The days when I was an obstetrician and gynecologist in Chang'an

Chapter 1001 "You did it."

(Thanks to Jin Xiancong for supporting 100 points.)
The Qingming Festival in Chang'an always has a unique flavor.

It's no longer the bitter cold of winter, nor the vibrant colors of late spring. The wind still carries a chilly edge, but you can already smell the thawing earth and the budding life of plants on your face.

A light drizzle fell, like smoke and mist, shrouding the entire city of Chang'an in a gray-green hue.

Li San Niang, who was over forty-five years old, was sitting in a carriage driven by Lao Shi, heading out of Chang'an City onto the official road outside the city.

What is she going to do?
Before leaving Chang'an for Jiangnan, there was one more place she absolutely had to visit.

The horse's hooves moved at a steady pace, crossing the main road and onto a side road. Finally, after about half an hour, the carriage came to a stop.

"Third Sister, it's me again."

Li San Niang shook her head at Qiu Xiang, and said with a smile, "It's alright, I can go by myself."

"I'll be down in an hour at most. You and Lao Shi can wait for me here."

Politely declining Qiu Xiang's company, Li San Niang, carrying a blue cloth umbrella and a basket, walked alone onto the path leading up the mountain.

Before leaving Chang'an, she spent this particular day only to pay respects to an old friend.

Li San Niang's figure is a little plumper than when she was young, although fine lines are etched at the corners of her eyes;

But those eyes, having withstood the test of time and countless lives, have become even more serene and clear, as if they can encompass all the joys and sorrows of the world.

After walking a distance into the mountains, she saw two figures, one tall and one short, wearing straw raincoats and carrying baskets.

As she approached, Li Sanniang looked at Duoshou and said with a smile, "Thank you for waiting here, Duoshou."

Looking at the tall young man standing next to Duoshou, Li Sanniang praised, "This must be your grandson, he's grown so much!"

"Third Lady!"

After exchanging a few more words with Duoshou, Duoshou and his grandson led the way, taking Li Sanniang up to a higher mountain.

After crossing a very quiet hillside and turning a corner, Li San Niang saw a very neatly maintained tombstone standing there, inscribed with "Tomb of Fang Gong Cheng Xian".

Yes, today, Li San Niang has come to pay respects to Fang Chengxian.

The Women's Aid Association initially survived a financial crisis thanks to a sum of money from Fang Chengxian, but now its scale and influence far exceed those of the past.

The money that Mr. Fang Cheng invested seems to have come to life, constantly "generating money" over the decades, not only supporting the operation of the Women's Assistance Association, but also benefiting countless women, mothers and children in distress.

Every time Li Sanniang thought about it, she felt that it was all preordained by fate.
It is Fang Chengxian's kindness that continues to shine brightly behind him.

Upon arriving at the destination, Duoshou led his grandson to kneel down and kowtow to Fang Chengxian before stepping back.

"Dushu, I want to stay here alone for a while."

Duo Shou instructed his grandson to leave the incense and offerings behind, then, carrying the basket, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Li San Niang. Without saying much, he and his grandson headed down the mountain.

I stood in front of Fang Chengxian's grave for a while, and then the light drizzle stopped.

Looking at the tombstone in front of her, Li San Niang felt a sense of melancholy.

My friend has been gone for decades. If there really is a netherworld and reincarnation, Fang Chengxian should have been reincarnated into the next life long ago.

May he be reborn into a healthy and strong body in his next life, and live a healthy and happy life.

After closing her umbrella, Li San Niang took out the snacks and fruits she had brought from the basket beside her.

As she was bending over to place snacks and fruits in front of the tombstone, a deep male voice rang out behind her!
She was so engrossed in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice someone behind her!

"But...Third Sister?" Li San Niang straightened up and looked in the direction of the voice.

Not far behind her stood a middle-aged man dressed in black robes and wearing a jade crown. His features, once bright and handsome, were still faintly visible in his eyes.

The man was also carrying a basket of offerings, and he was looking at Li San Niang with a mixture of surprise and astonishment.

For a moment, Li San Niang was stunned, and a name that was almost submerged by the river of time suddenly jumped into her mind.

"Xu Sanlang-kun?"

The person who arrived was Xu Jingzhen.

He was eleven years older than Li Sanniang, and was now fifty-six years old. He was sent to the Western Regions by Emperor Wu just one year after Li Sanniang left Chang'an for the South.

Having spent many years on the frontier, the wind and frost have left deep marks on his face, but even at his age, his back remains ramrod straight.

The two had not seen each other for seven or eight years.

At first glance, it truly is both surprising and moving.

"I was wondering why you said you had an old friend here today. It turns out that the carriage at the foot of the mountain was yours, Third Sister."

When old friends meet again, especially in such a special place and on such a special day, a myriad of emotions well up in their hearts.

Since they parted ways many years ago, their life trajectories have been like two parallel lines, never intersecting again.

Li Sanniang traveled extensively in the south, dedicating herself to spreading medical knowledge;
Xu Jingzhen had been guarding the border until the year before last, when his old age caused his old injuries to recur. He was then transferred back to the capital to take up a sinecure, which was considered a semi-retirement.

"I've come to see Chengxian."

Xu Jingzhen placed the offerings down, bowed solemnly to the tombstone, and said with deep remembrance, "Back then, Chengxian and I..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Li San Niang understood.

Fang Chengxian was a kind and loyal friend to both of them.

After the worship ceremony was completed, a light rain began to fall again.

Xu Jingzhen suggested, "How about we go to Duoshou's courtyard to take shelter from the rain and have a chat?"

After a moment's thought, Li San Niang finally nodded.

The courtyard remained as simple as I remembered, except that the pear tree in the courtyard was even thicker and more lush than before, and its white petals fluttered down in the drizzle, covering the ground.

Duo Shou, who guards the tomb, is now a hunched-over grandfather with a house full of children and grandchildren. He was both surprised and delighted to see Li San Niang and Xu Jingzhen come together.

Duoshou quickly instructed his grandson to boil water and make tea, and then tactfully led his grandson out, leaving the two old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years alone.

The two sat in the pavilion in the courtyard, separated by a mottled stone table.

Rainwater dripped from the eaves, striking the bluestone slabs and making a crisp sound.

At first, it was just some ordinary greetings.

Xu Jingzhen asked Li Sanniang about her experiences over the years, and listened to her talk about the humid heat of the south, the prosperity of the harbor, the maternity clinics spreading like wildfire, and how the female doctors gradually won trust and respect.

His eyes were filled with admiration and praise.

"you did it."

Thank you Jin Xiancong for supporting 100 points.

Thank you so much for your continued support and encouragement!