Chapter 18.2

That evening, Gu Sui stayed with Guan Yue for the New Year’s Eve dinner and kept her company until midnight, choosing not to go back down the mountain. 

Guan Yue was in an unusually high-spirited mood, enjoying the warm and cozy house and the delicious food. Feeling a burst of happiness, she unexpectedly started talking about her parents. 

Her whole family, she said, was terrible at cooking. For New Year’s, they had no choice but to hire a chef to cook at home or go out to eat. 

Having New Year’s dinner at a restaurant was quite common in her time, but in this era, the idea sounded inconceivable to anyone who heard it. 

Gu Sui, however, was open-minded and even asked, “What dishes did your family have for New Year’s?” 

“What dishes?” Guan Yue mused. “Sometimes Chinese food, sometimes Western food. There were so many options.” 

She simplified it for the context: “Sometimes vegetables, sometimes beef, and sometimes foie gras.” 

Gu Sui asked curiously, “Foie gras for New Year’s?” 

Guan Yue shrugged. “It’s not like I particularly liked it. It was just on the menu, so we ordered it.” 

“Well, it makes sense. Restaurants staying open during the New Year is no small effort. Where did your family live back then?” 

“Where?” Guan Yue paused, thinking. Based on the current geographic divisions, it would probably be… 

She shook her head. “I’ve forgotten.” 

Gu Sui smiled faintly. “If you’ve forgotten, then you’ve forgotten. It’s already close to 1 a.m. Let’s get some sleep. We’ll have tangyuan in the morning.” 

“Great! And salted duck eggs!” 

“Of course, you won’t miss out.” 

Gu Sui stayed on the mountain that night; the wooden house had enough rooms for her to sleep comfortably. However, Guan Yue herself didn’t live in that house. 

Gu Sui had been here for quite some time before he realized that Guan Yue didn’t actually live in the wooden hut. 

He watched her heading into the mountains and felt deeply concerned. “It’s too late to go into the mountains today. It’s not safe. Stay here for the night, and I’ll head back home,” he urged. 

But Guan Yue shook her head and replied, “It’s okay. I’ve done this before. Don’t worry.” 

She walked briskly, with Gou Sheng’er trailing beside her. Before long, they disappeared into the distance. 

Once Gu Sui could no longer see her, Xiao Hei secured Gou Sheng and darted through the forest at an incredible speed. Twenty minutes later, they landed steadily on a treehouse. 

A candle was lit, and warm light spilled through the cracks in the doors and windows of the treehouse. 

Guan Yue spread her arms wide and collapsed onto the bed. Her fair, delicate face rubbed against the soft quilt. Tonight’s dinner had been absolutely amazing! 

She couldn’t understand why people in the future would abandon such delicious food, opting instead for industrially produced meals or even surviving on nutrient solutions. 

In Guan Yue’s mind, reaching the point where people relied on nutrient solutions to survive made them no different from machines running on fuel. 

Food was a pleasure that should never be missed! 

As she drifted off into a sweet slumber, Xiao Hei slipped out through the crack of a window. Two leaves, now dark green again, swayed in the mountain breeze outside. They swung like an irregular clock, sometimes with a wide arc, sometimes with a narrow one. 

The sky above Daqing Mountain slowly lightened, turning pale gray. Early riser birds began chirping noisily, flitting through the verdant pines and cypresses. On the forest floor, they searched through the thick layer of humus for insects. 

Guan Yue let out a faint hum and turned over in her bed, pulling the quilt up to her neck. Her slender, delicate hands reached out from under the covers. 

Xiao Hei swiftly slipped back inside the window, wiggling its thin body before obediently coiling around Guan Yue’s wrist like a bracelet. 

She touched her wrist and murmured, “Xiao Hei, stop rubbing. It tickles.” 

Another hour passed before Guan Yue finally stretched and got out of bed. Meanwhile, the industrious Gu Sui, the snail-paced yet diligent cook, had nearly finished preparing breakfast. 

