“Chuxia?”

Chuxia turned around at the familiar voice and smiled. “Mengchun, are you here to visit the park too?”

Ye Mengchun nodded and looked at Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu beside her, surprised. “Who are they?”

“This is my son, and that is…” Chuxia introduced the children and the adults to Ye Mengchun.

Before Ye Mengchun could respond, Zhang Lu’s eyes widened, and she pointed at her. “You’re the sister who saved someone that day!”

Cen Huai’an recognized her too.

He pulled Jiang Weixi up and asked Ye Mengchun, “Is the brother from that day okay?”

Chuxia looked at them in surprise and suddenly laughed. “Mengchun, you really have a connection with my family! So it was you that An An was talking about when he said someone saved the day.”

“Yes, he’s doing fine now,” Ye Mengchun replied, looking at Cen Huai’an. “Your initial reminder played a crucial role.”

The boy’s condition was complicated; if the initial good Samaritan had lifted him, it might have worsened his injuries.

Cen Huai’an, Zhang Lu, and the others sighed in relief.

Zhang Lu even jumped up in joy. “That’s great! I won’t have to keep wondering if he’s okay anymore!”

Jiang Weixi jumped along. “That’s great!”

Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu shared the same thoughts; they no longer had to keep this matter in their hearts.

Ye Mengchun knew Chuxia had a son.

When Chuxia started college, Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an had even visited her during her military training.

However, they had only met once, and Mengchun was at a distance, making it hard to see Cen Huai’an’s face clearly.

Years had passed, and An An had grown, looking different from when he was a child.

That day, busy with rescuing someone, Mengchun hadn’t paid attention to recognize him as Chuxia’s son.

Cen Huai’an had never met Ye Mengchun before, so he didn’t know she was his mother’s roommate.

Ye Mengchun looked at Cen Huai’an several times and couldn’t help asking Chuxia, “Did your son learn medical knowledge from you?”

“I often talk to him about first aid and similar topics.”

At the skating rink that day, Ye Mengchun’s mind was solely focused on saving someone.

Afterward, she thought about the helpful kids and guessed that someone in their family might work in a hospital.

It turns out she was right.

Ye Mengchun usually had a cold demeanor, spoke little, and had few friends.

She visited Beihai Park alone because it was close to her home.

Whenever she felt troubled or confused, she would come here for a walk.

Chu Xia asked her, “We’re going to row boats later. Are you coming along?”

Ye Mengchun, who was about to head home, heard this and caught up with Chu Xia, saying, “I’ll go rowing too.”

Jiang Zhiguan, who was nearby, cheerfully said, “You’re alone, so come row with us.”

This time rowing was different from when Chu Xia had brought An An here before.

Everyone could row, and even An An could row now. The small boat steadily moved forward without circling in place.

Jiang Weixi leaned over the side of the boat, trying to reach out and paddle, but Chu Xia pulled her back, not allowing her to get close to the edge.

Jiang Weixi still tried to struggle, saying, “Water! Water!”

“Don’t touch it; it’s dangerous to fall in!”

Jiang Weixi said, “Fall in!”

Chu Xia replied, “Yes, ‘plop,’ and you’ll fall in.”

Jiang Weixi understood the meaning of falling in and stopped asking to go near the edge but kept her eyes fixed on the surface of the lake.

After rowing, Ye Mengchun joined Chu Xia and the others for a picnic in the park.

She joined them for a meal and bought several adults and children some candied hawthorns.

“Do I have one too?” Chu Xia asked with a smile, taking one and taking a bite. It was sour and sweet, and her eyes curved down with a smile.

Ye Mengchun nodded, “Don’t you love these at school?”

Chu Xia replied, “Thank you for remembering my preference.”

It wasn’t until Chu Xia and the group were about to leave that Ye Mengchun parted ways with them.

She felt that this day had been better than her usual park visits.

“Sister-in-law, are you home?” As soon as Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an returned from Beihai Park, before they had finished a glass of water, they heard a knock at the door.

Cen Huai’an ran to open it; it was Shi Qin, Ye Xingxiu’s wife.

