Unparalleled medical and martial arts skills, saving the CEO's fiancée at the start.

Three months after Aygul left, Ye Chen received a package from her.

The package wasn't large; it was wrapped in coarse cloth and secured with several layers of hemp rope.

Inside the package was a small bag of dried apricots, a packet of locally grown herbal seeds, and a letter.

The letter had several pages, and the handwriting wasn't very neat, but it was densely packed with writing.

Ye Chen smiled as soon as he saw it. This girl was usually quiet, but she was quite eloquent when it came to writing letters.

The letter said that she had moved into the backyard of her cousin's pharmacy.

The apricot tree bore fruit, and they dried the apricots, keeping some for winter and selling the rest at the market.

Aygul named the herb garden "Moon Garden" because Aygul means moon flower in the local language.

My cousin smiled and said that the name was nice, even more suitable than "Bai Zhi Yuan".

At the end of the letter, Ayiguli wrote: "Winter here is colder than in Jiangcheng. The apricot trees have lost their leaves, and the medicinal seedlings have been harvested. We'll plant another batch next spring, and the harvest will definitely be better than this year. I wonder what it's like where you are?"

Ye Chen handed the letter to Jiang Ruoxi.

After reading the letter, Jiang Ruoxi said, "Ye Chen, send her some things. It's cold in winter; do she have enough clothes?"

Ye Chen replied, "Wife, I'll have He Jianping buy a thick down jacket, and I'll ask Master Su to make some herbal tea to prevent colds. Do you have anything suitable for her?"

Jiang Ruoxi thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "The company just released a batch of portable medicine kits. I'll have Secretary Wang send a few boxes over. They're lightweight and convenient for her to carry around."

Ye Chen nodded in agreement with Jiang Ruoxi's suggestion, and then he went to tell his master, Su Qinghan.

Su Qinghan was preparing autumn medicine in the medicine hut. After listening, she took a few things from the shelf: a packet of dried leaves of Saposhnikovia divaricata, a packet of dried ginger slices, and a small bottle of her own homemade warming oil.

She handed the items to Ye Chen and said, "Ye Chen, tell her not to push herself in the cold. Her knife skills aren't very good in the snow. Tell her to change into a pair of non-slip boots."

Ye Chen agreed, thinking to himself that although his master didn't say it, he was still thinking about it.

After sending the package, Ye Chen would check his phone every few days to see if there was any news about Ayiguli.

But the signal was bad over there, so she was slow to reply.

Sometimes it would take half a month for a single message to arrive, just a few words: "Ye Chen, the seedlings have survived and are growing very well."

"The apricot tree is in bloom, and the flowers are very beautiful."

"It's snowing; winter has arrived."

Ye Chen didn't rush him; he replied as soon as he received the message.

Ye Chen replied earnestly, "Aygul, we received it. Congratulations on your success."

"It's cold here too, so we've put on our down jackets."

"Make sure to keep warm and wear more clothes."

The two of them were talking like they were exchanging telegrams. Jiang Ruoxi, watching from the side, shook her head and said, "Can't you two say a few more words?"

Ye Chen said, "I can't explain it. Saying too much would just make it seem fake."

After winter sets in, the fields of Baizhi Valley are left to rest.

Seventh Uncle finally had some free time, so he spent his days squatting in the house warming himself by the fire, and also sorted out this year's accounts.

Su Qinghan sorted and stored the collected autumn herbs, and then selected a batch of the best quality ones to send to Anhetang in Nancheng and Zhongya in the spring.

Shen Jingqiu was extremely busy in the southern city. Anhetang's business was booming, and Shen Bo'an was too busy to handle all the patients by himself. In addition to dispensing medicine, Shen Jingqiu also had to learn how to take pulses.

She called Ye Chen and said, "Brother Ye, I'm almost a doctor."

Ye Chen smiled and said, "Isn't that perfect? ​​Anhetang has a successor."

Shen Jingqiu said, "I'm far from good enough. Grandpa said I'm not good at taking pulses."

Ye Chen said, "Try a few more and you'll get accurate. That's how my master learned back then."

As December arrived, the weather in Jiangcheng grew colder day by day.

Ye Chen would stay in the security department every day, turn the heating on full blast, brew a pot of hot tea, and play a few games of chess with He Jianping.

Jiang Ruoxi's company is busy wrapping up at the end of the year, even busier than usual.

Ye Chen would pick her up after get off work every day, and the two of them would walk home wrapped up tightly.

Whenever Ye Chen passed by Baizhi Valley's warehouse, he would always stop to take a look at the old plaque at the entrance.

The light shone on the three characters "Anhetang," making the wood grain appear warm and inviting. One glance from him brought him a sense of peace.

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.

That evening, Ye Chen was hanging lanterns in the yard when his phone rang.

It was Aygul who called.

There was the sound of wind on the other end of the phone, and the faint barking of dogs in the distance.

Aygul's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of disturbing someone.

She said, "Ye Chen, it's snowing heavily here. The apricot trees are covered in snow, it looks so beautiful. I took some pictures and sent them to you."

Ye Chen said, "I received the photos. Is it cold where you are?"

Aygul said, "It was very cold, but there was a fire inside, and my cousin made hot soup."

She paused, then said, "Next spring, I'd like to plant another medicinal herb field, astragalus and licorice. My cousin says they'll sell well."

Ye Chen said, "Guli, this will do. I'll send you the seeds in the spring."

Aygul hummed in agreement, as if she was about to hang up, but then stopped.

After a few seconds, she said, "Ye Chen, thank you."

Ye Chen asked, "What are you thanking me for?"

Aygul said, "Thank you for not stopping me, and thank you for leaving me a room."

Ye Chen leaned against a pillar in the courtyard, watching the newly hung red lanterns sway gently in the wind.

Ye Chen said, "The house isn't just left to you. It's yours whether you come back or not. You can come back whenever you want."

Aygul didn't say anything.

All that could be heard on the phone was the sound of the wind and her breathing.

After a long while, she said, "Ye Chen, I'm a bit busy. Let's talk another day."

Then it hung up.

Ye Chen put away his phone and stood in the yard.

Jiang Ruoxi came out of the house, carrying a bowl of freshly cooked glutinous rice balls.

She handed it to Ye Chen and asked, "Guli?"

Ye Chen nodded: "It's snowing heavily over there, and the apricot trees are covered in snow."

Jiang Ruoxi also looked up at the sky.

There was no snow in the night sky over Jiangcheng, only a few sparse stars.

Jiang Ruoxi said, "When I send the seeds in the spring, I'll also send her two packets of glutinous rice flour, since they might not have any there."

Ye Chen agreed, knowing that Jiang Ruoxi also cared about Ayiguli.

The two leaned against a pillar and ate the glutinous rice balls one by one.

It's filled with sesame paste, and when you take a bite, it's both sweet and hot.

Ye Chen, breathing heavily, mumbled, "This time next year, we'll be spending our third New Year in Jiangcheng."

Jiang Ruoxi said, "Yes, we'll bring Grandpa, Grandpa Shen, and Jingqiu over then, as well as Seventh Uncle. Uncle Gui is still here, and He Jianping will come too. There will be more and more people."

Ye Chen smiled and said, "The more people, the better, it'll be more lively."

He put the last glutinous rice ball into his mouth and placed the bowl on the stone table next to him.

The newly hung red lantern in the courtyard twirled in the night breeze, its halo swaying back and forth.

It's like there's someone very, very far away, carrying a lantern, walking slowly through the snow.