Chapter 135

Back when Yang Laonainai used to run businesses outside and show her face in public, she had heard others talk about studying abroad.

Basically, any family with even a bit of wealth would send their younger generation overseas to broaden their horizons before returning home.

These days in East City, studying abroad was the hottest trend.

But the cost of studying abroad wasn’t cheap. It was usually only the well-off families, and the more favored younger members, who had the chance.

The He Family only had four people left. Yao Zu was too young, and she couldn’t bear to part with him or feel at ease letting him go. As for You’er, he couldn’t leave either.

If the money were to be spent on someone else, Yang Laonainai would definitely feel distressed. After all, it wasn’t just a few silver .

It would be like tossing money into a river and not even hearing a splash.

But if it were spent on Zhou Xiaoya, not only would it not be a waste, it would also mean she wouldn’t have to keep her around, being an eyesore.

Although Doctor Li had said that You’er’s condition had hope of being cured, based on Yang Laonainai’s understanding of her son, she knew he would never just let it go.

If the parents were at odds, and the father even resented the mother to the point of wishing her dead, then little Yao Zu would be caught in the middle, torn and helpless.

Such a tiny little child, should he really spend his days just scheming for a few extra pieces of cake? How could Yang Laonainai bear to see him like that?

Zhou Xiaoya’s temperament was already clear, and on top of that, she had an opium-addicted brother. Her family property had been mostly sold off, with little left.

If something happened in the future, her parents would no doubt turn to their daughter who had married into the He Family.

Yang Laonainai knew very well that opium was a bottomless pit, impossible to fill.

Even if the He Family was large and wealthy, they could still be dragged down. In the worst case, it could destroy the family entirely.

Those who smoked opium never thought it was harmful. They only schemed to drag everyone around them into the same pit, sinking together with no way out.

Whether it was You’er or Yao Zu, if either of them got involved with that stuff, just the thought of it made Yang Laonainai feel like she couldn’t go on living.

It wasn’t just the opium itself that had to be avoided. Even those who used it had to be kept far away.

If someone were assigned to watch Zhou Xiaoya and prevent her from contacting her family, and then her brother died from opium, well, they were still siblings. It would be impossible for her not to grieve.

And who’s to say that when Yao Zu grew up, he wouldn’t think his grandmother had bullied his mother?

Even if Yang Laonainai said she didn’t care, if the grandson she raised with her own hands grew distant from her over that, it would still hurt.

After thinking it through, the best solution was to separate them completely.

If Zhou Xiaoya were sent abroad, even if her parents wanted her help, there was no way they could cross the ocean to find her.

If she could broaden her horizons and change her temperament, that would be ideal.

And if she didn’t change, at least with more education and insight, even if she and her son ended up divorcing, she wouldn’t be left with no way out.

Looking on the bright side, maybe by the time Zhou Xiaoya returned from abroad, the grass on her brother’s grave would be taller than Yao Zu.

If, by then, she still wanted to support her parents, Yang Laonainai wouldn’t stop her. After all, it would just be a matter of fulfilling her filial duty.

Yang Laonainai didn’t like Zhou Xiaoya, true, but she had never thought of driving her to her death.

With Zhou Xiaoya’s clingy, vine-like personality, if she divorced You’er, she’d either end up starving on the streets or be tricked by her parents into returning home, only to be sold off for a few silver to feed her brother’s opium addiction.

The mother of the He Family’s young master could never be allowed to fall into such disgrace.

If not for that reason, Yang Laonainai would have handed her son a divorce letter the moment that incident happened, cutting all ties between the two families.

What had started as a passing suggestion from Yao Zu now, after Yang Laonainai’s careful consideration, seemed like a perfectly viable solution. It could resolve all the current difficulties she was facing.

That night, little Yao Zu had his nanny dress him in clothes his mother had made by hand. Then he happily trotted off to her courtyard.

Zhou Xiaoya had always been frugal. Even now, living in the He Family, she disliked lighting lamps. Under the moonlight, she was carefully sewing a small garment, fully focused.

When she heard footsteps, she instinctively looked up. The moment she saw Yao Zu, a smile immediately lit up her face.

