Returning to Modu, Bai Xiao saw her grandparents and uncle, and the old couple hugged her and cried bitterly.
The whole family was waiting eagerly outside the train station, looking forward to it, and Bai Xiao saw them as soon as she ca out.
Seeing her grandparents with even more wrinkles, she knew that news of her critical illness worried them to no end; who knows how many tears the old lady shed at night.
She always seed carefree except for her brother and sister, but now she felt the worry a mother has for her child traveling afar; perhaps only family can be like this.
Just imagine, once the news reached here...
They heard their granddaughter was in the infectious disease ward and had fallen gravely ill, almost died.
They heard she had stopped breathing for a day and a night, yet she suddenly ca back to life.
The old lady, who didn’t believe in gods or Buddha, even wanted to beco a layperson, saying she would eat vegetarian and chant prayers to bless their Bai Xiao with a long life.
The old couple was just short of burning incense and bowing to the heavens.
How could they not worry about such a good child, and if she had really been lost there...
The old couple felt very sorry for their daughter and granddaughter.
If they t their daughter in the afterlife, how would they face her?
When the child was suffering, they weren’t there to help, and when life had barely improved for her with a promising future, she suffered such a major setback—just thinking about the dire situation at the ti is daunting.
"Xiao, co ho and see how much you’ve lost weight, your little face is so pointy—how can this do? Co back ho, let Grandma make soup for you to replenish your health. This body lacking nutrients is not okay. You’re still young and might not feel it, but as you get older you’ll understand that many ailnts are caused by neglect when you’re young. You must take this seriously." Grandma said while inspecting her granddaughter’s hand closely.
Her heart was full of worry.
Grandpa vigorously nodded beside her.
"Listen to your grandma and co ho to stay. Us old folks have nothing to do and are focused on nourishing your health. Knowing you were coming back, your grandma nearly scoured the market these past few days and asked old classmates and war comrades to bring back many good things for you.
Rest assured, within a month, we’ll have you well nourished and strong.
We’ll make sure you never suffer any illness again."
Bai Xiao chuckled, "Grandma, Grandpa, don’t make such a fuss over nothing. Facing such an illness, we had to step up since we were there. As doctors, facing such dangers is our duty.
Besides, didn’t I benefit from the misfortune and gain a great achievent? Your granddaughter is now a major—one might be promoted as fast as a rocket, but not as quickly as I was. Haven’t they said, the greater the risk, the greater the reward?"
Yet before she finished speaking, she received a sharp flick on the forehead from her uncle, Yu Shaoyan.
"What nonsense are you spouting about the greater the risk, the greater the reward? Your grandparents and we never expected you to bring glory to the family na. Just honestly do your work. Do you know your grandparents have hardly slept these past days?
The old couple clutched your mother’s photo, almost blaming themselves to death.
They blad themselves for not taking better care of you, even though you were right by their side, letting you face such danger. They blad themselves and constantly gave the cold shoulder. Just ask Xiaoxue.
Your grandparents almost chased out of the house, said I disregarded family ties, and let my niece face such danger even after they paved the way for you to such a remote place.
Just short of using your mother’s photo to hit ."
Yu Shaoyan was quite frustrated.
Bai Xiao initially wanted to pretend to lant to gain sympathy, but hearing that, she laughed.
She clung to her uncle’s arm coquettishly.
"Second Uncle, you are my real uncle, how could I not understand you? You’ve always had my best interest at heart, besides. Do you think your niece needs to go through back channels? Those are wide open to already.
Grandma, Grandpa, you’ve wronged my uncle. This ti it was really a series of accidental coincidences.
Let’s hurry ho; I miss the food at ho. You wouldn’t know how remote that place was—it really was remote—desolate and backward, no doubt. I don’t mind, but I just couldn’t get used to the food.
Every al was cornal with sweet potatoes and potatoes. My stomach turned sour eating it.
I really miss the homade Zha Jiang Mian!"
Talking about food, Bai Xiao truly drooled.
In this more than a month, it wasn’t the hardship alone, but the food really had too great a regional difference. She, a native northerner, wasn’t used to not having rice every al, just cornal, and sweet potatoes, especially that sauerkraut.
It really turned her stomach sour.
Even back when she suffered in Liupan Village, at least then it was corn gruel, though the black bread was not easy to digest, very hard and unappetizing, but she was used to noodles as a northerner. When arriving in the south, consuming sweet potatoes, cornal, and sauerkraut was quite challenging.
It’s not about enduring hardship; it’s about not being accustod to the local diet.
Grandma imdiately got anxious, pulling Bai Xiao to leave, but still did not forget to call her granddaughter-in-law An Zhiyuan, "Xiao An, co on, follow us. You two suffered there, quickly co ho. Grandma will make you sothing delicious.
If you want Zha Jiang Mian, fine! I’ll make you the authentic Capital City Zha Jiang Mian, one taste and you’ll want a second."
Grandma and Grandpa were originally from the north, born and raised in Capital City.
Authentic Zha Jiang Mian, of course, is their specialty.
As soon as they heard their granddaughter wanted it, they instantly brightened up.
Yu Shaoyan shook his head speechlessly.
Seeing this, he felt like he wasn’t a mber of the family. Perhaps he was picked up from so rubbish heap.
Yu Feixue was even more frustrated; from the mont she t Bai Xiao till now, all she managed was a greeting, completely monopolized by their grandparents.
No room even to squeeze in, the two old adults on either side.
Not leaving any space for her.
A minivan took them back ho.
Grandma got off directly at the vegetable market, while ho was prepared with soup and other things, but there was no preparation for Zha Jiang Mian.
But since her granddaughter asked for it, they had to get it done even if it wasn’t prepared.
Grandma set out to buy groceries.
Bai Xiao repeatedly said they could just eat whatever was at ho, but Grandma wouldn’t have it and chased them away. Grandma and Grandpa headed directly for the vegetable market.
Bai Xiao felt warmth in her heart, as if she was finally experiencing familial love.
Soone will take your request as their first priority, cherishing and loving you.
Only those with blood ties will do such things for you.
She never experienced parental love. Her foster parents passed when she was fourteen; her brother and sister couldn’t provide care for her. She was used to not receiving any affection, but now she realized this is what love is like.
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