Chapter 25 – Discussing Marriage

I apologize for the confusion. Here’s the revised translation:

The night was quiet, and Lu Xingwang sat on the edge of the bed. Due to the intense activities throughout the day, his body hadn’t fully recovered. In addition, he had exerted excessive mental effort during the archery competition in the hunting ground, causing his body to react even more severely to the toxins that he usually suppressed with medication. Today, for some unknown reason, the pain became even more intense. His body felt as if it were on fire, and every organ and part of him was in great discomfort. The pain was so intense that thin beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.

The last time he had experienced such intense pain was when he received the news of his mother’s death.

Lu Xingwang looked up and glanced at the information screen. Coincidentally, he saw a message from Jian Mei, who had replied to him. At first, he was taken aback, but then, even in such unbearable pain, a smile appeared on the corner of the young man’s mouth.

No one had ever said those words to him before.

Perhaps there was tolerance in this world, but the right to live with tolerance had never belonged to him.

It was the first time someone had said to him, “It doesn’t matter if you’re not the first.”

In his childhood fantasies, he had imagined his mother saying those words when he didn’t achieve the best results and was worried. He had imagined seeing those words in his father’s eyes when he had tried his best but failed. He had imagined finding a moment of relief and relaxation in the midst of a busy and strict life.

However, he had never imagined that those words would come from the mouth of a stranger, a child he had only known for less than half a year. A wry smile appeared on his lips, but he didn’t know if he was laughing at Jian Mei or at himself.

…

Jian Mei was watching a video.

For Lu Xingwang or the people from the Stanxing country, the content of the video was nothing special. But for Jian Mei, it felt as if the sky was falling. The reason was simple… he seemed to have seen a dragon flying over the hunting ground in the video! The video paused at one minute and twelve seconds, and no matter how he looked at it, it resembled a dragon!

Jian Mei was shocked, “Which country does Brother Dazhuang belong to?”

In his imagination, sports competitions were at most about high jumping, running, and playing ball. The size of the hunting ground in the video exceeded his imagination. Not only that, the target was not the traditional kind, but a circular electronic screen. It wasn’t a conventional glass screen either; it was more like a rippling water surface that occasionally rippled and shifted away…

“Oh my god.” Jian Mei’s eyes widened, “Am I too old-fashioned? Technology is so advanced now.”

He had no idea how much sensation this video would cause if it were to be spread. While Jian Mei was pondering his own limited knowledge, his gaze fell on Lu Xingwang. If his guess was correct, the protagonist in the video holding the bow and arrow was none other than Brother Dazhuang. He would never have expected that Brother Dazhuang would be so tall. He seemed to be around 1.8 meters tall, although his face wasn’t visible, his presence was strong.

Jian Mei was just about to admire Lu Xingwang’s archery skills when a shot transition caught his attention. He noticed Lu Xingwang’s folded arm. Although it was just an arm, for someone who studied medicine and emphasized observation and diagnosis, many things could be inferred from small details.

“This pulse doesn’t seem right…”

The high video quality allowed for a clear view, and although Jian Mei’s medical skills weren’t exceptional, he had common knowledge that the pulse and meridians of a healthy person should not be like that.

Recalling that Lu Xingwang had mentioned being sick before, Jian Mei’s expression gradually grew serious. He forgot about the high-tech research he was initially engaged in and focused all his attention on Lu Xingwang’s wrist. He even stopped eating cherry tomatoes, jumped off the couch, and went to the bookshelf to retrieve medical books.

Although he wasn’t certain about the exact problem, Jian Mei had a vague guess.

“Are you there?” He messaged Lu Xingwang, “Are you free now?”

After a while,

Lu Xingwang replied: [What’s wrong?]

Jian Mei’s heart tightened, and he asked the thing he was most worried about at the moment: “Is your illness serious?”

Lu Xingwang: [Why are you suddenly asking about this?]

The more he avoided giving a direct answer, the more anxious Jian Mei became. Sometimes, when he got anxious, he acted impulsively. Seeing Lu Xingwang always appearing strong and confident, in order to confirm his suspicion, Jian Mei clicked the button to make a phone call. The dial button on WeChat kept flashing, but there was no response on the other end.

Jian Mei stared at the screen intently, as if hoping that by doing so, he could discern something. As time passed, the call remained unanswered, and disappointment gradually crept onto his face. In the last few seconds, just as the call was about to be disconnected, finally, the call connected.

The sudden connection left Jian Mei momentarily unsure of what to say. He hesitated for a moment and then softly said, “Hello?”

There was a pause on the other end.

“Hmm,” Lu Xingwang’s voice sounded somewhat hoarse, “What’s the matter?”

Jian Mei listened carefully to his breathing, which seemed a bit heavier than during their previous conversation, so he quickly asked, “Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

Lu Xingwang said, “I’m fine.”

