Chapter 4

A grown man lay sprawled on the bed, dry as a stick. Honestly, there was nothing worth looking at.

Lu Tinglan finished eating, set down her bowl, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and turned toward the rooster strutting outside the door.

The longer Lu Tinglan watched, the more her mouth watered. She couldn't help chanting to herself.

One chicken, two chickens, three chickens. There are my chicken cutlets, chicken strips, chicken hot pot... Roosters, hens, couldn't you peck me for no reason and give me an excuse to throw every last one of you into the pot?

Perhaps her gaze was too frightening. The chickens strolling leisurely outside trembled their way back into the coop and refused to come out.

Lu Jiancheng really wanted some peace, but the pest beside him wouldn't leave. At the end of his patience, he gave a cold snort. "Mother's raising those chickens for their eggs. How many beatings do you think you can take, eyeing them like that?"

So stingy. I can't even look.

Lu Tinglan reluctantly looked away. Even her second brother, lying there like a mushroom, had noticed. Had her stare been that obvious? Maybe she should rein it in a little next time.

An awkward silence settled over the siblings again. Lu Jiancheng's thoughts were in turmoil. Remembering how strangely gifted his sister was, he decided to sound her out.

"Say..." He struggled to get the words out. "What would happen if I insisted on staying with Bai Rui?"

"Huh?"

What had she just heard?

Lu Tinglan's lips parted in disbelief. The sunflower seeds in her hand slipped through her fingers and scattered across the floor.

He's lost it. He's lost it. This world has finally lost its mind! Thank you, Second Brother, for showing me the diversity of life all over again. After everything that's happened, you still want to forgive her and take her back? You're truly unbeatable!

Inside her sleeve, Lu Tinglan secretly gave her second brother a thumbs-up. At the same time, she quietly edged her stool farther away.

I hear lovesickness is contagious. Stay back, back, back!

Seeing Lu Tinglan recoil as if she couldn't get away fast enough, Lu Jiancheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I was just asking. I didn't mean anything else..."

Oh, is that so?

The words I don't believe you were practically written across Lu Tinglan's face. Still, saving a life was worth more than building a seven-story pagoda. She decided to give her second brother one last pull away from the edge.

Frowning, she carefully chose her words. "Suppose none of last night had happened and you got together with Bai Rui. After a while, she'd go to the city for university. You'd worry about her, so you'd quit your job to look after her. If you were lucky, you'd spend your whole life in a daze with a green hat on your head. If you weren't, you'd wait for her to kick you to the curb, and all those years you gave her would be for nothing."

That was the tactful version. In her mind, Lu Tinglan held nothing back.

In the novel, you didn't even get to see the child. Bai Rui sent in a letter denouncing you and sacrificed you for the greater good.

Forget it. Everyone has their own fate. If Second Brother keeps courting death, I might as well pray they hurry up and introduce execution by injection so he can die quickly. Rest in peace, Second Brother.

Lu Jiancheng heard it. With both ears, he heard both versions. Now he really didn't feel well!

Lu Tinglan turned and saw that the man who had been lying on the bed looking as though life had lost all meaning was now ashen-faced and hollow-eyed. He looked ready to be laid out on a board.

Oh no, oh no. What happened? Lu Tinglan ran through everything she had said.

There was nothing wrong with it. I stuck to the facts and even prettied them up a bit too much. I kept the crueler truth bottled up inside and didn't say a word of it. If Second Brother can't even take this, how will he face the harsh reality ahead?

I didn't upset him so badly he's fallen ill, did I...?

Lu Tinglan's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly pulled the quilt over her second brother, but the heavy cotton pressed down on Lu Jiancheng and made it even harder for the already "weak" man to breathe.

Lu Jiancheng feebly raised a hand, stopping any further display of his sister's "filial devotion."

"I... cough, cough... I'm not cold. I've just figured things out."

Lu Jiancheng hadn't intended to answer, but his sister's thoughts were full of, Oh no, oh no. What do I do? I've done this to Second Brother. Will Mother beat me when she gets back?

Hearing that nearly swept away the little sorrow Lu Jiancheng had managed to work up.

"Figured what out?" Lu Tinglan hurried closer and looked at the sickly man with the tender concern one might show an idiot. Surely it wasn't the worst outcome she could imagine.

"I've figured it out. I'm cutting things off with Bai Rui for good. Tomorrow—no, I'll talk to her and make it clear as soon as work ends tonight!"

"Good!" A crisp burst of applause suddenly rang through the quiet courtyard. Lu Tinglan clapped so hard her palms turned red, giving her second brother a resounding seal of approval.

It wasn't easy, but even a lovesick fool can recover. Could my talking cure really work miracles?

Lu Tinglan's imagination ran wild. She had already come up with the words her second brother could put on a commendation banner for her.

