Chapter 35 He is Sister Shen's boyfriend
Hearing Shen Qingtang's repeated rejections, Xu Xiaosheng felt despair at Shen Qingtang's heartlessness. His eyes, which had been as bright as the stars, instantly dimmed, and he lowered his head to consider where he could spend the night.
There's a park nearby, and the deck chairs there are just big enough for him to lie down on. But the chairs are made of iron, so they're really cold. He's a boy, so he can manage for now, but I don't know if Xiao Xun can handle it.
Suddenly, Shen Qingtang's voice broke the jumble of thoughts in his mind.
Shen Qingtang stared at the thin stall, pursed her lips, and said, "Autumn is almost over, and the temperature will only get lower and lower. Even sleeping on the floor of the pharmacy will make you catch a cold." Without pausing, she continued, "I'll rent you another room."
Hearing this, Xiaosheng and Xiaoxun were dumbfounded. For a moment, they felt like they were listening to gibberish, and for a moment, they felt like they were on a roller coaster. Their original frustration was thrown into the air, and their eyes were filled with disbelief. They didn't react for a long time.
After hearing Shen Qingtang's words, Qi Yi and Qi Er realized that they had misunderstood each other.
Qi Yi shook his head repeatedly. Despite her seemingly cold and aloof appearance, Sister Shen was actually the most soft-hearted. Her refusal to let the two children sleep in the clinic wasn't out of concern, but rather due to deeper worries.
Qi Er nodded in agreement, saying, "Sister Chen is so thoughtful. It's still bearable these days because of the hot weather, but it won't be able to sleep at all in winter." Besides, how can a cold floor compare to a soft mattress?
Qin Guanlan glanced at Xu Xiaosheng's green eyes, which seemed identical to his own, and suddenly asked, "Don't they have any parents or relatives anymore?"
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "That's right." She then repeated what Cui Mingyue had told her that day.
"How pitiful." Qi Yi, who was full of emotion, spoke first, his eyes filled with sympathy. He had thought they were two siblings who depended on each other for survival, but he didn't expect them to be two children who had no blood relation and were huddled together for warmth.
And they are two such well-behaved, sensible, and self-reliant children.
Xu Xiaosheng suddenly retorted, "I'm not pitiful at all. I can eat every day now, and I have many kind people helping me."
Qin Guanlan suddenly snorted and pushed his wheelchair to Xu Xiaosheng and Xu Xiaoxun. His oily green eyes stared straight at them and he said, "Are you afraid of me?"
To be fair, although Qin Guanlan was in a wheelchair, he exuded an aura of unapproachable superiority. Coupled with his tall stature, cold face, and eyes that seemed to hold ice, even an adult would be somewhat afraid of him, let alone two children.
But unexpectedly, Xu Xiaoxun spoke first, her eyes crinkling as she smiled and said, "I'm not afraid."
Xu Xiaosheng followed closely behind, saying, "I'm not afraid either."
Qin Guanlan, unusually inclined to tease, asked, "Why?"
The two children exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Because you're Sister Chen's boyfriend." These seemingly ordinary words were like a bomb dropped into Renxin Medical Clinic, causing a huge uproar throughout the room, leaving everyone stunned.
Qi Yi, having been bombarded with displays of affection, was the first to react, giving the two children a thumbs up with eyes full of admiration.
Wow! Those two kids are absolutely amazing!
All his previous jokes and banter were ultimately less impactful than a single sentence from a child.
Shen Qingtang felt a rare moment of embarrassment, a surge of heat rising within her, her face turning as red as an apple, her ears completely flushed. She coughed as she explained, "Xiaosheng, Xiaoxun, you two have misunderstood. Brother Qin is just Brother Qin, he... he's not my boyfriend."
After saying that, she looked at Qin Guanlan apologetically and said, "Brother Qin, I'm sorry, they don't know our relationship and are just making wild guesses."
Hearing this, Xu Xiaosheng crossed his arms and said somewhat indignantly, "If that's the case, why did he deliver mutton hotpot to Sister Chen in the middle of the night? Is he still pursuing her?"
Xu Xiaoxun shook her head, looking very serious, like an adult. She seemed to have absorbed the wisdom from countless TV dramas and spoke eloquently: "No, when pursuing someone, you have to send flowers. A healthy romantic relationship must start with a bouquet of flowers."
Shen Qingtang felt as if a flint had fallen from her body, and she felt an overwhelming sense of injustice, like she couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River. She awkwardly touched her nose and changed the subject, saying, "Xiaosheng, Xiaoxun, why don't you come and have some mutton hot pot?"
