Chapter 391: Arriving in Xiangcheng Again
Chapter 391: Chapter 391: Arriving in Xiangcheng Again
"Heh, not very well. We’ve met before," Ren Shuzhi said with a chuckle. "We’ve had a few chance encounters."
On hearing this, He Wentao’s eyes lit up. "Uncle, in that case, could you ask him for some information about one of the young women he was with?"
Ren Shuzhi looked at He Wentao in surprise. This nephew of his was a total bookworm who did nothing but study. He was already twenty-one, but he had no interest in finding a girlfriend. He’d even rejected all the blind dates his family had arranged for him, insisting that he needed to prioritize his studies.
’Prioritizing his studies is all well and good, but he needs to find a partner, too! His sister and brother-in-law are worried sick. Could it be? Has the boy finally come to his senses today?’
"Wentao, have you taken a liking to one of those young ladies? Which one is it?" Ren Shuzhi asked eagerly. When he’d greeted Li Jian Country earlier, he hadn’t paid much attention to the two young women with him, giving them only a cursory glance. Now that he thought about it, both of them were quite pretty. He had no idea which one had caught his nephew’s eye.
’No, I have to try and ask Li Jian Country about it later. Even though I don’t know him well, this is about my own nephew. I can afford to swallow my pride for this.’
"Uncle, what are you talking about?" He Wentao’s face flushed. "It’s not what you think."
"Not what I think?" Ren Shuzhi frowned. "Then why do you want to know about her? Wentao, let me tell you, if you want to be in a relationship, you need to be serious. No playing the field."
"What are you talking about, Uncle?" He Wentao said, exasperated. "I’m trying to find an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor that she knows."
"A traditional Chinese medicine doctor? Did something happen on the train?" Ren Shuzhi asked quickly.
He Wentao quickly recounted everything that had happened on the train, telling his uncle the story from beginning to end. Then he said, "Uncle, just think about it! How useful is that old doctor’s prescription? If we could popularize it, it would be a blessing for countless patients. It could even save so many lives! This is a huge deal."
After he finished, He Wentao sighed. "It’s just a shame that Classmate Su doesn’t understand any of this. She even said the pill can’t be mass-produced. How would she know without even trying? You never know until you try! And another thing, Uncle, don’t you dare associate me with a money-grubbing girl like her. You have no idea! The situation yesterday was so critical, and that Classmate Su still had the nerve to ask the patient’s family for ten yuan. She even told me that normally, you couldn’t buy one of her pills for even a hundred yuan. What kind of medicine is that expensive? Does she think it’s some kind of magic elixir?"
He Wentao was indignant, convinced that Su Qing had only said those things as an excuse to refuse him.
Hearing this, Ren Shuzhi frowned. "Wentao, that’s not the right way to think about it. If the young lady said that, it must be because the pill is expensive to make. Otherwise, how could it be so effective? You have to understand that for traditional Chinese medicine to work well, the quality and age of the herbs are crucial. Well-aged herbs are exceptionally valuable. For her to only ask for ten yuan... she might have really been undercharging."
"But... but it was an emergency! A person’s life is what’s most important, isn’t it?" He Wentao said with a frown.
Ren Shuzhi sighed. His nephew really had read too many books and lost his common sense. "Ah, Wentao, think about it. Do you really think someone who can afford a ticket for the sleeper car wouldn’t have ten yuan?"
He Wentao stared at his uncle, stunned. ’Why does that sound exactly like what Classmate Su said?’
He Wentao was still not entirely convinced, so Ren Shuzhi continued, "Wentao, at such a critical moment yesterday, the fact that the young lady was willing to offer a life-saving pill proves she is benevolent. If she hadn’t offered it, you would have never even known, right?"
"That’s true," He Wentao conceded, nodding.
"Hospitals charge you for treatment, don’t they? Besides, that medicine belonged to her," Ren Shuzhi added.
"I understand, Uncle." Though he still felt indignant, He Wentao knew he had to respect his elder, so he could only nod in agreement.
Ren Shuzhi, thinking He Wentao had finally understood, nodded. "As for that traditional Chinese medicine doctor the young woman knows, I’ll try asking around later. I’ll see if I can get her contact information. It would be wonderful if it works out, but we can’t force the issue if it doesn’t."
"I understand. Thank you for the trouble, Uncle."
"All right, let’s head back. Your parents are away on a business trip, so you can stay with me for the next few days," Ren Shuzhi said.
"Okay."
「Meanwhile, on Su Qing’s end.」
Li Jian Country escorted Su Qing and Li Huan to the border crossing. Someone from the Xiangcheng side was there to receive them, guiding them through the checkpoint.
「The day after next was Cheng Beilin’s wedding day.」
The Cheng Mansion was already decorated in a joyous, festive atmosphere. At the entrance to the villa, people bustled in and out, carrying decorative items like potted plants.
"Su Qing! Li Huan! You’re here!" Cheng Beilin was overjoyed to hear that the two of them had arrived.
Cheng Beize, Mr. and Mrs. Cheng, and the Cheng family’s uncle also greeted the pair warmly. After their rooms were arranged, Cheng Beilin excitedly pulled them into her bedroom.
"Congratulations, our bride-to-be," Su Qing said with a smile, presenting a box containing the wild ginseng. "Here, your wedding present."
"Ah, thank you!" Cheng Beilin accepted the box with a beaming smile. She would have loved anything Su Qing gave her.
"And me! This is my wedding gift for you," Li Huan said, also producing the gift she had prepared for Cheng Beilin. It was an exquisite, double-sided embroidered fan. Shang Yuqi had specifically taken Li Huan to an old master artisan to purchase it. It was authentic Suzhou Embroidery, exceptionally delicate and beautiful.
"Thank you, thank you!" Cheng Beilin joyfully opened their gifts, exclaiming in surprise, "These gifts are far too precious!"
Ginseng and Suzhou Embroidery!
Even in a place like Xiangcheng, both of these were considered extremely valuable gifts.
"It’s the thought that counts. As long as you like it, that’s all that matters," Su Qing said with a laugh.
"Exactly," Li Huan added, nodding eagerly.
Then, Li Huan blinked. "Beilin, where’s your fiancé?"
At her words, Cheng Beilin’s face couldn’t help but blush. "He’s at another one of our family’s mansions. The bride and groom aren’t supposed to see each other for the three days leading up to the wedding."
"Oh, right! You’re getting married the day after tomorrow, so you can’t see each other now." Li Huan grinned. "Does that mean you’re leaving your fiancé all alone in his lonely room?"
Cheng Beilin smiled. "Chaoran’s master has also arrived. He’s staying with Chaoran at that mansion."
"Mr. Gong is here too?" Although Su Qing knew Mr. Gong was Du Chaoran’s master, she was still surprised the old gentleman was willing to come to Xiangcheng. After all, the An Family was based here. A visit to Xiangcheng would make contact with them almost unavoidable.