“Yao Zu, what are you doing here? Did you get permission from the Old Madam and the Young Master?”

An An’s eyes darted around after hearing that, then he made a hand gesture behind his back to the servant girls, signaling them to wait outside.

“Mother, Yao Zu came here secretly.”

“What? You came secretly? If the Old Madam finds out, she’ll definitely punish you.”

Zhou Xiaoya didn’t mean anything by it, but An An still felt like she was speaking badly about his grandmother.

His grandmother treated him well, and he didn’t want to be an ungrateful child, so he quickly defended her.

“Grandmother would never punish Yao Zu. She loves Yao Zu very much.”

Zhou Xiaoya thought for a moment. It was true that the Old Madam doted on Yao Zu, so her tense expression gradually relaxed.

She crouched down in front of him and helped straighten his clothes.

The moment her hand touched the fabric, she realized it was something she had sewn herself. For some reason, her eyes instantly turned red.

“Yao Zu…”

Her voice trembled with emotion as she pulled Yao Zu tightly into her arms.

An An could feel that her body was shaking slightly as she held him.

He was particularly sensitive to emotions and could clearly sense the love his mother had for him. Maybe that love had often been abandoned or pushed aside, but it undeniably existed.

For An An, that was enough.

He wanted a mother who loved him. As long as she loved him, even just a little, that was enough.

Seeing his mother’s dazed expression, Zhou Xiaoya felt a rare, overwhelming emotion rise in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Just seeing her son wearing the clothes she had sewn with her own hands made her so emotional she nearly cried.

But this was her own son.

An An reached out his chubby little hand and gently patted his mother on the back.

Zhou Xiaoya went inside and brought out a small blanket, draping it over Yao Zu to make sure he wouldn’t catch cold in the night air.

She might not be a perfect mother in many ways, but how could she not care about this child?

It was just that, in many cases, she simply had no choice.

“Yao Zu, have you ever resented me?”

As soon as she asked the question, Zhou Xiaoya shook her head with a bitter smile and tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Of course you would. You have every right to. Even if you do, I wouldn’t blame you.”

Even Zhou Xiaoya herself sometimes felt conflicted. She was stuck in a situation where she was powerless.

She wanted to do everything right, but ended up making a mess of it all.

Xiao An’an reached out and held her hand in his small palm. Her hands and feet were always cold, probably because of her weak health.

“Mother, I don’t resent you. I know you’ve suffered. I know you couldn’t bear to hurt me.”

Yao Zu’s soft, thoughtful words made the sorrow in Zhou Xiaoya’s heart swell even more.

Her parents only saw her as useless. Her mother-in-law thought she was stupid. Even her husband saw her as a jinx.

She couldn’t even keep her own son by her side to care for him.

Sometimes, while picking over beans, Zhou Xiaoya would wonder if she had been born just to suffer in this life.

Maybe once she had endured all this hardship, the next life would be better.

No one understood her. Sometimes, even she couldn’t stand herself.

Now, hearing little Yao Zu say so seriously that he understood her, Zhou Xiaoya hugged him tightly and whispered:

“I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. The Old Madam raised you well. Maybe she was right. Only by leaving you with her could you grow into the kind of person I hoped you’d become.”

An An didn’t know how to respond, so he just blinked innocently and stared at his mother.

“Mother… can you go study abroad?”

“Hm?”

Zhou Xiaoya’s heart was full of emotion, but it was completely frozen in place by a single sentence from An An. Her mind went blank in an instant.

The topic had shifted too abruptly. She couldn’t grasp Yao Zu’s intention.

“What did you say?”

“Mother, I know you want to help Uncle, but Grandma will never agree to it.”

Zhou Xiaoya actually agreed with that. Every time the old madam opened her mouth, it was to talk about selling her off, telling her to take the money from selling herself and use it to support her natal family.

But if she really did sell herself, she might never get the chance to see Yao Zu again in this lifetime.

“So, Mother, why don’t you go study abroad? If you come back after studying overseas, you’ll definitely be able to help. Grandma won’t say anything then.”

