Qin Liuxi entered Old Mrs. Qin’s courtyard, perhaps knowing she was coming to pay her respects, the whole Qin family, both young and old, were present, including the twin sons of her third uncle.
But when she entered, the room fell silent for a mont, Song Yu Yan was the first to lift her head and stood up, giving her a bow: "Cousin."
Following her lead, the rest of the younger generation stood up and bowed in unison.
The adults in the room had sowhat strange and complex looks in their eyes.
From Qin Liuxi’s indifferent behavior towards the Qin family in the past year, it really seed like there was a natural discordance between them. Yet, even though she rarely appeared before them, these children of the sa age now dared not act rashly in her presence.
"You may dispense with formalities," Qin Liuxi said, also sowhat surprised. One by one, how had they beco so perceptive and grown so much in just a few days?
What she didn’t know was that Mrs. Wang had laid down a rule, forbidding them to cause trouble in front of her, threatening to withhold their seasonal garnts if they disobeyed.
Now that their monthly salary was no longer being distributed, and they needed to do so handicrafts to earn pocket money, if Mrs. Wang was truly heartless enough to take away their clothes, wouldn’t they be left without even new clothes to look forward to?
When it cos to personal interests, people naturally beco perceptive and thoughtful.
Qin Liuxi bowed to Old Mrs. Qin, noticed the unhealthy color on her face, sighed softly, and then paid her respects to Mrs. Wang and the others.
"Aren’t you supposed to be finding dicinal herbs for Mr. Quan, how did you co back so quickly?" Mrs. Wang asked with a smile. This was also to preempt any criticism from Old Mrs. Qin, fearing she might be incoherent and reproachful.
"I returned as soon as I found them."
Mrs. Xie pressed on: "Are you absolutely certain of a cure?"
Old Mrs. Qin too, perked up her ears, a gleam of sharpness shining from her cloudy old eyes.
Qin Liuxi glanced at her, and spoke indifferently, "As a doctor, one would never dare to make certain promises. And as for absolute certainty, you ask? No, there isn’t any."
Mrs. Xie frowned and said, "Without certainty, you still dare to take it on?"
"Why wouldn’t I dare? If he has the courage to let treat him, of course I dare accept. He’s not even afraid of death, what should I be afraid of?"
Mrs. Xie was startled: "What if the treatnt fails, wouldn’t the Quan family cause trouble?"
"Who knows?" Qin Liuxi glanced towards Old Mrs. Qin and said, "Therefore, it’s not a matter of whether or not to ask, it’s all up to fate."
Old Mrs. Qin’s expression grew solemn with worry; if the Quan family truly caused an uproar, those most affected would be the n in the northwest.
Seeing her uneasy expression, Mrs. Wang chid in: "If Xixi could go out to seek dicinal herbs, then surely she has so idea of how to treat the ailnt, right?"
Qin Liuxi nodded her head.
Mrs. Gu, noticing the mood had beco sowhat somber, smiled and said, "I believe in Xixi. Our Ping and Brother An had such a tough ti before, but now they’re well and safe, it will surely be successful."
"Ye ya ya." The two children seed to realize they were being talked about and began to move their hands and feet excitedly.
Qin Liuxi’s gaze was instantly drawn to them; they looked healthy with their tiger-like heads, round little faces, innocent and clear eyes, wearing simple sumr clothes, very adorable, bringing an involuntary smile to her eyes.
She walked over, took one in each hand, checked their pulses, and felt reassured.
"Third Aunt is raising them very well. They are very healthy," Qin Liuxi comnted as she pinched their chubby round cheeks, so soft to touch.
Mrs. Gu’s eyes crinkled with a smile about to speak when Mrs. Xie said sourly, "They need a dicinal bath every three days. If they weren’t well-cared for, it would be a waste of those fine dicinal herbs."
Mrs. Gu was slightly embarrassed, her smile stiffening.
Beside her, Qin Mingqi’s heart tensed, and his brow furrowed as his mother made another faux pas.
