Chapter 160: Learning
She straightened the knit jacket on her body, Su Ning took out the key and opened the gate before walking in.
Moving to the kitchen, she glanced at the vegetable basket placed on the ground by the cabinet. Except for a few small potatoes, the vegetables that Su Jianqun had brought last time were all eaten.
There were some in the Peach Blossom Spring, but she couldn’t just make them appear out of thin air in plain sight.
Thinking for a moment, she bent down and took out a small cloth bag from under the cabinet, filling it with about two jin of rice.
She tied up the bag of rice and put it into the back basket, carrying it on her back as she prepared to go to Old Master Su’s house.
In the village, as long as they weren’t lazy, even children a few years old would go to the field to pull weeds, gather pig grass, and do some work that could earn work points. After all, one or two work points were still earning their own ration.
The Su Qingshan family was no exception, leaving only one half-grown child at home to watch over a few smaller babies.
When Su Ning arrived, the little girl was sweeping the yard, occasionally turning her head to glance at her younger siblings who were playing in the mud and poking ant nests.
Catching sight of the person standing outside the bamboo fence with the corner of her eye, the little face that was tanned turned bright with a joyful smile.
“Sister Ning.”
“Yeah, girl, are you the only ones at home?”
“Grandma is here too, preparing to make dinner in the kitchen. Sister Ning, I’ll go call Grandma for you!”
Without waiting for her to reply, Su Ni threw down the bamboo broom in her hand and ran twisting toward the kitchen, shouting loudly as she ran, “Grandma, Grandma, Sister Ning is here, come out quick, Grandma!”
Hearing her shout clearly, Liu Juan’s wrinkles bloomed into a smile. She wiped her hands on her trouser legs twice and walked out quickly.
“Ning Wa is here, quick, come in.”
Hurrying into the yard, Liu Juan called out while hurriedly opening the courtyard gate. This girl had come and didn’t even think to open the gate first to let the guest in!
At this time in the village, it was still rare to use cement bricks and stones to build yard walls luxuriously like at the Su Family Ancestral Home.
They all used bamboo and thatch mixed with mud to enclose something half a person’s height, and below it, they planted whatever climbing vegetables and fruits they needed, like cucumbers, pea vines, loofahs, little pumpkins, and such.
When they bloomed and bore fruit, they were both pretty and practical.
“What’s up, craving them? Later, Old Woman will pick some for you.”
Seeing her looking at the little cucumbers on the yard wall, Liu Juan chuckled happily, “This is the late batch, crisp and juicy, delicious. The children all treat them like fruit.”
“Old Woman, your vegetables are really great!”
“Hehehe, what’s so special about that? Anyone in the village who’s toiled in the fields for most of their life knows how. Really craving them? Then I’ll pick one for you to taste fresh right now.”
Holding her hand, the palm had a layer of thick calluses. Su Ning didn’t mind the slight stinging scrape and squeezed gently, “I’m really here for this.”
“Old Woman, look, I don’t have time to tend to the little vegetable garden in the backyard right now, so I wanted to trade some rice for some vegetables…”
“What kind of talk is that!”
Without letting her finish, Liu Juan interrupted with displeasure in her eyes, speaking seriously, “These vegetables, and you want to trade things for them? Ning Wa, you’re not treating us like family.”
“Old Woman, this isn’t just for one or two days, you need to eat them yourselves too.”
“Eh, there’s a whole pile of greens, radishes, and such from the private plot, more than enough for our family. Don’t worry about nonsense. Alright, take the stuff back. When Jianqun and the others return from work, I’ll have them pick some and send it over to you.”
“This…”
“This what? I’m the elder, listen to me.”
“Alright, then thank you, Old Woman.”
“Yeah, that’s more like it!”
Seeing her change her tune and nod in agreement submissively, Liu Juan beamed with joy again.
……
The two busied themselves with their tasks in the kitchen while chatting for a bit, and soon it was time to return from work.
Su Jianqun, who returned home first, hadn’t even sat down on the stool when Liu Juan sent him off to the private plot to pick vegetables for her.
Just like that, carrying her own back basket plus the one Su Jianqun carried, a full two back baskets of vegetables were brought home.
After putting away the vegetables and emptying the back baskets, she grabbed two handfuls of milk candy and stuffed them back to the grinning Su Jianqun.
After sending him off, Su Ning returned to the kitchen again and took the opportunity to add some from the Peach Blossom Spring Space that she had grown herself, mixing them in among the pile of vegetables.