Though the old madam often made things difficult for Zhou Xiaoya, she never once withheld the monthly allowance. As for how Zhou Xiaoya spent it, the old madam didn’t interfere.

Even if Zhou Xiaoya wanted to give all of it to her brother to feed his opium habit, the old madam would just turn a blind eye.

“Study abroad…”

A flicker of hope flashed in Zhou Xiaoya’s eyes. If it were possible, she too wanted to be a mother her son could be proud of. She wanted the young master to feel she was someone presentable.

But then, thinking about how much money it would cost to study abroad, the light in her eyes dimmed again.

“Yao Zu, I might never be able to save up that much money in this lifetime.”

Hearing that Zhou Xiaoya was actually willing, An An immediately relaxed. He clung to her arm and gently shook it, saying:

“Mother, I’ll go talk to Grandma. She’ll definitely agree.”

As the little darling so adored by Grandma, An An had full confidence in himself.

Not to mention the things he’d said to Grandma earlier—he figured that even a penny-pinching person like her would choose to send his mother abroad rather than let someone else take advantage of such a good deal.

“When you come back from studying abroad, tell me what the outside world is like, okay?”

“Daddy’s friend’s son is so mean. He only told me a tiny bit.”

An An put on a pitiful, aggrieved expression, successfully tugging at Zhou Xiaoya’s heartstrings. In a daze, she agreed right away.

“Alright. If the old madam agrees, I’ll go.”

“When I come back, no matter what you want to hear, I’ll tell you everything. I won’t hide anything from you.”

Zhou Xiaoya held An An’s small hand and promised. Though she would be leaving home to go far away, with an uncertain path ahead, she wasn’t afraid. In fact, she felt a strange sense of anticipation.

“Mother, I’m going now. It’s getting late. If I don’t go back, Daddy will definitely spank me.”

“Go on then, be careful. Don’t trip and fall.”

An An wrapped his arms around his mother’s neck and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek before heading out.

If not for the subconscious feeling that Daddy would be very upset if he stayed, An An actually wanted to spend the night with his mother. Ever since he came to this world, he hadn’t slept beside her even once.

Even after An An had returned to his father’s courtyard, Young Master He still seemed displeased—especially when he saw what the boy was wearing.

“Went to see your mother?”

An An noticed his father’s sour expression. He quickly ran into the inner room and, with practiced ease, took off his outer clothes and tossed them aside, changing into the ones made by the nanny.

His movements were smooth and quick, like flowing water.

Young Master He had originally wanted to scold him, but when he saw how skilled An An was at this routine, he nearly laughed out of frustration.

“What’s the meaning of this? Trying to fool me with this little trick? Don’t think you can brush this off so easily. If you really like your mother that much, how about I send you to live in her courtyard, hmm?”

As soon as An An heard that, his little face scrunched up into a frown.

He covered his ears and muttered as he sat beside his father:

“Not listening, not listening, turtle chanting scriptures!”

This phrase had actually come from one of Young Master He’s friends. Who would’ve thought that a casual remark would stick with the little rascal until now? He even blurted it out from time to time.

Thankfully, Yao Zu only said it in front of his father. If his mother ever heard it, he’d be in serious trouble.

“Doing this again?”

Hearing the slight softening in his father’s tone, An An scooted closer and hugged his arm, resting his head on it as he mumbled:

“Yao Zu likes Daddy the most.”

“If you like Daddy so much, why’d you go see your mother?”

That incident back then was something they could never tell a child as young as An An. Young Master He himself found it shameful.

But anyone with eyes could see that his relationship with Zhou Xiaoya was far from good.

Perhaps it was because little Yao Zu had pulled him out of a dazed, muddled state back then that Young Master He cared for the boy deeply.

Now, just the fact that Yao Zu had spent a little time in Zhou Xiaoya’s courtyard made Young Master He feel like the boy had betrayed him.

“I like Daddy the most. I only like Mother a tiny bit.”

An An held up his fingers to show just how tiny that bit was.

Young Master He knew this was just An An’s way of trying to cheer him up after realizing he was angry. Not a word of it was actually believable.

But he couldn’t help it. Hearing An An coax him like that made him feel happy. That one sentence was enough to completely disarm him.

