Transmigrated Leftover Woman in Rural Style

Hope had just been raised when it was dashed into despair. The three younger cousins ​​could no longer bear it and wept. Mrs. Tang silently shed tears, leaning weakly against the doorframe. Li Xiaonuan, feeling pity, suggested:

"I'll go and ask Doctor Jing for help. I can't guarantee whether it will work or not; we'll just have to wait and see."

Having just experienced a setback, the mother and her three daughters were much more rational. They simply thanked Li Xiaonuan gratefully and said nothing more. An eerie silence fell over the room. Qi Ji touched his nose, coughed twice, and said that someone should bring out the external medicine to be brewed.

The mother and her three daughters, regaining their senses, gave awkward, bitter smiles. The eldest cousin, Xiaoqian, stepped forward shyly and said, "Doctors, we are so sorry. Father's illness has caused us so much anxiety, and we have neglected you both. I will go and make you some tea. Xiaoping and Xiaosha, please bring your medicine to the kitchen."

Because Xiaoqian kept her head down, no one noticed the unusually bright light in her eyes or the blush creeping up her cheeks. Qi Ji took a few herbs from his medicine box and gave them to Xiao Sha and her sister before finding a chair to sit down.

In the dim light, Doctor Qi glanced at Qi Ji out of the corner of his eye. Since that incident five years ago, Qi Ji had not treated anyone. Now, his repeated treatments were all related to Li Xiaonuan.

Doctor Qi didn't believe Qi Ji had any feelings for Li Xiaonuan. He knew his own son best. But Qi Ji kept doing things that puzzled him, forcing Doctor Qi to reconsider his conclusion. Perhaps it was because Li Xiaonuan looked too much like that person.

While serving tea, Xiaoqian stole glances at Qi Ji, her heart pounding with anxiety. Her face flushed, her breathing rapid, and she had to retreat into the kitchen. Even there, she couldn't calm her racing heart.

At this moment, Xiaoqian's mind was blank, her heart and eyes filled only with the handsome and ethereal Qi Ji. Yet, deep within her, another voice cried out: "You unfilial daughter! Your own father is so ill, and you still have the mind to look at and think about men!"

And so, Xiaoqian's face would alternate between a silly grin and deep regret. All night long, she couldn't understand what was wrong with her.

It wasn't until the first application of medicine that her second uncle, Li Da, was able to eat some rice porridge without vomiting it up again. When Qi Ji and his son were about to take their leave, Xiaoqian realized that she had fallen for Qi Ji.

In her first romantic encounter, Xiaoqian was naive and impulsive. If the timing hadn't been so inappropriate, she would have directly confessed her feelings to Qi Ji. Fortunately, although she overlooked the difference in their social status and the fact that Qi Ji might already be married, she still managed to maintain a woman's reserve and didn't do anything inappropriate.

Perhaps it was Second Uncle Li Dacai who diverted everyone's attention. Therefore, when Xiaoqian acted strangely several times, everyone automatically attributed it to her worrying about Second Uncle. And so, with a heavy heart, Xiaoqian saw Qi Ji off with affectionate eyes right under everyone's noses.

Li Xiaonuan and her two siblings stayed behind. They'd been busy for ages, and it was almost midnight. After her second uncle had applied the medicine twice, he finally slept more peacefully, and the soft groans had stopped.

The second aunt prepared a room for Li Xiaoyang and his brother. She and her eldest cousin stayed in the room to take care of the second uncle, while Li Xiaonuan slept in the same room with Xiaoping and her sister. The night finally passed peacefully.

The next morning, Li Xiaonuan told Tang Shi and the others to wait at home so she could apply the medicine to her second uncle on time. Afterward, she took Xiaogang back to the city. Li Xiaoyang stayed at her second uncle's house so he could help out if needed.

