The next morning, Zhao Renshu tried to shave his beard, but due to injuries to his right index and middle fingers, he could not use his right hand. He ended up fumbling with his left hand. Ping'an couldn't help him because she was meticulously combing Guo Baiyu's hair and braiding it. Guo Baiyu looked at the struggling, disabled Zhao Renshu and felt a pang of sympathy.
"Bring your stuff over," Guo Baiyu offered. "I will help you."
Zhao Renshu brought the water basin, the small blade, and a small stool, sitting directly in front of Guo Baiyu.
"Make sure you don't cut me," Zhao Renshu warned, his eyes wide.
"Don't move," Guo Baiyu instructed calmly. "If you continue to move, I won't be able to guarantee your safety."
In the morning, Huang Hongse met with Lim Yuehai at the entrance of the clinic. They walked inside. Madam Lo greeted them and led them towards the back storage room where the hunters were staying. As the three women got closer, Madam Lo excused herself, explaining that there was a patient who needed help. Madam Lo pointed out the direction to the two women.
Huang Hongse and Lim Yuehai walked towards the back storage room. When they approached, they saw Ping'an braiding Guo Baiyu's hair, while Guo Baiyu meticulously shaved Zhao Renshu's beard. The three seemed intimately close to each other.
The two women walked towards them.
"Good morning, Childe Guozhao," Lim Yuehai greeted respectfully, her gaze lingering on Guo Baiyu.
Zhao Renshu, his eyes still closed from the shave, opened them slightly and saw Huang Hongse. "Why are you two together?" he asked, surprised.
"We happened to meet at the door," Huang Hongse replied.
"Childe Guozhao," Lim Yuehai began, addressing Guo Baiyu, "my father hopes that the three of you will have breakfast with us this morning."
Zhao Renshu, still annoyed from the previous day's encounter, interjected, "Lady Lim, I think I made it clear yesterday."
"Sir, I'm not talking to you, why are you interrupting?" Lim Yuehai retorted, her voice sharp. "Good gentlemen shouldn't interrupt other people's conversations."
"Trust me," Zhao Renshu countered, a smirk on his face, "I have spoken on his behalf many times."
"Why bother her?" Huang Hongse chimed in, glaring at Zhao Renshu. "She didn't even talk to you. You should not be so rude by interrupting other people."
"We will have breakfast at your residence according to the mayor's request," Guo Baiyu said smoothly, cutting through the bickering. He smiled at Lim Yuehai. "Are you almost done?" he asked Ping'an.
"Almost, this is the last one," Ping'an replied. She tied a small white string on the last braid. Ping'an tied all the braids to the back of Guo Baiyu's head, then combed the rest of his hair. "All done," she announced.
"We want to change," Guo Baiyu said, rising. "Please wait."
"I'll clean," Ping'an offered. She poured out the water, then put all the shaving items back into the wash basin and took it to the male student's room.
"If my guess is correct," Huang Hongse said to Lim Yuehai, a thoughtful expression on her face, "Guozhao Baiyu's wife is Ping'an."
"How did you know?" Lim Yuehai asked, surprised.
"Renshu told me that Baiyu and Renshu are brothers," Huang Hongse explained. "Ping'an uses their last name because she is not allowed to use her father's surname. They didn't feel sorry for her because she is Guozhao Baiyu's wife. It is very clear that Ping'an is Guozhao Baiyu's wife."
"In my opinion," Lim Yuehai countered, "I think she is Zhao Renshu's lover. Remember how he almost killed you for mocking her in the inn? My brother told me that he even going to destroy everyone if you didn't remove your flags."
"That's because he was protecting his sister-in-law," Huang Hongse insisted.
"Or lover," Lim Yuehai muttered, unwilling to concede.
When the two men walked out of the bedroom wearing new clothes and Ping'an came back with two male students, the two women were still quarrelling.
"Good morning, Doctor Guozhao," the students greeted respectfully.
"Good morning," Guo Baiyu replied. "Please let Doctor Lo and Madam Lo know that we will eat breakfast at the mayor's residence. If they have any needs, they can come to us."
"Yes," the students affirmed.
The group arrived at the mayor's residence. The lovers and Huang Hongse followed Lim Yuehai into a large backyard with thirty large round tables. Some tables were already full of other hunters.
Lim Yuehai took them to the table where the mayor's family and Huang Yueliang were sitting. Zhao Renshu and Guo Baiyu sat on each side of Ping'an. Huang Hongse sat between her sister and Zhao Renshu. Lim Yuehai sat between Guo Baiyu and her mother.
Mayor Lim stood up and raised his cup. "All hunters, thank you all for your help in my city and for driving the enemy out. Tomorrow night will be the celebration dinner party. I hope to see everyone there."
