As soon as Su Ze got off work that afternoon, he found that his parents had not only prepared all the food, but they were also about to leave to deliver meals to his wife and two children before he even finished eating.
The three of them met at home for no more than five minutes before Su Ze watched his parents cycle away with a bag full of lunchboxes.
The couple cycled directly to the National Restaurant, first using their meat coupons and money to buy a portion of braised pork, and then a portion of cabbage and pork dumplings.
People are iron, food is steel; now they are not afraid of spending money, only afraid that they will have no money to spend in the future, or that they will have money but cannot buy anything.
Moreover, Su Huaiyuan knew before going to class that afternoon that his wife had withdrawn all the money from her passbook at the bank, and he had always respected any decision his wife made, and now he supported her even more.
Aru also said that eating well, drinking well, and having good nutrition would lead to good health, and it was best to eat as much as possible while there was still a chance, as what went into one's stomach was truly one's own.
One box of braised pork, one box of cabbage and pork dumplings, one box of rice, one box of stir-fried cabbage with cured meat, and one box of egg and brown sugar water—this was enough for one adult and two children to eat well and be full.
“Nai, Grandma.”
“Grandma, Grandma.”
“Grandpa.”
“Grandpa.”
As soon as Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan entered the Hospital room, the two little ones, who were playing together on one bed, excitedly called out to their grandparents in a childish voice, reaching out their hands.
“Aiya, aiya.”
“Dabao, Xiaobao, Grandma’s good grandchildren.”
Who could resist the cuteness emitted by such adorable children?! Especially Qiao Jiuru, her eyes were even red.
“Mom and Dad, you’re here.”
Seeing her in-laws come to deliver food, Zhou Wanwan quickly made space for them.
“Xiao Wan, this is your food. Eat it all before you go back.”
They had also brought the daughter-in-law’s portion; the lunchboxes were full, either meat or dumplings, and eggs. Fortunately, only they were staying in this room now, otherwise people would definitely be envious.
Zhou Wanwan hadn’t expected the dinner to be even better than lunch, and she couldn’t help but feel surprised. However, her in-laws were so good to her and the children that she was simply touched.
The couple let their daughter-in-law eat by herself while they fed their two grandchildren. In less than half an hour, all the food they brought was eaten.
“Wanwan, your father and I have something to take care of. You stay here with Dabao and Xiaobao for now, and we’ll come back to take over from you later.”
After Qiao Jiuru and her daughter-in-law finished washing the lunchboxes, she whispered the instructions to her.
Zhou Wanwan nodded without a word, she didn’t ask much, nor was she a meddlesome person.
The couple each patted the little heads of the two children, then cycled away from the Hospital.
Because it was still cold, it got dark early, and six o’clock was the last rush hour for getting off work.
Before long, the two of them cycled through twists and turns and disappeared into the alley.
Half an hour later, Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru walked together into a quiet alley, stopped at the second to last small courtyard, then opened the door and went inside.
This small courtyard was one of Qiao grandmother’s dowries, and to this day, the household name has not been changed; only the Qiao family and Su Huaiyuan knew about this house.
After Qiao Jiuru entered the courtyard, she did not go directly to the main house, but turned and entered the small room at the front of the house.
This small room had nothing but a simple wooden bed; with brick walls and an earthen floor, anyone with an eye could tell it was a servant’s room.
After she entered the servant’s room, she walked to the corner of the room and knocked open an inconspicuous brick. Beneath the brick was a thick layer of earth. She pushed all this earth aside, and a small, dirt-covered black wooden box appeared.
Su Huaiyuan had been standing outside the door, constantly paying attention to the movements outside, until his wife came to his side and called him.
The couple first closed the door of this servant’s room before together focusing on the black wooden box in Qiao Jiuru’s hand.
Inside the wooden box was the Qiao family’s heirloom Ink Bracelet. Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru both knew it was very valuable, always thinking it was merely priceless, and never considering anything else.
Now, since Qiao grandfather reminded his granddaughter of the Ink Bracelet’s existence in a dream, this bracelet must be extraordinary.
“Huaiyuan, Grandfather said the Ink Bracelet is very important. I think this bracelet must have a secret we don’t know about, but we don’t know how to open it. I want to try dripping blood on it.”
Qiao Jiuru lived to be over ninety in her previous life, so naturally, the longer she lived, the more she heard. Since this Ink Bracelet belonged to the Qiao family, only a Qiao family bloodline could open it.
Moreover, before coming, she had thought of this and even brought a small knife with her.
Su Huaiyuan also couldn’t think of any good ideas; whatever his wife said, he would do, holding the wooden box containing the Ink Bracelet with both concern and support.
Without hesitation, Qiao Jiuru pulled out the small knife and, without a word, lightly cut her middle finger, which immediately became covered in blood.
As soon as her finger started bleeding, she immediately placed her finger and the fresh blood onto the Ink Bracelet.
The next second, Qiao Jiuru felt a dizzying sensation, and before she knew it, she found herself sitting on the ground. What met her eyes was not her husband, Su Huaiyuan, but a beautiful landscape of green mountains and clear waters, with an ancient-style house not far away.
Where is this?!
Qiao Jiuru trembled. If she wasn’t mistaken, she had been brought to a strange place by the Ink Bracelet.
Perhaps, this is the space within the Ink Bracelet?!
This place was completely different from the outside; not only was it daytime, but the air was also incredibly fresh and comfortable.
Qiao Jiuru looked at the vast, picturesque landscape that stretched endlessly, finally focusing her gaze on the house not far away.
With almost no hesitation, she lifted her foot and walked towards the ancient-style house.
The house was not locked. Qiao Jiuru reached out and pushed open the courtyard gate, then curiously walked inside.
After she entered the house, she realized that it was actually a square courtyard. Qiao Jiuru found that every room here was closed, and she couldn’t help but curiously walk towards one of the rooms.
“Pharmacy.”
What?!
Pharmacy?!
Is it the kind of pharmacy she’s thinking of?!
The Qiao family had practiced medicine for generations, so Qiao Jiuru was not unfamiliar with medicine. At this moment, she couldn’t resist pushing the door open and entering.
As soon as she entered the room, she smelled a strong medicinal fragrance. Not only that, but each room was indeed a pharmacy, with large and small cabinets and drawers on three sides. Furthermore, all the cabinets and drawers had labels.
Qiangshen Jiantivan, Disease-Dispelling Pill, Detoxification Pill, Qi-Replenishing Pill, Blood-Nourishing Pill, Sedative Pill, Danshen Pill, Niuhuang Pill, Rejuvenation Pill, Brain-Nourishing Pill, Cardiotonic Pill, Siwu Tang Pill, Stomach-Protecting Pill, Pain-Relieving Pill, Anti-Diarrhea Pill, Cough-Suppressing Pill…
Qiao Jiuru was dazzled, with all sorts of pills in a dazzling array. However, the more she looked, the more delighted, happy, and excited she became.
These medicines are good; what she fears most now, besides not having money, is not having medicine.
Besides these pills, Qiao Jiuru also found that the cabinets on the other two walls contained various herbs, including ginseng, reishi mushrooms, bear gall, tiger penis, deer antler, and bear paw.
Good, good, good.