Chapter 196: Mountain Climbing
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Zhenzhen approached Su Ping to inquire about his injuries.
“Su Ping, how are your injuries? Are you feeling better?” she asked with concern.
Su Ping smiled happily and replied, “I should be fully recovered within half a month. Thanks to the powder you gave me, Third Sister-in-law.”
Qin Zhenzhen had sun-dried Malabar plum and ground it into a powder, which she then mixed with some spiritual water. This concoction proved to be effective in stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation, explaining why Su Ping’s wounds were healing so quickly.
The next day, Su Lan and the rest of the family went into the mountains as they usually did, presumably to gather yams. Su Qing, who had undergone some positive changes in the past month, insisted on joining them instead of staying at home. He had taken on more responsibilities, supporting his Elder Sister in managing the household and embracing the role of the eldest son.
Qin Zhenzhen found it amazing that even Su Ping had changed for the better. It made her believe that the storyline in the book could be altered more easily than she had thought. Perhaps she shouldn’t dwell on the idea of divorcing Su Bin after all.
During this period, she noticed that Su Bin seemed to be flirting with her, which stirred some emotions within her. She acknowledged that he had the ability to touch her heart, but she also wondered if he would remain virtuous and true to his values in the future. If he did, she might consider accepting his advances, but she realized it was premature to entertain such thoughts.
Shaking herself from her musings, Qin Zhenzhen decided to visit the mountains, inspect the slopes, and engage in some physical activity by climbing them to break a sweat.
As Qin Zhenzhen prepared to climb the mountain, she thought about how the spiritual water she had obtained could potentially aid in her weight loss journey. Seeing her determination, Su Bin felt motivated to join her on the climb.
Teasingly, Qin Zhenzhen said, “Don’t tire yourself out and then expect your
Second Brother to carry you home if you get leg cramps.”
In her eyes, Su Bin was merely a weak scholar, and she didn’t think he would be able to keep up.
Unconvinced, Su Bin retorted, “Do you dare to compete with me in mountain climbing?”
Refusing to back down, Qin Zhenzhen replied, “Sure, what’s the bet?” After pondering for a moment, Su Bin proposed, “Whoever loses will agree to one request from the winner.”
“Okay, deal!” Qin Zhenzhen agreed, confident in her ability to outperform Su Bin, whom she considered a weak scholar.
Su Lan and the others watched with amus.e.m.e.nt, treating it as a friendly compet.i.tion. They decided to let the two climb first while they acted as judges. As they reached the base of the mountain, Qin Zhenzhen suggested, “You can lead the way.”
But Su Bin refused, insisting, “We’ll start the compet.i.tion at the same time.”
Reluctantly, Qin Zhenzhen took the lead, with Su Bin following closely behind.
Surprisingly, they both climbed at an impressive pace, leaving Su Lan and the others behind.
Looking back at Su Bin, Qin Zhenzhen felt perplexed. She had underestimated him, a.s.suming he was a weak and inexperienced young man who never engaged in physical labor. Yet, his performance on the climb contradicted her preconceived notions.
As Qin Zhenzhen quickened her pace, expecting to easily outpace Su Bin, she was surprised to find that he was still following them.
Determined not to be beaten by what she considered a weak scholar, Qin
Zhenzhen increased her speed even more.
After a while, Su Bin couldn’t keep up and fell behind.
Approaching their yam field, Qin Zhenzhen looked back proudly, seeing him still chasing after her. She couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’ve already lost, no need to exert so much energy. It would be troublesome if you fall!” she teased.
However, as soon as she finished speaking, she heard a sudden “Ah…” followed by the sound of Su Bin tumbling into the bushes.
“Are you okay?” Qin Zhenzhen called out, concerned.
“Ah…” It sounded as if Su Bin had rolled into a ditch.
From her angle, she couldn’t see Su Bin clearly, but she noticed something rolling into a ravine, causing the branches to rustle..