Chapter 180 A Dark Shadow

Chapter 180 A Dark Shadow

Xianjin's expression remained unusually calm after hearing this.

The sudden change in the melon to an August explosion did not stir any emotion in her.

To be honest, handsome and slick-talking young men were never her type.

In both her past and present lives, she might have been moved by the bulging veins on a young doctor's hand, or by an apple offered by a reserved patient from the neighboring bed, or even by the lowered umbrella of a young man bearing his family's honor by the stream...

All these moments of heart-stirring emotion were due to one thing: sincerity.

Sincerity, genuineness, authenticity, truth.

Especially after gaining wealth, beautiful appearances were everywhere, but sincere and powerful emotions were truly precious.

Xianjin gently lifted her chin, her gaze clear and calm, and smiled, speaking in a gentle tone, "If we judge heroes by success or failure, Doctor Qu, you are certainly not the best choice."

Qu Qiushi's eyes dimmed, and he seemed about to speak again.

Xianjin slowly shook her head, signaling Qu Qiushi not to continue, preserving their dignity.

Xianjin's emotions were very stable, her words as still as a placid lake, even if there was wind, it could not stir a ripple. She spoke sincerely, "Doctor Qu, I understand your considerations, but I am unable to comply. If this were a business transaction, I would make demands, you would offer terms, and we would settle accounts fairly, benefiting each other;"

"However, this is a marriage. What you mentioned, I naturally want, but the premise is that our hearts must align and our emotions resonate—without this foundation, your calculations and my defenses will only become increasingly repulsive and exhausting."

Life was already difficult enough; you couldn't choose your blood relatives, but you had some choice in who you spent your life with—or perhaps choosing to be alone was also an option.

In this era, she worked so hard to move forward, merely to gain the same right as men—to refuse.

Xianjin smiled again, "If you wish to tie yourself closely to the Chen family, you don't necessarily need to marry me. We can sign a contract where you provide regular medical check-ups for the Chen family's employees—believe me, over time, even the merchants of Xuancheng Prefecture and Southern Zhili will emulate this practice, making your position as a physician highly sought after."

Qu Qiushi's eyebrows twitched.

Xianjin continued with a smile, "If you agree, I can also write a recommendation letter for you to Dr. Wang, who resides in Jing County. You can visit him on the first and fifteenth of every month to sweep and serve tea. This would give you a better standing."

The Qu family was just a rural medical household, and medical practices valued lineage. If Dr. Wang, who came from the imperial hospital, were to vouch for Qu Qiushi, a young man under twenty would undoubtedly have a bright future.

But...

"The dog master's medicine has issues, and I will explain everything clearly to him. If he forgives us, that's great; if not, then I won't write that recommendation letter—whether you knew from the start or later adjusted your stance, you ultimately caused harm to the dog master."

Xianjin spoke openly, with a demeanor of honesty and integrity.

Qu Qiushi finally raised his head, his gaze dark and unreadable as he looked at Xianjin.

For a moment, he felt humbled before this girl.

And for another moment, he genuinely wanted to approach and touch the person before him with his true self.

He regretted taking shortcuts when they first met.

He was too young to realize that shortcuts often led to detours.

Girls in White Water Town were young and shy, their greatest wish being to marry a handsome and kind husband with a modest fortune. He had always been successful in White Water Town, never facing rejection.

But Xianjin...

Qu Qiushi felt fate was playing tricks on him: just when he began to feel genuine affection, their relationship was irreparably damaged by the initial "falsehood."

Qu Qiushi smiled, different from his usual calculated charm, his expression somewhat dejected, "I didn't know about the changes in Brother Dog's prescription beforehand, but when I smelled something off with the medicine..."

Qu Qiushi didn't continue, "I will explain to the old lady that it was because of me that the marriage didn't happen. Sister, you don't need to worry. I'll also find a chance to inform Brother Dog about the issue with his medicine and apologize."

Xianjin nodded slightly.

The moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival was indeed full, its light casting a glow on the stone-paved road, turning the blue bricks into luminous jade.

Xianjin laughed brightly, "Shall we go see the lanterns?"

Qu Qiushi, like a defeated rooster, hung his head and forced a smile, "No... no need."

Xianjin nodded again, candidly saying, "Good, I don't really like pointless burning."

A lamp is a lamp; it should burn only to illuminate the path ahead.

The splendid lantern festival always gave Xianjin a sense of fleeting light—except for the stalls where girls made lanterns, which was a profitable hobby.

Xianjin and Qu Qiushi walked side by side towards the west of the town. Halfway through, a servant from the medical hall came to ask Qu Qiushi to attend to a patient, saying that the magistrate had drunk too much and was vomiting, needing a doctor. Qu Qiushi rolled up his sleeves and rushed out, feeling immensely grateful—

The magistrate was indeed the magistrate, even his vomiting was strategic, inadvertently ending this awkward and regretful evening...

The magistrate vomited well, the magistrate vomited wonderfully, the magistrate vomited splendidly!

Not long after Qu Qiushi left, a gust of wind blew from the row houses on the left, seemingly carrying a dark shadow.

Mang'er took a firm stance, stepping in front of Xianjin, his hair bristling, "Who's there!"

Behind the row houses, silence fell, but the shadow behind Xianjin stretched calmly.

"Xianjin—"

Xianjin turned around.

It was Chen Jianfang.

The wind behind the row houses stilled.

Chen Jianfang quickened his pace, looking back, "I just saw Mang'er rushing west..."

Chen Jianfang's face revealed a hint of relief. "What happened to him?"

Chen Jianfang asked this question with confidence.

What happened to that shepherd boy? It was obvious.

He didn't get what he wanted, of course.

If Xianjin had given him a good face, would he have run out like a tail-chasing wolf, looking ashen?

"Magistrate Qu drank too much and threw up; he went to see a doctor," Xianjin said matter-of-factly.

Ha, he vomited beautifully.

Chen Jianfang smiled, for the first time sharing an unspoken agreement with Qu Qiushi.

Xianjin stepped forward—feeling that if she didn't move ahead, she wouldn't make it home or get any sleep tonight.

Chen Jianfang followed her stride, looking straight ahead, and casually said, "...Grandmother asked him to leave the family banquet early to pick you up, saying it wasn't convenient for a young girl at night, while the others were left behind to drink more."

Xianjin nodded slightly, acknowledging his belated explanation.

Chen Jianfang continued, "Second Uncle, after drinking too much, knelt down before Grandmother and cried, saying he felt guilty towards the ancestors of the Chen family, not managing the family well, and instead making you, a young girl, worry and work hard..."

Xianjin pursed her lips indifferently. "The real worries don't lie in doing business."

It lies in internal strife.

After dealing with the sixth uncle, now it's the fifth.

Instead of focusing on the business, she had to consider Chen Cai's face, making many things inconvenient to handle immediately.

Chen Jianfang fell silent for a moment and then whispered, "...Grandmother told Second Uncle to listen to you, just like Third Uncle does."

His words carried a hint of comfort and seemed intended to mend her relationship with the Chen family.

Xianjin heard this and glanced at Chen Jianfang, then turned to look at a small boat drifting slowly on Longchuan Creek, softly saying, "Sailing downstream is half the effort; sailing upstream is twice the work. The worst thing in doing anything is having eight different ideas in one day, six different thoughts in a fool's mind, playing both sides, and being inconsistent."