Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

Two days later

After two days of intense "physical examinations," Xu Lin unexpectedly felt somewhat tired.

Of course, this wasn't because of the work at the steel mill, but because of the huge bed in the basement big enough to sleep five or six people, and the two new recruits he needed to personally train in all sorts of drills...

Fortunately, the major overhaul at the steel rolling mill has finally come to an end.

With the god-level medical skills bestowed upon him by the system, Xu Lin was practically a walking human scanner, his efficiency was frighteningly high. His coworkers lined up to walk past him, and within three minutes, he would uncover all their chronic ailments and hidden health problems.

If the clinic could handle it, he would prescribe and dispense the medicine on the spot, and the illness would be cured quickly. If the conditions weren't right, he wouldn't hesitate either, promptly writing out a referral form and meticulously describing every detail in the referral letter, recommending the patient to Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

After these actions, Xu Lin's reputation among the workers could no longer be described as "good"; he was practically elevated to a god-like status. Walking through the factory area, he was constantly offered cigarettes and eggs, but he refused them all. The words "high medical ethics" had become concretely ingrained in the workers' minds.

The funny thing is that many middle-aged women were clamoring to introduce their daughters to him. If they hadn't known he had just gotten married, the doorstep of the clinic would probably have been worn down by suitors. But when they found out that Xu Lin's wife was from the countryside, they all sighed with regret...

In the factory director's office.

Yang Anguo held the summary report in his hand, his face crinkling into a wide smile, his mouth stretched almost to his ears.

"Xiao Xu! Come and take a look!"

Yang Anguo waved excitedly to Xu Lin and slapped the report loudly.

"This comprehensive health check was surprisingly effective! It not only reassured the workers, but more importantly, it boosted morale throughout the entire factory! That's true cohesion! That's what cohesion is all about!"

He patted Xu Lin's shoulder twice, quite forcefully, which showed how excited he was.

"I submitted the report, and the entire ministry was alarmed! Vice Minister Wang personally called to praise you! He said our steel rolling mill is bold and decisive, and has produced a talented individual! You've really given our factory director face this time!"

Xu Lin rubbed his shoulders, a humble smile on his face: "It's all thanks to your excellent leadership, Factory Director. I was just running errands and doing my part."

"Don't give me that!" Yang Anguo laughed and scolded, pointing at him, "You know exactly what's going on, you're just being hypocritical after getting the benefit. But to be fair, you really deserve the credit for this."

As he spoke, he opened the drawer, took out a leave slip that he had prepared in advance, and pushed it in front of Xu Lin.

I've granted you three days off.

Yang Anguo's smile faded, and his tone softened. "You just got married, haven't you taken your new bride home yet? That's customary, and it's only natural. Work is never-ending, and you also need to take care of things at home. Take this opportunity to spend quality time with your wife. By the time you get back, the commendation from the ministry should be coming down."

"Thank you, Factory Director!" Xu Lin felt a warmth in his heart. Yang Anguo was supposed to be a good person, so how come he lost to the lecherous Li Huaide in the original story?

Unable to figure it out for a moment, Xu Lin shook his head and stopped thinking about it. After taking the leave slip and leaving the office, Xu Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

Three days off...

The image of Qin Huairu's shy yet adoring gaze and Tan Shi's charmingly disdainful eye roll instantly flashed into his mind.

Perfect timing! Those two greenhorns have a chance to solidify their training from the past two days. But we still need to take Qin Huairu back to her parents' home first.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

The smell of coal smoke in the alley hadn't dissipated yet, but Xu Lin had already polished his old bicycle until it gleamed. Thanks to his previous modifications, the chain was oiled, making it easy and silent to pedal—in those days, it was a true "luxury bike."

Qin Huairu dawdled out of the house, clutching a patched little cloth bag tightly in her hand. Today she had specially changed into a floral blouse without patches, and her hair was combed slicked back, but the expression on her face revealed a stingy and timid look.

Xu Lin raised his eyelids, his gaze falling on the shrunken cloth bag: "What did you bring?"

Qin Huairu, as if afraid of being robbed, shrank the cloth bag closer to her chest and stammered, "It's...it's the half pound of brown sugar we didn't finish last time, and two packs of peach shortbread. They're all good stuff; my parents usually can't bear to buy them for me."