“Isn’t Zhengnian home yet?” Shi Qin asked.

Chu Xia nodded, “He comes back at irregular times every day.”

Cen Zhengnian’s work hours were different from other places, with no fixed time. When he got busy, he lost track of time.

“Then I’m relieved. Sister-in-law, I have something I’d like to ask you,” Shi Qin said with a hint of embarrassment on her face.

Cen Huai’an placed the water in front of Shi Qin and said to Chu Xia, “Mom, I’m going to do my homework.”

“Okay.”

Once Cen Huai’an left the living room, Shi Qin looked up at Chu Xia, her voice cautious, “Sister-in-law, I heard you studied medicine?”

Chu Xia replied, “Yes, I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine.”

Shi Qin looked at Chu Xia, her eyes suddenly reddening. She lowered her head and sighed, “Sister-in-law, to be honest, I have a problem.”

“What’s wrong?”

This was the first time someone had come to specifically find Chu Xia in the family area, claiming to have a problem.

Many people in the family area, including researchers at the institute, knew that Chu Xia was currently studying medicine at university.

However, most people still trusted hospital doctors more, and since there was an affiliated hospital right next to the research institute—established specifically for the convenience of the institute’s staff and their families—people preferred to go there when they were ill.

When asked, Shi Qin’s face turned red immediately, and she stammered for a long time without speaking.

Chu Xia patiently waited, knowing that one should not rush a patient, especially someone like Shi Qin who seemed to have difficulty expressing her problem.

She pushed the water in front of Shi Qin closer to her, saying, “Have some water first.”

Shi Qin picked up the cup and took small sips.

Perhaps Chu Xia’s calm and gentle demeanor eased Shi Qin’s nerves.

She seemed less anxious, set the cup down, and finally spoke softly, “I… I have discomfort down there, it’s very itchy, and it’s become red. Do I have some kind of dirty disease?”

As Shi Qin spoke, her eyes grew moist, and her tone was filled with fear.

The condition Shi Qin described was somewhat awkward to mention. It started with a slight itch, which she ignored.

But as it worsened, becoming itchier and redder, and began affecting her daily life, she became frightened.

She didn’t dare go to the hospital for fear of embarrassment and of being seen by people from the family area.

Knowing that Chu Xia was studying medicine and considering Chu Xia’s relatively secretive nature, Shi Qin, who had a good relationship with Chu Xia, came to her for help.

“Have you had any bumps or rashes on your lower body or other parts of your body, like your hands or feet?” Chu Xia asked.

Shi Qin thought for a moment and shook her head, “No, it’s just a bit red and itchy.”

Chu Xia asked her to extend her hand, took her pulse, then smiled and said, “Don’t worry, it’s not a dirty disease. You have inflammation in your vagina.”

This is a common gynecological issue that many women who have been married, have had sexual activity, or don’t pay attention to hygiene may experience.

After hearing this, Shi Qin let out a sigh of relief, realizing that her condition was quite common.

“Just pay attention to hygiene down there, and also…”

Chuxia gave Shi Qin some advice but reminded her that since she hadn’t graduated yet, she wasn’t qualified to diagnose or prescribe medication.

She told Shi Qin, “Tomorrow, you can go to the hospital where I work and book an appointment with my teacher. She’ll give you a prescription. This illness can be cured.”

Shi Qin hesitated. “Can’t you prescribe the medicine for me?”

Chuxia shook her head. “I haven’t graduated yet, so I can’t.”

After confirming that Chuxia would be at the hospital the next day, Shi Qin finally agreed to go.

She didn’t want to go elsewhere, as she felt more comfortable going to a familiar place rather than an unfamiliar hospital.

The next day, Shi Qin showed up at the hospital.

As she entered, Chuxia greeted her with a reassuring smile, telling her not to worry.

Chuxia had already spoken to the Elder Tang about Shi Qin’s condition and mentioned the prescription she would give if she were treating Shi Qin herself.

Therefore, Dr. Tang didn’t ask many questions.

After checking the name, she felt Shi Qin’s pulse and wrote out a prescription. “Go to the hospital’s pharmacy to get the medicine. Once you finish it, you’ll be fine.”

