Chapter 73 The child has grown up!
After being persuaded by Lu Xiaoqi, Lu Weijun and Xiao Meiyun finally decided to spend the Spring Festival in Qinghe City.
Lu Xiaoqi's father, Lu Weijun, was a retired teacher, while her mother, Xiao Meiyun, ran a convenience store in their residential complex, selling water and snacks, but most importantly, cigarettes. These were high-profit and stable items.
Later, when Lu Xiaoqi went to university, Lu Weijun had surgery, and Xiao Meiyun sold the convenience store to take care of him. After Lu Xiaoqi graduated, Lu Weijun's health improved a lot, and she, unable to stay idle, opened a mahjong parlor near the neighborhood.
Lu Xiaoqi had invited them to Qinghe City several times before, but Xiao Meiyun was reluctant to leave her mahjong parlor, which is why it has been delayed until now.
“We’re not opening anymore. Your dad is right. Mahjong parlors are always in a gray area. It just depends on whether the police station will take care of them or not,” Xiao Meiyun said to Lu Xiaoqi in the car. “As for me, I’m getting old. It’s not worth doing something so risky anymore.”
Especially during the Chinese New Year, the police station is afraid that people will gamble big, so they have to crack down on gambling.
Lu Xiaoqi never wanted her to open a mahjong parlor in the first place. The air there was bad and many people smoked, and she was worried that Xiao Meiyun would inhale too much secondhand smoke, which would be bad for her health. So when she heard that the mahjong parlor was closing down, she would have applauded if she hadn't been driving.
“You can stay in Qinghe City,” she said. “You can stay in the city or near the old town if you want. Dad, I’ve found you a renowned doctor; we can have him examine your lungs then…”
She spoke as she drove, taking her parents to Anping County.
Xiao Meiyun: "Aren't we going to the city?"
"Let's go straight to the area next to the ancient town." Lu Xiaoqi thought for a moment and decided to go directly to Qinghe Ancient Town. "I don't go back to the city much anymore. I'm thinking of renting out that house."
She had already canceled the two short-term rentals she had made. She rarely stayed in her own apartment more than a few days a month.
Xiao Meiyun frowned: "Where will we stay when we get to the ancient town?"
Lu Xiaoqi didn't seem to care: "There are plenty of houses. You can stay in town if you want, or you can stay at Uncle Zhao's hotel for now. Or... let's buy a few houses in the county!"
She suddenly became enthusiastic: "I think housing prices in the county are going to rise. Let's find a house near the ancient town. Whether you want to stay there long-term or just come and stay for a while each year, it's fine."
A whole house near the ancient town costs only a few hundred thousand yuan, but there are few sellers. If you buy in the county center, a single unit costs only a few hundred thousand yuan; the prices are very cheap now.
Lu Weijun and Xiao Meiyun looked at each other in the back seat.
Why does my daughter sound so arrogant these days? Buying a house worth hundreds of thousands of dollars just like that?
Xiao Meiyun rolled her eyes: "I think you're a little breathless when you talk now."
Lu Weijun also said, "Xiaoqi, you should save the money you earn carefully and not spend it recklessly, understand?"
Lu Xiaoqi: ......
She paused for a moment. This was the kind of situation where you start with one lie and then have to use countless more to cover it up. It was truly a headache.
She said cautiously, "Well, didn't I tell you before that I was working as a self-media creator in Qinghe Ancient Town? Later, the boss behind the scenes saw that I was doing well, so he handed the whole town over to me to manage."
Xiao Meiyun: !!!
Lu Weijun: !!!
What kind of niche language is this?
Xiao Meiyun: "...You mean, you're now the boss of Qinghe Ancient Town?"
Lu Xiaoqi nodded calmly: "That's the idea. The real boss behind the scenes has gone abroad to enjoy his retirement. Now I'm in charge of everything and just need to report to him regularly."
If the system considers "lying" as a skill, then she would definitely be within the system's target range now.
Her composure made Lu Weijun and Xiao Meiyun uneasy.
Is your company this casual?
Won't they go bankrupt if they're this casual?
Lu Weijun's voice softened slightly: "Xiaoqi, you didn't do anything..." He seemed a little embarrassed to say it, "You didn't do anything bad, did you?"
Scammers and con artists?
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaoqi and Xiao Meiyun's faces darkened.
Xiao Meiyun shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting, you old fool? Don't you know what kind of girl you are? Is our Xiaoqi the kind of person who would do such a thing?! Could it be that she's smart and capable and just met a mentor?"
