Chapter 17

The first official day of class.

Xu Wanchun arrived at the classroom a full 30 minutes before the prep bell.

She thought she was early enough.

But to her surprise, the small mud-and-straw classroom was already full of students.

Standing at the entrance, under the curious stares of so many unfamiliar faces, Xu Wanchun—even with the soul of an adult—couldn’t help feeling a little awkward.

Just as she was stepping in, several kids stood up.

Among them was the grandson of Grandpa Xu from the village. With his round face and bright energy, Xu Xiaohu waved excitedly. “Peach Blossom! Grandpa said I should sit with you—I even saved you a seat!”

As soon as he said that, several other boys, clearly prompted by their families, also piped up, trying to claim her as a seatmate.

Xu Wanchun felt a headache coming on. She recognized the kids as all being from Xujiatun, but she didn’t really know them well.

Besides, she already had someone in mind to sit with.

Remembering Auntie Lancao’s repeated requests, Xu Wanchun scanned the room—and quickly locked eyes with a pair of big round eyes.

It was Li Yulan!

And sure enough, the seat next to her was empty.

Xu Wanchun turned to the eager boys and politely shook her head. “Thank you, but I want to sit with Yulan-jie.” She respectfully called the girl “big sister,” even though Yulan was only three months older.

Li Yulan hadn’t expected the capable and beautiful Peach Blossom to actually want to sit with her—and call her “jie”—her face instantly turned beet red.

“Yulan-jie, is it okay if I sit here?” Xu Wanchun asked again after walking over.

“Th-this seat… was saved for you…” the shy girl stammered, blushing even harder.

Xu Wanchun plopped down beside her and smiled, “Thanks, Yulan-jie.”

“You’re welcome,” the girl whispered, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, but clearly filled with excitement.

Then she remembered something. Digging into her pocket, she pulled out a small piece of malt candy wrapped in a handkerchief and offered it with both hands.

Xu Wanchun blinked in surprise. “This is for me?”

Li Yulan, with her round face and twin braids, nodded earnestly. Her big eyes sparkled. “Mm!” It was a reward from her mother—but she had saved it just for Peach Blossom.

Xu Wanchun had been living fairly comfortably the past few months. Her food and treats were plentiful because Xu Hehua had money and the household was small.

Once they started earning from herbal gathering, their standard of living had risen even higher, making them one of the best-off families in the village.

But for most kids in the area, snacks were rare. The best they could do was pick wild berries or catch birds in the hills.

This candy was a big deal.

Xu Wanchun didn’t refuse. She took the candy gratefully and pulled out an orange-flavored candy from her own pocket. She whispered, “Let’s trade. That way we’ll be best friends!”

This little girl was extremely shy—and terribly insecure. According to Auntie Lancao, Yulan’s grandparents didn’t even want her to go to school. They thought girls were a waste of resources and should just be married off as child brides by the age of ten to save on grain.

But Auntie Lancao and her husband, after seeing the change in Peach Blossom, believed in a different future—and insisted Yulan go to school too.

Xu Wanchun and her adoptive mother had received a lot of help from them, so protecting Yulan at school was something she was happy to do.

And just like that, the bashful little Li Yulan—who had hesitated to accept at first—was now completely won over, glowing with pink happiness… Yes! They were the best of friends!

—

Xujiatun Primary School had…

32 students in total.

Including herself, only 5 were girls.

The morning had two classes—one in Chinese and one in arithmetic.

On the surface, Xu Wanchun looked like she was attentively listening in class, but her mind was busy reviewing the medical texts she had memorized over the past two days.

Having something to focus on, time passed quickly.

When the dismissal bell rang, the kids from Xujiatun dashed out of the classroom in a joyful swarm.

Back then, there was no such thing as parents picking up their kids from school. Not a single adult was waiting at the school gate.

Xu Wanchun walked hand-in-hand with her little friend Li Yulan, carefully treading the winding dirt road home.

A few boys had followed them at first, but eventually got impatient with their slow pace. Ignoring their parents’ reminders, they dashed off in twos and threes.

“Taohua’er, can I come get you in the afternoon so we can walk to school together?” Now convinced they were best friends, Li Yulan had become a bit livelier when with someone she felt close to.

