The carriage gradually pulled away, leaving behind the small city of Liuyexian, which had never been a large place to begin with.
After purchasing the necessary supplies along the way, there was no reason to linger any longer.
As the familiar scenery slowly receded, Xu Ping’an felt little reluctance.
After all, this was not his hometown but merely a place he had lived.
He wasn’t abandoning it forever—he could always return—so there was no strange sense of attachment.
Instead, he felt a spark of freshness about the road ahead.
It had been nearly two years since he last left home.
During those two years, he hadn’t ventured outside Liuyexian at all.
So setting out now filled him with a genuine sense of novelty.
The sights here, though far from boring, had been seen no fewer than a hundred times.
Once beyond the county walls, however, the landscape took on an entirely new allure.
“Sir, you seem quite enthusiastic. Miss, how about we just have a picnic along the way?”
A picnic? He hadn’t expected Xiao Jing’er to suggest something so meaningful.
He pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Li Yuer across from him.
Perhaps she noticed his stare or maybe her own attention had long been fixed on Xu Ping’an.
Their eyes met, and Li Yuer’s tender, watery gaze made his heart skip a beat.
Sometimes, feelings arrive without reason.
In that instant, Xu Ping’an even felt a spark—something like love at first sight.
“Ahem! Yu’er, what do you mean exactly?”
Unlike Li Yuer, who had pressing matters to return to, Xu Ping’an’s trip was almost purely a leisure excursion.
Besides, his main goals were to find Qingxuan, then visit his parents and Uncle Hu’s graves in Shangzhou, and finally accompany Li Yuer to Chao Ge.
Simply put, he was almost treating this as a pleasure trip.
“Well, if you’re in such high spirits, sir, then there’s no rush to go to Chao Ge. Uncle Zhao, find a nice spot ahead and let’s stop for a while so the horses can rest.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Zhao Pingzhi’s voice came from outside the window.
Watching Li Yuer’s look of utter focus on Xu Ping’an, his heart fluttered slightly but he sighed quietly inside.
What a tangled fate!
“Forget it, let’s keep moving. There will be plenty of chances to eat along the way. I’m not particularly hungry right now.”
Though Li Yuer hid it well, the fleeting glimpse of urgency in her eyes did not escape Xu Ping’an.
For a doctor, reading people’s expressions and moods was basic training—a key way to gauge health.
As a physician, Xu Ping’an was confident he had no weaknesses in this skill.
Li Yuer’s urgency was genuine; her eyes were sincere.
Between the two, she decisively chose to respect Xu Ping’an’s wishes.
“Sir, weren’t you quite enthusiastic? Why so sudden?”
“There’s no enthusiasm—just said it casually. Let’s keep going.”
Seeing Xu Ping’an’s insistence, Li Yuer didn’t press further and simply had Zhao Pingzhi continue onward.
The journey went smoothly.
They reached the outskirts of Liuyexian by nightfall.
This place was Liuhe County. Although the name differed by only one character, it was noticeably more prosperous than Liuyexian.
Crossing the county marker, faint smoke curled into the sky in the distance, occasionally accompanied by the barking of dogs and the laughter of children.
“Miss, ahead is Hewei Village. It’s getting late. Should we find a place to rest for the night?”
“Hewei Village already? Fine, let’s find a family to stay with for the night.”
In villages on the edge of counties like this, there were hardly any inns or guesthouses. Travelers rarely rested here.
“Brother Zhao, take us to the large estate in the center of the village.”
Xu Ping’an’s sudden request caught both women in the carriage off guard, but Zhao Pingzhi, still driving, didn’t hesitate and quickly replied,
“Understood, sir.”
Li Yuer’s beautiful eyes flickered as she let out a soft laugh.
“Sir truly is the Divine Physician of Nan Prefecture. Even in this tiny village, he has acquaintances?”
Xu Ping’an shook his head.
“Not exactly acquaintances—more like a brief acquaintance.”
Seeing that Xu Ping’an didn’t want to say more, Li Yuer didn’t press.
The carriage soon stopped in front of the largest residence in the village center.
Before stepping down, Li Yuer pulled aside the curtain and glanced toward the gate.
Two large characters were displayed above the entrance: 【Qian Fu】.
And these characters were clearly written by someone with exceptional skill.
As the Shunnan King’s Heir, Xu Ping’an had received a refined education from a young age. Though not claiming mastery in poetry and calligraphy, he could recognize superior handwriting.
“Qian family… Could it be… Qian Lao?”
Li Yuer immediately thought of someone: the former Minister of Works, Qian Zhongyi.
Xu Ping’an stepped out of the carriage just as several gatekeepers approached.
The leader was about to ask something, but the moment he saw Xu Ping’an, he was taken aback.
“Mr. Xu? Mr. Xu Ping’an?”
“I am Xu Ping’an. I am passing through Hewei Village today. The night is falling; I would like to stay here for one night. May I ask if Qian Lao is at home?”
“Yes, yes! Our old master is surely home. Sir, please wait here. I’ll go inform him immediately!”
With that, the gatekeeper turned and rushed inside like a man being chased by a fierce beast.
“Is that necessary?”
Xu Ping’an blinked in surprise, but before he could react further, a familiar voice rang out from inside.
“Mr. Xu? Could it really be Mr. Xu? Wonderful! After searching high and low, you come to us without any trouble! You truly are the Qian family’s lucky star! Open the main gate quickly!”
An elderly man with a gray beard strode out, approaching Xu Ping’an with quick steps.
“Sir! Sir! I’ve been waiting for you like a parched seedling awaits spring rain!”
“Is this the Qian family’s residence?”
The visitor was not the Qian Lao Xu Ping’an had visited before, but rather the current head of the Qian family—Qian Guoshun, Qian Lao’s son.
“Sir, please come in quickly. My father fell ill a few days ago and is now bedridden. We have invited many nearby doctors, but none have succeeded in treating him. We were just preparing to send for you when, unexpectedly, you arrived in person!”
Ah?
“Arrived in person?”
“If Qian Lao is ill, then I cannot simply stand by. But I have not come alone; there are female family members with me. I hope it is convenient for the Qian family to first arrange lodging for my companions, after which I will attend to Qian Lao.”
“That is naturally no problem. Someone! Go fetch Madam Qian and prepare the east wing immediately for Mr. Xu’s family to rest in.”