Chapter 20.2 - Panax notoginseng 三七
He Suye smiled helplessly, “Qiu Tian, when I was younger, I had a few goldfish at home. I loved them so much that when it was my turn to feed them, I’d sprinkle a little, and the fish would fight for it. Then I’d pour in a whole packet, and the fish ended up overeating and dying. It’s the same situation now. I can’t just impose my will on her without considering her feelings, and…,” his voice softened, “the situation is complicated now. It’s not the right time. She still has some emotional baggage, and I’m greedy. I want her to wholeheartedly love me, not just have a bit of affection.”
Qiu Tian sighed, “When will Fang Kexin’s eyes stop lingering on you? She seems to have some hostility toward Shen Xifan.”
He Suye smiled, “That’s your problem. Take care of your own people and lock your own doors.”
When they finally arrived at Su Shan’s house, He Suye realized that the person staring was not Shen Xifan, but himself.
The pale pink dress, the crystal headpiece and high heels, her hair lightly curled, and her subtle makeup—holding a tray of snacks and candies. As soon as she saw them, she smiled and said, “The bride snatchers have arrived!”
Qiu Tian whistled with a mischievous grin, “We’re not snatching the bride, we’re snatching the bridesmaid!”
A faint blush swept across her face, like peach blossoms in April, and her porcelain-white neck shone like fine china. Her lively charm was reflected in the corners of her eyes and the arch of her brows, radiating like sunlight.
He couldn’t describe his feelings. His throat tightened, and he instinctively turned his face away, though his peripheral vision still stole glances at her.
Su Shan shouted from the room, “Xifan, I’m nervous. I’m scared. Can we not get married?”
Qiu Tian laughed heartily, “Too late, too late! Even if we have to tie you up, we’ll take you back!”
Li Jie, standing by, feigned pity, “Shen Jie, just let her go! I have no parents, no children, just an old yellow dog to take care of. Now I’ve married this wife, I’m supposed to serve her, make tea, give her massages, and wait on her for the rest of my life!”
Shen Xifan giggled, “Su Shan, do you want to sign a post-marriage contract now? We’re all witnesses.”
Finally, Su Shan came out herself, her eyes red, throwing herself into her parents’ arms and crying. Shen Xifan raised an eyebrow, “She wouldn’t cry no matter what I said earlier, but now it’s like a dam has broken.”
Li Jie stood by, awkwardly clutching a packet of tissues, handing them over one by one with great care.
He Suye took the paper bag with the dress from her hand, “It’s because of a deep bond with her parents. My cousin cried like crazy when she got married, and her husband felt like a villain who had kidnapped her.”
Shen Xifan smiled, “I guess if I get married, I’ll cry too. I wouldn’t want to leave my parents.”
Qiu Tian seemed equally sentimental, “If I get married, my parents will cry tears of joy.”
Then came the moment when the groom carried the bride out, into the car, back to the groom’s home, and finally, they drove to the hotel. The wedding procession occupied most of the main road, grand and impressive, reminiscent of an ancient royal wedding.
Once they got there, Shen Xifan and Qiu Tian didn’t have a moment of rest. They helped the newlyweds with their makeup, received red envelopes, handed out wedding candy, and by the time the wedding started, their throats were parched and hoarse. They had to toast with the newlyweds and help them block alcohol.
The chaos didn’t end until after 2 p.m., and there was another reception in the evening. Both were so exhausted they felt like crying.
Qiu Tian choked, “Shark fin soup… I didn’t get a single bite.”
Shen Xifan lamented, “I had my eye on that roast suckling pig for so long, but by the time I came back, all that was left was the pig skin.”
Qiu Tian collapsed on the sofa, gazing longingly at He Suye, “Sharp angle, I should have just let you be the best man! I would have gone to eat and drink instead!”
Shen Xifan pointed at him and laughed, “He Suye, with you looking like that, who would dare ask you to be the best man? You’d be too much of a blow to the groom!”
He could only ask, “Aren’t you two hungry? I have food at my place!”
The two of them abandoned the newlyweds and made their way to He Suye’s house.
All the dishes only needed to be reheated in the microwave. He Shouzheng brought two large lunchboxes, proudly showing them off, “Uncle, here’s the food you asked me to pack.” Then he looked at Qiu Tian, “Uncle, eat less. Don’t steal Auntie’s food!”
