Chapter 176: Side Story Finale

Ever since Qiao Suluo accumulated countless points, she could redeem many items from the system store. She exchanged them for numerous medical books, converting them into the text of this era for Gu Songlan. This made Gu Songlan incredibly happy. Qiao Suluo knew his interests well, so every year on his birthday, besides preparing food like a birthday cake and longevity noodles, she would also gift him a medical book.

On this particular night, Qiao Suluo came to deliver a medical book to Gu Songlan as usual. Looking at him, she asked, “Do you like it?”

“Yes, I love it,” Gu Songlan replied gently. “As long as it’s a gift from you, I love it.”

He set the book aside, took her hand, and pulled her into his arms. “Wife, you are the most important thing to me.

“Now that my apprentices can hold their own, I have more time to stay by your side.”

In truth, compared to the others, he felt that he didn’t spend enough time accompanying Qiao Suluo, which made him feel quite guilty.

Qiao Suluo understood his thoughts. She smiled and said, “You spend most of your time in Xinghua Village. I get to see you every day, and our whole family eats together. You’ve always been accompanying me.

“Besides, I know you only thought about passing down your medical skills because of my ideas.”

In his daily life, Gu Songlan would also compile his own experiences into books. She knew about all the hard work he put in.

“However, I don’t want you to exhaust yourself,” she added. “You should rest more when it’s time to rest.”

“Alright,” Gu Songlan replied gently. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. His love nourished Qiao Suluo like a gentle spring breeze and drizzling rain.

***

Normally, Qin Wushang would lead his merchant caravan to various places to inspect his shop businesses. He felt that the busier he was, the more relaxed his wife would be.

The son Qiao Suluo bore for Qin Wushang was named Qin Ruiyang. When Qin Ruiyang was still a toddler, Qin Wushang wouldn’t take him along on his caravan trips, instead leaving him in Xinghua Village with Qiao Suluo. But once Qin Ruiyang turned five or six, Qin Wushang began bringing him along to audit businesses in different regions. He had also established a waterborne fleet, which made traveling much more convenient. Sometimes, they could make a round trip very quickly by taking a boat.

Whenever he was away for a long time, he would miss his wife dearly. In the past, he felt that he had no people or things he truly cared about. Perhaps his childhood experiences and his time in the Qin family had fostered an indifferent temperament. But after meeting Qiao Suluo, love slowly blossomed in his heart. Especially after having a son—whenever he thought about how this was the child his wife had given birth to for him, he cherished his son even more. Sometimes he wanted to spoil the boy, but fearing he might spoil him too much, he chose instead to teach him many life principles and took him out to see the local customs and practices of different regions.

Occasionally, Qin Wushang would also take Da Bao and the others out with him. However, Da Bao and his siblings had their own family businesses to inherit and their own things to learn, so they rarely went on these trips. As for his own son, Qin Wushang had no demands; he only hoped that Qin Ruiyang would grow up happy and healthy.

On this particular trip, Qin Wushang brought his son to Nanhe County.

“Father, what is this place?” Qin Ruiyang had never been here before.

Qin Wushang smiled and explained, “This is Nanhe County. It’s the place where your mother and I first met.

“I used to think I strongly disliked this place, but thinking back on it now, the only memories I can recall are the ones related to your mother.

“That makes me feel that this place is quite beautiful too.

“Your mother loves eating lychees, but they are hard to store. You have an Ice Ability, so you can condense some ice to chill the lychees. That way, they will last longer on the road, and we can bring them back for your mother and the others to eat.”

Qin Wushang seemed indifferent to everything and was always reserved when expressing his feelings, but as long as it concerned Qiao Suluo, he took it to heart. He knew all her preferences. The only reason he had made a special trip here this time was to bring lychees back.

When he returned with an abundance of lychees, Qiao Suluo’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. “Wushang, thank you.”

After washing his hands, Qin Wushang personally peeled the lychees for Qiao Suluo. “There is no need for such formalities between us.”

It was she who had taught him the meaning of love and family. Everything he had lacked in his childhood, his son now possessed.

Of course, Qin Wushang had also made sure his son delivered some lychees to Que Hongjin and the others early on. Although they all lived in the same estate, everyone had their own separate rooms and only gathered together for meals. The children would usually play together in the courtyard during the day.

Eating the lychees Qin Wushang peeled for her, Qiao Suluo found them incredibly sweet. Qin Wushang had been gone for so long, and she missed him, too. So, as she ate, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

But even with that, the longing Qin Wushang had been suppressing could no longer be restrained, and it all surged forth. He pulled Qiao Suluo into his arms and carried her straight into the bedroom. He didn’t let her go until the following morning. Only then was his yearning finally sated.

***

When winter arrived, no one traveled anymore. Even those who had gone out would rush back before the season truly set in. The whole family would set aside all their tasks to spend the winter together.

During this time, Qiao Suluo’s family would reunite, making the house exceptionally lively. She would personally prepare ingredients like cured meats and sausages, while Que Hongjin, the others, and the children all pitched in to help. It was around this time that they started looking forward to the New Year.

“Mother, this year I want to eat sweet dried meat sausages!”

“Mother, I want to eat starch sausages! Roasted starch sausages are the best!”

Although their fathers doted on them immensely, the person the children loved clinging to the most was still Qiao Suluo.

She smiled and said, “Alright, we’ll make extra of everything. It’s snowing today, which makes it the perfect weather for hot pot. Go prepare the ingredients in a bit, and we’ll have hot pot for dinner tonight.”

“WOOHOO! We’re having hot pot!”

Hearing about the hot pot, the children were all thrilled. They were all seven or eight years old now and could handle many chores. Preparing hot pot ingredients was something they were already proficient in.

While the children went to prep, Qiao Suluo, Que Hongjin, and the others began slicing fresh wild game meat. Qiao Suluo also had to mix the hot pot soup base and some dipping sauces.

By evening, all the ingredients were laid out on the large table in the living room. Firewood crackled underneath the pot, and once the broth reached a rolling boil, they started dropping the food in.

At this point, Qiao Suluo didn’t even need to lift a finger. Que Hongjin and the others boiled the meat and vegetables, taking good care of both her and the children.

“Delicious, it’s so delicious!”

“I really love eating hot pot.”

“The dipping sauce Mother made is so good. It tastes best when you dip the food in it.”

Everyone chattered excitedly as they ate, the atmosphere overflowing with joy and harmony.

Outside, the snow was falling heavily. Looking out the window at the heavy snowfall, Qiao Suluo was also very happy. “A timely snow promises a good harvest. Next year will bring favorable weather again.”

And their family would continue to live happily together, forever.