Xu Lin's brows furrowed instantly.

Two packs of peach shortbread? Half a pound of loose brown sugar?

If this were back when he first transmigrated, it wouldn't have been so bad if it were just to fill his stomach. But who is Xu Lin now? The miracle doctor at the steel mill, a favorite of the bosses. If he were to bring back such shabby things to his parents' home, it wouldn't just be a slap in the face, it would be tearing his face off and stomping it on the ground. Seriously? A man has his pride!

"Get on." Xu Lin didn't waste any words, striding forward with his long legs and stomping his foot hard on the pedal.

Qin Huairu was taken aback. Seeing that Xu Lin wasn't heading in the direction of leaving the city, she hurriedly asked, "Brother Xu, you're going the wrong way! The way out of the city is east!"

"Who said we're leaving town now? Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative!"

Upon arriving at the supply and marketing cooperative, just as the doors opened, there wasn't a long queue yet. Xu Lin, holding Qin Huairu's hand, strode inside. Seeing the sign that read "No Hitting Customers," Xu Lin couldn't help but twitch his lips. The older generation really were honest; even their signs were reminders to their own people…

The sales clerk behind the counter was cracking sunflower seeds, not even looking up: "What do you want to buy? Did you bring your ticket?"

Xu Lin slammed a large banknote and a stack of colorful receipts onto the counter. The sound wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Two packs of Daqianmen cigarettes, please."

The saleswoman paused in her sunflower seed-eating spree. Two packs? These days, who doesn't buy cigarettes by the pack? She looked up suspiciously and saw Xu Lin's crisp Zhongshan suit and the special approval slip stamped with a red seal. Her smile immediately vanished, and she stopped eating the sunflower seeds and quickly went to get the goods.

"Two bottles of Luzhou Laojiao, please, the high-proof ones."

"Take ten feet of each of the pink and navy blue Dacron over there."

"And that string of cured pork, it looks pretty juicy, I'll take it all."

"Give me a bag of high-gluten flour, and fill this bucket with soybean oil..."

Xu Lin's fingers flew across the keyboard, and every word that came out of his mouth was like a heavy hammer blow to Qin Huairu's heart.

The elderly people shopping around them were dumbfounded, craning their necks as if watching a spectacle. This wasn't shopping, it was buying in bulk! Who was this young man? Did he own a mine?

Qin Huairu stood behind Xu Lin, her face flushed red, her palms sweaty. She clutched Xu Lin's clothes tightly, her voice trembling, "Brother Xu... Master! My dear Master! Don't buy it! How much will this cost! That polyester is so expensive, my mother can wear homespun cloth..."

She was genuinely terrified. Growing up, her family had never seen so many nice things in a year. Xu Lin's extravagant spending made her feel like she was about to give up on life altogether.

"Listen to me." Xu Lin didn't turn around, but instead grabbed her cold little hand and squeezed it a little harder.

Qin Huairu's body went limp from the pinch, and the rest of her words got stuck in her throat.

"Since you're with me, there's no reason for you to go back to your parents' home and pretend to be poor." Xu Lin turned around, stuffed the brightly colored pieces of polyester fabric into her arms, leaned close to her ear, and breathed hot air on her neck. "Let your parents see what kind of person their daughter married. From now on, you'd better hold your head high in the village."

Qin Huairu held the smooth fabric in her arms, her nose filled with the distinctive smell of new cloth being washed and the tobacco scent of Xu Lin. Looking at the tall man before her, her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat.

The feeling of being so domineeringly protected made her bones melt. All thoughts of saving money and being wasteful vanished in that moment. For Qin Huairu, her life had been worthwhile!

Finally, Xu Lin tied the bamboo basket, which was almost as tall as a person and filled to the brim, tightly to the back seat of the bicycle with hemp rope.

The heavy weight flattened one of the tires.

"Hold on tight."

Xu Lin pushed off, and the wheel started turning. Qin Huairu sat sideways on the front bar, almost curled up in Xu Lin's arms. Listening to the whistling wind in her ears and the envious and jealous looks from passersby, she buried her face in Xu Lin's chest, and couldn't help but smile wildly.

