After the al, everyone felt satisfied—the dishes were indeed fragrant and flavorful, with chicken, fish, and so local specialty fruits and vegetables. Ding Fan had eaten quite happily.
After finishing his al, Ding Fan returned to his room. After all, during his clash with Gui Xing earlier, he had sustained considerable internal injuries.
Now, Ding Fan still needed a significant amount of ti to recuperate from those internal wounds.
Swallowing a Foundation Building Pill, Ding Fan spent the night without any further incidents. After completing a dozen cycles of Xiao Zhoutian and five or six cycles of Grand Circulation, the sky outside had already brightened.
Ding Fan circulated the True Qi inside his body, noting that the damaged ridians had already been well-repaired. Although his condition hadn't yet returned to his peak state, he estimated that his recovery had reached seventy to eighty percent of his usual health.
"Brother Ding Fan, my dad noticed you hadn't co out this morning, so he didn't let us disturb you by bringing food. This is your breakfast; please eat sothing quickly."
Just as Ding Fan was about to step outside for so fresh air, Shu Ying entered the room carrying a tray.
Compared to Shu Xin, Shu Ying was kinder and more naive. Ding Fan enjoyed communicating with this younger sister much more.
"Thank you." Although Ding Fan didn't have high dietary requirents nowadays, he didn't want to disregard Shu Ying's good intentions.
Shu Ying set the tray on the table.
The breakfast was quite lavish, with eggs, pickled vegetables, and so porridge.
"Brother Ding Fan, you should eat more. Only by eating well can you recover your health." Shu Ying smiled brightly at Ding Fan as she spoke.
Nodding, Ding Fan picked up the bowl and chopsticks. Under Shu Ying's watchful gaze, he ate all the food.
"Cough, cough…" As Shu Ying watched Ding Fan eating, she suddenly began coughing a few tis.
Ding Fan turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"
Shu Ying's face was flushed red, her breathing slightly labored, and she was still coughing repeatedly.
"I… I'm fine. It's probably just that I caught a chill this morning."
Using his Divine Sense, Ding Fan examined her and quickly discovered that Shu Ying's lung lobes were slightly wrinkled.
In simpler terms, the wrinkling of the lung lobes was a symptom of pneumonia.
Pretending to reach into his robe, Ding Fan secretly retrieved a box of silver needles from his storage ring.
"Let take a look at you, okay?" Ding Fan said to Shu Ying with a smile.
Shu Ying had heard that silver needles could cure illnesses. "Brother Ding Fan, you also know acupuncture? When I was in Huaxia Country, I heard about this, but I've never actually seen it before!"
With a faint smile, Ding Fan replied, "I only know the basics. Alright, extend your right hand."
Following Ding Fan's instructions, Shu Ying stretched out her hand readily. Ding Fan took out a silver needle and swiftly inserted it into Shu Ying's thumb.
"Is… is that it?" Shu Ying asked in confusion after Ding Fan removed the silver needle without further actions.
"Yes, it's done," Ding Fan said casually. "Try it now—how do you feel?"
Shu Ying closed her eyes and focused on her sensations. "Huh? It's gone… I'm not coughing anymore!"
Elated, Shu Ying grabbed Ding Fan's hand. "It's really gone! Brother Ding Fan, you're amazing!"
Ding Fan couldn't help but smile at Shu Ying's innocent enthusiasm—she was truly a simple and pure-hearted girl...
At that mont, Shu Xin passed by the room, catching a glimpse of Ding Fan and Shu Ying chatting and laughing together. A hint of disdain crossed her face as she walked away briskly.
To Shu Xin, Ding Fan was nothing more than a penniless young man. She wasn't about to waste her ti on soone like him.
"Shu Xin… co here!"
Having passed by Ding Fan's room intending to return to her own, Shu Xin was abruptly stopped by her mother calling out.
"Mom, are you calling ?" Shu Xin asked doubtfully.
Her mother nodded.
Shu Xin went over without hesitation. Her mother made sure nobody was around before leading Shu Xin aside.
Only after reaching a secluded spot did her mother stop.
"Mom, what is it that you need to tell ?" Shu Xin asked, puzzled.
"Shu Xin, of course I called you for sothing important," her mother replied, smiling warmly. "How old are you now, Shu Xin?"
"I'm 23 years old."
"At this age in Huaxia Country, girls would already be looking for a husband and preparing for marriage."
Shu Xin's cheeks flushed red at the ntion. "Mom…"
"Shu Xin, since it's just the two of us here today, let tell you honestly. Even though you're not my biological daughter, I've always treated you as if you were my own flesh and blood…"
Shu Xin nodded lightly.
"Shu Xin, what do you think of Ding Fan, the young man who saved your father yesterday?"
Upon hearing this, Shu Xin frowned. "Mom, what are you implying?"