“No going to see her again next time.”

Faced with the boy’s relentless charm and affection, Young Master He finally softened and compromised.

He didn’t plan to pursue the matter any further, but he made it clear that An An wasn’t allowed to visit her again.

An An thought about it seriously. Given Grandma’s efficiency, it wouldn’t take long. His mother would probably be sent abroad soon, and by then, even if he wanted to see her, he wouldn’t be able to. So he nodded without any hesitation.

When little Yao Zu sweetly said “okay,” Young Master He’s temper vanished completely. He called for the nanny to come wash him up.

He also asked the maid to bring some slightly warmer water to soak Yao Zu’s feet properly.

It was late when he got back. He didn’t want the boy catching a chill.

The next day, the old nanny by Yang Laonainai’s side summoned Zhou Xiaoya.

When the old madam tested whether she was willing to study abroad, Zhou Xiaoya thought of little Yao Zu’s hopeful eyes and bit her lip as she nodded gently.

Perhaps because of her upbringing, Zhou Xiaoya always had a sorrowful look about her. Every time Yang Laonainai saw her, she felt a bit annoyed.

With that face, it was as if the He family had treated her terribly.

“If you’re unwilling, I can look for someone else. No need to put on that sour expression here.”

Zhou Xiaoya panicked and immediately knelt before the old lady, kowtowing as she said:

“Mother, I’m willing.”

“Truly willing?”

“Yes, I am.”

Not just because little Yao Zu was curious about the outside world, but also because of what he said—once she returned, she wouldn’t have to rely on the old madam anymore and could help her husband and son herself.

“Then it’s settled. From today on, you don’t need to do those chores anymore, nor go to the Buddha Hall to pick beans. I’ll hire a tutor to come teach you properly.”

“Yes, thank you, Mother.”

Before her brother got addicted to that stuff, Zhou Xiaoya’s family had been doing fairly well. Unfortunately, her parents believed that a woman’s virtue lay in her lack of talent, so they only let her learn a few basic characters.

In the eastern part of the city, many families were sending their children abroad.

But for someone like Yang Laonainai to send her daughter-in-law overseas—she was the first. It stirred quite a bit of gossip.

Some people even asked Young Master He directly whether his wife had gotten his permission to study abroad.

But once Yang Laonainai made up her mind, she wouldn’t bother discussing it with Young Master He.

And sneaky little An An certainly wouldn’t dare bring it up in front of his father.

In the end, Young Master He only found out from someone else.

But in front of outsiders, he couldn’t let them laugh at him. He appeared very modest, nodded, and said:

“Of course. My mother already discussed it with me. I think sending her abroad is an excellent idea.”

On the way home, Young Master He couldn’t help but fume. His mother had made such a big decision without telling him—it was as if he didn’t matter at all.

But then he gradually started to hesitate. If he could use this opportunity to send Zhou Xiaoya away, it might not be such a bad idea.

Now that Yao Zu was old enough to understand things, and since Young Master He clearly cared about the child, he wouldn’t go too far against Zhou Xiaoya. Otherwise, the boy might grow up resenting him.

But if he had to pretend nothing had ever happened and continue playing the role of a loving husband with Zhou Xiaoya like before, that would be unbearable.

After thinking it over, he found that his mother’s approach wasn’t so bad after all.

If Zhou Xiaoya went abroad to study, she wouldn’t return for at least five years.

During those five years, he could keep Yao Zu by his side, teaching him personally. The bond between father and son would surely grow deep.

Then, after Zhou Xiaoya had been abroad for a while, he could propose a separation. With the excuse that they had been apart for years and no longer had any feelings for each other, no one would suspect anything was wrong with Zhou Xiaoya.

As for the disgraceful matters of the Zhou family, he couldn’t let anyone find out, not even for Yao Zu’s sake.

In the past, Young Master He would never have been able to swallow such humiliation. But things were different now. His thinking was much more aligned with his mother’s.

Yao Zu absolutely could not have a mother with a ruined reputation.

In the East City, old-fashioned values still held strong. If the Zhou family’s scandals got out, Yao Zu’s future would be miserable.

