Chen Zhancai was stunned when he saw what was on the oxcart. In his more than forty years of life, this was the first time he had ever seen rice being bought by the sackful, and it was even the finest white rice.
"Qing'er, our family can drink millet porridge every day. As long as we don't go hungry, Dad is already very content. So much fine rice and white flour, isn't that the kind of life only rich families can live? Isn't this too wasteful?"
"Yes, Qing'er, how much money must have been spent buying so many things!" Madam Lin exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
Chen Qingqing laughed dismissively, "We can't eat porridge every meal. This amount of food isn't much. Let's eat this for now. When our daughter makes a lot of money, we'll eat better."
Madam Lin looked at her reproachfully, "You silly girl, you can't spend money like this even if you have it. Save some for your dowry later."
"Mother, I'm only sixteen. It's too early for me to get married!" Chen Qingqing said coquettishly, clinging to Lin Shi's arm. "Besides, you and Father have worked hard for half your lives. This is my way of showing my filial piety to you."
Chen Zhanshan shook his head and smiled, "Alright, Xiumei, hurry up and unload the truck!"
The items were quickly moved into the house.
Holding his newly bought writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, Chen Han excitedly announced, "Father, Mother, my sister has already enrolled me in the academy. In a few days, I will be going to study at the academy. I will definitely work hard and bring honor to you."
Chen Zhanshan's expression changed. He thought his daughter was just saying it casually, but he didn't expect her to actually enroll Xiaohan. After supporting Chen Zhancai for so many years, he knew how expensive education was.
Seeing how happy her son was, she didn't want to discourage him, so she nodded bitterly and said, "Xiao Han, since your sister wants you to study, you must not let her down."
"Dad, I understand."
Chen Qingqing knew what Chen Zhanshan was worried about, so she quickly smiled and changed the subject, "Dad, after I cure Master Fan's itchy disease in a few days and get the consultation fee, we'll start building a house and try to move into the new house before the snow falls this winter."
Chen Zhanshan looked around. The room, converted from a cowshed, was drafty and indeed unsuitable for wintering. He couldn't bear to use his daughter's earnings to build a house, as he didn't want her to suffer for money.
"Qing'er, making money is not easy, your parents can't be a burden to you."
“Dad, I swore when our family was kicked out that I would make sure you had a good life. I know you love your daughter. We were poor when I was little, and you and Mom would always save the best food for me. Now that I'm grown up, I can make sure you have a good life. So please let me be filial to you!”
Chen Zhanshan's eyes welled up with tears as he was moved by his daughter's words. He nodded heavily and said, "Okay, Dad will listen to you."
In the evening, Chen Qingqing stewed braised pork and cooked a big pot of rice, which the family enjoyed immensely.
After the meal, Chen Qingqing picked up the snacks she had prepared in advance and quietly went to the door of Chen Zhanliang and his wife's house. "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, are you home?"
Hearing the shouts, Madam Sun quickly opened the door and let Chen Qingqing into the house. "Qing'er, what brings you here so late?"
Chen Qingqing glanced around; there was no one else in the room except for Madam Sun.
"Second Aunt, where are my second uncle and the others?"
Lin sighed, "Don't even mention it. Your grandparents must have been possessed by some evil spirit. When they saw you digging up ginseng, they were so envious they went crazy. They insisted that your second uncle and your two younger brothers go into the mountains with you. What could they possibly see in the middle of the night?"
"Second Aunt, which mountain did they go up?" Chen Qingqing's heart tightened, and her face was full of worry.
Madam Sun smiled slightly, "Don't worry, your grandfather values his life. He's just going out to fool your grandmother; he won't go too far."
"That's good." Chen Qingqing handed the pastries in her hand to Sun Shi. "Second Aunt, these are pastries that your niece bought for you. You and your second uncle should try them."
"You silly girl, we're not strangers, why are you spending so much money?"
Hearing her slightly reproachful words, Chen Qingqing smiled slightly, "Second Aunt, our family encountered difficulties a while ago. Fortunately, you sent us some dry food, which helped us get through the crisis. I will never forget your kindness. These snacks are just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept them!"
Mrs. Sun smiled and nodded, "Alright, then I'll accept it."
The two chatted for a while longer before Chen Qingqing got up to say goodbye.
Back home, she examined the man again, and all his indicators were good. He was out of danger and it was only a matter of time before he woke up.
Only after doing everything did I go to bed.
......
The next morning, Chen Qingqing went to the village head's house to return the fifty taels of silver she had paid for the land flowers, and then quickly returned home. She figured that if nothing unexpected happened, the Fan family would definitely send someone to invite her today.
Those several fat lice mated, laid eggs, and reproduced very quickly inside Master Fan's belly.
If it's not eradicated completely in time, his itching will definitely not get better.
Just as she expected, before she had even finished her bowl of water, a carriage stopped outside the gate.
A man dressed as a servant rushed into the courtyard in a panic, bowed to Chen Qingqing, and said, "Miss Chen, my master has fallen ill again and has specially instructed me to come and fetch you."
"I can't cure your master's illness, you'd better find someone else!" Chen Qingqing didn't even lift her eyelids, waving her hand to signal him to leave quickly.
"Miss Chen, what are you saying? You are the most skilled doctor in this area, and only you can save my master's life. If you don't go, I won't be able to explain myself when I get back!"
Seeing that Chen Qingqing ignored him, the man became anxious. "Miss Chen, please have mercy! My husband is itchy and screaming. He's about to pass out. Please, do me a favor and give him some acupuncture."
Chen Qingqing feigned anger and snorted coldly, "Yesterday I went to have a follow-up appointment with your Master Fan, but the doorman wouldn't let me in no matter what. He kept saying that your master had already recovered. If he's better, why did he come to invite me?"
"Ben, it was all better, but it started itching again last night."
“Your husband has already missed the best time for treatment, so it would be a waste of my time to go.”
The man swallowed hard, "Miss Chen, please be magnanimous and come with me, otherwise my master will skin me alive."
Chen Qingqing shook her head regretfully with a sullen face, "Your master is already terminally ill, and even if I go, I will be powerless to help. Please don't make things difficult for me."
Upon hearing this, the man stamped his feet anxiously and pleaded repeatedly, "Miss Chen, please come with me no matter what, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself when I get back."
"You should go back now. While your husband can still eat and drink, let him enjoy the rest of his days!"
The man knew that saying anything more would be of no use, so he shook his head, sighed, turned around, got into his carriage, and drove away...
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