Minnie and Sanruwi stayed at the Hong residence for seven or eight days, until they confirmed that Hong's younger sister was no longer at great risk. Minnie removed her stitches, and the wound was healing well. This dangerous birth was partly because the fetus was too large.
It was Hong's younger sister's first child, so everyone was very cautious, afraid of any accident. They usually did not allow her to move too much. Also, the Hong family was wealthy and had over-supplemented her with tonics, which led to this situation.
Minnie advised Hong's younger sister not to be like this in future pregnancies. She said to exercise more, eat reasonably, and control weight. Hong's younger sister nodded repeatedly.
Yiying smiled and said, "Minnie, if there is anything else to watch for, please tell me too. Also, when I have children, you must help deliver them." Kai smiled widely when he heard Yiying say this.
"As long as I'm not gone, that will definitely not be a problem," Minnie agreed. "Then it's settled," Yiying said happily without catching Minnie's deeper meaning.
Jax, who came with Yiying, felt his heart sink. From Minnie's past words and actions, he knew her family was far away in Huaguo and travel was inconvenient. If Minnie went back, she probably would not return.
Thinking of this, Jax felt his breath catch. He left the room and went to find Sanruwi. Sanruwi was about to say goodbye to Madam Hong when he saw Jax come in.
He invited him to sit down. "Why do you look so troubled? Did something happen at the Escort Agency?" Sanruwi had known Jax for a long time and saw something was wrong immediately.
Jax shook his head and sat for a while before speaking. "Have you thought about whether Minnie will go back?"
"Go back?" Sanruwi first looked confused, then grew serious. "I heard from my master that overseas there is another continent where customs are very different from ours."
"You mean Minnie is from the overseas continent?" "I can't think of any other possibility. I even asked my master about some small countries around Yueguo. He said he never heard of the strange things Minnie mentioned."
Sanruwi recalled that when Minnie talked about a "stomach tube," he became very curious. He wrote to his master who had traveled widely. His master replied that he had never heard of such a thing but mentioned another country overseas.
Jax thought for a moment. "Many Ning Shui people work in maritime transport, and the Han family is a leader there. Minnie always wanted to go home..."
Sanruwi sneered. "It probably isn't that easy." "How so?" Jax was surprised.
"She always fussed on Phoenix Mountain and often talked about going home," Sanruwi said. He had walked with Minnie for nearly two months and noticed her unusual behavior.
"In the end, she didn't go back but came down the mountain with us. These days she hasn't mentioned going back. If she found a ship to go out to sea, she would have left long ago."
"The sea is vast. One careless step and you can lose your way. I guess she probably got lost herself, which is why she ended up here. Now she doesn't know how to return."
Jax thought this made sense and matched what Minnie had said before. He did not want her to leave but felt it would be unfair to think so. Wasn't it natural for her to want to return home?
No matter what, knowing it would be very difficult for her to go back made him feel relieved. Madam Hong and her whole family thanked Minnie and Sanruwi deeply and offered a generous reward.
Amid the Hong family's reluctant farewells, Minnie and Sanruwi returned to the Weiwu Escort Agency. "Minnie, come with me," Sanruwi said suddenly as Minnie was about to rest in her room.
Minnie did not understand and obediently followed him inside. "I will leave for Ning Shui tomorrow. What are your plans?" Sanruwi asked.
"Ah?" Minnie was caught off guard. "Teacher Sanruwi, you're leaving?" "This is the Yu family. I can't stay here forever."
"What will I do if you leave?" Minnie worried. She felt okay while Sanruwi was here. Once he left, she wouldn't be able to stay here anymore.
Where would she live? It wouldn't be right to stay for free at the Escort Agency. "You said you didn't know what to do when Hong's younger sister was in danger?" Sanruwi suddenly changed the topic.
Minnie paused before replying, "Yes." "Would you like to learn medicine from me?" "Learn medicine?"
"If you study with me, you could handle emergencies like Hong's sister yourself in the future. It wouldn't matter if I'm not here. My family runs a pharmacy, so it's convenient for you to learn."
