Tian Mengyao, flustered, quickly separated from Lin Fan.
"Xiao Fan, why aren't you back for dinner yet?" Xia Xue pushed open the door, complaining.
"Secretary Tian, you're here too."
Upon seeing Tian Mengyao, Xia Xue was momentarily stunned.
"Sister-in-law, Secretary Tian just arrived to discuss village committee matters with me."
Lin Fan scratched his head, "I've been away for a few days, and the village is almost in chaos."
Xia Xue rolled her eyes, "The village has Secretary Tian. You just focus on treating people."
"Sister Xue, that's not quite right," Tian Mengyao said with a smile. "Xiao Fan grew up in Luofeng Village. I need to consult his opinion on many matters before I can act, or I might make mistakes."
Seeing his sister-in-law at a loss for words, Lin Fan chuckled.
"You're still laughing!" Xia Xue feigned a move to hit him, making him quickly dodge.
"Secretary Tian, please join us for dinner. The food is just ready, and we haven't started eating yet," Xia Xue invited warmly.
"No, thank you. I'm not feeling well today." Having just witnessed the swarm of densely packed蛊虫 (gu worms), Tian Mengyao had no appetite.
"Xiao Fan, don't forget to come to the village committee tomorrow. I have something to discuss with you," Tian Mengyao said before leaving in a hurry.
"Let's go too," Xia Xue said.
"Wait, Sister-in-law," Lin Fan ran to his room and took out some things.
"What did you bring?" Xia Xue curiously eyed Lin Fan's pocket.
"You'll know when we get back," Lin Fan said, covering his pocket to prevent his sister-in-law from seeing the shape of the banknotes.
"Still being so secretive." A beautiful smile curved Xia Xue's lips.
...
The brick house of the Song family was brightly lit.
Song Yue was coaxing the child, occasionally glancing outside anxiously.
Clang!
The main door suddenly made a noise.
Song Yue stood up abruptly.
"Xiao Fan is back!"
Seeing Lin Fan's figure, Song Yue's face was filled with joy.
"I'm back," Lin Fan said with a smile after entering the house.
Their eyes met, and deep affection began to brew.
"Ahem!" Xia Xue knew what was going on between them.
She deliberately nudged Lin Fan's back with her shoulder, "Go eat quickly, it's so late."
"Oh, okay." Lin Fan chuckled inwardly. With him gone for these past few days, Song Yue must have accumulated a lot of affection, waiting to be released.
Noticing Lin Fan's slightly mischievous expression, Song Yue turned her head away coyly, her heart burning. She had known Lin Fan for so long and understood his little thoughts.
By the kitchen door.
"Sister Xue, let me serve you rice," Song Yue offered her help proactively.
"No need. You just take care of the child," Xia Xue declined.
After a moment's thought, Xia Xue felt she couldn't give them an opportunity to be alone, so she said, "I'll stir-fry a few more dishes. You help me chop some green onions and cilantro."
"Alright, I'll put the child back first."
In front of Xia Xue, everyone had to be obedient.
In the living room, Lin Fan turned on the TV, watching the news while listening to the clinking sounds from the kitchen, feeling incredibly content.
Home was indeed the best!
Soon, fragrant dishes were served.
Xia Xue had cooked so many dishes that the table was almost full.
"Xiao Fan, eat quickly. You must be hungry," Xia Xue called out.
"Sister-in-law understands me best." Lin Fan, of course, didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat ravenously.
While eating, Xia Xue asked him how he was doing in Siam and if anyone had bullied him.
Lin Fan recounted only the pleasant aspects, saying it was like a trip. The scenery was beautiful, the people lived in peace and contentment, and Zheng Yue's relative's illness was not serious and was easily cured by him.
"You only say nice things to comfort me. I don't believe you didn't encounter any difficulties." Although Xia Xue was suspicious, hearing him speak so casually finally dispelled her lingering worries.
"Sister-in-law, let me show you something good." After eating, Lin Fan reached into his pocket and said.
"What is it?" Xia Xue knew that no matter where Lin Fan went, he wouldn't forget her, and he must have brought her a gift.
"Guess," Lin Fan said, holding two stacks of US dollars between his hands, revealing only a tip of the iceberg.
"Is it..."
"Thai currency?" Song Yue said uncertainly, looking closely.
"Thai baht isn't valuable. Why would I want that?" Lin Fan suddenly opened his hands. "It's US dollars!"
"Oh my!" Both women exclaimed in surprise.
It was so thick, it must be worth a lot of money!
Lin Fan handed the money to his sister-in-law, "This is the consultation fee from the Zheng family. It was too troublesome to exchange Thai baht in China, so I converted it to US dollars."
Xia Xue excitedly took it in her hands, looking at the green banknotes. "This is too much!"
Song Yue leaned over, her eyes full of novelty.
"It's not much," Lin Fan said with a smile. "Twenty thousand US dollars is only equivalent to over a hundred thousand."
"Sister-in-law, think about it. Even staying in an ICU at a county hospital costs tens of thousands a day. I traveled thousands of miles abroad to treat someone; over a hundred thousand is really not much."
"Mm." Xia Xue thought about it and felt it made sense.
What she didn't know was that Lin Fan's clinic had over twenty million US dollars in it.
"This is US dollars," Song Yue marvelled, tutting. "I've never seen it before in my life."
Xia Xue held the money, reluctant to let go. "Xiao Fan, how do we spend this?"
"Just exchange it at the bank," Lin Fan said with a smile.
"Let's keep it," Xia Xue said softly. "You earned it with great difficulty. We have enough money at home now. Let's just keep it put away."
"Alright," Lin Fan nodded and then asked if anything had happened at home these past few days.
He was afraid his sister-in-law might be bullied in his absence.
Xia Xue mentioned some trivial matters. The entire Luofeng Village was as peaceful as ever, with nothing noteworthy to report.
Lin Fan, however, didn't notice Song Yue's face filled with disappointment.
Because Lin Fan gave his sister-in-law twenty thousand US dollars but nothing to her.
Song Yue felt neglected, filled with grievances and bitterness.
"Sister-in-law, it's good that everything is fine at home."
Lin Fan scratched his head. "Right, ask tomorrow if anyone has live chickens or ducks for sale."
"What do you want them for?" Xia Xue asked.
"To test the medicine, what else?"
Lin Fan counted on his fingers, "Not only live chickens and ducks, but I also have to stay up late. I tested it; testing the medicine at one in the morning is the most effective."
"Why so much fuss?" Xia Xue listened, completely bewildered.
Song Yue, however, understood.
Lin Fan said in a slightly teasing tone, "One in the morning is just before Zi Shi and at the beginning of Chou Shi, representing the end of the old day and the beginning of the new, the transition between day and night, and the union of yin and yang."
"I believe you, okay? You're rambling on with so much nonsense." Xia Xue didn't understand a word and looked impatient.
Song Yue, on the other hand, smiled with joy, her pretty face blushing slightly.
She had heard very clearly... the union of yin and yang!
Her thoughts were correct after all!