People living in this world
Author: 橙子澄澄
Source: Instadoses
Haizi has brought the old lady from home to town.
The weather was too cold, and the country house wasn't resistant to freezing. The old lady was by herself at home to weather the smoke and cold. She didn't even bother to burn charcoal to save money. Haizi will make up his mind to bring her over.
When Qian Wanjin vacated a room for him, he added a blanket and a mattress on the bed and lit another pot of charcoal, making the whole house warm. It was a suitable nest for the elderly.
When Liu Yusheng arrived, Haizi was washing medicine jars in front of the house. When he looked up and saw the little girl coming in from the backdoor of the restaurant lobby, he suddenly straightened up, his eyes wide with surprise. "Nannan! You are here!" Even though she was wrapped up like a dumpling and half of her face was covered by a collar, he still recognized her at once.
Qian Wanjin coughed. I'm right behind Lucky Nannan; can't you see me? Your landlord, the person your livelihood depends on is here, here, here!
"Boss!" It was only when Haizi heard the cough that he noticed Qian Wanjin's presence, and he greeted him respectfully. It was a far cry from the surprise he felt when he saw Liu Yusheng.
"Brother Haizi, I heard that you've brought Grandmother here. I came to check up on her today." Liu Yusheng moved forward.
"Okay, okay!" Haizi nodded repeatedly, quickly putting down the medicine jar and inviting them inside. "I picked her up yesterday, and now she's been taking the third prescription you left behind. Since you didn't say how long she should take it, I didn't dare to stop grandma's medication."
He smiled vividly speaking of this. "Nannan, you're so amazing. At that time you said to take the first prescription for three days, within exactly three days, the color my grandmother's phlegm really faded. The second day she took the medicine, her complexion improved a lot. We thought of going to the Chen's house to thank you, but we didn't know that you were already gone…"
He had a lot to say, and wanted to tell the little girl all the wonder and amazement that he had kept in his heart for some time. Thus, for a moment, the young man who wasn't good at words let loose a flood of eloquence.
Inside the house, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, sending forth a warmth that dispelled the cold air brought in from outside.
The old grandma was sitting next to the brazier, smiling kindly, while a bit of curiosity flickered in her eyes. She wondered how this girl who looked so young, but possessed powerful medical skills. "I was wondering why Haizi is so happy. So it's because Nannan came."
"Grandma, how are you feeling right now? Are you still experiencing chest pains?" Liu Yusheng smiled and walked over to the brazier, sat down on the small stool that Haizi brought over, and took off the large scarf that was wrapped around half of her face. "You're looking good. Let me feel your pulse and see how you're recovering.
"Good, then give it a look. By the way, please reassure Haizi as well. I know for myself that I'm really well. The medicine you've prescribed is really effective."
Liu Yusheng pulled the old lady's hand and placed it flat on her knee, then let her tender fingers gently take her pulse.
Her pulse wasn't very strong, but the beat was smooth and gentle. After checking her coated tongue and smelling the odor of her breath, she did a series of checks meticulously.
Haizi stood beside her, nervously curling his fingers. His eyes were fixed on the little girl, just in case a frown would appear on her face.
Qian Wanjin didn't enter the house, but leaned against the door. From his angle, he could clearly see the little girl's side profile.
Her white and tender cheeks were baked into a warm pink glow by the charcoal fire, covering her face. Her large black and white eyes that curved into crescent moons were extremely cute. And her slender, thick eyelashes covering her eyelids would gently flutter every time she looked down, casting a beautiful gray silhouette around the bottom of her eyelids.
He suddenly had an itch to touch those black feather-like eyelashes and see what it felt like to have such fine, dense lashes brushing across his fingertips.
What attracted him most was her demeanor. In front of the elderly, and even in the face of every patient who came to seek medical treatment, she always had a gentle smile. She was patient and meticulous, and softly spoken. He had never seen her impatient.
No matter how many patients there were; no matter how tired she was after consultations, he had never seen her show any negative emotions.
She appeared to be having fun practicing medicine and treating people. She looked happy warding off illness for people.
"You can stop taking the medicine now. Your lung ulceration has improved, and I didn't find other infections. As long as you take care of your body later on, there won't be much problem." Next to the brazier, the girl has finished her inspection.
"Nannan, are you sure she doesn't need to take medication? Is my grandmother … fully recovered?" Haizi was still in disbelief.
A lung abscess, which he later inquired about at the town's medical center, was extremely troublesome to diagnose and treat. At one point, it gave doctors a headache.
Because the ulceration of the internal organs was invisible to the naked eye, the slightest mistake would lead to recurrence, which in turn would cause the infection to fester other illnesses. It wasn't that there weren't examples of cures, but only those people from wealthy families could afford to pay the consultation fee and take good medicine.
And he had spent less than one tael of silver in total for his grandmother's diagnosis and treatment.
That wasn't to say he didn't believe in her diagnosis and treatment. He just found it incredible.
"She's basically cured, but you have to pay attention to the later stages of recuperation. Medicine is three-part poison. If you could do without medication, do it. At this period, food cures better than medicine. Eat something lighter and lung-booster food. If you don't know which foods are better for your lungs, you can ask the chef at the restaurant."
Haizi kept nodding. "I-I'll keep it in mind. Thank you, Nannan!"
"Nannan, I'd like to thank you too. It's excruciatingly unpleasant when this illness attacks. Now that I'm cured, I got something to look forward to again. I might even get to see Haizi start a family." The old grandmother smiled with her eyes slightly red.
Liu Yusheng patted the old lady's hand and smiled. "You'll definitely live a long life. In the future, not only will you be able to see Brother Haizi getting married, you will also be able to see your grandchildren around your knees and be blessed with happiness."
"Great, I'll be waiting for that day."
This matter settled, so Liu Yusheng got up to leave. She had to hurry home, so as not to worry the old man and old lady at home.
"Nannan, wait! I haven't paid you for the consultation before. I got my salary a few days ago, so I'll pay you part of it first. I'll pay the rest slowly when I've saved up, okay?" Haizi was a little nervous. He knew that the little girl wouldn't be upset, but he was extremely ashamed.
"Okay, the consultation fee is 50 Wen. You can pay me when you're financially stable."
"5-50 Wen?" Not only Haizi, even the old lady stared at her.
"Yeah. I'm not in urgent need of money, and you can't get away from here, so I'll let Young Boss deduct a little bit from your salary every month." The girl winked playfully.
"Yes, I have! I'll pay you now!" He carefully counted 50 Wen and placed them in the girl's spread white palm. Seeing her follow the Boss away, Haizi's eyes sank deep and profound.
She would never know that while she cured his grandmother's illness, she also ignited hope in his heart – hope for life.
People shouldn't live just to avoid starving to death.
Live the way you wanted, live your life, that was life.
The way he wanted it – someday when she needed him, he had the power to do anything for her!
Note this is for Offline reading/purpose only credits to the authors, publishers, editors and translators.