Ji Xian Village.

The tall sorghum field on the western side of the village.

"Xiaobei, don't do this, someone might see..."

"Sister-in-law, don't be nervous, everyone has gone back, no one saw..."

Zhang Xiaobei straightened up, spat out a mouthful of black blood, and lying in front of him was his sister-in-law, who had just been bitten on the thigh by a poisonous black widow spider...

He Xiaoya wasn't actually his blood-related sister-in-law. Neither he nor his elder brother, Zhang Dadao, were the biological sons of Old Man Zhang. He had been picked up, whereas Zhang Dadao had been orphaned since childhood and had acknowledged Old Man Zhang as his adoptive father.

His sister-in-law was unlucky; the day before their marriage registration at the Civil Affairs Bureau, Zhang Dadao was involved in a tricycle accident on the way there, and died before reaching the hospital, making her a widow!

Originally, Zhang Xiaobei had planned to finish university, find a good job, and repay his father and sister-in-law. Unfortunately, things went contrary to his wishes right before graduation!

When he went out with several classmates, one of the rich second-generation kids took his girlfriend, Liu Lili, to another private room to do the deed. Zhang Xiaobei caught them, and ended up fighting with the rich kid, but was instead beaten up by the rich kid's lackeys!

So, he reported it to the police.

Unexpectedly, by the time the police arrived, the rich kid accused Zhang Xiaobei of trying to molest Liu Lili, which wasn't even the main issue. The main issue was that Liu Lili actually took the rich kid's side!

If it weren't for insufficient evidence, Zhang Xiaobei would have likely faced jail. Truth can't be concealed, the incident was eventually exposed, the school was rocked by the scandal, and in order to quell public opinion, the school authorities decided to expel him on the spot.

With his bright future ruined, the family's fish pond was poisoned. Under such dual blows, his father, Old Man Zhang, was so upset that he fell ill and never recovered, passing away within a month, after spending tens of thousands, ending up with nothing.

After burying his father, Zhang Xiaobei joined in the farming work. His sister-in-law had also given a lot for him. He secretly vowed to make her life better from now on. Once his wings were fully grown, he would make sure that despicable couple paid!

"Xiaobei, is it done?"

"It's about done, just relax..."

Zhang Xiaobei threw up several more mouthfuls of black blood, until her blood turned bright red, and then he stopped. In just a short while, his lips had begun to turn black, and his whole body itched and felt feverish.

"Sister-in-law, it's okay now."

Zhang Xiaobei wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up supporting his sister-in-law's knee, and couldn't help but look at the place she was covering with her hand.

He Xiaoya was the prettiest and most charming young wife in the village, not just beautiful but also shapely, and her speech was different from the average villager's. Her voice was very gentle.

Zhang Xiaobei liked her too, but it was just a thought; he dared not overstep.

"Xiaobei, turn around!" He Xiaoya's cheeks were pink, and her heart was pounding.

"Sister-in-law, I..."

Seeing his sister-in-law's delicate and charming appearance made Zhang Xiaobei involuntarily take a step forward and clench his hand.

"Go load the cart!"

Noticing something off with Zhang Xiaobei's expression, He Xiaoya quickly read his intentions and became somewhat nervous, so she had no choice but to give him the cold shoulder.

"I, I'm going."

Her sister-in-law's sharp reprimand fell like cold water on his head, abruptly pulling Zhang Xiaobei back from the brink of sin. Flustered, he turned and went to the horse cart nearby, hoisting up sorghum stalks to load them.

Watching the tall Zhang Xiaobei, He Xiaoya's heart was in turmoil, and when she looked down, her cheeks flushed...

Rustling the dirt in her hair, He Xiaoya quickly got up and went over to help Zhang Xiaobei load the cart.

"Xiaobei, your sister-in-law knows what's on your mind, but..." Thinking of the cold treatment she had just given to Zhang Xiaobei, He Xiaoya felt somewhat guilty and quietly explained to him.

"Sister-in-law, I was wrong, I shouldn't have acted like that." Zhang Xiaobei hung his head, not daring to look up at his sister-in-law.