Wanchun had promised Aunt Lancao that she would take care of her daughter. Plus, she genuinely liked the gentle little girl, so she readily agreed. Then she explained, “If I’m not at home, I’m probably at my master’s place.”

Cao the doctor’s house, huh… Li Yulan clenched her little fists and mustered up her courage. “I-I’ll come find you there!”

Her expression, like she was off to face an execution, made Wanchun burst out laughing.

After their first official day of school, the kids naturally received a barrage of questions from their parents.

Xu Wanchun was no exception.

But perhaps because she had always been so diligent, Xu Hehua just went through the motions, asking a few token questions.

Her master and mistress cared even less about her studies and were only interested in whether she’d made any friends.

Sure enough, come afternoon, Li Yulan showed up with a bright red face.

Under the three elders’ pleased gazes, Xu Wanchun walked off with her new best friend, hand in hand—though her own face was a little awkward.

She thought life would soon return to its peaceful routine—but then, on the third day, when she came home for lunch, she stumbled upon a surprise in the courtyard…

“Woof woof woof…”

The little dog’s high-pitched barking had zero intimidation factor, especially against Xu Wanchun’s delighted, doting expression. She scooped up the pup into her arms, eyes sparkling. “Mama! Did we really get a dog?”

After months of waiting, she thought it would never happen.

Hearing her voice, Xu Hehua came out of the kitchen, brushing grass from her apron as she replied, “Didn’t you say you wanted a fierce little dog? It took some effort, but I finally found one.”

“Where did you find it?” Wanchun didn’t know much about dog breeds, but the pup’s gray-brown fur, pointy ears, and relatively large paws meant it would likely grow into a big dog.

Seeing how much her daughter loved it—and how the pup wagged its tail and licked her—Hehua chuckled. “I brought it back from Zhaojiatun.”

Zhaojiatun? That was quite far—at least ten li away. Wanchun frowned. “You went there by yourself?”

Her mother sat back by the stove and casually said, “Yeah, I borrowed Uncle Jingjun’s horse and rode there. Round trip only took two hours.”

Wanchun walked up and frowned seriously. “Mama, didn’t Master say it’s dangerous out there? What if you ran into bandits?”

Hehua waved her off. “I was careful, wore men’s clothes too. I was fine.”

She could be careless in some things. Knowing persuasion alone wouldn’t work, Wanchun played her trump card: “Well then, we have a girl in our class from Zhaojiatun. I’ll go visit her.”

Hehua instantly objected, “No way. It’s too far. You’re a girl—how can you go wandering around?”

“You’re a girl too. If you can go, why can’t I?”

Hehua was caught off guard by being called a “girl” herself and burst into laughter. “Alright, alright, I get it. I won’t go far alone anymore. And you’re not allowed to sneak off either, understood?”

“You said it yourself. If you go back on your word, I can too.”

“You little rascal, always full of tricks. Go on—go name your dog and stop distracting me from cooking.”

Wanchun didn’t mind the shooing—her goal was accomplished. Now, for a name… “Mama, how about calling it Danggui (Angelica)?”

“Danggui? Isn’t that a medicinal herb?” Following her daughter on herb-picking trips had taught Hehua a lot.

“Exactly! It sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t get it. Why not name it Dahuang (Rhubarb)?”

Absolutely not! Wanchun made a face. “I’ll ask Master and Mistress.”

“Go ahead. They don’t even know we have a dog yet. Oh—and come back quickly. Lunch is in ten minutes.”

“Got it!”

—

Wanchun had just stepped out of their yard with the pup in her arms…

When she spotted a tall, slender figure approaching from the distance.

Since Master was a doctor, people often came looking for him. At first, Wanchun didn’t think much of it.

But as she neared the Cao household and stood at the gate, she gradually noticed that the person seemed… to be in military uniform?

She frowned and didn’t rush to knock, choosing instead to wait.

As the person drew nearer, her eyes widened.

Could it be…?

“You’re… Little Junior Sister?”

Covered in dust from the road, Cao Jingliang had been mentally preparing himself to stand outside and gather courage before knocking. He hadn’t expected to see a small figure waiting at the gate.

And as he got close enough to make out her features and age, he had a guess.

“Hello, Senior Brother. I’m Xu Wanchun.” The sunlight was behind him as he stopped a few meters away. Her gaze quietly scanned his refined features and high nose bridge. It was indeed the same boy from the photo, as gentle as blooming crabapple blossoms. She smiled softly.

