The next day at noon, when the entire Wei family gathered in the dining hall to prepare lunch, Wei Shuwan discovered that neither her father nor her mother had appeared.

Since my grandmother and my eldest uncle's family moved to Shengjing, my father and mother have had lunch with them almost every day. After the bad news of my maternal grandfather came yesterday, it is normal for my mother not to come for lunch today, but it is a bit unreasonable for my father not to come.

"Where did my father go?" Wei Shuwan asked in a low voice to Butler Zhou, who was directing the serving of dishes.

Steward Zhou is an old member of the Wei family. He watched Wei Shuwan and Wei Chengxiu grow up since they were young, and followed them all the way from Jiangzuo to Shengjing. He is both a steward and a family member.

Steward Zhou, with a smile on his chubby round face, replied in a gentle voice, "Master received a message from the Ministry of Works early this morning and went to the office."

"The Ministry of Works?" Wei Shuwan was slightly surprised.

Since my father took on the sinecure of Chengshilang, his status has changed, but his life hasn't changed much, and he hasn't held any official duties. What could the Ministry of Works want with him?

Just as they were wondering, they heard Butler Zhou call out, "Master is back!"

Wei Shuwan turned her head and saw her father stride in with a happy expression. Her grandmother had obviously noticed his slightly flamboyant demeanor as well. After he sat down, she hurriedly asked, "Is there something good?"

“Mother, I just met with Vice Minister Pei of the Ministry of Works. Minister Pei said that His Majesty wants to build dikes and dams in Jiangzuo, but the Water Conservancy Commissioner has already submitted a petition to retire last year due to his advanced age. Now there is a shortage of someone familiar with Jiangzuo and with some reputation to take charge of the construction. Minister Pei recommended me, and His Majesty has already given his approval. I will set off for Jiangzuo tomorrow.”

After Wei Zheng finished speaking excitedly, he thought his mother and elder brother would feel honored, but to his surprise, Wei Wenshi was stunned for a long time without saying a word. Finally, with a blank expression, she said, "Going back tomorrow? So soon..."

Wei Hai even dropped the chopsticks he was about to eat with a "clatter" to the ground. Even his sister-in-law, Meng, looked flustered and anxious.

Although Wei Shuwan didn't react as strongly as they did, she was still somewhat puzzled. If the court valued the reputation her father had built up through donating grain for disaster relief, and thus appointed him as the water conservancy commissioner to oversee the construction of the dam, why hadn't that happened in her previous life?

Something seems off here...

Wei Hai's cough broke the awkward silence. While patting his back, Meng Shi said, "I think your old ailment has probably flared up again. Let me help you back to your room to take your medicine!"

Everyone knows that Wei Hai has been frail and sickly since childhood.

But as soon as he stepped out of the dining hall, Wei Hai's cough stopped, and he pushed away Meng Shi's hand, which was still patting his back, and said, "I'm fine."

Madam Meng knew he was faking it, and sighed, "Why does the second son suddenly want to return to Jiangzuo? Is it really fate?"

"The embarrassing things we caused in Wu County will eventually come out of his sight..." Wei Hai's eyes revealed worry and despair: "It seems we can't stay in Shengjing any longer."

Madam Meng glanced at her husband, knowing that as the eldest brother, he naturally wanted to save face in front of his younger brother, especially since this younger brother was not related by blood. Not only him, but even she herself didn't want to be laughed at by Sun Lurong.

Therefore, she agreed to leave, but when she thought about their current situation, she couldn't help but feel discouraged: "I don't know what kind of friends Shuyao has made lately. She's been asking me for money all the time. We have almost nothing left of what we brought with us. If we leave here, where will we go to stay?"

After hesitating for a moment, Wei Hai said, "Second brother, it will take several days to travel to Jiangzuo. Fortunately, we still have some time. I will go to Mother and think of another solution."

...

The following morning, Lady Wei Wen personally led the eldest daughter and her husband, along with Sun Lurong and her daughter, to see Wei Zheng off at the door. Wei Hai, however, claimed illness and was unable to come to see him off.

On the way back, Meng helped Wei Wen walk ahead, while Sun Lurong and her daughter walked behind.

Although Sun Lurong was not wearing mourning clothes for her father, she had just experienced the pain of losing him, and Wei Shuwan carefully supported her from the side. At this moment, Wei Wenshi stopped and turned around, saying, "Second daughter-in-law, come to my room."

“Yes,” Sun Lurong replied.

Wei Shuwan added, "Grandmother, last night Sheng Yun sent over a box of ointment made by the Sheng family's physician. It's effective for your rheumatism, and I was just thinking of sending it over to you to try."

After a moment's hesitation, Madam Wei Wen nodded: "Then you should come with your mother as well."

The old lady usually preferred quiet, so there were not many servants in Songhe Residence. Wei Shuwan followed her mother and grandmother into the main room, helped her grandmother to a seat, and then took out the box of ointment from her sleeve.

“Grandmother, the Sheng family’s physician used to work in the palace; he was an imperial physician. His ointment will surely cure your rheumatism!”

The old lady forced a smile, but her tone was indifferent: "You're very thoughtful."

After a slight pause, the old lady changed the subject: "However, my leg ailment is not something that developed overnight, and simply applying some ointment is probably not enough. Recently, I heard someone mention a divine doctor in Shengjing who is quite skilled in acupuncture and has cured many people suffering from paralysis."

“Mother, is what you say true? Then I will invite the person over for you right away!” Sun Lurong said this sincerely.

However, Wei Shuwan racked her brains but couldn't recall any such person in Shengjing City. She then asked Wei Wenshi for confirmation: "Which clinic does this divine physician that Grandmother mentioned work at?"

Wei Wenshi cleared her throat slightly, feeling a little guilty, and said, "I don't know either. Your aunt will take me there, but I'm afraid it won't be possible to go for a while."

"Why is that?" Sun Lurong asked, puzzled.

“Alas, when I came to Shengjing, I only thought I would stay for a few days and did not think about this much. Now that I heard that the divine doctor charges a hundred taels for a single needle, I will have to ask Wu County to transfer some silver first.”

"One needle for a hundred taels?" Even the richest man in Jiangzuo would find this price unbelievable. After all, acupuncture is not something that can be done with just a few needles. A single treatment would probably cost over a thousand taels.

However, if this money can really cure the old lady's leg, then it will be fine. So Sun Lurong nodded: "Mother, you don't need to worry about the money. Your daughter-in-law will prepare it and send it over tomorrow."

Wei Shuwan understood perfectly. Her grandmother didn't want treatment for her leg ailment at all; she clearly wanted to ask her mother for some money, which was probably due to the instigation of the eldest branch of the family.

Wei Shuwan discreetly scanned the area and indeed discovered a faint shadow behind the screen.

So she went to help Wei Wenshi up and coaxed her, "Grandmother, before you go to see that miracle doctor, why don't you try my medicine first? Maybe you'll see improvement after just two uses, and you'll avoid those needles."

"Grandmother, please lie down on the couch. Your granddaughter will apply the medicine for you!"