Chapter 176: Chapter 164: Dinner Party

The Gu family’s dinner started early. The dishes were all ready before four o’clock. When Mr. Gu smelled the fragrant aroma, it made him miss the delicious food he’d eaten at the Tang family’s home the night before, and he immediately called everyone to the table.

The previous night, the two grandfathers had only said they were going to the Tang family’s home for a visit, but they ended up staying for New Year’s Eve dinner. When they returned, all four of them raved about how delicious the Tang family’s food was. The rest of the Gu family didn’t pay it much mind; since they hadn’t tasted it, they couldn’t imagine how good it could be.

After tasting a few dishes personally cooked by Tang Manman that night, Gu the Third and his wife were finally convinced. Gu Qifan ate until he was stuffed, yet he was still reluctant to put down his chopsticks. He showered her with praise, saying to Xiao Man, "Oh, San Niu, you shouldn’t go back. Just stay with us and be my daughter, how about it? You’d have playmates, see? Shaoling and Shaoyu are the same age as you. It would be perfect!"

Shaoyu reminded his father, "Dad, San Niu is called Tang Manman now. She’s Uncle Tang’s daughter!"

Gu Qifan paused. "Oh, right. Your Uncle Tang beat me to it. Well, that’s fine too. Son, how about Dad arranges for her to be your wife instead?"

Shaoyu blushed, and Mr. Gu snapped, "Stop your nonsense!"

Gu Qifan chuckled. "I’m not talking nonsense, Father. What if I’m serious?"

"Absolutely not!"

Gu Qifan: ...

Gu Shaozheng came over to offer a toast. "Third Uncle, what about me? I’m older than Shaoyu, right? There’s a queue, you know?"

Gu Qifan smacked him on the back of the head. "Get lost! Stop causing trouble!"

Beside him, Jiang Yuyan’s expression dimmed. ’If it weren’t for me, for the miscarriages I had from being too busy with work, I wouldn’t be this old with only a ten-year-old son.’

The second son of the Gu family and his wife weren’t able to return, but the eldest, Gu Qiming, did manage to find the time to come home today. After offering a toast to the elders and clinking glasses with Tang Qingshan, he sat back down next to Zhou Hui Lan and whispered, "Is it just me, or does that girl’s face... look an awful lot like Qingshan?"

Zhou Hui Lan said, "Do you think that’s possible? Shaojun and Shaolian found her in the south."

"You can never be sure. What if he had a child and took her to the south to be raised?"

Zhou Hui Lan: ...

She considered the possibility, then asked, "If she really is Qingshan’s daughter, then which one should Shaojun marry?"

"What’s there to decide? Do you think this is like picking out cabbage at the market, where you get a choice? It’s common knowledge that Shaojun and Xuanxuan are a couple!"

"But isn’t he supposed to marry the eldest daughter? What if Qingshan’s biological daughter is older than Xuanxuan?"

Gu Qiming frowned. "Well... Ah, forget it! The girl is still so young. Why think so far ahead? Let’s eat first!"

Zhou Hui Lan placed some food on her husband’s plate and asked tentatively, "And Shaojun... how is he? Where is he stationed now?"

Gu Qiming kept his head down and ate. After a long moment, he said, "Don’t ask. Just pack a few sweaters for me after dinner. I’ll be taking them with me."

Zhou Hui Lan sighed inwardly. ’I knew that would be the answer, but I can’t help but ask every time.’ The torment endured by the wife and mother of a soldier was something others could never imagine.

After dinner, the men gathered for a chat over tea. Grandpa Tang, eager to show off, specifically asked Xiao Man to boil the water and prepare it. Xiao Man was speechless. ’Grandpa, can’t you be a little more low-key? At this rate, you’re going to blow my cover!’

She diluted the spiritual spring water with an equal amount of tap water, but the resulting tea was still far more fragrant than usual. The Gu family elders praised it profusely, yet Grandpa Tang wasn’t satisfied. "It’s probably the different environment. She’s more relaxed at our own home. Manman’s control over boiling the water was better last night. That tea... it was simply indescribable!"

