The Jiang family knew about Chu Xia’s situation at the Imperial Capital University of Chinese Medicine.

Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang looked at her with some unusual expressions—mostly regretful disbelief and other complex emotions.

Chu Xia could roughly guess their thoughts—surprised at her excellent college entrance exam scores, but regretting that she chose the Chinese medicine college.

If it were Jiang Zhiyi’s score, they would have urged her to apply to Jinghua or Jingyan.

They felt her high score was wasted on her.

However, Chu Xia only greeted them.

Although Aunt Zhou Huaying’s expression was less aloof, she still didn’t seem very friendly.

Chu Xia, Luo Peng, and Jiang Zhiguan chatted together, as they got along well.

Jiang Zhiyi was forced to sit with her mother, watching Chu Xia and the others with envy.

“Chu Xia, I heard you’re attending the Imperial Capital University of Chinese Medicine?” Luo Peng’s voice was as gentle as ever.

Chu Xia felt genuine tenderness from her.

“Mm.” Chu Xia peeled a pomegranate at the table and said, “I prefer studying Chinese medicine.”

Luo Peng’s gaze fell on the pomegranate in Chu Xia’s hand, gently saying, “That’s nice.”

Jiang Zhiguan didn’t like peeling pomegranates, finding it too troublesome.

She ate an apple and said, “Is Chinese medicine difficult to learn, Chu Xia? Can you take pulses? Do you know acupuncture? If not, try taking my pulse.”

Before Chu Xia could respond, Luo Peng laughed and said, “Zhiguan, Chu Xia has just started studying Chinese medicine. She hasn’t reached the level you’re talking about yet.”

Chu Xia spat out a pomegranate seed and looked at Jiang Zhiguan, “I did read a few books on Chinese medicine over the summer and taught myself pulse taking. If you don’t mind that I might not be very accurate, I can give it a try.”

Jiang Zhiguan laughed, extending her arm, “Sure, I don’t mind. Anyway, I’m in good health, so it’s no problem.”

Chu Xia washed her hands, which had pomegranate juice on them, before sitting down to take Jiang Zhiguan’s pulse.

Her smile gradually faded as she felt her fingers on Jiang Zhiguan’s wrist.

Her face grew serious.

Jiang Zhiguan, who hadn’t taken the pulse seriously before, felt a pang of worry as Chu Xia’s smile vanished and her brow furrowed.

She swallowed nervously and asked, “Chu Xia, is there really something wrong with me?”

Luo Peng also became anxious, tightly holding Jiang Zhiguan’s hand and staring at Chu Xia’s face. “Chu Xia, say something. Don’t scare us.”

Chu Xia released her hand, looked at the two, and chuckled, “Scared? It’s okay, Cousin is in good health, but…”

Chu Xia winked at Jiang Zhiguan and whispered in her ear, “Cousin, be moderate tonight.”

Jiang Zhiguan’s face turned bright red instantly, staring at Chu Xia in shock. “You… you can tell that too?”

Chu Xia nodded, “It was just a guess. Looks like I was right.”

Jiang Zhiguan’s face remained red for a while, but she got over it.

Since everyone was married, talking about such things wasn’t a big deal.

She looked at Chu Xia and asked directly, “How many times a week do you and Zhengnian have?”

Chu Xia didn’t blush.

She shook her head and said, “Private matter, no comment.”

Luo Peng, realizing what they were talking about, turned as red as a beet.

At this moment, Jiang Zhiguan noticed her and pulled her hand towards Chu Xia. “Chu Xia, check my sister’s pulse too.”

Jiang Zhiguan seemed to enjoy the drama, curious about how often her usually stoic brother had intimate moments.

Luo Peng backed away, “No need, I’m fine.”

“Come on, it’s not like Chu Xia’s pulse-taking is very accurate. Just consider it a game.”

Luo Peng couldn’t refuse Jiang Zhiguan and reluctantly placed her hand in front of Chu Xia.

Chu Xia placed her fingers on Luo Peng’s wrist again.

As before, her smile disappeared, and her brow furrowed even more deeply.

Jiang Zhiguan, having been scared by Chu Xia before, thought she was joking again with Luo Peng.

She chewed her apple and waved her hand with a laugh, “Chu Xia, this trick’s only fun once. It’s no longer interesting.”

Chuxia remained silent for a moment, withdrawing her hand from Luo Peng’s wrist.

