Manbao wanted to refute, but her mother interrupted: "Manbao, you, you quickly tell me if it hurts?"
Seeing her mother's face full of worry and tears in her eyes, Manbao immediately forgot about the golden glitter, seriously felt for a moment, and then shook her head: "It doesn't hurt."
"What about here?"
Grandpa Qin touched Manbao's chin again.
Manbao continued to shake her head: "It doesn't hurt."
"Open your mouth, let Grandpa Qin take a look."
"Ah!"
Manbao cooperated well, trying hard to open her little mouth wide.
Grandpa Qin leaned in and took a careful look before saying, "It seems there are no pricks."
"But, but the child was crying so miserably just now."
Yi Meng still didn't believe her daughter was fine.
Could she cry so miserably if nothing was wrong?
Grandpa Qin thought for a moment before asking, "What happened before she cried?"
Yi Meng hurriedly replied.
Grandpa Qin then said with a smile: "She probably just woke up, and there was no adult in the room, so she got scared. Don't worry, children can't be left alone; just pay more attention in the future."
Qi Zheng and Mrs. Qi were out of breath when they caught up at this moment.
Seeing the elderly couple full of worry, Grandpa Qin said, "The child just got startled, nothing serious. If you're not reassured, I can make a soothing herbal remedy. Just keep an eye on her tonight. As long as there's no fever by morning, everything will be fine."
"Okay, okay, Brother Qin, hurry and make the remedy!"
It was Qi Zheng speaking.
Having finally gotten a soft little granddaughter, he couldn't bear for anything to happen to her.
Everyone else nodded quickly, all feeling that they couldn't skip the remedy.
Grandpa Qin, seeing Manbao with her big innocent eyes, also found this little child to be delightfully charming.
Moreover, looking at the child's demeanor, it didn't seem like there was any problem.
When Grandpa Qin treated people, he usually avoided giving medicine if possible, and even when he did, he tried to use effective yet inexpensive herbs.
Now the child was fine, but they still insisted on giving her medicine. He felt a bit reluctant and went back inside to make a digestion-aiding pill using yam, dried tangerine peel, hawthorn, and barley.
Yam enhances energy and nourishes the spleen and yin, dried tangerine peel regulates qi and strengthens the stomach, hawthorn and barley aid in digestion.
The pill was small, so children wouldn't find it bitter.
Wrapping it in oiled paper, he handed it to the Qi Family, reminding them: "Take it with warm water after a cup of tea following a meal."
"Oh, thank you, Elder Qin!"
Yi Meng quickly took the oiled paper package.
Mrs. Qi then asked, "Doctor Qin, how much is it?"
"I didn't visit you at home, so just leave two wen."
If it weren't for the barley, Grandpa Qin wouldn't have wanted to charge even two wen.
Mrs. Qi hurriedly took out three wen, placing them on the wooden table beside her.
The Qi Family thanked profusely before carrying Manbao back home.
On the way home, Manbao hugged her father's neck, her voice childish yet earnest: "That grandpa just now was really golden!"
"Alright, alright, golden. But his surname is Qin, Manbao, you can't call him Grandpa Gold; understood?"
Qi Quanjin was also very fond of this daughter, speaking in an especially gentle tone.
Manbao wrinkled her little nose, clearly not satisfied with her father's dismissive attitude.
"What's this about golden?"
Mrs. Qi asked.
Qi Quanjin recounted what had just happened, making Mrs. Qi pause in her tracks, almost getting bumped by the fourth daughter-in-law behind her.
Qi Zheng's heart skipped a beat too, but he maintained his composure, calmly urging everyone to hurry home.
On the way, they encountered several villagers, all looking at the little child cradled in Qi Quanjin's arms.
The village already knew that the Qi Family had taken in a little girl and doted on her immensely.
Especially Mr. Qi Sr., who seemed happier about his granddaughter than he would be with finding gold.
Honestly, she's just a little girl, practically a losing proposition, yet the Qi Family, with its many sons and grandsons, seems overly attached to this adopted child.
However much they disapproved or didn't understand, outwardly they still greeted the Qi Family with smiles.
Manbao just blinked her big eyes at each one of them, and once they were out of earshot, she murmured: "Dad, that skinny uncle just now isn't a good person. You shouldn't play with him anymore."
"Child, how can you say someone isn't nice behind their back?"
Qi Quanjin said, both amused and exasperated.
But Mrs. Qi, hearing these words, quickly moved closer to her husband, tugging at his sleeve, signaling to speak on the side.
Qi Zheng, seeing his wife's demeanor, knew what she wanted to discuss, and immediately told his son and daughter-in-law: "You guys go on ahead. Your mother and I will walk slowly; we'll be home a little later."
Qi Quanjin and Yi Meng exchanged a look, feeling the old couple's behavior was odd.
But with their father's words, what could they do?
Insisting a bit, the father-in-law got visibly upset, prompting them to briskly carry their daughter home.
When no one else was around, Mrs. Qi whispered: "Old man, do you think Manbao really came from the heavens? She said the doctor was all golden and also said Wang Ergou isn't good."
Qi Zheng sighed, saying: "Didn't I tell you, children can see things adults can't. That's probably all it means. Alright, stop overthinking. Let's hurry home!"
Though Qi Zheng also felt doubtful.
The fragrant and soft granddaughter, he truly cherished her, but if she really was, really was...
No matter, whatever she is, she's our family's treasure!
Mrs. Qi still felt concerned and added: "Old man, I'm telling you, no matter what, Manbao is our darling. We can't let anyone bully her. If someone dares to bully her, I'd be the first not to allow it."
"What nonsense. Why, would I just stand by and let someone bully Manbao?"
Qi Zheng glared at his wife in irritation: "Fine, don't you worry. I will tell the fourth daughter-in-law to teach the girl more, not to say whatever crosses her mind. I'll also tell the rest of the family to keep anything Manbao says to themselves and not babble outside."
"Yes, yes, that's exactly what I mean. Come on, let's hurry home; there's still egg custard steaming on the stove for Manbao!"
Mrs. Qi finally felt assured with this commitment and immediately relaxed.
All complaints about walking slowly or being out of strength were forgotten at that moment.
Qi Zheng watched his wife's quickened pace with a smile of exasperation.
This old woman undermines herself faster than anyone else could.
He looked up at the sky.
By now, the sky was nearly dark, but with the moon above, it didn't seem too dim.
Gazing at the moon, Qi Zheng clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully.
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