After saying that, she walked over to Qin Guanlan and said softly, "Brother Qin, don't take it to heart. Children say the darndest things." Qin Guanlan shook his head, exuding a pleasant aura, and said, "I won't." In fact, he not only didn't take it to heart, but was actually quite happy.
Xu Xiaosheng blinked and was about to speak when Shen Qingtang quickly stuffed a piece of mutton into his mouth, saying, "Xiaosheng, eat more."
Xu Xiaosheng: "..." He chewed vigorously and wisely stopped talking.
Qin Guanlan looked at Shen Qingtang with a smile and said, "Qingtang, these two children are too young. Even if we rent them a place, it's hard to guarantee they won't be bullied." His gaze swept over Shen Qingtang's pretty face and he said, "Why don't we let them stay at the Qin Mansion? At least someone will look after them, and there won't be any safety accidents." He had previously read a report about a child living alone who tragically died from electrocution. If the landlord hadn't come to check the water meter, no one would have found out.
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang's eyes lit up: "Brother Qin, is this really okay? Won't it be too noisy?" At first, she had considered this idea. Although Xiaosheng and Xiaoxun were well-behaved and sensible, they were still too young, and it was indeed worrying to leave them living outside.
Unfortunately, the Qin Mansion wasn't hers, so she couldn't take the two children home without permission. She had to settle for renting a place for them, trying to pay a higher price so that the neighbors would be of better quality.
Seeing Shen Qingtang's happy expression, Qin Guanlan's lips curled up, but he maintained a calm demeanor and nodded slightly, saying, "Of course, there are plenty of rooms in the villa." Qin Guanlan was telling the truth; the villa was two stories, and people could live on both floors. Now it was just a matter of adding two more children; there were plenty of rooms.
After speaking, he paused and said, "Besides, I don't think they're noisy. The medicinal herbs planted in the garden can be used to help weed and water them, which will lighten the burden on Xiao Qing and Xiao Xia. Just think of it as hiring two little medicine apprentices."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtang chuckled softly, knowing that Brother Qin was trying to protect the two children's self-esteem. She nodded in agreement and said, "Xiao Qing and Xiao Xia have indeed worked hard these past few days. Xiao Sheng and Xiao Xun, you two should thank Brother Qin properly."
The two children were clever enough to notice Shen Qingtang giving them a meaningful look, and they knew that the children would be living in the Qin Mansion from now on. Although they didn't know what kind of place it was, they understood that Qin Guanlan was a person of great wealth and status, and his residence would certainly not be bad.
The two children sincerely thanked him, saying, "Uncle Qin, thank you." Then they turned to Shen Qingtang and said with utmost sincerity, "Sister Shen, thank you."
They knew perfectly well that they wouldn't have been able to move into the Qin Mansion if it weren't for the other party's help.
Upon hearing this, Qin Guanlan's lips curled down almost imperceptibly.
After enjoying a warm and comforting mutton hotpot, the group sped back to the Qin Mansion.
The two children were in the stage of growing up and should have been asleep long ago. As soon as they got in the car, their eyes started to close. Qin Guanlan and Shen Qingtang each held one of the children and watched them fall fast asleep.
Seeing this scene in the rearview mirror, Qi Er couldn't help but smile, and a thought popped into his mind: This scene is just like Brother Qin and Sister Shen's married life, with a son and a daughter, making a perfect family.
After getting off the car, Shen Qingtang keenly noticed that Qin Guanlan was in a bad mood. She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and said, "Brother Qin, I'm sorry for causing you trouble. Are you unhappy?" After saying that, she felt a little regretful.
Qin Guanlan saw through Shen Qingtang's thoughts at a glance and waved his hand, saying, "Those two kids are quite well-behaved, they're not a problem at all. With them around, the villa will be a bit more lively."
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang scratched her head in confusion and asked, "Brother Qin, why do you look a little unhappy?"
"I'm not," Qin Guanlan denied hastily, but then he tilted his head awkwardly, pretending to be nonchalant, and said, "Am I a little too old?" He and Shen Qingtang were six years apart. They say there's a three-year age gap, so there must be two gaps between them.
At first, Shen Qingtang thought the other party was joking, because Qin Guanlan himself was not associated with the word "old" at all. On the contrary, he was full of mature and steady charm. But after seeing the concern and worry in his eyes, she straightened her expression and said, "Brother Qin, you are not old. You are in your prime."
Qin Guanlan looked into Shen Qingtang's eyes and discerned the seriousness in them. Only then did he realize that these were her true feelings, and his previously uneasy heart returned to its chest.
