Chapter 100

After Su Ruo rode away in the car for a long distance, those villagers still stood at the village entrance, seeing her off.

Zhou Feng saw this and laughed, teasing: "I never expected that you, a doctor, would be more popular than I, the county magistrate. If I had known, I would have chosen to study medicine back then."

Su Ruo laughed and said: "That's not the same; I treat people's bodies, while you guarantee their livelihood."

Zhou Feng burst out laughing upon hearing that, and the homesickness in the carriage was dispelled somewhat.

Because Zhou Feng's work was busy and he couldn't send Su Ruo and them to Hai Shi, he specially bought them tickets for the same sleeper carriage and instructed them that there would be no one else in the carriage, and they must lock the door before sleeping at night.

He also specially went to find the attendant, asking her to pay extra attention to Su Ruo and them.

This left Bai Xinya, Su Ruo, and the three of them feeling helpless; Zhou Feng acted as if they would get lost the moment they stepped out.

Zhou Feng kept chattering on for a long time, only getting off the train when it was about to depart.

As soon as he left, Bai Xinya and the three of them immediately relaxed, chatting and eating pastries, just like sparrows bursting out of a cage; each person felt excited, and for the three of them, the time on the train didn't feel lonely either.

After two days and two nights, Su Ruo and them arrived at the Imperial Capital, where Bai Xinya's cousin was already waiting there.

From the man's attire and manner of speaking, Su Ruo could tell he was likely a very successful businessman, and it's no wonder she liked the fabrics he chose.

Bai Xinya's cousin personally took Su Ruo and them around the Imperial Capital for a week, not only taking them to Hai Shi's largest cotton spinning factory, but also to various department stores, letting them see the current fashion trends in clothing.

Su Ruo stood in the largest department store of the magic city, hoping that one day her clothing brand could also secure a place here.

Su Ruo and them conducted inspections for three days straight, gaining some understanding of the current situation; after finishing their business, they began to eat, drink, and play.

After staying a week in the Imperial Capital, Su Ruo and them went to Yunnan, where they saw a sea of flowers covering the mountains and plains, and then went horseback riding on the grassland.

Thus, after more than a month, Su Ruo and the three of them had enough fun and returned, satisfied, to Da Qing Shan.

As the saying goes, reading ten thousand scrolls is no substitute for traveling ten thousand li; this trip not only cultivated their sentiments but also broadened their horizons, and Su Ruo even drew a dozen or so clothing sketches related to flowers in one go.

With gorgeous colors paired with exquisite flowers, Su Ruo felt that once made into garments, they would surely sell well.

Seeing this, Bai Xinya couldn't help but laugh at Su Ruo, truly never forgetting to make money wherever she goes.

Li Zhaodi carefully put away Su Ruo's sketches; she was even more obsessed with making money than Su Ruo, and in Li Zhaodi's mind, these weren't drawings at all—they were people, money, currency.

After Su Ruo and them's train reached the county seat, Zhou Feng personally came to pick them up; after Bai Xinya got off, Zhou Feng walked around her several times, making sure she wasn't injured or thinner, before he relaxed.

Zhou Feng originally thought that Su Ruo and them would just go to Hai Shi for a few days to inspect the clothing market and then return.

Because Bai Xinya's cousin was in Hai Shi, he had nothing to worry about, but he never expected his wife to leave for a whole month.

They even went to Yunnan and the grasslands; thinking that his wife had never left him before and now went alone to such a faraway place, Zhou Feng was extremely worried.

Although Su Ruo and them were still around, in Zhou Feng's mind Su Ruo and Li Zhaodi were still just children—how could they take good care of his wife?

During that month or more, if Zhou Feng weren't truly too busy to leave, he would have already flown over to find Bai Xinya.

Seeing Bai Xinya and Zhou Feng, an old married couple, still showing affection in front of them, Su Ruo and Li Zhaodi instantly felt a twinge of toothache.

The two of them, half-smiling, teased them, causing Bai Xinya's face to instantly turn bright red.

Knowing that Zhou Feng and them would stay in the county seat today, so as not to disturb their private world, Su Ruo and them took an ox cart back to Li Family Village themselves.

But as Su Ruo and them had just reached the clinic's door, Li Zheyu brought several villagers to block them.

"Doctor Su, it's like this: since you're no longer the village doctor, you shouldn't stay in this house by rights, but the brigade commander said you have contributed to the village, so evicting you would be inappropriate; if you want to keep living here, the house can be rented to you."

Li Zheyu wore a smile, but his words were utterly impolite.

The people beside him also dissatisfiedly said: "What Li the accountant says is right; this house is for running a clinic in the village, and since you're no longer the village doctor, what right do you have to keep living here?"

Su Ruo looked at Li Zheyu; it turned out he was now an accountant—no wonder he brought so many people to block the door today, really putting on airs.

"Fine, I'll rent it. How much per month?"

Su Ruo roughly estimated the time; the admission notice should also be coming soon—once she gets it, she'll leave right away, anyway there isn't much time left, she also doesn't want to bother again; as long as Li Zheyu's price isn't excessive, she doesn't mind paying to rent, after all she's currently not lacking money at all.

Li Zheyu said with a smile: "Ten yuan a month."

Li Zhaodi exploded upon hearing that: "Ten yuan a month—why don't you just go rob? Even staying in a guesthouse isn't that expensive."

Li Zheyu's smile didn't change as he continued: "If you rent, that's the price; if you think it's too expensive, you can choose not to rent."

Li Zhaodi's face flushed red with anger; she also realized that Li Zheyu had calculated that they wouldn't have time to find lodging and would definitely rent, so he was deliberately making things difficult for them.

Su Ruo had money and didn't really care about those ten yuan, but she hated being threatened; she asked coldly:

"I don't know—is the monthly rent of ten yuan set by you, Li Zheyu, or by the village?"

Li Zheyu straightened up and said: "I am the brigade accountant; naturally, I set this rent."

Su Ruo: "Li Zheyu, although you're the brigade accountant, this Li Family Village is not your personal fiefdom!"

"You said the rent for this courtyard is ten yuan a month; fine, I'll go ask the branch secretary and the brigade commander—if they also agree to this price, I have no objection!"

Upon hearing Su Ruo wanted to go find the branch secretary, Li Zheyu's face changed instantly; he said: "Doctor Su, you're so rich, you even went to Hai Shi—surely you can't be short of ten yuan?"

Su Ruo's face grew colder: "Having money is my own business; it doesn't mean I should be extorted by you."

Su Ruo also didn't want to waste more words with Li Zheyu; she turned to leave, but before she could go look for them, the branch secretary and the brigade commander arrived themselves.

The old branch secretary glanced at Li Zheyu, his expression grim, and said: "Doctor Su has not only contributed to our Li Family Village, but even to the whole Qingshan County; she is the county magistrate's personally appointed anti-disaster hero, the province's personally named advanced female, and even the press has interviewed her."

"Not to mention her wanting to live in this unwanted old courtyard—she even lives in the brigade headquarters."

"Since she arrived, she's saved how many people—how can you, just because she's no longer the village doctor, want to pull the millstone and kill the donkey?"

"This courtyard I decided to let Doctor Su live in; I've put my word down here—Doctor Su, you may stay as long as you wish, and if anyone has an objection, come find me!"

The old branch secretary's resounding voice made the whole Da Qing Shan shake awake.