This isn't a homecoming visit; it's clearly a trip to Qin Family Village to "show off" their wealth!

The dirt road back to the village was bumpy and uneven, so Qin Huairu didn't sit in the back seat, but instead sat sideways on the front bar.

At first, she was a little shy and stiff, not daring to get too close. But as the bicycle bounced along, she had no choice but to wrap her arms tightly around Xu Lin's waist, pressing her whole body against his chest.

The girl's unique fragrance, mingled with the scent of her hair, continuously filled Xu Lin's nostrils. Her soft, warm body pressed against his chest through her thin clothes, allowing him to feel its amazing elasticity.

Qin Huairu's cheeks were as red as ripe apples as she felt the burning heat and masculine aura emanating from the man, her heart pounding.

As they passed through a deserted grove of trees, Qin Huairu noticed the fine beads of sweat on Xu Lin's forehead and suggested with concern, "Brother Xu, are you tired? Let's... let's rest in the woods for a while."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin's lips curled into a wicked smile.

Throughout the journey, the adorable child in his arms would occasionally tilt her head back and steal a kiss on his chin or cheek, like a kitten stealing candy. This had already ignited the fire within him.

He parked the car deep in the woods and braced himself with one foot on the ground.

"Qin Huairu, a low-ranking officer!"

"Huh?" Qin Huairu was taken aback by the familiar address.

"Tell the sergeant, isn't it time for another drill?" Xu Lin's voice carried a hint of hoarse laughter.

Qin Huairu instantly understood the meaning of "drill," her cheeks flushed red, and she buried her head in his chest, her voice barely a whisper: "Sir...this is the wilderness..."

"What's wrong with being in the wild?" Xu Lin scooped her up from the car and carried her horizontally. "Perfect, today we'll practice... guerrilla warfare in the wild!"

……

After a fierce guerrilla war, Xu Lin, who was setting off again, was clearly still full of energy. After walking for a while, he saw another stone bridge.

"Huai Ru, we've walked so far, let's go to the bridge ahead and cool off and rest for a while."

Qin Huairu glanced back at the grove of trees about 100 meters away where she had just rested.

"Huh? This...this isn't that far, is it...?"

"Alright, alright, it's settled then. I'm riding a bike, I know my limits, I'm already way ahead..."

The two walked along, stopping frequently—in the groves of trees, on small bridges, by the river, in the maple forest, and even in the cornfields…

What should have been a two- or three-hour journey was stretched into the afternoon, with them finally arriving at the entrance to Qin Family Village near dusk. And this was only because Qin Huairu refused to rest at several points; otherwise, they might not have made it before dark… This wasn't the first time Qin Huairu had traveled this route, but for the first time, she realized how far away her home truly was…

Along the way, Xu Lin was also feeling very hungry, while the "Corporal Qin Huairu" in his arms was radiant, having eaten her fill, with a satisfied smile on her lips.

Qin Huairu's home was a typical northern farmhouse, with earthen walls and a thatched roof. A burly, honest-looking man was chopping firewood in the yard; it was her older brother, Qin Tieniu.

"Big brother!" Qin Huairu called out from afar.

Qin Tieniu looked up when he heard the sound and saw Qin Huairu. His face lit up with joy, but when he saw Xu Lin behind Qin Huairu and the "mountain" on the bicycle, he was stunned.

"Huai Ru, you...you're back? This is..."

"Big brother, this is Xu Lin," Qin Huairu introduced shyly. "He... he's my man. We got our marriage certificate a few days ago."

At this moment, a middle-aged couple came out of the house after hearing the noise. They were Qin Huairu's parents, Qin Dashan and Zhang Shufen.

Xu Lin immediately parked the car, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully: "Uncle, Aunt, Brother, hello. My name is Xu Lin, I'm Huai Ru's husband, we just got our marriage certificate a couple of days ago. This is my first time visiting, and I didn't know what you liked, so I just bought some things."

As he spoke, he began taking things out of the bamboo basket.

Two packs of Daqianmen cigarettes, two bottles of Luzhou Laojiao liquor, four brand-new pieces of Dacron fabric, a large piece of greasy cured meat, a bag of refined white flour...

With each item brought out, the Qin family members' eyes widened a little more.

