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The next morning, early.
Huo Family's small villa.
The driver had been waiting at the door since early morning and respectfully opened the car door when he saw Qiao Xi approaching.
Just as Qiao Xi was about to get into the car, she saw the man lounging inside. Despite his seemingly calm and cool demeanor, a hint of asceticism was added by a red mole on his neck.
Qiao Xi was surprised.
She had told Huo Xingzhou that morning that she was going to the traditional Chinese pharmacy to buy some herbs, but she hadn't expected him to be in the car.
"I'll accompany you," the man said indifferently.
Qiao Xi nodded reservedly.
As the car traveled, he flipped through his phone, while she distractedly gazed out of the window, bored and restless.
"Young Master, Young Madam. We've arrived, but it's difficult to park in front of the Wanren Hall," the driver said.
The driver parked the car at the parking lot at the end of the street.
Qiao Xi glanced at Huo Xingzhou's legs and said, "Mr. Huo, you should wait for me in the car."
"Hmm."
He just didn't feel at ease with her going out on her own.
Huo Xingzhou continued to browse his phone in the car while Qiao Xi walked toward the bustling street.
Wanren Hall was the largest traditional Chinese pharmacy in Haicheng, and from a distance, Qiao Xi could see a dense crowd of people, congested and unable to move.
As she got closer, she listened to the conversation and learned that Wanren Hall had been substituting inferior herbs for good ones, and customers had come to demand an explanation, leading to a dispute.
"Our herbs are of the highest quality, if you don't have evidence, don't falsely accuse us!" the Pharmacist shouted, his face flushed with anger, "Who knows if you are just trying to extort us!"
"Nonsense! I even have the prescription for the medicine I bought!"
"Compensation! You make dirty money! What if patients get harmed from these?"
The Pharmacist dismissed the customers harshly, "Get out of here, stop making a scene! Offending our boss will do you no good!"
With that, he closed the door, and the crowd suddenly became chaotic, pushing and shoving.
Then, a scream!
"Someone has fainted!"
"Quick, call an ambulance! Is there a doctor?"
A pale-faced young man was lying on the ground, his breathing weak, unconscious. The onlookers dared not touch him, fearing that he might die from their inadvertent actions!
Seeing this, Qiao Xi quickly approached and shouted, "Please step back and give him some air!"
She knelt down to check on him. The patient's limbs were cold, his eyes sunken and mouth agape. It was a simple case of fainting due to deficiency. She took a needle from her sleeve and inserted it into the Baihui and Shuigou acupoints to revive his consciousness and clear his orifices.
Her expression was composed, and her fingers exceptionally steady, which any expert could tell was a demonstration of skilled acupuncture.
"Little girl, are you sure about this? Human life is at stake. This is no time to play hero," a middle-aged onlooker said. But before he could finish, they saw the handsome, weak man slowly open his eyes.
"He's awake, he's awake."
"Who would have thought such a young girl could be so skilled!"
The Sun Family's eldest young master came to, and saw a young girl with a delicate face and pure aura leaning over him, like a Fairy. A look of fascination flashed in his eyes, and just as he was about to thank her,
The Fairy said, "You have weakness in your waist and knees due to insufficient kidney energy. You should still go to the hospital for a thorough check-up. Due to the limitations here, I only used acupuncture on you."
He nearly fainted again in astonishment.
After ensuring he was alright, Qiao Xi removed the needles and left. Since Wanren Hall had issues with their herbs, she decided to go to Fu'an Hall opposite to buy them.
"Young man, the lady said you have kidney deficiency. Listen to this old brother's advice, those things have fixed limits, the more you use, the worse they get. Take good care of your body," a concerned member of the crowd spoke up loudly.
He might as well be dead today.
"Weimeng, my precious son!" Mrs. Sun decked out in gold and silver rushed over with her bag, tears streaming down her face, "I told you not to eat those Chinese medicines indiscriminately. Why didn't you listen? Visiting Wanren Hall every day for medicines, believing those charlatans!"