Even if it was just gossip during casual interactions, or a single mocking remark, Young Master He couldn’t bear to let his little Yao Zu endure it.

So, pretending he knew nothing about the matter, Young Master He returned home and picked up Yao Zu from his mother.

Before nightfall, he was in the courtyard teaching little Yao Zu how to write.

If Yao Zu were asked to study seriously, he would either complain that his eyes were too tired to stay open or that he couldn’t sit still.

But if it was just Young Master He holding his hand and guiding him through calligraphy, he could manage to sit through about the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

The moment Young Master He left, though, Yao Zu would immediately follow right behind him.

At first, Young Master He was annoyed by this habit, thinking the boy wasn’t focusing on his writing.

But later, seeing the way Yao Zu trotted after him with that adorable little face, he started to convince himself otherwise.

It wasn’t Yao Zu’s fault for being so clingy at his age. What bad intentions could he possibly have? He just wanted to be with his father.

Why else would he stick so closely to him? Wasn’t it simply because Yao Zu liked him?

Every time he comforted himself with that thought, Young Master He felt that even the biggest problems in the world were no big deal.

So be it. After all, this little one truly couldn’t live without his father.

Zhou Xiaoya was sent to the He family’s estate in the countryside, where Yang Laonainai hired a female tutor to teach her.

Since they planned to send her abroad, of course they hoped she would return one day rather than die in a foreign land. Otherwise, all that silver would be wasted.

Even during the New Year, Yang Laonainai refused to let Zhou Xiaoya come back, not wanting her to ruin the family’s mood.

She had someone deliver some items to her, and Zhou Xiaoya sent a few things back in return.

Perhaps it was because Zhou Xiaoya had truly given up on Young Master He. The three sets of clothes she sent back were all perfectly sized for little Yao Zu.

They fit him just right, and from the stitching, it was clear she had put a lot of care into making them.

An An knew that both his grandmother and father didn’t like his mother, so he had the maid who looked after him carefully pack the clothes away in a box.

The following summer, Yang Laonainai personally escorted Zhou Xiaoya onto the ship that would take her abroad.

Studying really could change a person’s temperament. Zhou Xiaoya now wore a light blue qipao and stood there with a suitcase in hand.

A breeze lifted the loose strands of hair at her temples, and she looked as if she were surrounded by an air of scholarly grace.

“If you run short on money, write home. You’re still Yao Zu’s mother, after all. No matter what, our He family won’t treat you too poorly.”

Zhou Xiaoya smiled faintly, bowed to the old lady, and replied, “Thank you, Madam.”

Reading had made her wiser. It was only after learning to read and study that Zhou Xiaoya realized just how outrageous her past mistakes had been.

She no longer dared to call Yang Laonainai “Mother” as she once had. She seemed to understand now why the old lady was sending her abroad.

Whatever the old lady’s intentions were, Zhou Xiaoya knew she owed her a great debt.

If she ever had the chance to return, she would be sure to repay it in some way.

Zhou Xiaoya now looked far more pleasing to the eye than she had in the past. Yang Laonainai didn’t want to make things too hard for her and had one of her maids slip her some money.

“No need to be frugal. This is from Yao Zu.”

“Yao Zu actually wanted to come along today, but I didn’t let him. The wind here is too strong, and his body is too weak to handle it.”

Yang Laonainai offered a brief explanation on Yao Zu’s behalf. When Zhou Xiaoya heard this, she tightened her grip on the items in her hands, a flicker of hope flashing in her eyes.

“Yao Zu still remembers me?”

She had thought that after a year without seeing each other, Yao Zu would have long forgotten what she looked like.

As the only heir of the He family, Yao Zu surely lived a comfortable life. Whenever Zhou Xiaoya missed him, she would comfort herself with that thought.

As long as he was doing well, she could be at peace.

“Yes. He saved up those silver himself. Even I didn’t know about it.”

Zhou Xiaoya clutched the bag of silver tightly in her hand. She had stayed calm until now, but at that moment, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

A gust of wind brushed past, leaving her face cold and damp.

“Yao Zu… is he doing well? Is the young master treating him kindly?”