She looked at Luo Peng, who was visibly anxious, and asked, “Cousin, do you experience severe pain during your period each month?”

Luo Peng nodded, softly replying, “It’s not just pain.”

Chuxia furrowed her brows further. “Does it last for a long time?”

Luo Peng nodded again. “Chuxia, can you tell?”

Jiang Zhiguan realized that Chuxia wasn’t joking and watched them silently.

Chuxia didn’t want to reveal too much about her knowledge, given that she had only recently started studying traditional medicine at university.

Revealing too much could raise suspicion.

She shook her head, then nodded. “I can only discern a little. I suggest you see a skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctor or go to a hospital. Your body needs proper care. My current abilities aren’t enough to help you.”

Luo Peng’s face turned pale.

She had privately sought doctors before, but none could resolve her issues.

She was hesitant to go to a major hospital because there were only a few well-known ones, and it would be easy to run into acquaintances.

Luo Peng thought Chuxia wouldn’t be able to notice anything, but she could indeed perceive some issues, even if just a little.

“Chuxia, what’s wrong with my sister-in-law?” Jiang Zhiguan asked, concerned.

Chuxia shook her head. “It’s nothing serious, just some common women’s issues. I have them too, but not as severely as Cousin-in-law.”

Jiang Zhiguan, who wasn’t familiar with menstrual pain, accepted Chuxia’s explanation, especially since Luo Peng’s expression was gradually returning to normal.

Luo Peng also agreed with Chuxia, saying, “Yes, it’s really painful each month.”

Jiang Zhiguan, who had never experienced menstrual pain, looked at Luo Peng with sympathy and said, “Cousin, you should definitely see a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for treatment.”

The three of them sat away from others, with Yang Mei and Uncle Jiang discussing lunch with Aunt Li in the kitchen.

Cen Zhengnian and Jiang Zhishu were in the study discussing matters, and Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang were talking about their work with the children.

No one paid attention to Chuxia and the others.

Seeing Chuxia’s pulse-taking, someone joked, “Chuxia looks quite like a doctor.”

Changing the subject, Chuxia talked about her military training and school life with Jiang Zhiguan, and Luo Peng’s expression seemed to return to normal.

At this time, Cen Huai’an, Zhang Lu, Jiang Weixian, and Jiang Zhida were playing in the yard with two dogs.

The pomegranate tree in Grandpa Jiang’s yard was robust, laden with heavy, split-open red pomegranates.

The dogs, Huangzi and Heizi, jumped up to reach the lowest pomegranates, biting one each and carrying them to Cen Huai’an.

They dropped the pomegranates at his feet and then sat down, tongues out, looking at him hopefully.

When Cen Huai’an didn’t move, they nudged his legs and hands with their heads, urging him to pick up the pomegranates.

Jiang Zhida, astonished, pointed at the pomegranates on the ground and asked, “An’an, are Huangzi and Heizi giving you pomegranates to eat?”

Zhang Lu and Jiang Weixian ran over, equally surprised by the dogs’ behavior.

“Yes,” Cen Huai’an nodded, patting the dogs’ heads and squatting down.

The pomegranates, now covered in the dogs’ saliva and dirt from rolling on the ground, were washed with some water from the well.

He split them open and fed them to Huangzi and Heizi.

As he fed them, Cen Huai’an said, “I can pick pomegranates myself. You don’t need to pick them for me.”

The dogs wagged their tails and continued nudging him, as if urging him to move faster.

Cen Huai’an thought, “I’m not sure if they’re giving these to me or if they want to eat them themselves.”

Zhang Lu and Jiang Weixian tried to feed Huangzi and Heizi pomegranates, but the dogs refused their offerings.

“They won’t eat what I give them?” Zhang Lu asked, frustrated.

Previously, when Huangzi and Heizi stayed at Grandpa Jiang’s house, Zhang Lu and Jiang Weixian had tried to feed them but were ignored, no matter how hungry the dogs were.

Cen Huai’an smiled and explained, “Mom and I taught them not to eat food from strangers because it might be harmful.”

When the dogs were not taken out by the Cen family, Chuxia only allowed them to run in the backyard, as there were often people on the streets who abused dogs without any consequences.

Zhang Lu sulkily ate the pomegranates herself, saying, “If they don’t want to eat, then I’ll eat them.”

