A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Because of Old Qiao's arrival, Liu Xiong took out the fine wine that Nie Qianqian had given him but he was reluctant to drink.

Except for the two children, everyone shared a little. The wine had a rich and fragrant aroma and a high alcohol content; after just one glass, everyone was slightly tipsy.

Liu Xiong's face was slightly red, with a faint blush appearing on his dark yellow complexion.

Huang Zhenzhu leaned back on the stool, her gaze slowly sweeping over the table full of delicacies in front of her. Watching Tie Dan and Tuan Tuan's smiling faces, and Da Bai and Xiao Bai running around happily, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

How did life end up like this?

This beautiful scene was something she had never dared to imagine before, and she would never have dared to do it in her dreams.

But now, I live such a comfortable life every day.

She thought of Huang Xiuxiu again. Huang Xiuxiu had never worried about money since she got married. Was this how she lived her life?

Ever since that incident, she's lost contact with the Huang family and wonders what's become of Huang Xiuxiu...

Suddenly, Tuan Tuan's exclamation interrupted everyone's thoughts, "It's snowing!"

His little finger pointed straight out the window, and everyone turned their heads to see that snowflakes had begun to fall outside the window.

This was the first snow of the winter. The snowflakes, as fine as goose feathers, fluttered and swirled, and soon the houses and fences in the village were covered with snowflakes, as if they were draped in a layer of white gauze, peaceful and warm.

Outside, the temperature gradually dropped, but inside it was very warm. The firewood crackled in the stove, making the whole house cozy.

Nie Qianqian stared at the snow, lost in thought.

Wow, time flies! She's been here for almost half a year now, and it's even snowing...

Over time, she became more and more integrated into this world. The people in this world were her family, and sometimes she couldn't quite distinguish which world's Nie Qianqian she truly belonged to...

I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to go back in this lifetime, and how her father is doing now...

Everyone was watching the snow, but Gu Xiao gazed intently at Nie Qianqian, who was absorbed in her gaze, and couldn't help but think...

Does she like snow?

Gu Xiao recalled his childhood, when the first snow would fall, he would stand with his father on the palace wall of the capital, gazing at the thousands of households. He thought that Nie Qianqian would surely love such a vast snow scene.

He imagined himself and Nie Qianqian standing side by side, each holding one of Tuantuan's hands, atop the high palace walls, overlooking the lights of countless homes.

He discovered that this was what he truly desired, compared to supreme power and boundless wealth.

During this period, he could feel his "heart" changing.

In the past few years, the successive deaths of his parents, being hunted down, and being forced to wander, were carried by his closest relatives. It was as if his soul was taken away, leaving him an empty shell. He felt like he was falling into the deep sea, sinking endlessly, but he had no heart to struggle and just watched himself sink.

However, after Nie Qianqian and Liu Yan divorced and moved away, they started a new life together, which seemed to open his heart as well.

There are clearly many suspicious points surrounding the deaths of the parents, and what kind of conspiracy is hidden behind them?

If his closest relatives usurp his position and even send people to hunt him down, why should he care about brotherly affection?

Having been in the world for six years, he has witnessed many of the cold and warm aspects of human nature. Kind people are bullied, while cunning people benefit greatly. Why is the world so unfair?

Heaven and earth are ruthless, regarding all things as worthless as grass.

Since this world is so unfair, with people as fish and me as the butcher, why can't he be the one wielding the knife?

The snow fell heavier and heavier, the night deepened, and the view outside the window was a gray-blue. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

Nie Qianqian thought that with winter approaching, Liu Yan and Liu Xiongruo would still have to set up their stalls in the town's West Market, which would probably be even more arduous. It seemed that taking over Guangjuxuan and preparing for its opening needed to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

Nie Qianqian: "Old Qiao, how about I take you to Guangjuxuan in town tomorrow?"

Old Qiao, having finished his meal and drinks, was picking his teeth with his legs crossed when he heard Nie Qianqian's words and was about to refuse.

He's already tired of the good food at Guangjuxuan.

Before he could even speak, Tuantuan chimed in.

Tuantuan still remembers Guangjuxuan, the biggest and most luxurious place he had ever been to, with countless delicious foods.

Tuantuan hugged Nie Qianqian's waist and looked up, asking, "Mother, can we really go to Guangjuxuan?"

Seeing that the little boy was so interested, Old Qiao swallowed his words, saying, "This old man can go anywhere."

Although she had recently made some money, Liu Yan was used to being frugal. When she thought about the prices of vegetables at Guangjuxuan, she felt a little heartache. However, Old Qiao was her savior, and she felt she should repay his kindness and spend the money she needed to spend.

Gu Xiao has an exam at the academy tomorrow and can't go with her, so Nie Qianqian naturally said she would pack up his favorite dishes for him.

Gu Xiao felt a warmth in his heart, and his gaze involuntarily fell on Nie Qianqian, looking at the hand she had placed on Tuantuan's shoulder, so close to him.

He felt a surge of impulse, wanting to hold those hands and feel the thrill of her soft little hands touching his palms.

In fact, not only outsiders like Dean Qiu, but even Gu Xiao himself could sense that he treated Nie Qianqian differently.

Seeing her often makes him act unlike himself; he loses his composure, his heart is filled with turmoil, and he feels anticipation.

After everyone finished their meal, at everyone's enthusiastic invitation, Old Qiao stayed overnight at the Liu family's house.

The new house was quite large, with many guest rooms. Liu Yan led Old Qiao into the largest guest room and brought him new bedding. The bedding was very thick, filled with freshly fluffed cotton that Nie Qianqian had just bought.

Liu Yan spread the bedding on the kang (a heated brick bed), muttering as she did so: "Old Qiao, even though the fire in the fire pit is burning brightly, it's still a bit cold in the latter half of the night. Make sure the bedding is laid out properly, otherwise your health won't be able to take it."

She smoothed out the wrinkles on the mattress with her hands, then spread out the thick quilt and tucked the corners in tightly. "Old Qiao, you should go to sleep. We'll get up early tomorrow to set up our stall, so we'll leave the food in the pot. You can sleep in a little longer in the morning and just go to the stove to get it when you wake up."

Old Qiao found Liu Yan too talkative, so he waved his hand and urged, "Alright, alright, go to sleep." After saying that, he kicked off his shoes, and without even taking off his clothes, he crawled into bed.

The bedding looked freshly washed and still had the pleasant scent of soapberry, which made people feel very comfortable and at ease.

The mattress was soft, the quilt was thick, and the kang (heated brick bed) was exceptionally warm. Not long after Old Qiao lay down on it, drowsiness washed over him like a tide, and soon he fell asleep.

The place where he slept wasn't a grand mansion, but just a tiled house with a kang (heated brick bed) and a quilt, yet Old Qiao slept exceptionally soundly.