As they walked, he suddenly stumbled and, leaning against the cart, slowly collapsed to the ground. At this moment, his lips were frighteningly black, and black blood seeped from his nostrils and the corners of his eyes.

Clearly, when he had sucked the poison out for his sister-in-law, he had ingested the poisoned blood as well!

"Xiaobei, you, what's wrong with you?"

Seeing Zhang Xiaobei suddenly stumble and fall, He Xiaoya could not help but turn pale with shock. She hurriedly dropped the sorghum spikes she was holding and rushed to his side. Seeing his terrible state, she was so scared that she sat down on the ground with a thud.

"Sister-in-law, I'm alright, don't cry, I really am okay..." Seeing his frightened sister-in-law cry, Zhang Xiaobei forced a weak smile and tried to get up, using the cartwheel for support. But no matter how much he struggled, his hands and feet were too weak to exert any strength.

"Huff..."

Leaning against the wheel, Zhang Xiaobei closed his eyes in despair. After a moment, he opened them again and shakily took He Xiaoya's hand, "Sister-in-law, there's no saving me. After I die, you shouldn't stay here, you need to take good care of yourself..."

"Xiaobei, don't talk nonsense. Hold on a little longer, we'll go back and find a doctor."

Helping Zhang Xiaobei onto the cart, He Xiaoya led the horse-drawn cart in a rush towards the outside, shouting as she ran, tears falling down her chin.

Five minutes later.

The horse-drawn cart hurried back to the village.

Clang, clang, clang!

At the clinic on the eastern side of the village, He Xiaoya knocked aggressively. Seeing the door locked, she turned and ran hastily to the backyard of Meng Qingdong's house, calling out continuously at the door.

Meng Qingdong was the Barefoot Doctor of Ji Xian Village, and the only one skilled in medicine there.

"It's Little Xiaoya, what brings you here so late at night? Are you not feeling well?"

At this point, a gentle-looking young man came out from the yard; he was the village doctor, Meng Qingdong.

"Dr. Meng, it's not me, it's Xiaobei, he's been poisoned..." He Xiaoya, shaking with urgency, was about to pull Meng Qingdong to see the patient.

"Sister, don't rush, what exactly happened? How did he get poisoned?" Meng Qingdong closed the door and walked quickly toward the clinic with He Xiaoya.

"I was bitten by a black widow. Xiaobei sucked out the poison for me, and then, he got poisoned." He Xiaoya urged, "Dr. Meng, we need to hurry, Xiaobei might not have much time left..."

"Oh? You were bitten by a black widow, where?" Opening the door of the clinic, Meng Qingdong looked at Zhang Xiaobei in the cart and then carried him into the clinic on his back.

Hearing Meng Qingdong's question, He Xiaoya's pretty face turned red instantly, she stammered but didn't say where, continuing to press to save the patient.

Meng Qingdong put on a white coat and a stethoscope, occasionally opening Zhang Xiaobei's eyes to observe, his frown deepening by the moment. By now, Zhang Xiaobei's breath was barely noticeable, a pitiful sight to behold.

"Dr. Meng, how is Xiaobei?" Seeing Dr. Meng's grave expression, He Xiaoya became even more worried.

Meng Qingdong gestured for her to be quiet and then continued his examination and took the pulse. After about half a minute, he raised his head to look at He Xiaoya again, "Are you sure it was a black widow? It doesn't seem like it to me..."

He Xiaoya was startled, then asserted firmly, "Dr. Meng, it was definitely a black widow. I was bitten when I went to relieve myself, I saw it very clearly..."

Upon hearing this, Meng Qingdong narrowed his eyes slightly, "That's not easy to say, if it really is a black widow, that's going to be troublesome..."

He Xiaoya was panic-stricken, and with a thud, she knelt before Meng Qingdong, "Dr. Meng, please, save Xiaobei, he's like this because he was saving me..."

"Ah, sister, I want to save people too, but my ability falls short of my wishes. If I use medicine recklessly and someone dies, how could the villagers trust me to treat them? Don't make things difficult for me!" Meng Qingdong sighed deeply and looked troubled. "If it's not too much trouble, let me see the wound. I need to confirm it, there's nothing else I can do!"