Chapter 461 - 401: Friends
Chapter 461: Chapter 401: Friends
Lin Aizhen was firmly against her daughter’s divorce. While she continued searching for her two grandsons, she also tried to bolster her daughter’s spirits. She urged her to hold firm, not to give in, and not to sign anything, insisting the Tang family wouldn’t be able to do a thing to her.
Unexpectedly, Wu Xiaowen quietly completed the procedures and got the divorce certificate without even discussing it with her parents. When Lin Aizhen saw the divorce certificate with her own eyes, she was stunned with anger. Her hands trembled, her gaze froze, and her face turned pale as she stood there dumbstruck, unable to speak for a long while. When she finally recovered, her face twisted into a ferocious expression. She lunged forward, grabbed Wu Xiaowen, and began slapping her wildly, shouting furiously, "This is for not listening to me! For acting on your own! For being so stupid and brainless! What do you gain from a divorce? What do I have to look forward to now? Tell me, you fool?!"
Wu Xiaowen had been spoiled since childhood and had never seen her mother so fierce and crazed. Terrified, she didn’t dare fight back, only dodging left and right. Lin Aizhen didn’t stop until her own hand ached. Then, mother and daughter collapsed into a heap of tears.
After such a violent outburst and emotional turmoil, Lin Aizhen surprisingly didn’t have a heart attack. She could still point at Wu Xiaowen and scold her with increasing vigor, her breathing not even labored. She couldn’t help but touch her left chest, knowing it was all thanks to the traditional Chinese medicine Manman had prescribed, which she had been taking on schedule. Otherwise, how could she have possibly endured such an ordeal?
The thought that her family had such a wonderful and capable granddaughter, only for Wu Xiaowen to have ruined that connection, sent another wave of anger through Lin Aizhen. She raised her hand and slapped Wu Xiaowen again, saying hatefully:
"Your father and I have had sleepless nights, worrying ourselves sick planning and strategizing for you, coming up with one idea after another. And what do you do? You go and finalize the divorce without a word! Is this divorce just about you? Huh? Fine, forget about your parents and elders, but couldn’t you even think about your children? Do you have any idea how much a parents’ divorce affects them?"
Wu Xiaowen cried, covering her face. "Mom, I had no choice! The photos Grandma Hao Hao mentioned are real... they really exist!"
"I told you not to worry! The Tang family would never dare release them. They still care about their reputation!"
"It’s not about my photos! Many of them clearly show Lihua’s face, and what’s more... they’re in bed! If those get out, Lihua will be finished!"
"You... How can you be so stupid? Don’t you realize this divorce costs you your husband, your children, your support for the rest of your life! And who is this Bai Lihua? Who the hell does he think he is that you should care whether he lives or dies?"
"Mom! How can you say that? Hasn’t Lihua helped our family enough? Lihua... he’s my... Anyway, I can’t just stand by and watch him get into trouble!"
This time, Lin Aizhen really did faint. As she drifted in and out of consciousness, she clutched her heart, thinking, ’My granddaughter’s medicine is excellent. I’m definitely not going to die! I’ll go find her again in a few days, get a lot more medicine to stock up, and take it every day until the root of my illness is gone and my body is fully recovered.’
Meanwhile, Xiao Man, who was still on Grandma Lin’s mind, was already dealing with another group of people interested in her.
Gongsun Ruxue. Her name, which meant "as snow," suited her perfectly. She was a girl with skin whiter than snow, a refined beauty, and an elegant, otherworldly temperament, as if she were an immortal who had descended from the heavens. After Sun Yiming, she was another "Special Student" who had "parachuted" into Xiao Man’s Medical College and gone straight into the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute.
Sun Yiming had become a "Special Student" because the Sun Family donated several ancestral medical texts to the university. Several professors in the Chinese medicine department, who revered and respected "Imperial Doctor Sun," tacitly approved. Furthermore, Sun Yiming had agreed to be a guest lecturer for the Western medicine department. It could be said that they had used every connection and bit of influence they had. But this Gongsun Ruxue was on another level. She had no such backing and got in purely on the strength of her own medical skills!
Even Xiao Man, after observing Gongsun Ruxue’s exquisite medical skills, had to admit her admiration. ’That’s true mastery of Chinese medicine, acquired through years of diligent study. It’s nothing like my cheating!’
The Jade Scroll containing the medical knowledge of numerous schools had been infused into her brain. She could digest it and make it her own, applying it without error. But her technique couldn’t fool anyone. Take acupuncture, for example. Compared to Gongsun Ruxue’s calm focus and measured pauses, Xiao Man’s fluid movements seemed too casual, unprofessional, careless, and even a bit rushed and rough.
Then there was pulse diagnosis. Xiao Man would press three fingers to the wrist, probe for a moment, and then withdraw them before grabbing a ballpoint pen and scribbling furiously. Gongsun Ruxue, however, was elegant and methodical. She would ponder for a moment before writing down the pulse condition and prescription. And she used a writing brush...
It was said that Gongsun Ruxue began studying Chinese medicine when she started learning to read at age two. She was exceptionally gifted, and now at seventeen or eighteen, she was already at a Master Level. Her reason for entering the Medical College was the same as Xiao Man’s: simply to obtain the diplomas and various certificates recognized by the secular world.
Of course, Xiao Man hadn’t told anyone this was her goal. Gongsun Ruxue, on the other hand, stated it openly, completely unbothered by the strange looks from her classmates. She had no intention of keeping a low profile. Yet, when it came to academic matters, she was extremely diligent in guiding and correcting her classmates. She never held back her knowledge, nor did she belittle or mock anyone. She was open and magnanimous, possessing the air of a true expert.
Gongsun Ruxue’s character piqued Xiao Man’s curiosity. After several discussions about medical skills, the two naturally grew close, and it seemed they had already become friends.
Sun Yiming, however, was not happy. ’Originally, it was just me and Manman who were close. We were always together, and it was great. Now this new classmate has suddenly appeared and squeezed me away from Little Manman’s side, turning me from her sole protector into an attendant for two girls. If I don’t speak up, Manman will forget I even exist. This feels terrible!’
However, Sun Yiming soon felt better. ’Little Manman is only friendly with Gongsun Ruxue on the surface. When Gongsun Ruxue had a birthday and invited Manman to her home, Manman politely declined. Even the birthday gift was completely insincere—a box of chocolates that Sun Yinong had brought over. Afterward, Manman didn’t return the favor by inviting Gongsun Ruxue to her home. But me? I take Manman home every weekend and get to stay at the Tang family’s house for half the day, only leaving after dinner... It’s obvious who’s closer to her and who’s not!’
Xiao Man didn’t care what Sun Yiming was thinking. Her friendship with Gongsun Ruxue was just what it was. At first, she had a good impression of her, but the closer they got, the more her intuition naturally put up some defenses. She always felt that Gongsun Ruxue was hard to read. That was why Xiao Man had declined the invitation to her house and hadn’t taken the initiative to invite her over, maintaining a polite but formal friendship. ’Besides,’ she thought, ’Gongsun Ruxue said her family has a residence in Beijing and that she’ll be living in Beijing in the future. There’s plenty of time. A true friendship can stand the test of time.’
In contrast to Xiao Man’s relaxed and carefree attitude, Gongsun Ruxue was anxious and upset, cursing Xiao Man hundreds of times in her head. ’What is with this person? We’re both girls, it’s not like I’m going to eat her! She’s so small, yet so ridiculously wary! Haven’t I been good enough to her? Fine, so she didn’t dare come to my place, but she should at least extend a return invitation, right? Not even once! It’s so rude!’