Ye Xingxiu, yawning and stretching, instantly perked up when he saw Cen Zhengnian come in with the basket.

He was the first to stand up and run over.

“These dates are really fresh.” Ye Xingxiu grabbed a handful, wiped them on his sleeve, and popped one into his mouth. “Mmm, they’re crispy and sweet. Delicious! Zhengnian, where did you buy these?”

Ye Xingxiu didn’t waste any time with his other hand, grabbing a big handful of jujubes and stuffing them into his pocket while still trying to grab more.

At this moment, other researchers noticed and squeezed him out of the way.

Cen Zhengnian quickly placed the basket on a nearby table and handed a handful of jujubes to Yan Hemen before stepping aside.

He looked at Ye Xingxiu and said, “These aren’t store-bought; they’re from our own orchard. My wife asked me to bring them for you to try.”

“Haha!” Ye Xingxiu said while eating the jujubes, “I knew it wasn’t you who thought of this. It’s our sister-in-law who’s so kind and thoughtful, still thinking of us. Please thank her for me!”

A chorus of thanks to the younger sister-in-law and appreciation for the wife echoed around.

Yan Hemen, munching on the jujubes, joked, “Your wife has won over the whole research lab with these.”

He patted Cen Zhengnian on the shoulder, saying, “You’d better treat your wife well.”

Cen Zhengnian thought of Chuxia and a warm expression appeared in his eyes. He replied seriously, “Professor, I would do so even if you didn’t say it.”

---

At the Imperial Capital Traditional Medicine Academy, Chuxia arrived at school and went straight to her class.

With a heavy course load, she had little free time each week.

Additionally, they had evening study sessions, but Chuxia had arranged with her tutor to handle her evening studies at home.

In her first year, the traditional medicine courses were mostly theoretical, focusing on foundational knowledge.

Although Chuxia had some basic knowledge of traditional medicine from learning with her grandfather before university, she had never studied it as systematically as she did now, so she took her studies seriously.

Few students in the class were distracted, and after class, many students gathered around the teachers to ask questions.

The instructors were well-known doctors in traditional medicine, and they could quickly tell if a student had a solid foundation.

Within a few days, Chuxia and her roommate, Ye Mengchun, known for her somewhat aloof demeanor, became the go-to students for answers.

Whenever a student couldn’t answer a question, the teachers would immediately turn to Chuxia or Ye Mengchun.

“Luo Chuxia, could you answer this?”

After Chuxia or Ye Mengchun answered, the teacher would nod in satisfaction and address the class, “Understand? It’s just as Luo Chuxia explained. I won’t explain further.”

On Friday afternoon, after class, Chuxia was heading out to catch a bus with her books when Ye Mengchun stopped her.

“Chuxia, have you studied traditional medicine before?”

Chuxia looked at her.

Ye Mengchun’s face was still expressionless, but her eyes were serious.

Chuxia shook her head and nodded, “I’m just interested in traditional medicine and self-studied a few books during the summer.”

Ye Mengchun frowned, her disbelief evident. “If reading a few books could achieve what you’ve done, then everyone would be a traditional medicine expert.”

Without years of foundational learning, it’s impossible to treat and cure illnesses in traditional medicine.

Some people spend decades studying and still wouldn’t claim to be highly skilled.

Chuxia had indeed lied, but she couldn’t tell the whole truth.

Revealing that she had studied traditional medicine for over a decade in her past life would sound even less believable.

“I don’t have any other explanation,” Chuxia said, and Ye Mengchun gave her a deep look before saying, “I’ll keep your secret.”

Ye Mengchun seemed to have her own theories, and Chuxia chose not to correct her.

Sometimes, it’s better to let people fill in the gaps with their own assumptions.

The busy study period passed quickly. Chuxia only realized it was almost October when the tutor announced that classes would be off for three days for the National Day holiday.

“By the way, tomorrow is also the Mid-Autumn Festival. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day in advance!”

The tutor smiled, and many students wished the teacher a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day in return.

After the class meeting ended, Chuxia, like many of her classmates, headed out.

Yang Jin stopped her.

“Chuxia, where are you going for the National Day holiday? Our dorm mates are planning to visit Tiananmen and the Forbidden City!”

Upon hearing the representative landmarks of the Imperial Capital, Chuxia was momentarily stunned.

Since coming to Beijing, she had been busy with high school courses, then university studies, and hadn’t had the chance to explore the city.

However, she didn’t plan to join her roommates.

Smiling, she told Yang Jin, “You all go ahead. I’ll be spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with my family.”

Yang Jin patted her shoulder with an understanding look and winked, “Oh, right, you have a family. Of course, you’ll be spending time with your husband and child.”

Chuxia wished them a great time and headed home with a pile of homework from her professional courses.

At home, Chuxia first checked the calendar.

