Qin Si stayed at the construction site for a long time.
Besides inspecting the construction site, he also treated the villagers' ailments.
Everyone had heard about Qin Dong's broken leg being treated by Qin Si. The village was so small that any news would quickly become a hot topic.
They had initially approached him with a try-it-and-see attitude, but it turned out Qin Si's medical skills were genuinely good.
One after another, he would tap and pat them, give them two needles, and their aches and pains would disappear, leaving them amazed and calling it a miracle.
For those whose ailments didn't improve immediately, Qin Si prescribed herbal remedies.
For a moment, the grateful villagers crowded around him.
“You don't need to pay for the medicine. Everyone's having a hard time these days. Just pick some herbs for me when you have time,”
Qin Si smiled. This time, he had again gained a large amount of prestige, making his bid for the village leader's position even more secure.
However, he didn't actually intend to use his medical skills to accumulate prestige. If his reputation spread, people from all over the surrounding areas would come, and he'd work himself to death.
But now that things had gone this far, he didn't bother thinking about it anymore. He just went with the flow.
“My illness has been bothering me for years. It just wouldn't go away. Thank you so much,”
“Qin Si, you don't charge us for medicine. Picking herbs is nothing. But I don't recognize any herbs,”
“Neither do I,”
“Me too,”
“I only know mugwort. When you have a nosebleed, you stuff it up your nose to stop the bleeding. It's a remedy passed down from our elders,”
The villagers were discussing among themselves. Qin Si clapped his hands to get their attention, bringing them to silence.
“You don't need to recognize them. Any flower, grass, or tree you see will do, just make sure to bring the roots,”
In Qin Si's eyes, all flowers, plants, and trees were medicinal herbs, it was just a matter of different uses.
Upon hearing this, the villagers readily agreed. This wasn't a difficult task for them.
As for payment?
This person had treated them for free, just asking for a bit of unwanted herbs. Who would dare bring up payment?
They would rely on Qin Si for their medical needs in the future.
…
“Qin Si!”
After inspecting the construction site and talking with Qin Liang, he was heading home when he met a brother and sister on the road.
It was Chen Jiang and Chen Ruo Nan.
Compared to yesterday, Chen Ruo Nan's condition had noticeably improved today. She gave Qin Si a slight smile.
The aura of a virtuous and reserved wife came flooding in.
The lustful spirit within Qin Si's body flared up for a moment, but just a moment.
He still had a preference for virgins, and while Chen Ruo Nan had been married, she was still a virgin.
“You look much better today. Don't let your emotions fluctuate too much. Come with me,”
Qin Si took them to Chen Yue Lian's house.
There were two rooms, a main hall, a kitchen, and a courtyard enclosed by a fence.
Chen Yue Lian had kept the house neat and tidy when she was alone before. However, since marrying Qin Si, she hadn't returned to live here.
“Yue Lian cleaned this room yesterday knowing you were coming. See if you need anything,”
Chen Ruo Nan just glanced around briefly, nodded, and put down her package, saying:
“We don't need anything. Thank you. Where's Yue Lian?”
“She... is still sleeping,”
Qin Si felt a little awkward. The night before, they had eaten rice porridge together for the first time, and he had been too excited. He had lost control.
They didn't stop until early morning.
This resulted in it being almost noon now, and Chen Yue Lian still hadn't woken up.
Qin Si first checked Chen Jiang's arm, confirming that there were no issues and it would heal slowly.
Then he turned to Chen Ruo Nan. The more he looked, the more he found her interesting. This wife-like aura was truly amazing.
With just her face, she could exude the charm of a wife. It was truly rare.
Chen Ruo Nan's heart fluttered under his gaze. She thought to herself how bold this man was, staring at her so intently.
Then she remembered that yesterday she had stripped naked for him to treat her, causing her to sigh softly.
He had already touched her all over, so what was a little staring now?
Besides, he was a doctor.
Her anxious mood eased, and she allowed Qin Si to look at her openly.
Seeing Qin Si staring at his sister in silence, Chen Jiang's heart sank.
“Qin Si, is there something wrong with Ruo Nan…?”
“No, I was just thinking about something,”
“What is it?”
Qin Si pointed at Chen Ruo Nan and said:
“Change her name. Don't call her Chen Ruo Nan anymore,”
“Huh?”
“Um… what?”
Chen Ruo Nan was stunned, and Chen Jiang was a little confused. Why was he talking about changing her name?
This jump in thinking was too much for them to follow.
“Do you have any embarrassing memories from your past that you recall now and find awkward?”
Qin Si asked Chen Jiang.
Chen Jiang thought for a moment and realized he did. Sometimes, when he was alone, memories would suddenly pop up, making him feel awkward all over.
For instance, he had confessed to a widow in the village and been rejected, and someone had seen him…
After recalling this, Chen Jiang shivered.
Chen Ruo Nan was also lost in thought.
“Her physical wounds are easy to heal, but the scars on her heart are harder to mend,”
Qin Si explained:
“Think of it this way, your sister is now in pieces. I can put her back together, even make her whole again.
But…”
Upon hearing the first part, the siblings felt a mix of relief and hope.
This “but” made their hearts tense up again…
“But she may appear complete, but in reality, she's like a patchwork held together by spider silk. It could fall apart at any time.
Now that you're in a new environment, take on a new name, say goodbye to the past, try to accept it, find peace, let go…”
The siblings were silent, especially Chen Ruo Nan, her heart filled with conflicting emotions.
She could escape.
Facing it was hard, let alone accepting, finding peace, and letting go?
It was too difficult!
If it was so easy, why would she have gone crazy and attempted suicide several times?
“Don't worry, I'll cure you,”
Qin Si's words offered Chen Ruo Nan some comfort, calming her agitated mind.
His words seemed to have a magical power that made people believe him.
Chen Jiang was uneducated, and Chen Ruo Nan had learned to read during her years with the opera troupe, but now they were suddenly asked to come up with a name, and they were stumped.
So the siblings turned their gaze to Qin Si.
“Let's call her Tong Li Ya. Give her a nickname, call her Ya Ya, alright?”
The siblings couldn't understand the reasoning, but they liked the name. As for the nickname, they found it easy to pronounce.
So they agreed and asked Qin Si what the name meant.
Qin Si had simply chosen a name at random, with a bit of a mischievous streak. Maybe someday he'd get a taste of Ya Ya's flavor.
What deep meaning could there be?
He simply brushed it off.
Chen Jiang gave Chen Ruo… oh, Tong Li Ya a few instructions and then got up to return to Chen Jia Gou.
Qin Si got up to see him off.
“Are there many fish in the reservoir?”
“Yes, the reservoir used to belong to Zhao, the big landlord. No one dared to catch fish there. Even now, no one dares to, they're afraid he'll come back for revenge.
I went there anyway, because I was really out of food. But with this hand… I didn't catch much,”
Upon hearing this, Qin Si had an idea.
He planned to go fishing in the reservoir someday.
Chen Jiang generously offered the use of his boat, saying he could call anytime he needed it.
After seeing off Chen Jiang, Qin Si and Ya Ya entered the house. After closing the door…