The woman addressed as Second Madam made her way through the crowd, taking a few steps to reach Xie Yushu’s side. She crouched down and reached out to take the elderly woman’s pulse, her gaze as calm as a deep pool. After only a moment, she withdrew her hand. Her expression remained unchanged, her chin giving a slight nod—whether in acknowledgment of Xie Yushu’s timely intervention or in quiet assurance of her own diagnosis, it was hard to tell.
She instructed the apprentices beside her: “Carry her inside first. I’ll be there shortly.”
With that, she rose. Her nearly cold face still betrayed little emotion, but when she turned to Xie Yushu, her tone softened slightly: “You handled it very promptly.”
“It was nothing,” Xie Yushu replied, not thinking much of it. She turned to leave.
But just as she started to walk away, the woman called after her: “Please wait a moment.”
“What is it?” Xie Yushu glanced back. She still needed to find Ye Youchun—did this woman need something?
“You—have you studied medicine?” The woman’s indifferent gaze fixed on her directly.
Xie Yushu paused briefly, then denied it: “No, I haven’t. I’ve just read some miscellaneous books that happened to mention emergency treatment methods, and I coincidentally remembered them.”
Why did the Sun family always ask people if they’d studied medicine or read medical texts?
With her half-baked knowledge, how could she possibly know any of that?
She was merely relying on the ease with which modern people could access information.
The woman straightened her posture: “My name is Sun Wubing. Might I ask your name, miss?”
“Xie Yushu,” she answered crisply.
A thought suddenly struck her—there was something coincidental about this. Previously, she’d attracted Sun Wuyou’s attention when exposing a dishonest merchant, and this time, her emergency first aid had drawn this woman. Both had asked whether she’d studied medical texts.
This woman was most likely one of Sun Wuyou’s older sisters.
“Xie Yushu?” Sun Wubing enunciated the name slowly, as if confirming something. “Do you know my younger sister, Sun Wuyou?”
Xie Yushu admitted it readily: “Yes, I do. I suppose I could be considered her friend.”
Sun Wubing paused briefly, her gaze falling on that face which could make countless men unable to look away. She thought to herself—this woman was being modest.
More than just a friend. When Sun Wuyou had returned home that time, she’d talked about Xie Yushu and “Xie Da” every single day, going on about the wonderful friend she’d made in town, how extraordinary her friend was, how she had a face more radiant than any man’s—absolutely stunning.
Morning and night, she’d prattle on about her, until the entire Sun household knew about it. Only after she’d gone back to town did the residence finally quiet down.
She had never seen her younger sister admire anyone—besides her eldest sister—with such fervor.
Sun Wubing invited Xie Yushu to sit inside the pharmacy, leading her to a quiet, secluded reception room in the back. Her tone was flat yet courteous: “Please wait here a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Xie Yushu set aside her concern about Ye Youchun for now and nodded, curious to see what this woman wanted with her.
Sun Wubing went to the inner chamber first to treat the unconscious elderly woman. After a thorough examination, she beckoned one of the apprentices over: “Go get some ginseng slices and have her take them with warm water. Then brew a dose of heart-stabilizing decoction. Move gently—don’t put pressure on the patient.”
Before long, the doctors who had gone for their meals returned one after another. Sun Wubing withdrew from the inner chamber, went back to the reception room, washed her hands, and sat down to brew a pot of tea. She placed a cup in front of Xie Yushu.
Her tone turned courteous: “I hope my younger sister hasn’t caused you any trouble while in town?”
Xie Yushu picked up the purple clay cup with two fingers and took a sip: “Not at all. If anything, I’ve been the one asking her to treat several patients—I’m the one who’s caused her trouble.”
“Healing the sick and saving lives is a physician’s duty,” Sun Wubing said flatly, as if stating the most ordinary thing in the world.
Xie Yushu couldn’t help but look up at her.
Righteous in conduct, seasoned in speech—she indeed seemed more like the successor raised by a prominent family than Sun Wuyou did.
Still unable to figure out what this Second Miss Sun truly wanted, Xie Yushu was about to ask when Sun Wubing suddenly produced a wrapped package from beside her. She unfolded the oil paper and slowly pushed it across the table toward Xie Yushu: “Is this the goods you supply?”
Inside the oil paper was half a jin of dried kelp. By the time the Sun family had made their purchases, there hadn’t been much of this fine quality left, so they’d only managed to buy this small amount.
Xie Yushu looked down at it. The oil paper was wrapped tightly, sealed at the opening with a short length of red twine tied in a distinctive, unique knot—a mark she’d had Xiu He make specifically, serving as an anti-counterfeiting identifier for her Qingshi Base. He had nimble fingers and handled such delicate work with ease.
She recognized it immediately: “Yes, it is.”
