Zhao Nanying busied himself in the kitchen for half a day but couldn't even get the fire started. Choked by smoke, he stumbled out coughing incessantly.
Just then, someone called from outside the courtyard, "Sister-in-law Zhao, are you home? I've brought something for you."
Zhao Nanying looked at the tightly shut door, resignedly tidied himself up, and went to open it.
The young girl outside the door looked surprised to see Zhao Nanying and instinctively pushed the basket in her hands forward.
"Brother Nanying, why is it you? Where's Sister-in-law?"
"Your sister-in-law is sick and lying in the room."
Zhao Nanying frowned, his tone laced with mockery. The visitor was Zhao Xiaohua, the granddaughter of the clan leader.
"Is it serious? Should I go in and have a look?"
Zhao Nanying moved aside, letting Zhao Xiaohua in, and led her towards the bedroom. Without knocking, he forcefully pushed the door open.
He thought to himself that he would spread the word of Jun Jiuli's laziness, and see if she would dare to treat him that way again.
Jun Jiuli lay on the bed, her face pale and her body weak. She occasionally patted the swaddling clothes in her arms, looking pitiful.
"Sister-in-law, how did you become like this? Should we call a doctor? My brother is not what he used to be."
"Cough, cough, my body is fine. Why call a doctor and waste money? All the family's money must be saved for my husband to take the imperial examination in the capital."
Zhao Xiaohua looked at Zhao Nanying with a strange glint in her eyes. It seemed this elder brother was becoming successful and looking down on his sister-in-law.
Zhao Nanying felt uncomfortable under her gaze and was furious. How could this woman pretend so well?
"Xiao Liu, I didn't know you were so ill. I'll go and get you a doctor right away."
"Cough, cough, cough. Don't go, don't go. The new Chinese textbooks are important. Don't waste time for me, it's not worth it."
"What are you talking about? You and I are husband and wife, of course, I should take care of you. Xiaohua, please watch your sister-in-law here for a moment, I'll be back soon."
"Okay, Brother Nanying, be careful on the road."
He said this and rushed out. Jun Jiuli faked her urgency, waved her hands a couple of times, and then lay still.
Zhao Nanying, who hadn't exercised in a long time, ran to town with money and a hungry stomach to fetch a doctor. By the time he returned home, it was five in the afternoon.
If he hadn't bought some pastries in town to eat, he would have fainted from hunger. His legs felt weak as he stood aside. The doctor put down his medicine chest and carefully took Jun Jiuli's pulse.
After a long while, the doctor was still frowning.
"Doctor, how is my wife?"
"This... this..."
"Cough, cough, doctor, please speak freely."
"Madam is weak and tired, with injuries to her internal organs, all due to overwork. She should not worry about anything from now on, and can only rest well. The rest is up to fate."
"Doctor, are you sure? My sister-in-law is only 16 this year, how could she have such a serious illness?"
"I have been practicing medicine for many years and would never be wrong. This lady must have suffered greatly in the past few years. I will prescribe some nourishing medicine, and madam should take it for now."
"Thank you, Doctor."
After writing the prescription, the doctor sighed heavily, "The scholar has finally made it. Madam, please don't worry too much. The young master will have a bright future."
"Cough, cough, thank you, Doctor."
Zhao Nanying escorted the doctor out of the courtyard, looking at Jun Jiuli with an uncertain expression.
Zhao Xiaohua: "Brother Nanying, these are the biscuits my grandma made and a few eggs. My grandpa said studying consumes the brain and asked me to bring them for you to replenish your energy. I've put the items in your basket. I'm going back now."
"Mm-hmm, thank you for coming all this way. Please thank Grandpa the clan leader for me."
Zhao Xiaohua quickly waved her hands, "You're welcome, you're welcome."
She carried the basket and hurried out of the courtyard. On the way, she met a few aunties returning from washing clothes.
"Xiaohua, where are you coming from?"
"Third Auntie, I just came back from my Brother Nanying's house."
"Oh, Xiaohua, what good things did your grandpa send to your Brother Nanying's house again?"
"Auntie Li, what are you talking about? What good things does my family have? Just a few biscuits. My sister-in-law didn't accept them the last few times."
"Hahaha, why did she accept them today?"
"We're all family, it's normal for her to accept them, it's not a big gift. Also, my sister-in-law is sick, and Brother Nanying is distracted."
"Oh dear, what kind of illness is it? The one in Nanying's family is usually so capable, she doesn't look like she has any health problems."
Zhao Xiaohua leaned closer to the two women and whispered, "She's just too hardworking and capable. The doctor said she's run down and doesn't have many years left. What can be done?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's too pitiful for Nanying's wife. Just as she was about to enjoy a good life, how could she suddenly fall ill?"
"I think her illness is suspicious. Men are all like this, they are good at sharing hardships but not at sharing prosperity."
"Alas, a poor girl. How could someone so young get a disease from overwork? We can't help much. What a pity, what a pity."
"Xiaohua, when looking for a man, don't look for one who is too capable. If one day he wants to kick you out, you won't have any room to resist. We women are so pitiful, we have to depend on men for our entire lives."
"My father said he would find me an honest and capable man in our village. I don't ask him to achieve great things. I have 8 elder brothers, he wouldn't dare to bully me."
"Alright, alright, let's go home. We'll tidy up tomorrow and go see Nanying's wife. Xiaohua, what Aunties say, stays with Aunties. You mustn't speak carelessly outside."
Zhao Xiaohua patted her chest and promised, "Aunties, don't worry. What kind of person am I? Besides, we didn't say anything inappropriate just now."
"Hahaha, you little sly fox."
After parting ways with them, Zhao Xiaohua went home and told Zhao clan leader everything that happened that day.
Zhao clan leader stroked his beard after listening, "Alas, it's that girl's bad luck. You should go back and rest quickly. Tomorrow, take some eggs with your grandma and go see them. Brother Nanying can't do anything like making medicine, so you go and help out."
Zhao Xiaohua knew her grandfather was looking out for her. After agreeing, she happily went back to sleep.