Chapter 179: Success or Failure, Hero (3000)

Chapter 179: Success or Failure, Hero (3000)

The Mid-Autumn family banquet also marked a month since Chen Jianfang returned from Jing County. Xianjin, who was stationed at the Jixi Workshop grading papers, had a legitimate reason to be absent. She was driven nearly mad by the incessant chatter of twenty children, much like being pelted by pea shooters.

There were originally three or four students who were introverted and hardworking, but over the past ten days, they had been influenced by a few oddballs and suddenly developed a similar lack of brainpower. The most infuriating one was Sauce Elbow, who smuggled in four or five flasks of plum wine the night before the monthly exam. He didn't drink it himself but encouraged others to do so, even calling those who refused "not men."

In the end, he wrote the most during the exam.

Several others, still under the influence, scribbled illegibly, bringing up the rear.

Xianjin immediately noticed this upon reviewing their work.

It wasn't because her investigative skills were particularly sharp.

Simply because, as soon as these children opened their mouths, a strong scent of fermented plums wafted out.

As Xianjin walked out of the Jixi Workshop, she stood on the threshold and took a deep breath—she finally understood Master Qin's mental state. Being tormented by these children had driven her to the brink, making her capable of writing literary works like "This Scholar is Truly Handsome."

Carrying a pent-up anger with nowhere to vent, Xianjin turned the corner and heard a sweet voice, "Sister—"

Startled, she instinctively swung a punch.

"Umph," Qu Qiushi grunted, covering his nose as he stepped out of the dim corner, holding a lantern with warm yellow light illuminating his face, radiant like a spring dawn: "Sister, it's me."

Xianjin looked up first at his nose, relieved to see no blood, then launched into an accusatory tone, "Why were you hiding in the corner! You scared me!"

Qu Qiushi released his hand, confirming there was no blood, and lifted the lantern, the dim light casting a perfect shadow on his brow bone—the best angle to highlight his high cheekbones and bright eyes.

Smiling, he pulled out a small oil-paper package from his sleeve.

Xianjin opened it to find two beautifully crafted rice dumplings.

"Haven't eaten yet?" Qu Qiushi asked with a smile.

Xianjin swallowed, then rewrapped the dumplings, stating succinctly, "I have a cold constitution; eating rice at night is hard to digest, and I'll be gassy all night."

"Gassy" was a more polite way of saying "farting."

Qu Qiushi chuckled, seemingly anticipating Xianjin's reaction, and pulled out a small ceramic bottle from his sleeve, "Hawthorn Nine Herb Soup. I noticed you eat quickly, so I prepared this for you. I added rock sugar and brown sugar to make it less bitter, so you can sip it like a beverage."

Xianjin: ...

He had clearly come prepared tonight!

Xianjin took the ceramic bottle, glanced at Qu Qiushi, and headed outside.

Qu Qiushi followed closely behind, speaking softly, as if afraid to disturb the moonlight on Longchuan Creek, "Uncle dragged me for a few drinks, so I came late. Didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?"

Xianjin took a deep breath, stopped, and turned around.

Qu Qiushi held back his last word, noticing Xianjin's tense expression, her brows and eyes straightened, her gaze calm and steady, silently waiting for him to get to the point.

After a moment's thought, Qu Qiushi changed his unfinished words into a subtle yet appropriate sense of helplessness, "Sister, you must find me annoying, clingy, oblivious, and presumptuous..."

His voice was soft, and the smile on his face faded imperceptibly.

Without the warm glow of the oil lamp, his bright eyes and high cheekbones now seemed downcast and dejected.

"...Am I being too obvious?" Qu Qioshi lowered his head, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Grandma hopes we can be together. I'm unmarried, and you're unwed. I didn't like such arranged marriages, but couldn't resist Grandma's invitation. Initially, I planned to go through the motions, but when I saw you that rainy day, I was completely captivated..."

Xianjin crossed her arms, giving Qu Qiushi a chance to continue.

"I later thought this marriage would be good. You are beautiful and capable, and I am always striving to improve. Although neither of us has much wealth, we both work hard. Together, we can make a good life."

Qu Qiushi's voice was like a split bean pod, revealing a few beans inside—whether immature yellow or full green, clear to see.

"I believe this is a good match. For me, it means marrying someone I love deeply. For you, it allows you to continue your business. For the Chen family, it keeps you close. For the Qu family, it strengthens our ties with the Chens."

Qu Qiushi gripped the cow-horn lantern tightly, "After marriage, I won't take concubines or share rooms. I will focus on my medical studies and hope to become a court physician by the time I'm thirty. I won't stop you from working after marriage. You can do whatever you want. If we are fortunate enough to have a child, my mother... my mother can raise them. No one in the Qu family will criticize you."

