I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 471: Two Men, Advancing and Retreating

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan retorted, "Hmph, I also cooked soup for Xiao Xiao."

A short while later, the two of them brought the soup to Fang Xiaoxiao, one after the other.

Ouyang Tuoba said proudly, "My wife, this is my carefully prepared ginseng chicken soup, it's very nourishing!"

Pei Yan retorted, "Xiao Xiao, my turtle soup is the best! Drink it and I guarantee you'll feel great!"

Fang Xiaoxiao looked at the two strangely presented soups in front of her. The ginseng in the ginseng chicken soup looked like a charred stick, and the turtle in the turtle soup was baring its teeth and claws. She almost fainted on the spot.

"This...is this drinkable?" Fang Xiaoxiao asked, both amused and exasperated.

Li Wan'er laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight: "Haha, you two, are you trying to harm Xiao Xiao?!"

Ouyang Tuoba and Pei Yan glared at each other and said in unison, "Why can't we drink?"

Fang Xiaoxiao sighed helplessly, "I appreciate your kindness, but this soup... I really..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ouyang Tuoba scooped up a spoonful of ginseng chicken soup and held it to Fang Xiaoxiao's lips: "Wife, drink it quickly!"

Not to be outdone, Pei Yan brought over the turtle soup, saying, "Xiao Xiao, drink mine first!"

Fang Xiaoxiao was caught in a dilemma between the two of them. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "I...I think I won't drink any of them. Thank you!"

Both Ouyang Tuoba and Pei Yan looked disappointed. They exchanged a glance and began arguing again about whose soup was better.

The courtyard was filled with laughter, and Fang Xiaoxiao temporarily put her bad premonition behind her.

As night fell, moonlight spilled like water into the courtyard. Li Wan'er was with Fang Xiaoxiao in the room, the candlelight flickering, casting their faces in shifting light and shadow.

Li Wan'er leaned closer to Fang Xiaoxiao with a curious look and said with a grin, "Xiaoxiao, Pei Yan and Ouyang Tuoba were arguing fiercely over you again today. Don't you feel a headache?"

Fang Xiaoxiao rubbed her temples and shook her head helplessly: "Wan'er, don't even mention it, it's giving me a real headache."

Li Wan'er blinked and pressed, "So, who do you actually like?"

Fang Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and said directly, "Actually, I like Pei Yan."

Upon hearing this, Li Wan'er's eyes lit up immediately: "Oh, so it's Pei Yan! Now that you have the answer in your heart, you should make it clear to Ouyang Tuoba, so that he won't keep bothering you."

Fang Xiaoxiao sighed and said, "Wan'er, I've told him so many times, but he just won't listen."

Li Wan'er frowned and asked in confusion, "How could this be? Doesn't he believe you?"

Fang Xiaoxiao said with a wry smile, "He always feels that as long as he tries hard, there's still a chance. I really can't do anything about it."

Li Wan'er pouted: "This Ouyang Tuoba is too stubborn. Can't he see your attitude?"

Fang Xiaoxiao shrugged: "I don't know if he really can't see it or if he's pretending not to know. Every time I explain it to him, he looks all affectionate and says that love is something you have to fight for. I don't know how to respond to him."

Li Wan'er rested her chin on her hands and said thoughtfully, "Did he do anything particularly outrageous to pursue you?"

Fang Xiaoxiao recalled for a moment and said, "Once, he actually stopped me on the street and confessed his feelings in front of many people, which made me extremely embarrassed."

Li Wan'er gasped in surprise: "My God, he's so bold! Wouldn't Pei Yan be furious if he found out?"

Fang Xiaoxiao smiled helplessly: "Luckily, Pei Yan wasn't there at the time, otherwise I really don't know what would have happened."

Li Wan'er leaned closer and said mysteriously, "When you were with Pei Yan, did Ouyang Tuoba come to cause trouble?"

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned and said, "Several times when we went out together, Ouyang Tuoba would suddenly appear and deliberately cause trouble for Pei Yan."

Li Wan'er couldn't help but laugh: "This Ouyang Tuoba is really persistent. So, how do you think Pei Yan will deal with him?"

Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head: "Pei Yan is quite restrained and always tries to avoid conflict with him, but Ouyang Tuoba is always relentless."

Li Wan'er sighed, "This love triangle is really complicated. Do you plan to continue like this?"

Fang Xiaoxiao said firmly, "Of course not. I will still find an opportunity to have a good talk with Ouyang Tuoba and make him give up completely."

Li Wan'er nodded: "Yes, I hope you can resolve this trouble soon and be with Pei Yan properly."

The two chatted like this all night long, until the sky outside the window began to lighten with the first light of dawn, before they finally drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, sunlight peeked into the room through the cracks in the window. Fang Xiaoxiao was still asleep when she was awakened by the sounds of Pei Yan and Ouyang Tuoba talking to someone at the door. Li Wan'er, who was beside her, rubbed her eyes and muttered, "Who's making such a racket outside so early in the morning?"

Filled with doubt, the two got up and opened the door. They saw many simply dressed villagers standing in the courtyard. Some were carrying vegetables they had grown themselves, while others were holding freshly made pastries. Their faces were filled with anticipation and eagerness.

The villagers' eyes lit up the moment they saw Fang Xiaoxiao, and they shouted in unison, "A living Bodhisattva! A living Bodhisattva!" This sudden shout left Fang Xiaoxiao completely bewildered. She had no idea what was going on and stood there blankly.

Pei Yan walked over with a smile and explained, "Xiao Xiao, word has spread that you treated that old man yesterday without charging him. These villagers all heard about your good deed and came specifically to find you."

Fang Xiaoxiao suddenly realized what was going on. Looking at the villagers' simple faces, she felt a surge of emotion: "Why are you all doing this? I was just doing what I should do."

An elderly villager stepped forward and said excitedly, "Young lady, you don't know! In our poor, remote village, we're afraid to see a doctor even when we're sick, for fear of spending money. You're treating people for free; you've truly saved everyone's lives!"

Another villager chimed in, "Yes, young lady, you are our great benefactor!"

Fang Xiaoxiao quickly said, "Everyone is too kind. Treating the sick and saving lives is the duty of a doctor."

Just then, a woman holding a child pushed her way to the front, tears welling in her eyes: "Young lady, my child has had a fever for the past few days, and we can't afford to hire a doctor in the city. Could you please take a look?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Fang Xiaoxiao said, "Quickly bring it over so I can see it."

She carefully examined the child, then wrote a simple prescription and gave the woman some instructions.

Other villagers also gathered around, some because they themselves were feeling unwell, and others to ask about medicine for their elderly relatives. Fang Xiaoxiao patiently answered all their questions without the slightest impatience.

As Ouyang Tuoba watched Fang Xiaoxiao busily working, his admiration for her grew even stronger.

Pei Yan was busy arranging seats for the villagers and pouring tea so that everyone could wait more comfortably.

The courtyard was filled with warmth and hope. Fang Xiaoxiao's good deed was like a seed that took root and sprouted in this land, blossoming into the most beautiful flower.