When Xu Lin took a red cloth bag out of his pocket and handed it to Qin Dashan, the whole courtyard fell silent.

"Uncle, this is the betrothal gift I'm giving to Huairu. Please check it."

Qin Dashan opened the red cloth bag with trembling hands. Inside was a stack of brand-new "Great Unity" bills, a full ten bills!

One hundred dollars!

In an era when an ordinary worker's monthly salary was only twenty or thirty yuan, one hundred yuan was an astronomical sum for a rural family!

"This...this is unacceptable! This is too much!" Qin Dashan waved his hands repeatedly, and the honest farmer was frightened by this display.

"Uncle, it's not much." Xu Lin said sincerely, "Huai Ru is a good girl. In my heart, she's worth this price. As long as you agree to marry her to me, I promise to treat her well for the rest of my life."

Qin Dashan and Zhang Shufen exchanged a glance, then looked at the dignified and generous young man beside them, and then at their daughter's happy and sweet face. What could they possibly be dissatisfied with?

Young, handsome, and looks like he has a stable job. Most importantly, he truly loves his daughter!

"Good! Good boy!" Qin Dashan patted Xu Lin's shoulder excitedly. "I'm entrusting Huai Ru to you! Now that you two are married, let's have the banquet tomorrow! Let's get things done!"

At the dinner table, the Qin family displayed the highest level of hospitality. Xu Lin showed no airs of a city dweller, clinking glasses with Qin Dashan and Qin Tieniu, chatting about crops and interesting things at the factory, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. It was then that the Qin family realized their son-in-law wasn't an ordinary worker, but the factory doctor and director of the steel rolling mill's clinic—a clear leader. Qin Dashan and his son were even happier. Although they didn't intend to take advantage of him, it was still a matter of pride for men to have their reputation spread!

Xu Lin was exhausted after a long day, and the Qin family father and son kept urging him to drink, so he went to bed early.

Qin Huairu was then pulled by her mother, Zhang Shufen, to her elder brother and sister-in-law's room for a final "education" before her marriage.

Zhou Chunhua, Qin Huairu's sister-in-law, was a straightforward person. After sending Qin's mother away, she took Qin Huairu's hand and asked softly, "Huairu, tell me the truth, how far have things progressed between you and that Xu... Xu Lin?"

Qin Huairu blushed and nodded.

Li Chunhua, with an "I knew it" look on her face, lowered her voice and imparted her experience: "Men are all like that. It's exciting at first, but it'll get better after a while. Remember, you can't let him have his way too much, it'll hurt your health. You have to learn..."

Listening to her sister-in-law's teachings, Qin Huairu's mind conjured up images of Xu Lin's tireless and strong physique, as well as the scene where she and Sister Tan, even working together, could hardly withstand him.

She couldn't help but interrupt softly, "Sister-in-law... Brother Xu... he's different..."

"How are they different? Aren't all men the same?"

Qin Huairu bit her lip and hesitated for a long time before selectively describing Xu Lin's "heroic" deeds in an almost inaudible voice.

Li Chunhua was stunned, and she dropped the melon seeds in her hand.

"My goodness... are you serious? He... he's that amazing?" Li Chunhua could hardly believe her ears. "Then... then you'd better take it easy! Even an iron body can't withstand that! No! Even if it were made of iron, his blacksmithing skills wouldn't be enough!"

A smug blush appeared on Qin Huairu's face as she whispered boasting, "It's okay, Brother Xu is a doctor, he knows. Every time... every time afterward, he'll prepare something for us to nourish our bodies, saying it's some kind of medicinal food, and we'll be fine the next day after drinking it."

"For the two of you?" Li Chunhua was taken aback, then suddenly realized, thinking to herself that this young couple really knew how to have fun, even sharing tonics. She patted Qin Huairu's hand, saying with a mixture of envy and admiration, "Then you have even less to worry about; you've married a treasure!"

Qin Huairu smiled sweetly and nodded.

She didn't tell her sister-in-law that when she said "the two of us," she meant her and Sister Tan, not her and Xu Lin.

What the eldest sister-in-law didn't know was that in Qin Huairu and Tan's minds, Xu Lin's body couldn't take any more supplements; if he did... he'd be skinned alive... and wouldn't be able to sleep at night...