Chapter 12

Qiao Qiping sighed and said, “This is also Grandpa’s lifelong regret.”

“My grandfather’s great-grandfather was a first-class imperial physician in the palace. His medical skills were amazing and everyone praised him. His life’s work is now all in this.”

“It was only when it came to your great-grandfather’s generation, that is, your grandfather’s father’s generation, that he insisted on learning Western medicine when he was young, saying that Western medicine can cure diseases faster.”

“Grandpa was only five years old at the time, and his father went out to study Western medicine. Grandpa later followed your great-grandfather (grandfather’s grandfather) to learn Chinese medicine.”

“When Grandpa was twelve years old, your great-grandfather got into trouble outside and came back. In order to clean up his mess, your great-great-grandfather lost all the family assets and even borrowed a lot of money from everywhere.”

“Later, your great grandfather became traumatized and no longer allowed me to study medicine. These things were secretly given to me by your great grandfather before he passed away.”

“But at that time, I didn’t dare to take it out to learn. There was no one to teach me. I was also afraid that your great grandfather would find out. Then I wouldn’t be able to keep the book.”

“Later, when your great-grandfather passed away, I, your grandfather, was also old. I had to take care of my family and livelihood, so I had no time to learn these things.”

After hearing this, Qiao Xiazhi finally understood why their family was so poor.

After all, you have to know that the family has a famous imperial physician who passed down the family business. No matter how wealthy the family is, it would not have fallen into such a state after just a few generations.

It turned out that my grandfather’s father had caused trouble and had to pay the compensation.

Not only did they lose all the money, but they also caused a family of traditional Chinese medicine to fall into the current state of decline.

Alas~~ All the life’s work of my grandfather’s great-grandfather is now sealed in this big box. How sad and upset he must be in heaven.

Fortunately, my grandfather was smart enough to secretly preserve these important books.

If my grandfather’s father had found it, all that would have been left would be a pile of ashes.

No, after so many years, not even the ashes of straw paper are left, and all that remains are memories and legends.

At this time, Qiao Xiazhi looked at Qiao Dashan and asked, “Grandpa didn’t have the chance to learn. My dad was still young at that time. Why didn’t he learn later?”

Qiao Dashan laughed and said, “When your great grandfather passed away, your father and I were already married and your mother was pregnant with your eldest brother. How could you learn? There was no one to teach you. This thing is not something that can be learned in a day or two, ten days or half a month or a year or two.”

“If your father spends time and energy studying medicine, then the family can’t rely on your mother to support it, right?”

“At that time, your two aunts and your uncle were still married, and the married ones had not yet found wives. The family conditions were much more difficult than they are now. One less person to work meant a lot less food. It was hard to survive without food, let alone other things.”

Grandma Zhu Shizhen also said: “At that time, the family was always paying off foreign debts.”

“Your great grandfather was also a strong man. Although he was also stubborn, at least he paid off all his foreign debts before leaving. Our family has also gradually gotten better over the years.”

Qiao Qiping looked at his wife with a guilty look on his face and said, “Life was hard in the past, and your grandmother has suffered from many illnesses. Grandpa, my medical skills are good enough to treat minor illnesses, …”

Speaking of this, the regret on my grandfather’s face became more obvious.

My grandfather liked to study medicine. He studied with his own grandfather for seven years, from the age of five to twelve, so he learned something.

Although the conditions do not allow me to enter the brigade clinic, it is still not a big problem to treat minor illnesses and pains for my family members.

If it hadn’t been for the incident at home, if grandpa had continued to study medicine, he would definitely have become an excellent doctor.

Hearing this, Qiao Xiazhi said, “Then I will study hard and treat grandma when I learn it. It won’t cost any money.”

Zhu Shizhen was so happy to hear his granddaughter say this.

“Okay, okay, okay, then you have to study hard and cure grandma once you learn it.”

“Dad, Mom, are you there?” Xu Li’s voice suddenly came from outside the house. Xu Li is Qiao Xiaoshan’s wife, and Qiao Xiaoshan is Qiao Dashan’s younger brother.

Qiao Daguo ran to open the gate.

“What’s wrong?” Qiao Qiping asked.

Xu Li replied: “Xiaohua went with those kids to touch snails this afternoon. She must have caught a cold. Now her whole body is very hot. Dad, please go and take a look. This child, I told her not to go this afternoon, but she insisted on going with me. Now she is feeling sick.”

“Wait for me.” Qiao Qiping got up and went back to the house to get his medicine box.

“I’ll go and learn from you.” Qiao Xiazhi said as he stood up and prepared to follow.

“Wait a moment.” Fang Mei stopped her, “Take this brown sugar to your aunt. You guys went to the city and came back. You were busy at work this afternoon and didn’t have time to give it to them.”

Qiao Xiazhi took it and chased after him out the door.

It took about five minutes of walking to reach Qiao Xiaoshan’s house.

When Qiao Xiaoshan’s family saw Qiao Xiazhi coming, their faces tensed.

But because Qiao Qiping was there, no one said anything.

The 17-year-old Qiao Erguo was sensible and politely greeted Qiao Xiazhi: “Sister Xiazhi, you are here too.”

“Yeah. My uncle is at home too?” Qiao Xiazhi also greeted Qiao Xiaoshan politely, then followed his grandfather into the house.

After taking his granddaughter’s pulse, Qiao Qiping prepared to start acupuncture.

“Mom, I don’t want a needle.” 9-year-old Qiao Xiaohua was scared when she saw the thin silver needle.