“Su Ning.”
Just as she put the things away, that familiar voice came from behind, making her heart suddenly beat a few seconds faster.
She quickly turned her head, squinting at the guy at the door: He probably didn’t see, right?
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just a bit stinging to the eyes.”
Hearing this, Yan Bei shifted his body, blocking the sunlight behind him more thoroughly.
Only after she stood up and her eyes recovered did he step forward a few steps, “Better now?”
“Where are Grandpa Yan and Grandma Yan?”
She nodded and glanced outside accordingly, not seeing the two elders’ figures, a hint of puzzlement on her face.
The three had gone to work together and done the same work; he couldn’t have left the two old folks behind to continue while he ran back first, right?
Yan Bei looked gently at her face. In the sunlight, he could even see those fine white tiny hairs, making her especially cute and his hand feel a bit itchy.
Want to touch~
Shifting his gaze uncomfortably, he answered promptly, “Old Man Liu over there is an old acquaintance of Grandpa. I just found out too. They’re catching up over there after finishing work.”
“Old Man Liu? That old man?”
She had only heard Old Master Su mention the three sent-down ones briefly; she hadn’t asked about the specific reasons or their previous identities.
“Mm, Grandpa said Old Man Liu was once a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine. His ancestors were all from the medical world, and there were even several imperial physicians.”
“That impressive? How did he…”
Suddenly thinking of something, she swallowed the second half of the sentence.
But… Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, huh?
“Yan Bei, I think there’s something not quite right about you.”
“Hm?”
“Since he’s an old friend of Grandpa Yan, and he can be Grandpa Yan’s friend, he must be a good person. Why not invite him over together?
Perfect timing, my young man just brought some fresh vegetables. Go invite everyone over. I’ll prepare good wine and good food so you all can eat, drink, and catch up properly.”
Feeling his scrutinizing gaze on her deepen, Su Ning looked back calmly, “What?”
“Are you hiding something from me?”
So perceptive?
She smiled helplessly. Dealing with smart people, even one glance was a giveaway.
“Jiaming called this afternoon.”
“Is Uncle Fu in very bad condition?”
“Mm, the hospital did an examination. The attending doctor said that at the time, besides the knife wound on his head, there was blunt force trauma. The internal blood stasis is pressing on nerves, causing paralysis below the cervical vertebrae.
Craniotomy has a high risk with only a 20% success rate. He called me to ask if the Su Family Ancestral Home has any handed-down prescriptions for resolving blood stasis or treating brain issues.”
Lowering his eyes, Yan Bei’s mind turned, instantly understanding. He pursed his lips and turned to leave without hesitation.
“I’ll be right back.”
That figure quickly disappeared in the courtyard. A flash of clarity passed through Su Ning’s eyes; he must have understood the unspoken words and her plan to invite Old Man Liu.
Wonder how this Old Man Liu, the Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, compares to Teacher Ge?
Although she hadn’t seen the full extent of Teacher Ge’s medical skill, she had a vague intuition: the greatest hermit hides in the city, the lesser in the mountains.
And Teacher Ge was such a hidden master.
No matter what, with these two big shots both skilled in medical skill, Fu Rong’s condition had more chance of being cured.
……
“Grandpa, Grandma, Old Man Liu.”
“Why are you back again?”
Right in the middle of reminiscing in the cattle shed with his old friend he hadn’t seen in years, Yan Changrong was delighted when he saw his grandson return. He frowned at him, “Did something happen?”
“No, it’s Ning Ning… Su Ning heard about this and asked me to invite Old Man Liu over. She said she’ll prepare good wine and good food so you can all gather properly.”
“This?” “Hm?”
Yan Changrong and Liu Wenbo, both sensing something off immediately, looked at him simultaneously.
Knowing this grandson was usually steady, since he came to say it, he must agree and think it’s feasible.
Thus, with one glance, Yan Changrong withdrew his gaze and turned to his old friend who was seriously sizing up his grandson, “Old buddy, you heard that? The kids are filial, don’t pull that stubborn old routine. Let’s go!”
“If we’re discovered, it won’t be good for that Comrade Su.”
“Old Man Liu, rest assured.”
On the way over, he had run into Su Qingshan walking back. Yan Bei gave him a look, then went to a place with no one around to report that they would be having dinner at Su Ning’s place later.
First, in case of any sudden situation, this Captain Su wouldn’t know and couldn’t respond in time.
Second, he was after all Su Ning’s elder in the open, so saying and doing more showed trust and respect, no harm in that.
