"Dad, why are you at the market again? I told you to rest at home."
Jiang Yan saw her father, Jiang Shan, approaching and immediately frowned, looking displeased.
She then turned to the man behind Jiang Shan and said, "Qi Ge, didn't I tell you to call me if anything comes up?"
The man, referred to as Qi Ge, looked rather embarrassed.
Jiang Shan waved his hand and said to his daughter, "Oh, daughter, don't blame Ah Qi. I told him not to call you. You're a young lady, managing the affairs of a large family. As your father, I feel too ashamed."
"I don't feel tired at all. As long as you're healthy, Dad, I'm happy. You have to promise me that from now on, wherever you go, you won't go alone, okay?"
Jiang Yan walked to her father's side, took his hand, and they sat down in the shop.
Jiang Shan smiled sheepishly at his daughter's words.
A few days ago, he had planned to meet an old friend for a gathering, but the other party had a last-minute issue and couldn't make it. He then intended to find a place to rest.
Unexpectedly, his old ailment flared up. Although there were no major issues afterward, his daughter had been calling him twice a day ever since, constantly reminding him to have someone accompany him wherever he went, which made Jiang Shan feel quite uneasy.
However, he also knew that his daughter was only doing this because she cared about him, so to put her at ease, he had to comply.
"By the way, Dad, I've made an appointment with Dr. Chen to examine you in a couple of days. Don't forget."
Jiang Yan was Jiang Shan's only daughter. She had been very independent since she was young and always thought things through.
Due to Jiang Shan's poor health, Jiang Yan took over the family business as soon as she graduated.
"Daughter, there's no need to trouble Dr. Chen. Didn't I tell you, the young man who saved me the other day has exceptional medical skills? After his acupuncture, my old ailment is already gone. I don't... Okay, okay, if you want an examination, we'll have one."
Upon hearing his daughter say she had arranged for a familiar doctor to examine him, Jiang Shan's first reaction was that it was unnecessary.
Ever since he was treated with golden needles by that young man by the lake, he felt as if his old ailment had been completely cured.
However, his daughter didn't believe him at all. In her words, an ailment that so many doctors in Spring City couldn't cure was resolved by a mere young man with a few needles? Jiang Yan thought her father was just saying that to comfort her.
Mid-sentence, seeing his daughter's persistent gaze, Jiang Shan had no choice but to go along with her.
"Oh, daughter, Uncle Wang's son has returned from studying abroad. He wants to invite us to dinner one of these days. See when you're free? I'll call him back later."
Jiang Shan revealed the main purpose of his visit to the market today.
Intelligent, sensible, caring, and considerate, Jiang Shan felt his daughter was perfect in every way.
Except for one thing: she was already twenty-eight years old and still didn't have a boyfriend.
With thirty just two years away, she was busy with the shop every day, which made Jiang Shan very anxious.
At times, Jiang Shan secretly wondered if his daughter disliked men, but he never saw her with any particularly close female companions. Because of this, Jiang Shan could only try to arrange for her to meet the sons and nephews of his friends every now and then.
"Dad! I know what you're thinking. Please, what era is it now? Women don't necessarily have to get married, have children, and be housewives. Modern women can also be independent!"
As soon as Jiang Shan spoke, Jiang Yan guessed his intentions immediately.
Her father seemed to be afraid she wouldn't get married, often arranging these blind date dinners.
Initially, Jiang Yan didn't want to dampen his spirits and went twice. Who knew that Jiang Shan would become increasingly insistent, and eventually, Jiang Yan became too lazy to deal with him.
"Daughter! Dad knows you don't like what I'm doing, but you have to understand Dad's feelings. Your mother passed away early, and I raised you as both father and mother. Now that you've grown up, you're smart and sensible, and I'm very happy.
But Dad is getting old, and there will come a day when you'll be all alone. Then I won't have the face to see your mother in the afterlife!"
Jiang Shan sighed as he spoke.
Hearing her father mention their deceased mother and seeing his dejected look, Jiang Yan felt a pang of guilt.
"Alright, alright, I'm free tomorrow. I'll go with you then. Is that okay?"
"Really? Good, good, good, I'll call Uncle Wang back right now."
Jiang Shan's dejected demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a new expression.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Yan almost suspected he had been faking it earlier.
But since she had agreed, she let him have his way.
Stepping outside the shop, Jiang Shan happily made a phone call.
"Old Wang, bring your son tomorrow, and make sure he dresses handsomely. My daughter has very high standards, you know."
"Alright, stop with your nonsense. Tell your son to prepare well. Whether we can become in-laws depends on this meeting."
"That... wait, wait, I'll call you back later."
Since his daughter had agreed to his request, Jiang Shan's tone was filled with genuine joy.
However, as he was speaking, his eyes suddenly widened in surprise. He then told his old friend on the phone that he would contact him later and walked towards the opposite side.
"Alright, we've looked at almost everything. The prices are almost the same as in the previous shops. Let's move to another place."
After checking the remaining shops, Gong Chengbin beckoned to Du Fei, intending to visit other medicinal herb markets in Spring City.
Du Fei nodded.
However, as the two turned to leave,
"Hey, you two young brothers, wait up."
Someone called out loudly from behind them.
At first, they didn't think they were being called, but as the voice grew closer, Du Fei and Gong Chengbin couldn't help but turn to see who was calling them.
"Elder, it's you."
As they turned, they were surprised to find the old man who had fainted in the lakeside pavilion last time standing behind them.
"Oh my, I didn't expect to run into my savior here today! I was just planning to visit you in a couple of days to express my gratitude."
Jiang Shan looked at Du Fei and Gong Chengbin in front of him, equally surprised.
Du Fei chuckled, "You're too kind, Elder. I told you before, there's no need to be so polite. You've already thanked me."
However, Jiang Shan vigorously waved his hand, "How can that be? A life-saving kindness cannot be resolved with just a word of thanks. By the way, why are you two here?"
Upon hearing Jiang Shan's question, Du Fei and Gong Chengbin exchanged glances, and then Du Fei said, "Actually, we came..."
Following that, Du Fei explained that he and Gong Chengbin were there to purchase medicinal herbs in large quantities.