Lu Weijun got anxious: "What are you yelling about? I'm just worried that she might be scammed or something might really happen, and we need to know the truth!"
I don't know how to help my daughter with the aftermath.
Lu Xiaoqi found it both amusing and touching: "Alright, alright, stop speculating. Anyway, that's how it is. There's nothing illegal or disorderly involved, so you don't need to worry. Just accept it."
She added that she hadn't mentioned it before because she was busy with the opening of Qinghe Ancient Town, and in short, she finally managed to smooth things over.
The couple remained in a daze until Lu Xiaoqi parked the car at Uncle Zhao's hotel and put all the luggage in the room.
"Why don't you stay at Uncle Zhao's for a couple of days?" Lu Xiaoqi said, feeling relieved afterward. She had already arranged the rest of the itinerary. "I'll take you to explore the ancient town tomorrow and the day after. Then we'll look for a suitable place to stay."
She really wanted her parents to live with her. She's an only child, and her parents are getting old, so living together would be better for them to take care of each other.
Of course, the best solution is to live together but not in the same house.
Xiao Meiyun had gradually recovered from her shock and was slightly annoyed at being pulled into the hotel: "I brought a lot of ingredients, I wanted to cook for you. These young people nowadays eat takeout every day, they don't eat proper meals..."
Can milk tea, coffee, and desserts be eaten as a meal?
Lu Xiaoqi grinned, "I ate so well! The company has a cafeteria! Today I'll take you guys to town for a big meal!"
There's a table in Song Sao Fish Restaurant that's exclusively for her, used for eating and entertaining guests—that's the owner's privilege.
Lu Weijun muttered, "What good food is there in a tourist area...?"
Xiao Meiyun: "When your dad came, he remembered that you loved his crucian carp and tofu soup and said he would come and cook it for you."
An hour later, they enjoyed the crucian carp and tofu soup that Sister Song Wu had personally cooked. The fish soup was exceptionally delicious, and the tofu was tender and had absorbed all the broth. The crucian carp had been minced, and every bite was filled with a natural sweetness.
They had drunk crucian carp and tofu soup countless times, but never before had it tasted as delicious as it did today. After drinking it, they felt completely soothed, from their mouths to their stomachs.
Xiao Meiyun: "...It tastes much better than the soup your dad makes."
She glared at Lu Weijun, who had looked up, and offered a perfunctory reassurance: "Of course, your dad's soup is also very delicious."
Lu Weijun: "Alright, alright, I know my own limitations."
The chef's skills are truly exceptional. No wonder there were already people waiting for their numbers to be called before six o'clock. He almost thought he wasn't in a tourist attraction that required an entrance fee.
If he weren't worried about troubling his daughter, he would have loved to ask if they could eat here every meal.
Song Wu Sao also made a special trip to meet Lu Xiaoqi's parents.
Xiao Meiyun was very polite and courteous in front of outsiders: "Xiaoqi should thank you for taking care of her. With you by her side to help her, her father and I are at ease."
Sister-in-law Song laughed: "Actually, Xiao Lu is the one who really helped us a lot. The ancient town owes its current success to her."
She praised Lu Xiaoqi repeatedly, leaving the couple stunned.
Sister-in-law Song was too busy in the kitchen to stay for long.
Besides crucian carp and tofu soup, she also made several other signature dishes, all featuring fresh fish. The current Song Sao Fish Restaurant still updates its menu with seasonal dishes daily, but instead of writing the names on a small blackboard, they now have custom-made menus displayed on the wall.
The waiter, with a white towel draped over his shoulder, greeted and saw off customers: "Welcome, sir... Please take care, sir."
It transports you to ancient times in an instant.
Lu Weijun and Xiao Meiyun watched with great interest, and they were even happier when they went outside and saw the night view of Qinghe Ancient Town. As if to welcome them, fog rolled in over Qinghe Ancient Town.
A light veil, almost imperceptible, rises silently from the willow tips along the river, from the cracks in the bluestone path, and from the surface of the river. Strings of lanterns hanging along the river are gently enveloped, diffused, and transformed into swirling, flowing spheres of warm orange light by the mist.
As dusk settles, the ancient town seems to transform into a celestial palace shrouded in mist, ethereal and dreamlike.
"Wow, this is so beautiful."
"Why is it suddenly foggy here? It's a sunny day today."