Phone conversations and text messages are different. Tone and intonation can be more directly perceived. Jian Mei’s voice was always gentle, but this time, his underlying worry couldn’t be concealed. “You mentioned before that you’re sick. Is it a serious illness?”

Lu Xingwang leaned against the edge of the bed, the pain from the poison hadn’t completely subsided. He merely furrowed his brows lightly and asked, “Why are you suddenly bringing this up?”

Jian Mei guessed correctly, and it made him even more anxious. So he said, “Can you tell me what illness you have? My grandfather is very skilled, and my father is also a famous doctor. They have remedies for many diseases. You…”

While he was rambling on, Lu Xingwang’s expression gradually grew solemn.

After a moment,

He spoke, “Jian Mei.”

As Jian Mei spoke, his voice involuntarily took on a teary tone. To be interrupted now, he responded in confusion, “Hmm?”

“Don’t worry about my health. I have the best doctors by my side,” Lu Xingwang said. “I know my own body.”

The extremity and complexity of the interstellar pirates’ poison were beyond Jian Mei’s imagination, and he didn’t want Jian Mei to get involved in this mess.

On the other end of the phone, Jian Mei listened quietly. Just when Lu Xingwang thought that Jian Mei, with his temperament, would surely cry, he was surprised to find that the child who had previously spoken with a teary voice was unusually obedient this time. It was as if he knew that Lu Xingwang wasn’t in a good state right now, so he behaved even more maturely.

Unexplainably, Lu Xingwang’s heart softened. He added, “You should be able to feel it. We are far apart, even your family wouldn’t be able to reach this distance. So many things aren’t as simple as you think. Do you understand?”

Jian Mei lowered his head and softly replied, “Yes.”

Lu Xingwang was somewhat satisfied. He thought he had made himself clear, and a normal person would understand when to stop. Jian Mei should give up questioning about this matter.

But who knew?

A voice came from the other end of the phone, Jian Mei’s voice, “I know that with my current abilities, I can’t go to faraway places.”

“But, but I will try my best. I have already decided to study medicine seriously. I want to become a doctor in the future, the kind who can heal many people.” The words of a clumsy child were always spoken with special seriousness. His voice was exceptionally clear in the silent night, yet exceptionally gentle. “Will you wait for me to come find you in the future?”

The future was always a vague and elusive concept.

Especially for Lu Xingwang, not long ago, when he learned that his life was coming to an end, he had already given up hope. The pain from the poison sometimes made him feel that death was preferable to life, and the hope of a cure was almost zero. In the past, he would have scoffed at such childish words, but at this moment, listening to Jian Mei’s trembling voice and the warm words close to his ears, inexplicably, he didn’t want to pour cold water on them.

Lu Xingwang’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and his body’s response seemed to be more honest and faster than his brain. Despite knowing it was a mistake, he heard himself respond softly, “Okay.”

…

The next day

Early in the morning, for some reason, perhaps because there were more people returning to the village for the National Day, many people gathered in the courtyard. Some came to visit, while others came for medical treatment. Many people were busy with work in the city and didn’t want to take leave for minor ailments. During this trip back home for the National Day, everyone knew about the exceptional medical skills of Elder Jian, so both adults and children came to seek consultations.

Jian Mei helped with dispensing medicine in the pharmacy, while Elder Jian diagnosed the pulse in front. Jian Changjia assisted him by his side. During the breaks, some people sat in the cool shade of their homes and chatted. After dispensing the medicine, Jian Mei would take some fruits and snacks to offer them.

“Oh, isn’t this Mei Mei? You’re back?”

“We haven’t seen you for some time, and you’ve grown so big.”

“This child is really handsome.”

Many people in the village liked to gossip, especially when they saw a child who had finally returned. The attention would be even higher. Jian Mei’s appearance was handsome, and Elder Jian was highly respected in the village. With a good family background, they naturally attracted a lot of attention.

One woman said, “Mei Mei, are you starting junior high school today?”

Jian Mei nodded and replied, “Yes, Auntie. I’m in the second year of junior high.”

“Great.” The woman, munching on sunflower seeds, gossiped, “And what about your brother? Is he about to enter his final year of high school?”

Jian Mei responded, “Seems like it.”

She continued, “Time flies so quickly. Before we know it, your brother will be getting married.”

Not far away, Jian Changjia, who was helping to carry the medicine shelves, trembled and almost dropped them. He didn’t expect to become the subject of discussion even though he was so far away.

Jian Mei smiled and said, “It’s still early for my brother.”

Jian Changjia also walked over, took away a stool from the pavilion, and added, “Auntie, don’t make baseless assumptions. Who knows if you’ll still be around when I get married?”

The smile on the woman’s face froze.

Listen to this, what a sharp remark, it’s simply spot-on.