He was just about to apologize when Qin Liuxi said coldly, "Looking at Second Aunt’s sour face, if Qin Mingqi were also to beco frail, he too could take dicine baths."
Mrs. Xie’s face darkened: "Are you cursing your third brother?"
"Second Aunt is overthinking it. I’m just speaking the blunt truth. If you don’t like hearing it, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t take back what’s already been said."
"You..."
"Mother." Qin Mingqi stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Don’t embarrass yourself."
"When have I..."
"If you can’t speak properly, better to say nothing at all. Is it worth your sour griping just because two nephews take a dicine bath?" Old Mrs. Qin chided.
Mrs. Xie said aggrievedly, "Mother, I only said one line."
"Shut up."
Old Mrs. Qin was also tired at heart. Without Qin Liuxi around, she felt free and idle, as if the Mistress of the house didn’t exist. But each ti Qin Liuxi turned up, there were always discordant sounds, inciting irritable feelings.
How foolish Mrs. Xie is, regardless of how life is, she only knows how to be sour and scheming, and even has the audacity to speak insinuating things in front of Qin Liuxi, who is tough to deal with. Isn’t this just like seeking punishnt?
Once, twice, thrice, and still not learning the lesson—what is it if not stupidity?
Old Mrs. Qin looked at Mrs. Xie with a disapproving gaze.
The juniors, seeing Old Mrs. Qin’s anger, didn’t even dare to breathe heavily, almost ready to kneel down and beg for rcy, except for Qin Liuxi, who continued to tease the twins, as if she didn’t care at all.
Of all the grandchildren, she alone dared to be so defiant.
At this mont, Old Mrs. Qin turned to Qin Liuxi, "Since you’ve taken on Mr. Quan’s illness, it’s right to be dedicated. Another matter, ssages from the Ding family have arrived. Old Mrs. Ding is celebrating her birthday, and she would like to invite the ladies of our household to the banquet. What do you think?"
Qin Mingyue and the others pricked up their ears, their eyes lit with excitent.
Since being returned to the old mansion, they had been confined there. Forget about attending any gatherings like flower-watching or poetry events, they hadn’t even truly strolled Li City, and were feeling pent-up.
Now with an invitation from the Ding family, of course, they wanted to go.
Qin Liuxi raised an eyebrow: "How does the Ding family have the face to send invites? Weren’t they driven out by you, Grandmother? I thought the Qin Family and the Ding Family had long ceased having any cordial relations."
Hearing this, Old Mrs. Qin felt sowhat mixed.
The Ding family’s sending of this invitation was entirely because of Qin Liuxi, as they had specifically ntioned that if Qin Liuxi could also attend the banquet, it would be an honor for them.
She had only recently learned that Qin Liuxi had helped solve so problem for the legitimate son of the Ding family who was a schoolmate, and she had even treated Old Princess Consort Ning of lingering ailnts.
Especially when they heard that Quan Jing had sought Qin Liuxi for dical treatnt, they could no longer sit still.
In a word, the reason the Ding family sent this invitation was because of Qin Liuxi, they had been shortsighted.
She had been shortsighted herself.
But thinking of the Ding family’s groveling and fawning attitudes, she admitted that it felt incredibly satisfying. Considering how last year she had repeatedly called on them, only to be rebuffed, now, in less than a year, they had extended their faces for the Qin family to strike.
And this satisfaction was brought about by her granddaughter, Qin Liuxi.
Mrs. Wang took a sip of tea and said, "As long as one has thick enough skin and interests that move people’s hearts, even severed relations can be discussed anew. Quan Jing’s arrival here could not be hidden from many; Magistrate Ding made inquiries and soon discovered why Mr. Quan had co. Thus, the invitation was sent over."
With a smile, Qin Liuxi said, "I see. They’ve co sniffing the scent of at."
The crowd looked towards her. Was she saying the Ding family was as eager as dogs?
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