"I don't know, maybe it's because there's too much water. Oh, never mind that, hurry up and take a picture of me, the fog will go away in a bit." The young couples traveling together became excited.
The photography masters and veteran photographers immediately sprang into action, rushing to secure the best shooting positions.
"Heaven has truly been kind to me!" Ma Yu, who happened to be standing next to Lu Xiaoqi, was almost crying tears of joy while holding the little carp.
She's been in Qinghe City for seven whole days! Xu Yueran has already gone back!
Earlier, while at the hotel, Ma Yu saw Tian Fan's WeChat Moments post, where he kept reminiscing about the misty Qinghe Ancient Town. However, when she arrived on the 4th, she didn't see any mist. Although the weather that day was excellent—sunny, windless, and warm—Ma Yu still felt something was missing.
She wanted to see the fog!
A life without seeing an ancient town shrouded in mist is incomplete.
She decided to stay a few more days, since Little Carp was having so much fun in the various workshops in Zone 5 that she didn't want to leave.
They stayed there until the 7th.
Ma Yu was quite disappointed that she didn't see any fog this morning, as her family was urging her to go home. Unexpectedly, she saw night fog that evening!
This is a genuine limited edition.
I was so surprised I wanted to scream!
"This trip was a complete success." Ma Yu said to Xu Yueran via video call, feeling satisfied. "I'll come with you again next time."
Little Carp chimed in, "Godmother, I'll come with you next time."
She was really looking forward to doing carpentry next time.
"Let me tell you, this place is truly a treasure trove. Every time I come here, I discover something new. The team behind it must be incredibly talented..." Ma Yu chattered on and on, her words filled with her love for the place and her reluctance to leave, wanting to continue exploring.
There were also many people taking photos nearby, and like Ma Yu, they were all marveling at the beautiful scenery, saying that their trip was worthwhile.
Lu Xiaoqi really enjoyed hearing such comments. It wasn't that she was particularly fond of flattery, but seeing others appreciate what she had put her heart and soul into gave her a real sense of accomplishment. Her smile widened.
Lu Weijun and Xiao Meiyun also witnessed everything.
After returning to the hotel, she slept soundly for a night. The next morning, Xiao Meiyun suddenly said to Lu Weijun, "I think buying a house here might be a good idea..."
Lu Weijun ate his steamed bun with an air of nonchalance, saying, "Mmm, mmm."
"You're kidding me!" Xiao Meiyun rolled her eyes and continued, "Look how happy Xiaoqi was yesterday. She really likes it here, and I guess she also likes what she's doing now. We don't have any other skills to help her, so living closer to her and being able to take care of her is good."
"I've made up my mind. We'll buy a house. Houses are cheap here. Let's see if we can still afford a shop near the old town and start a small business. That way, we'll have something to do. And let me tell you, business here is definitely going to be easy..."
Lu Weijun readily agreed: "Okay, you handle it!"
Anyway, all the money is with her.
Moreover, if I buy a house here and live here long-term, can I go to Song Sao Fish Restaurant to eat fish more often?
Lu Weijun beamed with pride: "My daughter is truly remarkable—smart, beautiful, and capable. Look at this big town, she takes charge of it all so easily, and everyone likes and is very satisfied with her..."
Yesterday, he spent a long time watching videos of Qinghe Ancient Town on his phone, and didn't go to sleep until 12:30.
Xiao Meiyun chuckled twice: "That's just like me. Who was terrified yesterday, worried that she would break the law? Now they're showing off?"
Lu Weijun muttered a couple of things, deciding that a good man doesn't argue with a woman, and continued eating his steamed bun with his head down.
Of course, Xiao Meiyun could tell that he was in the wrong and had little nerve.
When the appointed time arrived, Lu Xiaoqi did not show up. Instead, she called and said, "Mom, I have something to do today and can't come right now. I'll have my colleague take you guys out for half a day, and I'll be back this afternoon."
Xiao Meiyun initially wanted to say that this was unreliable, but then she thought that her daughter's position was different now and she must be very busy, so she became happy again.
The colleague Lu Xiaoqi mentioned was Su Jun.
Although Su Jun was very busy, running around like crazy, when she heard that her parents had come, she managed to squeeze out half a day, and then said without changing her expression: "It's okay, I'm almost done with my work, half a day is no problem at all."
In fact, he estimated that he would have to work overtime until midnight after he got back.
"Okay, then I'll leave it to you. You know what to say anyway."
