Chapter Twenty-Seven: Touch My Leg Again

When Xiao Ding mentioned rebuilding the house, everyone stared at him in disbelief. It wasn’t that they doubted his ability to earn money, but rather they were curious—since when did this fool know how to plan for the future?

“I noticed there’s a large empty plot of land to the west of our home,” Xiao Ding explained honestly. “I was thinking, once I’ve made enough money, we could buy it and build a grand courtyard, put up several houses, so everyone could have a room of their own. Xiao Ya and her husband could move in too, and we’d all live together.”

Tian Dabao, sitting nearby, rapped Xiao Ding on the forehead with his chopsticks. “Eat your food and stop dreaming. Only a fool would say such foolish things!”

Xiao Ding fell silent, lowering his head to eat his meal.

“Big brother, if that happens, would I get my own room too?” Xiao Zhu asked quietly. She truly believed Xiao Ding’s words—after all, everything he promised to buy her, he had brought home.

Xiao Ya, Xiao E, and Er Niu also half-believed. Especially Er Niu—none of them had expected Xiao Ding to return with so many things today. Maybe the fool really would get lucky.

Madam Li, however, was calm. She wasn’t concerned with whether Xiao Ding could do it, but rather, she pondered if the child’s silly affliction was getting better or worse.

Zhao Laixi wore a look of disbelief, but deep down, he was a little swayed. He thought, you never could tell with this fool. So much had happened today that he’d never expected. Since Xiao Ding killed that wolf, he seemed no longer the same fool he’d been before.

Xiao Ding, of course, had no idea what his family was thinking. After hastily eating a few buns, he left the table.

Outside in the yard, he saw Tang Yunzhi slowly eating the two buns that Xiao Zhu had brought her. He didn’t go over to disturb her, but instead started wondering where she could sleep tonight.

There weren’t enough rooms in the house. Even Zhao Laixi and his wife slept on mats on the floor; now there was an extra young lady. Even if they made up a bed in the inner room, there still wouldn’t be enough space—the room was narrow, and Xiao Ya was already sleeping on the floor.

Xiao Ding paced around the yard, his gaze falling on the donkey cart. Though simple, the cart had a canopy, so it would keep off the rain. Sleeping inside wouldn’t be too bad, though there might be more mosquitoes outside. Imagining the young lady’s face covered in mosquito bites, Xiao Ding grinned mischievously to himself. Serves you right for being so spoiled, he thought. Time for a little hardship!

But then he remembered that the shed he’d slept in last night didn’t even have a door—so why hadn’t there been any mosquitoes inside? How odd!

He leveled the donkey cart, secured it, and gave it a test push—finding it sturdy enough—then went over to Tang Yunzhi. She was still eating the last half of her bun, her little mouth working away, looking rather adorable.

“Are you full? Should I get you a couple more?” Xiao Ding offered.

“No, I’m full. But I’d like some water. Could you fetch me some?” Tang Yunzhi replied. Ever since learning Xiao Ding was a fool, she’d adjusted her attitude, reminding herself not to stoop to arguing with him.

Xiao Ding was momentarily taken aback. He realized he’d neglected this young woman—she’d been back for so long, and he hadn’t even brought her a bowl of water.

In the countryside, people generally weren’t particular—they didn’t have the habit of drinking boiled water, especially in summer. When thirsty, they’d just scoop up half a ladle of cool water and gulp it down—refreshing and satisfying. They weren’t like city folk, fussing about drinking raw water and getting upset stomachs.

“Could you wait a moment? I’ll go boil some water for you,” Xiao Ding said.

Just then, Er Niu arrived with two bowls—one of hot water, one of medicine. The medicine had already been simmered, and while the buns were steaming, the big stove’s bottom compartment always had hot water ready.

After letting them cool a while, the water and medicine were no longer scalding. Tang Yunzhi took the water first, sipping a few mouthfuls to quench her thirst, then picked up the medicine and took a small swallow. The bitterness made her wrinkle her brows and smack her lips. “Do I really have to drink this?”

“You don’t—if you’re content to be a cripple,” Xiao Ding replied.

Tang Yunzhi was speechless. She took the bowl, shut her eyes, and gulped the medicine down in one go, then grabbed the water to rinse her mouth, finally letting out a long sigh.

Xiao Ding thought, well, that worked—didn’t even have to persuade her, she drank it herself!

“Will drinking this medicine heal my leg?” Tang Yunzhi asked.

“No. Not even Doctor Wu could cure your leg,” Xiao Ding replied calmly.

“You—” Tang Yunzhi bristled, but remembering he was a fool, she let it go and muttered, “Then why make me drink it?”

“It’ll help you recover, reduce swelling, and relieve pain,” Xiao Ding explained, secretly surprised that Tang Yunzhi didn’t throw a fit. That’s not like her at all, he thought.

“Is there really no hope for my leg?” Tang Yunzhi asked, her face full of longing. She desperately hoped Xiao Ding would say yes. But that wasn’t what she heard.

“Even if you brought in the imperial physicians from the palace, it’d be useless,” Xiao Ding said, deliberately dashing her hopes.

“Then what will I do? I don’t want to be a cripple!” Tang Yunzhi’s voice trembled, and she began to cry.

Xiao Ding looked up, astonished. The girl who’d been so willful with him earlier was now sobbing, growing more and more distraught.

He was at a loss…

“Miss Tang, don’t listen to my husband’s nonsense—he can cure your leg,” Er Niu said, unable to watch any longer. She hurried over to hold Tang Yunzhi’s hand, comforting her.

“What? He can cure my leg?” Tang Yunzhi, her face streaked with tears, stopped crying and asked between sobs, hardly daring to believe it.

“Yes, my husband said he could use spiritual energy to heal you. Don’t worry, you’ll get better,” Er Niu continued to reassure her.

“You can really heal my leg?” Tang Yunzhi turned to Xiao Ding, her face full of doubt. She knew better than anyone how severe her injury was—she had some knowledge of medicine herself, though not much skill with bone injuries. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have so easily believed Xiao Ding when he said “no ordinary doctor could heal her leg.”

“I can’t guarantee it…” Xiao Ding began, but before he finished, Tang Yunzhi’s lips quivered and she burst into tears again.

Seeing her crying so pitifully, there was not a trace left of the willful girl from before—she was just a child.

“Husband, please help Miss Tang—look how beautiful she is. If she’s left with a lame leg…” Er Niu didn’t finish, because as soon as Tang Yunzhi heard “lame leg,” her sobs grew even more heartbreaking.

“All right, all right, I promise to help heal your leg…” Xiao Ding said at last, helpless in the face of Tang Yunzhi’s wailing.

“You really promise?” Tang Yunzhi sniffled.

“I promise. After everyone’s asleep and it’s quiet, I’ll help you with my abilities,” Xiao Ding said, pointing to the thatched hut. Inwardly, he thought, I’ll give it a try—treat her as a test case.

“Thank you so much!” Tang Yunzhi sobbed, her shoulders trembling.

“No need to thank me…” Xiao Ding began, but was cut off as Tang Yunzhi continued:

“If you really heal me, then I won’t call you a scoundrel anymore when you touch my leg!”

Xiao Ding broke out in a cold sweat.