Stunning Check-in: A Carefree Life Begins in the Countryside

"Xia, you're back?"

Upon seeing Xia An emerge from the courtyard, Chen's mother quickly greeted her with a smile.

"Yes, Auntie,"

Xia An nodded and smiled, "We've found some medicinal herbs, but not many. We'll need to use other herbs instead."

"I'll come for acupuncture tomorrow night, and then once every three days thereafter, for an indefinite period."

"That's wonderful, thank you, Young Master Xia!" Chen's mother said with delight.

Sister-in-law Chen seemed to have thought of something; her expression hesitated, and her voice became somewhat uneasy.

"Xia, how much money do we need for the medicinal herbs each day? Let's find a way to raise it."

Xia An shook his head and smiled, "Xia Jiang and the others know those herbs and have already promised Comrade Yang that they will collect them every day when they go into the mountains."

"The medicinal herbs Comrade Zhiyi needs don't come from the clinic, so you don't need to ask me about that."

"I only handle acupuncture consultations; I won't interfere with or ask about anything else."

"You guys go ahead with your work, I'll head back now."

After saying this, he smiled slightly at the three of them, then quickly turned and left.

Chen's mother and the other two were somewhat surprised.

They glanced at Xia An as she left, then turned their gaze to Yang Yanqiu and the others.

Chen's mother hesitated and asked, "Yanqiu, was what Xia Zhiqing said just now true?"

Yang Yanqiu smiled and nodded, "Auntie, Zhiyi and I are like sisters. This is just a small matter, please don't overthink it."

Sister-in-law Chen frowned slightly. "I heard that the medicinal herbs needed are very precious..."

Yang Yanqiu shook his head, "Nothing is more precious than the relationship between me and Zhiyi."

Chen's mother frowned slightly, glanced at Yang Yanqiu, and then looked at Chen Zhiyi, who had her head down.

"Zhiyi, what are you thinking?"

"I...I will remember this kindness and repay it properly in the future."

Chen Zhiyi said in a low voice, "Mom, let me decide this myself."

Chen's mother was slightly taken aback, her expression somewhat surprised. Had her daughter grown up?

She shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the Xia Jiang brothers, a strange feeling stirring within her.

But is it possible?

After a moment's hesitation, Chen's mother sighed softly and said earnestly:

"Zhiyi, you've grown up too."

"Since you want to make your own decision, then Mom won't say anything more."

"But remember, follow your heart and make your choice."

"One day, just don't regret the decision you made today."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhiyi gently raised her head, a resolute glint in her eyes.

"Mom, I won't."

Chen's mother was slightly taken aback, as if she saw a shadow of something in her.

……

the other side,

Xia An returned to the clinic and chatted with Jiang Mengmeng and the others for a while.

A moment later,

Seeing Xie Lingxiu bring the three little ones over, she began today's medical consultation and instruction.

Recently,

Xia An would sometimes teach Xie Ling'er and the other two children about cultural literacy—Chinese, mathematics, and politics.

He opened a missionary school, and his teaching was almost entirely rote learning, proceeding very quickly.

Even so, Xie Ling'er and her two little ones learned very quickly, mastering what they were taught in no time.

Not only that, they can also apply what they've learned to other situations.

After just a few simple lessons, Xie Ling'er and her two children have mastered Chinese, mathematics, and politics to a level comparable to those who have attended school for one or two years.

He can answer mathematical problems such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division up to one thousand with ease.

He already knew all the characters in the barefoot doctor's manual and the names of all the medicinal herbs in the clinic, and could write most of them.

The transformation of the three children astonished Luo Zhongqian and others.

But they were well aware of this and did not consider their grandson to be a genius.

In their view, all of this was thanks to Xia An.

Privately, he also sighed: No wonder he was favored by the Fairy of the Hu family, he really has the ability.

Enough with the small talk.

Time passed,

Soon it was time to leave work, and Xie Lingxiu consciously took the three little ones away.

After finishing their meal, Xia An and the others sat in the clinic, chatting or playing cards.

But an hour passed quietly, and no one came to see the doctor.

"If I had known no one was coming, I would have gone home to rest earlier."

Luo Yunshu shook her head and smiled.

Everyone nodded.

Xia An stood up and said, "Go back and rest, I'll take Lingyun and the others back."

Kong Qingci shook her head. "You should take Lingyun back. I've already told my family that I'll be resting with Yunshu for the next few days."

Xia An was slightly taken aback, and blinked as she looked at Kong Qingci's beautiful eyes that were slightly evasive.

A few days?

Could this woman be thinking of...?

"Go quickly."

Luo Yunshu smiled and nudged him, "Send Lingyun back sooner so you can get some rest too."

"good!"

Xia An didn't think much of it and left the clinic with Xie Lingyun.

Seeing him leave,

All eyes turned to Kong Qingci; it seemed that today wasn't her date.

Kong Qingci lowered her head shyly, her voice low and weak.

