Staying in this secluded and peaceful mountain village, Ye Li's health gradually improved under Doctor Lin's care. It surprised Ye Li that such a remote village would have a physician as skilled as Doctor Lin. She had encountered many highly skilled doctors, including renowned physicians like Shen Yang, yet even among them, this obscure Doctor Lin stood out as one of the best. She had personally witnessed him set the bone and apply medicine to a young villager who had broken his leg while hunting—his movements swift and precise. In Ye Li’s estimation, the injury would have left the young man permanently lame, yet within a month, he could walk unaided. Though still somewhat unsteady, it was clear that with a few more months of rest, he would regain his former agility.
Noticing Ye Li’s astonished gaze, Doctor Lin looked at her smugly and said, "How could mere mortals like you comprehend my medical expertise?"
Ye Li twitched her lips and lowered her head, burying herself in the pile of medical books Doctor Lin had tossed her way. Now seven months into her pregnancy, after over a month of his care, Doctor Lin cast his usual sidelong glance at her, eyeing her rounded belly and muttering, "This little one is quite tenacious. He’ll be a handful in the future." Ye Li smiled faintly, stroking her abdomen. Surviving the fall from the cliff and lying unconscious for four months—yes, this child was indeed resilient.
As she read, she watched Doctor Lin busily sorting the herbal medicine he had gathered from the mountains outside. Curious, she asked, "Doctor Lin… you’re different from the villagers." His hands paused briefly before resuming their work. Without looking up, he replied, "And you, girl, are you the same as them?" Ye Li chuckled. "So you admit it—you’re from the outside world, just like me?"
Ye Li had noticed Doctor Lin’s difference from the villagers within days of waking up. The villagers revered him not only for his medical skills but also for his vast knowledge, which set him apart from the rest. In any era, common folk held scholars in high regard. Doctor Lin even had a dedicated study in his home, neatly filled with books. Ye Li had picked up two at random and discovered one was a lost ancient text from the previous dynasty. For such a man to reside in this tiny village—where almost no one was literate—for decades was truly peculiar.
Doctor Lin stood up, dusting his hands, and looked at Ye Li. "I’ve noticed too—you’re no ordinary noble lady. These past days, you must have gathered quite a bit about me from the villagers, haven’t you?"Ye Li smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying. These past days, she had indeed inquired about Doctor Lin, though nothing particularly noteworthy emerged. Doctor Lin had moved to this village thirty years ago to set up his practice. It was said his surname was Lin, but since most villagers shared that surname, Ye Li doubted the claim held much significance. Rumor had it he'd arrived carrying an infant in swaddling clothes named Lin Yuan. Yet eleven or twelve years prior, Lin Yuan had left the village never to return. Doctor Lin never sought him out, and as years passed, most gradually forgot the young man had ever existed.
"Has Doctor Lin never considered leaving here?" Ye Li asked.
The old physician's eyes dimmed momentarily before he replied, "At my age, where would I go? Better to stay, treating neighbors who'll bury me properly when my time comes." Sensing his melancholy, Ye Li ventured, "Have you thought of searching for your son? Perhaps I could assist." Doctor Lin snorted coldly, "He won't return. Besides, he wasn't my son."
Ye Li raised an eyebrow, deciding to end today's conversation. The elderly doctor clearly wasn't one for cultivating tranquility, his temper being rather sharp.
Having confirmed Doctor Lin's assertion that she couldn't yet leave this remote mountain hamlet, Ye Li settled in peacefully. Within two weeks of regaining consciousness, a small wooden house sprang up beside the physician's dwelling, which she then occupied. Her days unfolded in village strolls and conversations, or assisting Doctor Lin with household chores. Mealtimes found her immersed in the physician's collection of books that gradually migrated to fill her own quarters. The old man voiced no objection when she appropriated his ancient texts—no villager could read, and since the child he'd raised departed eleven years prior, those volumes had sat untouched.
With spare time, Ye Li traded an unadorned hairpin for soft fabrics from local weavers. The baby arriving in months would need clothing. Running fingers over the coarse material, bittersweet emotion stirred. Elsewhere, her child would have known only finest silks... Gazing at the setting sun beyond her doorway, she sighed softly. The outside world likely burned with war now—here, at least, was safety.
