anything for at least three or two months."
The doctor knew that the villagers were too busy to rest, so he gave them some special instructions.
"I have to go to the city regularly to change the dressing and have follow-up visits. It's easy to get infected in the spring. If the wound gets infected, it will be troublesome."
At this time, no one dared to refute, but just expressed their gratitude profusely. Liu Xianglan paid for the medical expenses. The doctors' consultation fees in the city were already high, and it was even more expensive in the middle of the night. Not counting the money for the medicine, it cost more than one hundred coins. Although Liu Xianglan was stingy, she also considered the overall situation at this time and knew what was most important.
"Thank you, doctor, for coming here so late at night."
"It's okay. There are doctors at Shencao Hall all day and all night. This is their duty. Take good care of yourself."
Liu Xianglan nodded repeatedly. After all this trouble, it was already the second half of the night. Zhang Fangyuan didn't say much. He just thanked the doctor and sent him back to the city.
"Zhang the Butcher, I am really sorry to trouble you!"
Liu Xianglan escorted the people to the gate of the courtyard. Zhang Fangyuan pulled the reins. He did not answer Liu Xianglan's words. He just looked at the Xu family's house meaningfully, and then quickly glanced at Xu He standing at the gate. Then he clamped his legs under the horse's belly and rode away.
After Xu Changren's wound was bandaged, he was moved to the inner room after asking a few questions. He was also tired and weak, and fell asleep soon after he got on the bed.
Liu Xianglan walked out of the inner room, not feeling sleepy at all. She didn't know how to repay Zhang Fangyuan for all the trips she had made to pick up the doctor. She thought of giving him money, but he probably wouldn't take it. Besides, how much money could her family give? Xu Changren was injured, not only could he not earn money, but he had to spend a lot of money. There was no other man in the family to earn money, which was really worrying.
She felt a huge pressure in her heart and did not dare to say anything more to Xu Changren. She could only curse the local rich man who was recruiting workers outside the house in a low voice, saying that he was a heartless person and was ungrateful. After a while, perhaps because she had let out some of her anger, or perhaps because she realized that cursing here would not solve anything, she called out to Xu He, who was still washing Xu Changren's blood-stained clothes under the eaves.
"Brother He, kill a duck tomorrow and cook two delicious dishes."
Xu He knew that the reason why he prepared delicious meals at this time was to thank Zhang Fangyuan. He did not say much. Zhang Fangyuan had helped their family a lot tonight and he should be thanked. Fortunately, Liu Xianglan knew how to thank her. Otherwise, he would have sold his face and owed her a favor, and he really didn't know how to repay it himself.
Will you pledge yourself to me? He had already promised it before others helped him.
Thinking of this, Xu He's face didn't blush, but a burst of heat came out: "I know."
Liu Xianglan rubbed her temples tiredly. She was most afraid of natural disasters and man-made disasters. Bad things were really hard to guard against. "Hurry up and wash up and go back to the house. Don't disturb your father's rest."
It was almost dawn when Zhang Fangyuan came back from sending the doctor. He did not go to Xu's house, but went home first to catch up on some sleep. Unfortunately, he could not fall asleep during the daylight hours and lay in bed for two hours.
After a night of running around, Xu Changren's injury actually appeared in his dreams. He suddenly dreamed of some fragmentary events from the past. He felt very uncomfortable and woke up with a dizzy head.
I remember that Xu He married to a man from another village as his second wife. It seemed vaguely that it was because Xu Changren was sick. He didn't remember what happened in detail, but the mainstay of the Xu family suddenly fell, and the Xu family had no sons. The family was short of money, so they wanted to accept a high betrothal gift, and they didn't care whether the son-in-law was good or bad...
These past events were mixed in his dreams, causing him to feel depressed and painful, with no way to vent. He hammered his head, and suddenly his pupils shrank——
Now Xu Changren is bedridden due to a foot injury, which can be considered as a collapse... He felt cold all over and suddenly sat up from the bed with fear in his eyes.
No, he can't wait any longer, he has to marry He Ge'er back home quickly to avoid any more trouble!
At daybreak, he fed the horse some water, picked up a hoe and prepared to go to his fourth uncle's field to help. By the way, he discussed with his fourth uncle about asking the elders to go to the Xu family to propose marriage.
Before he left the house, Xu He came again.
He carried a large basket of tender grass on his back.
Zhang Fangyuan felt distressed when he saw this, but he couldn't help laughing: "Xiao Hei's treatment is better than mine."
"I didn't get to thank you properly yesterday. My mother asked me to come over and ask you to have lunch at our house."
Zhang Fangyuan's eyebrows moved: "Are you the one cooking?"
"Um."
Zhang Fangyuan laughed: "Then last night was not in vain."
Xu He also curved his eyebrows. Zhang Fangyuan seldom saw him smile, and for a moment he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he even wanted to lock him up in his yard and not let him leave. But Xu He said, "I have to go home and do some work, so I won't delay you any longer."
"Well, okay..." Seeing that the man was about to leave, he suddenly called him again: "He Ge'er, do you believe me?"
Xu He didn't understand.
"Do you believe that no matter what I say or do, I do it with all my heart to marry you?"
Xu He didn't know why he said that, but he nodded slightly. If you are not sincere, you won't be willing to help me.
Zhang Fangyuan smiled: "That's good."
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