"Alright!"
Fu Shan was even happier than the little girl, and he quickly returned to the research institute's small store to buy several boxes of milk and fruit, then left with Zhou Xuan.
The two arrived at the little girl's small house.
It was only a single-story house.
But despite its small size, it had everything it needed.
Hearing footsteps and Fu Shan's call, the little girl peeked out from the doorway, still sucking on her finger.
It seemed she was truly hungry.
Seeing the things in Fu Shan's hands, she swallowed hard.
"Brother Fu Shan, big brother..."
An old voice came from inside the house.
"Fufu, who's here?"
"Is it Boss Qiu?"
Fufu shook her head, knowing her grandmother couldn't see, but she still shook her head.
After a while, she finally shifted her gaze from the food and replied weakly, "Grandma, it's big brother, Brother Fu Shan who's here."
"Then why don't you quickly invite them in?"
The old woman sounded a bit anxious.
Zhou Xuan and Fu Shan hurried inside.
The room was large and very old, with all the furniture worn and tattered, looking as if no one had lived there for many years.
This house couldn't hide anything; it could be seen from one end to the other.
Only the bathroom door was closed.
Everything else was very clean.
Now, it looked a little messy.
It was likely because the old woman was ill and didn't have the time to tidy up.
The old woman was lying on the bed, her complexion sallow, her eyes sunken, appearing very frail.
She didn't react when she heard someone enter, merely glancing with the corner of her eye before closing them again.
"Grandma, what's wrong?"
Zhou Xuan asked with concern.
"Grandma... Fufu is hungry!"
The little girl also called out a couple of times.
Fu Shan cautiously said to the old woman, "Grandma, this is what I brought. This is my master; he wants to see you."
"Stop babbling!"
The old woman suddenly opened her eyes and yelled angrily.
Both the frightened little girl and Zhou Xuan took a step back.
"I'm not sick, I don't need treatment!"
"Take your things and leave, I have nothing to give you!"
After speaking, the old woman buried her head under the covers, ignoring them.
"Grandma, your illness isn't an illness, it's an injury to your body, so you need to rest. Otherwise, it will only worsen, and you might never wake up again!"
Zhou Xuan persuaded her earnestly, but the old woman remained unmoved.
"This is easily treatable."
Zhou Xuan could tell that the old woman seemed to have a spiritual ailment.
"You don't need to worry about my medical skills."
"And I'm not here for anything; I was just passing by and heard Fu Shan say you were ill."
Hearing this, her closed eyes opened again, her pupils rolled, and she suddenly sat up.
"Young man, Grandma has something she wants to tell you!"
"Whatever you need, just say the word. As long as I can do it, I will definitely help you with it!" Zhou Xuan said as he helped her lie back down, assuring her.
"Fufu, you see..." The old woman took his hand, her eyes filled with endless longing and hope, "If... if Grandma is no longer here, I hope you can take good care of her for me.
I know I won't be able to raise the child until adulthood with my current health. I'll trouble you to send her to an orphanage later!"
Zhou Xuan nodded in agreement. He could feel the deep affection emanating from the old woman's eyes.
"Grandma..." Zhou Xuan called out softly, "Don't worry, I promise you, I will raise Fufu properly."
"The Zhou Corporation has invested in opening orphanages; this is something I can do. Please rest assured!"
"Young man, then you must remember what I told you today!" The old woman's eyes were moist.
"What's your name?"
"Your junior's name is Zhou Xuan. Please call me Zhou Xuan!"
"Zhou Xuan, although we've only met once, I'm asking you to do this. It seems like I'm troubling you, young man."
"Yes, I remember everything. Please rest well." Zhou Xuan propped up the pillow higher, making the old woman more comfortable.
Fufu, led by Fu Shan, puffed out her cheeks and drank her milk, holding a steamed bun in her hand.
Seeing this scene, the old woman's face showed a satisfied and gratified smile. She slowly closed her eyes, seemingly falling into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, Zhou Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He could tell from the old woman's complexion that she was genuinely very ill this time.
Zhou Xuan took out his acupuncture kit and gave the elder some acupuncture.
Soon, she slept even more soundly.
Fufu stopped eating her bun and stared at him blankly.
"Fufu, Grandma is sick. Let's go out and not disturb her."
Outside.
Fufu looked bewildered.
Zhou Xuan looked at the child and sighed.
They played with the child for the entire afternoon until the sun began to set.
"Cough cough..."
The old woman in the house woke up.
Fufu hurried in with her short legs.
"Grandma. Eat, eat this, it's delicious!"
Fufu laboriously brought the bun in her hand to the elder.
The old woman, as if experiencing a final surge of vitality, took out a wooden board from under her old kang.
Beneath it, a dark hole was revealed.
Zhou Xuan and Fu Shan stared at the hole in astonishment.
"Grandma, what is this..."
"I didn't want to deal with you before because too many people have come to bother me."
The old woman directly took out a yellowed book from the hole.
Calling it a book was too generous.
It was a thin booklet, loose and scattered, with faint characters and drawings.
Anyone who didn't understand would have thrown it into the stove to light a fire.
But the old woman held the item with both hands, treasuring it, and presented it to Zhou Xuan.
"These people, seeing that this old woman was dying, all came. I initially thought you were here to snatch this thing."
"But you not only gave me acupuncture but also patiently played with Fufu. I know who is sincere and who is fake."
Zhou Xuan had truly not expected this.
He was stunned.
"Grandma. What is this?"
"Fufu's father, and our Li family, have lived in seclusion in the Mao Su Realm. We have studied medicine and herbs since childhood. The study of medicinal insects has always been our strongest suit."
"But five years ago, our Li family suffered a devastating blow. Only this treasure of our household remained, not having fallen into the wrong hands. I risked my life to escape with it and the child."
"I no longer have the strength to keep it. Now, I entrust it to you, as a repayment for your kindness in taking care of Fufu in the future."
Zhou Xuan's expression was complex.
"Grandma, aren't you worried that this time it's also a fraudster looking for you?"
"I judge people correctly."
The old woman opened her cloudy eyes and looked at Zhou Xuan with a hint of shrewdness.
"No matter what you seek, my Li family has a thousand-year history comparable to Hua Tuo tasting a hundred herbs. This booklet, thicker than a brick, records many legendary medicinal herbs."
"You are also a practitioner of medicine. If I give it to those influential families with ill intentions, it's better to give it to you with your pure heart."
Fu Shan's eyes widened.
He cautiously took it and flipped through it a few times.
"Master, Master, look quickly, does it have a record of the Wagtail Grass?"
The old woman suddenly froze. "You are looking for Wagtail Grass?"
Zhou Xuan clasped his hands and said, "Yes, numerous renowned figures and government officials in Shangjing have been harmed by fraudsters. We urgently need Wagtail Grass to save lives. I only have two days left to find this herb. If Grandma knows its whereabouts, please impart your wisdom."
"Hahaha..."
"Heaven has not forsaken my Li family!"
"Young man! Now I require you to swear that you will raise my Li Fufu as your own daughter, or else be struck by lightning, and never advance in your cultivation for life, until death!"
"If you do this, I will tell you where the Wagtail Grass is!"