Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

Old Bai stared in disbelief at the five-and-a-half-year-old child before him.

He took a deep breath; the intoxicating fragrance of the century-old ginseng was wafting from this room.

Moreover, he keenly perceived it.

Although the child is young, standing here, he resembles a dormant dragon.

The immense, suffocating life force within his body was even more terrifying than that of the masters he had seen who had practiced internal martial arts for decades!

"Grandpa, why are you knocking on my door?"

Zhang Huaimin blinked, feigning an innocent and clueless look.

Old Bai suddenly came to his senses, his face flushed, realizing that he had just been too out of line.

He quickly straightened his long gown and respectfully bowed to a five-year-old child.

"Young friend, I have been presumptuous."

"May I ask if there was a hundred-year-old wild ginseng in this room?"

"I am a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, and I find it difficult to resist such a miraculous object."

"If your parents are home, young friend, would you allow me to enter and pay my respects? Even just a glimpse of that ginseng king would be enough for me to die without regret!"

Old Bai's tone was full of pleading and fervor.

After listening, Zhang Huaimin shook his head inwardly.

That old man has a pretty good nose.

Unfortunately, the unique qualities of that century-old ginseng king have been completely integrated into his small body.

Not even a single ginseng root was left.

"Grandpa, you must be mistaken?"

Zhang Huaimin pointed innocently into the room.

"I live alone. My father was a great hero who has already sacrificed his life."

"I just boiled some water to wash my feet, there's no ginseng in there."

When Old Bai heard that the child was the orphan of a martyr, the fanaticism on his face subsided slightly.

But his nose, sharper than a dog's, would never lie to him.

Although the medicinal fragrance was slowly dissipating, the lingering scent remained strong.

Old Bai wanted to ask more questions, but Zhang Huaimin interrupted him directly.

"Grandpa, it's so cold outside, I'm going to close the door and go to sleep."

Done.

With a "snap".

Zhang Huaimin slammed the solid wood door shut without hesitation.

This highly respected master of traditional Chinese medicine in Beijing was effectively shut out.

Old Bai stood outside the door, his nose almost getting dusty.

He stood there stunned for a long time, and finally could only let out a helpless sigh.

"Alas! To never have the chance to see it is truly a great regret of my life!"

Old Bai shook his head and left the Red Star Courtyard, looking back every few steps.

Xu Damao, hiding in the shadows, watched Bai Lao's departing figure, gritting his teeth.

Even such an important figure is treating that little beast with utmost respect!

"Zhang Huaimin, you just wait! I swear I won't rest until I avenge this!"

Xu Damao touched his numb lower body, a venomous glint in his eyes.

He turned around and slipped out of the courtyard like a ghost, disappearing without a trace to seek medical help.

The next afternoon.

Zhang Huaimin was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun, fiddling with a few small wooden carvings in his hands.

"Huaimin, are you playing alone?"

A gentle and cheerful voice came from the backyard.

Zhang Huaimin looked up.

It's Lou Xiao'e.

Today she was wearing a well-tailored wool coat and had her hair styled in the fashionable curls of that era.

He was also carrying a heavy net bag filled with a dozen or so bright red, fragrant apples.

In those days, apples were a rare commodity, and most families couldn't bear to eat more than a few during the Lunar New Year.

"Hello, Sister Xiao'e," Zhang Huaimin greeted sweetly.

Zhang Huaimin still had some goodwill towards Lou Xiao'e.

She was one of the few people in this courtyard full of beasts who still had a conscience and were not inherently bad.

They were just screwed over by that bastard Xu Damao.

"Good girl."

Lou Xiao'e walked over with a smile and placed the bag of big apples on the small stool next to Zhang Huaimin.

"Huaimin, I bought this especially to thank you."

"You gave my best friend some acupuncture the other day, and her migraines, which she's had for over ten years, have actually stopped flaring up!"

"She told me I absolutely had to thank you properly, this 'little fairy'."

As Lou Xiao'e spoke, she couldn't help but reach out and pinch Zhang Huaimin's rosy cheeks.

She genuinely liked this smart and beautiful child.

Unfortunately, she has been married for so many years but has not conceived.

The gossipy women in the compound talked behind her back every day, calling her a "hen that doesn't lay eggs."

Her in-laws also treated her very badly.

Xu Damao would often take his anger out on this, and even hit her.

Thinking of this, Lou Xiao'e's eyes dimmed, and she couldn't help but sigh softly.

Zhang Huaimin looked at Lou Xiao'e's forlorn expression and understood perfectly well what was going on.

Since in the original story you were ruined your whole life by Xu Damao, who had no descendants.

So today, I'll go all the way and help you completely break through this barrier.

Zhang Huaimin picked up a large apple, wiped it on his clothes, and took a big bite.

Then, he pretended to be extremely curious and naive.

"Sister Xiao'e, why are you sighing? Did someone bully you?"

Lou Xiao'e gave a wry smile and patted Zhang Huaimin's head.

"Adult matters are beyond your understanding as a child."

"Sister Xiao'e, I actually know everything."

Zhang Huaimin blinked his clear, innocent eyes.

"I heard from Aunt Wang in the alley that you and Uncle Damao have never had a baby."

"Uncle Damao often scolds you in the yard for not being able to have children, doesn't he?"

