Wang Honglian walked over, took the hairpin from Lin Fan's hand, and said to her daughter dotingly, "Ying'er, this is the only thing your grandmother left me. Now that you've grown up, it's time to give it to you."
Xue Yinger shook her head and refused, "I don't want it, it looks too scary."
"Silly girl, this is your dowry from Mom, you must take it."
Wang Honglian tied up her daughter's long hair and inserted the hairpin. "Although this hairpin is silver-plated and not worth much, it's an old item, and it's also the only thing Mom can leave you."
"Take good care of it and don't lose it. When Mom is gone, if you miss me, this will be a memento."
"Mom!" Xue Yinger's eyes welled up with tears, and she threw herself into her mother's arms.
Lin Fan crouched on the stove in a daze, staring intently at the hairpin on Xue Yinger's head.
The spiritual energy in his dantian had calmed down, but he felt a sense of loss.
Lin Fan knew that he had developed a desire for the Butian Needle.
He had wanted to buy the Butian Needle with money, but after hearing the conversation between mother and daughter, he found it impossible to speak up.
This was the dowry and only memento left by their mother to her daughter. How could he bear to take it for himself?
"Alright, stop crying. Mom isn't dead yet, and you're not married. What are you crying about?" Wang Honglian coaxed.
Then she turned her head, "Xiao Fan, did you find the stone mortar?"
"Found it."
Lin Fan responded and jumped down from the stove with the stone mortar.
"Then you pound the medicine, and I'll go find some wooden planks." With that, Wang Honglian walked out.
"Xiao Fan, do you need any more herbs?"
Xue Yinger wiped her tears and asked with a thick nasal voice.
"No, they're all in the medicine box."
Lin Fan opened the medicine box, took out a few herbs, handed them to Xue Yinger, and instructed, "Just pound them into a paste."
"Okay."
Xue Yinger nodded, sat on a stool, and began pounding the herbs.
Lin Fan borrowed her hairpin and studied it carefully.
Ten minutes later.
"Xiao Fan, I've found some wooden planks. Do you think they'll work?"
Wang Honglian came in with a pile of small wooden planks.
Lin Fan said without even looking, "They're perfect. Ying'er, take a look."
He had a very unnatural smile on his face, and even a fool could tell he had something on his mind.
Xue Yinger suddenly seemed to recall something. She tidied her long hair and said irritably, "Give me back the hairpin. It's just for looking, you're not planning to keep it, are you?"
"Oh, I forgot, I forgot."
Lin Fan smiled foolishly and reluctantly returned the hairpin to Xue Yinger.
Wang Honglian was anxious and didn't notice anything unusual about Lin Fan.
"Xiao Fan, can you treat your uncle's leg now?"
"Yes, let's go and apply the medicine and splint for Uncle Deyou."
The three returned to the main room.
Xue Deyou's face was pale, and he was curled up on the kang, with a large pool of tears, snot, and saliva. He had lost the strength to cry out in pain.
"Honglian, Ying'er, please save me."
"I'll never bully you again. I'll go to the fields and work hard to earn money, buy you new clothes, buy you good food, and repay you well."
"Please, save me, I'm really dying."
Seeing Xue Deyou's pitiful state, Lin Fan felt a sense of satisfaction.
Serves him right!
"Your father, don't worry. Xiao Fan can set bones. The medicine and things are ready, and he'll treat you right away," Wang Honglian comforted him.
Xue Deyou grabbed his wife's hand and cried, "Honglian, it's not my bones that hurt, it's my whole leg. It hurts so much I'm going to die."
"I think if I don't go to the hospital, I'll really die. I don't want to die!"
"Don't worry, you won't die as long as I'm here," Lin Fan said playfully.
Xue Yinger frowned. "Xiao Fan, my dad seems to be in real pain. He's never been like this before. Are you sure you can treat him?"
"Of course, my medicine is very effective. Once it's applied, I guarantee it will cure the illness."
Lin Fan sneered inwardly. Your father hasn't been like this before because he hasn't met someone who can deal with him!
"Hurry up, Xiao Fan. Look how much your uncle is suffering," Wang Honglian urged.
"Auntie, don't worry, I'll start treating Uncle Deyou now." Lin Fan sat on the kang, grabbed Xue Deyou's calf with his left hand, raised his right hand, and tapped his Juxu acupoint.
The silver needle pierced in, was quickly rotated, and then ointment was applied. The movements were fluid and so fast that the mother and daughter couldn't see them clearly.
"Mmm!"
The next second, Xue Deyou let out a comfortable groan.
"It finally doesn't hurt anymore."
His contorted face gradually relaxed, his body loosened, and he lay down limply.
Lin Fan picked up a few wooden planks and tied them to his leg with strips of cloth. It was done.
"Thank you, Xiao Fan."
Xue Yinger and her mother looked at Lin Fan deeply.
"Auntie, Ying'er, I told you not to be so polite. If you keep doing this, I'll get angry," Lin Fan said, feigning anger.
Wang Honglian smiled kindly. "In that case, what do you want? I'll give you anything I have."
Lin Fan subconsciously glanced at the hairpin on Xue Yinger's head, his deep eyes shining with a sharp light.
Xue Yinger's face flushed. She moved her lips but didn't speak, giving Lin Fan a look that was both threatening and shy.
Wang Honglian, being an experienced woman, saw her daughter's thoughts in her eyes.
Just as she was about to say something, she heard Xue Deyou exclaim, "It's not easy to marry my daughter."
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow, realizing the man had misunderstood. He quickly explained, "Uncle Deyou, I didn't mean that. I want the hairpin."
"What nonsense hairpin!"
"Let me tell you, I raised her for over twenty years so I could find her a rich family and live a comfortable life in my later years."
"If you want to marry my daughter, fine. Five hundred thousand. Not a penny less!"
Xue Deyou directly put a price on his daughter.
Xue Yinger's expression instantly changed. She gave her father a cold look and turned to leave.
Lin Fan was also furious, thinking that he should find a way to send this old fellow to hell!
Xue Deyou was startled by Lin Fan's fierce gaze and hid fearfully in the corner.
This kid is strange!
That pain just now must have been his doing!
If it happened again, he might really die.
But that doesn't mean he should get off easy!
Xue Deyou's eyes rolled, and he put on a fawning smile. "Xiao Fan, Uncle isn't targeting you."
"Uncle is incompetent in this life. Ying'er is the only one I can rely on. If I don't seize this opportunity to get some benefits, how will I live the rest of my life?"
"If you think fifty thousand is too much, we can negotiate!"
Lin Fan couldn't be bothered to say anything more and turned to leave.
Selling his own daughter like merchandise, such a heartless father was truly speechless.
"Your husband, what are you saying?" Wang Honglian said unhappily.
"What do you know!"
Xue Deyou said righteously, "Keep an eye on your daughter. Don't let her associate with poor boys, or it will affect her value."
"A child's marriage should be based on mutual affection. Money or no money doesn't represent everything," Wang Honglian advised.
"Stop your damn nonsense. If I don't sell her for money to pay off debts, I'll sell you!"
"Do you think anyone wants you?"
Xue Deyou's attitude was firm. He was determined to sell his daughter for money.