TSWPF -Chapter 384 Jealousy

Under Li Qingling and the others’ eager anticipation, Old Man Xue and Dahe finally arrived in Ninghua County.

Li Qingling and the rest went up to greet them with smiles. “Grandpa, Dahe, you’ve worked hard on the journey.”

After greeting Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou, Dahe ran off to catch up with Li Qingfeng and the others.

It wasn’t easy for him to come here, and seeing them again made him genuinely happy.

Old Man Xue looked Li Qingling over and, seeing her rosy complexion, nodded in satisfaction. Knowing that she was living well put his mind at ease.

“Grandpa, I missed you so much!” After chatting with Dahe for a bit, Li Qingning ran over, grabbed Old Man Xue’s hand, and said with a bright smile.

Old Man Xue patted her little head and said that he missed her too.

He truly missed this little girl. Ever since she left home, the house had become so quiet that he found it hard to get used to.

“Rou Rou, don’t you miss Grandpa? Hmm?” Old Man Xue turned to Liu Zhirou and asked with a smile.

Liu Zhirou smiled softly and nodded.

Old Man Xue laughed so hard he couldn’t stop, which greatly annoyed Mr. Luo. He curled his lips.

“Old Xue, are you planning to stand at the gate chatting with the kids all day?”

Those two little brats were so heartless. He took them out to play every day, yet they never said things like that to him.

How heartbreaking… truly heartbreaking.

“Oh? Who knocked over a jar of vinegar? Why is it so sour?” Old Man Xue fanned the air in front of his nose on purpose and looked around.

Mr. Luo: “…”

He clenched his fists behind his back. He really wanted to beat Old Man Xue up. What should he do? What should he do?

Seeing Mr. Luo at a loss, Old Man Xue burst out laughing. Holding Li Qingning with one hand and Liu Zhirou with the other, he slowly walked inside.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and told the guards who escorted him to carry the things in.

“Yes, sir.” The guards quickly unloaded the items from the carriage.

“Old man, all… all of these are ours?” Li Qingling looked at the pile of things on the ground, her lips twitching. Did he empty his whole house? There was so much!

This was way too exaggerated.

Old Man Xue nodded and said yes. Some of them were given by Old Man Liu.

Li Qingling rubbed her temples in a headache and waved her hand, telling the guards to move everything inside.

She wondered if the storeroom could even hold all of this.

Old Man Xue glanced at her and told her not to feel burdened—since it was for her, she should accept it with peace of mind.

Li Qingling smiled and agreed, then asked Nianxia to help check and register the items.

Nianxia nodded and told the guards to move everything to the storeroom entrance for convenience.

“Grandpa, was the journey smooth? Nothing happened, right?” Liu Zhimou personally poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Old Man Xue.

After finishing the entire cup, Old Man Xue shook his head. “Nothing happened. We arrived smoothly.”

That was good.

He glanced at Liu Zhimou and told him to stretch out his hand so he could check his pulse.

Liu Zhimou obediently complied. After checking his pulse and examining his wound, Old Man Xue finally relaxed.

“It’ll be fully healed in some time. Nothing serious.”

Hearing this, Li Qingling’s heart was finally at ease.

After finishing with Liu Zhimou, Old Man Xue turned to Li Qingling and told her to stretch out her hand as well.

Smiling, she extended her hand and asked, “Grandpa, can you tell whether it’s a boy or a girl from the pulse?”

Old Man Xue glanced at her lightly. “Are you favoring boys over girls?”

“Do I look like that kind of person?” Li Qingling rolled her eyes. “Boy or girl, as long as the child is healthy, it’s fine.”

Hearing this, Old Man Xue’s expression softened. He closed his eyes slightly and carefully checked her pulse.

“The other hand.”

Li Qingling switched hands and propped her chin up. “So, can you tell or not?”

Doubting his medical skills?

Old Man Xue snorted, withdrew his hand lightly, and picked up his tea, pretending to drink.