Lou Xiao'e's face turned pale. Although it was an open secret in the compound, it still made her feel embarrassed and heartbroken to hear it from a five-year-old child.

She forced a smile: "Yes, maybe...maybe my sister isn't feeling well."

“That’s not the case!”

Zhang Huaimin suddenly raised his voice, his tone extremely firm.

"Sister Xiao'e, you're in great health! I checked you using the medical skills my grandfather taught me, and I'm sure you'll give birth to a big, healthy boy!"

Lou Xiao'e was taken aback. Although she knew that Zhang Huaimin's medical skills were amazing, she took this as just a child's innocent words of comfort.

however.

Zhang Huaimin's next words were like a thunderbolt, striking her directly on the top of her head.

"Sister Xiao'e, the one who's really sick is Uncle Damao!"

Zhang Huaimin leaned closer to Lou Xiao'e and lowered his voice, as if he were sharing a huge secret.

"Uncle Damao came back from the countryside a couple of days ago."

"I saw him buy a large bag of herbs for decocting Chinese medicine at the pharmacy at the entrance of the alley."

"The old man who dispensed the medicine said it was a medicine specifically for treating men's infertility."

"Uncle Damao has been taking his medicine behind your back every day lately. Is his health deteriorating?"

boom!

Lou Xiao'e felt as if her mind had exploded with a "buzz".

Xu Damao is taking medication to treat infertility?!

And he ate it secretly behind her back?!

This statement contains a wealth of information and completely overturns Lou Xiao'e's understanding over the past few years!

"Huaimin...you...you're telling the truth? You're not lying to your sister?"

Lou Xiao'e's voice trembled slightly as she grabbed Zhang Huaimin's shoulder, her eyes fixed on him.

Zhang Huaimin felt a little pain from her grip and pouted in grievance.

"Sister Xiao'e, you're hurting me."

"I never lie. Every time Uncle Da Mao finishes brewing medicine, he secretly buries the dregs under the old locust tree in the backyard."

"If you don't believe me, go dig it up and see for yourself."

After saying that, Zhang Huaimin broke free from Lou Xiao'e's hand, hugged the big apple, and turned to go back into the house.

Lou Xiao'e was left alone, standing in the courtyard, dumbfounded.

These few years.

She tried countless folk remedies and suffered a great deal in order to get pregnant.

She was beaten and scolded by Xu Damao, glared at by her mother-in-law, and ridiculed by everyone in the hospital.

She always thought it was her own problem, and her heart was filled with guilt and inferiority.

But now!

Zhang Huaimin's words were like a bolt of lightning, cleaving through the fog before her eyes.

Considering Xu Damao's defiant attitude in recent years, refusing to go to the hospital for check-ups no matter what, this is quite surprising.

And his strange,颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of being listless, dispirited, or decadent) appearance these past few nights.

An extremely terrifying yet undeniably real thought spread wildly through Lou Xiao'e's mind!

The one who can't have children isn't Lou Xiao'e at all.

It was Xu Damao!

That bastard! That beast!

He himself was incompetent, yet he poured all the blame and blame onto her!

She has endured so much humiliation and contempt all by herself for so many years!

An immense surge of anger and resentment erupted instantly, like a volcano.

Lou Xiao'e's eyes were bloodshot, and her chest was heaving violently.

She turned around and, like a whirlwind, rushed frantically towards her own home in the backyard.

She's going to find evidence!

She was determined to uncover that bastard's hidden secrets completely!

Go back inside.

Lou Xiao'e went crazy, rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

Clothes, bedding, drawers—she threw them all over the floor.

Xu Damao is a deep and thoughtful person. If he is really sick, he will definitely leave some clues.

"It must be there! It must be hidden somewhere!"

Lou Xiao'e searched through the items while tears streamed down her face.

I searched for more than half an hour.

at last.

When she opened the large camphor wood chest that Xu Damao usually never let her touch, the one with the bottom drawer locked.

In a dilapidated iron box in the far corner.

Lou Xiao'e found a yellowed paper sheet that was folded neatly.

With trembling hands, she unfolded the paper.

The title page prominently displays "Diagnosis Certificate from Peking Union Medical College Hospital".

The date on the document is exactly three years ago!

When Lou Xiao'e saw the shocking lines on the diagnosis report...

"Congenitally low sperm survival rate...reproductive dysfunction..."

"It is suggested that there is no effective treatment option..."

These words were like sharp knives, piercing Lou Xiao'e's heart.

"boom!"

Lou Xiao'e was struck dumb, and collapsed to the ground, powerless.

Tears streamed down her face like a burst dam.

scam!

This marriage of the past three years has been a complete and utter fraud!

Xu Damao had long known that he was childless!

But he did this to cover up the fact, to protect his pathetic self-esteem.

They cruelly deceived her for so many years!

He even conspired with his mother to abuse her, the so-called "unproductive hen"!

"Xu Damao...you beast! You're not human!"

Lou Xiao'e gripped the diagnosis report tightly, her knuckles turning white from the excessive force.

Her body trembled violently with extreme anger and hatred.

Just then.

"Squeak—"

The door to the backyard was pushed open.

Xu Damao is coming home from get off work.

Humming an unknown tune, he stepped into the house with a tired but seemingly relaxed expression.