Chapter 233: For the Country and the People
After hanging up, Gu Jiao called Su Shuochi. She had been on the phone a little longer than planned, discussing the new courtyard.
So she only spoke with Su Shuochi for a hurried two minutes before hanging up, but a lot can be said in two minutes.
Su Shuochi had arranged for a master craftsman to forge a set of Golden Needles for Gu Jiao, using the small yellow fish from Gao Xiangming.
This made Gu Jiao overjoyed. Golden Needles were even more effective for detoxification than silver needles, and she couldn’t wait to go back and see them.
Gu Jiao knew everything about Su Shuochi’s day, from what he was busy with to the very dishes he ate.
It wasn’t that Gu Jiao was trying to manage his life; rather, Su Shuochi himself wanted to share everything with her. He felt the need to tell his wife every last detail.
He also asked if he should attend Sheng Yueyue and Song Zijin’s wedding the next day. Mr. Sheng had personally invited him, but he wanted her opinion.
Gu Jiao naturally told him to go. While Sheng Yueyue was her nemesis, she wasn’t one of the women secretly in love with Su Shuochi.
Since Mr. Sheng had personally invited him, he might as well go.
Gu Jiao added that if she were home, she would go too. After all, it’s not like she had any feelings for Song Zijin.
Su Shuochi was ecstatic to hear that. Earlier that day, he had been musing about Song Zijin’s handsome appearance.
He wasn’t a fan of the pretty-boy type, and it turned out his wife disliked them too. ’Perfect,’ he thought.
Gu Jiao told him that she not only had to visit Sheng Shijing, but also needed to give Han Chenyu his silver needle treatment.
Su Shuochi could only remind her again and again to be careful before reluctantly hanging up.
Han Chenyu spent his days commanding on-site and only had time to return to camp after dark. The silver needle treatments had to be administered daily without fail.
Furthermore, the technique for treating insomnia was unique—a long-lost, secret art of ancient acupuncture.
It had been taught to Gu Jiao in her previous life by a reclusive master, who had passed on his entire life’s work to her.
Elder Xu had not yet learned this technique, so Gu Jiao had to be the one to personally administer the treatment.
The care of Han Jingshen and Sheng Shijing could be left to Elder Xu and Xia Qiuming.
Of course, Gu Jiao still went to chat with Sheng Shijing for a few minutes every day. She wasn’t sure if it was because his injuries were especially severe this time or for some other reason.
Sheng Shijing was being particularly sentimental, always wanting to cling to Gu Jiao and reminisce about their childhood.
Fortunately, Gu Jiao had the original owner’s memories. As the siblings reminisced, it allowed her to experience a taste of a wonderful childhood herself.
It was unlike her own original childhood, which had been nothing but studying. After school, she’d had to attend all sorts of tutoring classes.
Her extracurriculars were extensive; she had to learn various forms of dance, piano, and even the violin.
And since she was a perfectionist, whatever her father made her learn, she mastered.
Her original self had always been the model child in the eyes of other parents—and a trophy for her father to show off.
She was the object of her peers’ envy and resentment. She had acquired a vast array of skills but had never gotten the chance to actually enjoy life.
In contrast, the original Gu Jiao’s childhood was all about having fun. Her parents doted on her, her three older brothers doted on her, and even Grandpa Sheng, who had several other granddaughters, spoiled only her.
She had known nothing but happiness and indulgence her entire life and had never experienced the darker side of human nature.
That was why when Sheng Yueyue returned to the Sheng Family, she was able to crush her so easily.
Although the original owner’s life was as fleeting as a night-blooming cereus, it was also just as beautiful.
If not for the half-year of torment she suffered at Sheng Yueyue’s hands, the original owner’s short life would have been well worth living.
But in life, there are no "what ifs."
"Jiaojiao... Yueyue is getting married tomorrow. I wasn’t there for your wedding, and now I won’t be there for hers, either," Sheng Shijing said with immense regret.