However, this auntie is an understanding person. She knows that the eldest son of the Jian family has a lousy temper, so she doesn’t bother with him and instead teases him, saying, “If you marry late, it doesn’t necessarily mean Mei Mei will also marry late. Maybe he’ll settle down earlier than you.”

Jian Changjia glanced at Jian Mei beside him and sneered, “Him?”

“He doesn’t have that ability. He won’t even have a chance for puppy love, let alone starting a family or a career. He’s so clueless. I hope he doesn’t end up being completely fooled by someone in the future,” Jian Changjia didn’t hold back when mocking his younger brother.

Jian Mei huffed, “I won’t!”

Jian Changjia clicked his tongue and raised an eyebrow.

Not far away, Elder Jian was almost done with his work and called Jian Mei over to double-check the medicinal herbs. It was busier around noon, but as the afternoon approached, fewer people came. Even if someone did come, they were politely declined and asked to come back tomorrow. In recent years, Elder Jian’s age had increased, and he couldn’t handle such high-intensity consultations. The afternoon was generally reserved for his nap.

Jian Mei approached and gently knocked on the study’s door, calling out softly, “Grandfather…”

The elderly man turned around with some confusion. “Oh, it’s Mei Mei. What’s the matter?”

“Grandfather, I want to ask you something.” Jian Mei walked over with small steps and showed him a screenshot from his phone, which depicted Lu Xingwang’s wrist. “Take a look at this. What do you think?”

Although he didn’t have much knowledge in the medical field himself and could only vaguely tell that something wasn’t right, Elder Jian had practiced medicine for many years and had seen all sorts of strange illnesses. He should understand much more than Jian Mei.

Jian Mei handed the photo to Elder Jian, who initially glanced at it casually. But when he took a closer look, his expression immediately became serious. He even stood up and went to the nearby table to put on his reading glasses. It was a sight Jian Mei had never seen before. The last time Elder Jian looked this serious was when he diagnosed himself with the possibility of leukemia.

Jian Mei’s heart sank, and he tentatively asked, “Is it severe, Grandfather?”

Elder Jian contemplated for a moment and finally came to a slow conclusion, “This doesn’t appear to be a common illness. It’s difficult to determine just by examining the pulse. But I suspect it might be poison.”

Poison?

Jian Mei was astonished. In today’s society, many people face organ-related health issues, but poisoning isn’t something common. Moreover, Lu Xingwang is around the same age as him. How could he be poisoned?

Jian Mei asked, “What kind of poison? Food poisoning?”

“…,”

Elder Jian remained silent for a moment and then spoke up, “It’s hard to say for sure. Who is this person? Do you know him? Do you have any more detailed information?”

Jian Mei was put on the spot and could only shake his head obediently, “No, he wouldn’t say much.”

“Indeed,” Elder Jian glanced at the photo again. “This kind of poison isn’t something an ordinary person would encounter…”

His voice was too low, and Jian Mei couldn’t quite hear it, so he asked, “Grandfather, what did you say?”

Elder Jian shook his head, refraining from saying much. However, he was very interested in the photo. “Mei Mei, find Uncle Wang at the village entrance and have him print out this picture. Grandfather wants to study it further.”

Jian Mei immediately nodded, “Okay.”

After agreeing, he left the study to let Elder Jian rest and went to the village entrance to find Uncle Wang to print the photo.

On the way, he also messaged Lu Xingwang, briefly mentioning someone coming to their house for a medical consultation in the morning. He also mentioned the teasing from his aunts about his brother getting married.

After a while, Lu Xingwang replied, 【Are you at the age to talk about marriage already?】

Jian Mei quickly clarified, “No!”

“I’m just in middle school, so I’m not in a hurry at all.” Jian Mei typed earnestly, “And even if I reach that age in the future, I won’t just casually marry anyone. I will have my criteria for choosing a partner.”

Originally, Lu Xingwang asked casually, but when he saw the four words “criteria for choosing a partner” in Jian Mei’s reply, he raised an eyebrow and inexplicably became interested. After a moment of hesitation, he inquired, 【What are your criteria for choosing a partner?】

Jian Mei hadn’t expected to be asked that question.

He had no awareness in that regard and had never thought about such things before, so the child was momentarily stunned.

Lu Xingwang: 【?】

Jian Mei recalled his brother’s mockery and how he looked down on him. He couldn’t let his big brother look down on him, nor could he let him think he had no ambitions! It’s just criteria for choosing a partner, right? It must be based on high standards!

“My future partner will definitely be excellent in every aspect, outstanding in everything. They will be someone who has been admired since childhood, like a dream lover to others.”

“And they will be very intelligent.”

“They will have exceptional abilities, a high social status, and great prestige.”

Jian Mei sent the message with a proud demeanor, saying, “What do you think? Isn’t it difficult to find someone like this, one in a million?”

“… ”