It was the first day of the Lunar New Year—a fresh start. Teacher wasn’t around, so Guan Yue hadn’t expected to receive any red envelopes. Yet, she ended up receiving three. 

The first one came from Gu Sui, and she happily accepted it. 

The other two were from Yan Zhengwen and Deng Weimin. When they handed her the red envelopes, she said with a grin, “You’ve given me red envelopes, but I’m still charging you for consultations.”

Yan Zhengwen responded with great enthusiasm, “Take it! Whatever amount you need, just say the word! You cured my back pain—I can keep working for another twenty years. Whatever I pay, it’s worth it.” 

Deng Weimin chuckled and suggested, “I won’t force you to be my personal disciple, but how about becoming my outer disciple? You wouldn’t have to call me ‘Teacher’; just calling me ‘Laoshi’ would be fine.” 

Yan Zhengwen teased Deng Weimin, “Oh, you’re still not giving up, are you? Guan Yue is exceptional in every way. What could you possibly teach her?” 

Deng Weimin smiled confidently. “Our Deng family has been practicing medicine for hundreds of years without interruption. We have plenty of treasures in our lineage.” 

Guan Yue wasn’t one to be inflexible. She said, “Calling you ‘Laoshi’ is fine. My Teacher only instructed me not to formally acknowledge anyone else as my Teacher. But if I become your outer disciple, will I have access to your family’s medical knowledge?” 

“You will!” Deng Weimin declared firmly. Even if his family elders disapproved, he’d steal the manuscripts if necessary—he’d do whatever it took to keep Guan Yue from abandoning him. 

Guan Yue nodded. “Alright then.” 

Deng Weimin broke into a wide grin. “Disciple, call me ‘Teacher’—no, call me ‘Laoshi’ and let me hear it.” 

Obediently, Guan Yue addressed him as “Laoshi” and then immediately asked, “So, when will you let me see your family’s medical texts?” 

Gu Sui chuckled softly. He thought it was a good thing that Guan Yue acknowledged Deng Weimin as her teacher. Deng Weimin’s ability to survive during turbulent times wasn’t just due to his exceptional medical skills, which earned him the trust of the authorities. He was also a respected leader in the field of traditional medicine in the southwestern region. 

With someone so esteemed backing Guan Yue, even if it was just a nominal relationship, she would benefit greatly. Once the political climate stabilized, it would also be much easier for her to travel and practice medicine independently. 

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Guan Yue still had to perform acupuncture on Yan Zhengwen. By the time the session was finished, it was already 11 a.m. 

Yan Zhengwen, feeling refreshed after a short nap, was dressing when he overheard a staff member speaking outside. 

“You’ve got visitors,” Yan Zhengwen remarked with a smile. 

Guan Yue also heard the voices. “It’s Uncle Cai,” she said. 

Cai Guofu hadn’t originally planned to visit on the first day of the New Year, but his wife had insisted on seeing the place where Guan Yue lived. With nothing better to do at home, he decided to come. 

To his surprise, he found Deng Weimin already there. 

Cai Guofu grabbed Deng Weimin’s arm and exclaimed, “Old Deng, you came here to see Guan Yue without even giving me a heads-up!” 

Deng Weimin replied, “It was a rushed trip; I didn’t have time to notify you. I was planning to stop by Qing County to visit you on my way back.” 

“Heh, you’d only come see me if it’s on your way,” Cai Guofu muttered. 

Aunt Cai immediately intervened, urging him to watch his words. “It’s the first day of the New Year. Don’t ruin the festive mood.” 

Deng Weimin chimed in with a compliment. “Sister-in-law always knows the right thing to say.” 

Cai Guofu pulled Deng Weimin aside and said, “Don’t try to dodge my question. Is your superior inside?” 

Deng Weimin nodded. 

“Perfect,” Cai Guofu replied, lowering his voice. “I need you to help me with something.” 

He explained the matter of Guan Yue’s household registration. “It doesn’t have to be in a city. Just register her in Qingxi Village. That girl loves living in the mountains anyway.” 

