Master Wang shook his head, "This is an old ailment of mine, it's been going on for over ten years, and no matter how many doctors I've seen, they can't cure it. I'd better give up, I don't want to suffer like that again!"
Wang E's eyes lit up immediately, and she stopped trying to persuade her, ordering the servants to prepare dinner.
Cat was tired after playing all day, so he went to bed early with his brother.
Master Wang made an excuse that he had other matters to attend to and went to the study in the front courtyard.
Wang E, who remained behind, immediately had someone summon Wang Fu for a thorough interrogation. Wang Fu was honest and simple-minded and didn't know much, but he didn't say anything unusual. Wang E was slightly relieved and then instructed her personal maid to take the prescription to the clan's revered doctor for a consultation.
The doctor said it was indeed a good prescription for treating colds and also for nourishing the body. Only then was she completely relieved and put the matter out of her mind.
In the study in the front yard, Wang Fu finished speaking and left, but the candle in the study remained lit for a long time...
The prescription was brought back early the next morning.
Just then, Master Wang came over for dinner and said to his wife, "You haven't had a good appetite lately, and the medicine tastes too strong. Don't brew it in the inner courtyard anymore. Take it to the study in the outer courtyard to brew. I'll have Sister Fu take care of it. Anyway, I'm busy during the day and won't be home, and she doesn't have any chores to do."
Wang E was delighted that her husband cared for her, and playfully scolded him, "I'm not that delicate. I was vomiting because I thought it would be nice to have another daughter in the family. I didn't expect it was just an upset stomach. I was happy for nothing."
“We can have another child later, but your health is more important.” Master Wang coaxed him for a few moments, then added, “We’ve moved to a new city, and there are more and more people here. Estates outside the city are also skyrocketing in price. I’m planning to buy another one soon, so that if we each have one son, they won’t fight over it. So, I’ll be busy these next few days and will be going out of the city a lot. Don’t worry about me at home, just take good care of yourself.”
“Okay,” Wang E said quickly, appreciating her husband’s consideration for the family. “Be careful out there, and come back to rest if you have a headache.”
After the couple discussed it and reached an agreement, Master Wang took the medicine bag and went back to the front yard. He waited patiently for his son's medicine to be brewed before leaving the house...
In the hot spring valley, Grandma Li was holding her granddaughter and talking to her youngest son.
“You didn’t see your older brother yesterday. Today, let him get to know you, but don’t be too familiar with him. Don’t scare him. We know he’s from our family, but he doesn’t remember him at all. We’ll talk to him properly after he recovers.”
Li Laosi nodded in agreement, but worried that his mother would be upset, so he joked, "Mother is biased. She protects my eldest brother like a child and doesn't care about us anymore."
Jiayin nodded her little head and hugged her grandmother's neck, which was also a form of protest.
Since I got home last night, Grandma has been talking about my eldest uncle non-stop. She wants to talk about things in Luoan Town, but Grandma doesn't have time to listen.
"Grandma is biased! Grandma doesn't love Fu Niu anymore! Fu Niu is angry!"
Jiayin puffed out her little cheeks and stared with her big eyes. Her whole face looked like a ripe peach, rosy and round.
Grandma Li laughed heartily and poked her granddaughter's cheek. "Silly girl, the whole family combined is not as good as you alone, and you still dare to say that Grandma is biased."
Jiayin gave her grandmother a quick kiss on the cheek, then proudly raised her chin. "So, Grandma, will you listen to Fu Niu?"
"Listen, listen! Tell me, Grandma will listen." The old lady tickled her granddaughter's tummy, making the granddaughter giggle.
Jiayin ran to hug her father's neck, dodging her grandmother's clutches, before saying, "Yesterday, there was a shop at my brother's academy that sold wontons that weren't very good."
Are there shops inside the academy?
Grandma Li and Li Laosi were both completely confused. Jiayin patted her head, somewhat annoyed.
She's not even two years old yet. Sometimes she can think clearly, but her words don't always express it as well.
