Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Strange Chen Xiaobei
This question made Chen Xiaobei feel a little awkward. How did she marry me? I could say I gave her away for free, that she insisted on coming, but would anyone believe that?
But whether they believe it or not, that's the truth. However, such words just can't be said aloud.
"It was also arranged by a matchmaker," Chen Xiaobei could only vaguely answer.
Xiao Qing wanted to continue asking, but Liu Rumei quickly found a reason to change the subject.
After walking for about two miles, they suddenly heard a commotion from the mountain, and Liu Guanjia came running down.
Liu Guanjia came in front of Liu Rumei and cupped his fists. "Miss, we've found Liu Tie. He's broken several bones. How do we get him down?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Rumei also scratched her head. "Can't he walk himself?"
Liu Guanjia nodded. "Both his legs are broken."
"Then what about taking turns carrying him down?" Liu Rumei asked again.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaobei quickly spoke up to stop her. "Miss Liu, you must not do that. Liu Tie has multiple fractures, and if we carry him and any broken bones shift inside, it could be dangerous."
Liu Rumei looked at Chen Xiaobei in surprise. "Then what do you suggest?"
Chen Xiaobei gestured with his hands as he explained to Liu Rumei and Liu Guanjia. He suggested using two branches, tied together with vines, to make a simple stretcher, so Liu Tie could lie on it and be carried down.
After his explanation, Liu Rumei understood, and Liu Guanjia also nodded with a smile. "That's a good idea. I'll go prepare it now."
By the time Chen Xiaobei and the others arrived at the mountain god's temple, Liu Guanjia had already finished preparing the stretcher.
When Liu Guanjia saw Chen Xiaobei, he stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Young master, do you think this meets your requirements?"
Chen Xiaobei looked it over and nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, it's exactly what I imagined."
Liu Guanjia looked toward Liu Rumei for confirmation, and Liu Rumei smiled and nodded slightly.
Liu Guanjia immediately called a few people to carefully lift Liu Tie out of the temple and onto the stretcher.
They found four strong men, each lifting one corner of the stretcher. After getting familiar with the steps, they began descending the mountain.
It's often said that going up the mountain is easy, but coming down is hard. However, for these strong men, the way down was as easy as walking on flat ground.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw Cui Hongyu, holding Chen Qiao'er, waiting there.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaobei felt a pang of guilt. "Hongyu, I made you worry."
Cui Hongyu nodded, then turned to look at Liu Rumei. "Miss Liu, Brother Liu Tie has several broken bones. If he isn't treated in time, it could be fatal."
When Liu Rumei heard this, her expression froze for a moment. She turned to look at Chen Xiaobei, her eyes filled with questions.
Chen Xiaobei quickly explained, "Oh, Hongyu's father is a well-known doctor in the area. Since she was young, she has been influenced by him, so she naturally knows a little about medicine."
Liu Rumei gave a slight bow to Cui Hongyu. "Then I'll trouble Miss Hongyu to lend a hand."
Cui Hongyu took the bundle off her back, opened it, and inside were some shredded cloth strips. It was clear that these were new, and Chen Xiaobei knew these were part of her dowry, but now she was cutting them up to treat Liu Tie's injuries.
Liu Rumei wasn't foolish. She stepped forward, picked up a piece of cloth, and examined it carefully, surprised. "This cloth is new."
Cui Hongyu nodded. "So what if it's new? Saving lives is the priority."
Liu Rumei's eyes flashed with gratitude. She wanted to speak but paused, stepping aside to whisper a few words to Liu Guanjia.
Soon, Liu Guanjia pulled Chen Xiaobei aside, taking a silver note from his sleeve.
"Such great kindness deserves no thanks. Please accept this, a small token from our young miss."
Faced with this direct monetary offer, Chen Xiaobei smiled calmly. "Liu Guanjia, I don't need the money. If it was for money, I would've asked for it directly when I first came to your house."
"You... you!" Liu Guanjia was clearly stunned. He couldn't understand why such a poor boy would be so intent on saving Liu Tie without expecting money in return.
Seeing the confusion on his face, Chen Xiaobei smiled again.
"Having the person saved is better than anything else."
Liu Rumei overheard the conversation between Chen Xiaobei and Liu Guanjia, and she was shaken. She hadn't expected this poor boy to be so principled. It was a pleasant surprise.
While they were talking, Cui Hongyu had already positioned two branches on either side of Liu Tie's broken bones and carefully wrapped them with cloth strips.
Watching her work with such ease, Chen Xiaobei was also surprised. This was just like the principle of splinting in the modern world.
He hadn't expected the folk medicine of this time to be so advanced.
Once everything was done, Cui Hongyu clapped her hands and stood next to Chen Xiaobei. "Husband, it's all done."
Seeing her obedient and gentle manner, Liu Rumei couldn't help but silently admire her. Although Chen Xiaobei was poor, he certainly knew how to manage his wife. Such a beautiful woman was as gentle as a lamb in front of him.
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "You've worked hard."
Then he turned to Liu Rumei. "Miss Liu, everything is done. We shall meet again."
After saying that, he picked up Chen Qiao'er, grabbed Cui Hongyu's hand, and turned to leave.
Liu Rumei hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Young Master Chen, please wait a moment."
Chen Xiaobei turned around and looked at Liu Rumei. "Is there something else, Miss Liu?"
Liu Rumei gestured with her hand, and Liu Guanjia led the warhorse that Chen Xiaobei had ridden earlier toward him, handing the reins to his hand.
"Please help take care of this horse, Young Master Chen. Would it be alright to return it to me in a few days?"
Chen Xiaobei understood that Liu Rumei was offering him a horse.
But she phrased it delicately, asking him to "temporarily take care of it."
As he thought about how to politely refuse, Chen Qiao'er, who was nearby, clapped her hands and called out, "Yes, yes! I want to ride the big horse!"
Chen Xiaobei glanced at Cui Hongyu.
Cui Hongyu understood immediately and stepped forward, taking Chen Qiao'er from Chen Xiaobei's arms. "Qiao'er, be good. Let's go ahead. Your brother will join us soon."
Once Cui Hongyu had walked a few steps with Qiao'er, Chen Xiaobei returned the reins to Liu Guanjia.
"Miss Liu, I don't have experience taking care of horses. I'm afraid I cannot bear such a responsibility."
After saying that, he bowed and turned to leave.
Liu Rumei furrowed her brows and spoke again, "Young Master, please stay."
Chen Xiaobei stopped, half-turned. "Miss Liu, is there something else?"
Liu Rumei took out a token from her waistband and extended it toward him. "This is for you. My Liu family still has some influence in Qingniu County."
This was certainly a good gesture, almost like a protective talisman.
Chen Xiaobei took it, thanked her, and turned to leave.
As he walked away, Liu Guanjia approached and quietly whispered to Liu Rumei, "What if he's pretending to be from the Liu family and does something wicked?"
"Enough. I believe he won't do that." Liu Rumei raised her hand to stop him and then turned to look at Liu Tie, who was lying on the stretcher.
At that moment, Xiao Qing immediately took out a small porcelain bottle from her chest, poured two pills from it, and walked to Liu Tie's side, crouching down to feed him the pills.
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