"Brother Huang Qi has always said he wants to stay by your side to show filial piety. Over the years, I've suggested many good matches to him, but he always refused. You can see his determination. This time, he's been pestered by A-Shou."
Ji Taoyu leaned closer to the counter and asked, "So, Grandfather, do you agree to this marriage or not?"
Huang Yinsheng said: "Now that your family has Xiao Taohe, and A-Shu is a reliable person, my mind is at ease about you. The only worry left is your brother Huang Qi. He's not young anymore and still alone. I can't just stand by and watch him remain like this for the rest of his life. That boy is family, and everything happens right under my nose. How could I possibly refuse?"
"If I hadn't always followed the young people's wishes, I would have long ago beaten the gongs and drums to have them get married."
Ji Taoyu laughed heartily: "Alright, Grandfather, rest assured. People from the Northern Territories are very direct about marriage matters. We can prepare to beat the gongs and drums."
The elders were satisfied, the young people were willing, so the matter was settled easily and smoothly.
Although they were close relatives, all the necessary formalities and rituals still had to be properly observed.
Before leaving with the merchant caravan, Huo Shou formally got engaged.
The two planned to marry at the end of the year.
This was truly a happy outcome for all.
"With A-Shou married, the stone in my heart can finally be put down."
Huo Shu took a sip of tea, his brows visibly relaxed.
Huang Qi was a steady and reliable person, perfectly suited to handle Huo Shou's childishness. There couldn't be a better match.
Seeing that Ji Taoyu hadn't responded to him for a while, he put down his teacup, about to ask the person lying on the soft couch with their legs crossed what they were thinking without saying a word.
But suddenly his hand was grabbed. Xiao Taohe had appeared out of nowhere: "Father, don't move. Having a stone fall in your heart means you're sick."
Huo Shu sat back down, watching the little kid in front of him frown seriously, roll up his sleeve, and place his fingers on his wrist.
"What are you doing?"
Huo Shu looked at the squinting little kid, who somewhat resembled a fortune-teller under the stone bridge.
"Patients cannot speak when the physician is taking their pulse."
Huo Shu: "..."
He followed the medical advice and closed his mouth, patiently watching the little kid fuss.
After a moment, Xiao Taohe suddenly opened his big eyes wide.
Huo Shu cooperatively tilted his head and asked: "Physician Huo, what did you diagnose?"
"No illness, it's a happy pulse!"
"Congratulations, congratulations."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Ji Taoyu laughed so hard he almost fell off the soft couch.
"Physician Huo, your pulse diagnosis is divine."
Xiao Taohe jumped for joy upon hearing this.
Huo Shu withdrew his hand and grabbed the little kid in front of him: "Who taught you this?"
"Great-grandfather."
Xiao Taohe blinked at Huo Shu: "Why isn't Father happy? The patients with a happy pulse at Great-grandfather's medical hall are all very happy."
"..."
Seeing this, Xiao Taohe added: "Does Father have a headache?"
"A little bit."
Xiao Taohe's eyes lit up: "Then I'll acupuncture Father. It won't hurt soon."
"Quack physician, I won't get acupuncture."
Xiao Taohe raised his eyebrows: "What's a quack physician?"
"A bad physician."
Xiao Taohe's little face immediately fell, his small mouth pouting as he threw himself into Ji Taoyu's arms: "Father said I'm a quack physician."
Ji Taoyu held the aggrieved little kid and looked up at Huo Shu: "Why say that about our Physician Huo? He was just kindly seeing to your illness."
Huo Shu stood up and walked over, gently patting Xiao Taohe's back: "Alright, Father will take you to the horseback archery range later to see the little horses, okay?"
Xiao Taohe tilted his head from Ji Taoyu's embrace: "Really?"
Huo Shu picked up the little kid: "When has Father ever lied to you?"
Xiao Taohe immediately became happy again.
Huo Shu ruffled his hair and looked at Ji Taoyu: "What were you thinking about earlier? A-Pan failing the exams?"
Ji Taoyu let out a soft sigh: "No."
The provincial exam results were announced. Although Zhao Pan did not achieve the top rank as he had hoped, he did attain the second rank. Given his youth, his future prospects remained bright as long as he continued to study diligently.
Furthermore, this year’s examination was only an special exam, he would have another opportunity to take the regular exam next year.
This time was just for practice and experience, nothing to worry about.
He was actually thinking about what happened a few days ago.
That day, he went to the medical hall. Huang Qi had made many dishes, and he thought of Wu Lianhe, who had gone to deal with leasing the old house, so he simply invited her over to eat together.
When he arrived, he unexpectedly saw Wang Long from Shili Cloth Shop.
One was in front of the house door, the other standing in the alley, gazing at each other without a word, tears glistening in their eyes.
Seeing this, he naturally did not go in to disturb them. Later, he returned and did not ask Wu Lianhe about it.
Actually, ever since the first time he went to the cloth shop to get goods, he felt there was something unusual between them, but he never pried.
Back when Tongzhou was in turmoil, he thought Wu Lianhe might leave with Wang Long, but he didn't expect her to choose to go with them instead.
That separation was a matter of life and death. Now, seeing each other again after all these years was truly heartbreaking.
Even he, an outsider, felt that if their feelings were spoken aloud, the path would be rugged and difficult. How much more so for the two people involved? It was only natural that there would be setbacks.
This made him sigh with emotion.
But regardless of what the future held, and no matter what would happen, living well in the present and facing things calmly was enough.
"Let's go, we all go to the horse range together."
Thank you for the update!!
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