Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 177. Peaceful Village Dwelling
177. Peaceful Village Living
Staying in this quiet and secluded small mountain village, under Doctor Lin’s care, Ye Li’s health improved day by day. The existence of such a remarkable physician as Doctor Lin in this tiny, isolated village astonished Ye Li considerably. She had encountered many skilled doctors in her lifetime, including renowned physicians like Shen Yang, but even compared to them, the obscure Doctor Lin’s medical skills were among the best. Ye Li had personally witnessed him use his swift and precise techniques to set the leg of a young villager—broken in a hunting accident—and apply medicine. By her own estimation, the youth was destined for a limp, yet within a month, he could walk independently. Though still somewhat unsteady, it was clear that after another two to three months of convalescence, the young man would be as nimble as ever.
Noticing Ye Li’s astonishment, Doctor Lin looked at her with pride, proclaiming, "My medical skills are not something ordinary people like you can comprehend."
Ye Li quirked a corner of her mouth, lowering her gaze to the pile of medical books Doctor Lin had tossed her way. Her child was now over seven months along. About a month after Doctor Lin began treating her, he gave her his usual sidelong glance, staring at her belly, now round as a ball, and grumbled, "This little one certainly has a strong life force; he’s going to be a handful."
Hearing this, Ye Li gently stroked her belly and smiled. After all, the child survived a fall from a cliff and has been perfectly healthy for four months; isn’t that a sign of great vitality? While perusing the medical texts, she watched Doctor Lin outside, busily sorting herbs he had gathered from the mountain.
Curiously, Ye Li asked, "Doctor Lin, you... you’re different from the other villagers."
Doctor Lin’s busy hands paused for a moment before resuming their work. Without lifting his head, he replied, "Young lady, are you the same as them?"
Ye Li chuckled. "So, Doctor Lin, you’re admitting that, like me, you came from the outside?"
Doctor Lin was different from the villagers, a fact Ye Li had discerned shortly after regaining consciousness. The villagers deeply respected the old doctor, not only for his superb medical skills but also for his profound knowledge, which set him apart. In any era, common folk hold scholars in special reverence. Doctor Lin even had a dedicated study in his house, neatly filled with various books. Ye Li had casually picked up two and discovered one was a lost ancient text from a previous dynasty. The presence of such a man in this small village, where hardly anyone was literate, was baffling. His decision to stay for decades only added to her puzzlement.
Doctor Lin stood up, clapped the dust from his hands, and looking at Ye Li, observed, "I’ve also noticed that you, young lady, are no ordinary daughter of a respected family. Lately, you’ve probably been asking about me around the village, haven’t you?"
Ye Li smiled faintly, not denying it. These past few days, she had indeed made some inquiries about Doctor Lin, though she hadn’t learned anything particularly unusual. Doctor Lin had moved to this village thirty years ago, reportedly with the surname Lin. However, since most villagers also shared the surname Lin, Ye Li doubted this information was entirely accurate. It was said he had arrived with an infant named Lin Yuan. Eleven or twelve years ago, however, Lin Yuan had left the village and never returned. Doctor Lin never went to search for him, and as years passed, many villagers had gradually forgotten such a person ever existed.
"Have you ever thought of leaving this place, Doctor Lin?" Ye Li asked.
Doctor Lin’s gaze dimmed slightly. After a moment, he said, "At my age, where else could I go? I’d rather stay here, treat the illnesses of these neighbors. When I die, they can bury me and lay me to rest."
Sensing the old man’s melancholy, Ye Li pondered for a moment. "Haven’t you thought about finding your son? Perhaps I could help a little."
Doctor Lin snorted. "He won’t come back. Besides, he’s not my son."
Ye Li raised an eyebrow, deciding their conversation should end there for the day. Old Doctor Lin was clearly not one for quiet self-cultivation; his temper wasn’t particularly good.
Once Doctor Lin confirmed that she couldn’t leave the remote village for the time being, Ye Li settled down, feeling more at ease. More than ten days after she had regained consciousness, a small wooden house was constructed next to Doctor Lin’s, and she moved in. Ye Li would often stroll around the village, chat with the people, or help Doctor Lin with some household chores. Afterward, she would immerse herself in the books from Doctor Lin’s study, which gradually filled her room. Doctor Lin showed no reaction to Ye Li taking his ancient books; no one else in the village could read, and since the child he had raised left eleven years ago, the books had simply remained there, untouched. With her remaining time, Ye Li used a plain hairpin she carried to trade for some soft cloth from the village girls skilled in weaving. The baby would be born in a few months, and she needed to prepare clothes.
Looking at the simple, somewhat rough cloth in her hands, Ye Li felt a pang of bitterness. If not for our current situation, my baby would have had the best of everything from birth, but now... She gazed at the setting sun outside, sighing softly. The outside world is probably fraught with chaos. At least here, we’re much safer, aren’t we?