Sun Wubing leaned forward slightly, her tone still courteous and proper, but now carrying a touch more sincerity: “May I ask if you still have goods in stock? To be honest, our Sun family pharmacy is in need of high-quality dried kelp like this. But the quality on the market is inconsistent—we’ve tried several suppliers and none have met our standards.”
The implication was clear: the Sun family had taken a liking to her products and wanted to do business with her.
Xie Yushu understood now—so this was what she was after. She set down her teacup: “Naturally, I do. How much would Second Madam like?”
She hadn’t expected any windfall from stepping out today. Xie Yushu set aside her casual demeanor and adopted the sharp, capable air of a businesswoman, going back and forth with Sun Wubing in negotiation.
Both women were straightforward and open—few words, but every one of them substantial. They wrapped up their discussion smoothly, and before long, they had settled on the delivery price, date, and quantity for the Sun family order.
As she left, Sun Wubing personally saw her to the pharmacy entrance, and they bid each other farewell with cupped hands.
Xie Yushu walked back to the inn with a light step. Later that evening, Ye Youchun returned. Xie Yushu didn’t ask where she’d been—she simply told her to rest well, as they’d be leaving early the next morning by carriage.
Counting tonight, this trip had already taken two days and three nights. She had promised Su Chi she’d return as soon as her business was done, and Xie Yushu didn’t want to break her word.
Besides, she missed him.
Ever since she’d transmigrated into this world, she’d seen Su Chi nearly every single day. Ever since they’d married, they’d been glued to each other constantly, never spending a single night apart. Now that they’d been separated for two full days, she felt quite out of sorts.
Early the next morning, the two of them packed up their things, and the Tang family carriage was already waiting downstairs as arranged.
It had been agreed earlier—they’d be brought here, and they’d be taken back.
They boarded the carriage, and Xie Yushu lifted the curtain to glance outside. The streetscape of Tang’an County slowly receded as the carriage moved forward.
On the surface, this trip had only secured two business deals—but the long-term, stable orders behind those two deals were the real prize. Xie Yushu felt far more at ease now.
·
Departing at the early hour of Chen (around 7 AM), after six hours of travel, the two of them arrived at Songwan Town in the dark of night—just past Xu (around 7 PM).
In Qingshui Lane, every household had already finished dinner. It was bitterly cold outside, so residents had long since shut their doors and retired for the night. The lane was so quiet that only the sound of wind remained.
The Xie family’s courtyard gate was tightly shut, the wooden bolt secured behind it. The yard was empty.
Su Chi and Wang Wen had already eaten dinner. On the stove sat several new ceramic jars filled with chili oil and chili paste.
From washing the chilies to chopping them, from simmering the oil to bottling the paste—the two had worked all afternoon and were thoroughly worn out by now.
Su Chi felt sorry for his father, bustling about without a moment’s rest. He had originally invited his father here to relax for a few days, but instead, the man had worked nonstop since arriving, helping with chores and managing the household.
He never complained of tiredness, either. These past two days, he’d seemed in high spirits, a perpetual smile on his face, and had even struck up friendships with the neighbors.
So Su Chi had urged him to head to his room and rest well after dinner.
Inside the bedroom Xie Yushu shared with Su Chi, a candle flickered. Su Chi sat by the bedside, folding Xie Yushu’s undergarments. Under the warm glow of the candlelight, his profile looked especially soft and serene.
He folded each piece with care—collars and cuffs perfectly flat, not a single crease in sight. Only when he was satisfied did he lovingly place each item into the chest, neatly stacked.
Today had been sunny for a change, so he’d brought out the quilts, blankets, pillows, and several of Xie Yushu’s clothes that had been stored at the bottom of the chest. He’d removed the covers, washed them, and hung them on the drying line, letting the warm sun bake them all day long.
He couldn’t help but bury his nose in the quilt and take a sniff—it carried that lovely scent of sun-dried linen: dry, warm, with a faint hint of soapberry fragrance.
Holding the warm, fragrant quilt, he fell into a daze, lost in thought. Suddenly, a knock came at the door—thud, thud, thud.
The sound wasn’t loud, but in the quiet night, it was distinctly clear.
Su Chi jerked his head up, set down the quilt in a daze, and instinctively turned to look out the window. Then another round of knocking came.
His heart suddenly leaped—something seemed to burst open in his chest. He immediately stood and walked toward the door, practically running, and eagerly slid open the bolt. In an instant, the lovely features of the person before him appeared in his sight.
Standing outside was none other than Xie Yushu, whom he had been thinking of day and night for the past two days.
Su Chi’s eyes grew moist. Before he could speak, Xie Yushu’s long legs easily carried her across the threshold into the courtyard. In a flash, she was before him. She bent down and pulled him into a full embrace.
“I’m back.”
