Village Doctor's Women-Chapter 188 - 183 Barriers Eliminated

"Just treat this place as your own home," Wang Jian said. "My father is working away from home right now, so it’s just me and... my sister-in-law here."

He didn’t mention his brother, simply introducing Xu Qian before showing Chairman Kang to his room. Fortunately, Wang Jian’s house had been renovated and there were plenty of rooms. Aside from needing a bit of tidying up, there was no worry about not having enough space.

However, Chairman Kang’s visit did serve as a reminder to Wang Jian. As my clinic grows, it won’t be feasible to bring every new doctor home. This isn’t a long-term solution. In fact, he had started thinking about this when Cai Qiong and the others visited previously. I’m not short on money now, so I could consider buying another property in the village, or perhaps in town or the city. It would be even better to get a car. With a car, the commute to and from the village clinic wouldn’t take much time at all.

He selected a second-floor room for Chairman Kang that used to be for storage. They had almost put Cai Qiong there during his last visit, but because the room was right next to Wang Jian’s, they had moved him to one on the first floor instead. Now that Chairman Kang was here, there were no such concerns, so he was assigned to the room without a second thought.

Before returning, Wang Jian had told Xu Qian they were expecting a guest, so the house would need some preparation. When Chairman Kang opened the door now, the room was tidy and clean. Clearly, Xu Qian had cleaned up the night before. The clutter was gone, the bed was made, and the room even carried the clean scent of a sun-dried quilt.

Seeing this, not just Wang Jian, but Chairman Kang also felt a sense of ease, the fatigue from his long journey immediately melting away.

"This room is yours. By the looks of it, you might be staying here for quite a while," Wang Jian instructed. "My room is right next door, so if you need anything, just let me know. Don’t hold back. Don’t be a stranger, you hear?"

"Okay." Chairman Kang didn’t feel awkward. It wasn’t his first time in the village, so his mindset was completely different from a first-timer’s. He was, however, still conflicted. Part of him wanted to treat Wang Jian as a senior brother, while another part wanted to treat him as a teacher. This psychological struggle was what truly tormented him.

"Come with me to the clinic this afternoon and get familiar with things," Wang Jian said. "I’ll teach you about Qi Cultivation while I work. But you’ll probably have to start waking up early with me to exercise. Strengthening your body will help your Qi Cultivation."

"Does Qi Cultivation require physical exercise?"

"Of course," Wang Jian smiled. "The stronger your body, the better you understand it, making it easier to cross the threshold of Qi Cultivation. Every new beginning is hard, but once you start, the rest will fall into place."

"Okay! I’ll work hard." With Wang Jian’s encouragement, Chairman Kang felt a surge of motivation.

"You get some rest. I’ll call you before we head out this afternoon."

After leaving the room, Wang Jian went downstairs and immediately caught a fragrant aroma wafting from the kitchen. Besides himself, only Xu Qian would be cooking at this time of day. Thinking of his sister-in-law, Wang Jian sighed. Their relationship had become hot and cold, and he didn’t know how to face her.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Jian walked straight toward the kitchen.

Just as he reached the doorway, before even stepping inside, his eyes were captivated by a stunning figure bustling about at the stove, wearing that familiar dress. If he remembered correctly, his sister-in-law, Xu Qian, had been wearing this very dress to greet him the day he returned from Capital City. The memories of that day, of everything on the mountain road, came flooding back to him.

These past few days of being hot and cold have been torturous. There’s no doubt that with Xu Qian’s beauty, she would be pursued by countless men even in major metropolises like Capital City or Demon City. The more you get to know her, the more you’re drawn to her. Virtuous, beautiful, understanding, and even proficient in Medical Skills... she’s like a gentle paradise straight out of a story. Who wouldn’t want that?

Wang Jian finally realized that his sister-in-law’s gentleness and beauty were already etched into his mind and heart. Before today, he had rarely observed Xu Qian so quietly from behind. Now, watching her busy in the kitchen, he instinctively stopped, his gaze fixed on her, unable to look away. These past few days, I’ve been deliberately avoiding her, not even considering her true feelings. Thinking about it now, that was pretty childish.

"Ahem."

