"Aunt Li, you’re here?" Kong Shi turned her head to look at Aunt Li, smiling faintly, "Don’t worry, I haven’t been crying. I just miss Niuniu a little." Kong Shi took a photo frame out of the bedside table drawer. The photo in the frame showed a month-old baby, plump and cherubic with a bun face, wrapped in a pink little blanket, with big, clear sparkling eyes, extremely adorable.
"Madam, why do you do this to yourself? Ah!" Aunt Li looked at Kong Shi with a heart full of distress. She herself was a daughter-in-law from a poor family, taken in by Old Lady Kong, who offered her a place as a nanny in the Kong Family, providing her with a livelihood, a way to make money for her family, and to send her son to university. Therefore, after Kong Shi got married, to repay the kindness, she followed along. Over the years, she watched the once elegant young girl become a wife and then a mother, and then suffered the disappearance of her daughter, a grief beyond words. She saw all these things, felt the pain in her heart. But neither of the elderly Kongs could do anything, and even less could she. Her only option was to take good care of Kong Shi with all her heart and effort.
"Aunt Li, I’m much better now. Since the last time Xiao Qing visited, I’ve come to terms with a lot of things. So don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my health, hoping to see Niuniu again in my lifetime." Kong Shi stretched out her hand and gently touched the photo in the frame, her lips curling into a tender smile.
"That’s good, that’s good!" Aunt Li was moved upon hearing Kong Shi’s words, "This Miss Xiao Qing really is a good girl, blessed. Look, ever since she came to the An Family, your whole complexion has gotten much better! I’m so happy! Madam, have you noticed? Miss Xiao Qing resembles you in both temperament and appearance!"
"Madam, it’s time for your medication!"
Kong Shi was about to say something when a voice suddenly interrupted her from the doorway. She frowned and looked towards the door, only to see Aunt Zhang standing there with a tray.
"Aunt Zhang, when did you arrive?" Kong Shi asked casually, feeling a bit perplexed; this Aunt Zhang was good in every aspect but had a strange temperament—she walked without making a sound.
"Madam, I’ve just arrived. Please drink your medicine quickly, this is the prescription Miss Xiao Qing prepared for you a few days ago, it’s better when it’s hot." Aunt Zhang placed the tray on the table, gently handed the bowl of medicine to Kong Shi, and watched as she drank it with a frown, only then did she nod in satisfaction.
"Alright. Aunt Zhang, you may go." Kong Shi handed back the empty bowl and dismissed her, not knowing why, but she didn’t enjoy too much interaction with Aunt Zhang, feeling a chill around her.
"Yes, Madam. Aunt Li, come with me downstairs, there’s some business in the kitchen that needs your help," Aunt Zhang said respectfully to Kong Shi and then turned to Aunt Li.
"Okay. Madam, I’ll go first, don’t stay here too long, come to your room to rest in a while." Aunt Li, worried, once again admonished Kong Shi before leaving.
After Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang left, Kong Shi was alone again, quietly looking at the photo for a while, then feeling a bit sleepy, she slowly left Niuniu’s room.
In the evening, when Kong Shi woke up, Old Master An and Old Lady An had already returned home. As she was coming downstairs, she heard Old Lady An ask with concern, "Xiao Shi, how was your day? Did you feel better after drinking the medicine Xiao Qing gave you?"
Hearing the sincere concern from Old Lady An, Kong Shi felt warmth in her heart. Approaching and linking arms with Old Lady An, she said with a smile, "Mom, it’s only been one day, how can it work so quickly? You’re too anxious!"
"Ah! It’s me, being too anxious! My child, you must take good care of yourself! Otherwise, Old Kong and the sister-in-law would come looking for me to settle their accounts!" Old Lady An joked.