The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

Time passed quietly, and when the sun was shining on the hillside, Xu Lihong took out the simple lunch she had prepared from her cloth bag.

At the same time, Chen Xi finally finished her intense morning diagnosis and treatment. Ten patients came one after another, causing her neck and back to ache.

At home, Xie Tianyi prepared a meal carefully, but Chen Xi did not come back.

After a period of anxious waiting, he had to let Xiaoyang and Xiaochen enjoy lunch first, while he stubbornly stayed at the dining table.

Although he hasn't cooked for many years, his cooking skills are still amazingly proficient. From the way Xiaoyang and Xiaochen wolf down their food, it can be seen that the taste of this meal is extraordinary.

As the last patient left with satisfaction, Chen Xi happened to meet Wanyu, the owner of the herbal medicine shop, who was about to go down the stairs at the end of the corridor.

"Shopkeeper, I remembered that I picked a blue flower herb in the mountains yesterday. I wonder if your herbal medicine shop needs it?"

Chen Xi's words were full of anticipation as he gently held the precious herb that was carefully wrapped in his hands.

Wanyu gently took the bunch of blue flowers, and her fingertips subtly felt the natural coolness transmitted between the leaves.

It has unique medicinal effects and can effectively promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. It is a rare item that many pharmacists dream of.

"Who are you and how could you find such a rare herb?" There was a curiosity gleam in her eyes and a hint of disbelief in her tone.

Chen Xi raised a playful smile at the corner of his mouth, his eyes flickering with a teasing light: "Oh, that place is my exclusive secret base, precious and unknown to others."

Wanyu was amused by her humor, and her laughter was as sweet as a silver bell: "The God of Luck favors you more than anyone else. You either stumble upon ginseng in the mountains or find blue flowers in the valleys. You are simply a walking treasure detector!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xi patted his chest exaggeratedly and said in a serious tone, "Oh, there's nothing I can do. Luck is something that sometimes cannot be stopped. It's like a treasure specially prepared for me, lying there obediently, waiting for me to discover it!"

"Okay, okay, you are our lucky star." Wanyu smiled and shook her head, but her eyes were full of friendliness and acceptance towards Chen Xi.

The afterglow of the setting sun quietly spread across the sky, dyeing the earth with a gentle orange-red.

Chen Xi thought of Xie Tianyi who might be anxiously waiting at home, and he felt a sense of eagerness to return home.

"So, how much silver do you plan to give me in exchange for this precious blue flower?"

She couldn't wait to know the answer, hoping to complete the transaction as soon as possible and return to that warm little home.

Wanyu narrowed her eyes, as if she was evaluating something. After a moment, she gave her answer: "I'm willing to pay eighty taels of silver for this one. How about that?"

Chen Xi heard this, and a hint of hesitation flashed across his brows.

Seeing this, Wanyu quickly added, "Believe me, this price is absolutely fair. Looking across the entire Heping Town, you won't find anyone more willing to pay a higher price than me."

Chen Xi weighed the pros and cons secretly, his mind flashing back to his daily interactions with Wanyu, especially Wanyu's firm stance and support during the incident with Old Lady Chen.

"Well, for the sake of our friendship, I believe you won't let me suffer any loss." She finally nodded in agreement.

After the transaction was completed, Chen Xi carefully put away the banknotes, said goodbye to Wanyu, began to pack his luggage, and set off on his journey home.

But as soon as she went out, she suddenly realized that she had forgotten to inform Xie Tianyi in advance that he might be back late. She couldn't help feeling a little sorry, thinking that Xie Tianyi might be waiting anxiously at home.

In order to avoid the risk of carrying silver bills on the road, Chen Xi deliberately found a hidden corner and carefully stored the newly obtained silver bills, together with his previous savings, totaling three hundred taels, into the space.

On the other side, Xie Tianyi paced anxiously in front of his house, looking towards the end of the path again and again, expecting to meet Chen Xi, but each time he just looked away in disappointment.

As the night deepened, the uneasiness in his heart grew like weeds. He wanted to go out and look for her, but he was worried about his leg injury that had just healed. He didn't want this incident to cause unnecessary commotion in the village.

Just when he was extremely confused, Chen Xi's familiar figure finally appeared in the farthest distance of his sight, walking towards the door step by step.

A huge stone in Xie Tianyi's heart fell to the ground instantly, and he took two steps at a time to meet him, and asked with concern: "Why did you come back so late today? Did the shopkeeper make things difficult for you, or are there too many patients to handle?"

After crossing the threshold, Chen Xi went straight to the table, skillfully poured himself a glass of water, and drank it all in one gulp.

After the thirst in his throat eased a little, Chen Xi slowly spoke and told about what happened today: "I left a little late today, and when I arrived at the clinic, I found that the patients had already lined up in a long line. Each of them had waited for so long, and I couldn't bear to let them go back empty-handed, so I tried my best to treat each of them. In addition, selling medicinal materials took up some time, so it was getting late."

"Since you didn't come back, I was just about to go look for you, and then you came in."

Xie Tianyi's tone was gentle and concerned, with a faint smile on his lips.

Chen Xi suddenly realized that he had rushed to the clinic to deal with an emergency in the morning, and his steps were so hurried that he completely forgot to leave a message for him.

"I was in a hurry to go out this morning. The patient's condition was urgent, so I forgot everything for a moment. If I come back late, you should eat first, and don't go hungry waiting for me. Where are Xiaoyang and Xiaochen? Why can't I hear their voices?"

There was a hint of tenderness and worry in her eyes, and her gaze moved around, trying to catch the trace of the two little figures.

"The two little guys have been growling with hunger for a long time, so I fed them in advance. Chen Rong should be telling them stories in the room right now, getting ready for bed."

When Xie Tianyi answered, his brows revealed a kind of kindness that was unique to a father.

Chen Xi nodded gently to show his understanding, and then asked with concern: "Have you eaten yet? Don't tell me you have been waiting for me again."

"No, I thought it would taste better if we eat together." Xie Tianyi's answer was concise and warm, but it also inadvertently touched a strange feeling deep in Chen Xi's heart.

When he was unable to move around easily due to a leg injury, the two of them seemed to get along more casually and freely, without so much deliberate waiting and care.

Now that his health has recovered, this kind of delicate care that I was not used to has quietly grown on me, which makes people feel touched but also a little uncomfortable.

Xie Tianyi keenly caught Chen Xi's subtle emotional changes, turned around and walked into the kitchen without leaving a trace, and began to busily prepare the dishes.

On the dining table, hot meals are waiting quietly, and the homely warmth diffuses through the curling steam.

The two of them sat opposite each other, each silently eating the rice in their bowls. There seemed to be a subtle sense of awkwardness floating in the air.