Jiang Zhida was more interested in the dogs and decided to wait for Heizi to have puppies so he could adopt one.

After feeding the dogs two pomegranates, Cen Huai’an joined Jiang Zhida to pick more.

Jiang Zhida bent the branches down for the kids to pick the pomegranates.

The process was enjoyable, and Zhang Lu laughed while competing with Jiang Weixian to see who could pick more.

The yard was filled with their cheerful voices, and Cen Huai’an had a smile on his face, radiating happiness.

“Kids, it’s time to eat!” Yang Mei called out from the yard.

Zhang Lu tossed the picked pomegranates into a basket and dashed inside, with Jiang Weixian chasing after her, “Sister, wait for me!”

Cen Huai’an stayed behind, attempting to help Jiang Zhida carry the basket, but Jiang Zhida refused, “Don’t underestimate your uncle. I’ll handle it.”

With ease, he carried the basket and patted Cen Huai’an on the head, saying, “Save your strength for dinner.”

Jiang Zhida finished his cup of yellow wine and couldn’t resist pouring himself a glass of ginger date brown sugar water.

After taking a sip, he scrunched up his face immediately: “The ginger taste is so strong. How can Er Biaoge’s family enjoy it so much?”

Curious, he took another sip, trying to figure out the appeal. By the time he finished the glass, he still preferred soda or plain brown sugar water.

He really disliked ginger.

At Grandpa Jiang’s table, everyone except Jiang Zhishu and Luo Peng was drinking yellow wine.

Even Second Aunt Zhou Huaying was enjoying her drink, looking elegant while doing so.

Despite her character, her beauty was undeniable.

Jiang Zhiyi was pretty too, but she didn’t match her mother’s beauty.

Chuxia, sipping her tea, reflected on these thoughts.

At this moment, Uncle Jiang and Second Uncle Jiang, along with Aunt Li, brought out the cut mooncakes.

There wouldn’t be a moon-viewing event in the evening as not everyone lived close to Grandpa Jiang’s house.

It wasn’t safe to return too late, so the mooncakes were enjoyed early.

There were various kinds of mooncakes. Chuxia, having eaten a lot of food, couldn’t finish a piece.

She took a few bites, rubbed her stomach, and secretly handed the remaining mooncake to Cen Zhengnian: “Help me finish this; I can’t eat any more.”

The mooncake pieces were not large, and Cen Zhengnian quickly ate the piece she handed him in two bites, smiling as he said, “It tastes good.”

Jiang Zhida noticed their interaction and felt a bit envious, quickly looking away.

Grandpa Jiang, eating a mooncake, began reminiscing about the past.

He spoke fondly of Grandma Jiang, his voice filled with nostalgia.

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, Grandma Jiang used to make mooncakes herself.

“She had little strength, so I would knead the dough and mix the filling. Now, the mooncakes are bought, and though they taste better, something seems to be missing.”

Chuxia realized Grandpa Jiang missed Grandma Jiang.

She looked at the mooncakes and thought of her own grandfather.

In her previous life, she always spent Mid-Autumn Festival with him.

After dinner, they would lie on lounge chairs in the yard, holding mooncakes, eating a bite now and then, and gazing at the bright moon.

When she was little, her grandfather would tell her stories about Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit.

She would look at the shadows on the moon and imagine they were the palaces where Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit lived.

As she grew up, she learned these were just myths, but the memories of moon-gazing in her childhood still brought her joy.

“Dad, should we visit Mom tomorrow?”

Grandpa Jiang snapped back to the present and looked at Uncle Jiang.

He shook his head, “I’ve spoken with your mother. There’s no need to visit.”

At home, Grandpa Jiang had placed the mooncakes in front of Grandma Jiang’s black-and-white photo early in the morning. By mid-afternoon, everyone started leaving.

Chuxia refilled Grandpa Jiang’s medicinal wine and asked, “Grandpa, how do you feel after drinking the medicinal wine?”

Grandpa Jiang sat in his chair, sipping tea. “It’s effective. The damp weather doesn’t bother me as much now.” Although his legs still hurt, it was better than before.

Chuxia was relieved, reminding him again how to drink it and that she would bring a new batch of medicinal wine next time. Once this batch was finished, the herbs could be discarded.

Grandpa Jiang smiled broadly, enjoying the care of his younger generation.

In his old age, what he cherished most was having his children and grandchildren by his side, all of them healthy and filial.