This sentence asked Chen Xiaobei a question that made him feel a bit awkward: "How did you marry her?" Would anyone believe him if he said she was given away for free, and she insisted on coming?
But whether they believed it or not, that was the fact. However, such words could ultimately not be spoken.
"That was also introduced by a matchmaker," Chen Xiaobei could only answer vaguely.
Xiao Qing wanted to continue asking, but Liu Rumei quickly found an excuse to change the subject.
They walked for about two li before hearing a commotion from the mountain. Steward Liu hurried down.
Steward Liu came up to Liu Rumei and clasped his fists. "Miss, we've found Liu Tie. He has multiple bone fractures. How shall we get him down?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Rumei was also a bit puzzled. "Can't he walk down himself?"
Steward Liu nodded. "Both his legs are broken."
"Then can we carry him down in turns?" Liu Rumei asked again.
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei quickly spoke up to stop her. "Miss Liu, absolutely not. Brother Liu Tie has multiple fractures. If we carry him, there's a risk of the bone fragments moving inside his body, which could be very dangerous."
Liu Rumei looked at Chen Xiaobei with surprise. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Chen Xiaobei gestured with his hands as he explained to Liu Rumei and Steward Liu. He suggested taking two branches, tying them together with vines to make a simple stretcher, and letting Liu Tie lie on it to be carried down.
After his explanation, Liu Rumei understood, and Steward Liu, having grasped the idea, smiled. "This method is good. I'll go do it now."
By the time Chen Xiaobei and the others reached the mountain temple, Steward Liu had already brought people and basically finished making the stretcher.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei arrive, Steward Liu stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Young Master Chen, does this meet your requirements?"
Chen Xiaobei looked and nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, it's exactly as I imagined."
Steward Liu looked to Liu Rumei for confirmation. Liu Rumei also smiled and nodded slightly.
Steward Liu immediately signaled a few people to enter the mountain temple and carefully lift Liu Tie out, placing him onto the simple stretcher.
Four strong men were chosen, each taking a corner. After a few practice steps, the group began to descend the mountain.
It's often said that climbing a mountain is easy and descending is difficult, but the path down the mountain was as easy as walking on flat ground for these strong men.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw Cui Hongyu waiting there, holding Chen Qiao'er.
Seeing this scene, Chen Xiaobei's nose twitched. "Hongyu, I'm sorry to have worried you."
Cui Hongyu nodded and then turned to look at Liu Rumei. "Miss Liu, Brother Liu Tie has multiple bone fractures. If not treated promptly, it could be life-threatening."
Liu Rumei's expression faltered upon hearing this. She turned to look at Chen Xiaobei, her eyes full of inquiry.
Chen Xiaobei quickly explained, "Oh, Hongyu's father is a renowned physician in the area. Hongyu grew up around medicine and naturally knows a thing or two."
Liu Rumei clasped her fists slightly towards Cui Hongyu. "Then I will trouble Miss Hongyu to lend her skills."
Cui Hongyu untied a bundle from her back and opened it. Inside were strips of cloth, clearly new. Chen Xiaobei knew these were part of Cui Hongyu's dowry, now cut up to treat Liu Tie.
Liu Rumei was no fool. She stepped forward, picked up a piece of fabric, and examined it carefully, looking surprised. "This fabric is all new."
Cui Hongyu nodded. "So what if it's new? Saving a life is more important."
A look of gratitude flashed in Liu Rumei's eyes. She wanted to speak but hesitated and stepped aside, calling Steward Liu over and whispering a few words to him.
Soon, Steward Liu pulled Chen Xiaobei aside and took a banknote from his sleeve.
"Great kindness needs no thanks. Please take this. It is a small token of our miss's appreciation."
Faced with this blatant temptation of money, Chen Xiaobei smiled calmly. "Steward Liu, there's no need for the money. If it were for money, I would have asked for it directly when I first arrived at your household."
"You, you this!" Steward Liu was clearly astonished. He couldn't understand why such a poor young man, who worked so hard to save Liu Tie, wouldn't be doing it for money.
Seeing the other person's confused expression, Chen Xiaobei smiled again.
"As long as the person is fine, that's all that matters."
Liu Rumei heard the entire conversation between Chen Xiaobei and Steward Liu. Her heart was also deeply moved.
She hadn't expected this poor young man to be so upright. It was quite surprising to her.
As they spoke, Cui Hongyu, on the other side, had positioned branches on either side of Liu Tie's fractured bones and was carefully wrapping them with cloth strips.
Seeing her skill, Chen Xiaobei was also surprised. This was the same principle as splinting in later generations.
He hadn't expected that medical practices in this era would have reached such a level among the common people.
After everything was done, Cui Hongyu clapped her hands and stood beside Chen Xiaobei. "Husband, it's all done."
Looking at her obedient demeanor, Liu Rumei couldn't help but praise internally. Chen Xiaobei might be poor, but he certainly knew how to manage his wife. Such a beautiful woman was as meek as a lamb in front of him.
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "You've worked hard."
He then turned to Liu Rumei. "Miss Liu, our business here is concluded. We shall meet again."
With that, he picked up Chen Qiao'er, took Cui Hongyu's hand, and turned to leave.
Liu Rumei hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke. "Young Master Chen, please wait."
Chen Xiaobei turned his head to look at Liu Rumei. "Does Miss Liu have any other instructions?"
Liu Rumei gestured, and Steward Liu led forward the warhorse that Chen Xiaobei had ridden earlier, handing the reins to him.
"Please take care of this horse for me, Young Master Chen, and return it in a few days, if it's convenient."
Chen Xiaobei understood that Liu Rumei was trying to give him a horse.
However, she had phrased it politely, asking him to look after it.
As he pondered how to refuse, Chen Qiao'er next to him clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Okay, okay! Qiao'er wants to ride a big horse!"
Chen Xiaobei looked at Cui Hongyu.
Cui Hongyu understood. She stepped forward, took Chen Qiao'er from Chen Xiaobei's arms, and said, "Be good, Qiao'er. We'll go first. Brother will come later."
After Cui Hongyu had walked a few dozen feet with Qiao'er, Chen Xiaobei handed the horse reins back to Steward Liu.
"Miss Liu, I have no experience in caring for horses, so I fear I cannot undertake this task."
He clasped his fists again and turned to leave.
Liu Rumei's brow furrowed, and she spoke again. "Young Master, please stay."
Chen Xiaobei stopped and turned halfway. "Does Miss Liu have any other instructions?"
Liu Rumei took a token from her waist belt and extended it forward. "This, I give to you. My Liu family still carries some weight in Qingniu County."
"Good, this is useful. It's a protective amulet."
Chen Xiaobei took it, said thank you, and turned to leave.
Watching Chen Xiaobei leave, Steward Liu came forward and quietly said, "Miss, what if he is impersonating a member of the Liu family and commits evil deeds?"
"Enough, I believe he won't." Liu Rumei raised her hand to stop him from continuing and then turned to look at Liu Tie lying on the stretcher.
Xiao Qing nearby immediately took out a small porcelain bottle from her怀, poured two pills, and went to Liu Tie, squatting down to feed him the medicine.