Qi Yue choked on her tea and began coughing.

A’Hao at her side quickly helped pat her back.

Madam Yang also looked at her with some concern.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Qi Yue waved her hand to reassure them while looking at Madam Yang. “What did you say, Madam? Arranging a marriage for whom?”

“Also an acquaintance,” Madam Yang smiled. “It’s Wang Qian, the eldest grandson of Wang Tongye, Master Wang’s family.”

Qi Yue’s expression was quite remarkable.

Madam Yang had no choice either. Normally, such matters weren’t discussed directly with the person involved, but this Miss Qi was all alone with only the physicians from Qianjin Hall as close relations.

Young women were extremely shy when it came to marriage proposals. You couldn’t expect them to respond readily—without three or four visits, you couldn’t expect to make things clear.

Qi Yue smiled.

“Well, thank you for the kind intentions of Madam and Master Wang,” she smiled. “It’s just that I don’t want to think about marriage right now.”

Of course not—she had just divorced and her heart hadn’t gotten over it yet.

Madam Yang nodded with understanding.

“That’s fine, no rush,” she said with a smile, speaking somewhat earnestly. “Miss Qi, I’m older than you by some years, so please allow me to speak presumptuously—women must all look forward.”

Qi Yue smiled and agreed.

“Everyone must look forward,” she said.

“Exactly, Miss Qi is such a reasonable person,” Madam Yang smiled, then paused. “How old are you this year, Miss Qi?”

In all her years as a matchmaker, this was the first time Madam Yang had to ask the person’s age directly. Before, which family hadn’t prepared everything properly?

It was just that for Miss Qi, there really was nowhere to prepare such information.

“Twenty-eight,” Qi Yue answered casually.

Twenty-eight?!

Madam Yang stared at her wide-eyed.

“Ha, ha,” Qi Yue realized her mistake and quickly laughed dryly.

But how old was Qi Yueniang?

She couldn’t help but turn to look at A’Hao.

Unfortunately, A’Ru wasn’t there—she had gone out with Hu San to order a batch of medical care equipment.

“My mistress will turn twenty this coming May,” A’Hao said.

Qi Yue sighed in relief and looked at Madam Yang with an air of profundity, as if questioning why she was asking about her age, showing no sign that she didn’t know her own age.

“Young Master Wang is seven years older than Miss. His first wife died of illness, and Young Master Wang voluntarily observed mourning for his wife for three years—he’s a devoted man,” Madam Yang said with a smile.

Seeing that she was about to launch into an introduction, Qi Yue quickly interrupted.

“Thank you for your kind intentions, Madam. It’s not about being several years older or younger,” she smiled. “I really don’t want to marry. I’m not being polite with you, Madam. Just like when I spoke about divorce, I don’t lie about such matters.”

Hearing Madam Yang’s words, Wang Tongye leaned back in his chair.

“See? I said it wouldn’t work, but you insisted on going,” Old Madam Wang complained. “You think all women are as heartless as you men—wife dies one day, ready to be a groom the next…”

Wang Tongye made a dismissive sound.

“What does that have to do with anything?” he said, glaring.

Madam Yang was amused by them.

“The old madam speaks reasonably. I can see that Miss Qi truly doesn’t want to marry, at least not currently,” she smiled. “But don’t worry, I’ll keep this matter in mind. Every few days I’ll go ask, and if it doesn’t work in half a year, then a year, and if not in a year…”

She quickly stopped here, somewhat embarrassed.

If she continued, she’d be suggesting that Young Master Wang wait for Miss Qi, which was ridiculous. Miss Qi wasn’t some fairy or noble lady. She wasn’t a sought-after prize, but Young Master Wang certainly was. Over the years, so many people had asked her to arrange matches for him, all with unmarried young ladies of good breeding and proper background—there weren’t even many from secondary wives’ families. How could a woman of beggar origins who had divorced from a marquis mansion be worth waiting for?

“If it doesn’t work in one year, we’ll wait two or three years,” Wang Tongye decided firmly.

Madam Yang was stunned.

What? They really wanted to hang themselves on this one tree?

Madam Yang was even more surprised.

“Then we’ll have to trouble Madam,” Old Madam Wang said.

Madam Yang came to her senses and quickly said she didn’t dare.