While sewing infant garments, Ye Li fashioned Doctor Lin new robes too. Though the old man's expression never changed, his habitual sarcasm noticeably diminished. Occasionally, he'd toss her priceless ancient books—long-lost manuscripts she'd only heard of—as if discarding trash. Tracing these treasures, Ye Li's lips curved knowingly. The eccentric elder was gradually accepting her presence. Were it not for those she yearned for beyond these mountains, growing old in this village wouldn't be such a poor fate."Sister Chu… Sister Chu, are you there?"
Just as she was lost in thought, a young man's voice called from outside the house. Ye Li sighed helplessly—it seemed no matter where you went in the world, there were always one or two exasperating characters. Leaning on the table to stand up, she saw the man had already entered. He was a tall, sturdy young fellow carrying a pheasant. Spotting Ye Li, he eagerly stepped forward with an ingratiating smile. "Sister Chu, I went hunting and got this pheasant for you—to help nourish your health."
Ye Li suppressed another internal sigh and smiled at him. "Brother Lin, I appreciate your kindness. But I don't eat much meat, so you should take it back for your parents instead."
The young man frowned disapprovingly. "That won't do! Even if you don't eat it, the baby needs nourishment. Actually... my mother asked me to bring this to you." At this, his simple, honest face flushed slightly as he gazed at her hopefully.
Looking at the young man before her, Ye Li had to resist the urge to massage her temples. Perhaps there were downsides to living among people who were too kindhearted? In other places, a pregnant woman living alone would have been treated with some wariness, but in this small village, ever since she'd recovered enough to go outside, Doctor Lin had informed her that two families had already hinted at wanting to marry her—despite her pregnancy. Though she'd explained multiple times that she'd only ended up here due to an accident and would leave after giving birth and recovering, few seemed to believe her. After all, in their eyes, the journey beyond the mountains was dangerous enough to deter even able-bodied men, let alone a frail woman with an infant.
"Brother Lin, thank you for your kindness. But... my husband and I love each other deeply. He's surely waiting for me at home. So once the baby is born, I must return to him no matter what. Therefore... you really don't need to go to such trouble for me." Ye Li hadn't wanted to be so blunt, but with him bringing game and food every few days, every villager—young and old—would give her knowing looks and make suggestive comments whenever she went out. It had become unbearably irritating. More importantly, some matters needed decisive action—prolonging them would only make things worse.
The young man's face turned even redder, his expression a mix of dejection and fluster. "I know... Doctor Lin said you're a young lady from a wealthy family outside. I... I'm not worthy of you. Then... just keep this pheasant—I happened to catch it in the mountains anyway. I, I..." Seeming at a loss for words, he dropped the pheasant and hurried out in a rush.
Ye Li glanced at the doorway, then looked down at her rounded belly with a wry smile.
"That boy is the finest young man in our village, you know." Doctor Lin had entered unnoticed and nodded at the game on the table with understanding.
Ye Li smiled helplessly. "Doctor Lin, must you tease me like this? You know very well I have to leave eventually."Doctor Lin sat down with a sigh and said, "I knew at first glance that you, girl, were no ordinary person. This small mountain village could never hold you, just like that young man back then—utterly heartless, leaving without a word and never returning all these years."
Watching the old man frown and complain, Ye Li smiled faintly, thinking to herself that she would help the old man look for this Lin Yuan if she ever got the chance after leaving. Doctor Lin looked at her with some regret and said, "This old man isn't getting any younger. I originally thought you were clever and had good comprehension, hoping to pass on my medical skills to someone. This village... would at least have a doctor in the future."
"Why hasn't Doctor Lin chosen someone from the village to inherit your knowledge?" Ye Li asked curiously. Doctor Lin had lived in the village for thirty years—by all logic, he should have found a successor long ago. Doctor Lin snorted lightly. "Not a single person in this village can read or write. Their ancestors supposedly set the rule: no literacy, no leaving the village. How can I teach anything to illiterates? At best, they'd become third-rate physicians."
Ye Li smiled apologetically. "That is a shame. If Doctor Lin doesn’t mind, perhaps you could teach Jun Wei? Though I don’t know how much she could grasp in just a few months."
Doctor Lin sized her up for a moment and only tossed out a remark as he stood to leave: "First, memorize the book I gave you yesterday."
Watching the old man’s retreating figure, Ye Li smiled faintly. "Yes, Master."
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