Then, amidst Shen Qingtang's bewildered question, "Brother Qin, why would you think that?", he pursed his lips and muttered softly, "If I'm not old, why does Xiao Xun call me 'uncle' but you 'sister'?"
These are clearly terms of address used to address people of different generations.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtang couldn't help but chuckle. She never expected it to be for this reason. At that moment, the moonlight made her face even brighter. She said, "Brother Qin, you're really funny."
The captivating gaze made Qin Guanlan blush without realizing it, and his heart began to pound again as he felt the magical frequency resonating with his soul.
The next morning, Su Rong brought Qin Sumiao over for breakfast, partly to try Shen Qingtang's cooking, and partly to discuss Mrs. Li's son's wedding banquet. After much thought, she decided to bring Shen Qingtang along.
She had vaguely heard Qin Guanlan mention that Shen Qingtang's Renxin Medical Clinic business didn't seem to be doing too well. She thought that taking this opportunity to introduce Shen Qingtang to people in the wealthy circle would also benefit her business.
It's well known that wealthy wives and young ladies are extremely eager to acquire Chinese medicinal herbs with beauty and skin-nourishing effects. What difference does it make whose business you're doing? With her there to persuade you, it'll be perfect for Shen Qingtang's Renxin Medical Clinic to open successfully.
Qin Sumiao came simply because she missed food. She wondered to herself which window God had closed for Shen Qingtang. Not only was she beautiful, but she also knew medicine. Even a bowl of plain rice porridge cooked by Shen Qingtang had a unique aroma that made her want to eat more.
When the two rushed over, they never expected to find two little kids on the table.
Looking at Xu Xiaosheng's green eyes, so similar to her older brother's, and then at the harmonious atmosphere at the dinner table, Qin Sumiao couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. "Mom," she exclaimed, "do you think my brother and Sister Shen have already met and slept together? They even have a child now!" She stroked her chin, a look of sudden realization on her face, and sighed, "No wonder my brother forgave Sister Shen so easily. When did they...?"
Feeling a cold gaze, she quickly swallowed the rest of her words and gave an awkward laugh. Su Rong then scolded her in a displeased tone, "Don't stay abroad for too long, or your thoughts will become impure. You've even started spreading dirty rumors about your older brother."
She said, both smug and speechless, "After your brother finished his military service, he went to work for a company. He's so busy that you can hardly see him. He doesn't have time to do anything else. If I hadn't arranged his engagement before, he would definitely have become a great magician."
She stated firmly, "The child looks somewhat similar to the two of them, but is definitely not their child."
Qin Sumiao licked her lips, preparing to analyze the situation, when she soon heard Shen Qingtang's greeting: "Aunt Su, Little Sister Qin, you've arrived." After saying that, she looked at Xiaosheng and Xiaoxun and said, "Quickly greet Grandma and Sister."
As soon as Su Rong called out "Grandma" in a soft, sweet voice, half of her body almost went limp. Holding a child in each arm, she couldn't stop smiling and said, "Where did these two little darlings come from? They're so pretty, and they look kind of familiar."
Xu Xiaosheng and Xu Xiaoxun had always been thin and bony due to frequent hunger; you could feel their ribs even through their thick clothes. But now, being fed regularly, their cheeks have gained some flesh, and Xu Xiaoxun continues to take her medicine every day, resulting in an even greater transformation. Her once expressive, dark eyes have become even brighter.
The two of them looked like they had improved by more than one level. Qin Sumiao was originally indifferent to children, after all, she had seen too many teenagers in the United States, and she kept her distance from this kind of childish behavior, not to mention the endless stream of naughty kids on her phone.
But in just three minutes, she was captivated by the praise of the two pretty older sisters flanking her. She managed to snatch one of the children from Su Rong's arms, hugged it tightly, and asked with shining eyes, "Big brother, Sister Chen, where did you steal these children from?"
“Tell me quickly, I’ll go steal a few more. Doesn’t the country encourage childbirth and marriage? I’ve made up my mind, I only want children like these, not a single hair of them can be missing.”
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang was both amused and exasperated, saying, "They weren't stolen; they're apprentices at my pharmacy." Qin Sumiao exclaimed in shock, "Apprentices? Sister Shen, how could you hire child laborers? They should be in school at that age! Sister Shen, you're so cruel!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her cuff being tugged. Xu Xiaoxun blinked and said with a serious expression, "Pretty sister, Sister Shen isn't a bad person. If Sister Shen hadn't taken us in as apprentices, we wouldn't even be able to afford food."
Qin Sumiao then learned about the two children's tragic past. She patted their heads and solemnly apologized: "Xiao Xun, I'm sorry. I didn't understand the situation and made a wrong judgment. Sister Chen is not a bad person, she is a very good person."
