Lin Fan suppressed his distracting thoughts and squatted down, reaching out his hand.
The stocking immediately rolled down, revealing a small patch of bloodstains.
The four snake-fang wounds were indeed still bleeding.
"Bear with it for a moment."
Lin Fan dipped a cotton swab in medicinal wine and began to apply it.
"Mmm~"
Xue Ying'er felt a surge of pain. Her delicate body immediately leaned back, pulling her skirt up again and completely exposing her beautiful legs.
"Gently."
Her voice also became soft and sweet.
Ding!
A light sound echoed from the second floor.
Xue Ying'er jumped in fright and stood up from the chair.
"Is there someone in your house?"
She looked at Lin Fan with a strange expression.
Lin Fan was taken aback. "I live with Xue'er jie, didn't you know?"
"You should have said so earlier!"
Xue Ying'er rolled her eyes, looking quite dejected.
Lin Fan was amused, "Sit down, I'll change your dressing."
Xue Ying'er put on her shoes and picked up the cotton swabs, medicinal wine, and wound medicine. "No need, I'll take care of it myself when I get back."
With that, she left in a huff, forgetting to put on her stockings.
"What's gotten into this girl today?"
Lin Fan was completely bewildered.
"Xiao Fan, whose stockings are these?"
Xia Xue came down from the second floor and, seeing a pair of stockings on the table, couldn't help but ask.
As someone who had experienced life, she knew too well what this implied.
Lin Fan turned his head and noticed the coldness in Xia Xue's eyes, knowing she had misunderstood. "They belong to Ying'er. She came to bring me chicken soup."
"Does bringing chicken soup require taking off stockings?"
Xia Xue looked at Lin Fan suspiciously.
"She was bitten by a snake earlier, so I was just helping her change her dressing. The wound is on her leg, and wearing stockings wouldn't be convenient," Lin Fan explained.
Xia Xue thought about it and believed his explanation.
"So, are you drinking her chicken soup or my beer?"
She asked with a smile.
Lin Fan replied without hesitation, "Both."
"You're so impudent!"
Xia Xue's expression instantly turned grim.
She glared at Lin Fan, then turned and walked quickly upstairs.
"Sigh~"
Lin Fan sighed. He hadn't expected Xia Xue to be jealous.
However, he could understand, as jealousy was a woman's prerogative.
...
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
The crowing of the rooster echoed repeatedly, yet it failed to wake Lin Fan.
He had only recovered a fraction of his cultivation, and his internal injuries had not yet healed, making him particularly sleepy. He couldn't get up until noon.
"Xiao Fan, wake up!"
Xia Xue pulled off the blanket and shouted loudly.
Lin Fan finally opened his eyes. "What's wrong? Is there a patient?"
"Take this money and go save someone quickly!"
Xia Xue placed a plastic bag on the bed, containing a hundred thousand yuan in cash.
Lin Fan looked at it groggily. "Who's paying the consultation fee? That's a lot."
"It's not a consultation fee."
Xia Xue pointed out the window, her face filled with anxiety. "Xue Deyou is selling his daughter. You need to go quickly!"
"What?!"
Lin Fan's mind cleared completely upon hearing this, and he sat up abruptly.
He finally understood why Xue Ying'er had been so sad last night. She had likely known she was to be sold by her father and had contemplated ending her life.
---
In the Xue family courtyard, a small square table was set up.
Zhao Jingui, dressed in a suit, was sitting on a stool, smoking.
Behind him, a dark and stout young man was squatting on the ground, playing with ants with a stick.
He was thoroughly engrossed, occasionally sniffing and letting out cackling laughter.
Xue Deyou sat opposite him and asked Zhao Jingui, "Jingui, can you really give me two hundred thousand in betrothal gifts?"
Zhao Jingui's face was stern as he nodded. "Of course, it's true. When have I ever gone back on my word?"
"As long as your daughter behaves and listens, the betrothal gifts are a minor matter."
"If she can give me a grandson, I'll add another hundred thousand!"
Xue Deyou beamed and patted his chest. "Having a child is easy! Once you consummate the marriage, I guarantee you'll be holding a fat grandson in a year!"
Zhao Jingui gently tapped the table with his finger. "I've consulted a master, and the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day. We'll get engaged then, and I'll take your daughter to try her out. If it works, I'll give you the betrothal gifts immediately."
Xue Deyou nodded like a pecking chicken. "Okay, okay, whatever you say."
Zhao Jingui turned to Xue Ying'er and said in a commanding tone, "Come here and pour me some tea."
Xue Ying'er ignored him, her eyes vacant as she stared into the distance, lost in thought.
"Ying'er, don't just stand there foolishly. Come and pour tea for your father-in-law," Xue Deyou urged.
However, Xue Ying'er remained motionless.
Zhao Jingui's expression changed. "Deyou, what kind of daughter are you raising? She dares to disobey elders!"
"I'm spending so much money to marry a daughter-in-law. If she acts like this at my house, am I supposed to treat her like a princess?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Deyou, fearing Zhao Jingui would go back on his word, immediately jumped up and rushed to Xue Ying'er, roaring, "You disgraceful thing, I think you're asking for a beating again!"
He raised his hand and slapped down fiercely towards Xue Ying'er's cheek.
Xue Ying'er, however, remained still, as if her consciousness was elsewhere, and everything around her body had nothing to do with her.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Xue Deyou felt a sharp pain in his wrist and cried out.
He looked back and saw Lin Fan grabbing his wrist, his eyes as ferocious as if they could kill.
"You, what are you doing here?"
Xue Deyou immediately cowered, his voice trembling.
"To see how you, a beast, sell your daughter!" Lin Fan shouted sternly.
With a forceful flick, Xue Deyou stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground.
"Xiao Fan ge."
Xue Ying'er called out softly.
Her eyes were no longer vacant; tears welled up immediately, making her look pitiful.
"Don't be afraid, Ying'er. With me here, no one can force you to do anything you don't want to do," Lin Fan reassured her.
"Wuwuwu..."
Xue Ying'er's heart warmed, and she couldn't help but cry.
Last night, under the guise of bringing chicken soup, she had actually planned a permanent farewell.
She had decided that once her parents received the betrothal gifts, she would end her life.
"Xiao Fan, Auntie knew you would come!"
Wang Honglian ran out from the house and excitedly clasped Lin Fan's hand.
She couldn't stop her husband, so she had placed all her hopes on Lin Fan, as he held a very high position in the village, even the village chief showed him respect.
"Auntie, with me here, no one can bully Ying'er, not even her father!" Lin Fan stated resolutely.
Zhao Jingui frowned and glanced at Lin Fan. Then he walked up to Xue Deyou and questioned, "Xue Deyou, what the hell do you mean by this?"
Xue Deyou gritted his teeth, pointed at Lin Fan, and said with feigned ferocity, "What does my family matter have to do with you? Get out!"
"Hmph!"
Lin Fan let out a cold snort. "A beast like you is a disgrace to fatherhood!"
"If Ying'er were an orphan, she would be a hundred times happier than she is now!"
"I will handle her affairs!"