Cao Jingliang bent down slightly and said warmly, “I thought so. Your nickname is Taohua, right?”

“Yes. That’s what Master and Mistress call me.”

At the mention of his parents—whom he hadn’t seen in over a year—Cao Jingliang’s expression tightened with sorrow. “How… how are they doing?”

Homesick, huh? He was still just a 17-year-old boy, after all. Wanchun didn’t tease or try to break the ice. Instead, she curved her eyes into a smile. “They’re doing great. They’ll be thrilled to see you.”

She turned to leave, not bothering to show off the puppy anymore. “Senior Brother, I’ll go home now.”

“Aren’t you coming in?” He’d seen her walk all the way here.

She had already spotted Mistress Cao emerging from the kitchen and shook her head. “No, not now. I’ll come by later.” With that, she turned and ran off.

No way she’d stay and ruin such a rare family reunion.

Cao Jingliang couldn’t help smiling as he watched her little legs move lightning-fast.

Though different from what he imagined—more lively than expected—his little junior sister truly was sharp and perceptive. Just eight years old, yet incredibly thoughtful.

“Son?!”

His mother’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned to see her standing there, and his handsome face softened into a smile. “Mom, I’m home.”

“It’s really you?!” Su Nan thought she was hallucinating from missing him so much. But when he responded and even pushed open the gate, she was overcome with joy and burst into tears. “Cao Xiu! Cao Xiu! Quick! Your son’s back! Come out!”

The usually elegant beauty ran toward him, wiping her tears as she did.

Inside the kitchen, Cao Xiu heard the shouting and dashed out. But as he saw the boy standing in the courtyard, hugging his wife, he suddenly froze.

He had a bad feeling.

—

“You’re back already?”

“Senior Brother came home. It wasn’t right for me to hang around.”

“Who?”

Xu Hehua peeked out from behind the stove. She was about to ask which senior brother when realization struck. “You mean… Cao Jingliang?”

Wanchun set the puppy down and began looking for something it could eat. “Yeah, him.”

“Why’s he suddenly back? Is he okay?”

Her mother’s question made Wanchun pause. A thought surfaced—something her medical school mentor once mentioned in a history lecture.

During that three-year war, due to a shortage of medical personnel, even medical students were sent to the front lines.

The current skirmishes hadn’t officially begun yet. But for someone like Cao Jingliang—still supposed to be in university—to suddenly come home?

Wanchun couldn’t help worrying.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Hehua got up, ready to run next door.

Wanchun grabbed her quickly. “No! He’s fine.”

“Then why the long face? You scared me to death!” Xu Hehua smacked her on the butt.

“Ow—Mom! I’m too old for that!”

“I’m your mom no matter how old you are. What, embarrassed by a little swat?”

“Well, even if I’m 100, you’ll still be my mom.”

“Hmph, you cheeky thing!” Flustered by her daughter’s sudden affection, Xu Hehua laughed.

Seeing her mother drop the idea of going next door, Wanchun smiled outwardly but sighed inside.

If her guess was right, her master and mistress were probably hurting right now.

—

And indeed, just as she feared…

After the initial joy of reunion passed, the Cao family went quiet when Jingliang revealed he’d be leaving the next day.

It was Cao Xiu who finally broke the silence.

He gently patted his wife’s shoulder and said, “Our son’s been on the road for two days. Let’s let him clean up first.”

On the surface, Xu Wanchun appeared to be paying attention in class, but her mind was busy reviewing the medicinal texts she had memorized over the past two days.

Having something to focus on made time fly.

When the dismissal bell rang, all the children living in Xujiatun burst out of the classroom, laughing and running.

Back then, there was no such thing as parents picking up their children from school—no adults stood waiting outside the school gates.

Xu Wanchun walked hand in hand with her classmate Li Yulan along the winding dirt road, heading home.

Originally, a few boys were walking with them too, but they soon got impatient with the slow pace and ignored their family’s instructions, running off in small groups.

“Taohua, can I come pick you up for school this afternoon?” Li Yulan, feeling they were already best friends, finally let her lively nature show in front of someone close.

Having promised Aunt Lancao she’d take care of her daughter, and genuinely liking the girl’s sweet disposition, Xu Wanchun readily agreed. Then she added, “…If I’m not home, I’m probably at my master’s place.”