Deng Weimin was stunned. “She doesn’t have a household registration?” 

An idea struck him almost immediately. “No need to register her in a rural village—that would be too inconvenient. Just register her under my household instead. Guan Yue is now my disciple, and we’re practically family.” 

Cai Guofu leaned back slightly and squinted at him. “Old Deng, are you trying to poach Lao Xu’s disciple? You know how much he treasures her. If you do this, he won’t let it slide.” 

Deng Weimin stroked his beard smugly, nearly puffing it up. “Well, she might not be my personal disciple, but Guan Yue has agreed to be my outer disciple and even calls me ‘Laoshi.'” 

Cai Guofu snorted, mocking him. “With that unofficial status, you’re still showing off in front of me? Bah!” 

“Can’t you say something pleasant for once during the New Year?” Deng Weimin retorted. “Are you upset because you’re jealous that Guan Yue calls me ‘Laoshi’?” 

“Old Deng, you’re unbelievable. So what if I’m upset? What are you going to do about it?” Cai Guofu countered, his tone dripping with disdain. 

Deng Weimin chuckled, irritating Cai Guofu even further. His lips twitched in frustration. 

Cai Guofu turned to the staff member standing outside and asked, “When will they be done inside?” 

The staff member replied, “Dr. Guan just went in to remove the needles. She should be out any minute.” 

Sure enough, Guan Yue soon emerged, her demeanor polite and respectful. She greeted warmly, “Uncle Cai, Aunt Cai.” 

“On the first day of the New Year, why aren’t you celebrating with Big Brother and the others at home? Why come all the way here to see me?” Guan Yue asked curiously. 

Aunt Cai smiled warmly. “I see your Big Brother and the others every day. Since your uncle has some free time during the New Year, I had him bring me here to check on you.” 

She walked over and gently touched Guan Yue’s hand. “Look at you, dressed so lightly, yet your palms are so warm.” 

Guan Yue felt a surge of warmth in her heart. “You’ve come at the perfect time. Gu Sui made some amazing cured meat and sausages. Take some back with you to try later.” 

Aunt Cai patted her hand affectionately. “Alright.” 

Since Guan Yue had guests, Yan Zhengwen didn’t linger. After a brief greeting, he left with his staff member and headed down the mountain. 

Being an old acquaintance of the Cai family and now riding on the title of Guan Yue’s “Laoshi,” Deng Weimin shamelessly decided to stay. 

He clasped his hands behind his back and strolled over to where Gu Sui was busy. “Why are you still here?” 

Without looking up from his work, Gu Sui calmly replied, “If I leave, what will you all eat for lunch? Are you going to let Aunt Cai do the cooking?” 

That was out of the question. Aunt Cai was a guest—how could she be asked to cook? 

Looking around, it was clear that only Gu Sui could handle the kitchen. With a sigh of resignation, Deng Weimin muttered to himself and walked off. 

People are never perfect, he thought. Look at Guan Yue—such a remarkable girl, yet she doesn’t know how to cook! 

The last time Cai Guofu visited, he hadn’t mentioned Gu Sui. Aunt Cai had initially worried that Guan Yue might not be living well in the mountains. But with Gu Sui around, there was nothing left to worry about. 

The young man’s cooking skills were on par with—or even better than—hers, despite her decades of experience in the kitchen. 

Aunt Cai’s gaze toward Gu Sui softened. “Young man, you don’t look like you’re from around here. Where’s your family from?” 

Gu Sui answered obediently, “My ancestral home is Beijing. Though perhaps it’s not truly ancestral—my parents’ generation only moved there.” 

“After the founding of the People’s Republic?” Aunt Cai asked. 

Gu Sui nodded. 

Since Gu Sui was from the city—Beijing, no less—Aunt Cai didn’t press him further. However, she privately felt that finding a partner from the city wasn’t a practical idea. What if they married, and he decided to leave one day? A woman with children left behind—where would she go to find him? 

Aunt Cai shifted her focus back to Guan Yue, asking detailed questions about her daily life.