“Girl, I like hearing you say that. Unlike my son, who’s always nagging me, as if he’ll get old if he doesn’t go to the hospital.”

Xiang Wan smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

After taking the lady's pulse and examining her tongue, he took out paper and pen and prescribed some calming and nourishing medicine.

"Auntie, you don't pay attention to rest and overwork yourself, which has led to your lumbar spine problems, especially on rainy days. These are all old ailments that need to be treated. I'll prescribe a medicine for you. Just get the medicine, decoct it and take it every day, and make sure you get plenty of rest. It's nothing serious."

"Girl, you're absolutely right. I just have some old ailments, a little medicine will do the trick. But my son doesn't believe me and insists I make this trip. I'll have to give him a good talking to after we get off the bus."

"Auntie, you should still go to the hospital to get checked out. There might be other problems. I've only seen a rough picture so far. It would be more reassuring to have a doctor take a look."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

As the woman spoke, she folded the paper and was about to put it in her pocket when she suddenly remembered something. She said to Xiang Wan, "My name is Xu Jinlian, and my son's name is Wu Xiaole. Sister, what's your name? Calling me 'sister' all the time makes it sound too formal."

"Auntie, my name is Xiang Wan. Xiang means to look forward and Wan means evening."

"Xiang? That's quite a rare surname." After saying that, the woman said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm just a country person, I've never seen this surname before, please don't be offended."

"It's alright, this surname is indeed rare."

"I'm going to H province, Xiang Wan, where are you getting off?"

"Auntie, I'm getting off there too."

"That's great! I'll have my son pick you up and treat you to dinner."

"No need, Auntie, I..."

"It's settled then."

Xiang Wan shut her mouth helplessly. Perhaps, having someone to talk to on this trip would make her feel less lonely.