Chapter 2942 - 2943: Three Memorial Archways

Chapter 2942: Chapter 2943: Three Memorial Archways

"Master Bai, we have explained everything to the people of Luohe City, and they will no longer have any misunderstandings about the Bai Family’s toothpaste. From now on, we’ll also use the Bai Family’s toothpaste," Village Chief said loudly, with an added note of confidence in his voice, holding a newly purchased Bai Family toothpaste in his hand.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes felt a bit warm, "Thank you, everyone. Must be tired, right? Go home and rest."

"Alright, then we’ll head back. If you need anything here, just let the Village folks know," Village Chief said.

Others also bid farewell, and those with sick children went to check on them, finding the children in high spirits, making everyone even happier.

After everyone had dispersed, Bai Ruozhu called Su Zhen, "Go home and watch over your grandpa, his age and heart aren’t great; someone needs to keep an eye on him."

Su Zhen was startled, "Master Bai, my grandpa he..."

"Don’t overthink it. Just go watch over him. Remember the prescription I gave you, have him drink it every three days. Even if it doesn’t fully cure him, he’ll feel better," Bai Ruozhu said.

Su Zhen bowed solemnly, "Master Bai, you’re a benefactor to my family. I, Su Zhen, can never repay this. If there’s anything you need from me in the future, just say the word."

"Hurry back home. Don’t overthink things," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Su Zhen went home, brewed the medicine for her grandpa, and the Village Chief drank it and slept well, looking much better the next day.

"Master Bai’s medical skills are truly amazing. I feel comfortable all over today," Village Chief said while having breakfast.

His wife smiled, "You’re feeling better because your worries are gone. The medicine doesn’t take effect that fast."

"Says who?" Village Chief retorted anxiously, "Master Bai’s medicine works!"

Su Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, "Grandpa, weren’t you saying Master Bai is a woman?"

"Master Bai is not an ordinary woman, how could it be the same?" Village Chief said somewhat awkwardly.

Su Zhen’s smile froze. Yes, it’s different. She didn’t have such talent or opportunity anymore.

Village Chief sensed his granddaughter’s thoughts, feeling uneasy himself. Had he been wrong again?

Su Zhen’s father patted his daughter, "Zhen’er, go help Master Bai."

"Okay, I’m going now." Su Zhen quickly finished her steamed bun and ran off.

"Just mentioning meeting Master Bai makes her so happy." Su Zhen’s mother said with a smile.

Su Zhen’s father gave her a look, and Su Zhen’s mother quickly closed her mouth. Village Chief didn’t say anything, lost in thought.

Over the next two days, some children’s conditions improved, most had recovered, and kids with fever no longer had it. Thanks to good quarantine measures, no more children in the Village showed signs of hand-foot-mouth disease.

Bai Ruozhu agreed to teach the children some martial arts moves, so she straightforwardly demonstrated a set of Military Boxing, performing each move for the kids to see.

"Master, what is this boxing technique?" Wei Jiu asked Jianqi curiously.

"Huan Tuo’s Five-Animal Qigong," Jianqi answered offhandedly.

"Oh, it’s for strengthening the body." Wei Jiu looked awestruck.

Bai Ruozhu was demonstrating to the children and upon hearing these two nitwits’ conversation, almost lost her footing. Her earnest Military Boxing, how did it become the Five-Animal Qigong?

The Five-Animal Qigong is based on animal movements; did her moves resemble animals?

"Jianqi, Wei Jiu, remember every move I make, and continue teaching the children seriously," Bai Ruozhu said loudly.

Haha, let’s have you properly learn Military Boxing, feel the power of modern military training.

Jianqi and Wei Jiu weren’t aware of her thoughts and learned seriously. They were truly practitioners, quickly mastering it and performing Military Boxing with vigor and enthusiasm. The children cheered and admired them immensely.

Bai Ruozhu felt at ease and went outside the yard with Su Zhen for a chat.

"Master, you haven’t properly toured the Village, right? Shall I take you around?" Su Zhen asked with a smile.

"Sure."

Su Zhen took Bai Ruozhu around, chatting along the way, greeted warmly by everyone they met.

"Here are the Village fields, and over there are three Imperial-approved archways, left by our Su Family ancestors." Su Zhen pointed to the distance.

The archways were built closer to the back of the Village, Bai Ruozhu hadn’t noticed them before, being focused on treating the children each time she came.

"Three Imperial-approved archways? Why were they granted?" Bai Ruozhu asked curiously.

Su Zhen led her towards the archways and explained slowly, "This dates back to the time of my grandpa’s grandpa. The Village was entirely composed of Su families back then. My great-grandfather passed the Champion exam, but his widowed mother suddenly fell ill and passed away. Being a filial son, he resigned from the position granted by the Emperor to return home and mourn his mother for three years."

"The Emperor cherished talent and wanted to retain him, but he said his mother had endured hardship raising him single-handedly for thirty years, and now, having achieved success, his mother couldn’t enjoy it. Oh, my great-grandfather was already forty-nine when he became the Champion."

Su Zhen continued, "The Emperor was deeply moved and immediately ordered a Loyal-Devotion archway to honor his widowed mother, built in Su Family Village, there it is."

She pointed to the foremost one.

"And then?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

"After mourning for three years, my great-grandfather fell gravely ill, wrote an advisory booklet to the Emperor, and passed away. The then-Emperor, receiving the booklet, was deeply moved and upon learning of his death, regrettably, bestowed a second Loyal-Patriotism archway. It’s said that historically, it’s hard to balance loyalty and filial piety, but the Emperor believed my great-grandfather fulfilled his filial duty and wrote several pieces of advice to the court before dying, thus being loyal."

"What about the third one?" Bai Ruozhu was increasingly intrigued.

"When the Emperor granted the archways, he also rewarded ten thousand taels of Silver, enough for the Su Family to develop into a prominent clan. But that year there was a drought, and a large number of disaster victims fled to Luohe City. My once grandfather, my great-grandfather’s son, decided to use the reward silver to help the disaster victims. After that, the Su Family nearly exhausted their wealth but saved tens of thousands of victims."

Su Zhen’s eyes reddened but were filled with pride, "Local officials reported to the Imperial Court; the Emperor was deeply moved again and bestowed the third Benevolence and Charity archway. My grandfather hadn’t been born then; nearly sixty years have passed, and many households in Su Family Village are descendants of those disaster victims, no longer just Su families. For years, the Village has educated children based on our ancestors’ deeds, though unfortunately, our Su Family never produced another Champion."

Bai Ruozhu walked under the archways to closely examine the inscriptions which detailed the three stories Su Zhen shared, but with more details.

She read for a long time before finishing, her heart unable to settle down.

She didn’t expect such history in the small Su Family Village, but soon she also sensed something peculiar about it.