“Niannian, how did you get through this year? When your mother passed away... I heard about it. You were all alone... It must have been so hard.”

Su Qingzhi's eyes reddened slightly.

She spoke in a lighthearted tone, afraid of stirring up painful memories for the other person.

“Aunt Su, don’t worry. I’m married. My husband is a soldier, a company commander in a unit. He’s an upright man and treats me well. Life is a bit tough, but it’s stable. I have enough to eat and wear, and I have a home to rely on.”

I heard that she got married and found a home.

A long-lost smile finally appeared on Su Manqing's face.

"That's good, that's good... Your mother will be at ease knowing that you're living a peaceful life now."

The two chatted for quite a while.

Su Qingzhi gently advised.

“Aunt Su, I know it’s tough right now. There are so many things to take care of at home, and your health isn’t great either. But you have to hang in there. You have three children who need you. They can’t do without you, and this family can’t do without you.”

Su Qingzhi nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I was foolish before. I was only thinking that I didn’t have money and was afraid of becoming a burden to my child. But I forgot that he is still a child. He should be growing up carefree, but I pushed him into the burden of life.”

"Shen Cunpu is indeed much more mature than his peers."

Su Qingzhi sighed softly.

“At his age, while other children are still being pampered in their parents’ arms, he is already working hard for this family.”

“Since his father passed away, the family has been entirely supported by him.”

Su Qingzhi said in a low voice.

“He learned to cook and do laundry at a young age, and he also had to work to help support the family. As his mother, I not only couldn’t help him, but I also lay in the hospital bed every day, relying on him to feed me medicine and food little by little, and even had to be helped by him to turn over. I really… am not worthy of being a mother.”

As she spoke, her voice began to tremble, and tears, which she could no longer hold back, slid down her cheeks.

Seeing this, Su Qingzhi felt a pang of sadness and quickly changed the subject, gently comforting her.

"Aunt Su, don't say that. It's not easy for anyone when they encounter something like this. Things will get better slowly, they definitely will. Think about it, didn't we just meet? Isn't that a good thing? Maybe this is a turning point that God has given us."

Su Qingzhi looked up at her with moist eyes, her expression gradually becoming serious.

"Qingzhi, I know your water is not simple."

She touched the blanket with her fingers, her fingertips trembling slightly.

"These days, having something special is like carrying a fire in the dark. You can see the light and stay warm, but if you go astray, the flames will flare up and burn not only yourself but also those around you. So, be sure to keep it hidden and don't let anyone know, especially don't show it to strangers."

Su Qingzhi's heart skipped a beat.

She hadn't expected Su Qingzhi to be so perceptive, able to see through the abnormality of the spiritual spring water even in her frail health.

One can even imagine the danger behind it.

She was silent for a few seconds, then nodded heavily, her tone firm.

"Yes, I understand. I've kept everything you said in mind. I won't let anyone else know about the water except you."

Su Qingzhi then spoke slowly.

"I feel much better now. Before, I always felt short of breath, my limbs were weak, and I felt drowsy all day. But after drinking your water just now, I felt much better. All that discomfort is gone, and even my mind is clear."

Su Qingzhi understood that the filth she had just expelled was actually toxins that had accumulated in her body over many years.

This process of eliminating toxins may seem unbelievable to outsiders.

But for her, it was a healing method she knew all too well.

Su Qingzhi gave her instructions again.

"Don't mention this to anyone, not a single word. Don't even tell Shen Cunpu yet. He's a stubborn kid; if he finds out, he'll start overthinking things and might even try to find some random solutions, which could cause trouble."

Su Qingzhi solemnly agreed.

"Don't worry, I understand the importance of this and won't say anything reckless."

After saying that, he stood up, gently pushed the chair back, and walked towards the door.

Su Qingzhi stared at Su Qingzhi's retreating figure for a long while, stunned.

Only after the door closed gently and the room returned to silence did she look away and murmur softly.

"What a lucky escape! We were almost at the end, but then we ran into Mingzhu's daughter. It's like we were spared a life!"

That spiritual spring water not only cured her illness, but it was more like it pulled her back from the brink of death.

Since she was lucky enough to survive, she had to keep going.

For Shen Cunpu, for Su Qingzhi, and for all the years I had wasted.

She leaned against the wall, slowly stood up, walked to the kitchen, boiled a kettle of water, and wiped herself down inside and out.

Then he took out a set of clothes that were hidden at the bottom of the trunk and changed into them.

Although it was a bit old, it was washed very clean, and wearing it instantly made me feel more vibrant.

When Shen Cunpu returned, it was already dark.

He pushed open the door and immediately saw that the room was neatly tidied up.

To his even greater surprise, Su Qingzhi was sitting at the table, holding a cup of hot tea in her hands.

"Mom, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Shen Cunpu's voice trembled slightly, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

He dared not think any further, but those terrible thoughts kept creeping into his mind.

Did she know she couldn't take it anymore, so she specially tidied up the house, hoping to lessen the blow he would suffer when he came back?

Hearing the sound, Su Qingzhi turned around and saw her son's surprised and uncertain face. Suddenly, she burst out laughing.

"Silly boy, what are you thinking? I'm not leaving. The way you look at me makes it seem like I'm about to give my last words."

"I'm really fine now, everything's alright."

She repeated it again, her tone serious.

"If you don't believe me, touch my hand. It's not cold anymore, and I'm not short of breath. If a doctor were to examine me now, he would definitely say I misdiagnosed you."

Shen Cunpu didn't believe it at all.

I've taken so many medications and they haven't helped, how could it suddenly get better?

He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He simply walked over and hugged her.

Su Qingzhi didn't explain much, she just said...

"You just wait and see."

As a result, she lay peacefully in bed all night.

There was no coughing, no groaning, and he rarely even turned over.

The next morning, she actually sat up on her own.

She even boiled water and cooked porridge herself, making a hot breakfast for her family.

He then believed it; his mother had indeed improved.

He stood by the stove, watching his mother's busy figure, his eyes welling up with tears, his heart churning with gratitude and lingering fear.

He didn't know what method Su Qingzhi had used, but he knew the answer in his heart.

From now on, I must protect Uncle and Su Qingzhi and not let them suffer again.

They saved his mother, which meant they saved the whole family.

After leaving the Xie family, Su Qingzhi did not go straight home.

Instead, they wandered aimlessly along the path in Guanshigou.

She didn't go far, but she paid close attention to the sounds around her.

Unexpectedly, they bumped into Zhu Xiuqin and Liu Yuelan walking together towards the wasteland.

Upon seeing this, Su Qingzhi immediately hid behind a clump of bushes.