It was the Dragon Boat Festival, and the south was already in the height of summer. Sweating profusely, Li Xiaonuan and her siblings arrived at the clinic, reeking of sweat. Furthermore, due to the urgency of the previous night, they hadn't had time to change before going to their second uncle's house. Therefore, when they finally saw Prince Jing, he said:

"Girl, I can't even bear to look at you begging me like this. Why don't you go back and freshen up before coming back?"

Qi Ji frowned, about to speak, but Doctor Qi interrupted him: "Girl, I'll arrange for someone to take you to wash up first. You're not uncomfortable, but we are too." As he spoke, he winked at Li Xiaonuan.

Seeing the disgusted look on Prince Jing's face, Li Xiaonuan seemed to have figured something out. Besides, she had already stopped him, so what difference would one more bath make? Therefore, she gratefully said to Doctor Qi, "Thank you, Doctor Qi. Just have someone go to the market and buy my brother and me the cheapest clothes. This is one tael of silver; we don't have any more."

Turning to Prince Jing, he said, "Doctor Jing, please wait a moment. I'll go wash up first and come find you right away."

Upon hearing this, Prince Jing snorted and muttered, "Look at your shabby appearance, you can't even bear to buy yourself a decent set of clothes. Money is meant to be spent, if you run out, just go ask that brat Wei Yu for more."

Li Xiaonuan opened her mouth speechlessly, unable to follow Prince Jing's logic. She didn't seem to have any relationship with Wei Yu, so how could she ask him for money?

Qi Ji understood Prince Jing's meaning. Prince Jing was probably Wei Yu's supplier, so he knew about their transaction. That's why he felt that Li Xiaonuan was now quite valuable and should dress more appropriately. Besides, given what Li Xiaonuan provided, she could easily ask Wei Yu for 100,000 taels of silver.

Unable to figure it out, Li Xiaonuan stopped thinking about it. Anyway, her purpose today was to ask Doctor Jing to treat her second uncle's illness. So she followed the maidservant that Doctor Qi had called into the inner courtyard.

Qi Ji felt he should remind Li Xiaonuan of something, so he unconsciously lifted his foot to follow. Prince Jing asked coolly from behind him:

"Young man, that girl is just going to wash up. What are you doing following her, a grown man?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Ji snapped out of his reverie and stopped, somewhat annoyed. Doctor Qi looked disappointed and glanced at Prince Jing with some dissatisfaction.

After washing up, Li Xiaonuan quickly squeezed the water out of her hair and casually tied it back with a hairband. Then, she borrowed a soap bar and washed the siblings' clothes, which looked like pickled vegetables.

When they returned to the front hall, Doctor Qi was no longer there. They awkwardly greeted Prince Jing, and only after receiving his permission did the siblings sit down. Afterwards, as usual, Prince Jing gave Li Xiaonuan a long lecture of his disdain.

"Look at your clothes. The fabric is rough, and the color is awful. It's a dull yellow, like you just came out of a mud puddle. And your hair, couldn't you have dried it before tying it up?"

Li Xiaonuan listened attentively, looking like a child who had done something wrong. But inwardly, she was quite satisfied with the clothes; they were cheap and sturdy. The two outfits cost less than three hundred coins in total, a real bargain.

After Prince Jing finished his reprimand, Li Xiaonuan asked hesitantly, "Doctor Jing, could you please examine my second uncle?"

Prince Jing released his imposing aura, stared at Li Xiaonuan for a long time, and then said sternly, "It can be cured, but I have a request."

Normally, royal descendants possess their own dignity, but Prince Jing had simply restrained it. Now, for Prince Jing to unleash his authority without reservation, he must have something important to discuss with Li Xiaonuan. Therefore, Qi Ji found an excuse and took Li Xiaogang out. Before leaving, he also summoned all the servants from the mansion.

Jingwang glared at someone outside the room, and after a couple of breaths, he calmly said to Li Xiaonuan, "I am Wei Yu's supplier, and I know the details of your transaction. My request is related to that."

Li Xiaonuan was stunned, staring blankly, at a loss for what to do.