It was indeed tempting. Learning traditional medicine would not be bad. She still had more than half a year before returning to Phoenix Mountain.
She was not sure how to arrange that time, so she decided to learn medicine with Sanruwi. Minnie nodded and smiled. "Teacher Sanruwi, should I call you master or teacher? Do I need to formally apprentice? Do I have to kneel?"
Sanruwi's mouth twitched. "No need. We'll treat each other as peers." He did not want to be called her senior without cause.
At dinner, Sanruwi told everyone he would leave for Ning Shui the next day. "So soon?" Yiying said.
Sanruwi usually waited until someone from the Bai family urged him to return. This time he volunteered to go home. "This year the family is preparing a birthday celebration for father, so I have to return early."
"In that case," Priland said, "Madam Yu, let's prepare a birthday gift too." "Uncle, you are too polite."
"No, Sanruwi and our fifth brother are good friends. Fifth brother is well cared for by your family in Ning Shui, so this gift is natural." Madam Yu waved her hand to stop Sanruwi's polite refusals.
"Uncle, auntie, I will leave with Teacher Sanruwi tomorrow. Thank you all for your help these days," Minnie said. "Minnie, you are leaving too?"
Yiying urged. "You have no urgent matters. Why not stay?" "Minnie will go back with Teacher Sanruwi to the Bai family pharmacy," Sanruwi said.
Yiying looked at Minnie. Minnie nodded. "I want to learn medicine from Teacher Sanruwi. There are many things I don't understand. I have to learn properly with him."
Yiying was anxious. Minnie had stayed at the Hong family with Sanruwi all these days. Her fifth brother did not have much time with her.
What would happen if she left? She had seen that her fifth brother had feelings for her. "Mom, why don't you let fifth brother go with Minnie and Sanruwi to Ning Shui?" Yiying said.
"First, to deliver the birthday gift, and second, our Ning Shui branch needs fifth brother to check it." Priland frowned and was about to speak when Madam Yu interrupted.
"Okay, fifth brother, go with Sanruwi and Minnie to Ning Shui. It will be safer with company." Jax agreed.
That night Madam Yu called Jax to her room. The Bai family birthday gift was ready. There was another gift mostly of medicinal materials to be sent to the Wei family.
"When you go to Ning Shui, visit the Wei family and see how your future father-in-law is doing," Madam Yu said. "These medicines are for his current prescriptions. His health hasn't improved these years."
"I talked with your father. Ask Sanruwi if he can see him." Jax thought about it. "I will tell Sanruwi."
Also, Priland sternly said, "Ruwena is your future wife. When you see her at the Wei family, don't be disrespectful." "I know."
"Fifth brother," Madam Yu hesitated, "the Wei family is a scholarly household, different from ours..." "Mom, I know. It's not my first time there."
Every visit to the Wei family was not pleasant for Jax. He was broad-minded and did not bother with the troubles or want to. Madam Yu sighed softly.
"You are always sensible, much more obedient than your sister." Jax returned to his room. Yiying was already waiting for him.
"Fifth brother, did mom call you to the Wei family again?" "How did you know?"
"Our family sends herbs over every three months. I figured it should be around this time."
"You're sharp." Jax smiled and flicked her on the forehead.
"Fifth Brother!" Yiying covered her forehead with a pout. "I came to find you for something serious."
"Alright, let's hear this serious matter." Jax sat down and poured himself a glass of water.
"Fifth Brother, you like Sister Minnie, don't you?" Yiying's eyes sparkled as she looked at him.
Jax choked at her words and quickly set down his cup, wiping the tea from the corner of his mouth as he shook his sleeves. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"How is that nonsense?" Yiying huffed. "I can see it, and Kai said the same thing."
Jax's hand paused as he reached for more water, then he pulled it back. "Kai probably just listened to you."
"No, he didn't. Fifth Brother, there's something I never told you. I was afraid you'd be upset…"
"What is it? Did you break Simon's stuff again and blame me?" Jax laughed.
