Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Something Completely Unexpected
Seeing Luo Ziling gazing at her with a dazed expression, Ling Ruonan felt a surge of tenderness in her heart and once again reached out to caress his face.

“Ling’er, you’ve come of age now. You need to gradually mature and learn to stand on your own,” Ling Ruonan instructed with profound seriousness, “Grandfather raised you, taught you martial skills, gave you a strong body, and let you learn a lot of knowledge along with decent medical skills. You must transform all of this into your own abilities, and use your capabilities, along with all available conditions, to establish a foothold in Yanjing. You have to defeat all those who wish to harm you, becoming a powerhouse that everyone will fear. Mom will always stand by your side, supporting you unconditionally.”

“Mom, don’t worry, I am a man, I have grown up, and I will protect you in the future,” Luo Ziling said firmly.

“Mom believes you can do it,” Ling Ruonan finally revealed a knowing smile, then grabbed Luo Ziling’s hand and gently patted it, “Okay, let’s not talk about these sad things anymore. I’m going to prepare dinner now.”

“Mom, let’s cook together today,” Luo Ziling suggested.

“Sure,” Ling Ruonan agreed cheerfully.

So, the two of them chatted while cooking together in the kitchen.

Ling Ruonan wanted to understand Luo Ziling’s life at school, so she kept asking him about the details of his recent life.

Not wanting to bring up painful memories, Ling Ruonan did not ask about the past.

Luo Ziling, knowing how to read the room, did not mention the past to Ling Ruonan but started talking about things at school instead. He shared amusing anecdotes about his three lively roommates, some funny incidents from military training, details when he treated Li Haiyang, and various things from recent classes. Ling Ruonan listened attentively and remembered the names Cao Jianhui, Wu Longjiang, and Li Fuming.

When Luo Ziling said he didn’t quite understand Advanced Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, Ling Ruonan assured him not to worry about failing exams.

“Those subjects aren’t too important; as long as you get a diploma from your schooling, that’s enough,” Ling Ruonan paused while chopping the vegetables and said meaningfully, “You should know by now why mom wanted you to go to university in Yanjing, right?”

“I know,” Luo Ziling nodded, “You just wanted me to return to Yanjing, not necessarily to go to university or learn anything specific there.”

“Your grandfather said that it wouldn’t hurt for you to learn some Western medicine as well. If one day you can integrate it with traditional Chinese medicine, that might be a great achievement in medical science,” Ling Ruonan said softly, “So, we chose a major in clinical medicine for you.”

“Thank you, mom,” Luo Ziling said sincerely.

Ling Ruonan returned the smile.

Wuyue also joined them for the Mid-Autumn Festival, which took Luo Ziling by surprise.

Ling Ruonan did not explain, as her focus was entirely on Luo Ziling, occasionally adding more food to his plate during the meal.

Throughout the meal, Luo Ziling’s bowl was never less than full, always brimming with food.

In the end, Luo Ziling was so stuffed that he couldn’t even eat any fruit.

After dinner, Ling Ruonan had Wuyue set up a table in the villa’s garden, placed a pile of fruit and pastries on it, and then sat down to chat with Luo Ziling.

Luo Ziling was someone who loved to talk. Having been lonely in the small mountain village for so long, he was willing to talk about anything with anyone willing to listen.

He also shared with Ling Ruonan some interesting stories about his life in the small mountain village, as well as described its beautiful scenery.

“Mom, someday I’ll take you back to our hometown to see it. The scenery is truly beautiful; you can see the Tianshan Peaks, and the Bayanbulak grassland is nearby. You would surely fall in love with the place if you went there,” said Luo Ziling with affection when talking about the small mountain village.

Because it really was beautiful.

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“Okay, I will definitely go with you to see how beautiful the place where you grew up is,” Ling Ruonan agreed to Luo Ziling’s proposal with a smile, then sighed and said, “Actually, our old home… the old home of your grandfather and your father isn’t there.”

“Then where is our old home?” Luo Ziling was surprised.

He had originally thought that his grandfather had grown up in that area since he was a child, but it turned out not to be the case.

Ling Ruonan looked at Luo Ziling and said softly, “Your grandfather’s ancestors are from Yuezhou in Jiangnan Province, the place that is known as Lu Xun’s hometown, the land of ancient Yue, famous for its yellow wine and stinky tofu.”

“Oh, is it the Yuezhou where Lu You and Tang Wan played out their love tragedy in Shen Garden? No wonder Grandfather’s favorite drink is Yuezhou Old Wine,” Luo Ziling realized. But why had Grandfather never mentioned these things to him?

“Your grandfather’s ancestral home is still there, but he hasn’t been back in a very long time. Sometime, Mom will take you there for a visit. It’s a very exquisite small city; Mom fell in love with it the first time she went,” said Ling Ruonan, her eyes full of nostalgia.

She wanted to tell Luo Ziling that the first time she visited Yuezhou, she was with Luo Ziling’s father, Luo Xusheng.

And it was she who had taken the initiative to ask Luo Xusheng to take her there.

After arriving in Yuezhou, Luo Xusheng took her to visit Lu Xun’s former residence, Hundred Grass Garden, Shen Garden, Howling Mountain, Orchid Pavilion, and Dayu Mausoleum; he also took her to visit the Luo Family’s old residence, a very old house.

Following Luo Xusheng, she had drunk Yuezhou Old Wine, eaten the aniseed beans that Kong Yiji was very fond of, and even learned a few ways to write the character for aniseed. Smelling the stinky but delicious stinky tofu, she was coaxed by Luo Xusheng into trying it, and she ended up eating a lot, unable to stop herself.

Luo Xusheng had also taken her on a Wupeng Boat ride around the city.

That was the happiest trip she had ever had, without exception.

It was also on the first night of their visit to Yuezhou that she had lost her precious first time.

It was very likely that she had conceived Luo Ziling during their trip to Yuezhou.

The status of Yuezhou in her heart could be said to surpass all other cities, including Yanjing.

Therefore, she was very emotional whenever she spoke of things related to Yuezhou.

Luo Ziling was still quite surprised, “Then, why didn’t Grandfather return to Yuezhou? I’ve never heard him mention anything about Yuezhou, and I had no idea that our family’s ancestors were from Yuezhou.”

“Your grandfather was a very capable person. When he was young, he had good relationships with many influential people, but he never coveted power or money. Of course, his downfall was also because he fell in love with a woman from a wealthy family,” said Ling Ruonan with a somewhat strange expression on her face.

“No way?” Luo Ziling listened, dumbfounded. “Such things actually happened to Grandfather?”

“The wealthy woman your grandfather fell in love with eventually left her family to be with him; the two of them eloped,” continued Ling Ruonan, her face now showing an even stranger smile, “Actually, at that time, your grandfather didn’t even know medicine.”

Hearing Ling Ruonan say this, a sense of unease welled up in Luo Ziling’s heart, and he gently pursued, “What happened after that?”

“Afterward, your grandmother got seriously ill and died when your father was five years old,” sighed Ling Ruonan, “She wouldn’t have died, but due to a doctor’s error, she met with misfortune. That incident was a huge blow to your grandfather, and from then on he began to study medicine and eventually achieved great success.”

“It turned out to be like that,” Luo Ziling was shocked again.

“Do you know which wealthy family your grandmother came from?” Ling Ruonan asked another question.

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