Wang Jian cleared his throat lightly, catching her attention. When Xu Qian looked over, he quickly pretended he had just arrived. "What are you making?"

"Ah?" Xu Qian’s heart fluttered when she saw Wang Jian, but she feigned composure and said with a smile, "Your favorite."

Wang Jian had smelled what it was long ago, but he made a show of sniffing the air dramatically. "Shredded pork with green peppers! No wonder it smells so good. I could smell it from upstairs. Your cooking is as amazing as ever, Sister-in-law."

"The aroma drew you over, didn’t it? You must be starving." Xu Qian’s body stiffened slightly. Hearing the words "sister-in-law," she sighed inwardly. "It’ll be ready in a few more minutes. Be patient."

"Okay."

This "okay" was suddenly much louder. Xu Qian jumped, only then noticing that Wang Jian had somehow crept up behind her.

Before she could react, Wang Jian wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Xiao Jian!"

Xu Qian was genuinely startled, her body trembling for a moment. But after her initial shock, she recovered, a blush rising on her cheeks. "What are you doing? It’s the middle of the day."

"I saw you bustling about and wanted to give you a little comfort."

"Pah!" Xu Qian scoffed at his words and wriggled free. "They say a man’s words are nothing but lies. If I believed you, pigs would fly."

Well... Wang Jian scratched his head. He had to admit, there were a lot of short videos online these days making fun of men.

Seeing his crestfallen expression, Xu Qian finally laughed. "I’m just kidding, don’t take it so seriously. If you really want a hug, we can talk about it tonight." With that, she turned back to her cooking, her face still flushed with shyness.

Wang Jian had no choice but to give up. But as he left, he acted on a mischievous impulse, giving her bottom a playful slap before bolting. Xu Qian, brandishing a kitchen knife, chased him all the way to the door before letting him escape. Even as he ran off, Wang Jian could still hear her playful scolding.

Though the scene might have looked terrifying, Wang Jian felt a sense of relief in his heart. There had always been an invisible barrier between him and his sister-in-law, Xu Qian, which was why their relationship had been lukewarm and distant lately. This playful squabble had managed to break the tension. Most importantly, Xu Qian’s reaction showed that she didn’t reject him, which was the biggest reassurance for Wang Jian. He never wanted anything to cause them to drift further apart.

Because of this, lunch tasted even more delicious.

Xu Qian had prepared a huge feast; it wasn’t just shredded pork with green peppers. All of Wang Jian’s favorites were there: scrambled eggs with tomato, boiled cabbage, crucian carp soup, pork rib and corn soup, braised chicken with potatoes... Every single one.

Preparing all this would have taken the entire morning. Wang Jian would never believe it if she said she hadn’t prepared it specially for him.

Wang Jian smiled. Looks like I’m not the only one caught up in these feelings. Knowing his sister-in-law cared so much for him warmed his heart.

Though their mutual understanding was unspoken, a peculiar atmosphere filled the air. Chairman Kang, sitting beside them, felt utterly perplexed by it. But after some thought, he decided there was nothing strange about it; after all, it’s normal to prepare a lot of food when you have a guest over.

Once he started eating, however, Chairman Kang stopped overthinking things. The food was just too good for his palate; he was hooked from the first bite.

"Sister-in-law, your cooking is incredible! These dishes are absolutely delicious!" Chairman Kang praised her while gobbling down pieces of the braised chicken like there was no tomorrow.

Wang Jian, sitting beside him, paid him no mind, merely grunting in acknowledgment. His eyes were fixed on Xu Qian. With every bite, the delicious flavors stimulated not only his taste buds but also his emotions. If Chairman Kang weren’t here, I’d drag Xu Qian to my room right now. Ren Yu and Cai Qiong are finally gone, giving us the perfect opportunity, but now this guy shows up.

Looking at Chairman Kang eating with the gusto of a little piglet, Wang Jian was filled with regret. Why did I have to bring him back with me? If he’d come a few days later, we could have had our own perfect world for two.

Once that thought appeared, it was impossible to stop. Filled with regret and gazing at the beautiful Xu Qian, Wang Jian began to eat even more forcefully. While making small talk, he would occasionally shoot a glare at Chairman Kang.

...