"You're here," he said, looking down at Yan'er. "Uncle, let's go find Aunt," Yan'er said, tugging his hand. Uncle and Aunt... Chang Yuncheng's smile was somewhat bitter. "Yan'er, don't call her Aunt anymore," he said softly. "Why?" Yan'er glared, clearly displeased. "Because she is no longer your aunt," Chang Yuncheng said, reaching out to smooth Yan'er's hair. "Does Uncle not want Aunt anymore?" Yan'er cried out. "It's that Uncle is unworthy of her wanting him," Chang Yuncheng said with a faint smile, patting her head. "Be good, Yan'er, don't call her that anymore; it's not good for her." Yan'er glared and angrily shoved his hand away. "I won't! She is my aunt!" she shouted, stamping her feet and running off. The maids and servants, seeing that Chang Yuncheng showed no remorse but instead looked annoyed, as if she had caused their young lady distress, followed her away. Chang Yuncheng watched the direction Yan'er had run. How wonderful it is to be a child, able to run toward her without restraint...

Yan'er arrived at the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces but didn't see Qi Yue. "Yan'er is here!" The disciples knew her well and greeted her warmly. "Do you need help?" Yan'er asked, adopting the air of a little adult. The disciples laughed heartily. "Master is in the Wang family's garden," they said after some joking around. "Wait here; she'll be back shortly." But Yan'er was unwilling to wait. "Is it that bad-tempered Wang Qiao'er's garden?" she asked nervously, jumping down from her chair. They nodded. "That won't do! In that scoundrel's home, Aunt will be bullied by her," Yan'er declared, her feet already turning as she hurried away. The disciples behind her laughed. Who could possibly bully your Aunt? It would be a miracle if your Aunt didn't bully others...

Wearing a mask and gloves, Qi Yue slowly scraped the blue mold off the rotten melon with a small bamboo scraper. Several disciples stood quietly around watching. "Like this, place all the scraped-off blue mold into the culture medium," Qi Yue instructed, pouring the collected mold into a small dish beside her. This was distilled water. "Can we extract penicillin like this?" A disciple couldn't help but ask out of curiosity. Qi Yue stopped her work. Of course... she couldn't. "Let's try," she said. Everyone immediately brightened up. "We have enough mold; now everyone focus on making the culture broth," Qi Yue directed. The disciples responded affirmatively. "Pay close attention to maintaining the temperature in the incubator," Qi Yue further cautioned. "Otherwise, the culture broth won't be any good." The disciples acknowledged this and bustled away somewhat chaotically. The room quieted down, and the midday sun streamed onto Qi Yue, who sat on a chair, diligently stirring a tiny vessel. "No microscope either; who knows if the spore suspension meets the standard..." she muttered, but her hands never stopped. She chuckled to herself, judging when it was almost right, then stopped, using a hollow feather as a makeshift dropper to suck up tiny amounts and place them into another container. This was a culture broth made from boiled carrots.

Just as she finished filling one container, she heard a clamor from outside, accompanied by a child's sharp screams and wails. Yan'er reached out and gripped Wang Qiao'er's hair bun. "...She is my Aunt, my Aunt, not your stepmother!" she shrieked. Wang Qiao'er hadn't expected the girl to suddenly lunge at her. Stung, she stomped her feet in agitation and retaliated without hesitation, grabbing Yan'er's hair. "...Who wants her as a stepmother! She wishes! I haven't agreed yet!" she yelled back. Yan'er ignored her, only hearing that her Aunt was going to become this disliked girl's stepmother, filling her with both anger and sadness. Thinking of Chang Yuncheng's words about not calling her Aunt anymore only solidified her suspicions. "You're a bad egg, you're a bad egg! Aunt doesn't want you!" she shouted, shaking Wang Qiao'er's hair. Being bested by a child smaller and uglier than herself, Wang Qiao'er felt utterly humiliated. "Look at your ugly face! Who would want you as an Aunt!" she shouted, giving a fierce shove. Being a year older, she managed to push Yan'er to the ground. "I am this pretty, and my father is handsome too. Of course, she's crying and begging to be my stepmother," Wang Qiao'er sniffed disdainfully. The children's fight drew the attention of the maids and servants who had lagged a few steps behind, and they hurried over. Finally, people came to pull them apart. The disciples, who had been standing at a distance to prevent the little terror from running into the laboratory, breathed a sigh of relief. "How could you, child, act like this... why are you bullying people... why are you bullying my young mistress..." "Hey, you! Why are you being so unreasonable? Your young mistress started it..." "Who saw that? Which one of your eyes saw it... Where did you even come from? So ill-bred..." "You're the ill-bred ones..." "Who are you calling ill-bred? Why did you lay a hand on me?" "I laid a hand on you, so what?" The disciples stared, dumbfounded, watching the servants and maids on both sides start fighting amongst themselves. Was this... breaking up a fight? When do servants act like this?...

