He had carefully inquired before sending such a generous gift.
Having followed Professor Xing for so long, Xu Ningyan could naturally see the value of this ancient book at a glance. Moreover, upon hearing that it was a family heirloom of the Gu family, he was unwilling to accept it.
After a heated exchange of refusals, Professor Xing, still reluctant to part with the money, intervened and made peace.
Finally, everyone compromised, agreeing that the ancient book would be considered a loan from Gu Deqing to Professor Xing and Xu Ningyan, and would be returned intact after they had finished their research.
Then Gu Deqing hesitantly explained his other purpose for coming.
It turns out they had also heard about Xu Ningyan's poisoning.
Xu Ningyan was taken to the capital, and after returning home, she was full of energy and had no problems whatsoever. It must have been because she met a famous doctor in the capital.
Isn't it because Gu Deqing doesn't want to give up on Gu Mingcheng, his only grandson?
His connections are so extensive that finding Master Yu's disciples is already the limit.
After much thought, Gu Deqing thought of Xu Ningyan. The doctor who could detoxify her, restore her health so well that she was completely healthy, and even successfully conceive and give birth to twins must have been an extraordinary doctor.
He had no other choice. For the sake of his grandson, he had to swallow his pride and ask around, hoping that Xu Ningyan could help him make a connection.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have given up the family heirloom.
Xu Ningyan refused to accept the family heirloom, but he had no other choice, so he shamelessly asked for it.
Xu Ningyan then realized what was happening and immediately looked at Professor Xing.
Although Professor Xing felt that Gu Deqing was a bit unkind, he couldn't bear to see Gu Mingcheng suffer the same fate as Gu Mingcheng, who had lived in the cowshed together during the Cultural Revolution. He had also watched Gu Mingcheng grow from a tiny little boy to a man who had struggled to survive.
He hesitated for a moment, then glared at Gu Deqing: "Hey Gu, that's not very nice of you! What kind of relationship do we have? Can't you just say what you mean? Why do you have to beat around the bush? What kind of person do you take me, Lao Xing? What kind of person do you take my apprentice for?"
Gu Deqing looked ashamed: "I was indebted to Comrade Xiao Xu in the Unity Brigade before, and I haven't had a chance to repay her yet. Now I have to trouble her again. I know it's a bit unreasonable! If she is really a famous doctor, there must be some taboos that no one knows. I know it's not good to ask Comrade Xiao Xu to take us there rashly! But our Gu family only has this bloodline left now, so I have no choice but to risk my old face to beg Comrade Xiao Xu."
"If it's not taboo or too difficult, could Comrade Xu do me a favor? If you can help, my Gu family will surely repay you handsomely in the future!"
He stood up and bowed to Xu Ningyan.
Xu Ningyan quickly stepped aside, "Professor Gu, please don't be in such a hurry—"
Professor Xing, with a stern face, pulled Xu Ningyan behind him. "Old Gu, if you continue with this attitude, then you can take Mingcheng back!"
Gu Deqing quickly stood up straight and looked at Xu Ningyan with a pleading expression.
Xu Ningyan sighed: "When I was poisoned, it was through my wife's connections, and because it involved the Northwest Army, that we found Elder Yu. I'll go back and discuss this with my wife to see if he can put in a good word with Elder Yu. Of course, let me make this clear from the start: we're only responsible for informing Elder Yu; we can't guarantee whether he'll agree!"
"If Professor Gu finds this acceptable, I'll go back and talk to my wife. If you can't accept it, then you should take the book back with you! I can't help you with this!"
Gu Deqing nodded repeatedly: "We can accept it! We can all accept it! Then we'll have to trouble Comrade Xu! We're sorry to trouble you!"
Then he gestured for Gu Mingcheng to come forward and thank Xu Ningyan.
Xu Ningyan stopped Gu Mingcheng. Looking at his thin appearance, she realized that after giving birth to twins, Xu Ningyan's personality had softened, and she especially couldn't bear to see children suffer.
Looking at Gu Mingcheng now, his expression was still quite gentle: "No need to thank me! Children don't need to worry about so much. This is something adults should worry about! Children should be happy. We adults are talking. Do you want to go outside and play with your two little brothers?"
Gu Mingcheng bit his lip and turned to look at Gu Deqing.
Gu Deqing's eyes were red, and he nodded hurriedly: "Go outside and play for a while, but don't go too far."
Gu Mingcheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. His tense body relaxed as he left the house and walked to the open space. He looked at the Jiang brothers, who were stumbling and chasing each other, and showed a look of envy.
After Gu Mingcheng left, Xu Ningyan said seriously, "Professor Gu, even if you are very anxious about the child's health, you shouldn't do this in front of him. I think your grandson is introverted and shy. Saying such things in front of him puts a lot of pressure on him. The child seems to be thoughtful. If he keeps this pressure inside, even if he takes a lot of medicine and sees the best doctors, it won't be very effective."
Gu Deqing was taken aback; it seemed he had never considered this before.
The grandfather and grandson depended on each other for survival, and he had gotten used to explaining many things to Gu Mingcheng.
He also had his reasons. He was not young and didn't know how much longer he could live. If he didn't say things clearly, what would happen to Gu Mingcheng if something happened to him?
Xu Ningyan's reminder made him realize that constantly telling a child how unwell he is, and that he might not live to adulthood, is torture even for an adult, let alone a child.
No wonder that after Gu Mingcheng returned to the capital, although he took medicine and nourished his body and his complexion improved, his spirits deteriorated and he became more and more introverted and less talkative.
He had thought it was a physical problem, but now it dawned on him that he had put too much pressure on himself.
He was immediately filled with remorse: "How could I not have thought of that—"
Professor Xing offered a few words of advice: "You're too caught up in the situation! Concern makes you confused! Xiao Yan reminded you, so just be more careful in the future! I'm not trying to be mean, but for Mingcheng's sake, some things can be laughed off by us old friends! But Xiao Yan isn't like us old folks. You love your grandson! I love my little apprentice too! This time we'll let it go, but there won't be a next time!"
He spoke very seriously; it was clear he wasn't joking.
Gu Deqing wiped the sweat from his forehead with a wry smile: "I know! This old man was dishonest! I know what I'm doing! There will absolutely not be a next time!"
He then gave Xu Ningyan an apologetic smile and said, "Comrade Xu, I'm really sorry!"
In the end, he gritted his teeth and didn't change his mind, saying he wouldn't make things difficult for Xu Ningyan, and that he wouldn't go to see Old Master Yu.
He'd be shameless for his grandson!
After seeing off Gu Deqing and his grandson, Professor Xing sighed: "Xiao Yan, Gu Deqing has put you in a difficult position today! I know you agreed to ask him, but it's all because of this old man! Let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart, Mingcheng is a child we've watched grow up. He's such a young child, but he's suffered a lot. It's really hard for us old folks to just watch something happen to him!"
"Consider this a favor your master owes you! But don't worry, this will only happen once! You won't have to deal with this kind of thing again! Go back and tell Zhiyuan to put in a little more effort for your master's sake."
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