While sewing clothes for the baby, Ye Li also made a set for Doctor Lin. Although the old man showed little reaction, his sarcastic remarks towards her noticeably lessened. Occasionally, he would even toss her rare, long-lost books she had only ever heard of. Gazing at the ancient texts Doctor Lin tossed her way as if they were worthless junk, a faint smile touched Ye Li’s lips. She knew this cranky old man was gradually accepting her presence. Truthfully, if I didn’t have so many people outside to worry about, peacefully living out my days in this small village wouldn’t be a bad choice.
"Sister Chu... Sister Chu, are you there?"
As these thoughts lingered, a young man’s voice drifted in from outside.
Ye Li sighed helplessly. Honestly, it seems no matter where you go in this world, there are always a few exasperating people. Supporting herself on the table, she stood up just as the visitor entered. He was a rather tall, well-built young man, carrying a pheasant.
Seeing Ye Li, he quickly approached, smiling eagerly. "Sister Chu, I hunted a pheasant in the mountains. Take it to nourish yourself."
Ye Li sighed inwardly, then looked up at the man with a smile. "Brother Lin, thank you for your kindness. However, I don’t eat much meat. You should take it back for your uncle and aunt to enjoy."
The young man frowned in disapproval. "How can that be? Even if you don’t eat it, the child still needs nourishment. This... my mother asked me to bring it over." As he spoke, a blush crept up his earnest face, and he looked at her with sincere expectation.
Looking at the young man before her, Ye Li couldn’t help but want to rub her forehead. Perhaps customs that are too simple and rustic also have their downsides? Elsewhere, a woman like her, living alone and pregnant, would have drawn some censure or avoidance. But in this small village, ever since she had been able to move about, Doctor Lin had told her that two families had already hinted at wanting her to marry into their households, and they didn’t even mind that she was pregnant. Although she had explained several times that she had only come here due to an accident and would leave once the child was born and she recovered, clearly, not many people believed her. After all, in their eyes, attempting to leave for the outside world was perilous even for robust young men, let alone a vulnerable woman like her, pregnant with a child.
"Brother Lin, thank you for your kindness," Ye Li said gently. "But...my husband and I love each other very much. He must be waiting for me at home. So, as soon as the child is born, I will definitely take the child back to him, no matter what. There’s really no need for you to go to such trouble for me, Brother Lin."
Initially, Ye Li hadn’t wanted to be so blunt. But with the young man delivering game and food every few days, it had reached a point where every time she went out, everyone in the village, young and old, would tease her suggestively about these matters, which Ye Li found endlessly annoying. Most importantly, some things were best nipped in the bud; dragging them out would only make matters worse.
The young man’s face flushed an even deeper red. He looked somewhat dejected and flustered, stammering, "I know... Doctor Lin said you’re a young lady from a wealthy family. I... I’m not good enough for you. But... this is just something I happened to catch in the mountains. You keep it. I... I..." Finally, seeming at a loss for words, he dropped the pheasant and hurriedly fled.
Ye Li looked at the empty doorway, then bent down to touch her round belly, a wry smile on her face.
"You foolish girl, that young man is one of the finest lads in our village." Doctor Lin had entered at some point. He glanced at the game on the table and spoke with understanding.
Ye Li managed a wry smile. "Doctor Lin, why do you tease me like this? You know I’m determined to leave here."
Doctor Lin sat down, sighing. "I know. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you weren’t an ordinary young woman. A small mountain village like this cannot hold you, just like that boy back then. He had no heart, leaving just like that, and hasn’t even sent word back in all these years."
Seeing the old man frowning and grumbling, Ye Li smiled faintly. When I leave, if there’s a chance, I should help the old man look for this Lin Yuan.
Doctor Lin looked at her, a hint of regret in his voice. "I’m getting old. Originally, seeing how clever and quick-witted you are, I thought I could have a successor for my medical skills. This village... could then have a doctor to look after them in the future."
"Why doesn’t Doctor Lin choose someone from the village to be his successor?" Ye Li asked curiously. Doctor Lin had lived in this village for thirty years; surely, he should have found one long ago if he wanted to.
Doctor Lin hmphed. "No one in this village can read or write. Their ancestors supposedly laid down rules forbidding literacy and forbidding anyone from leaving the village. What can I teach someone who can’t read? The best they could become would be a third-rate doctor." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Ye Li said with a placating smile, "It truly is a pity. If Doctor Lin doesn’t mind, perhaps you could teach Junwei? Though, with only a few months, I don’t know how much he’ll be able to learn."
Doctor Lin looked her up and down a few times. Only as he was getting up to leave did he toss out a remark, "First, memorize that book I gave you yesterday."
Watching the old man’s retreating figure, Ye Li smiled faintly and murmured, "Yes, Master."