Doctor Cao’s house… Li Yulan clenched her little fists. To be able to walk to school hand-in-hand with her best friend, she gathered all her courage and vowed, “I… I’ll definitely come find you!”

Xu Wanchun couldn’t help laughing at the sight of her looking like she was headed for an execution.

Later that day, after her first official day of school, like all the other kids, Xu Wanchun faced the inevitable questions from her family.

Xu Hehua was no exception.

However, perhaps due to her daughter’s usual studiousness, she only asked a few routine questions.

Her master and mistress didn’t care about grades at all—they only cared whether she had made any friends.

Come afternoon, just as promised, Li Yulan came running over, face flushed.

Under the pleased gaze of three elders, Xu Wanchun, slightly embarrassed, took her hand and headed off to school.

She thought life would settle into a peaceful routine again—but on the third day, while returning home for lunch, she encountered an unexpected surprise in the courtyard…

“Woof woof woof…”

The young dog’s bark wasn’t the least bit intimidating, but Xu Wanchun beamed with joy, scooping the little fellow into her arms. “Mom! We really got a dog?” It had been months with no news; she thought all hope was lost.

Hearing her voice, Xu Hehua came out from the kitchen, dusting off grass from her apron. “Didn’t you always want a fierce little dog? I finally found one for you.”

“Where did you find it?” Xu Wanchun didn’t know much about dog breeds, but the puppy’s gray-brown fur, pointy ears, and relatively large paws suggested it would grow into a pretty big one.

Seeing her daughter so delighted, and with the puppy wagging its tail and licking her face, Xu Hehua chuckled. “Got it from Zhaojia Village.”

Zhaojia Village? That was about ten li away. Xu Wanchun frowned. “You went and got it yourself?”

Xu Hehua sat back down by the stove and said casually, “Yeah. I borrowed a horse from Uncle Jingjun and rode there. Two hours round trip, quick and easy.”

Xu Wanchun walked over, her tone unusually serious. “Mom! Didn’t Master say it’s dangerous outside? What if you ran into bandits?”

Xu Hehua waved her hand. “I was careful, wore men’s clothes. Nothing happened.”

Knowing her adoptive mother could be careless, Xu Wanchun figured persuasion wouldn’t work—so she changed tactics. “There’s a girl in my class from Zhaojia Village. I’ll go visit her sometime.”

Xu Hehua immediately objected, “Absolutely not. It’s too far. You’re just a little girl—you can’t go there alone!”

“You’re a little girl too. If you can go, why can’t I?”

That made Xu Hehua laugh. “Okay, okay, I get it. I won’t go off alone again. And you’re not allowed to either, you hear?”

“You said it yourself. If you break your promise, I can break mine too.”

“Why you little rascal. Such a tiny thing, full of tricks. Go on, take your dog and pick a name. Don’t get in my way while I’m cooking.”

Shooed away like a fly by her mother, Xu Wanchun didn’t mind. The point was, she got her message across. But picking a name for the dog… “Mom, what do you think about ‘Danggui’?”

“Danggui? Isn’t that a medicinal herb?” After digging up herbs with her daughter for so long, Xu Hehua now recognized quite a few herself.

“Yup! It’s a herb name. Sounds nice, right?”

“Why not call it ‘Dahuang’ then?” she asked, suggesting another herb.

“No way,” Xu Wanchun scrunched up her nose in distaste. “I’ll go ask Master and Mistress.”

“Go ahead, go ahead. They don’t even know we got a dog yet. But don’t dawdle—dinner’s in ten minutes!”

“Got it!”

—

Xu Wanchun had just stepped out with the puppy when she spotted a tall, slim figure approaching in the distance.

Her master was a doctor, so it wasn’t uncommon for people to drop by for medical help.

At first, she didn’t pay much attention.

But as she walked closer and stopped by the gate, she realized the visitor was… a soldier?

Xu Wanchun frowned and decided not to go in yet. She waited.

As the person came nearer, her eyes grew wider—could it be…

“You’re… Little Junior Sister?” Cao Jingliang, dusty and travel-worn, had come home with mixed emotions. He’d been planning to steel himself at the gate before entering, only to spot a small figure standing there from afar.

When he got closer and saw her features and age, he guessed her identity.

