I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Li Suqin nodded.

"it is good."

Zhao Zian's eyebrows and eyes relaxed.

"Sister-in-law, please sit down first. I'll go check the fire in the stove."

Li Suqin stopped him.

"There's still some food warming in the pot, I'll go get it for you."

Li Suqin came out carrying a large, rough porcelain bowl and a dish of pickled vegetables.

The two sat on small stools and ate their meal.

After finishing his meal, Zhao Zian went back to his room.

He sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and let his mind wander.

Zhao Zian opened his palm.

According to the breathing method of the Shennong Valley Classic, a faint stream of air gathers and swirls in the dantian.

This flow of energy travels along the meridians, and wherever it passes, an indescribable feeling of comfort spreads throughout the body.

This... is true qi?

There really is a path to immortality!

We must start practicing the Shennong Valley Classic as soon as possible.

The scriptures say that this practice can not only strengthen the body, but also, when cultivated to a high level, nurture spiritual plants and enlighten all things.

If it can induce the growth of rare medicinal herbs...

That will be a continuous source of wealth!

……

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Zhao Zian got up.

Li Suqin had already prepared breakfast, which was still vegetable porridge, but she specially poached an egg and put it in Zhao Zian's bowl.

"Sister-in-law, you eat."

Zhao Zian wanted to give her the egg.

"You eat."

Li Suqin held down his chopsticks.

"You'll be working hard as a doctor in town, so you'll need to take care of yourself. As for me, I'm just a woman at home, so it doesn't matter what I eat."

Zhao Zian did not refuse again.

After breakfast, he changed into a blue cloth shirt.

"Sister-in-law, throw away what you need to throw away. Don't worry about it. We'll buy everything new when we get to town."

"Okay, I got it."

Li Suqin responded verbally.

Zhao Zian left the courtyard and headed towards Liuxi Town.

Li Suqin carried the two people's clothes and bedding out and put them in the yard to air dry.

They found two more burlap sacks and started tidying up the belongings in the kitchen.

Just as they were working up a sweat, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

A woman with a somewhat thin figure walked in.

It was Wang Ersao, who lived next door.

"Suqin, are you home?"

Li Suqin stopped what she was doing.

"Wang Ersao, you've arrived."

Li Suqin neither liked nor disliked this neighbor.

Most villagers are like that; they love to gossip.

But if something really happens, they can lend a hand.

"I was just thinking that the vegetables in my garden were getting old, so I brought you a few to exchange for some of your scallions."

"Hey girl, what are you... packing up?"

Li Suqin didn't want to cause trouble, nor did she want to be too conspicuous.

"It's nothing, just... just taking things out to air them out."

"Want to sunbathe?"

Wang Ersao simply refused to believe it.

"These pots and pans have all been packed up; it's not as simple as just drying them in the sun."

"Tell your sister-in-law honestly, are you going on a long trip?"

Li Suqin knew that this matter could not be kept secret.

The village is only so big; sooner or later, the whole village will know they're moving.

"We plan to stay in town."

"Huh? To town?"

Wang Ersao grabbed Li Suqin's arm.

"You...you own a house in town?"

This is what she cares about most.

Going to stay in town is not just visiting.

Food, clothing, and daily necessities—everything costs money, but the most expensive thing is housing!

Li Suqin shook her head.

"How could I afford a house?"

"It's Zian. He found a job in town. Let's go there and rent a small courtyard to stay in first."

"Renting a place?"

"Renting a place isn't cheap! Zian... what kind of job did he find? Is it enough for you and your child to live on in town?"

Li Suqin felt a chill run down her spine.

"Zi'an didn't explain it to me in detail either."

"Just say it's a job at the pharmacy, maybe helping to dispense medicine or mind the shop. How would a woman like me know so much about men's affairs?"

Wang Ersao pouted.

Li Suqin picked a handful of scallions and handed them over.

"Sister-in-law Wang, take these scallions. They were just watered and are very tender."

This is to see the guests off.

Wang Ersao, holding a grudge, took the scallion.

"Then I won't keep you from getting ready, girl."

"When you get to town, be sure to come back and visit sometime."

"Yes, definitely."

Li Suqin responded.

Wang Ersao held the bundle of scallions, and her anger grew stronger and stronger.

What does it mean to not understand?

She's faking it! She's obviously faking it!

She went straight to the big locust tree at the entrance of the village.

Under the locust tree, three or five women were sitting and chatting idly.

"Oh my, you guys have no idea!"

"Li Suqin's family is moving!"

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

"Move away? Where to?"

"Where could a widow like her go?"

Wang Ersao put the scallions in her hand on the ground and sat down.

"He's going to town! They say his brother-in-law, Zhao Zi'an, found some good work there and wants to rent a courtyard to live in!"

"I asked her what kind of work she did, and she was being evasive, saying she didn't know! Hey, a man and a woman alone together, going to town to live together, who can really explain what's going on?"

Just as they were having a lively conversation, Butcher Wang walked over.

He had just returned from selling meat in town.

"What did you just say?"

"Who's going to town?"

Wang Ersao replied.

"Li Suqin. She's going to live in town with her brother-in-law."

The veins on Butcher Wang's hand, gripping the butcher's knife, bulged.

"Li Suqin?"

Zhang accepted his thirty taels of betrothal gifts and agreed to marry him!

Although they weren't officially married yet, in Wang the Butcher's heart, Li Suqin was already his.

Butcher Wang walked westward.

……

The entrance to Jishetang was packed with people, three or four layers deep, almost blocking the entire street.

"Miracle doctor! Let us meet the miracle doctor!"

"Dr. Zhao! Please, please save my son! He's been coughing for half a month!"

"Where is Doctor Zhao? He's the one who saved Miss Qian's yesterday!"

Zhao Zian squeezed into the crowd.

Doctor Zhao?

Are you talking about him?

Before he could even react, he was recognized.

"It's him! It's him! I saw him with my own eyes yesterday, it's this guy!"

"Dr. Zhao! It really is Dr. Zhao!"

"The miracle doctor has arrived!"

The crowd parted to form a path.

Zhao Zian had never seen anything like this before.

He was just a country boy, and he would blush when he saw strangers.

Surrounded by hundreds of people, he felt completely lost and unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

"Fellow villagers, please do not crowd, come one at a time."

A fragrant breeze wafted over.

Su Mei walked out of the pharmacy.

"Don't worry, everyone! Our renowned physician Zhao from Jishetang is on duty today! As long as Physician Zhao takes your medicine, I guarantee you'll be cured!"

Su Meilian moved with light steps, her skirt rippling in circles.

Zhao Zian felt a sudden tightening on his wrist, and was pulled through the crowd.

Su Mei led him to the consultation room in the back hall.

A consultation table and a grand master chair.

"The first one!"

Su Mei shouted out loudly to the outside.

The curtain was lifted.

A woman carrying a child walked in.

The child was about five or six years old, with a sallow face, sunken eyes, and weak breathing.