Shi Qin was surprised at how simple it was. “Doctor, do I only need to take the medicine? No other procedures?”

“Yes,” Dr. Tang replied.

Chuxia added from the side, “Trust my teacher; your condition is easy to treat.”

Feeling relieved, Shi Qin took the prescription and left.

Normally, Shi Qin appeared carefree, with a fiery personality.

Chuxia didn’t expect her to be so timid about this matter, highlighting a common issue among young women: lack of knowledge about their own bodies and basic health information.

More importantly, they often felt embarrassed about discussing these issues, a problem prevalent even in later generations.

Seeing Shi Qin relax with the prescription in hand, Chuxia felt happy for her.

Elder Tang said, “The prescription you suggested was suitable for her. You did the right thing. In our profession, we must always be cautious and careful.”

Even when feeling confident, a doctor should never prescribe medicine without proper qualification, unless it’s a life-or-death situation.

Many barefoot doctors in the past hadn’t received formal training.

Although they saved many lives, they also caused harm due to their limited knowledge and lack of caution.

A good doctor must always be responsible for their patients. Elder Tang held her students to high standards; even something as simple as a cold couldn’t be taken lightly.

Chuxia nodded. “I’ll remember that, Teacher.”

This principle had always guided Chuxia’s medical practice.

A few days after Shi Qin’s situation, Jiang Zhida finally found some time and drove Luo Peng and Jiang Weixi to pick up the puppy.

“It’s been so long, and Little Black has grown so much!”

As soon as Jiang Zhida saw the fluffy, chubby, black puppy running around, he couldn’t resist petting it.

Its fur was soft and smooth, and he wanted to keep touching it, but Chuxia pulled him back. “Wash your hands first.”

Jiang Weixi remembered having to wash her hands before touching the puppies last time, so she asked Luo Peng to take her to wash her hands and insisted on using soap—twice.

Hearing Chuxia’s reminder, Jiang Weixi raised her clean hands to Jiang Zhida and said, “Uncle, you need clean hands to touch the puppy. Xixi’s hands are clean.” She then squatted down and picked up the little flower-patterned puppy, hugging it to her chest.

Because she was small with short arms, she could barely handle herself, let alone the puppy.

She only managed to hold the top half of Little Flower, leaving its legs dangling awkwardly, causing it to whimper in discomfort.

Not understanding why the puppy was whining, Jiang Weixi’s face filled with worry. “Big Brother! Big Brother!”

Cen Huai’an came over, adjusted the puppy’s position, and supported its legs, making it more comfortable. “There, it’s okay now.”

With the puppy now resting peacefully in Jiang Weixi’s arms, she giggled, “Little Flower, I’m your big sister. Call me sister!”

The puppy didn’t understand her words and remained silent, burying its head in her arms.

Undeterred, Jiang Weixi continued, “Call me sister, sister!”

Luo Peng had told her that if they kept a puppy, it would become part of the family, and she would be its big sister who had to take care of her puppy brother.

Jiang Weixi remembered this and now wanted the puppy to call her sister.

She repeated it many times, but Little Flower didn’t make a sound.

Feeling frustrated, Jiang Weixi pouted, her face showing a hint of sadness. “Brother, the puppy won’t call me sister. It doesn’t like me!”

She sniffled, and her eyes turned red.

She loved her puppy brother so much, so why didn’t it like her?

Before Cen Huai’an could respond, Jiang Zhida, petting Little Black, burst out laughing. “Xixi, puppies can’t talk. They can’t call you sister!”

“But Mom said it’s my little brother!” Jiang Weixi insisted. “Little brothers can talk.”

Her best friend’s little brother, Lulu, could call her sister, so her puppy brother should be able to as well.

Luo Peng looked embarrassed.

She had only wanted Jiang Weixi to treat the puppy kindly, never expecting her to take it so literally.

Chuxia and Luo Peng tried to explain it to Jiang Weixi, but she wouldn’t listen.

In the end, Chuxia turned to Cen Huai’an. “An An, your sister listens to you. Please talk to her and calm her down.”

“Okay,” he agreed.