“Hello, Senior Brother. I’m Xu Wanchun.” The sun was behind him, casting his tall figure in silhouette. Xu Wanchun scanned his features—the refined brows, the high nose—matching the boy in the old photo. She smiled.

Cao Jingliang bent slightly, speaking gently, “I figured. They call you Taohua, right?”

“Yes, that’s what Master and Mistress call me.”

At the mention of his parents—whom he hadn’t seen in over a year—Cao Jingliang’s heart tightened. “How… how are my parents doing lately?”

He must be feeling homesick. Only seventeen, after all. Xu Wanchun didn’t try to tease or make small talk. Instead, she smiled gently. “They’re doing well. They’ll be so happy to see you.”

Then, not rushing to show off the puppy anymore, she said, “Senior Brother, I’ll go home now.”

“Aren’t you going in?” He’d seen her standing by the gate earlier.

Catching sight of Mistress Su stepping out from the kitchen, Xu Wanchun quickly shook her head. “Nope, I’ll come by later.” Then she dashed off.

No way she’d intrude on a rare family reunion full of joy and tears.

Watching the little girl’s short legs running fast, a smile appeared in Cao Jingliang’s eyes.

Though his little junior sister wasn’t quite what he imagined—she was unexpectedly lively—his mother’s words about her wit and thoughtfulness were true. Just eight years old, but so sensible…

“Son?!”

The sudden cry snapped Cao Jingliang out of his thoughts. Turning around, he saw his mother, and a smile spread across his handsome face. “Mom, I’m home.”

“It really is you?!” Su Nan thought she was imagining things. When her son responded and pushed open the gate, she was so overwhelmed she cried out, “Cao Xiu? Cao Xiu! Quick! Your son’s home!”

The elegant woman didn’t care about her image anymore, running straight into her son’s arms.

Inside, hearing the commotion, Cao Xiu dropped everything and rushed out from the kitchen.

But when he saw his son hugging his wife in the courtyard, he froze.

He had a bad feeling about this.

Su Nan was a sharp woman—she had already sensed something was wrong with her son’s urgency, but didn’t ask immediately. She forced a smile. “That’s right. This stinky boy likes to stay clean. I’ll go heat some water for you.”

Cao Jingliang’s throat tightened. “Mom, let me do it.”

“No need. Just a few sticks of firewood. If you really feel like doing something, go pick a melon with your dad for dessert.” She walked off toward the kitchen before he could say more.

Cao Jingliang turned to his father.

Cao Xiu sighed inwardly and led him toward the southwest corner of the courtyard.

It was early September, the tail end of melon season. Only a few fruits still clung to the vines.

As he bent to pick one, Cao Jingliang asked, “You and Mom are growing melons now?”

In all his years growing up, they’d never done that.

Mentioning this seemed to lighten Cao Xiu’s mood a bit. “Your little junior sister loves them. We planted them for her.”

He had only been trying to make conversation, not expecting such an answer. His parents weren’t the most warm-hearted people. If they did this, it meant one thing: they truly liked the girl.

Thinking back to her cleverness earlier, Cao Jingliang smiled. “Looks like you and Mom really adore her.”

Cao Xiu gave him a look. “Taohua’s a good girl—not like you, always full of schemes.”

Cao Jingliang disagreed. At eight, his little junior sister had her charms, sure—but he’d been a good kid too! Still, his father clearly wasn’t in the mood to joke, so he wisely stayed quiet and picked melons.

“You… Are you going to the frontlines?” Cao Xiu finally asked as his son handed him a melon.

There was no dodging the question.

Cao Jingliang looked straight at his father. “Father! When the country is in trouble, every man must do his part. I’ve learned medicine—it’s my duty to help. Please don’t worry. I’ll remember your love and do my best to return safely.”

Though still young, he already stood tall and resolute. Cao Xiu’s gaze was complicated—pride, worry, all mixed together.

After a long silence, he turned away, red-eyed but smiling. “What do you mean ‘you two elders’? We’re not even forty yet. Brat.”

At three in the afternoon, Xu Wanchun was playing chess with her mistress when the most self-satisfied matchmaker in ten surrounding villages arrived at their door.

The matchmaker launched into an elaborate pitch, praising the girl’s excellence and how perfect a match she’d be for her senior brother. Xu Wanchun, sitting close to her mistress, quietly muttered, “Does this Aunt Liu ever use any new lines?”

