Han Shi looked at Xiao Cao who was biting her lip and wasn’t speaking.

“My child won’t call me mother? It’s all mother’s fault, it’s all mother’s fault……”

Xiao Cao was truly at a loss for what to do. Weakly opening her mouth, she softly said “…Mother.”

Han Shi immediately revealed a surprised smile, this time not hesitating to wrap her arms around Xiao Cao.

Xiao Cao was a bit stiff, but didn’t push her away, and after a moment, she patted her on the back and whispered words of comfort.

This moment could also be considered a tacit understanding, and Han Shi was thinking of immediately packing up their daughter and taking her back home.

Of course, this was impossible. They came so suddenly, and Xiao Cao still needed to see patients today. It was unlikely that she would come back again in the future, so she had to make arrangements. She explained as much to Han Shi.

“How can I let my daughter serve those people?” Han Shi didn’t really have any opinions about the common folk, but her daughter was precious…

“Mother, you’re not saying it correctly.” She didn’t seem angry at all.

Han Shi was about to say something, but was held back by Wenren Taibo. This child could not be treated like the others in the family, who were raised from a young age and had deep feelings. If one were to lecture her or interfere with her affairs now, it would undoubtedly lead to resentment, and it would be difficult to get along with her in the future.

Moreover, “Wife’s words are indeed improper. Our daughter is a doctor with a compassionate heart, and besides, one should finish the task they have started. ——My daughter, just go and busy yourself, and I’ll take a day off today to wait for you with your mother. We’ll stay here and won’t go to the front.”

Xiao Cao was a bit surprised by Wenren Taibo’s reasonable reaction. Although she didn’t know what went on in high society, she knew that the status of a female doctor was relatively low. And regardless of the reason, the matter of a high ranking household producing a female doctor would be shameful, and quickly covered up and swept under the rug.

Children are, to a certain extent, their parents’ “property”. She had thought that his attitude would be more rigid. Xiao Cao thought about it and said nothing. Nodding, she went inside to put on a disguise, making herself look ordinary and unremarkable.

The husband and wife were surprised by Xiao Cao’s change, but their surprise was minimal. Clearly, they were aware of the situation.

When Xiao Cao was practicing medicine outside, she would dress like a married woman. Even during less busy times, when she went out in her normal attire, with a young girl’s hairstyle, she would still modify her appearance subtly, not drawing much attention. Nonetheless, she rarely dressed as a young unmarried girl. These two types of appearances, unless someone intentionally tracked and observed them, were basically impossible to be considered the same person.

At eight years old, she got married, but at that time, it was not possible for her to dress like a woman, in fact, even dressing as a young girl was somewhat unbecoming, and Xue Tingyu did not insist on it, meaning that she would wait until the formal wedding ceremony to style her hair like a woman. Unfortunately, Xiao Cao did not live to see that day.

Even without a formal marriage certificate, Xiao Cao had already acknowledged her relationship with Xue Tingyu as a married couple. Over the past two years, everyone she came into contact with knew she was a widow, and it became even more obvious over the past year. Xiao Cao had truly been devoted to Xue Tingyu, and her daily attire showed it. There were many people who wanted to marry her after Xue Tingyu’s passing, but Xiao Cao flatly refused.

By this time, she had gained a reputation, and her medical practice was not just for financial gain. She gave away medicine and continued to provide free consultations, and the number of people she helped was not small.

Everyone praised her for her kindness and said she was like a living Bodhisattva. Even if there were people with ulterior motives around her, they would still help her and ensure that she was not taken advantage of. Moreover, offending a doctor who is skilled in medicine, kind-hearted, and modestly priced is absolute foolishness.

Wenren Taibo’s people could locate her with ease and were aware of her activities. As a result, they knew her dual identities. However, they remained uncertain about her marital status: she could be dressing as a married woman simply for concealment or she could genuinely be marries.

From now on, Xiao Cao would not be allowed to go out alone again. Wenren Taibo sent someone to follow behind.

The husband and wife duo cautiously surveyed the small courtyard, which comprised three small houses. The courtyard was tidy, and despite the numerous items scattered about, nothing appeared disorganized. One room was a veritable pharmacy, filled with a diverse array of medicines, some processed, others raw, alongside a variety of tools for processing medicinal materials. The second room was a humble kitchen, with very few possessions and relatively few dishes, suggesting a simple and austere lifestyle.

As she thought about the lowest-ranking servants in their household, who ate better than this, Han Shi couldn’t help but shed tears.

Even Wenren Taibo was heartbroken, but could only comfort his wife, saying, “The past is the past, from now on we will be more indulgent and make up for it. My dear, don’t let the past continue to weigh on your mind. If you constantly feel guilty and sorrowful, our daughter will definitely not be happy. Now that we are all together as a family, we should be joyful and happy instead.”

Han Shi wiped away her tears, “Husband is right.”

The third room was clearly Xiao Cao’s bedroom, and Wenren Taibo chose not to enter. As her father, he knew that it wasn’t proper for him to intrude on his daughter’s private space, especially now that she was an adult, lest he inadvertently stumble upon something personal and become embarrassed.

Han Shi entered the room alone, and was met with a sight that reinforced her previous impression: the space was immaculately tidy and organized, with a single bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a large bookshelf beside it, as if nothing in the room belonged to her daughter. However, Han Shi’s gaze became fixed on a small table in the corner, where a memorial tablet stood tribute to her late husband, Xue Tingyu. It took her a good half hour to snap out of her reverie, and then she called out, “Husband, come in quickly!”

When Wenren Taibo heard his wife’s voice again, it was a bit off, so he hurried in and asked, “What’s wrong?” As he looked in the direction indicated by Han Shi, Wenren Taibo’s heart also couldn’t help but be pulled.

“How did my daughter get through these years? How did she get through…?” Han Shi felt that her heart was about to break.

Han Shi couldn’t help but imagine that her daughter had to work hard just to survive. When she got married, she found herself in a very difficult family situation – a vicious mother-in-law, a widowed father-in-law, a savage sister-in-law, a cruel uncle, and a rough sister-in-law. She was subjected to various forms of torture, and her husband was either unloved or sickly, which led to her becoming a widow at a young age. She was then driven out by her cruel in-laws. The family that originally adopted her no longer accepted her, or perhaps her in-laws were the ones who adopted her, and indeed she was a child bride, treated like a slave.

In her imagination, her own daughter was more pitiful than the cabbage in the field. Han Shi cried while sharing her chilling speculations.

Wenren Taibo was left speechless after hearing this. His worries were instantly washed away. If this were true, how did their daughter, who was said to have excellent medical skills, acquire them? He glanced at the papers spread out on the table, and the handwriting that was not bad either. It seemed that she could at least surpass seven or eight out of ten women. Who would take the trouble to teach a servant girl such skills?

Wenren Taibo explained this to Han Shi, who eventually stopped crying and felt a little embarrassed – it was such an obvious thing.

“My dear, you’re too anxious,” he said. “Let’s ask our daughter about this later. Don’t let your imagination run wild now.”

Han Shi nodded.