What's going on? What happened to Fang'er?
Could it be that sleeping too much has made her even more foolish?
"Old woman, don't you think Fang'er seems a bit off? Especially the way she looks at people, so cold and distant..." Old Yun said curiously.
Madam Gu was also puzzled. Based on Shangguan Fang'er's usual behavior, she would have rushed to the kitchen to find food herself by now.
The fact that she said she wasn't hungry today was simply unbelievable.
"Old man, tell Sanman to keep an eye on her recently. My heart is pounding, and I have a bad feeling about this!" Madam Gu instructed.
Old Yun grunted, about to say something, when Little Xi Tian suddenly came running in.
"I'm so thirsty!"
Little Xi Tian picked up her large mug and drank heartily.
She had just taken a stroll in her space, picked a lot of ripe grapes, and was thinking of getting a few more large vats and fermentation equipment to make some wine to try.
"Daughter, daughter!" Old Yun stood up and walked over to Little Xi Tian.
"What is it, Daddy?" Little Xi Tian put down her mug and wiped her mouth.
Old Yun glanced outside and asked in a low voice, "Do you think Fang'er is acting a bit strange?"
From his earlier glance, Shangguan Fang'er looked like a normal person, all the foolishness around her completely gone.
Little Xi Tian blinked her big eyes, suddenly remembering that her third brother had taken Doctor Guan to secretly examine Fang'er.
Could Doctor Guan's acupuncture treatment be effective?
"Daddy, Mommy!" Little Xi Tian closed the door and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Actually, actually Doctor Guan examined Fang'er last night. He used needles and gave her medicine, and it took him most of the night..."
"What?" Old Yun asked, his face full of confusion. "Then why didn't your third brother say anything to us? If Fang'er finds out Doctor Guan secretly treated her, she'll definitely be angry!"
Madam Gu also hummed and sighed softly, "In my opinion, Doctor Guan can completely cure Fang'er's madness. When she's not lucid, she's like a child who never grows up, but once she's clear-headed, she might see us as enemies..."
Little Xi Tian understood this logic, but Doctor Guan had come all this way, and was about to return to Beijiang for the New Year. She couldn't leave with regrets.
Besides, who would want to be crazy forever and be a foolish person with no sense?
"Old woman, do you think Fang'er's illness should be treated or not? Sanman treats her so well and can't bear to see her continue to be sick. But if she's cured, she'll just pack up and leave, and how heartbroken would Sanman be?" Old Yun sighed.
Madam Gu glared at him, "You old fool, do you want Fang'er to be foolish forever? It's important to get her treated now. Regardless of whether Fang'er wants it or not, her illness must be cured. Don't you want Sanman to marry a foolish wife?"
Madam Gu paused, "Alas, if she feels that our Yun family is good and treats her well, she'll naturally make her choice. After spring, Sanman will also go to the county town to do business. He can earn money and support the family. Although they won't be rich, they can provide a stable home for Fang'er and Jingde..."
Old Yun nodded gently, saying nothing.
Little Xi Tian, however, felt that things weren't as serious as her parents thought.
Even if Shangguan Fang'er became normal, she would still retain some warm memories and wouldn't just leave.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Little Xi Tian ran to open it and saw Old Man Sun standing outside, his expression somewhat complicated.
"Uncle Sun, please come in!" Little Xi Tian stepped forward and helped Old Man Sun into the house.
Madam Gu and Old Yun also stood up and greeted him.
Old Man Sun had been living very comfortably at the Yun family's place during this time. He had three meals a day, and with the medicine prescribed by Little Xi Tian and Guan Zhongbo, he looked several years younger.
Huaihua always kept the kang warm, and her clothes and bedding were washed clean. Old Man Sun lived more freely than an immortal.
He had thought his old age would be bleak and miserable, but now he had met such a kind and considerate family like the Yun family. Old Man Sun felt his life was worth it.
"Daughter, go quickly and pour your Uncle Sun a cup of tea!" Madam Gu said with a smile.
Little Xi Tian responded and ran to the table to pour a cup of hot tea.
In this era, tea was a precious commodity, especially in the inland northern regions. Tea transported from the south incurred high freight and cost fees.
Therefore, the tea the old Yun family drank was of inferior quality and cheap, but the family members were used to it, and it didn't affect the taste.
"Xi Tian, don't bother yourself. I just wanted to say a few words. I have to play chess with Doctor Guan later!" Old Man Sun said with a smile.
Little Xi Tian brought the tea over, "Uncle Sun, please speak while you drink your tea. I'll get you some dried crabapples later to snack on when you have nothing to do."
Old Man Sun felt warm and touched by this.
"I'm old and can't chew well. You keep them for yourselves!" Old Man Sun rubbed Little Xi Tian's head, then took out a fifty tael silver note from his sleeve and gently placed it on the table. "Please keep this money!"
Madam Gu and Old Yun: "???"
What's going on? Is Old Brother Sun planning to rent that small building to their daughter for free?
"Old Brother Sun, this is the rent for the shop. Since we've paid, there's no reason to take it back!" Madam Gu pushed the silver note back towards Old Man Sun. "Besides, we've already signed and sealed the agreement. It's only natural to pay rent for a house. How can we take advantage of you?"
"Yes, yes!" Old Yun chimed in, picking up the silver note and stuffing it back into Old Man Sun's hand. "We agreed on the price back then. It's the agreed amount, and if you return the money now, our family will be criticized by outsiders!"
Someone would definitely gossip behind their backs, saying that the old Yun family tricked the landlord into coming to their home, treated him to good food and drink, just to take advantage of him, and so on.
Old Yun didn't want to be gossiped about and called a greedy and hypocritical person.
Old Man Sun held the silver note and handed it back to Little Xi Tian, saying with a wry smile, "Don't argue anymore. I really can't accept this money. Since I came to your home, I've thought about many things. Money is an external possession. You can't bring it with you when you're born, nor take it with you when you die. Saving a lot is useless."
"When people reach a certain age, they naturally see many things more clearly. If your health suddenly fails, can money buy back a healthy body? Haha, it can't!"
"Your family are all good people, and good people should be rewarded. As long as I'm alive, Xi Tian can use the small building in the county town as she pleases. I won't interfere with whatever she does, as long as you don't tear down the house, haha..."
Madam Gu was filled with emotion upon hearing this.
At this point, she could naturally understand Old Man Sun's thoughts.
Living with the Yun family was definitely better than staying in her own cold and empty flat in the county town. If she had a headache or a fever, there would be someone to take care of her.
Old Man Sun was repaying them.
Little Xi Tian held the silver note, unsure of what to do, when footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.