Su Nan, smiling sweetly as she watched the matchmaker, mouthed silently, “A little girl like you knows about that?”

Xu Wanchun tucked her head behind her mistress’s back to hide her grin. “She tried to arrange a match for my mom before too. Said exactly the same lines. She’s got no creativity in her work.”

Su Nan nearly burst out laughing—her cheeky little disciple was too amusing.

Of course, it would be improper to laugh outright, so she politely dabbed at her mouth with a handkerchief, hiding the smile that had already reached her lips. When the matchmaker paused to take a sip of tea, Su Nan took the opportunity to reply, “I’m really sorry. Our Jingliang is still young, and we’re not considering marriage for him for the next few years.”

Those with good conditions were allowed to be picky, and Matchmaker Liu understood this well. Her smile became even more attentive. “Not that young! I remember your boy is 17, right? Why, when I was 16, I already had a baby… As the old saying goes, ‘Start a family before you build a career.’ If he meets a good girl, he should grab the chance! And if you still think he’s too young, we can just get them engaged first. Xu Jingqiang said himself, he really likes Jingliang—doesn’t even want any bride price, and he’s even offering 36 legs as a bonus…”

The matchmaker’s mouth was unstoppable—her words rattled off one after another, leaving Su Nan no room to speak. When she finally found another brief pause, she hurriedly restated her stance, “Aunt Liu, I wasn’t just being polite earlier. Our Jingliang truly isn’t considering marriage at this stage.”

Matchmaker Liu looked puzzled. “So… you’re not interested in Xu Jingqiang’s daughter? What kind of girl is he looking for, then? I’ve got plenty of great matches on hand.”

“It’s not about that,” Su Nan hesitated for a moment—she was worried this would only attract more matchmakers later—but ultimately decided to be honest. “Our Jingliang is heading to the battlefield.”

“Oh dear… the battlefield? But doesn’t that mean it’s even more important for him to marry quickly? What if—heaven forbid—something happens? At least he’d leave behind a child, right?”

Though she meant well, her words made Su Nan’s face darken. “Marriage is a lifelong commitment. You can’t just leave a wife behind like that and not care for her.”

Huh? Wasn’t that normal? Matchmaker Liu still didn’t get it, but she had enough sense not to argue further. “Then… what should I tell the girl’s family?”

Say whatever you want—Su Nan almost snapped back. She hadn’t even asked this woman to come in the first place. But when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them and said instead, “Just tell them the truth.”

Matchmaker Liu stood up. “Alright then, I’ll go talk to the girl’s family. But if your son changes his mind one day, you better let me know.”

Su Nan grabbed a handful of red dates and handed them to her with a sweet smile. “Of course. You’re the most skilled matchmaker in the whole area—we wouldn’t go to anyone else.”

Pleased with the praise and the treat, Matchmaker Liu beamed, her grin so wide it almost reached her ears, and she left cheerfully, offering up more good wishes as she went.

Just as she stepped out the gate, she suddenly remembered something and turned to the little girl who had followed her out. “Taohua, is your mom home?”

Xu Wanchun stiffened, then instinctively replied, “She’s not.”

Matchmaker Liu didn’t suspect she was lying, just looked a little regretful. “I’ve got two great prospects for her. Let your mom know, and I’ll stop by again sometime.”

Xu Wanchun: …

—

After Matchmaker Liu left, Xu Wanchun and her mistress resumed their chess game.

Strictly speaking, it was Su Nan completely steamrolling her.

Xu Wanchun had never played Go before, but her mistress thought it was a good skill for girls to learn. One day, she simply sat her down and explained the rules.

Maybe she lacked talent, or maybe she’d just started too recently—whatever the case, she had yet to win a single game.

Just as she was about to lose again, a few people rushed into the courtyard, causing a commotion.

Among them was a fourteen-year-old boy gripping his bleeding right hand tightly with his left, blood still dripping down.

Xu Wanchun immediately ran to meet them, while Su Nan prepared the medicine kit.

“Is Dr. Cao not here?” Xu Jinghai asked anxiously.

Su Nan shook her head. “Aunt Liu Yun called him away. Her daughter-in-law isn’t feeling well, so he went to check on her.”

