Even though everyone laughed at Li Chenmo and his family, Li Shu believed that this so-called greenhouse might have real benefits. Otherwise, they wouldn't be spending so much money and effort on building it.
She was also tempted to have one at her house, but her grandpa didn't agree. For now, she could only wait and see if the Li family's greenhouse produced good results—then she might have a chance to persuade him.
As she was lost in thought, a sudden loud slap startled her. Turning her head, she saw Song Yan grimacing in pain while covering his right cheek.
"Brother Yan, what are you doing?" she asked with confusion.
Hearing her question, Song Yan turned around and replied calmly, "Oh, there was a mosquito."
Looking at the bright red palm print on his cheek, Li Shu decided to say nothing. It seed her senior brother was indeed dealing with a big problem.
'Is he being forced to marry by his parents?' she wondered.
While she was thinking of countless possibilities for her senior brother's strange behavior, Doctor Xie returned with a basket of dried herbs on his back.
Placing the bamboo basket on the balcony, he called out, "Xiao Shu, co and help Grandpa with these herbs."
Hearing her grandpa's voice, Li Shu snapped out of her thoughts and quickly washed her hands. When she reached the front yard, she saw her grandpa grinning as he organized the herbs.
After learning from her grandpa for several years, her knowledge of dicinal herbs was above average. With just one look, she could tell that the quality of these dried herbs was far better than the ones they planted at ho or foraged from the mountain.
Walking over, she sat on the balcony and asked in a low voice, "Grandpa, why did you get so many herbs? These must have cost you a lot of money."
Hearing this, Doctor Xie smiled and said, "Well, Grandpa did pay a lot, but that was for buying ginseng. These herbs were given to for free by your Aunt Li."
Li Shu was taken aback and asked, "Grandpa, did Aunt Li really sell her ginseng to you? I heard she needs it to make tonic wine."
"Child, as long as the price is high enough, she will sell her ginseng. But this ginseng is really good—it's over 800 years old," Doctor Xie said, clearly in a good mood.
The mont Li Shu heard this, she looked at her grandpa and asked, "Grandpa, how much did you pay for that ginseng?"
Knowing his granddaughter was worried about him spending all his savings, Doctor Xie reached out, gently patted her head, and replied, "Don't worry, Grandpa still has plenty of money to take care of you. As long as you get better, this money will be well spent."
After a mont of silence, Li Shu said, "Grandpa, I'm fine now. You don't have to—"
Before she could finish, Doctor Xie smiled and interrupted her, "Xiao Shu, you are my granddaughter. As your grandpa, it's my responsibility to take care of you. After so many years, I finally found you. Now that I can give you the best, you should accept it. This is Grandpa's right as your elder."
Looking into her grandpa's eyes, Li Shu swallowed the words at the tip of her tongue and nodded, "Grandpa, I understand."
Hearing this, Doctor Xie smiled and said, "Good. Now help organize these herbs. Be careful when storing them—they are valuable."
"Okay, Grandpa," Li Shu nodded.
In the backyard, Song Yan finally finished brewing the dicine and poured the black liquid into a bowl. When he walked out, he saw his teacher and junior sister busy storing the dried herbs and greeted, "Teacher, you are back."
"Mhmm. Go do your own things. Send the dicine over when it's hot," Doctor Xie said without even looking at him.
Already used to his teacher's personality, Song Yan said nothing and went to the side room. Upon entering with the bowl of dicine, he saw Su Lanying lying on the bamboo bed in a daze.
Walking over, he sat on the chair beside the bed and said, "Drink your dicine first."
Slling the bitter scent, Su Lanying pushed herself up and reached for the bowl. But before she could take it, he pulled it away. She looked at him with raised eyebrows, as if asking what he was doing.
Song Yan stirred the dicine with a spoon and said, "It's still too hot. Let it cool down first."
Hearing this, Su Lanying nodded and leaned against the wall. She observed the handso man in front of her and suddenly noticed the tips of his ears turning pink.
For a mont, she was stunned before realizing he was shy under her gaze. After a pause, she parted her lips and asked, "Doctor Song, how old are you?"
Not knowing why she asked, Song Yan replied, "I'm 20."
"What about you? How old are you?" he asked in return.
"I'm 16 this year."
When he heard this, Song Yan nodded and said, "No wonder those aunties were talking about your marriage."
Su Lanying thought for a mont before recalling the last ti she t him—when the villagers were indeed gossiping about her marriage, and he was there to hear it.
After a brief silence, Song Yan asked, "Has your family found a prospective match for you?"
Su Lanying lowered her gaze at his question and replied with a smile, "Doctor Song, you heard it yourself that day. With my health, what man would be willing to marry ?"
"I know my condition. Even if I marry soone, with my weak body, it would be impossible for to get pregnant, let alone give birth. I don't want to bring harm to a good man, so I never planned to get married," she added.
Hearing her nonchalant tone, Song Yan stopped stirring the dicine and looked at her. Seeing her calm expression, he frowned and said, "Your health may be weak now, but you will get better."
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