"Judging by the time, they'll be here in a couple of days."

The women's eyes widened slightly, then they realized what was happening and smiled knowingly.

"You really know how, Qingci!"

Jiang Mengmeng smiled knowingly: "None of us expected this before."

Kong Qingci's face flushed slightly, a touch of rosy blush appearing on her cool and pretty face.

"alright,"

Ye Qingxuan shook her head and smiled, "Go back and wash up and go to bed."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the autumn harvest will be here in a couple of days, and it will be difficult to get a proper rest then."

Upon hearing this, the women nodded and their smiles faded somewhat.

Under the cover of night,

Xie Lingyun and her companion walked through the alleyway.

She glanced at Xia An unconsciously, and her heart suddenly started beating faster for some reason.

Brother Xia is a very capable person, so outstanding that she felt somewhat inferior in his presence.

She also liked this kind of man, but as her mother would say, she couldn't hold onto him.

Over the past few days, she had noticed something: it seemed that the people in the courtyard all liked Xia An.

But she couldn't tell who Xia An liked; it seemed Xia An treated everyone the same.

Yet, it seems somewhat different.

In addition,

Her parents' attitude left her feeling uncertain, and she didn't know what they were up to.

It was as if it wanted her to get closer to Brother Xia, yet it also seemed like it didn't want her to get too close.

Xie Lingyun was a little confused, but she unconsciously moved a little closer to Xia An as she walked.

Just then, her delicate hand was suddenly grabbed by a large hand, and Xie Lingyun's body stiffened.

She stole a glance at Xia An, whose expression remained unchanged, and a blush crept onto her face.

What is Brother Xia doing?

Does he like me?

Why did she suddenly take my hand? Was she trying to say something?

If he wants to date me, should I agree?

Xie Lingyun's mind was in turmoil, and for a moment she was completely bewildered.

She followed closely behind Xia An, their hands almost touching.

Xie Lingyun felt her heart pounding like a drum, but she had no intention of breaking free from Xia An's grasp.

Xia An glanced at her discreetly, a slight smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips.

Xie Lingyun is very beautiful, in no way inferior to the others.

She is tall and slender, and apart from not being well cared for by her elders, she is otherwise very good.

He has no reason to refuse such a complimentary sign-in, nor would he refuse it.

Of course, the main reason was that just now, a message kept popping up in his mind.

The level of infatuation jumps from liking to liking, and then back to liking, repeatedly fluctuating.

Seeing this, how could he not give it a push?

If it works out, the liking will remain stable; if it doesn't, the goodwill will fade away, and it won't cause any major problems.

Of course, he felt the chances of success were higher.

And as he expected, Xie Lingyun's affection seemed to have stabilized at just liking him.

On the way,

Neither of them spoke, seemingly unwilling to disrupt this delicate relationship.

Upon arriving outside Xie Lingyun's courtyard, Xia An gently released Xie Lingyun's hand and whispered:

"Go inside and get some rest."

Xie Lingyun then woke up with a start, a blush rising to her face, and whispered:

"Brother Xia, you should get some rest too."

"Um."

Xia An smiled gently, then waved her hand and turned to leave.

Xie Lingyun watched him leave, a faint hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

She didn't know what she was feeling lost about, but she just felt a little lost for some reason.

Just then, a familiar and gentle voice came from the courtyard:

"Yun'er, did Xia Zhiqing bring you back? Why didn't you invite him in for a while?"

Xie Lingyun was startled, but quickly forced herself to remain calm and turned to look.

But then she saw her mother appear behind her, her eyes seemingly probing.

Xie Lingyun stepped forward, took her hand, shook her head, and smiled, saying:

"Mom, why are you out here?"

Mother Xie shook her head.

"I faintly heard your voices, but seeing you go in, I came out to check."

As she spoke, a faint smile flickered in her eyes.

"Yun'er, you still haven't answered me."

Xie Lingyun's heart skipped a beat; she had a feeling that something about her had been seen through.

She shook her head and smiled, "It's late, Brother Xia should go back and rest too."

Mrs. Xie nodded slightly, "That's true. We can invite him over for dinner sometime."

"We haven't properly thanked Xia, the educated youth, for teaching you medicine."

Xie Lingyun nodded, "Brother Xia has been quite busy lately. I'll try to invite him when he has some free time later."

"Yes," Xie's mother smiled, "Let's go inside, it is indeed getting late."

"Mom," Xie Lingyun said, gritting her teeth slightly, as if remembering something, forcing herself to speak:

Can I ask you a question?

"Sure," Xie's mother replied without hesitation.

"What does Yun'er want to ask?"

Xie Lingyun lowered her head slightly, then gently bit her lower lip, her face blushing with embarrassment.

"Mom, you sent me to the clinic so that I could avoid working in the fields, learn medicine, and get some free meals."

"You guys must have other plans in mind, can you tell me?"

Mother Xie was slightly taken aback and fell silent for a moment, as if she didn't know how to speak.