“Oh…” Xu Jinghai hesitated.

At that moment, Cao Jingliang emerged from the bedroom, rubbing his aching head. “What happened to his hand?”

Having practiced medicine in the village for a few years now, Cao Jingliang was instantly recognized by Xu Jinghai. His eyes lit up as he pulled his son forward. “A knife-grinder came to the village today. This rascal insisted on trying out the newly sharpened blade—and ended up slicing a deep gash in his finger. You can see the bone!”

Cao Jingliang took a look and frowned. “It’ll need stitches.”

Xu Jinghai didn’t fully understand what that entailed, but he nodded rapidly. “Just treat him however you need. I trust you.”

“I’ll get the hemostatic and disinfectant medicine,” Xu Wanchun said quickly.

Cao Jingliang was very pleased with her quick thinking. While she handled the bleeding and disinfection, he retrieved a surgical kit and began sterilizing the needle and suture thread.

Once bleeding had been stopped and the wound cleaned, he gently warned, “This is going to hurt a lot. Try to bear it.” Western medicine had anesthesia, but he didn’t have any on hand, so the stitches would have to be done raw.

Though Xu Jinghai was angry at his son’s recklessness, he still felt sorry for him. “What are you standing there for? Bite down on your sleeve!”

The boy snapped out of it and quickly obeyed, closing his eyes.

Once the patient was ready, Cao Jingliang began stitching the wound with swift, practiced movements.

To the uninitiated, the sight could be a bit stomach-churning. Everyone else looked away—except Xu Wanchun, whose expression didn’t change.

Surprised by her composure, Cao Jingliang asked, “You’re not scared?”

She shook her head. “Not at all.”

His interest piqued, he asked, “Do you think suturing is difficult?”

“Not really.” She had once found it difficult, but after ten years of medical study, her skills in stitching were well beyond Cao Jingliang’s. Of course, he had only been learning for a year and was already very skilled.

As they chatted, Cao Jingliang’s hands didn’t slow. With only two stitches left to go, he raised the needle and thread. “Here, show me the motions.”

“Me?” Xu Wanchun blinked in surprise.

Cao Jingliang nodded. “Let’s see if you really understood.”

Her hands were already disinfected, so seeing that he was serious, she confidently took over—and, without waiting for further instructions, swiftly stitched the last two passes. She didn’t tie the final knot, since he hadn’t shown her that part yet.

Cao Jingliang: …

“I… I meant just show me the motions, not do it!” he said, stunned. Who was this girl—a heaven-sent prodigy of Western medicine?

Embarrassed, Xu Wanchun hurriedly handed the needle back. “Oh—you meant just the motions? My bad.”

As he tied the final knot, Cao Jingliang was still dazed.

He had always thought he was naturally gifted in Western medicine—his professors often praised him. Though not arrogant, he had always been confident.

But clearly, there was always someone better out there. “Little Junior Sister, you’re absolutely born for medicine.”

Inwardly, Xu Wanchun was frantically shaking her head. No no no, she wasn’t a natural. She’d trained in Western medicine for a solid ten years to reach her current level—and she still needed to consult others for complex cases. She was just a diligent little doctor!

Dr. Cao entered the courtyard with the medicine kit just in time to hear his son praising his junior sister and grinned. “Didn’t I say she was born to practice Chinese medicine?”

Still fired up, Cao Jingliang instinctively replied, “Little Junior Sister would excel in Western medicine too!”

Dr. Cao’s face darkened. “Out! Get out!”

Cao Jingliang: …

Xu Wanchun: …

—

That evening.

After enjoying a lively and hearty dinner at her master’s house, Xu Wanchun returned home with her adoptive mother.

Once home, instead of washing up and going to bed, the mother-daughter duo first gave Danggui (the puppy) a warm bath.

Then they brewed a deworming concoction using pomegranate peel, areca nut, peach leaves, and other herbs, and carefully fed it to the little pup.

Xu Hehua watched with furrowed brows. “Fine, raise a dog, sure—but this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone give medicine to one.”

“This isn’t medicine, it’s deworming. Animals carry parasites—if we don’t treat them, it’s bad for both the dog and us,” Xu Wanchun explained. “Since it’s free-range, we need to do it once a month.”

That made Xu Hehua’s expression twist even more. “Other people raise dogs without all this hassle. I’ve never heard of anyone getting sick.”