"I think Ding Fan is quite a handso and promising young man. You two seem well-matched. I was thinking that maybe you could…"
Before her mother could finish her sentence, Shu Xin interrupted her abruptly. "Don't even bother talking to about this. I'm still young, and I don't want to think about these things right now."
With that, Shu Xin stord off angrily.
Her mother stood behind her, perplexed. She didn't understand why her daughter had turned hostile so suddenly.
"This child…" Her mother didn't scold Shu Xin for her temper but simply shook her head.
After leaving the spot, Shu Xin's mother headed to the fields, where Du Jun was busy working alongside a group of locals.
"How did it go?" Du Jun wiped his sweat and asked.
"What do you think? Shu Xin isn't interested in Ding Fan."
Du Jun shook his head slightly. "Shu Xin is a child born under unfortunate circumstances; her biological parents abandoned her early on. I just wanted to find her a good match. Ding Fan doesn't seem like an ordinary man—she could lead a good life with him."
"But if Shu Xin doesn't agree, there's nothing we can do."
Du Jun nodded. "Let's leave it to fate, then."
...
After her conversation with her mother, Shu Xin returned to her room and threw herself onto her bed, tears streaming down her face.
"They talk about treating as their own, but they just want to use to repay that penniless man's kindness! If that guy is so great, why don't they have Shu Ying marry him instead? Liars, all of them—big fat liars!"
After sobbing for a while, Shu Xin tried to suppress her grief. "I'll marry into a good family. I'll lead a better life. I won't live like this anymore."
Determination lit up her teary eyes...
...
With nothing in particular planned for the morning or evening, Ding Fan joined Shu Ying in the fields to help Du Jun and his family work.
Ding Fan admired this honest, hardworking family, and instead of staying cooped up in his room, he found it pleasant to step outside.
Although Du Jun initially didn't want Ding Fan to exert himself, seeing Shu Ying constantly circling around him, he eventually stopped objecting.
At noon, Du Jun requested his wife to prepare so special dishes for the al.
Just as the group finished lunch, three large trucks pulled into the yard.
The trucks had co to collect the harvested grains, and the person in charge was a young man—also Huaxia people.
"Uncle Du, is the grain ready?"
Du Jun nodded. "I'll have your aunt show you the storage area; all the grain is there for inspection."
"Uncle Du, we've worked together for years. Do you think I'd distrust you?" The young man chuckled, gesturing to a subordinate. "Go with my aunt and check it out."
The subordinate nodded, leading a team behind Du Jun's wife to get started.
"Shu Ying and Shu Xin, the two sisters, have grown even prettier with ti," the young man said, smiling toward the busy siblings.
Du Jun furrowed his brow slightly but refrained from speaking.
Clearly uncomfortable with the young man's advance, Shu Ying hurried off as though escaping.
"Brother Mao, has your factory reopened yet?" Shu Xin stepped up to strike a conversation.
Ding Fan glanced at Shu Xin.
The man's slick deanor revealed he was nothing special—your archetypal spoiled rich kid.
Ding Fan thought Shu Xin would recognize him for what he was. Yet here she was, actively engaging him...
"Shu Xin, my factory will finish construction soon. We're already hiring. If you're interested, I could easily set you up as an assistant manager—being as clever and pretty as you are."
"Brother Mao, you do enjoy kidding around!" Shu Xin giggled.
Seeing Shu Xin's cheerful reaction, the young man smirked slightly.
Though he quickly concealed it, Ding Fan had caught the expression.
Just like a fisherman spotting a fish ready to bite.
"Shu Xin, the Zhonghua Chamber of Comrce president's daughter is having her birthday party in two days. Everyone important will be there; are you coming?"
Shu Xin glanced back toward Du Jun.
The young man imdiately addressed Du Jun, "Uncle Du, all of us doing business here in Turkhan Country owe a lot to the Chamber president. Of course, it's only right to attend his daughter's celebration."
Du Jun nodded. As the young man was saying, it was true they had benefited significantly from the Chamber president's help, and it wouldn't be appropriate to decline attending.
"Of course, we'll be going."
The young man's face lit up. "Perfect. I'm attending as well. Uncle Du, how about I take the sisters along with ?"
Du Jun hesitated—he clearly didn't want his daughters traveling with the young man.
"Dad, it'd be safer if Brother Mao accompanies us," Shu Xin interjected before Du Jun could reply.
Seeing his daughter speak, Du Jun felt reluctant to refuse but equally unwilling to agree.
"Dad, let's bring Brother Ding Fan along," Shu Ying piped up suddenly.
Brother Ding Fan?
The young man looked at Shu Ying's affectionate manner and turned his gaze toward Ding Fan, who had been silent the entire ti.
Ding Fan's youthful appearance and humble deanor didn't suggest he was wealthy or influential.
Du Jun responded positively at Shu Ying's ntion of Ding Fan. "Ding Fan, why don't you co along? It'll be a nice distraction."
Du Jun had witnessed Ding Fan's unique abilities, and having him accompany the group reassured Du Jun considerably.
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