Dr. Lu, saving lives with her healing hands—specialist in lovesick fools!

On one side was the sorrow of having wasted two years of his youth; on the other were all the strange, ingenious thoughts running through his sister's head. Lu Jiancheng's expression swung between grief and laughter, making him look decidedly odd.

But Lu Tinglan understood. She understood perfectly! She suddenly brought a heavy hand down on his shoulder.

It's all right. Giving up an unforgettable first love is always hard. I'll leave you alone to wallow for a while!

The slap nearly knocked Lu Jiancheng back onto the bed. What was "wallow"? It didn't sound like anything good.

He wanted to ask, but Lu Tinglan gave him an I understand look, then swiftly picked up the bowl, rose, and shut the door behind her. Her movements flowed so smoothly that Lu Jiancheng didn't have time to react.

"..."

How annoying. Come back and let me hear what you're thinking!

Lu Jiancheng's gloom lasted the whole day. At lunch, Mother Lu called him several times, but he ignored her and stayed holed up in his room.

"Nothing's really happened to him, has it?" Father Lu looked worriedly at the tightly shut door, his heart uneasy.

"Don't worry. You'll get a big surprise later."

Second Brother said he's cutting things off with Bai Rui for good!

Lu Tinglan kept her words mysterious, but her thoughts had already given everything away.

"Really!"

Mother Lu and Father Lu exchanged a glance, unable to hide their delight. Their daughter really knew how to get things done. They had tried persuasion and even beatings to stop their son from seeing Bai Rui, all to no avail. Yet after just one morning with Lu Tinglan, their second son had finally seen sense.

Neither of them betrayed the strange fact that they could hear her thoughts. Mother Lu still couldn't contain herself. She sprang to her feet. "Wait here, daughter. Mother will fry you a couple of eggs!"

"Use plenty of oil, and keep the eggs tender!" Lu Tinglan's eyes lit up as she gnawed on her dry steamed bun, and she hurried to add her instructions.

"You certainly know how to eat!" Mother Lu scolded her, but her face shone with delight as she bustled happily into the kitchen.

There was little work in the fields during winter, so they finished early. A long call signaling the end of work rang through the village. Lu Jiancheng had already made his preparations and was ready to leave.

He held a brown paper bag containing the letters Bai Rui had written to him over the past two years. Since he had decided to sever their ties, those letters were a hot potato. Better to return them to their owner.

Before he could go out, a noise came from the front gate. Bai Rui pushed it open and walked in.

Her face was made up beautifully, but her clothes were splattered with mud. The contrast was striking.

The moment Bai Rui saw Lu Jiancheng, tears spilled before she could speak. Her voice quivered as she said pitifully, "Brother Jiancheng, why didn't you come find me today? I couldn't manage the work in the fields. I nearly fell and hurt our baby."

But Lu Jiancheng did not hurry over to fuss over her as he usually would. He merely stood at a distance, watching her coldly. It was a long while before he spoke.

"Bai Rui." His voice was as cold as the north wind that cut to the bone, making her shiver involuntarily. "I was drunk that day. When I woke up, I was clean and dry. Nothing happened between us. The child in your belly isn't mine."

Love had clouded his mind. Now that he had stepped outside it, Lu Jiancheng found himself laughably pathetic. Bai Rui must have thought so too. Why else would she have looked repulsed every time he came near her?

He had spent plenty of money and effort on Bai Rui over the past two years, but for the sake of what affection remained, Lu Jiancheng did not want to pursue the matter. He gave a soft, self-mocking laugh. Seen that way, he really was a sucker through and through.

"I don't want to bring up any of that again. Go. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

Bai Rui's eyes widened in disbelief. Her voice cracked with shock. "Brother Jiancheng, why would you believe them instead of me? I'm the one you love most. You should believe me!"

Lu Jiancheng felt only exhaustion. "Bai Rui, stop treating everyone like fools."

"Go." He pulled open the gate, dismissing her without emotion.

Bai Rui froze, tears falling one by one. Lu Jiancheng hardened his heart and refused to look at her. The seconds ticked by. When she spoke again, her expression had turned wild.

"Fine, fine, fine! You've forced my hand!"

She wiped the tears from her face with a fierce swipe. Instead of leaving, she strode into the main room. She brazenly sat down in the seat of honor and inspected the furnishings. The Lu Family was one of the few well-off households in the village. They could not compare with families in the city, but here they ranked among the best.

Bai Rui made herself at home and poured a cup of tea. Then the corner of her mouth curled. The innocent little flower vanished, revealing her true face.

Her red lips parted. Fixing Lu Jiancheng with a burning stare, she made an utterly outrageous demand. "You'll pay a bride price of five hundred yuan and marry me with all the proper ceremony. And your family's university place goes to me too."

"Brother Jiancheng, I'm not negotiating or begging. You don't get to refuse."