“That’s just luck. The odds might be low, but what if it happens to us?”

“Fine, fine. You’re the doctor. If you’re not bothered by the trouble, I’ll do what you say.” Xu Hehua dried Danggui off with a ragged old shirt, and once the pup was clean, she finally began drawing water to wash herself.

Xu Wanchun reminded her, “It’s been a few days, hasn’t it? You’re due for a face mask.”

“Oh, right!” Xu Hehua slapped her forehead and fetched the oil-paper-wrapped packet from the cabinet. “Honestly, this face-whitening mask you made for me really works. I think I’ve gotten paler!” She used to scoff, but now that she saw results, she was more than happy to indulge her vanity. Who didn’t like looking good?

“Of course! Chinese medicine is broad and deep—want fair skin? We’ve got it down pat.”

“You said it! Our ancestors really knew their stuff… Oh, right—what was that gift Jingliang gave you? Did you check it?”

“I did. It’s a doll.”

“A puppet doll?”

“Not exactly…” Xu Wanchun had planned to say it was made of rubber, but remembering her current identity as a village girl, she bit back the words.

“Made of cloth then?”

“Also no. I’ll show it to you later.”

“Jingliang’s leaving tomorrow afternoon—do you want to give him a return gift?” Xu Hehua asked, the whitening mask now spread all over her face and making her speech a bit muffled.

Xu Wanchun looked troubled. “I do… Should I go into town tomorrow morning and buy something?”

Xu Hehua didn’t quite agree: “There’s nothing good in town anyway. Tomorrow morning, I’ll steam some brown sugar sponge cakes for Jingliang to eat on the road.”

Truthfully, in this era, a doll like that must have cost a fair bit. A few brown sugar cakes certainly weren’t an equal return. But for now, it would have to do. They could always find something better later.

Thankfully, with her foster mother’s help, they could at least make those cakes. It was far better than returning nothing at all. Once again, Xu Wanchun sighed in admiration—her mother was truly formidable. But… “Do we still have enough brown sugar at home?”

Xu Hehua replied, “Not much left. I’ll go trade for some in the village later.”

“It’s getting dark. I’ll come with you.”

“Alright.”

==

The Next Day

Xu Wanchun got up bright and early to help her foster mother make the sponge cakes.

As the final tray came out of the steamer, their pup Dangui, who had been wagging its tail excitedly by their feet, suddenly darted out: “Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Barely two months old and already guarding the house—Xu Wanchun was quite proud and followed behind. “…Senior Brother?”

Cao Jingliang walked in, holding a thick wooden board and a coil of coarse hemp rope. “Peach Blossom, have you eaten?”

“I have. What about you?”

“I’ve eaten too.”

“What’s all that for?” she asked, gesturing at what he carried.

Cao Jingliang placed the board beneath the elm tree and smiled. “I made two swings for you.”

Completely caught off guard, Xu Wanchun blinked in confusion. “Swings? Two?”

He looked up, beginning to choose a suitable branch. “Mm, two swings—one at each of our homes. The one on our elm tree is already set up. You can play wherever you like.”

A swing did suit her delicate little “fairy girl” aesthetic. Xu Wanchun joked to herself, then asked curiously, “What brought this on?”

Glancing at the doll-like girl, Cao Jingliang smiled and countered, “Don’t you like climbing trees? This is safer.”

Xu Wanchun: …I wasn’t, I didn’t—that was just an excuse!!!

Hearing the commotion, Xu Hehua came out and praised the idea. “This is great. Not just Peach Blossom—I want to ride it too.”

“I used extra-thick planks and heavy rope,” Cao Jingliang grinned. “Of course you can ride it.”

This boy sure knew how to talk. Xu Hehua beamed. She couldn’t help teasing, “If you two weren’t so far apart in age, I’d want you to be my Peach Blossom’s husband.”

Xu Wanchun widened her eyes—what kind of story was this, Mother?! She was only 8!!!

Cao Jingliang, now choosing the right branch to climb, wasn’t shy at all. In fact, he even chuckled, “Peach Blossom is my parents’ apprentice. A son-in-law is half a son, and a disciple is half a daughter—not much difference.”

(P.S: Do you like reading this or should I delete this novel? HUHUHU it’s kinda hard translating this haha)