“…”

Li Qingling was stunned. Was he angry?

She glanced at him several times, then at Liu Zhimou, before clearing her throat.

“Grandpa, can you tell?”

“You only call me Grandpa when you want something. Hmph.” Old Man Xue lowered his cup and glanced at her, making her feel quite uncomfortable.

Li Qingling ground her teeth. “Fine, don’t say it then.” She turned her head away.

Though her eyes kept sneaking glances at him.

“Finally back to normal.” Old Man Xue patted his chest. “Don’t do that again. You scared me.”

Li Qingling: “…”

Was this old man a masochist?

Being gentle didn’t please him, but scolding him did?

So weird.

“Then can you tell us now?” she asked.

Old Man Xue slowly rotated his cup and looked at both of them. “Do you prefer a boy or a girl?”

“A boy,” said Li Qingling.

“A girl,” said Liu Zhimou.

They looked at each other and couldn’t help laughing.

“Still say you’re not biased?” Old Man Xue snorted at Li Qingling.

She smiled. “I’m not biased. I just want a son like Zhimou.”

“I want a daughter like Qingling,” Liu Zhimou said softly. “Grandpa, can you tell?”

Old Man Xue stroked his beard. “What’s the fun in knowing early? Isn’t it better to keep it a surprise?”

They thought about it and agreed.

That way, they’d have more to look forward to.

Lowering his eyes, Old Man Xue sipped his tea, secretly thinking that he should start looking up names.

He had to come up with a really nice one.

He didn’t know that Mr. Luo had already prepared names. If he did, he’d probably be furious.

Mr. Luo glanced at him, thinking about how to pry the answer out of his mouth.

He wanted to know early so he could prepare gifts and think of more names.

Both old men were harboring their own little schemes.

After a while, Li Qingling asked again, “Old man, eat first or rest first?”

“Rest,” Old Man Xue replied without hesitation.

The long journey had worn out his old bones.

Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou personally took him to his room and told him to ask for anything he needed.

He waved them off, saying he knew.

After he closed the door, they finally left.

---

After resting for two days, Old Man Xue went to see Liu Shi.

Liu Zhimou stood behind him, tense with worry.

After observing, listening, questioning, and examining, Old Man Xue understood the situation.

He stroked his beard and told Dahe to check Liu Shi as well.

This was practice for Dahe.

Dahe responded seriously and examined Liu Shi. After a long while, he reported his diagnosis.

“What would you do?” Old Man Xue asked.

“Use acupuncture to disperse the blood clots in his brain, then supplement with medicine.”

Old Man Xue asked him to write a prescription.

Dahe handed it over nervously.

After reading it, Old Man Xue commented and explained in detail. Dahe listened with sudden realization.

Patting his shoulder, Old Man Xue praised him.

With time, Dahe would surpass him.

Dahe scratched his head shyly. “I’m still far from you, Grandpa. I’ll keep working hard.”

Old Man Xue laughed. “I also learned step by step. Don’t rush. Take things steadily.”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

“Grandpa, does that mean Liu Shi can be saved?” Liu Zhimou asked anxiously.

“Yes. Once the clots are dispersed, he’ll wake up.”

Liu Zhimou let out a deep breath and thanked him sincerely.

Old Man Xue waved his hand and told Dahe to watch carefully while he performed acupuncture.

Dahe stood beside him and observed attentively.

While explaining, Old Man Xue inserted the needles. Soon, Liu Shi’s head was covered in silver needles, looking frightening.

“Understand?” he asked.

“Yes, but when I actually do it…”

“Practice on animals first.”

Dahe nodded firmly.

Old Man Xue then wrote another prescription and handed it to Liu Zhimou.

“Have someone fetch these herbs.”

Liu Zhimou looked confused. “Didn’t you say medicine comes later?”

“This is for medicinal baths. He has hidden injuries. Herbal baths will help.”

Liu Zhimou immediately understood and sent someone to get the medicine.