Qi Yue came out just in time to see the brawl. "Speak! Why are you fighting!" she demanded, looking at Yan'er and Wang Qiao'er as they were pulled apart. "What business is it of yours?" Wang Qiao'er scoffed, covering her disheveled hair with her hand. "Aunt..." Yan'er clung to her, weeping, her own hair a mess. "You won't leave Yan'er, will you..." Qi Yue was utterly confused by the outburst. "I'm not leaving you, you ugly thing!" Wang Qiao'er said with a hint of triumph. "Go away, go away," Qi Yue glared at her. "And what makes you so pretty? Go look in a mirror! Besides, what does pretty or ugly have to do with you? Why are you so proud? It's something your parents gave you. If anyone should be proud, it's them; what has it got to do with you!" Wang Qiao'er stared, momentarily silenced. This... this stinking woman... She spat and turned, running away. Qi Yue took the sobbing Yan'er, wiping her face, tidying her hair and clothes. "Aunt, you are still Yan'er's Aunt, aren't you?" Yan'er asked through her tears. "Yes," Qi Yue replied with a smile. "You're not going to be someone else's stepmother, are you?" Yan'er sobbed. Qi Yue couldn't help but smile at the question. "Don't listen to what that child said," she laughed. Although Yan'er was young, she knew that wasn't the answer she sought. Aunt is Aunt because of Uncle. If Uncle no longer wanted Aunt, then naturally she wouldn't be Aunt anymore... Aunt was going to be Wang Qiao'er's stepmother, that bad egg... From then on, she would have nothing to do with Yan'er... When Yan'er realized this, her tears fell even harder. "Aunt, you won't leave Uncle, will you?" she asked, clutching Qi Yue's sleeve tightly. Qi Yue was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "I will always be Yan'er's Aunt," she said smilingly. "Really?" Yan'er asked. Yes, when you get older, you'll understand, Qi Yue nodded with a smile. Only then did Yan'er stop crying and manage a weak smile.

Madam Xie's carriage departed the city gates. Chang Yuncheng turned back to look at those who had come to see them off. Only Chang Chunlan and Yan'er were there... This wasn't out of respect for Madam Xie, but out of respect for him. "Eldest sister, you should go back now," he said. Chang Chunlan nodded. "Are you coming back?" she asked. "No. I plan to settle Mother's affairs, and then I will leave Shan Ning Prefecture directly," Chang Yuncheng replied. "Take care of yourself while you are out there," Chang Chunlan said, wiping a tear. Yan'er ran over and took Chang Yuncheng's hand. "Uncle, Uncle, don't worry! I already asked Aunt, and she said she won't leave you!" she announced happily. Although he knew it was just a comforting lie for a child, it still brought him a sense of warmth. Chang Yuncheng smiled and reached out to pat her head. "That's wonderful, Uncle is truly happy," he said. Yan'er cheered excitedly. "I'll definitely tell Aunt," she promised. Chang Chunlan turned her head slightly and wiped a tear. Because of Madam Xie's injury, the carriage traveled slowly. "That Imperial Physician Zhou, how could he be like that!" Old Madam Xie complained, lifting the carriage curtain. "We invited him here; how can he just abandon us?" "He already examined her and said Mother is fine; having Old Doctor An is enough," Chang Yuncheng replied. "I think even if your mother were truly ill, he wouldn't bother," Old Madam Xie sniffed, glancing back toward the Yongqing Prefecture city gate. "He's only focused on circling around that woman!" Chang Yuncheng also looked back, wishing deeply he could see that woman one more time...

