In this sudden turn of events, the pharmacy owner abruptly summoned his helpers, clearly intending to drive the old man away.
Seeing this, Li Xi felt a pang of pity. She quickly stood up and said softly to the old man, "Old man, let's leave here first."
Without saying a word, she helped the old man up, avoided the pharmacy owner and his henchmen, and quickly left the place of trouble.
Leaving the bustling street, the two arrived at a quiet restaurant. The restaurant was elegantly decorated and not crowded, making it a perfect place for them to rest for a while.
Li Xi settled the elderly man at a table by the window, where sunlight streamed through and bathed them in warmth. She said softly, "Sir, please sit for a while. I'll order you something to eat."
As she spoke, she walked to the counter, ordered several signature dishes, and specifically requested a chicken drumstick. After returning to her seat, she used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of chicken drumstick and respectfully placed it in the old man's bowl.
"Sir, would you like to try the food? This is my first time here, so I don't know if the dishes suit your taste." Li Xi's tone was full of concern.
The old man looked at her, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes. He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of chicken leg, and savored it carefully. Then, he nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"It tastes wonderful, young master. You are truly a kind person," the old man praised sincerely.
His demeanor did not reveal any inferiority complex arising from his impoverished life; on the contrary, he appeared calm and composed, as if the hardships of life were merely fleeting clouds to him.
There was a firmness and determination in his eyes, a spirit that moved people deeply.
Upon hearing the old man's praise, Li Xi responded modestly, "Actually, I only did my bit of effort."
"But your kindness is incredibly precious to me," the old man said with emotion. His voice was full of sincerity and gratitude, which surprised Li Xi.
She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Grandpa, is there anything I can help you with? If so, please tell me and I will do my best to assist you."
The old man looked at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly hesitant to tell her about his predicament. Finally, he sighed and slowly began, "To be honest, I learned from the villagers that there's a precious medicinal herb on the mountain that can fetch a good price, but I finally managed to get my hands on it and can't sell it..."
Hearing this, Li Xi smiled and said, "Old man, why don't you sell these herbs to me? I have a friend who is a doctor, and he is very interested in all kinds of rare medicinal herbs. This may not be a big deal for me, but it might solve some of your urgent problems."
As she spoke, she took out a purse full of silver from her bosom and gently placed it in the old man's hand.
When the old man saw the silver in his purse, he quickly waved his hand and refused, "Young master, this is unacceptable, unacceptable. This medicinal herb may be precious to me, but to you it may just be a weed. How can I accept your money for such a small matter? Just take it, and you even treated me to a meal."
Li Xi waved her hands repeatedly, "Old man, in my eyes it's only worth this much money." She considered it an act of kindness; the silver was nothing to her. But the old man still refused to accept it.
After the meal, Li Xi summoned a carriage and personally escorted the old man home.
The old man's home was dilapidated, indicating that he was not well-off.
"Old man, here is some silver, please accept it." Li Xi placed the purse on the table.
A look of gratitude flashed in the old man's eyes, but he still insisted on refusing to accept the money. "Young master, I will remember your kindness. But I cannot accept money without having done something right."
Li Xi smiled slightly and gently patted the old man's shoulder. "Old man, just do as I said before. It's just the cost of the herbs. These herbs are truly rare, and my dear friend will surely be delighted."
Just then, a cough came from inside the house, followed by a young man's voice: "Grandpa, is that you back?"
Upon hearing this, the old man's expression immediately changed, and he hurriedly called out in the direction of the voice, "Cheng'er, it's Grandpa back. You're not feeling well, so don't come out!"
After saying this, the old man repeatedly apologized to Li Xi, "Young master, I am so sorry. My grandson is seriously ill in bed and has difficulty moving around. Please don't take offense."
Li Xi shook her head, not caring. "Old man, your health is important, I understand. I just wonder what illness he has?"
The old man sighed helplessly and said with concern, "His health has been weak since childhood. Over the years, we have sought out famous doctors and tried all kinds of prescriptions, but none of them have worked. The doctor said that this is a congenital problem and is difficult to cure."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi's heart stirred, and he thought that Lan'er might be able to make a difference.
She comforted the old man, "Grandpa, don't be too pessimistic. I have a friend who is a highly skilled doctor; perhaps she can help. Why don't I talk to your grandson in detail and write down his symptoms? Tomorrow I will send the information to her by carrier pigeon and see if she has any solutions."
Upon hearing Li Xi's words, a glimmer of hope flashed in the old man's eyes, and he said gratefully, "Really? That's wonderful! I'll go and call him right away."
A short while later, an old man helped out a pale-faced boy.
Not long after, a slightly pale-faced boy slowly walked out, supported by the old man. The boy looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.
The old man looked at him kindly and introduced him, "Cheng'er, this is Young Master Li. We owe him a lot today. Look, all of these were bought by the young master."
The items on the table, including rice, vegetables, and grains, were all prepared by Li Xi at the waiter's special request after learning of the old man's plight.
Life is not easy for the elderly, so I hope to do my best to provide them with some help.
The boy raised his head, revealing a remarkably handsome face.
Despite his simple linen clothes, his composure and confidence set him apart from others. His eyes were firm and deep, as if they held endless stories and wisdom.
Just then, the young man spoke, his voice clear and melodious, like a mountain stream. "Thank you, young master." He nodded slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.
Li Xi couldn't help but guess that the grandfather and grandson probably came from a once-powerful but now-declining family.
Although their lives may seem no different from those of ordinary farmers, the boy's composure and confidence, as well as the wisdom in his eyes, are qualities that are not found in ordinary farmers.
Perhaps they had their own reasons and difficulties in choosing to live in seclusion here.
She shook her head and said with a smile, "It's alright."
As she looked at the boy, she couldn't help but admire him in her heart. He was indeed exceptionally handsome. If he were in later generations, he would definitely be a prominent figure.
Li Xi carefully observed his complexion and inquired about his condition in detail.
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