Xu Xiaoxun then smiled and said, "I've heard people say that it's a virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them. Pretty sister, just don't do it again next time."
Hearing the little girl clearly recite a sentence in classical Chinese, Qin Sumiao clicked her tongue in amazement and said, "Sister Chen, this child is too smart. We still need to send her to school."
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and said, "Brother Qin has already told me that he will hire a tutor to give them extra lessons in the future, and then send them to school." Although the two children are precocious and smart, they have never properly attended school to receive an education, so it is common for them to be ostracized.
It would be better for them to hire private tutors to teach them the basics before sending them to school.
Su Rong grew increasingly fond of the two children, and with a wave of her hand, she said, "I know some people at the school; I'll help you find someone." She paused, then added, "Guan'er, when you have time, take them to your mother's to keep her company. Her courtyard has been too deserted for too long."
The main branch of the Qin family is not particularly prosperous, especially since Qin Guanlan is already twenty-seven years old but doesn't even have a birth chart yet. Other heirs of wealthy families at this age are already trying for their third or fourth child.
Fortunately, Grandma Qin is sensible and has never exerted any pressure in these matters. Now that two sensible children have finally come, it's only right to send them over to celebrate.
Qin Guanlan nodded and said, "Mom, I understand."
Knowing that Qin Guanlan and Shen Qingtang each had to go to work and the clinic respectively, Su Rong didn't take up their time. She finalized a time with Shen Qingtang to look at dresses and then left.
Just before getting into the car, Xu Xiaosheng and Xu Xiaoxun blinked at Shen Qingtang.
"What's wrong?" she asked, patting their heads.
Xu Xiaoxun took out two gold bars and confessed, "Sister Chen, Aunt Su just forced these on us."
Xu Xiaosheng asked with a curious look, "Is this the little yellow croaker that they talk about in TV dramas?"
Looking at the two solid, heavy pieces of gold, she smiled helplessly and said, "Aunt Su is giving them to you, so please take them." The Qin family's tendency to favor one person seems to be consistent throughout.
Xu Xiaoxun added, "Sister Chen, we're too young, please keep it for us."
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Okay."
Time flew by, and a month flew by in a flash. Business at Renxin Clinic remained bleak, with most of the patients going to the new Renxin Clinic. Shen Qingtang remained unhurried, aside from his daily visits to Mrs. Li, spending the rest of his time practicing acupuncture, studying medical books, and occasionally advising his apprentices.
That day, Cui Mingyue saw Chen Li looking at Renxin Medical Clinic with a drooling expression and felt a surge of disgust. She deliberately took out a broom and stirred up a lot of dust.
"Cough cough cough." Chen Li felt a tickle in his throat and kept coughing, saying, "Cui Mingyue, what are you doing? I didn't do anything to you."
"Hehe, don't even think about it. Our Renxin Medical Clinic will not go out of business, nor will it be sold to you." Seeing that Cui Mingyue had seen through his thoughts with one sentence, Chen Li simply stopped pretending.
He scoffed and said, "What are you talking about? Even if you can afford two million in compensation, your clinic still won't have any customers, will it? It'll go bankrupt sooner or later."
Cui Mingyue clenched her fist and said, "Our Renxin Medical Clinic will not go out of business. Sister Chen goes to Mrs. Li's every three days to help her with acupuncture and weight loss. When that happens, our clinic's business will be booming again."
"What? Help Mrs. Li lose weight?" Chen Li laughed so hard he almost fell over, as if he'd heard a huge joke. He scoffed without any restraint, "Shen Qingtang is really overestimating herself, actually trying to help Mrs. Li lose weight." Mrs. Li was known as Fatty Li, also called a "killer" of weight-loss agencies, because she was so prone to weight gain that even drinking water would make her gain two pounds. He'd heard about how difficult it was for her to lose weight. In his opinion, Shen Qingtang had definitely made a mistake with this move.
He thought to himself with delight: once Shen Qingtang has completely angered Mrs. Li, he can then push down the housing prices again.
The day before the engagement banquet, as is customary, Mrs. Li's husband, son, and daughter-in-law would all come back to meet her.
Mrs. Li's husband, Li Chen, had just finished a project and was missing his wife dearly. He strode in and looked at the unfamiliar woman sitting at the main table with a hint of surprise in his eyes. However, the woman's eyes were very tender, and she immediately came forward to greet him and tried to take his suit.
He paused, deliberately stepping aside, and asked, "Excuse me, who are you...?" Maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor, he paused just right for two moments before continuing, "Where is my wife now? Could you tell me?"
