Given Chen the county magistrate's high regard for her, the county office staff made arrangements to facilitate matters for Qi Huan. After swiftly clearing her criminal record, they also helped her register as a femalehold. Once registered, two copies were made - one kept in the county archives and one for her to keep.
According to the laws of Li Country, those with a husband or son cannot register as a femalehold. Those without a husband or son can register as a femalehold. Upon marriage, the femalehold status is cancelled, and upon death, the femalehold is dissolved. Femalehold holders pay taxes but are exempt from labor service.
This meant that after registering as a femalehold, Qi Huan would still have to pay taxes, but this was not an issue for her.
Holding the thin household registration paper, she gazed at it again and again under the sunlight.
"Li Shuchen, I'm a commoner now!"
"Mm." Li Shuchen nodded, then waved the bundle in his hand. "Let's transfer the deed."
"What's that?"
"The land deeds, and the indenture contracts of Tao Su and others."
Qi Huan nodded lightly. These were her hard-earned assets that should rightfully be registered under her name. At the time, since she had a criminal record, she had to keep them under Li Shuchen's name. Now that the rightful owner was reclaiming them, she was overjoyed.
After completing the deed transfer, she walked home with a beaming smile. Those she encountered would occasionally greet her warmly.
"Miss Qi, have you eaten? ... The heated brick bed you invented really works wonders! This winter has been so much better!"
"Heheh, great that it's useful. But I didn't invent it, it was invented by northerners."
"Who's Dong Bei Ren? He must be so brilliant to come up with something so useful. But we still have to thank Miss Qi, otherwise we wouldn't know how to build it."
Qi Huan no longer felt modest and happily accepted the old man's praise with a smile.
A few steps later, someone else greeted her, "Miss Qi, have you eaten? ... Let me tell you, the prescription your father left behind really works wonders. My wife has been taking it for a few months, and not only is her stomach no longer in pain, but she was found to be pregnant a few days ago.
Doctor Qi truly has the hands of an obstetrics saint, his medical skills are unparalleled. Where is your late father's grave? I'll go burn some paper money for him tomorrow to thank him."
"Thank you for your kind intentions."
The corner of Qi Huan's mouth twitched, "There's no need to burn paper money."
She worried that if her father Qi found out he had somehow become an obstetrics saint, he would scold her in his dreams at night.
However, the man who had spoken to her sighed, "Miss Qi is worried about me spending money, isn't she? Just as everyone says, Miss Qi is truly a kind person."
Qi Huan smiled awkwardly, "That's right!"
"It's more important to save the money to buy tonics for your wife."
These days, the heated brick beds had brought tangible benefits to the people of Mo County. Whenever they discussed the heated beds, they inevitably mentioned Qi Huan.
Then, they would take turns, as if in competition, eagerly recounting the good deeds she had done, repeatedly singing her praises.
As Qi Huan walked through the streets of Mo County, she received many warm, admiring gazes.
From time to time, she would encounter a talkative person who would chat with her for a bit. Some would smile and nod in greeting.
Her kindness was met with even more kindness in return.
The sunlight shining on her shoulders also seemed warmer. Qi Huan smiled with crinkled eyes as she said to Li Shuchen, "Li Shuchen, I'm very happy today, not only because of the household registration, but also because the kindness I've shown has been reciprocated."
"Qi Huan is like the radiant sun, deserving of all the admirers who look up to her." A hint of warmth appeared in Li Shuchen's eyes. "Including me."
"Heheh, is that why you like me?"
As they walked down a deserted alley, Li Shuchen naturally took her hand and said slowly, "Not just that."
Qi Huan pondered for a moment, "Could it be... because of my beauty?"
"When we first met, you were sallow and emaciated."
"...And now?"
"Now you're a little fairy."
Qi Huan smiled contentedly. Then she urged, "Quick, tell me, why did you like me when I was sallow and emaciated?"
Seeing the expectant look in her bright eyes, Li Shuchen pondered for a moment before opening up:
"You are sincere and kind, treating others with honesty.
You're also lively and cheerful, like a warm little sun.
You're different from the other young ladies I've met. You're passionate and vibrant, like a flower blooming in the muck of my life, constantly blossoming and shouting out, irresistibly drawing me closer, wanting to pick you, to hold you in my hands."
Qi Huan blinked her eyes, "If I don't return the favor, wouldn't that be rude? Should I also praise you?"
Hearing this, a faint smile curved Li Shuchen's lips, "I'm all ears."
"Let me borrow a phrase from our Heavenly Court: Drawn in by looks, won over by character."
Qi Huan said sincerely, "At first sight, I was quite stunned."
Although shallow, it is human nature.
But what truly made her like Li Shuchen was, "In the Heavenly Court, I had an irresponsible father. So I really like men who are self-disciplined. You refused Tao Su and Rong Xue decisively and cleanly, which gave me a sense of security."
"After being together for a while, I gradually realized that you're just cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Perhaps it was a case of growing affection over time, or perhaps I was smitten from the very beginning. In any case, I was willing to melt your icy outer shell, and I did see your burning inner heart as I wished.
I like you, just as the grass likes spring, the stream likes the river - an unforgettable, longing affection."
After pouring out their hearts, their eyes met, and the passionate love between them flowed in each other's gazes.
Qi Huan counted on her fingers - this was the tenth month and second day since they had been together, and the first time they had so clearly expressed why they had fallen for each other.
After returning home, the corners of Qi Huan's mouth remained upturned. She sat cross-legged on the heated brick bed, leaning over the low table to diligently copy medical books.
When drawing diagrams, she used slightly thinner paper, pasting it onto the book pages and tracing the outlines with a brush pen. Currently, she only recognized some common characters. When she encountered characters she couldn't write, she would go to the next room to seek Li Shuchen's guidance.
Seeing her coming and going repeatedly, a hint of amusement shone in Li Shuchen's eyes, "Why don't I come to your room instead?"
Qi Huan nodded.
Li Shuchen brought his writing brushes, ink, and books, moved a chair and desk into her room, and promptly helped resolve her questions whenever she had any.
As he held Qi Huan's hand to write out the obscure characters, he was about to leave when she grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go.
"It's so cold, let me warm it up for you."
In early October, Mo County was already bitterly cold. If one sat in a room without moving, their hands and feet would soon become chilled.
Qi Huan warmed Li Shuchen's hands for a while, but feeling it still wasn't enough, she pressed his palms against her rosy cheeks, flushed from the warmth of the heated bed platform, and looking up with tender concern, said, "Get on the bed."
Li Shuchen's gaze was deep and pensive. He licked his dry lips and said, "Qi Huan, do you know what you're saying?"
"I'm inviting you onto the bed. You won't be cold if you sit on the warm bed platform!"
"......"
The small flame in Li Shuchen's eyes was extinguished in an instant, and his heart gradually regained its calm.
Since Qi Huan didn't mind, he moved his belongings and sat on the same bed platform across the small table from her.
One was studying medical texts, the other reading letters, and for a while, the only sounds in the room were the soft scratching of the brush on paper and the rustling of turning pages.
Qi Huan occasionally lifted her gaze to look at the man across from her, his eyes downcast, thinking to herself: A man focused on his work is most handsome.
She took out a new notebook and wrote the date: The fifteenth year of Longshun, the fourth day of the tenth month. The tenth month and second day since Li Shuchen and I fell in love. I've lured him onto my bed platform......