"Big Brother, you’re making sacrifices to protect our country. We all understand, and Yueyue won’t blame you."
Gu Jiao patiently comforted her big brother, who only got this sentimental when he was sick. After their trip down memory lane, she had a new appreciation for him.
He really was a good big brother. No wonder the original owner had told her in a dream that their scores were settled.
Sheng Shijing was, after all, a seriously injured patient. After talking for a little while, he grew drowsy. Gu Jiao waited until he was sound asleep before she left.
When she arrived at Han Jingshen’s hospital room, Han Chenyu had already showered and was ready.
Old Sir Han was there as well. He said with great enthusiasm, "Jiaojiao, my boy here says he actually slept until dawn last night."
"Really?" Gu Jiao asked with a beaming smile.
"It’s true! I never expected it to be so effective so quickly. It’s only been two days of treatment!" Han Chenyu was all smiles.
"But of course! The title of Divine Doctor is well-earned. Back then, this old man was about to give up on treatment, but Xia Qiuming insisted his master was incredibly skilled and could definitely cure me..."
As Mr. Han chattered on, Gu Jiao finished inserting the silver needles. Only then did she have a free moment to respond.
Han Jingshen, for his part, stared at Gu Jiao without blinking. ’One word: beautiful. Two words: very beautiful...’ he thought.
With his grandfather and father present, it wasn’t his place to speak, so he simply watched and listened in silence.
"Jiaojiao, I want to give you this piece of Warm Jade. If you ever encounter a problem you can’t solve in the future,
you can take it to a Langya Antiques Store in any city and ask the steward for help."
"Old Sir, this jade is too valuable. I can’t accept it." Gu Jiao didn’t dare to take the piece of superior-quality Warm Jade.
"Just take what your big brother is giving you. Aren’t we sworn siblings now? From now on, just call me Big Brother."
"In that case, it would be rude to refuse. Thank you for your kindness, Big Brother. I also have some medicine pills for you."
Gu Jiao had made the pills using herbs from her pocket dimension, following a recipe from a rare medical text that Grandpa Gu had given her.
They were truly priceless treasures, and a man of Mr. Han’s power and status could naturally recognize their value.
The heartwarming scene between the sworn siblings made Elder Xu’s eyes burn with envy. "Senior Sister," he chimed in, "I have a rare ancestral medical text from the Xu Family! I’ll bring it to you when I return to the Imperial City."
"Then I’ll thank you in advance, Elder Xu. I’d love to borrow it for a look, and I’ll return it as soon as I’m finished."
Seeing his old friend trying to win over his new little sister, Mr. Han refused to be outdone. "Jiaojiao, your big brother has another favor to ask. I have a few old comrades-in-arms who are paralyzed and bedridden. I was hoping you might take a look at them."
"Our old heroes are worthy of everyone’s admiration. Big Brother, you don’t even have to ask. If I have the chance, I will certainly do everything I can to help."
"Haha! My little sister is truly righteous! When are you going to the Imperial City?" Mr. Han laughed heartily.
"To be honest with you, I’ve already been accepted into Imperial Capital Medical University. I’ll be living in the Imperial City full-time once school starts in September."
"What? The Divine Doctor has to go to school?" Han Jingshen couldn’t help but blurt out.
"That’s right, Jiaojiao! Your surgical skills are better than Xia Qiuming’s, and he has a doctorate! Your traditional medicine is better than this old codger Xu’s! What’s left for you to learn in school?"
’I can’t very well admit that before I met Elder Xu, my whole plan was to go to university and hope to run into a skilled traditional medicine mentor, can I?’ she thought.
She put on a sincere expression and said, "I just want to go to medical school to get a diploma. After all, I don’t have a medical license, you see."
"Our Little Aunt is still young. It would be a great thing for her to go to Imperial Capital Medical University and help guide some of our students,"
Han Chenyu was a true patriot, his every word spoken for the good of the country and its people.