Wang Jian was speechless. He quickly emphasized that he was there as a doctor, which finally seemed to satisfy Xiao Liu, who retreated inside and shut the door.
Sounds came from within as soon as Xiao Liu went inside, but the house's soundproofing was decent and the voices were low, so Wang Jian couldn't hear anything clearly.
Speechless, Wang Jian simply grabbed Niu Niu and left. Not suitable for children. Definitely not suitable for children.
Encountering such a mess right after returning to his hometown, Wang Jian felt like his luck had hit rock bottom and he was beyond saving.
After taking Niu Niu home, Wang Jian didn't say much to his sister-in-law, but it was clear from the look in her eyes that she knew what had happened.
Wang Jian didn't let his sister-in-law do any more work. He took over the task of cooking dinner.
Niu Niu ate with them, and it wasn't until after dinner that his mother came over to take him back. Only then did Wang Jian learn her name: Yang Rong.
The woman acted as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with them. She was very polite before she left.
Just before she went, however, Yang Rong didn't forget to shoot Wang Jian a flirtatious look. "Doctor Wang, remember to come over and hang out when you're free. We're neighbors, so we should visit each other more often."
Wang Jian was left speechless. He had never met a woman like her before.
「The night passed uneventfully.」
The bed at home was exceptionally comfortable, as if it had a special fragrance. Wang Jian slept especially soundly and even had a wonderful dream.
「The next morning.」
Wang Jian said goodbye to his sister-in-law and left the house. He had to find a location for his clinic. Opening a practice back home was no joke, and the sooner he found a location, the sooner he could get started. However, since he hadn't been back in eight years, he would need to ask someone he knew for help.
Just as Wang Jian arrived at Uncle Zhang's house, he bumped right into Zhang Li at the doorstep. Zhang Li was Uncle Zhang's son, and they used to play together all the time as kids, so they knew each other well.
Zhang Li was a little surprised. "Wang Jian? Are you heading out? Didn't you just get back yesterday?"
Zhang Li was still as chubby as he was in his childhood and not very tall. Wang Jian figured he was shorter by a good half a head. They were childhood playmates, after all, and the fights and fun they had back then were now just memories.
Seeing him now filled Wang Jian with the genuine joy of reuniting with an old friend after a long time.
"I wasn't heading out. I came here specifically to see you guys," Wang Jian said with a laugh. "I'm not planning to work in the city anymore. I want to start something here. I'm thinking of opening a clinic, but I'm not sure where, so I came out to have a look. It was also a good chance to pay you all a visit."
"Hahaha, welcome, welcome! Get in here…"
Zhang Li hurriedly pulled him inside.
As he got closer, Wang Jian noticed a few details. Zhang Li seemed to have been hit recently. There was even a faint scratch mark on his neck.
Zhang Li shouted toward the house, "Honey!"
When there was no response after two calls, he raised his voice. "Li Liping, are you deaf?"
Only then did a woman walk out from inside.
"You're the one who's deaf! Can't you do something useful for once? You think I'm as idle as you!"
The woman came out muttering and complaining, but she froze when she saw a visitor, looking a bit embarrassed. She just stood at the entrance to the main hall, unsure of what to do.
Zhang Li introduced her. "This is my wife, Li Liping. She came back with me from out of province two years ago. Don't mind her sharp tongue; she's a good woman who takes great care of our home. You missed the wedding two years back, so you have no idea how lively it was."
"You're a lucky man," Wang Jian replied with a smile, playing along.
Although Zhang Li's words weren't very convincing, given the marks on his body, their dynamic was completely different from the irreconcilable hostility Wang Jian might have imagined.
As a resident physician over the years, Wang Jian had seen all kinds of families, so he was a decent judge of character. He could tell that while Zhang Li and Li Liping bickered, they never came to serious blows, and their tempers weren't truly incompatible. For them, it seemed their squabbles were just the spice of life. This meant their relationship was actually very strong.
Zhang Li instructed, "Hurry up and tidy the house, and bring out some drinks. Later, kill a chicken. Wang Jian is our guest today."
"Hey, no, no, there's no need for that," Wang Jian quickly interjected. "Is Uncle Zhang home?"
"Don't be so polite with me! Come in, come in. I'll go get my dad for you. He's at the village entrance, watching the others play cards again."
Zhang Li quickly pushed Wang Jian into the main hall and then left him there. Eventually, Li Liping came out with some drinks, and the two of them sat on the sofa in an awkward silence.
Not knowing what else to do, Wang Jian glanced around the room. The Zhang family had done quite well for themselves over the years. Their house was a newly built two-story building with a yard out front. The decor was thoughtful and tidy, a clear sign that the home was well-maintained. Zhang Li hadn't been lying when he said his wife took good care of things.
Wang Jian's gaze then fell upon Li Liping, who was sitting diagonally across from him. She shared his embarrassed expression.
Li Liping wasn't stunning at first sight, but she had a face that grew more pleasant the longer you looked at it. She had a rare, youthful round face, slender arched eyebrows, and double eyelids that made her look even more adorable when she smiled. With her long black hair let down, she didn't look like a married woman at all, but more like a vibrant young student.
Women with such a unique aura were truly rare.
Of course, she couldn't have been unaware of him looking at her. As they sat in silence, they were, in fact, both curiously sizing each other up.
But Li Liping's mind was nowhere near as calm as Wang Jian's.
After Wang Jian had returned yesterday, Zhang Quan had come up with an idea, which he shared with Zhang Li upon returning home.
This was a notion their family had alluded to before, so after learning about it, Zhang Li had mentioned it in passing to Li Liping.
And so, Li Liping learned about Wang Jian—this top medical student who had just returned from working as a doctor in the big city and who was also quite handsome.
Now that she saw him in person, he was indeed just as her husband had described.
However, when Zhang Li first broached the topic, Li Liping had picked a fight with him. She had even cried, but Zhang Li had painstakingly talked her down. Yet, Li Liping still harbored reservations. She and Zhang Li had a very strong relationship. Otherwise, she would never have agreed to move from another province to marry him and settle down in his rural hometown.
Over the years, whenever Zhang Li brought up *that* matter, the two would end up arguing.
But reality could be harsh. After Zhang Li's accident, he was no longer capable in bed. All these years, Li Liping had been bottling everything up, and she really did need their arguments as an outlet.
Yet, the thought of getting intimate with the man sitting right in front of her sent Li Liping's mind into a tailspin.
This is so humiliating!