The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

However, the old lady's words were as firm as a rock and could not be questioned. The two had to suppress their dissatisfaction and began to think about how to raise the money.

On the other side, as the morning light began to break, in the Xie family courtyard, Chen Xi's fingers gently touched the still warm egg, and a smile inadvertently climbed onto his face.

Five plump eggs, like small victories.

Looking at the scene where the renovation of my house is about to be completed, especially the renovation of the kitchen.

The newly added sink has a metallic luster, the storage cabinets are neatly arranged, and everything is in order. This is the result of Xie Tianyi's careful planning. Every design is full of love and expectations for life.

At noon, the air was filled with the aroma of braised pork and the delicious taste of egg soup, which was the delicacy that Chen Xi specially prepared for this auspicious day.

At the dining table at home, laughter and the aroma of food are intertwined.

After dinner, Xie Tianyi walked into the study with a book in his arms.

Chen Rong, Xiaoyang and Xiaochen were playing in the room.

Chen Xi was thinking in his heart that he had been busy with family affairs recently and had not set foot on the familiar forest to collect herbs for a long time.

I have to see patients again tomorrow. If I can prepare the medicinal materials in advance, it will not only be convenient for the patients but also supplement my own medical skills.

So she decided to set off immediately and step into the mountains full of vitality.

On the mountain road, the busy figures of the villagers bending over are looming in the lush greenery. They are busy picking the gift of autumn - fresh mushrooms.

Chen Xi's arrival made everyone look up and greet him with a smile.

After that "killing the chicken to scare the monkey", people's respect for Chen Xi has increased with awe, and no one dares to gossip or make frivolous remarks anymore.

Walking through the crowd, Chen Xi's eyes were attracted by Xu Lihong who was not far away. In her basket, mushrooms were piled up like a small mountain.

Chen Xi walked forward lightly and broke the silence. Upon hearing this, Xu Lihong stopped what she was doing, and the two of them started chatting naturally.

"It seems that you have adapted well. It's only been a few days, but your mushroom picking speed is almost catching up with that of an old hand." Chen Xi's words were filled with a hint of admiration.

Xu Lihong flashed a shy smile on her face. "Yes, there is something to do every day, and my life feels more fulfilling. It's not like when I was at home, when Yu Qiongying and Liu Yonggang always found fault with me. Now I can make a living with my own hands, and I don't have to live by their faces anymore. It's just..."

Chen Xi keenly caught the hesitation in her words, "Just what? Is there any difficulty?"

Xu Lihong's eyes suddenly dimmed, with a bit of guilt and uneasiness, "I haven't had any news about my pregnancy, and I always feel sorry for the Liu family for not being able to give them a boy or a girl."

Chen Xi heard this, her eyes were gentle and deep, "It's not your fault that you can't get pregnant, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Did Liu Yonggang accompany you to the clinic for a checkup?"

Xu Lihong shook her head, a hint of disappointment flashed across her eyes. "No, I went there alone. He never accompanied me and didn't care about it."

Chen Xi frowned slightly, and his tone was more resolute, "Have you ever thought that maybe the problem is not with you, but with him? Don't always take all the blame on yourself."

Xu Lihong opened her eyes wide in surprise.

For a long time, facing Yu Qiongying's scolding and Liu Yonggang's indifference, she had silently carried the blame of infertility.

Now, Chen Xi's words made her realize for the first time that the root of the problem might not be herself.

"Chen Xi, what should I do?" Xu Lihong's eyes were full of confusion and helplessness, and she stared at Chen Xi closely.

Chen Xi thought about it and gently suggested: "How about this, find a time that is convenient for both of you, and have your husband accompany you to the clinic where I see patients. I will give you a comprehensive examination to find out the problem. Please note that I only see patients every other day, so don't make a wasted trip."

She paused, a trace of caution flashed in her eyes, and added: "Also, don't tell your mother-in-law about your situation for the time being. You know, she is a difficult person. Let's try to avoid unnecessary trouble. I don't want to cause trouble for no reason."

Hearing this, Xu Lihong felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She held Chen Xi's hand tightly and said, "Chen Xi, thank you so much. If it weren't for your advice, I would have no idea at all. I feel like I'm about to be crushed by this problem."

Chen Xi patted the back of her hand and said firmly: "You have to learn to be independent and rely on yourself. Women should always have their own opinions and abilities, just like I can identify various herbs and have a deep understanding of medical principles. And you, although you are now around the kitchen all day, you are slowly changing."

"How I wish I could be like you, have insights and be self-reliant, and not completely rely on men to live." Xu Lihong's eyes sparkled with longing and determination.

"You've done very well. You've started to learn to be independent and no longer rely on your husband's family for everything. You've also learned to secretly save some money for yourself. This is progress."

Chen Xi remembered that he had encouraged Xu Lihong not to be restricted by others. For example, when picking mushrooms, others could only pick a maximum of 50 kilograms a day, but she was not subject to this limit. She could keep the extra part for herself and make plans for the future.

For Xu Lihong, Chen Xi was like a ray of light in this world. Apart from her deceased mother, no one else treated her as gently as he did.

Thinking about how her father was addicted to alcohol and gambling all day long and how she spent her childhood in an environment lacking love, she would be deeply moved when her husband Liu Yonggang showed her even the slightest care.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. I'm going to go up the mountain to see if I can find some herbs. You can continue picking mushrooms here."

After saying goodbye, Chen Xi picked up his backpack and set foot on the path leading deep into the forest.

The hillside has become bare due to frequent collection, and the high-quality herbs that were easy to find in the past are no longer visible.

She decided to head towards the top of the mountain, where there were few people and plenty of sunshine, so there were likely many rare herbs growing there.

Although the climbing process is very arduous, the air at the top of the mountain is extremely fresh, carrying the fragrance of trees and wild flowers unique to the forest, which makes people feel refreshed.

After a short rest, Chen Xi stood on the top of the mountain overlooking the mountains and rivers. With clouds and mist lingering under his feet, his legs couldn't help but feel weak.

But she quickly adjusted herself and set out on the journey of finding herbs.

The soil on the mountaintop is extremely fertile and lush, in stark contrast to the land on the mountainside that has become barren due to over-harvesting.

Chen Xi realized that the future collection of medicinal materials might have to rely on this undeveloped mountaintop area.

Fortunately, after walking a few steps, I found a few plants of Isatis root. Although the market price is not too high, it is an indispensable medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying.

As he walked deeper, Chen Xi was pleasantly surprised to find a ginseng of better quality in a hidden crevice. Compared with the one he had seen before, this ginseng seemed to be more vigorous, with luxuriant branches and leaves.