Mr. Gu laughed. "Don’t worry, don’t worry. Once she gets used to this place, Manman will feel right at home!"

When the topic of his sealed acupoints came up, Xiao Man explained, "I did that on purpose. Grandpa Gu has old injuries, and several meridians in his body are damaged. They need treatment, so it’s not advisable for him to practice his techniques for now."

Mr. Gu was taken aback. "It’s true I have many old injuries, but those damaged meridians... I had a renowned doctor treat them. I thought they were already healed."

"You may not feel it, but the damage is still there. It’s why your sudden fall put you in a coma for several days. If I hadn’t come, you would have been revived, but a hospital wouldn’t have been able to repair the damage to those meridians. You would have been left with permanent complications and had to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair. I just happened to have the right herbs on hand to treat your critical condition. Before I leave, I’ll prepare some medicinal pills for you. Once you finish them, the damage to your meridians will be healed, and your acupoints will open on their own. Only then can you resume your practice."

At the mention of a wheelchair, Mr. Gu’s brow furrowed into a deep scowl. But when he heard that Xiao Man would leave him medicinal pills, he let out a long sigh of relief. "Good, good! I’ll listen to Manman and cooperate with the treatment. I’ll finish the medicine, then I’ll resume my practice!"

Gu Qiming pulled Xiao Man aside. "Little girl, how old are you? How can you possibly know so much?"

Gu Qifan said, "Big Brother, she’s a disciple of Imperial Doctor Sun!"

"An Imperial Physician... that sounds impressive, I admit. But mastering that kind of medical skill takes a lifetime of accumulated knowledge and practice. Chinese medicine is all-encompassing and incredibly complex, several times more difficult than Western medicine. For a little girl her age to be capable of this... don’t you find it a bit surprising?"

Xiao Man lowered her gaze and paused for a moment before looking up at Gu Qiming. "I don’t know anything about Western medicine right now, but when it comes to Chinese medicine, I’m exceptionally gifted. I don’t need to accumulate experience. I just have to commit my predecessors’ knowledge to memory and make it my own. Is that not acceptable?"

She didn’t intend any hidden meaning in her words; she was merely asking a question. But the way she held her chin up, her small face wearing a calm yet serious expression, carried a hint of defiance. Coupled with Gu Qiming’s earlier, overtly skeptical remarks, it gave everyone the distinct impression that this little girl was not about to back down and was ready for a contest of wills.

The living room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a burst of laughter.

Tang Qingshan walked over and wrapped an arm around Xiao Man. "That’s right! Our Manman is exceptionally gifted, and that’s that!"

Gu Qiming let out a hearty laugh and ruffled Xiao Man’s hair. "This little girl is plenty bold, but I like it!"

Gu Qifan asked with a smile, "Manman, you even know about Qi Circulation and cultivation practices?"

Xiao Man replied, "Sun’s medical skills have been passed down for hundreds of years and have their own Tai Chi Cultivation Technique. I’ve learned a few moves, both to strengthen my body and as a requirement for performing acupuncture."

Mr. Gu nodded. "That’s right. Manman’s acupuncture technique is unlike any other. I could feel the difference."

Gu Qiming’s gaze upon Xiao Man grew even more profound.

Since Xiao Man had decided to leave the next day and still needed to prepare the medicinal pills, Grandpa Tang and Tang Qingshan only stayed for a short while before taking their leave. Mr. Gu didn’t insist they stay longer and saw them off. Once back inside, he called for Shaozheng and Shao Jin. He learned that Shaofeng had already arranged for Zhang Qingwan to fly Xiao Man back to Wancheng. Mr. Gu trusted Zhang Qingwan’s piloting skills, but after a moment of thought, he made an adjustment, changing the flight from night to daytime.

Gu Shaozheng waited for his grandfather to finish his call before asking why he’d made the change. Mr. Gu said he was worried Xiao Man would be scared. Gu Shaozheng was left speechless. ’Grandfather and grandson certainly think differently. Shaofeng was worried the little girl would get scared if she could see everything too clearly, while Grandpa was worried she’d get scared because the darkness of night meant she couldn’t see clearly at all!’

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