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Chen Zhong’s illness dragged on for another two months, and on a snowy day, he passed away.

His departure was quiet and without regret. Once Tang Yuxin had mastered the unique Chen-style acupuncture method, Chen Zhong’s eyes had lost much of their vitality.

He had clung to life until now, waited until Tang Yuxin turned twelve. No one knew what he had been through and endured over the years.

For Chen Zhong, dying quietly under a blanket of white snow seemed more appealing than clinging to life in his decrepit state. It was an appropriate day for eternal rest.

Chen Zhong, much like a sleeping man, was breathing just yesterday, but today, there was nothing left.

Just like the previous lifetime, the arrangements following Chen Zhong’s death were carried out by the village. Village members had always been cared for by Chen Zhong, who had treated their common illnesses and pains without ever charging a fee. His kindness was remembered by everyone.

On the day of Chen Zhong’s burial, nearly everyone in the village wore mourning attire.

Although he never had a child of his own, he was sent off by so many, including Tang Yuxin who had come to call him grandfather, making him her guardian in the future.

His share of the sacrificial money would never be missing during the Qingming and Zhongyuan festivals each year.

That year, Tang Yuxin turned thirteen, and Chen Zhong didn’t make it through the year. Compared with her previous life, Chen Zhong lived five years longer, and she knew it was because of her.

She took the herbs from Chen Zhong’s place to her home, knowing that no one would come to her for treatment. Even though she had been apprenticing with Chen Zhong, she was still young, and no one would believe her medical skills even if she bragged about them. Of course, she never did.

Shortly after, a western medicine practitioner from out of town arrived in the village. He rented a room in the middle of the village and started practicing medicine there.

Unlike Chen Zhong who could sometimes cure people with an occasional dose of herbal medicine, the western doctor only prescribed western medicine or gave injections. In a few years, everyone seemed to have forgotten how Chen Zhong had cured them.

The villagers now preferred a shot in the arm over drinking bitter herbal infusions. The village health clinic thrived, especially during winter and change of seasons, when even a simple injection required standing in line.

It seemed that the health clinic, which offered mainly intravenous infusions and injections, was always thriving.

However, all this was irrelevant to Tang Yuxin and her family. When a family member fell sick, Tang Yuxin was the one to treat them. Having been a western medicine practitioner in her previous life, she knew intravenous infusions were not always beneficial, especially for children.

Moreover, some ailments could be cured with simple herbal remedies. Yet, the villagers always chose to go to the health clinic whenever they felt unwell.

Were they just wealthier or were they just afraid of death?

Tang Yuxin didn’t know, but she carried on with her own life. Chen Zhong was gone, but her medical skills had never waned. She often went to the mountains to pick herbs and enjoyed preparing medicinal liquor and medicinal meals.

This was another interesting thing she found in the books left behind by Chen Zhong.

If properly prepared, medicinal meals could be as effective as taking medicine.

That’s why people say that dietary remedies are often better than medicinal ones. She spent her days concocting this and that at home, and Sisi, who liked to squat besides her, would rest her small face upon her small hands, displaying the demeanor of a little lady, so different from same-aged village kids.

Sisi was a well-behaved and pretty child, loved by all.

Her plump cheeks had also finally filled out. Everyone agreed she was a pretty child.

Even Tang Yuxin herself thought so as she took Sisi’s little hand and placed them side by side.

“Sisi, do you think your sister is dark?”

“Yes, dark,” Sisi, an honest child, took her small and pale hand and touched her sister’s fingers, “Sister won’t be dark if she doesn’t bask in the sun.”

Tang Yuxin sighed and rubbed Sisi’s small head. Silly child, her darkness was natural; avoiding the sun would not lighten it. Even sweltering under layers of clothing wouldn’t change the color of her skin.

So, her hopes of lightening her skin was likely to be dashed.

“Sisi…”

Zhang Xiangcao walked over, calling her daughter’s name.

“Mum,” Sisi stood up and hugged Zhang Xiangcao’s leg.

“You’re already seven. Time to act like a big girl.”

Zhang Xiangcao squatted down and tugged on Sisi’s two little braids. After a few years of nurturing, Sisi had finally grown into a normal child, thanks in large part to the never-ending meat supply from the Tang family. Without it, Sisi wouldn’t have recovered so quickly from the malnutrition she experienced in her early years.

“My Sisi, no matter how big you get, you’ll always be my precious baby girl,” a large hand reached out and lifted Sisi’s miniature form, “Let’s go, Sisi. Dad will take you to see the fish. Our uncle and dad caught a big fish. We’ll make fish soup for Sisi. Does that sound good?”

“Good,” Sisi clapped her hands with joy. She wanted to see the fish, the big fish. Yes, she also wanted to drink fish soup.

“The fish soup is for daddy. Daddy worked hard.”

Listen to the sweet words from this little mouth. Who was she learning this from? It was as if the adults’ hearts were coated with honey.

“Our Sisi is so filial.” Tang Zhijun cherished his daughter Sisi a lot. She was as small as a kitten when he found her. Tang Zhijun feared she would be cold at night and always held her close for warmth. Sisi was like a fragile kitten, just a squeeze away from breaking. It took one cold winter for her to finally recover. In Sisi’s heart, Tang Zhijun was her father, her real father.

Seeing Tang Zhijun carrying Sisi off to drink fish soup, Zhang Xiangcao stood off to the side, wanting to speak yet holding back, as if she had a lot to say or ask, but in the end, she remained silent.

“Does auntie have something to say?” Tang Yuxin asked while sorting through the herbs.

What could it be that was making her so uncomfortable?

Zhang Xiangcao hesitated before walking over and sitting down in front of Tang Yuxin.

“How much of your grandfather Chen’s medical skills have you learned?”