The yam and astragalus chicken soup, braised mushrooms, red-braised eggplant, and cold beef—Qiu Tian waved his hand, “Bring me a bottle of Pepsi!”
He Shouzheng poured him a glass of juice with a serious face, “Uncle said men should drink less soda.”
Shen Xifan was happily eating the chicken soup, and He Suye asked, “Do you want me to get an apple or an orange?”
She chewed on a piece of meat and raised her hand, signaling that she couldn’t speak. He Suye smiled, “Orange? I’ll juice it and bring it over.”
Shen Xifan nodded in satisfaction, and Qiu Tian was amazed, “You can understand that? Sharp angle, you should be a zookeeper!”
He Shouzheng blinked, “Wasn’t it said that women are tigers?—Oh no! Uncle, that’s what my dad says!”
The night got even more hectic and busy. Shen Xifan felt like her legs were about to break from standing too much, but she forced herself to keep going. When the banquet ended, she looked at her feet. Several places were already blistered, and it hurt so much she gasped.
As she hesitated about whether to take off her high heels, He Suye pushed the door open, holding a small box and sighing gently, “Qiu Tian said your feet are hurting, so I came to check.”
He half-knelt down and carefully took off her shoes, his movements natural, as if treating a patient. Shen Xifan didn’t sense the ambiguous atmosphere, simply speaking as if she were in distress, completely unaware that her tone had softened into a coquettish one. Her white, jade-like foot was placed gently on He Suye’s knee, the skin broken in several places.
He first dabbed a little alcohol on a cotton pad and wiped the wound, then took out a small bottle and sprinkled some brown powder. Shen Xifan, curious, asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s powder my grandfather made, Sanqi powder. The main ingredient in Yunnan Baiyao is Sanqi.”
“That… it’s used for treating cuts, bruises, abrasions, and other external injuries, right?”
“It stops bleeding and breaks down clots, relieves pain, and helps both external and internal injuries. It stops bleeding without leaving bruises and removes bruises without harming healthy tissue. It can also treat coronary heart disease, angina, and sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage.”
“That’s amazing! Can I have more of it? If I get hurt again, I can just apply this and it’ll be fine, right?”
He applied the Sanqi powder to her wounds and finished by putting a band-aid on. He checked once more, “It’ll be fine in two days. Just avoid wearing these kinds of shoes in the future. They’re easy to cause blisters…”
He hadn’t finished the word “shoes” when Fang Kexin suddenly pushed the door open. She froze when she saw them and quickly shut the door again. Shen Xifan asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Is there something, Fang Kexin?”
Fang Kexin bit her lip tightly, her hand sweating as she clutched the doorknob, unsure if it was because of the heat or her unwillingness to accept the situation. “The wedding room games are starting. Qiu Tian says you two should hurry.”
He Suye didn’t even lift his head, “Oh, we know. We’ll be right there.”
Shen Xifan sighed in frustration, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have taken off these high heels. Now, putting them back on is even harder.”
Fang Kexin stood silently by the door for a moment, until Qiu Tian called her. The image of what she had just seen lingered in her mind like a thorn, sticking to her heart, refusing to leave.
Why have I waited so silently by your side, waiting for the past to pass, waiting for the future to come, but still unable to find the moment when your eyes will meet mine?
Actually, all I need is for you to be a little kind to me. Just a little. That would be enough for me to give up.
The fun began in the bridal chamber. Medical students typically marry later, as their work in hospitals is demanding, and so, at any joyful occasion, they tend to go all out in celebration.
The bridal room was filled with obstacles set up by the mischievous friends. Apples, dates, and cherries were scattered along the path, forcing the bride and groom to eat them as they went. Li Jie and Su Shan had drunk quite a bit, and they couldn’t resist being teased, leaving them utterly exhausted.
Finally, Li Jie couldn’t hold it in anymore. He raised an eyebrow, pushed Su Shan into a corner, and pinned her there. Turning to the crowd of onlookers, he shouted, “Those who are just watching can leave now.” Then, he gave Su Shan a passionate kiss, causing the whole crowd to erupt in cheers.