Qu Qiushi looked up, seeing Xianjin's expression remained calm, and his speech quickened, "Everything I've said can be written in the marriage contract. If there's any offense, the Qu family will not ask for the dowry back and I will personally give you three thousand taels as an 'apology fee'..."

The moonlight of Mid-Autumn poured down like water and poetry.

Xianjin listened quietly.

It had to be said, Qu Qiushi's move was well-played.

He laid all his cards on the table, showing his trump card.

No meddling in-laws, a husband who wouldn't interfere, freedom in her career, no unwanted concubines in the household... even childcare would be taken care of—looking at Qu Qiushi, handsome and skilled, he could easily succeed in a talent show, and being a doctor itself is a profession that shines...

Xianjin lowered her gaze, pondering.

Qu Qiushi seemed to see the door of hope slowly opening and pressed his advantage, "About having children, as a doctor, I know childbirth is not easy. It's a matter of life and death. Seeing many births and deaths, I understand the cycle of life. If you don't want to, we don't have to have children. We can adopt a child from my brother's family if you prefer."

Three thousand taels as "compensation" was probably Qu Qiushi's lifetime salary.

And the agreement about not having children.

Xianjin continued to ponder, arms crossed, without comment.

Qu Qiushi had played all his cards, but his opponent hadn't revealed anything.

Qu Qiushi clenched his jaw—this wife was his to win.

After a moment, Xianjin's voice rang out clearly in the silent moonlit night.

"This is indeed a very tempting marriage proposal." Xianjin smiled, looking at the now-cool rice dumplings and hawthorn soup, "I really want to accept it."

But...?

Would there be a "but" following?

Qu Qiushi looked at Xianjin with intense eyes.

Xianjin casually smoothed her hair by her ear, her expression calm. "But, with my limited knowledge, any cooperation should be based on fairness and honesty—cooperation that starts with lies and deceit usually ends in ruin."

Qu Qioshi's expression turned stern.

Xianjin took out an oiled cloth bundle from her sleeve and held it in front of Qu Qiushi. "If you don't understand what I mean, take a look inside."

No need to open it.

The strong scent of Polygonum and White Flower Dan was unmistakable without even opening it.

Inside the oiled cloth bundle were the leftover herbs from the medicine Zhou Ergou had taken.

Qu Qiushi tilted his head slightly.

Xianjin's gaze remained composed. "When Lord Dog suddenly switched to Doctor Nian, after taking five doses of medicine, his nearly healed leg injury worsened, the wound became infected and he ran a high fever. Dr. Wang, who lives in seclusion in Jing County, examined the leftover herbs and found that several ingredients were overused and conflicting, causing the wound to remain untreated and even triggering internal dampness and heat, leading to pus and infection."

Qu Qiushi hesitated to take the oiled cloth bundle from Xianjin's hand. She did not get annoyed but slowly withdrew it and continued, "Later, I investigated and found that Doctor Nian is the uncle of the accountant at the Mulberry paper workshop, and also the doctor our old lady has been consulting for years. He has deep ties with the Chen family."

Qu Qiushi opened his mouth to explain.

Xianjin waved her hands. "Don't say anything. If Old Lady set this up to ensnare us all—then I ask Dr. Qu, when you examined the leftover herbs, did you notice any abnormalities in Doctor Nian's prescription?"

Qu Qiushi opened his mouth, feeling that even if he had eight hundred tongues, he could not refute!

If he didn't find any abnormalities, it meant he lacked skill, and a doctor lacking skill truly risks lives!

If he did find abnormalities, why didn't he speak up then? Why did he tell Xianjin to dispose of the leftover herbs immediately...

A bitter sweetness rose in Qu Qiushi's throat.

All his efforts over these past months were in vain!

He had diligently and earnestly tried to understand He Xianjin, sought every opportunity to get closer to her, and retreated again and again, trying to lure her—only to find out that she had already seen through his first move!

Qu Qiushi's face alternated between red and white, and then turned red again, unsure where to begin!

Xianjin calmly tucked the oiled cloth bundle into her chest and walked towards the inner city, her voice clear and straightforward. "Dr. Qu, do you understand me now?"

"Lord Dog is a loyal employee of our shop, a trusted right-hand man for over a year, and a good friend. You used him as bait, risking his life, to build this beautiful alliance on lies and deceit."

Xianjin gave a light laugh, lowering her head and shaking it. "I'm timid. Honestly, your moves have made me too afraid to accept them."

"But didn't Zhou Ergou turn out fine in the end?"

Qu Qiushi spoke softly, his voice no longer sounding like a freshly picked melon, revealing a hint of his true self, more like a seed-filled melon in August, sticky and bland. "In business, isn't success the only measure of heroism?"