Old Madam Wang had her daughter-in-law personally escort Madam Yang out, and the two talked as they walked.

“What do you think of this marriage proposal?” Madam Yang couldn’t help asking.

Honestly, this match really wasn’t very good. For someone like Wang Qian, it was truly like a good cabbage being eaten by a pig…

Wang Qian’s mother, the Wang family’s eldest daughter-in-law, forty-five-year-old Madam Ning, lived up to her surname—peaceful and tranquil.

“What Father and Mother approve of must be excellent,” she said with a gentle smile.

She probably doesn’t dare oppose her in-laws, Madam Yang thought to herself, not believing such conventional women’s talk.

As they walked outside chatting and laughing, Madam Yang suddenly stumbled and nearly fell with an “Oh my,” but fortunately Madam Ning was quick to catch her.

“What was that?” Madam Yang called out, looking down.

She saw a red rope quickly pulled behind a large potted plant, and from behind the plant, a person ran away quickly.

Running so fast, turning a corner and disappearing in just a few steps. Madam Yang only had time to see the back of a seven or eight-year-old girl.

“Qiao-jie!” Madam Ning frowned and called out. “Where are the people watching Qiao-jie?”

Her maid hurried off to look.

“I’m so sorry,” Madam Ning quickly apologized to Madam Yang. “This child… this child is truly unruly…”

Qiao-jie was Wang Qian’s daughter. Since her mother died, she had been raised by Madam Ning. Despite Madam Ning’s gentle nature, this granddaughter she raised was completely opposite to her.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Children being mischievous is good…” Madam Yang quickly laughed.

“It’s not so good for girls to be mischievous,” Madam Ning sighed. “I don’t know whose temperament she takes after.”

“Certainly not yours, Madam,” Madam Yang said, pulling her hand and smiling.

Madam Ning smiled, personally escorted her to the carriage while holding her hand, and ordered servants to prepare generous gifts.

Regarding what Madam Yang had discussed, Qi Yue felt it was Wang Tongye wanting to help her. For an old man like Wang Tongye, helping a woman naturally meant giving her a home. What deep affection indeed came from their fight!

Qi Yue smiled, not sure what to feel, so she dismissed the thought and after seeing off Madam Yang, went about her business.

This day, because there was a patient with a broken leg from yesterday, Qi Yue hurried to relieve Liu Pucheng before dawn.

There were few pedestrians on the street, with only occasional people pushing carts across the empty street, leaving a trail of creaking sounds.

Qi Yue walked at a leisurely pace with A’Ru.

“There’s a feeling of walking in an ancient Jiangnan town,” she said to A’Ru, then laughed at herself.

Of course—she was in an ancient town, a genuine ancient town!

“Eh?” Qi Yue stopped and looked toward a small tea stall by the river.

A small, simple tea stall where a thin old woman was busily working. Steam from the stove mixed with the undispersed morning mist.

There was only one customer in the tea stall, sitting with his back to the road facing the river, eating something.

Granny Wang noticed someone approaching and looked up to see a pretty young woman, feeling somewhat nervous. After all, sitting in her tea stall was someone everyone avoided. Of course, she wasn’t concerned about losing the young woman’s business, but rather that the poor child would feel more guilty and stop coming to eat at her stall.

Before she could finish speaking, she saw the young woman make a shushing gesture and smile slightly.

This smile made Granny Wang feel as if everything brightened before her, as if the morning mist instantly cleared.

Before she could react, she saw the young woman walk past her toward the tea stall and call out “Hey” to Coffin Boy, who was eating.

Both Granny Wang and Coffin Boy were startled.

“Little Coffin, long time no see,” Qi Yue smiled as she sat down beside him.

Coffin Boy was startled and stood up.

“You… how are you here?” he asked.

“Morning exercise, and catching an early shift,” Qi Yue smiled while looking at Coffin Boy’s plate and bowl. “What are you eating? What breakfast is available here? A’Ru and I haven’t eaten yet.”

Coffin Boy’s expression was complex.

A’Ru had already gone to ask Granny Wang and ordered two bowls of tea soup and two vegetable pancakes.

“You… don’t eat here,” Coffin Boy said quietly.

“Why not?” Qi Yue looked at him in confusion.

Because I’m unlucky, you should stay away from me…

Coffin Boy said nothing.

