Transmigrated Leftover Woman in Rural Style

After eating noodles and returning to the clinic, she happened to see Qi Ji coming out of Li's father's room. Li Xiaonuan wanted to know about Li's father's condition over the past two days, so she asked Su Shi and Xiao Gang to go inside first. She called out to Qi Ji:

"Dr. Qi, could you tell me about my father's condition these past two days?"

Qi Ji turned around and smiled slightly, "Your father's condition is stable. He will be able to get out of bed and walk in a few days."

Li Xiaonuan, completely focused on her father's illness, didn't notice the scrutinizing glint in Qi Ji's deep eyes. She asked, "Is there anything I should be particularly careful about these days?"

Qi Ji said seriously, "Yes. From now on, I will arrange your father's meals, so you don't need to bring them anymore."

Li Xiaonuan assumed it was necessary for the treatment and readily agreed. In her nod, she missed the fleeting sadness and annoyance in Qi Ji's eyes. She was about to ask when her father could come home when a child ran in.

"Miss Li, someone outside is looking for you. They say that Young Master Wei sent you to deliver something."

Upon hearing the words "Second Young Master Wei," Qi Ji's hands unconsciously clenched into fists within his sleeves, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. Seeing Li Xiaonuan excitedly about to leave, he couldn't help but remind her:

"Miss Li, please don't get too involved with the Wei family."

Li Xiaonuan, who was about to leave, turned back upon hearing this. Seeing the sincerity in Qi Ji's eyes, she still thanked him and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Doctor Qi. My relationship with the Wei family is merely a transaction; there are no other entanglements."

Qi Ji's brows relaxed slightly after hearing Li Xiaonuan's explanation. He nodded and turned to leave. Li Xiaonuan stood there, momentarily confused as to why she had explained herself.

Since she couldn't figure it out, she decided not to think about it. Li Xiaonuan went out from the other side and saw the servant leaning against the carriage shaft at the entrance of the clinic. She knew then that the carriage contained her drawing supplies.

He asked tentatively, "Little Si? Did you bring me something?"

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Si quickly straightened up from beside the carriage shaft and respectfully replied, "Miss, the young master said that everything you requested is in the carriage. Please check and see if anything is missing. If so, please let me know and I will pass on the message to the young master."

Li Xiaonuan stepped forward, lifted the carriage curtain, and carefully inspected the contents. She found everything perfectly complete. Besides paper, pens, paints, and easels, there were also many rulers and compasses. This discovery thrilled Li Xiaonuan. It turned out that rulers and compasses already existed at this time.

Besides that, there was another box in the car. Li Xiaonuan opened it and found some books on surveying. Among them was a book specifically about map scales, which was exactly what Li Xiaonuan needed.

Li Xiaonuan was pleasantly surprised by Wei Yu's meticulousness and thoughtful arrangements. Her impression of him improved even further. She examined the drawing pen several times before confirming it was a graphite pencil, and a sense of goodwill towards this era filled her.

After packing everything back into the old bundle, Li Xiaonuan was even more satisfied with Wei Yu. Some people may not seem like much on the surface, but they can be quite capable when it comes to getting things done. Jumping off the carriage, Li Xiaonuan picked up a bundle and instructed her servant:

"Go back and tell your son I'm very satisfied. Tell him to wait patiently." With that, she picked up her bundle and headed into the clinic.

Xiao Si stopped Li Xiaonuan and asked, "Miss, you have quite a lot of things. How about I deliver them to your home?"

Li Xiaonuan shook her head and refused, saying, "Save it, it's just a little bit of stuff, we can carry it back. You just go back, and remember to tell your master what I said."

Helpless, Xiao Si helped Li Xiaonuan carry all her things into the clinic before driving away. Once they were gone, Li Xiaonuan stuck out her tongue. If she had let such a flashy carriage take her back, who knows what gossips those aunts and uncles would have spread tomorrow.

Li Xiaonuan and the others stayed with Li's father at the clinic until late afternoon before leaving to go home. During this time, Qi Ji didn't appear again. Even the medicine was delivered by the apprentice. Li Xiaonuan didn't think much of this. In her view, Qi Ji was a very busy man and couldn't always be around their family.

Meanwhile, Qi Ji was sitting under a tree in the backyard of the clinic, drinking alone, a wine jug in his hand. Doctor Qi, who had just treated a seriously ill patient, returned to the backyard and sighed upon seeing this scene. He walked over to Qi Ji and said gently:

"Ji'er, you still can't let go?"

Qi Ji put down the wine pot, glanced at Doctor Qi, and then looked up at the sky again. After a long while, he said, "Father, why do they always seem to be unable to see those who are good to them, and insist on clinging to those who have no feelings for them?"

Doctor Qi sat down opposite him, poured himself a cup of wine, and slowly said, "You haven't seen anyone who treats you well either. People are always like this; what they can't get is always the best."

Qi Ji picked up his cup and drank the wine in one gulp. After a long while, he said, "Father, try to find a way to remove Uncle Li's gallstones."

Doctor Qi's face turned grave upon hearing this. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Ji'er, I cannot remove those stones. Even if I managed to remove them, Li Dacheng's body would be ruined. I believe you are aware of this."

After speaking, Doctor Qi drank another cup of wine before getting up to leave. As he turned around, Doctor Qi said earnestly, "Ji'er, that Li Xiaonuan is not Chu Lin, don't get them mixed up."

Watching Doctor Qi's retreating figure, Qi Ji murmured to himself, "Father, I understand all of this, but I just can't control my own heart."

That night, Li Xiaonuan lay on the makeshift wooden table that Li Xiaoyang had nailed together, and by the light of the newly bought oil lamp, began to draw. The busy farming season had already begun; starting tomorrow, everyone would be plowing the fields and planting rice seedlings. After the seedlings were planted, it would be time to harvest the wheat.

Therefore, Li Xiaonuan could only paint at night. Once the busy farming season was over, the one-month deadline would be up. So, Li Xiaonuan had to work against the clock to finish the painting and deliver it on time.

Because of the busy farming season and the rainy, damp weather, the Li family's house can only be repaired in the fall. For now, they've only had the roof repaired. But this has its advantages; it allows them to prepare the building materials during these months. When the time comes, they can quickly have the house built.

Having not painted for a long time, Li Xiaonuan still ruined five or six sheets of paper before finally sketching the outline of the world map. This whole ordeal took until midnight. Thinking about having to go to Wutong Temple after dawn, Li Xiaonuan packed her things and went to bed.

When the blanket was pulled back, Su was startled. She opened her sleepy eyes and asked, "Xiao Nuan, is it dawn already?"

Li Xiaonuan quickly lay down in bed, blew out the oil lamp, and whispered to Su Shi, "No, it's still early, Mother, sleep a little longer."

Li Xiaonuan was shaken awake by Su Shi. When she opened her eyes, she realized it was already daylight.

"Get up quickly, your Aunt Zhou and Aunt Huang are already waiting outside. I don't know what you're drawing and do, it's so late and you don't even know to go to sleep."

While Su was nagging, Li Xiaonuan quickly tidied herself up, drank a bowl of porridge, and headed to Wutong Temple.