After seeing Zhang Xiaofeng's family off, Zhao Rongrong and Lu Changfu glared at Lu Fan.
"Xiao Fan! Why didn't you accept the twenty thousand yuan? If you don't save money, how will you get married? Besides, twenty thousand isn't much for them. According to the hospital's standards, it would cost two hundred thousand to cure it!" Zhao Rongrong said angrily.
"Exactly! Xiao Fan, you must prioritize saving money from now on. After all, you're not young anymore, and it costs at least a hundred to two hundred thousand to get married these days," Lu Changfu added.
"Hahaha! Dad, Mom, who says I have to get married first? I'm going to establish my career before starting a family! Besides, as you heard, Sister Xiaofeng's family scraped together twenty thousand yuan. If I took it, their lives would be very difficult. And didn't you help the villagers a lot in the past? Many people still owe us for medical fees, and you didn't chase them for payment when you were also in financial difficulty. Hehe!" Lu Fan said with a smile.
"Cough, cough! That's true!" Lu Changfu nodded helplessly. When he was injured and desperately needed money, he didn't chase the villagers for payment. It wasn't cowardice, but rather an unwillingness to press them. How could people in these remote mountain villages be wealthy?
"Then... when will we save enough money for your wedding!? Sigh!" Zhao Rongrong sighed, and the whole family looked embarrassed. But their son still needed to get married.
"Hehe! Saving money for a wedding is easy! Let me tell you, the money I used to contract the back mountain was earned from selling matsutake mushrooms these past few days. Once I build a constant temperature greenhouse and cultivate matsutake mushrooms artificially, the earnings will be more than enough for my wedding. I want to get rich! Besides, we have the breeding farm. When our wild boars, wild rabbits, and pheasants are ready for sale, you two can just sit back and count the money! Haha!" Lu Fan burst into laughter.
"What? Matsutake mushrooms are that valuable? We... we ate so much." Zhao Rongrong and Lu Changfu's eyes widened. They had always thought matsutake mushrooms were delicious, but they never imagined they would be so valuable. If they had known, they wouldn't have eaten them and would have sold them instead.
"Uh???" Lu Fan was speechless. His parents were thrifty people who were reluctant to part with anything. Once he had money, he would ensure his parents lived a prosperous life.
"Fan... what are you doing?! Can you come over?" Suddenly, a message alert sounded from his phone. Lu Fan saw it was from Liu Ruyan and quickly replied: "Coming right away."
"Mom! Dad! I have something to do, I'm going out! You two should rest quickly!" Lu Fan said and then rushed out.
"This child isn't going to sleep at Liu Ruyan's place again, is he? How can young people be so open these days?" Zhao Rongrong looked at Lu Changfu with a helpless expression. She was a very conservative person. If her own daughter had moved in with someone before marriage, she would never have agreed! But her son...
"Hehe! My son is capable. Maybe he won't even need to spend money to get married!" Lu Changfu chuckled.
"Get lost! I don't want such a casual wife! No matter how much money it costs, I hope my son marries a beautiful and pure-hearted wife," Zhao Rongrong glared at Lu Changfu and said indignantly.
...
When Lu Fan arrived at the village committee office, Liu Ruyan had just finished showering and was wearing a pink floral pajama set. Her wet hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her beautiful face looked even more tender and smooth. Lu Fan was instantly mesmerized, his eyes fixed on Liu Ruyan as he gulped.
"Pfft," Liu Ruyan let out a laugh, gave Lu Fan a playful glare, and then lay down on the bed.
"You... why are you just standing there? Come here!" Seeing Lu Fan still staring blankly, Liu Ruyan's pretty face blushed, and she said something that made one's imagination run wild.
"Oh!" Lu Fan suddenly snapped back to reality, mentally scolding himself for being useless. He hurried to the washroom, washed his hands, and splashed some cold water on his face to clear his head before walking out.