“By the way, did Hu San give you the money for assisting with surgery last time?” Qi Yue asked, watching Granny Wang carefully bring over the tea soup. She happily took chopsticks from the table holder. “It smells so good.”

Granny Wang looked at her.

“As long as the young lady doesn’t mind,” she said, unable to help glancing at Coffin Boy. “This is the first time I’ve seen Little Coffin meet an acquaintance…”

Acquaintance—everyone in Yongqing Prefecture is my acquaintance, but no one meets with him…

Except this woman…

Coffin Boy couldn’t describe what he felt.

“Little Coffin, you should treat us,” Granny Wang added, then hurried away.

Qi Yue smiled.

“Right, you should treat us,” she smiled as she picked up a vegetable pancake and began eating.

A’Ru also sat down and began eating.

Coffin Boy stood there. Qi Yue didn’t speak, acting as if she didn’t notice he was standing. After a moment, he sat down too.

“Hu San gave me the money,” he said.

Qi Yue made an “mm” sound.

“Good, that boy is careless with things. I was afraid he’d forget,” she said.

Coffin Boy kept his head down eating.

In the small tea stall, apart from sounds from the stove, there was no other noise.

Soon all three finished eating, and Coffin Boy indeed paid.

“Next time I’ll treat you,” Qi Yue smiled.

Coffin Boy said nothing, bowed in farewell.

“Hey, Yuan Ziqing,” Qi Yue suddenly called out.

Yuan Ziqing was Coffin Boy’s real name, though few people used it, so much so that Coffin Boy himself almost forgot it.

His steps paused.

“You’re really timid,” Qi Yue shook her head. “Scared by just this? You don’t even dare enter Qianjin Hall’s gates anymore?”

Coffin Boy turned around.

“I’m not scared of this. I’m a…” he said, glaring.

“Unlucky person, right?” Qi Yue raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms and shaking her head. “Really, you’re not even as good as Yan’er.”

Along with Qi Yue’s advertisement for free cleft lip and palate treatment, Yan’er had become well-known as the spokesperson.

At first, Qi Yue worried the Liu family wouldn’t agree—after all, even now, children with cleft lips were still very sensitive about people knowing. But unexpectedly, shortly after returning to the Liu family, Yan’er came over as happily as before. She heard that back at the Liu family, Yan’er actively promoted and showed her mouth to people under Old Madam Liu’s protection. No one in the Liu family dared say a word against it. Not only couldn’t they speak, but if anyone showed even a slight expression toward Yan’er, Old Madam Liu would scold everyone in the Liu family from top to bottom. Given Old Madam Liu’s accumulated resentment over half a lifetime, there was probably still quite a while left of such scolding, especially after Old Madam Liu finally returned to her natal family and nearly died from crying at her deceased parents’ graves.

“You say you’re brave, but actually, dead people can’t cause harm. They can’t speak or do anything—what’s scary about that? Not being afraid of them doesn’t count as being brave,” Qi Yue continued. “Not being afraid of living people, not being afraid of social conventions—that’s truly being brave.”

Coffin Boy lifted his foot to step forward.

Granny Wang, gripping her ladle nervously, couldn’t help stamping her foot.

Coffin Boy stopped again.

“Remember to treat us next time,” he said, turning back. “Women who eat so much, more than I do—what a loss.”

He waved and strode away.

Qi Yue smiled with pursed lips.

“Stingy,” she clicked her tongue and gestured to A’Ru. “Let’s go, time for work.”

A’Ru smiled and followed.

The morning mist cleared and there were more people on the street, with various breakfast vendors’ calls filling the streets. But Granny Wang’s stall had no customers. She stood by the stove wiping tears with her apron.

“Granny Wang, what’s wrong? Were you beaten, scolded, or robbed?” a familiar neighbor asked. “Why are you crying like this so early in the morning?”

“Go away, what do you understand? I just want to cry,” Granny Wang said, waving at the person and indeed starting to cry again, covering her face with her apron.

Yuan Zi’s mother, did you see? Can you rest assured now?

“Thank you, Guanyin Bodhisattva,” Granny Wang slowly pressed her hands together in prayer, her body bending down devoutly, tears streaming down her face. “Forgive this old woman’s sin of harming life for greed back then.”