Xu Li scolded, “Are you scared now? What were you doing this afternoon? I told you not to go, but you insisted on joining in the fun.”

Qiao Xiazhi took out two little white rabbit candies from his pocket and said, “Just let Grandpa give you the acupuncture, and these two candies will be yours when it’s over.”

Qiao Xiaoshan’s family: Did you hear it right? Did you see it right?

Qiao Xiazhi took out candy to coax their little daughter? Is this candy not poisonous?

Qiao Xiaohua, who didn’t have as many thoughts as adults, immediately became brave when she saw the two little white rabbit candies. “Give me the candies first. What if you cheat?”

Although Qiao Xiaohua didn’t have any thoughts, she could still tell who Qiao Xiazhi was.

It is not easy to get her two candies, so Qiao Xiaohua naturally has to get them first.

Qiao Xiazhi felt helpless and could only blame the original owner for all the trouble he had made. He didn’t have a good impression of the original owner.

“Here you go, here you go, take it and lie down obediently so that grandpa can give you the acupuncture. Only after the acupuncture can you get better faster.”

After putting the candy in Qiao Xiaohua’s hand, Qiao Xiazhi handed the brown sugar that Fang Mei gave her to Xu Li.

“Aunt, my brother and I didn’t buy anything when we went to the city this time. We only bought a piece of brown sugar. You can take it and drink it from time to time to replenish your blood.”

Xu Li stared at the big piece of brown sugar for a long time.

She was not surprised that Fang Mei gave it to her. Although their two families had quarreled many times because Qiao Xiazhi always led Qiao Moli astray, they were still brothers after all. Whenever they had something delicious to eat or drink, they would send some to each other.

But what Xu Li felt strange about now was what Qiao Xiazhi had passed on to her.

How could she not know what kind of personality Qiao Xiazhi has?

There is no reason to give away any good things once she gets them.

It would have been fine if I hadn’t stolen such a big piece of brown sugar, but there wasn’t even any missing pieces?

“Aunt, take it? What are you thinking about? Don’t worry, I didn’t poison you.” Knowing why Xu Li was in a daze, Qiao Xiazhi quickly stuffed the brown sugar into Xu Li’s hand, and then spoke in the original owner’s tone.

After hearing this, Xu Li finally realized what was going on and said, “Okay, I’ll take it. Thank you for still thinking about me.”

“Wait a minute. Xiaohua has found a lot of snails today. Although they haven’t been cooked yet, I’ll give you some to take home and keep overnight. You can ask your mother to cook them for you tomorrow.”

Qiao Xiazhi did not refuse and said, “Okay.” At the end, he even deliberately shouted, “Give me more. If there is less, it won’t be enough to fill my teeth.”

Sure enough, seeing that Qiao Xiazhi was still the same as before, everyone was no longer so nervous, fearing that she was planning something bad.

There was no way, it changed too quickly and no one could react, so she could only take it slowly.

After a while, Xu Li brought a small basket full of snails to Qiao Xiazhi, which were quite big.

“Aunt, you really gave me so much, are you giving it all to me?”

After saying this, Qiao Xiaohua, who had just finished the acupuncture and felt much better, said while eating candy, “Don’t worry, Sister Xiazhi. I found a secret base today and brought back a large basket of snails.”

After hearing this, Qiao Xiazhi looked at Qiao Xiaohua and said, “Really? Where is the secret base? Let’s go check it out tomorrow.”

Qiao Xiaohua is not easy to fool. “It’s already said to be a secret base. Tell Sister Xia Zhi that it’s not my secret base anymore.”

Qiao Xiazhi curled her lips and said, “Tsk, you’re just being stingy. You said something about a secret base, but you can’t go to a dangerous place. If you choke on water, I won’t cry for you.”

Qiao Xiaohua was angry when she heard this: “Stop cursing me. I just treated you nicely and you cursed me. Get out. You are not welcome in my house.”

Qiao Xiazhi was not angry, but smiled and said, “Okay, it seems that your problem is not serious, then your parents can rest assured. Since you are sick, I will not make trouble with you, just have a good rest.”

Qiao Xiaohua stood up from the kang and pointed at Qiao Xiazhi and said, “Give me back my snails.”

Qiao Xiazhi stretched out his hand: “Give me back my candy.”

Qiao Xiaohua quickly peeled the last piece of candy and stuffed it into her mouth, then said vaguely: “There is no more. If you want it, as long as you don’t mind, I will spit it out for you.”

Qiao Xiazhi turned away with a look of disgust.

Qiao Xiaohua discovered that she had won this time and looked very proud. She took out the candy and rewrapped it. It was the last one, so she had to eat it slowly.

Just as she finished wrapping it, Qiao Xiazhi suddenly came back with a surprise attack, and Qiao Xiaohua was so scared that the candy in her hand almost fell on the bed.

But Qiao Xiazhi just put down two little white rabbit candies and said nothing.

Seeing two more candies on the bed, Qiao Xiaohua suddenly said, “Sister Xia Zhi, you have changed.”

Qiao Xiazhi turned around and deliberately said, “Really? Have you also noticed that I have become more beautiful recently?”

Qiao Xiaohua sighed: “Forget it, just pretend I didn’t say anything. But thank you for the candy anyway.”

Qiao Xiazhi rubbed Qiao Xiaohua’s head, then followed his grandfather out of the room.

Qiao Xiaohua on the bed was a little dazed. Was she confused because of the fever today?