It wasn’t that Zhou Xiaoya hadn’t wanted to ask before, but that she hadn’t dared to.

Now that the old lady had brought up Yao Zu on her own, she finally had the courage to ask if he was alright.

“Yao Zu is my grandson, after all. Of course his life isn’t bad. You can rest assured.”

“Thank you, Madam. Then I’ll be going.”

“Mm.”

The old lady turned and stepped into the carriage waiting by the roadside. Once it started moving, the elderly maid beside her asked curiously,

“Madam, why go to all this trouble?”

That bag of silver hadn’t really been saved by the young master. He only ever got money from the old lady when he went out.

Lately, he’d always gone out with the young master, and his pockets were completely empty.

In fact, the little master didn’t even know that the young madam had left. Today, he had been taken to a banquet by the young master and was probably having a wonderful time.

Yang Laonainai adjusted her clothes before answering.

“Yao Zu still cares about his mother. I can see it.”

“If Zhou Xiaoya forgets Yao Zu after going abroad, the boy will be heartbroken when she returns. I had to do something to make sure she remembers him.”

“Guilt can last longer than love.”

With that, Yang Laonainai closed her eyes, looking a little weary.

An An had indeed enjoyed himself at the banquet that day. He even became good friends with Miss Li’s son.

In a way, the reason they got along so well was because they both shared the same hope: to live a carefree life relying on their fathers.

Miss Li was the one originally engaged to Young Master He. Back then, Young Master He had fallen for a maid in his household, disgracing Miss Li in the East City.

Many people mocked her, saying that in Young Master He’s eyes, she wasn’t even worth as much as a servant girl.

Later, one of Miss Li’s childhood friends married her as his official wife during the height of the gossip, and the rumors died down almost overnight.

After that, since the He and Li families had many business dealings, the two families gradually resumed contact.

To Young Master He, the past was nothing more than fleeting clouds. Back then, Yang Laonainai, out of guilt toward the Li Family, had ceded quite a bit of benefit to them. Both Miss Li and her father were very pleased with this arrangement.

Nowadays, whenever something came up between the two families, they would always invite each other over.

An An and the young master of the Li Family had already agreed to play together again next time, to exchange tips on how to live up to their fathers’ expectations, all while hoping to live carefree lives as idle young masters.

After returning home, An An, tired from a full day of play, was sent to bed early. Young Master He, however, went to pay a visit to the old madam.

As for sending Zhou Xiaoya away today, Yang Laonainai had kept it from Yao Zu, but not from You’er.

“Mother, has Zhou Xiaoya already left?”

“Yes, I personally saw her onto the ship. I’ve entrusted someone to handle her overseas studies. She won’t return for another eight years.”

By then, young Yao Zu would be grown. He probably wouldn’t cry at the drop of a hat like he did now.

If his parents were to separate, he would likely be better able to understand.

…

After more than a year of treatment from Doctor Li, Young Master He’s body had finally made a full recovery.

Though still slightly weaker than before, it no longer affected his lifespan.

For Young Master He, who had once resigned himself to being a cripple for life, this outcome was far beyond what he had hoped for.

He wasn’t greedy, nor was he obsessed with returning to his former state.

Ever since Xiao An’an found out that his father had fully recovered, he started pestering his grandmother for a small courtyard of his own.

Young Master He had merely gone out for a business meeting. When he returned, he found that everything in his courtyard related to Yao Zu had been cleared out. It startled him so much that he rushed over that very night to ask his mother about it.

“Yao Zu said he’s grown up now and wants a courtyard of his own. He moved out this afternoon and forgot to tell you.”

“At this hour, Yao Zu is probably already asleep. Best not to disturb his rest.”

“You know how that little rascal is. If he doesn’t sleep well and someone wakes him up, he’s bound to throw a tantrum.”

After learning the reason from his mother, Young Master He nodded respectfully on the surface.

But the moment he turned around, he went straight to the courtyard his mother had mentioned, dug his half-asleep son out of bed, and carried him back to his own courtyard that very night.

At that hour, An An was sleeping soundly. Young Master He moved carefully, quietly switching his son into a different bed without waking him.