This time, Liu Ruyan didn't lift her clothes herself or press them down, fearing Lu Fan might see even a little more. Seeing Lu Fan approach, she blushed and closed her eyes. However, thinking about a man lifting her clothes... she still nervously clenched her small fists.
"I am a doctor... I am a doctor..." Lu Fan muttered to himself. His fingers tentatively reached for the hem of Liu Ruyan's clothes. It seemed like this was his first time too... Okay! I am a doctor, I am a doctor!
Lu Fan took a deep breath, not daring to think further. He lifted the hem of Liu Ruyan's clothes, revealing her smooth, flat abdomen. Then he took out a silver needle and began the treatment.
Liu Ruyan slightly peeked through her half-closed eyes at Lu Fan. Seeing Lu Fan's serious expression, he suddenly looked very handsome and tall...
"Ruyan, get some good rest! Don't forget to lock the door," Lu Fan said, not daring to look at Liu Ruyan's flushed face again, and quickly fled.
"You little dummy! So tall and big, but so timid," Liu Ruyan rolled her eyes when she saw Lu Fan hurry away. She felt a little disappointed but also a little fond of him. This guy was probably not a playboy. Calming herself down, she got out of bed, went to lock the door, and then returned to lie down.
Phew... Could it be that I'm really falling for this kid? If he made any inappropriate moves, would I...? Oh my, how embarrassing! Liu Ruyan buried her head under the covers.
"Xiao Fan... Xiao Fan..."
As soon as Lu Fan came out of the village committee office, he heard someone calling him. Turning around, he saw it was Wang Yan. Wang Yan was hiding by her own doorstep. Seeing Lu Fan come out, she immediately lowered her voice and called him twice. She guessed this kid didn't come yesterday and would definitely come today. Hmph! She caught him as expected.
"Sister Wang Yan! You... what are you doing sneaking around?" Lu Fan was taken aback and walked over to ask.
"You're talking about me sneaking around? You're the one who's sneaking around," Wang Yan glared at Lu Fan and then suddenly asked, "Kid! Is there any possibility between you and that girl? She's from the city." Wang Yan looked at Lu Fan seriously. She just wanted to know if Lu Fan was serious with the village head or just playing around. She couldn't believe a city girl, who had met all sorts of excellent men, would fall for a young man from a poor mountain village.
"Sister Wang Yan! What nonsense are you talking about? We... we were just discussing building a constant temperature greenhouse. The village head said he would help me get a loan from the bank," Lu Fan retorted, quickly making an excuse. Most women liked to gossip, and he couldn't let this woman spread rumors.
"Sister, I have a lot to do, I can't chat with you. It's so late, you should go back to sleep. Remember to lock your door," Lu Fan said and then quickly ran away.
"Damn Lu Fan! He ran off again, hmph." Wang Yan stomped her foot in frustration. Why was it so difficult to get this kid? However, this kid was only with the village head for a loan... Hmph! City people are really not good! They use their little bit of power to pick flowers and seduce people! Hmph! Wang Yan glared fiercely at the room where Liu Ruyan was staying and then walked back, swinging her round little backside.
"Achoo..." Liu Ruyan suddenly sneezed in her quilt.
Lu Fan tiptoed back to his room and sat on the bed. With a thought, he took out the spirit gathering bottle. He shook it, but there was still only one drop of spiritual liquid inside. Alas! If he builds a constant temperature greenhouse in the future, this one drop of spiritual liquid per day won't be enough! It would be great if there was a way to increase the amount of spiritual liquid!
In the adjacent room, Zhao Rongrong and Lu Changfu lay in bed, looking at Lu Fan's room.
Lu Changfu: "This kid is back so soon?"
Zhao Rongrong: "He was tossing and turning all night yesterday, and today he's still... No one can handle that. No, I have to make some good food for my son tomorrow."
Lu Changfu: "I heard that Old Liu's family in the next village is slaughtering a pig tomorrow. I'll go buy the pig kidneys to give my son a boost."