So, she shuffled her legs to the kitchen and called out to Jia Huan, "Third Brother, Third Brother!"
Jia Huan was picking vegetables when she heard her younger sister calling her, so she looked up.
Jiayin jumped up and down, shaking her topknot, "Third Brother, come here and say the wontons aren't good."
Jia Huan was stunned for a moment, but after thinking it through, she smiled.
He carried the vegetable basket inside and, while working, recounted what had happened yesterday.
“My fourth uncle and second brother took my eldest brother to the academy yesterday and haven’t come out for a long time. I took Fu Niu to play nearby. There’s a commercial street across from the academy with many shops. Fu Niu got hungry, so we went to eat wontons. The wontons there were just so-so.”
At this point, he glanced at his sister but didn't reveal her identity. He continued, "I casually asked the shopkeeper, and he said business wasn't good and he had to sell the shop. There are still two years and nine months left, and the rent is eighty taels. The shop isn't in a remote location; it's right across from the academy's main gate. If we can sell it, the food is delicious, so business should be good. It will also be convenient for taking care of my elder brother in the future."
Open a shop opposite the academy?
Old Mrs. Li and Li Laosi exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.
It was rare for her usually quiet grandson to talk so much, so Grandma Li asked a few questions. "Is there something special about that shop? Logically speaking, with such a good location, even if the food is just average, the business should be pretty good, right? And the rent is quite cheap too."
Jia Huan thought about it carefully, scratched the back of his head, and smiled shyly, "Yesterday I was only focused on taking my sister around to play, and I didn't ask around in the neighborhood. I just thought it would be more convenient to take care of my older brother if he needed anything. The shop owner said that the other shops were all owned by the families of the students in the academy, all for this reason."
Grandma Li nodded, "I suppose every family is worried about their children being away from home."
Li Laosi also said, "Mother, I saw that all the students at the academy had page boys yesterday. The academy is very big, and it's quite far from the classrooms to the dormitories. If someone forgets something, it would be better to have someone run errands for them, or to help with chores like buying food or washing clothes. It would also save Jiaren some trouble, allowing him to concentrate more on his studies."
Before Old Lady Li could respond, Aunt Wu suddenly came in from outside the door.
She had originally intended to retrieve a vegetable basket, but overheard a few words outside. She immediately volunteered, "Sister-in-law, how about my Gousheng becomes Jiaren's page?"
She leaned forward, tugged at the old lady's sleeve, her expression full of earnestness.
"Sister-in-law, when Gousheng was studying with the Second Master, he was one of the best at writing and arithmetic. Later, he was captured by bandits and was frightened. Although he is much better now, he is still timid."
“He became even more dejected after being scolded by guests in the valley. If he could go to the academy with Jiaren, where there are many scholars, he would surely be able to learn some skills and gain some courage.”
Grandma Li really liked Gousheng, and she understood Aunt Wu's loving motherly heart, but this matter couldn't be settled immediately.
"Third Aunt, don't worry, we were just saying that casually. You go ahead and do your work. If we really want to send a page to Jiaren, we'll definitely consider Gousheng first."
"Really? That's wonderful, sister-in-law. Don't worry, Gousheng will definitely be diligent and obedient and won't cause any trouble for Jiaren." Aunt Wu was overjoyed and chattered for a while before carrying her vegetable basket out.
Seeing that there was nothing to do here, Jia Huan went to get busy, leaving Li Lao Si behind. He said, "Mother, Jia Huan can graduate from her apprenticeship now. Why don't we really open a shop near the academy?"
Grandma Li waved her hand, replying weakly, "I want to too, but we have no money at home. Where can we find the capital?"
Jiayin had been waiting for this moment. She quickly jumped into her grandmother's arms, smiling like a little fox!
It's past midnight today. I had a nucleic acid test this morning, and the queue took so long. My lovely readers, please give me five-star reviews and urge me to update! I'll definitely work harder to write!
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