Everyone drank their wine. Mayor Lim sat down. "Childe Guozhao, I really don't know what to call you. You are both a doctor and a hunter. It sounds strange to call you a doctor hunter."
"It's not very important," Guo Baiyu replied with a dismissive wave.
"Childe Guozhao," Madam Lim said, "we are in a hurry to host this breakfast this morning. I hope the food can satisfy your taste."
"There are more than a dozen different dishes, isn't that enough?" Zhao Renshu mumbled lowly, stuffing food into his mouth.
"This is very considerate of you, thank you," Guo Baiyu said graciously.
"Childe Guozhao, how old are you?" Madam Lim inquired.
"Twenty-three," Guo Baiyu replied.
"Oh, not too far from our Hai'er," Madam Lim commented, a hopeful glint in her eye.
Zhao Renshu was getting annoyed, and then he started stuffing more food than he could chew into his mouth. The situation reminded him of Wu Meixiang. Then he began to choke violently. Ping'an and Huang Hongse both quickly offered Zhao Renshu a cup of tea. Zhao Renshu took Ping'an's teacup and drank it. The food was still stuck, so he also picked up Huang Hongse's cup and drank it too.
"I have told you many times in the past, don't eat more than you can chew," Ping'an chided gently, pouring another cup of tea for him.
"Childe Guozhao," Mayor Lim began, his voice serious, "I am going to say it straight out. Our daughter Yuehai has never liked anyone before. When she first told us about you, we disagreed because we didn't know who you were. You were just another traveler from a different town, but after seeing the real you, we agreed to let our daughter marry you. So, what do you say?"
"I really appreciate your kindness," Guo Baiyu said, maintaining his polite demeanor, "but as I said on the day of the competition, I am not qualified."
"Childe Guozhao, why?" Mayor Lim pressed. "If you are worried that others will talk badly about your social status, then you don't have to worry. You are a young man who is not younger than sixteen or older than thirty-five."
"He is not available," Zhao Renshu cleared his throat, stating bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Madam Lim asked, confused.
"Mayor and Madam Lim," Guo Baiyu explained, a gentle but firm tone in his voice, "Renshu is correct. I am a married man."
The Lim family and Huang Yueliang gasped, shocked by the revelation.
"Who is your wife, may I ask?" Mayor Lim inquired, regaining his composure.
Guo Baiyu held Ping'an's hand, his gaze meeting hers. "She is my wife."
"You hear his loud and clear voice," Lim Peizhi said to his family, supporting Guo Baiyu.
"Childe Guozhao, you are a very talented young man," Lim Yuehai exclaimed, clearly upset, "why marry someone who doesn't even have a surname? I heard that your wife does not have a surname, and she is using your surname."
Zhao Renshu turned and looked at Huang Hongse angrily, recalling his earlier request.
"She does have a surname, Guozhao," Guo Baiyu stated calmly, defending Ping'an. "I believe Lady Lim will find a very suitable husband in the future." He looked at Ping'an and Zhao Renshu, indicating their departure. "Mayor Lim, thank you for your breakfast, but there are still injured patients in the clinic, so I am taking my leave." He quickly bade farewell.
The lovers walked out of the breakfast party. Mayor Lim shook his head disappointedly. Lim Yuehai was left humiliated in front of everyone.
"Excuse me," Huang Hongse said, quickly rising. She chased after Zhao Renshu.
At the gate of the yard, the lovers were stopped by Huang Hongse.
"Wait for me outside," Zhao Renshu told Ping'an and Guo Baiyu.
Ping'an and Guo Baiyu walked out of the gate, giving them space.
Zhao Renshu turned around and stared at her. "I asked you politely never to mention Ping'an's surname," he said firmly, his voice low. "Miss Huang, we have to make it clear. I like to be clear and upfront."
"Me too," Huang Hongse retorted, meeting his gaze directly. "Guozhao Renshu, I like you."
Zhao Renshu shook his head disappointedly. "Miss Huang, I like you, but not that way. I want to tell you that I don't like when people talk badly about Ping'an. You have no right to judge other people when you don't even know a single thing about them."
"Why make a fuss about it?" Huang Hongse argued. "I know that she is your sister-in-law, and you are protecting her, but if your brother and sister-in-law are leaving, you can still stay."
Zhao Renshu smirked. "Who said she is my sister-in-law?"
"Because she is Baiyu's wife and you are his brother," Huang Hongse reasoned, confused.
"She is our wife, and her last name is Guozhao," Zhao Renshu smiled, delivering the bombshell. "My surname is Zhao and his surname is Guo. She is our wife, and her surname is Guozhao. I hope this can clear it up and stop bothering us."
Zhao Renshu walked out of the front door, leaving Huang Hongse standing in the yard, utterly shocked.