Chapter 465: Chapter 452: How Could She Not Have Thought of That?

Seeing Cheng Ruize hesitant, Fang Hou quickly reminded him, “Manager Zhuang said that because this pill is very bitter, it is coated with maltose on the outside for easier consumption. Nevertheless, Manager Zhuang emphasized that it must be swallowed whole and not bitten into by being tempted by its sweetness, otherwise it would lose its medicinal properties.”

“Okay.” Cheng Ruize dismissed his earlier idea to chew the pill, picked it up, placed it in his mouth and swallowed it down with warm water.

After swallowing the pill, there seemed to be a lingering sweetness in his throat.

By the time he swallowed the second pill, the sweet sensation was even stronger.

Cheng Ruize couldn’t help but lick his lips.

Unfortunately, there was no sweetness on his lips. Instead, there was the bitterness from the herbal tonics he had been drinking these past few days.

This caused Cheng Ruize to furrow his brows.

He had to admit, this was a lot more pleasant than drinking those bitter tonics. If all medicines were this pleasant, Cheng Ruize believed he would probably no longer fear falling ill in the future.

After taking the pills, Cheng Ruize lay down again.

His body was too weak. Even the simple act of taking medicine made him feel incredibly tired, gasping for breath.

But thankfully, at that moment, his mind seemed clear, much better than the foggy head he had been dealing with lately.

“Prepare some food, I’m a bit hungry.” Cheng Ruize ordered, rubbing his empty stomach.

During this time, Cheng Ruize had been very ill. Everyday, he was drinking bitter medicinal soups which left him with almost no appetite for meals. Even though the kitchen prepared exquisite and palatable dishes, he had no interest in looking at them, let alone eating them.

However, he knew that if he continued not to eat, his body would not be able to handle it, thus he forced himself to eat a bit. But his forced appetite only allowed him to consume a few bites.

Looking at this situation made Fang Hou anxious. Now, seeing Cheng Ruize saying he was hungry and wanted to eat, Fang Hou naturally responded with joy, and hurriedly ordered someone to prepare food.

Seeing Fang Hou’s childlike joy, Cheng Ruize couldn’t help but put his hand on his forehead and chuckled helplessly.

His illness had truly worried everyone.

But considering his current state of heightened mental clarity, he should be able to recover soon, right?

Manager Zhuang’s medical skills were undoubtedly… incredibly commendable?

Cheng Ruize squinted his eyes.

—-

With the weather being cold, the sun set early,

By the time Zhuang Qingning returned home, the sun was already setting in the west.

Looking at the remaining light in the western sky, Zhuang Qingning sighed with some helplessness.

Despite rushing all the time, trying to get back home early, she still arrived this late.

By this time, Fan Wenxuan and Chu Jinzhou had probably already left.

Sure enough, when Zhuang Qingning entered the courtyard, only Qingsui ran over joyfully, “Sister, you’re back.”

“Yes, and I brought lots of good food and fun things.” Zhuang Qingning rubbed Qingsui’s little head, “Do you want to see?”

“Yes.” Qingsui nodded, but she hugged Zhuang Qingning’s waist and was unwilling to let go, rubbing against her like a kinked sugar candy, “I really missed you.”

“What’s wrong, you missed your sister so much just because she was out for one day?” Zhuang Qingning looked at her with a teasing smile, “Now I really have to ask, do you miss your sister or the things your sister brought back?”

“Of course I missed sister!” Qingsui tilted up her little face and replied earnestly.

If she missed the items Zhuang Qingning purchased, it would’ve been understandable. But if she missed her, Zhuang Qingning really didn’t know what was going on with her little sister.

Before Zhuang Qingning could inquire further, Qingsui sighed deeply on her own, “Sister, don’t think it’s strange. Today, when Jinzhou and I were chatting, he said he misses his big brother a lot. But his big brother is too busy and seldom comes to see him.”

“Even though he wishes that his big brother would accompany him often, he knows that his big brother is very busy during the day and he can’t be unreasonable…”

“Listening to Jinzhou’s pitiful words, I suddenly feel extremely fortunate. Sister can accompany me every day, and I can see sister every day.”

So that was the reason.

Zhuang Qingning lovingly stroked Qingsui’s little head.

Indeed, even though Qingsui lost her parents, she had her sister to keep her company every day, which made her feel joyous.

However, Jinzhou was a genuine latchkey child. Despite having housekeeper Ning Feng’s meticulous care, and Mr. Fan Wenxuan’s careful tutoring, to Jinzhou, something was still lacking.

Seeing this, Qingsui naturally felt uncomfortable.

“In this case, you and Mingli should accompany Jinzhou more. With you two messing around him, he will probably miss his big brother less and won’t feel so sad.” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile.

“Okay.” Qingsui nodded, “Mingli and I have planned to take Jinzhou to sow wheat in the next few days.”

“Jinzhou saw that others were busy sowing wheat in the fields and was very curious. We will take him to sow wheat to make him happy.”

“Good.” Zhuang Qingning nodded in agreement and put down the basket in her hand, “You should also take a look at what is inside and figure out how to distribute it among you.”

“Yes!” Qingsui excitedly opened the basket to inspect the various snacks and toys. While dividing the items, she murmured to herself.

“This is for Mingli, this is for me, this is for Jinzhou…”

“Well, this…never mind, give it to Jinzhou, we will eat it someday.”

Seeing Qingsui narrowing her mouth and dividing the items, and the pile of items belonging to Jinzhou obviously being larger than hers and Mingli’s, Zhuang Qingning laughed.

She knew how to care for others, she was kind-hearted, which was really good.

And Chu Jinzhou, indeed deserved to be cared for.

After all, his beloved elder brother was thousands of miles away in the capital city. He didn’t know any of Chu Jinnian’s situation, and it weighed heavy on his mind.

However, since Chu Jinnian decided to leave his beloved brother here, so far away, he must have his reasons. Perhaps he wanted to keep him away from some disputes?

After all, when separated by thousands of miles during an era when communication was not developed, some words would not be heard, some people would not be seen and naturally, some things would not happen.

…

Yes, what about being thousands of miles away, why had she not thought of that?

Zhuang Qingning suddenly came to her senses, and slapped her forehead.

Really, why didn’t she think of this before?

Zhuang Qingning’s eyes sparkled, and a smile also appeared at the corner of her mouth, “By the way, did Jinzhou ever mention when Master Chu would come back?”

“Let me think…” Qingsui tilted her head, “Jinzhou seemed to say that his brother would be back by the end of the month, I think.”