The strange woman stared wide-eyed, her face filled with disbelief, and said, "You don't recognize me?"
Li Chen sensed a familiarity from the other person's face, and frowned, saying uncertainly, "Could you be from my wife's family?" The more he looked, the more he felt that the two people's eyebrows and eyes were very similar.
Upon hearing this, the strange woman burst into laughter, stepped forward, and kissed Li Chen on the cheek without a second thought, saying, "Don't you really recognize me, my husband?"
The word "husband" exploded in Li Chen's ears like a bolt from the blue. Mrs. Li laughed even more heartily as she looked at her husband's dumbfounded expression.
"Sweetie? You're Sweetie?" The usually composed Li Chen looked at him with a ghostly gaze. "OMG! You're really my wife?"
"Of course!" Mrs. Li raised her head and said proudly, "It's all thanks to Dr. Shen, otherwise my weight loss wouldn't have been so effective."
"Oh, right." She winked and said playfully, "Don't tell our son and daughter-in-law that I've successfully lost weight. I'm going to try on dresses at the wedding dress shop later. I want to dazzle everyone at the wedding banquet."
Li Chen stepped forward and couldn't help but kiss his wife in front of him, nodding repeatedly and saying, "Okay, whatever you say is fine. I'll go to the dress shop with you later."
Mrs. Li said, somewhat speechless, "But you haven't eaten yet, have you? Shouldn't you be getting a good night's sleep after coming back so late?"
"I'm not hungry, and I'm not sleepy," Li Chen said decisively, expressing his determination. He had to keep an eye on such a beautiful wife, otherwise she would be seduced away by someone else.
Mrs. Li's son's wedding banquet was held at the Fengyi Restaurant, featuring a buffet-style Western meal. Four or five long white tables were laden with food, including desserts, bread, and roast meats—a truly comprehensive selection. However, for many, the wedding banquet was simply another social occasion, where people eagerly chatted with others, champagne in hand, and sought out the latest news in their social circles.
Su Rong knew Shen Qingtang and Qin Sumiao's personalities well, so she didn't force them to socialize. She let them find a corner to stay in for a while, while she went to find Mrs. Li alone.
Mrs. Li has a forthright personality, and the two of them usually interact, so they quickly thought of asking her to help take care of the pharmacy's business.
But... looking around, she still couldn't find Mrs. Li, and couldn't help but wonder, "Strange, where is Mrs. Li?"
Today is her son and daughter-in-law's wedding banquet, they shouldn't be late, could something have happened? Thinking of this, she took out her phone to make a call, but was stopped by a friend.
She nudged her arm with her own and said, "Xiao Rong, Mrs. Li is over there." Looking at Mrs. Li, who had lost almost half her weight, she blinked in disbelief and said, "This...this is Mrs. Li?" This is the Mrs. Li that everyone in the wealthy circles calls Fatty Li?
Because of her composure, she didn't say the last sentence, but her expression betrayed it.
"I heard she went to a clinic for treatment and took some weight-loss pills to lose weight." Su Rong's friend suggested eagerly, "Why don't we go and ask her?"
Body management and weight management are timeless topics among women.
Mrs. Li certainly attracted a lot of attention this time. She had lost about 50 pounds in the past month, making her look completely different from her previous overweight self. She wore a light blue fitted cheongsam, the cut of which accentuated her strengths and minimized her flaws, revealing her fair calves and collarbones, making her appear even thinner to the naked eye.
It was supposed to be her son and daughter-in-law's engagement party, but she became the undisputed center of attention, with a group of people constantly surrounding her asking about her weight loss secrets, including Mrs. Li's mortal enemy, Mrs. Wang, the gossipy old woman.
Mrs. Li and Mrs. Wang were best friends in their early years. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Back then, both of them were a bit overweight, and compared to the slender wives of the wealthy, they naturally felt a sense of kinship.
However, Mrs. Li overheard Mrs. Wang gossiping about her and realized that Mrs. Wang only hung up on her because she thought Mrs. Wang was fatter and she looked thinner. So she immediately broke off the relationship.
Mrs. Wang asked maliciously, "Mrs. Li, you didn't take any hormones, did you? Be careful not to gain weight back and ruin your health."
Mrs. Li waved her hand calmly and said, "I didn't lose weight with hormones, but at a reputable medical clinic. It's all thanks to..."
Before she could finish speaking, Su Rong appeared before her eyes. She quickly stepped forward and affectionately took Su Rong's arm, saying, "Mrs. Qin, I owe my weight loss this time to you."
"Me?" Upon hearing this, Su Rong pointed to herself, feeling completely bewildered.
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