When An An opened his eyes and saw the familiar surroundings, he froze in place. He blinked several times before confirming he wasn’t dreaming.

“Huh? Nanny, is Grandpa Li still here? I want Grandpa Li to check my pulse.”

Startled, An An didn’t even put on his shoes. He ran barefoot to the doorway and called for his nanny.

The nanny who often looked after the young master saw his pale little feet and quickly scooped him up.

“Young Master, the floor is cold. You mustn’t do this. If you catch a chill, you’ll have to drink bitter medicine.”

“Nanny, where’s Grandpa Li?”

Originally, the old madam and Doctor Li had agreed that once Yao Zu was cured, his family would leave this place and never return.

But after Young Master He recovered, he personally asked Doctor Li to stay.

To him, it would only be a scandal if he had never recovered.

Now that he was fully healed, even if others found out, it didn’t matter.

Besides, after living with Doctor Li for nearly a year, he had come to trust the man’s character. He was confident Doctor Li would never reveal anything about him.

“Doctor Li is checking the old madam’s pulse. Does the young master need something?”

“I want to pay my respects to Grandmother.”

“Very well.”

Doctor Li was highly skilled in medicine, especially in nourishing and restoring the body.

He had previously been treating Young Master He, but now that his health was back to normal, Yang Laonainai had handed over the family business to her son and was finally able to rest.

Doctor Li felt uncomfortable staying at the He residence without doing anything, especially while still receiving a monthly salary in silver coins.

So he volunteered to help Yang Laonainai with her health regimen.

An An ran off to his grandmother’s courtyard. As soon as he entered, his face was drawn tight with seriousness.

Yang Laonainai was having her breakfast. What had once been her favorite dishes had gradually turned into various medicinal meals.

Doctor Li claimed this was the best way to strengthen her body and ensure she lived a long life.

That promise struck a deep chord in Yang Laonainai’s heart.

She truly hoped to live longer. Back when her son had health issues, she constantly worried that Yao Zu might not be able to handle the emotional toll.

Now that Doctor Li said her son was fine, she began to worry that if he had more children in the future, he might neglect Yao Zu.

In her heart, even You’er didn’t hold as high a place as Yao Zu, let alone a child who hadn’t even been born yet.

So she hoped to live longer—much longer.

She wanted to personally see You’er hand the He Family over to Yao Zu. Only when she was sure Yao Zu could truly shoulder the responsibility would she be able to rest in peace.

Otherwise, even in death, she would never be at ease.

“Yao Zu, what’s wrong?”

Yang Laonainai was already frowning at her medicinal breakfast. When she saw her precious grandson walk in with that strange expression, she couldn’t help but grow curious.

She beckoned him over to her side, while the nanny brought over a plate of his favorite milk cakes.

Doctor Li was sitting nearby, reading a medical text with a brush in hand.

In her younger years, Yang Laonainai had maintained her health fairly well. But in recent years, the stress and lack of rest had taken a toll.

Restoring her health would take considerable effort, and the medicinal meals had to change daily.

Given her age, Doctor Li didn’t dare use anything too potent, so he had to carefully weigh each treatment.

An An first bowed to pay respects to his grandmother, then dragged over a small stool and sat down in front of Doctor Li.

Doctor Li looked up in confusion just as An An rolled up his sleeve and solemnly extended his right wrist.

“Grandpa Li, check my pulse.”

“I was clearly sleeping in my own courtyard, but when I woke up today, I was in Father’s bed!”

— Translator’s Notes —

• turtle chanting scriptures: A playful Chinese children’s rhyme used to drown out or ignore scolding, equivalent to ‘la la la, I’m not listening’ in English; ‘turtle’ (wángbā) adds a humorous, teasing insult implying the speaker is foolish or slow.

• a woman’s virtue lay in her lack of talent: A traditional Confucian saying from ancient China (from Ban Zhao’s ‘Admonitions for Women’), emphasizing that women’s virtue is found in modesty and lack of scholarly talent, discouraging female education.

• qipao: A traditional Chinese women’s dress, form-fitting and high-collared, originating from Manchu styles and popularized in urban China during the Republican era (1912–1949).