Volume One, Chapter Six: Without the Nourishment of a Man, One Will Fall Ill!

“I never said I wanted to be a son-in-law of the Lin family!”

“All I know is that no one will take away my Dragon Pendant!”

Su Ming lowered his head, writing something on paper. Upon hearing those words, he slowly lifted his head with a firm tone.

He truly didn’t care about a woman he had never met.

The so-called engagement was something he couldn’t be bothered to think about.

“You speak sensibly for once. Here’s 200,000 yuan. Once you take it, remember, you are absolutely forbidden from appearing before Lin Ruoxue.”

“Otherwise, you will suffer truly terrible consequences!”

With that, Ye Bing threw over a card, her voice cold.

“Money so easily earned, thanks. I happen to need it, but I don’t accept gifts without merit. I’ll grant you one wish in return.”

Su Ming did not refuse. He was not short of money, but his sister needed it!

Moreover, he never took money from others without offering something in return, especially not from women!

“Grant your wish? Haha, do you think I’m a genie? Ridiculous!”

“Better take care of yourself, convict!”

Ye Bing pushed open the door disdainfully, making it clear she wanted Su Ming to get out of the car.

Su Ming smiled faintly, a subtle curve at the corner of his lips. He glanced at Ye Bing in the rearview mirror, then, just before getting out, said:

“Your complexion is pale, eyes bloodshot, corners show secretion, qi is weak but fire is excessive, severe endocrine imbalance. Your menstrual cycle will be delayed for a long time, frequent bloating, and a bitter taste in your mouth.”

“The prescription on this list—prepare the herbs accordingly, you’ll see effects the same day, relief in three days. But your root cause is the lack of a man for far too long, absence of moisture and hormone secretion. You should—”

Before he could finish, Ye Bing’s face twisted in anger.

“Get lost!”

She shouted furiously at Su Ming.

“Suit yourself,” Su Ming shrugged, casually tossing the prescription onto the seat, then turning toward the courtyard.

“Damn scoundrel, filthy lecher, pretending to be an old Chinese doctor, bragging nonsense, thinking I’m some naive girl ripe for taking advantage!”

“I spit on that! As if I’m lacking men! The line of suitors for me stretches all the way from Longzhou to France!”

Su Ming heard the roaring engine as Ye Bing stormed off, shaking his head.

“Crazy woman,” he muttered, entering the house, then suddenly froze.

Su Yingying was clutching her chest in panic, her cheeks flushed red as she lowered her head...

She was changing her undergarments and hadn’t locked the door because it was inconvenient to move.

Though she had just put on her lingerie, much of her pale skin was still exposed to the air.

She was shy because, from childhood, she knew that Su Ming was not her biological brother.

Su Ming felt awkward too, quickly turning his head away, his face flushing.

“Sis, once you’re dressed, I’ll take you out to eat,” he said softly.

Then he heard her faint response, like a mosquito’s whisper.

“Brother, I’m done changing... How about we go to the market? It’s better than eating out—cheaper, and more hygienic. I’ll cook for you.”

Only then did Su Ming turn back, lifting his sister from the earthen bed onto her wheelchair.

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead,” he said indulgently.

But inadvertently, he noticed the patches on her clothes, his heart tightening.

It was clear she had endured much hardship during the years he was gone.

He remembered her legs had been fine when he left, practicing dance.

He hadn’t asked before, fearing the subject was too sensitive and would hurt her pride.

The northern city market was bustling.

Mostly local residents, mostly elders.

Few young people were around; the pressures of work and little time meant most preferred fast food, rarely cooking themselves.

Su Ming pushed his sister into the crowded market, the ground wet and scattered with fish scales and vegetable leaves.

Vendors shouted energetically.

“Fresh cabbage, 0.8 yuan per jin!”

“Scallions! Scallions!!”

The clamorous calls were endless. Though messy, the lively market atmosphere felt grounding and comforting.

“Brother, brother, push me over there.”

Little Ying, seated in her wheelchair, suddenly pointed to a distant stall.

Su Ming nodded and wheeled her over.

An elderly woman with white hair looked up smiling.

“Little Ying, here for vegetables? I’ve already prepared them for you.”

She pulled out a pre-packed bag from under the stall and handed it to Ying.

Su Ming’s smile froze when he saw the contents—just some wilted leaves.

“Thank you, Grandma Wang. Here’s—”

Ying opened the bag and saw the fresh vegetable leaves inside, her face lighting up with satisfaction.

She took two yuan from a small purse at her waist and handed it to Grandma Wang.

“You’re such a thoughtful child, it hurts my heart. So pretty, yet your legs have problems. Every day you eat these scraps, not even sparing a bit of meat.”

“I also have some fish my late husband caught. I kept the head, but the rest of the fish meat is for you. Take it home and make some soup to boost your nutrition.”

As she spoke, the kind-faced Grandma Wang pulled out another bag from beneath the table with two fish inside, handing it to Ying.

Ying’s face shone with a bright smile as she nodded gratefully.

Su Ming watched it all quietly.

While he was away, his sister had been coming here regularly, collecting scraps to eat.

The thought pierced his heart painfully.

Ten minutes later, they were back home. Su Ming sat on the earthen bed lost in thought.

His sister insisted on cooking for him. Though in a wheelchair, she bent down to add firewood to the stove.

Soon, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and a fish were ready and set on the table by Ying.

“Brother, since you just got out, consider this a welcome-home meal to chase away bad luck. Eat this fish, and from now on, you’ll live a new life.”

Ying served fish meat to Su Ming with a sweet, obedient smile.

He himself ate the fish head.

His stepmother had done the same—giving the meat to him and keeping the head for herself.

Suddenly, Su Ming snapped back to reality, glanced at the food, then bowed his head and ate heartily.

Tears trickled down his cheeks onto the table.

Fortunately, Ying didn’t notice.

After the meal, Su Ming cleaned the table and began washing his sister’s clothes.

Ying wanted to do it herself, but Su Ming firmly laid her back on the bed.

Faced with her brother’s insistence, Ying felt helpless but happy.

When Su Ming washed her underwear, he found them all tattered and worn.

His fists clenched tightly.

“Ying, I won’t let you suffer anymore.”

“As long as I have breath in me, you won’t bear so much hardship again.”

“Our parents are gone, but I’m still here. I will make you the most noble princess in this world.”

He took a deep breath and opened the door, finding Ying already lying on the bed, gently asleep.

He put on his coat and quietly slipped out.

Half an hour later, he took a taxi to a high-end lingerie store in the city.

At that moment, a sales assistant in a tight skirt greeted him with a smile.

But when she saw Su Ming’s shabby clothes, the smile vanished.

Frowning, she asked impatiently, “Sir, are you sure you’re in the right place? This is a luxury women’s lingerie shop. We only offer custom-made pieces—no men’s clothing.”

Her tone was haughty, especially emphasizing the words “luxury.”