"It's about Ruwena."
Jax's smile vanished. "Hmm. What about her?"
"These past two years, she's added two more people to her room." Yiying watched his expression closely. "One is a servant born into her family, and the other…"
"Who is it?"
"A newly bought servant."
Jax frowned.
"Fifth Brother, you know how things are with the Wei family. They don't have much money. This new servant was someone Ruwena specifically chose. He's from a decent family…"
A decent young man from a good family wouldn't just become a servant without a reason. Maybe Ruwena promised him something. Jax felt his throat tighten. Speaking became hard. "Wasn't she in mourning these two years?"
"It happened during the mourning period."
Jax remembered returning home two years ago. After learning about the Wei family's situation, he had gone to visit. Ruwena had treated him coldly…
Her maids looked at him rudely. He had sensed something even then, but what could he do?
"Fifth Brother, I don't think Ruwena is a good match. We should just break off the engagement."
Jax forced a smile. "Nonsense. Even if we were to break it off, that's not something we can decide."
"Why not? If you break it off, you can marry Sister Minnie."
"You're being ridiculous."
"I'm serious." Yiying leaned in closer. "Fifth Brother, think about it. Sanruwi is usually so cold, but even he's paying attention to Sister Minnie now. You should hurry too…"
"What are you saying? How can I compare to Sanruwi?"
"Why not? You're just engaged, not married. Sister Minnie won't mind."
Jax looked over at her.
Yiying quickly said, "I mean it. I asked her, and she said as long as two people like each other and want to be together, nothing else matters. She's not afraid of hardship either."
If he could really marry her, he'd never let her suffer. Jax composed himself and said seriously, "Yiying, I know you mean well, but marriage is too big a matter for us juniors to decide."
Yiying pouted. "Fifth Brother, I've said so much. Why won't you listen? Ruwena isn't a good person. If you marry her and end up unhappy…"
"You care so much about your Fifth Brother?" Jax smiled with a teasing look. "Do you think I'd let anyone bully me?"
"But…" With his skills, few could actually bully him, but being married isn't about fighting. If Ruwena always treats him coldly and never gives him a child, wouldn't that leave him alone for life?
Yiying shivered. She couldn't bear to see her Fifth Brother live like that.
"Alright, it's late. Go to sleep." Jax pushed Yiying out of the room. "Stop overthinking. Your Fifth Brother will handle his own matters."
After sending her off, Jax couldn't fall asleep. Suddenly learning about the two new people in Ruwena's room, he couldn't describe how he felt.
As a young man, he had always admired her. He knew she was different from him. Hearing of her success in the exams made him proud.
She was to be his future wife, his true companion. He hadn't minded her coldness back then. He thought it was just her nature and that after marriage, she would treat him well.
Just like his proud Uncle Rhett who was so gentle to his wife, he had hoped for the same.
But as he saw more of the world, he began to understand. He was disappointed, but he accepted the engagement.
Sometimes he hoped that after she got to know him better, she'd come to like him. But what Yiying said after returning from the funeral crushed those thoughts completely.
So, in her eyes, he never matched up. His family was just a joke to her. The engagement meant nothing to her.
She didn't care about the Yu family's opinion, adding people to her room like it didn't matter. Wasn't it because she looked down on the Yu family?
If someone in the Yu family held high office, would she dare act so boldly?
But what could he do?
He had thought about it. If he married her and she didn't care about him, that was fine. He'd still ride his horse and roam the world.
If the Wei family couldn't accept him, then they could dismiss him.
But fate brought him to her. A gentle, sincere girl who respected him and cared for him.
If he wasn't engaged, he wouldn't hesitate. He wouldn't let Sanruwi take all the attention. But it was already too late.
Twin pearls wet with tears, how bitter it is not to meet before marriage.
He liked her and wanted to give her his best, not what was left. So he couldn't break the engagement.
He would hide his feelings. Still, he hoped to spend more time with her before the wedding, to at least have more memories.
He'd accompany them to Ningshui. That would fulfill Roxanna's request too.