Xie Yushu pulled him into her arms, bending down to bury the tip of her nose in the hollow of Su Chi’s neck, inhaling deeply as if trying to absorb the scent that was uniquely his.
The scent that made her feel at ease—the scent of home.
Su Chi froze for a moment, then hugged her back tightly: “You’re back?”
His voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing anyone, and carried a nasal quality—tender, with a hint of grievance in it.
After holding him for a moment, Xie Yushu immediately noticed something was off. She pulled back and looked down at his thin clothing, frowning: “Why did you run out wearing so little?”
She then closed the courtyard gate, picked up her travel bundle with one hand, and took Su Chi’s hand with the other, quickly leading him back inside.
“Are you cold?” Xie Yushu rubbed his arms and touched his face anxiously.
Su Chi shook his head, his adoring gaze never once leaving her face, as if trying to make up for all the time they’d been apart these past two days.
He didn’t speak, simply burying his face in her chest, his fingers clutching the fabric of her robe beneath—gripping tightly, as if terrified she might suddenly disappear.
Xie Yushu still carried the chill from the long carriage ride, her body cool to the touch. But Su Chi didn’t feel the cold at all—only that her familiar scent brought him such comfort and security.
Remembering something, she gently pulled him away from her: “Let me change my clothes.”
Xie Yushu shed her outer robe, which had absorbed the cold from the journey. Su Chi turned and took clean clothes from the chest, helping her put them on. His fingers brushed her shoulder as his soft voice murmured, “Coming back this late, you must not have eaten properly on the road. The food is still warm in the pot—have something to eat first, alright?”
Su Chi had wondered earlier that day whether Xie Yushu might come back today, so he’d made an extra portion of dinner, still keeping it warm on the stove.
“Alright, whatever you say.” Xie Yushu agreed, but she couldn’t wait—she leaned down and gave Su Chi a quick kiss.
Su Chi wanted to tilt his head up to kiss her back, wanted to be held and kissed properly—but he held back. She’d been traveling all day; filling her stomach was what mattered most.
In the kitchen, two dishes and a soup sat on the table, all perfect for eating with rice. Xie Yushu ate with gusto, her chopsticks moving quickly—she was clearly starving.
Su Chi watched her with a pained heart for a moment, then turned to boil water. He knew she’d want to wash up later, so he’d better get it ready early.
While the large pot heated, Su Chi didn’t idle. He stood by the washbasin, cleaning the jars she’d brought back that had previously held food, and neatly organizing the bundles of luggage one by one.
One bundle caught his attention—he distinctly remembered it hadn’t been there before she left, since he’d packed all her luggage himself.
He didn’t dwell on it, assuming it was just something Xie Yushu had brought back from the county. He set it aside without opening it.
After washing up and freshening herself in the warm room, Xie Yushu felt completely relaxed. Now lying in bed, she pulled Su Chi’s soft, pliant body into her arms, her chin resting against the top of his head as she nuzzled and kissed him.
Her heart immediately felt at peace—as if life couldn’t be more perfect.
The room fell silent for a moment. The candlewick gave a soft pop, followed by sounds that made one’s cheeks flush—lingering, prolonged kisses that went on for a long while.
Before long, Su Chi’s lips were swollen and red, glistening with an alluring sheen. He lay dazed in Xie Yushu’s arms, his jet-black hair spilling across the pillow, a light pink blush creeping over his face. He looked like melted molasses—soft and utterly undone.
A little while later, he bent his right index finger, gently pressing the knuckle between his teeth, as if too shy to let any sound escape. His eyes were misty with a beautiful haze—he couldn’t bear to look at her, yet couldn’t bear not to. And so he let Xie Yushu do whatever she pleased, offering no resistance, only obedient submission—so well-behaved it was almost unreasonable.
Outside, the night was terrifyingly quiet, and the sounds from within gradually subsided.
Just as Su Chi was about to drift off to sleep, he felt something heavy settle on his wrist. He forced his tired eyes open and saw that on his previously bare wrist, Xie Yushu had somehow slipped on a silver bracelet.
The bracelet was cool to the touch, substantial in weight, and sat heavily on his wrist.
He instinctively wanted to lift his hand to look at it, but his whole body felt weak, so he could only give his wrist a gentle turn.
The bracelet swayed slightly in the candlelight, catching a glimmer of silver.
It was an exquisitely crafted silver bracelet, seemingly engraved with fine patterns—but he was too exhausted to take more than a glance before his mind grew heavy and his eyelids gave way.
Xie Yushu pulled him back into her arms, gently patting his thin back, whispering softly to lull him to sleep. Once she was sure he had fallen asleep, she kissed his slightly damp forehead with deep affection, tidied him up a little, and then held him close as she too drifted off to sleep.
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