"Mistress Qi, you really don't wish to come with me to the capital?" Imperial Physician Zhou asked, his face etched with regret. "No," Qi Yue answered without hesitation, pushing the teacup toward him. "Official Zhou, you've been talking for days; your throat must be hoarse. Drink some more water." Imperial Physician Zhou looked helpless. "The capital is so much fun," he persisted, unwilling to give up, then winked at Qi Yue as if remembering something. "There are plenty of young men there, too." Qi Yue's expression darkened slightly. "You can have all these for free; I apologize, but I cannot accompany you. I have another class to teach," she said, pushing a thick stack of advertisements for the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces toward him while picking up her books to see him out. Imperial Physician Zhou pouted. Dealing with women was always so troublesome. Men were simple—it was money, lust, or power. But women? What could tempt them? Women only cared about home; it was truly vexing! He would have to plan long-term, Imperial Physician Zhou grumbled, grabbing the pile of papers and leaving the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces. "Are these... truly crucial?" He shook one paper, reading the characters. "Disinfection? Sterilization, preventing infection... Can infection even be prevented?"

"Make way, make way..." someone shouted on the street. Several men rushed past, carrying an injured person. Imperial Physician Zhou stepped aside to let them pass, watching the group speed past the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces and onward. "Hey! The place that can save lives and heal injuries is right here!" he couldn't help but call out, then shook his head. "Valuing life, or not valuing life..." The departing group couldn't hear him. If they had, Imperial Physician Zhou would likely have received a beating. "Brother, everyone says the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces is best at treating bruises and sprains..." one of the men commented when he glanced at the passing establishment. "No way. Other doctors said the physicians at the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces always resort to using knives—cutting off legs or opening up stomachs. That severely depletes one's vitality... It was never necessary before; people managed without that approach," the leader flatly refused. They had already rushed into a pharmacy. Inside the pharmacy, another injured person was being treated. The doctor lanced a boil and applied a poultice. "All done. Rest for a couple of days, and you'll be fine," he said. The patient, an old woman, nodded gratefully upon hearing this. "It's the first time a pig has bitten me, and it raised such a big welt," she chuckled. The doctor laughed too. "Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a pig larger than a rabbit," he replied. "I'm going back to slaughter that beast. I'll bring some for you to eat too, Doctor," the old woman laughed. The doctor politely declined, watching her leave. "Doctor, she was hit by a stone," the family member of the new patient quickly said. The doctor nodded and examined the wound. "A fracture," he stated after looking. "You won't need to cut off the leg, will you?" the family members asked nervously. The doctor laughed heartily. "Body, hair, and skin are gifts from our parents; we cannot just carelessly sever them," he said, shaking his head. "We are not like the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces." This sentence had currently become a common catchphrase among most doctors in Yongqing Prefecture, something they would say casually to liven the mood and keep spirits high; they never tired of it. The injured person laughed along, relieved. The doctor looked around and picked up a knife that had just been used. "I'll scrape off the gravel and dirt first," he said. "Hey, Master, this knife was just used..." an apprentice reminded him from the side. "What? Shall we also apply some sort of disinfection treatment?" the doctor asked, thus creating another opportunity to utter that catchphrase: "We are not like the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces..." The apprentice smiled sheepishly. Everyone laughed as well. The doctor said no more, simply rinsing the knife in a basin of water nearby, wiping it with a cloth, and deftly clearing the debris and mud from the wound. The dressing was finished quickly. "See? So simple. If we went to the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces, they would definitely insist on hospitalization or something..." "It's just to squeeze out more money. I heard everything there costs money, even changing the bedsheets daily. That money flows like water into the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces' coffers..." The patient's group left happily, chatting and laughing as they carried the person away.

So hungry... I'm supposed to be dieting and skip dinner, but I haven't been hungry. Since yesterday afternoon, I've been terribly hungry. I ate so much last night, and now I'm hungry again. Am I growing taller? RS