Knock, knock, knock.

In the stillness of the night, the sound of footsteps and gentle knocking on the door was unusually clear.

Inside the house, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan already sensed someone was approaching even before the knocking began.

They weren’t surprised by the visitors—they had been expecting this.

They’ve finally come.

Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru actually felt a sense of relief.

Su Huaiyuan went to open the door himself.

Outside stood the very people he had met earlier that day—his two former schoolmates.

“Come in, quickly.”

He quietly called to Cai Qingwen and Zhou Meihua, and after they entered, he swiftly shut the door behind them.

“Comrade Cai, Comrade Zhou, please come sit over here.”

Qiao Jiuru called to them from below the kang bed.

Despite it being close to April, the weather was still cold with a late spring chill, and cotton-padded clothes were still necessary.

“No, I’m still sick. I don’t want to pass anything on to the children.”

Zhou Meihua saw the two little ones lying side by side on the kang, wide-eyed and curious, and immediately waved her hands, hesitating to come closer.

“It’s fine. You sit on this end—they’re over there. And they’re strong, anyway.”

Qiao Jiuru personally pulled Zhou Meihua to sit on the far end of the kang.

It was two meters long, and Dabao and Xiaobao were lying on the opposite side, with a good distance between them.

“Dabao, Xiaobao, quickly greet Grandma Zhou.”

“Hello, Grandma Zhou.”

“Hello, Grandma Zhou.”

The children had just lain down and weren’t yet asleep.

Seeing guests arrive, they curiously watched the new grandma and grandpa.

Hearing their grandma’s prompt, they sweetly and politely called out.

“Good kids, how sweet.”

Zhou Meihua’s heart melted at their soft and adorable voices.

She responded happily in a hushed tone.

She quickly took out a small packet of biscuits she had brought.

“Grandma Zhou doesn’t have much. These are some biscuits for Dabao and Xiaobao.”

It wasn’t even half a pound, and Zhou Meihua felt embarrassed—like it wasn’t enough.

But this was one of the best things she and Old Cai had.

They had little to offer.

“Comrade Zhou, really, that’s not necessary. They have plenty to eat. Please, keep it.”

Qiao Jiuru hastily declined.

These were precious things, and Cai Qingwen and Zhou Meihua needed them more.

They couldn’t accept it.

“This is a little gift from Grandma Zhou for our first meeting. Next time, there won’t be anything.”

Zhou Meihua insisted. One shouldn’t visit empty-handed!

Their manners and upbringing wouldn’t allow it.

Seeing her resolve, Qiao Jiuru didn’t argue further.

The two kids were lying under the quilt, eyes gleaming as they watched the exchange between their grandma and Grandma Zhou.

Meanwhile, Cai Qingwen and Su Huaiyuan stood together.

These old friends hadn’t seen each other in years, and for a moment, neither knew what to say.

They didn’t know where to start or how to say it.

“Didn’t expect you two would end up here, too.”

After a while, Cai Qingwen finally gave a bitter smile. But deep down, he had already known there was no escaping this. If he couldn’t avoid it, how could his friends?

It was only a matter of time.

“Old Cai, this place isn’t bad. It’s far better than many others.”

Seeing his friend looking so disheartened, Su Huaiyuan felt a mix of surprise and unease.

He’d heard from Aru about Cai Qingwen’s past life.

Honestly, he thought Cai was lucky—much better off than the Su family had been.

Cai Qingwen didn’t respond.

He just looked silently at his wife speaking with Qiao Jiuru.

Cough, cough… “Sorry, I…” cough, cough…

At that moment, Zhou Meihua, who had been suppressing her cough since entering, finally couldn’t hold back and let out a few small coughs.

Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru exchanged a worried glance.

They also noticed how hard Cai Qingwen was trying not to tremble.

Without a word, Qiao Jiuru stood up, went to pour hot water, and returned with her fist clenched.

“Here—try this medicine.”

She opened her palm to reveal a black pill.

She had taken this cough remedy from her hidden supply half an hour ago.

They had suspected Cai Qingwen and Zhou Meihua might come tonight.

She and Su Huaiyuan had already agreed—whether for the sake of past lives or this one, now that fate had brought them together, they couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

So she had prepared the medicine in advance for Zhou Meihua.

“This is…”

Zhou Meihua was taken aback—she hadn’t expected someone to suddenly offer her medicine.

“It’s our Qiao family’s ancestral remedy. It works pretty well.”

Qiao Jiuru placed the pill in her hand, smiling as she explained.

“Aru’s family practiced medicine for generations. They were quite renowned in the capital. Although Aru herself doesn’t have the talent for medicine, she still has some of her father’s prepared pills.”

Su Huaiyuan added quickly, reassuring the couple.

Cai Qingwen was stunned that Qiao Jiuru had prepared medicine for his wife.

When he came back to his senses, he was overwhelmed with joy.

“Really?! Old Su, Meihua’s been coughing for months since catching a cold before the New Year. We tried different medicines, but nothing worked…”

He was so moved that he began to cry, covering his eyes and choking up.

He had been so worried.

“Old Cai, trust me—the medicine works.”

“We brought some other medicines, too. We’ll give you a batch to take back with you.”

A man rarely cries unless deeply moved.

Su Huaiyuan understood his friend’s feelings.

He patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

“Good, good. Meihua, did you hear? It works. Take it now!”

Cai Qingwen hurriedly wiped his tears and urged his wife to take the medicine without delay.

Zhou Meihua gave Qiao Jiuru a shy smile, then obediently tilted her head back and swallowed the pill—without even needing water.

“I have anti-inflammatory pills, cold remedies, cough suppressants, blood-nourishing medicine, and even some for digestion. I’ll pack some for you to take.”

Qiao Jiuru got up again, brought over the prepared medicines, laid them out, and explained how to use each one.

Seeing all these medicines, Cai Qingwen was deeply moved.

He was immensely glad he had listened to his wife and come to visit the Su family.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have known about this—let alone received such help.

“Old Su, I can’t thank you enough.”

This visit had been more than worthwhile.

Heaven must not want him to lose his wife.

“Don’t give up. Whatever comes, we’ll face it together. Things will get better.”

Su Huaiyuan encouraged him.

Cai Qingwen had thought Su was lucky, but now realized his own family’s fortune had also turned.

The four of them talked for a long while.

Since taking the cough pill, Zhou Meihua hadn’t coughed again, which filled the couple with both joy and renewed hope.

As they left the Su household that night, Cai Qingwen held the bag of medicine tightly, walking beside his wife on the path back to the cowshed.

His heart felt completely different now.

“Meihua, thank goodness we came.”

Thank goodness the Su family came, too.