Lu Xiaoqi had no suspicions. She was busy on her end, so she simply hung up the phone and left her parents with him. She had already gotten information from a few close friends beforehand, so she wasn't worried about them giving anything away to her parents.
So, Xiao Meiyun and Lu Weijun, who were waiting in the hotel, were greeted by Su Jun.
"Auntie, Uncle, I'm Su Jun, Miss Lu's assistant." Su Jun was a little nervous. Before leaving home, he even considered whether to cut his hair shorter. It seemed that the older generation didn't really like men with long hair. Although his hair wasn't that long, maybe he should get a buzz cut?
If Liu Chan hadn't been wailing and insisting that it was his personal style, something he would use for future appearances, and that he was absolutely certain this hairstyle would look great on him and be completely different from everyone else's, Su Jun would have already been ready to do it himself.
Xiao Meiyun and Lu Weijun exchanged a glance when they saw him.
This guy is good-looking!
Although he styled his hair in a trendy half-up bun, a fashion statement they couldn't understand, it actually suited him quite well, making him look less effeminate and more elegant.
Xiao Meiyun glanced at it several times.
They knew their daughter's problem perfectly well: she was obsessed with looks. That guy surnamed Yao, while not exactly a model of character, was at least good-looking, but compared to this young man Su, he was worlds apart.
Su Jun felt a little embarrassed by Xiao Meiyun's gaze, but he was used to many situations and had been raised with strict discipline. Whenever he wanted, he could present a perfect demeanor that was impeccable and easy to read, which made Xiao Meiyun more and more satisfied.
They initially thought they wouldn't need to bother their daughter's colleagues and could just wander around on their own, but now they've changed their minds.
Daughter's assistant?
The assistant is great; we're more familiar with each other. Even if they're just colleagues, she can still subtly inquire about her daughter's recent activities.
"Xiao Su, your aunt and uncle will have to trouble you this morning. Xiao Qi is such an unreliable child, I wonder what she's doing right now..." Xiao Meiyun said.
East Asian parents tend to belittle their children in front of outsiders.
Su Jun: "Auntie, please don't be so polite. Miss Lu is indeed busy. One of our colleagues is about to give birth, and she is visiting her at the hospital."
He felt it necessary to defend Lu Xiaoqi.
Xiao Meiyun was indeed taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Oh dear, we really should go."
Suddenly, she felt a little dazed; her daughter had really grown up!
......
Last night, while Lu Xiaoqi was fast asleep in Zone 4, there was a sudden loud knocking on the door.
Then Sister-in-law Song Wu came upstairs and knocked on her room door: "Xiao Lu, Xiao Lu, Huang Si Niang seems to be about to give birth. They came over to ask if you can help take her to the hospital?"
She's the only one who owns a car among the residents here.
Lu Xiaoqi immediately snapped out of her daze, casually slipping on a down jacket: "Yes, I'll be right down. Have someone bring the tour bus over for me, I'll go to the parking lot and drive to the West Gate first."
The west gate is next to Zone 4, and the road is right outside the gate.
Half the lights in Zone 4 were on. The residents here were all ancient people who had been summoned, and Huang Si Niang was a special case among them. Her child would be the first child born to these people in this era, making it exceptionally significant, so everyone cared deeply, especially the people of Xiangjia Village, Zhang Zhongjing, and the newly arrived Imperial Physician Gao.
When Huang Si Niang was pregnant, she had her pulse checked by Zhang Zhongjing several times, but she also went for regular prenatal checkups.
Modern medicine has a significant advantage in areas like ultrasound and fetal heart rate monitoring, a view that Zhang Zhongjing also agreed with. He believed that the specialization of medicine in modern medicine was both necessary and advanced. In ancient times, specialties such as gynecology and pediatrics were the most challenging and easily overlooked areas for doctors.
When a woman gives birth, those with some extra money hire a midwife, while those without money rely on their parents and relatives who have also given birth to help.
Go to the hospital? That's not an option at all.
Zhang Ying had already changed her clothes and gone to help Dali's family. Several people hurriedly helped Huang Siniang down, then started the tour bus and carefully drove towards the West Gate. Lu Xiaoqi was already waiting outside the West Gate in her car.
Zhang Zhongjing glanced at the somewhat longing Imperial Physician Gao, chuckled, and asked, "Want to go?"
Imperial Physician Gao nodded honestly.
