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

Chapter 979 "But now, I'm not alone."

(Thanks to Manxiong for casting 4 monthly tickets.)
Dewdrop's cry finally broke through the barrier, carrying with it endless grievances, longing, and the ecstatic joy of reunion, all of which rushed directly towards Li San Niang.

Dewdrop almost fell off the carriage, abandoning the things she was holding, and rushed into Li Sanniang's arms.

Li San Niang hugged Lu Zhu'er tightly, her arms so strong that she almost wanted to knead Lu Zhu'er into her own bones and blood.

She buried her face in her daughter's neck, which was still damp with the dust of travel, greedily inhaling the familiar yet unfamiliar scent. Hot tears finally broke free, silently soaking the dewdrop's clothes.

Three years.

Her dewdrops grew up and came to this windy, sandy land, and came to her side.

The setting sun cast long, long shadows of the mother and daughter embracing, bathing them in a warm golden light.

The wind at Yumen Pass still howls, but it cannot dispel the deep and inseparable bond of kinship.

Li Sanlang and Sun Yanxia silently wiped away their tears, while Tang Dalang watched the mother and daughter embracing, his eyes also filled with emotion.

The people around watched this scene silently. They all knew that Li Yizheng, who had guarded Yumen Pass for three years with almost no rest, had finally received her greatest comfort.

After a long while, Li San Niang finally let go of Lu Zhu'er. She carefully cupped Lu Zhu'er's face, examined her closely, and smiled through her tears: "You've grown taller and thinner... The journey must have been tough, right?"

Dewdrop shook her head vigorously, but her tears still wouldn't stop;
Large tears streamed down her face as she choked out to Li San Niang, "It's not hard, Mother...you're the one who's had a hard time..."

After hugging her precious baby again, Li Sanniang finally looked up at Li Sanlang, Sun Yanxia, ​​and Tang Dalang beside her, as well as the caravan manager and head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) waiting on the other side. She said in a hoarse voice to everyone, "Sanlang, Yanniang, Shilin, you...you've all come..."

It took Li San Niang quite a while to calm down before her emotions returned to normal.

She straightened her sleeves and bowed to the caravan manager and the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) beside her, saying, "Thanks to you all for this journey!"

When you get out of the quarantine camp, I'll definitely treat you to a good meal!
Anyway, thank you very much!

"Third Sister, you flatter me!"

The caravan manager was a good talker, but the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) didn't say much, only clasped his hands in return to Li San Niang.

Then, Li San Niang finally had the energy to look at Li San Lang, Sun Yan Xia, and Tang Shi Lin, who had brought the dewdrops over.

"Sister-in-law!"

Li Sanlang stepped forward, his voice choked with emotion.

"Auntie!" Sun Yanxia followed Li Sanlang forward and bowed to Li Sanniang.

Tang Dalang bowed deeply and said, "Your son-in-law, Tang Shilin, greets your mother-in-law!"
My mother-in-law has worked so hard, guarding the border for the sake of the country and its people!

Looking at Tang Dalang, who had grown into a reliable young man, Li Sanniang nodded with satisfaction: "Good! Good boy, I'm so grateful to have you taking care of me along the way."

She then looked at Li Sanlang and Sun Yanxia, ​​"Sanlang, Yanniang, you must be tired from your journey!"

If it weren't for delivering the pearl, you two wouldn't have had to suffer like this!

Sanlang, are Father and Mother... all well?

"Okay! Everything's fine!"
Your family is always thinking about you!
Grandpa and Grandma are in good health, they just keep talking about you, Auntie!
"Everyone misses you terribly!" Li Sanlang hurriedly said.

Li San Niang took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and regained her usual composure, though her red eyes betrayed her agitation.

She took Dewdrop's hand and said to the group, "Seven days! After seven days, I will come to pick you up in person!"

Li San Niang looked at Lu Zhu'er again, squeezed her hand tightly, and then left the quarantine camp. After registering again, she and Qiu Xiang Lao Shi stood outside the gate and said softly to Lu Zhu'er, who was looking at her inside, "Your mother is waiting for you inside the camp."

Seven days later, your mother will come to take you in herself.

Seeing that Lu Zhu'er nodded with tears in her eyes, she then mounted her horse, turned it around, and galloped back into the pass. Everyone crossing the border had to stay in the quarantine camp for seven days; this was a rule she had set, and she had to lead by example in obeying it.

As Dewdrop watched Li San Niang's disappearing figure in the quarantine camp, she wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with understanding and determination.

She knew that her mother was right there, doing something incredibly important.

And she finally came to her mother's side.

The next seven days of waiting didn't seem so long anymore.

Although the conditions in the quarantine camp were simple, they were clean and tidy. The soldiers and doctors there took extra care of them when they learned that they were Li San Niang's relatives.

Seven days later, Li San Niang personally stood at the door to greet them.

This time, besides Qiu Xiang and Lao Shi, her senior brother Shao Yang and Jin Zhenbao also came.

When close friends and family meet, smiles appear beneath the tears.

After being thoroughly disinfected, Dewdrop and her party finally entered Yumen Pass.

Instead of taking them back to their lodgings first, Li San Niang led them to the huge stone tablet engraved with names.

The towering stone tablet, covered with countless names, stands silently in the vast天地 (heaven and earth), exuding a solemn yet tragic aura.

“Dewdrop, Shilin, Sanlang, Yanniang, come and see.”

Li San Niang's voice was calm and deep, "Every name on this page was once a living person."

They did not survive the epidemic.

We erected this monument to remember them, and also to remind the living of the fragility of life and the responsibility of healers.

Dewdrop and Tang Dalang solemnly gazed at the towering stone tablet, feeling the overwhelming weight and endless sorrow that enveloped them, their hearts filled with profound shock.

They seemed to see the tragedy that had occurred here three years ago, and they could better appreciate the enormous efforts and sacrifices that doctors like Li Sanniang had made here.

"Mother, you did it."

"Dewdrop said softly, her tone full of pride."

Li Sanniang shook her head, her gaze distant: "It's not completely over yet."

The fight against the epidemic is a never-ending war.

We must keep this matter in mind at all times.

But now, I'm not alone.

She turned around, looked at Lu Zhu'er, then at Qiu Xiang, Lao Shi, Jin Zhenbao, and the doctors and commoners who had followed her, and a relaxed and warm smile appeared on her face.

"Come on, let's go home! Your mother will stew some mutton for you!"

As the sun set, the group walked toward a simple courtyard inside the fortress.

Dewdrop's journey westward has come to an end, but her new life at Yumen Pass has just begun.

Li San Niang, with the arrival of her loved ones, will also be given new strength to continue protecting this land to which she has poured countless efforts.

　Thank you, Manxiong, for casting 4 monthly votes.

　　Thank you so much for your support and encouragement!
　　(End of this chapter)