12dz Chapter 224
Chapter 224
Zhao Hong wouldn't refuse her son's filial piety, so she reached out her hand to let Li An take her pulse.Li An carefully felt her pulse and then withdrew his hand.
"Madam, you are weighed down by excessive worry, which leads to insomnia and frequent dreaming at night."
"Dr. Li, you truly are a miracle worker. You saw right through my minor ailments," Zhao Hong smiled bashfully.
"You flatter me, Madam," Li An replied modestly.
"Dr. Li, prescribe some medicine for my mother," Zhu Zhangzhi said in an almost commanding tone.
"Zhi'er, don't be rude. Dr. Li, I don't like taking medicine. There's no need for a prescription," Zhao Hong stated her stance.
"All medicines carry a bit of toxicity, so it's good to avoid them if possible. Madam, try to relax your mind. Drinking a bowl of milk before bed will help improve your sleep," Li An offered his advice.
"Milk? I'll go find some right now." Zhu Zhangzhi turned and left.
"Zhi'er," Zhao Hong called out, but Zhu Zhangzhi had already walked far away. She turned back and smiled at Li An, "Please excuse the embarrassment, Dr. Li."
"Your son is incredibly filial to you, Madam. It truly moves me."
"Dr. Li, you look like such a gentle person. You must be very filial to your own mother."
"My mother is the best mother in the world." Li An's longing for Ye Yunniang overflowed.
"Your mother is truly blessed."
"With such a wonderful son as Young Master Zhu, you are also very blessed, Madam."
"You are right, Dr. Li. I am very lucky to have such a good son like Zhi'er."
"What are you two talking about?" Hua Ling walked toward them with a smile.
"We were talking about..."
"We were talking about this year's King of Flowers. The dual-colored camellia is truly breathtaking," Zhao Hong interrupted Li An.
"Yes, Miss Hua Ling. You are truly amazing to have cultivated the dual-colored camellia," Li An played along with Zhao Hong's words.
"It's my father who is amazing; he taught me well." Hua Ling looked full of pride when mentioning her father.
Zhao Hong's expression changed slightly. "You two chat, I have some things to attend to."
Zhao Hong left.
Hua Ling dropped her smile, her eyes filled with nothing but hatred for the departing woman.
Noticing Li An looking at her, Hua Ling withdrew her hatred and tried to smile, but couldn't manage it.
"Dr. Li, would you like to hear my story?"
"I'm all ears."
The two of them walked to the garden pavilion.
Hua Ling sat down and began to tell Li An about her past.
The ancestors of the Hua family worked as florists, built a strong reputation, and opened a flower shop—Huacao Hall.
At its peak, Huacao Hall was not only the largest flower shop in Hua Town, but also the most famous one in the county, prefecture, and province where the town was located.
People flocked to Huacao Hall in an endless stream to buy fresh flowers.
The reason the Hua family could supply fresh flowers so abundantly was that they had discovered a secret valley.
The valley had a hot spring, which made it possible to cultivate flowers all year round.
Although many people in town guessed and inquired about it, the Hua family kept the secret very well.
Outsiders couldn't find out anything, no matter how hard they tried.
One day, Hua Ling's father, Hua Shu, went out and accidentally saved a frail and pitiful woman.
The woman claimed she had been kidnapped and sold by human traffickers, and that she had secretly escaped.
She only knew her home was called Zhao Family Village, but she didn't know exactly where it was.
Taking pity on the woman, Hua Shu took her in.
Over time, affection grew between them, and Hua Shu married the woman. They had a daughter, Hua Ling.
The woman had always been understanding and considerate in the Hua family, earning the trust of everyone in the household.
They eventually told her the Hua family's secret.
"After the woman learned the secret, she disappeared. The family searched for a long time but couldn't find her.
At that time, the town was holding the King of Flowers competition.
My father saw the mayor and the madam standing behind him."
Hua Ling sneered as she reached this point. "That madam was the woman who gave birth to me, Zhao Hong."
"If Madam Zhao is your mother, then Young Master Zhu..."
"Zhu Zhangzhi is the son of Zhao Hong and Zhu Fuzheng."
"So the Hua family's secret valley was stolen by the mayor?"
"Without the valley, we couldn't provide fresh flowers all year round. Coupled with Zhu Fuzheng's fierce suppression, the Hua family's Huacao Hall quickly fell into ruin." Hua Ling clenched her fists tightly as she spoke.
"I believe that the Hua Ling who could cultivate the dual-colored camellia will definitely be able to revitalize Huacao Hall."
Li An's comforting words made Hua Ling's cheeks blush with shyness.
"Dr. Li, thank you for comforting me."
"I'm not just saying it to comfort you; I truly believe it."
Hua Ling smiled through her tears.
Li An smiled too.
Not far away, watching them, Fifth Young Master fiercely plucked at the leaves of a tree, muttering to himself.
"He gives me a cold face, but smiles at girls.
What is he smiling at? What's so funny..."
Behind him, Kongqing opened his mouth several times, only to stop.
It was better for him to just play mute.
"What kind of flowers did the Zhu family plant after they stole the valley?" Li An asked curiously.
Li An's question caused Hua Ling to frown in deep thought.
The valley had been in the Zhu family's hands for over a decade.
Yet they hadn't opened a flower shop.
What on earth did they want the valley for?
"No, I have to go to the valley and see for myself," Hua Ling said, standing up.
Li An stopped her.
"Miss Hua Ling, it's dark. It's too dangerous for you to go to the valley alone."
"Dr. Li, I'm very capable." Hua Ling was impatient; once she had an idea, she had to act on it immediately.
Ignoring Li An's attempts to hold her back, she strode away.
Li An wanted to follow her, but was stopped by someone.
Zhu Zhangzhi had found some milk, but it smelled very gamey. He sent someone to find Li An to ask if there was a good way to remove the smell.
Li An explained that tea leaves and almonds could be added to the milk and boiled together.
After saying this, Li An tried to leave, but Zhu Zhangzhi pulled him back.
Zhu Zhangzhi wasn't reassured and wanted to see the results first.
Once the milk was boiled, the cook served two bowls. They tasted it, and the flavor was quite good.
"Dr. Li, you really are amazing. You managed to make this foul-smelling stuff taste so delicious."
"I just read about it in a book."
"Books even teach this kind of stuff. My father is right; there truly is a house of gold in books," Zhu Zhangzhi muttered softly.
"Young Master Zhu, it's best to drink the milk while it's hot."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhangzhi had the cook carefully pack the milk so he could deliver it to his mother.
Li An left the kitchen, preparing to depart.
Suddenly, his vision went black.