Chatting with the Old Master over tea, it was evident that Old Master Qiu was a man who loathed evil and spoke bluntly, very much in tune with Ling Zhenfei. Once they started talking, they couldn't stop.
"Old Master, you really shouldn't have been discharged so soon. You should have stayed in the hospital to recuperate for a few more days."
Qiu Wanrong chuckled twice and, pointing to his small courtyard, said, "Look at all the flowers and plants in my yard. How could I bear to leave them? Sitting in this yard just makes me feel comfortable all over, and besides, those quacks at the hospital are useless. They've been treating me for over ten years and weren't as effective as your single sugar-coated hawthorn stick."
Both men marveled as they recalled the incident on the train that day. Old Master Qiu was overwhelmed with emotion, thinking that without Ling Zhenfei, he might have died. Meanwhile, Ling Zhenfei reminisced that he had no other option at the time but to use the sugar-coated hawthorn stick in desperation.
At this point, Ling Zhenfei suddenly remembered the gift he had brought and presented it to the Old Master.
Ling Zhenfei hadn't brought anything particularly valuable. The Qiu family wasn't short of money, and there was nothing they lacked that he could buy. Instead, he brought a segment of lotus root.
"Old Master, I didn't bring any special gift today. I have a manor in Qinghe Village where I grow some vegetables. Although they aren't particularly valuable, their taste is quite good. Today, I brought you a segment of lotus root to help nourish your body."
As soon as Ling Zhenfei finished speaking, Jin Zhi, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"How interesting. What's so special about lotus root? How can it nourish the body? Does it supply vitamins or protein?"
Jin Zhi's tone was sarcastic, causing Old Master Qiu's face to change. Clearly, he found his daughter-in-law's behavior inappropriate.
Seeing Old Master Qiu's expression, Jin Zhi quickly closed her mouth, clearly aware of the Old Master's unshakable authority in the Qiu family.
Ling Zhenfei didn't mind at all. He reached into his bag and took out the lotus root he had brought.
Lotus root is commonly sold in markets and isn't rare, but when Ling Zhenfei took out this lotus root, both Old Master Qiu and Qiu Ying and Qiu Jie beside him were stunned. They had seen and eaten lotus root before, but this one was different. It was crystal clear, with a texture like jade of the highest quality. This piece of lotus root looked as if it were a jade carving lying on the table.
If it weren't for the extremely pleasant fragrance emanating from the lotus root, anyone would mistake it for jade, causing everyone in the Qiu family to be spellbound.
"Such a wonderful smell!" Qiu Ying and Qiu Jie couldn't help but take a few more sniffs.
"Zhenfei, what kind of lotus root is this? It's certainly not ordinary. I think it looks more like an art piece than food," Old Master Qiu said honestly. This lotus root was indeed beautiful, but he didn't know its value extended beyond consumption to its medicinal properties.
This lotus root was raised in the Spirit Water Pond at Xishan Manor. It could be said to have grown soaking in the Spiritual Water, and there was only one lotus flower in the entire pond, under which grew three segments of lotus root. Today, Ling Zhenfei had brought one segment, demonstrating his high regard for Old Master Qiu.
"Old Master, I brought this lotus root especially for you. Steam it without adding anything and slice it thinly afterward. Apply a slice morning and evening, and your chronic ailment will surely be completely cured."
"What did you say? Completely cured? Are you saying this lotus root isn't for cooking but for treating illness?"
The eldest daughter-in-law asked Ling Zhenfei in surprise. She was Old Master Qiu's eldest daughter-in-law, already fifty years old. Having cooked all her life, it was the first time she learned that lotus root could be used medicinally.
"Don't listen to him. Can your lotus root really cure illnesses? My lotus root can only be stir-fried. The Old Master's illness has already been mostly treated by the hospital. Eating this lotus root won't help. I've read online that all the vegetables from Xishan Manor are mutated. I see that this lotus root's color is off. It must be mutated. Dad, don't eat it."
When the third daughter-in-law spoke, Ling Zhenfei felt a surge of annoyance. He hadn't expected that in such a well-disciplined family, Old Master Qiu's son would marry someone like this, bringing disgrace to the family traditions.
"Jin Zhi, you should say less. Zhenfei saved my life at the gate of death with just a sugar-coated hawthorn stick. How can you doubt his medical arts?"
"Old Master, I'm just being honest. This must be mutated vegetables. Please don't believe him. It would be better to avoid unintended harm from these mutated vegetables."
Jin Zhi had a lot to say and wouldn't stop. Ling Zhenfei felt very uncomfortable listening to it. Originally, Ling Zhenfei had come to the Qiu family's house in the afternoon and, having lost track of time while talking with Old Master Qiu, it was already getting dark. Hearing Jin Zhi's words made him a bit angry, so he decided to leave and go home. However, Old Master Qiu wouldn't allow him to leave and insisted that Ling Zhenfei stay for dinner before leaving.
Ling Zhenfei had no choice but to stay, although he was quite unhappy about it. With a person like Jin Zhi around, he figured the evening would be very depressing.
With no way to leave, Ling Zhenfei took out his silver needles and performed acupuncture on Old Master Qiu, making up for the awkwardness of not having silver needles on the train that day.
Using his silver needles and inner strength, Ling Zhenfei expelled all the blocked things in Old Master Qiu's body. With continued treatment using the Spirit Lotus Root, Old Master Qiu would definitely be cured, something Ling Zhenfei was very confident about.
"Grandpa, I'm back."
Before Ling Zhenfei could remove the needles, he heard a clear, bird-like voice float in from the entrance, followed by a fragrant scent. A pretty girl approached them.
"Grandpa, what are you doing?"
Seeing the silver needles inserted in Old Master Qiu, the girl was quite surprised. Old Master Qiu's face lit up with a smile as he introduced Ling Zhenfei to the girl.
The girl, named Qiu Qian, was the daughter of the Old Master's second son, about the same age as Ling Zhenfei. She had just started working and was very endearing to the elderly because of her lively personality.
Old Master Qiu introduced Ling Zhenfei to Qiu Qian, who widened her eyes in amazement as she looked over Ling Zhenfei, saying with an incredulous expression, "So you are the Divine Doctor Grandpa talked about. I thought you'd be an old man."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"Not disappointed at all. How about I call you Divine Doctor Brother from now on?"
Qiu Qian was indeed lively. For some reason, the thought of leaving faded from Ling Zhenfei's mind, and he wanted to stay a bit longer.
"Divine Doctor, huh? Xiao Qian, you've really learned to flatter since you started working."
The speaker was once again Jin Zhi. No matter who she talked to, she always managed to make people unhappy. Family upbringing really mattered; look at Qiu Ying, Qiu Jie, and even Qiu Qian in the Qiu family. All of them were polite and respectful, showcasing excellent family upbringing.
When someone saved your grandfather, wouldn't it be appropriate to say a few polite words? Maybe only those without proper upbringing wouldn't realize this.
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