Since moving to the research institute, Cen Zhengnian had been the one to tear off the dates each morning, as he left for work early, often while Chuxia and An An were still asleep.

Turning to the next day, she saw that the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day coincided.

“Mommy, the teacher said we have a holiday tomorrow.”

As Chuxia looked at the calendar, Cen Huai’an came home from school and told her.

“Mommy also has a holiday.” Chuxia turned to An An, who had changed into a black jacket and was pouring himself some water from the teapot on the table.

“An An, do you want to visit Tiananmen and the Forbidden City? Or the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and Beihai Park in Beijing?”

Cen Huai’an was familiar with these places from hearing his classmates talk about them.

He hadn’t expressed a desire to go before, but now, with Chuxia mentioning it, he thought for a moment and nodded seriously, “Mommy, I want to go.”

Cen Huai’an wasn’t particularly interested in these places but wanted to see them himself so he could understand what his classmates were talking about.

“Alright.” Chuxia thought for a moment and said, “Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. We’ll visit your great-grandfather first, and after that, Mommy will take you to visit each place.”

Cen Huai’an’s eyes showed some excitement at the prospect.

At dinner time, Cen Zhengnian came back from the research institute, and for once, he didn’t bring work home.

Noticing Chu Xia’s eyes on his hands, Cen Zhengnian smiled and said, “Tomorrow is National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival, so the teacher gave us a day off.”

Work was never-ending, and the research institute usually didn’t rest much.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day coming together, Yan and Min decided to give everyone a break.

Cen Zhengnian wanted to spend time with his wife and children.

Chu Xia asked him to help serve the dishes, smiling, “Perfect timing. Tomorrow, you can come with us to visit Grandpa.”

In the evening, Chu Xia was bent over the desk, working on her homework.

Being a teacher’s favorite also meant a lot of pressure.

For example, her and Ye Mengchun’s homework was different from others’, more difficult and more extensive.

Cen Zhengnian stood behind her, watching her write for a while.

He frowned and then started searching through the bookshelf at the desk, finding books to help her continue working.

He looked at what she was writing and, not understanding the subject, moved his gaze and said, “It’s getting late. Finish it tomorrow.”

“But we’re going to Grandpa’s tomorrow. After that, I want to take An’an around the capital. I won’t have any other time to write except in the evening.”

Cen Zhengnian didn’t go to bed by himself; he sat on a nearby stool, accompanying Chu Xia.

Whenever she needed a book, she just had to ask, and Cen Zhengnian would find it and place it beside her.

After finishing her homework for three subjects, Chu Xia yawned, stretched, and asked Cen Zhengnian, “What time is it?”

“It’s almost eleven.”

“Is it that late? Why are you still up? You shouldn’t stay up late!” Chu Xia glared at Cen Zhengnian.

Cen Zhengnian smiled, organizing the books and homework on the desk. “You’re still awake, so I can’t sleep.”

Chu Xia couldn’t make mooncakes, so on the way to visit Grandpa Jiang, she bought freshly baked handmade mooncakes from an old-established pastry shop.

She also bought some other treats as gifts to bring along.

The mooncakes from the old shop were tastier.

Besides the ones for Grandpa Jiang and Uncle Jiang, Chu Xia bought an extra pound for Cen Huai’an to enjoy.

“Mom, this mooncake is red date flavor.”

Chu Xia looked at the mooncake in Cen Huai’an’s hand.

The filling was date paste and nuts.

She remembered buying one with peach kernel date paste, which was probably this one.

Seeing Chu Xia looking at his mooncake, Cen Huai’an thought she wanted some and held the mooncake to her mouth, “Mom, try it. It’s very good.”

Chu Xia took a bite.

The filling wasn’t overly sweet, just the right sweetness.

The nuts and date paste combined perfectly, making it delicious.

Cen Zhengnian lowered his head, smiling as he watched Cen Huai’an. “Only letting Mom try? What about Dad?”

Cen Huai’an held the mooncake to Cen Zhengnian’s mouth, “Dad should have some too.”

Cen Zhengnian took a bite, and Chu Xia laughed, calling him childish.

The family shared a piece of mooncake, including Huang Zi and Hei Zi, who came along to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with Grandpa Jiang.

Chu Xia asked Cen Huai’an to save the remaining mooncake, so he wouldn’t eat too many and spoil his appetite for lunch.

When Chu Xia and Cen Zhengnian arrived at Grandpa Jiang’s house, Uncle Jiang and Second Uncle Jiang had already arrived with their families.

Only Jiang Zhiguan’s family hadn’t shown up yet.

When Jiang Zhida saw Cen Huai’an, he picked him up and spun him around, asking, “Did you miss your uncle?”

Cen Huai’an looked at Jiang Zhida and nodded lightly before walking up to Grandpa Jiang. “Great-grandpa, happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Grandpa Jiang smiled widely, praising him as a good child.

Soon after, Jiang Zhiguan’s family arrived.