He had only been in this world for two or three months when he was immediately assigned to the Guanmai Hall. Upon learning that the owner of the Guanmai Hall was Zhang Zhongjing, he was so overjoyed that he almost fainted. For the past few months, Physician Gao had stayed by Zhang Zhongjing's side, discussing medical principles with him. Zhang Zhongjing also consulted him on some acupuncture knowledge—in his time, acupuncture had not yet developed into the complete system that it is today.
The imperial physician was so engrossed in his pleasure that he forgot all about returning home and didn't even think about visiting a modern hospital.
Now that he saw Huang Si Niang going to the hospital to prepare for childbirth, he was somewhat tempted. He wasn't unfamiliar with childbirth... back in the palace, he had been responsible for the health of several concubines.
However, I've heard that modern people have children in a completely different way than these old-fashioned folks.
I want to go and see.
Zhang Zhongjing pondered for a moment and then said, "Then let's go take a look too."
He skillfully opened his phone: "Just call a car."
There weren't many cars on the road at midnight, so Lu Xiaoqi sped Huang Siniang to the emergency room. An emergency room doctor brought a stretcher and rushed her to the maternity ward. Huang Siniang was already pale with pain, and large beads of sweat dripped from her forehead.
Xiang Dali shouted anxiously from the side, "Doctor, isn't there that pain-relieving medicine? Quickly give her an injection, I have money, I have money."
The obstetrician who took over the case was too busy to talk to him slowly: "I know, I'll use it. You family members can wait outside for a bit, we'll take care of the formalities later."
This time, Lu Xiaoqi didn't need to run around handling the procedures anymore. Xiang Dali was already familiar with the hospital's procedures and had money in his card, so he started busying himself with Huang Si Niang's childbirth paperwork and signing various documents.
Lu Xiaoqi sat to the side watching, just like Xiao Meiyun, filled with endless emotions.
The child has grown up!
At such a young age, she could already understand her mother's mindset, and she wondered what had happened to her this past year... She quickly shook her head to get rid of this strange thought.
Zhang Zhongjing and Imperial Physician Gao arrived late. The hospital was nearly empty at night, but the emergency room was still brightly lit. Just as they arrived, two police cars pulled up, bringing with them a group of five or six people who had gotten drunk and fought at a late-night food stall around 3 or 4 a.m. They had bruises on their faces.
The more serious incident involved a person stabbing another person in the head with a beer bottle, injuring their eye, and leaving them with blood on their face, while the person was groaning in pain.
"Call the head of ophthalmology and ask if he can come over now. We can't handle it here," the emergency room resident told the nurse. "His eye can still be used if we can save it, but who knows what will happen if we leave it for too long."
The emergency room was bustling with activity, while Zhang Zhongjing and Imperial Physician Gao stood quietly in a corner not far away, watching.
Zhang Zhongjing asked Imperial Physician Gao, "In the dynasty where you live, would so many officials and doctors be mobilized in the middle of the night just to deal with commoners who are drinking and causing trouble?"
Gao Gongming, also known as Imperial Physician Gao, smiled and said, "Doctor, don't even think about it. The yamen runners will take care of it; they'll just take him away and throw him in jail. Whether he lives or dies is up to fate."
Not to mention, they even called over a specialist ophthalmologist in the middle of the night to examine his eyes.
Zhang Zhongjing stroked his beard: "This is the precious thing about this place. If Gongming stays a little longer, he will surely have a deeper understanding."
Gao Gongming sighed softly, "I have already experienced that."
There was no emperor, no royal relatives or noble families, and not even a distinction between scholars and commoners. Everyone could afford medical treatment and education. If he hadn't come here by chance, he really couldn't have imagined that society could evolve into this way.
“Come on, I’ll show you the departments of this hospital.” Zhang Zhongjing was very interested and planned to take Gao Gongming on a night tour of the hospital to see the layout of departments in a modern hospital. “It’s much better than what we had back then.”
The two walked and talked about the differences between traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine.
In the maternity ward, Huang Si Niang gave birth to her second daughter two hours after entering the delivery room.
Xiang Dali held his youngest daughter in his arms, his eyes red and swollen. Back in the Ming Dynasty, he had almost thought that this pregnancy would not survive, and the worst outcome might have been the death of the whole family. He never expected that things would turn out so unexpectedly.
Not only did the resilient baby in her womb survive, but her whole family and the entire village also survived and gained a completely different new life.
He held the child up to Lu Xiaoqi and said earnestly, "Miss Lu, please give this child a name!"
Lu Xiaoqi: ......
She's so young, how come she's already at the age where she's naming children...?
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