Chapter 7

Chapter 7: A Long Road Ahead

Zhang Shi took Ding Xiang's small clothes and hat, feeling their softness and smoothness, and admired the seven small but round and full pearls on the hat.

She remarked, "Though these pearls are small, they are perfectly round and of excellent quality."

"Ding Zhao said, 'Don’t sell or discard anything belonging to Xiang Xiang. They are her possessions from her previous home. That conspicuous wooden box, though, can be split and used as firewood.'"

"'While we are in the capital these few days, make sure to keep the child well-guarded and prevent her cries from being heard outside. If neighbors inquire, deny having a child and say we also heard crying but don’t know where it’s from.'"

"Mrs. Zhang agreed, 'Right, I won't hang the washed clothes and diapers outside, only inside the house. We also can't let anyone enter the house...'"

"Xun Xiang mentally applauded this kind and clever couple. She had been worried they might sell or throw away the clothes and swaddling clothes, which could be crucial later."

"The little gold bracelet that Princess Mother had put on her wrist was gone. It was a gift from the Empress Dowager, surely now worn by Feng Jie."

"The items she had worn and brought with her, even if adorned with pearls, were common enough not to be noticed as missing by Princess Mother."

"Xun Xiang had seen their blurred faces when they held and kissed her. Even in their flat appearances, she could tell they were young, in their twenties."

The new mother had thick lips and smiling crescent eyes, speaking in a gentle and warm manner, showing her tender nature. The new father had a large face, small eyes, a round nose, and a small, upturned mouth, somewhat resembling Yue Moumou, a cross-talk comedian from the previous world. His appearance was simple, but he was methodical in his actions and speech, a genuinely intelligent person.

Despite their ordinary looks, their eyes were filled with love for Ding Xiang, which comforted her.

Zhang used soft old clothes to make diaper cloths and smaller clothes for Ding Xiang and asked Ding Zhao to buy some soft fine cloth from the market the next day.

The couple then shared amusing stories about their family and discussed future plans, letting Ding Xiang know more about their household.

They originally came from a village called Bei Quan in Gu An Town, Lin Shui County, Jiao Dong Province. They owned a blacksmith shop in the town and fifteen acres of farmland in the countryside.

Ding Zhao's mother had passed away early, and his father was still alive. The father and son worked as blacksmiths, leasing their land to others. They had two sons, seven-year-old Ding Li Chun and four-year-old Ding Li Ren.

Ding Zhao also had a younger brother, who seemed to have a strained relationship with their father and lived in the county town with his wife and son.

Two years ago, Ding Zhao suddenly lost the use of his left arm, a devastating blow for a blacksmith. They were extremely worried and sought many doctors, but to no avail.

While seeking medical treatment in the city, Ding Zhao happened to save an elderly lady who fell. Her son was a doctor.

This doctor said Ding Zhao had blood stasis and qi stagnation, which could be easy or difficult to treat. Since he hadn’t recovered after so long, it indicated a severe condition. If financially possible, he suggested going to the Thousand Gold Pavilion in the capital to see Doctor Fang, who was skilled in treating such conditions. He knew Doctor Fang and could write a referral letter.

Ding Zhao discussed with his father, who couldn't bear to see him disabled at such a young age. Although not wealthy, they had some savings.

Last August, Ding Zhao came to the capital with eighty taels of silver, half of the family's savings, to seek treatment from Doctor Fang. As he couldn’t use one arm, Zhang accompanied him to take care of his needs. Meanwhile, the father and the two children had to pay neighbors to help with cooking and laundry.

Doctor Fang said that with regular acupuncture and medication, there was an 80% chance of curing Ding Zhao's condition, which would likely take one to two years. If it wasn't cured within this time frame, there would be nothing more he could do.

"Doctor Fang was not only highly skilled in medicine but also a kind-hearted person."

"Seeing that they were not wealthy and had traveled a long way to the capital to seek his treatment, especially as they were referred by an old friend of his youth, he employed Ding Zhao, who was able-bodied and strong, to help grind medicines. This arrangement made it convenient for Ding Zhao to receive treatment while also earning some money."

"Heard that Zhang was quick and adept at making braids, he also helped his daughter-in-law introduce her to an embroidery shop."

"Ding Zhao and Zhang rented a small courtyard with only three old rooms, managing to get by."

"Doctor Fang truly was a miracle worker. Within a year, Ding Zhao’s illness was cured."

"The couple was overjoyed. With twenty taels of silver remaining, they spent eight taels on a generous gift for Doctor Fang. The rest was to be used for boat tickets and to buy some things for their hometown, as they planned to return in two days."

"They hadn’t expected to find such a beautiful little girl today."

"Ding Xiang understood. No wonder they wanted to adopt a child they felt a connection with; they were a moderately well-off family. Had they been impoverished and already had sons, they wouldn't have adopted another child just for her cuteness, unless they had plans for her as a future child bride."

"Ding Xiang felt both lucky and moved. They genuinely wanted to treat her as their daughter, even discussing her fictional birthdate."

"This couple was not only kind-hearted but also resistant to temptation; even the high reward offered by He PoPo didn't sway them."

"Good people live peaceful lives, good deeds bring good karma, the righteous are protected by the heavens, and those who give roses retain their fragrance… you will be blessed."

"From their conversation, it seemed that water transport was highly developed in this era. The Jing-Qian Grand Canal passed through Lin Shui County, making their journey to the capital quite convenient."

"From Bei Quan Village, it was a one-and-a-half-hour donkey cart ride to Lin Shui County’s port. The boat trip to the capital took about eight to twelve days, depending on the weather and wind direction, except in extreme weather. Upon reaching the suburban port of the capital, it was another three-hour donkey cart ride to the southern gate of the capital."

"In ancient times, places with canal ports were like places with airports or train stations in her previous life – economically developed and conducive for business."

"The Jing-Qian Grand Canal here must be the Jing-Hang Grand Canal from her previous life, with Qianzhou being Hangzhou."

"Ding Xiang also wanted to leave the capital quickly. Her unique constitution made her fearful of being found and silenced by the Xun family."

"Li Mama’s face again appeared before her eyes. Having seen it longer, the face was clearer than those of the Princess Mother and her little brother."

"Ding Xiang swore to remember those few blood relatives, as well as the wrongdoers, and never forget them, vowing to return for revenge."

"To seek revenge, one needs resources, not just financial but also connections. She also needed a convincing reason and approach; she couldn’t just say that a one-month-old baby heard their evil plans."

"However, to be someone of use, she’d have to wait until she was at least six or seven years old. To accumulate enough wealth and powerful connections, who knows how long it would take."

"It’s a long road ahead."

"Leaving that splendid home, Ding Xiang felt a bit sad, but the joy of escaping calamity and surviving a great danger outweighed the sadness. Coupled with her experiences from the previous life, she calmly and readily accepted her new parents and the drastic change in her destiny."

"But the days of 'lying low' were hard to endure."

"Suddenly, the gate of the courtyard sounded."

"The couple became visibly tense."

"Thank you to 'Sunny Days', 'Mirror Basket', 'Melanie Loves Qingquan' for your rewards, to 'Gentle Point' for the monthly ticket, and to all of you for your support."