"Mom, don't call me by my full name!" Sun Weimeng lay on the ground, weak and about to cry. There was no one left in this world that he cared about.
The onlookers were abuzz, recounting the recent perilous events and the young doctor's instructions.
"Where is that life savior? Our Sun Family must reward her handsomely!" Mrs. Sun asked.
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"Look, there she is across the street!"
Mrs. Sun, who loved her son dearly, looked across and saw a familiar face, and she froze in shock!
How could it be her!
Qiao Xi had no idea someone had recognized her as she carried a bunch of herbs to the car.
"So long?" the man asked as he put down his phone and looked at her.
"There was a little accident."
A dark light flashed across Huo Xingzhou's eyes, but without looking into it further, he said, "The family called; my sister and father have come home."
"Should I prepare some gifts for meeting them?"
"No need, they should be preparing them for you."
When the two returned home, the sound of the television and voices filled the living room. As soon as Qiao Xi entered, she saw an adorable and vivacious girl running towards her, "Sister-in-law! I'm Jiaojiao."
"Hello."
Qiao Xi really liked such straightforward and pure-hearted girls.
"Qiao Xi, nice to meet you for the first time. I missed your wedding," Huo Xingzhou's father, Huo Jiancheng, said as he stuffed a big red envelope into Qiao Xi's hand, "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I went with something a bit tacky."
Qiao Xi glanced at Huo Xingzhou, who gestured for her to accept it.
She pinched the thick red envelope and said, "Thank you."
"Sister-in-law, you really shouldn't be so polite with my dad. He has plenty of his own money," Jiaojiao said.
Mrs. Huo the second glared at her, "Don't be disrespectful; watch how you speak."
Huo Sijiao said, "I'm just happy to see my sister-in-law, ma. She's so much better than that heartless woman who ran away after the car accident, even though she was from the Star Moon…"
"Jiaojiao!"
Mrs. Huo the second sharply cut her off, and Huo Sijiao shrank her shoulders, daring not to continue. She realized it was not good to speak of that woman in front of Qiao Xi.
Star Moon... the foundation?
Qiao Xi was puzzled and not sure, deciding to ask Huo Xingzhou when she had the chance.
"Sir, madam," Aunt Qian reported, "the old house called to say there's a dinner gathering tonight." The Huo Family held a family banquet once a month.
Du Juan frowned, a bit displeased, "Why throw a banquet at such a critical time? It's like a wolf celebrating the New Year with a chicken; they must have ill intentions."
Seeing this, Huo Jiancheng reassured her, "If you don't want to go, I'll call and say our branch of the family won't attend."
He picked up his phone and called the old house to explain the situation. However, before hanging up, the whole family saw his expression grow more solemn and serious.
"Is this information real?" Huo Jiancheng's voice trembled as he spoke.
After getting a response, he hung up the phone, looking dazed.
"What happened?" Du Juan asked anxiously.
Huo Jiancheng glanced at his family, then whispered a few words in her ear.
Du Juan was shocked, "Is this news true?"
"Absolutely certain; the old master has already verified it."
"Go! Even if it's a trap, I'll face it. I can't miss such an opportunity," Du Juan declared resolutely.
Huo Sijiao complained sourly, "Mom, what's so good about this family banquet? The main branch surely wants to humiliate us, and I don't want to see the smug look on Huo Beiting's face."
"We must go because they have found Cheng Han's disciple who says he can cure this condition."
Huo Sijiao gasped in surprise, joy rising to her brows.
"My brother's legs can be healed!"
Hearing this, Qiao Xi looked down at Huo Xingzhou. Compared to her, an unknown small fry, he must trust Cheng Han's disciple more.
The light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast a soft glow on his chiseled face, yet it couldn't penetrate the depths of his eyes. His face bore no sign of happiness; instead, he gently took her wrist and advised her in a low voice.
"At the old house, no matter what happens, stand behind me and don't speak."
Qiao Xi was taken aback.
Could the family banquet turn problematic?