Survival was difficult for the poor. Whenever Jiang Chan encountered hardship, she helped where she could. Through winter, the porridge stall outside her clinic never stopped operating. Every day consumed silver.
So although she earned a great deal treating patients, her expenses were high too. She did not deliberately publicize her work. Doing good and announcing it to everyone would seem rather like putting on a show.
Too many farmers had benefited from her kindness. They brought so many local specialties that three people could never finish them. Jiang Chan therefore had to think. Any chicken, duck, fish, or meat that could be preserved, she salted.
Vegetables became dried vegetables or pickles. Potatoes and sweet potatoes became various foods, such as potato starch noodles and sweet potato starch noodles, which also kept well.
She and her disciples worked for a week before processing everything. One room behind the clinic was used specifically for storage and was now filled to the brim.
She thought the holiday gifts were nearly all dealt with. Then, on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, the Song family arrived with theirs. Song Qiyu rode a tall horse, followed by three apparently well-laden carriages.
When they stopped outside, nearby children gathered. Some belonged to neighbors; many others were young beggars.
Her clinic was the favorite destination of Yun City’s young beggars. She never drove them away. They often had hot porridge to drink, and sometimes she gave them money too.
Although they liked excitement, they only watched from a distance without approaching. Dongqing, standing on tiptoe to wipe the counter, heard the commotion and ran out.
Seeing Song Qiyu, he smiled faintly. “Young Master Song, what brings you here?”
Song Qiyu saw this little fellow often. Smiling, he answered, “Doctor Xianyue is so skilled, and our family isn’t stingy. We’ve brought New Year gifts especially for her.”
Jiang Chan came out too. The sight of those three carriages almost overwhelmed her. The Song family really was wealthy.
Song Bingqing lifted a carriage curtain and emerged. Her complexion had improved considerably. Her cheeks were rosy instead of their former pallor.
As the crowd outside grew, Jiang Chan brought the siblings inside. The Song servants began orderly unloading the gifts into the clinic.
After chatting and taking Song Bingqing’s pulse again, Jiang Chan smiled. “Your sister’s martial progress is remarkable. In little more than a month, she’s already developed a sense of qi.”
Song Qiyu was startled. She could diagnose even that? Xianyue was incredible.
“It’s all thanks to your medicinal baths. For me, it truly feels like receiving a new life.”
Everything still seemed unreal to Song Bingqing. She had never imagined she might one day run and jump like an ordinary person, let alone practice martial arts.
More than once, she had resented Heaven for giving her intelligence alongside such a weak body. Was every gain destined to come with a loss?
She had once been utterly despairing. But meeting Xianyue seemed to have opened a new chapter. Xianyue had cured her and given her a healthy body. To Song Bingqing, she was like a parent who had granted her life anew.
Jiang Chan sipped her tea. “Ordinarily, someone with your constitution wouldn’t survive beyond sixteen. Your own resilience has much to do with your lasting this long.”
Although Jiang Chan felt little affection for her, that resilience truly commanded admiration. Strong-willed people deserved respect.
Here was a girl gentle outside but strong within, capable of carrying on through any setback. Even after the tragedy of her previous life, she and Xianyue had taken all the revenge they needed.
Jiang Chan had no other feelings toward her. She was too clever, always seeking to make the fullest use of everyone around her.
From Jiang Chan’s perspective, pushing Xianyue toward Feng Feiyang in the previous life might also have been a carrot dangled before her. Perhaps Song Bingqing genuinely cared, but that care might not have outweighed the agony of her family’s destruction.
To take revenge, she naturally used every available person and resource. Once she noticed Xianyue’s feelings, she subtly praised Feng Feiyang before her, deepening her love.
Thinking it through now made Jiang Chan uneasy. Song Bingqing was too clever. Getting close to her meant worrying that one day she too would become part of her calculations.
Jiang Chan therefore remained cool, neither courting her favor nor making an enemy. What Xianyue chose after returning would be her own affair.
After seeing the Song party off, Jiang Chan found more visitors at the door. Tired of sorting gifts, she went out for air and saw three people standing before the clinic.
Two were young men, and the third an elderly man with snowy hair and beard. One still wore his mask. The other youth looked about twenty and appeared very steady.
The young man in the middle introduced himself. “I intruded into your clinic previously, miss, and you saved me. I, Feng, am deeply grateful. I’ve brought your fee and holiday gifts. Please forgive the offense.”
Jiang Chan smiled slightly. Why should she be unhappy when someone brought money?
“Certainly, certainly. The clinic is busy, so I won’t entertain you.” Seeing Feng Feiyang annoyed her. He belonged to Song Bingqing. What was he doing hovering before her?
He had not expected such coldness. All the words he meant to say stuck in his throat. The youth beside him pressed his shoulder and smiled. “My younger brother is young and inexperienced. Please forgive his offense, miss.”
His manner suited Jiang Chan, and his smile was gentle. Her tone softened. “At least you speak pleasantly. Come inside.”
The youth and the elderly man climbed the steps, then turned to find Feng Feiyang still sulking below. The youth sighed helplessly. “Second Brother, aren’t you coming?”
“Oh, coming, Eldest Brother!” Seeing the faint displeasure in his brother’s eyes, Feng Feiyang quickly followed.
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Calling it now… Feng Feiyang is gonna be a third wheel in Xianyue and Song Qiyu’s relationship. At least, if Xianyue wants a companion, Qiyu’s the only real contender so far. Bingqing is busy being a martial artist, what time would she have for Feng Feiyang?