The visitor was Xie Sui's eldest sister, Xie Lan. As the elder sister in the family, she, like all sisters of that era, did the most work and ate the least, truly a mother figure.
Xie Sui had grown up on his elder sister's back. In his ignorance, he'd been disgusted by her dirtiness and plain appearance, hurting her feelings countless times.
He never considered how much work she did daily. She married in her twenties for the family, and her in-laws were so poor that even rats found it tough. Yet, Xie Dahe demanded twenty yuan as a high bride price, all of which was spent on Xie Sui.
"Why are you back?"
Xie Dahe, puffing on his pipe, frowned.
Zhao Xiue, being his mother, was concerned for her daughter. "Come in and talk. I'll pour you some water."
"No rush, I'm not thirsty."
Xie Lan sat down cautiously, feeling uneasy. Xie Dahe was annoyed by her reticence.
"Mom, is this corn meant to be ground? My sister and I can go grind it for you?"
"Alright, go ahead. I'll cook. Have your elder sister stay for a meal."
"Got it, Sis. Let's go."
Xie Lan had no choice but to follow Xie Sui out. Xie Sui asked, "Sis, how is everything at home?"
Her returning now must mean she was in trouble, serious trouble. Otherwise, given her personality, she wouldn't come to her maiden home unless absolutely desperate.
Girls in this era were pitiful, taught from a young age to sacrifice and dedicate. Once married, they were outsiders, like spilled water.
Yet, after marriage, they were expected to contribute to their maiden families, with parents and brothers seen as the true kin and support. They were to be filial and considerate. The rules were always dictated by whoever spoke.
Xie Lan was a prime example. No matter how difficult things were at home, she would bring any good food to Xie Sui.
"Little Sui, the child is sick, and we have no money. I'm truly at my wit's end..."
Xie Lan couldn't help but shed tears. Had her brother finally matured?
"Is the illness serious? What did the doctor say?"
Xie Lan's son, Li Hu, was eight years old. She married late, so her child was only a few years younger than Dou Dou and Ding Ding.
"They said it's some kind of brain inflammation and needs immediate hospitalization, or he could become paralyzed. The fever won't break. We've borrowed from everyone we know. I was hoping Mom and Dad could lend us some."
"Oh my, then what are we waiting for? Meningitis is very serious. I'll go borrow a mule cart. We'll leave now."
Xie Sui panicked upon hearing this. The child mortality rate in this era was very high. Polio vaccines weren't widespread, and several children in their village had succumbed to it.
"Little Sui, we can't afford treatment at the hospital without money."
"I'll figure something out. Sis, you go sit at home and have Wanwan pack some things. I'll be back soon."
"Okay, okay. I'll wait for you, Sis."
Xie Lan was overjoyed, tears of gratitude streaming down her face. Her brother's thin shoulders seemed exceptionally tall. She never imagined she'd one day have her brother to rely on.
Upon hearing that her nephew was critically ill, Lin Wanwan didn't hesitate. She packed a pile of food and essentials and gave Xie Lan one hundred yuan. "Use this for now. If it's not enough, we'll figure it out together." From Sudong Novel Network.
She added, "Xie Sui has changed now, he can earn money and is much more reliable than before. You can trust him."
"That's good. Thank you, Wanwan. I'll definitely repay this money, sister-in-law."
Xie Lan hadn't held much hope to begin with. She knew her parents' situation well. This was just a last resort, a way to force herself to despair and give up on her child.
She could only blame her child for having a bad fate, as people often consoled themselves with such notions amidst hardship.
"Sis, are we ready to go?"
Xie Lan wiped her tears, took her belongings, and got into the mule cart. Xie Sui had again enlisted Zhang Wenfeng as the driver. Thanks to his timely advice, the Zhang family was harmonious, and for the first time, Zhang Wenfeng wasn't scolded. He was completely convinced of Xie Sui's capabilities.
Although Xie Sui used to act unscrupulously, he was genuinely intelligent. Once he applied himself to righteous pursuits, he was formidable.
Xie Lan's in-laws lived in the next village, about five to six li away, a ten-minute journey. Their courtyard was as dilapidated as the old family home. Her husband, Li Wenjun, looked worried. Barely in his thirties, his hair was already streaked with gray. Li Hu was their only son, and if there was even a sliver of hope, he would sacrifice his life to save him.
"Li Hu's father, quickly bring your son up. Your little uncle is here to see the child."
Xie Lan stood straighter, feeling pride for the first time. Her brother had become successful, and she could hold her head high among her in-laws.
Li Wenjun eyed the mule cart suspiciously. "Can your useless brother really help us?"
They would be grateful if he didn't come to freeload. Every year, Xie Lan secretly helped him out.
Li Wenjun, for his son's sake, had turned a blind eye. Now, the idea that he could treat their child was something Li Wenjun utterly disbelieved.
"Hey, are you going to let him see or not? The mule cart is here, and we need to get to the county hospital quickly. Is Li Hu your biological son?"
Xie Lan lost her temper. Xie Sui jumped off the cart. "Where is Li Hu? We'll go. Brother-in-law, you can stay home and guard the house."
"No, I have to go too."
Li Wenjun panicked. Entrusting his child to this brother-in-law would be like throwing a dog a bone, never to be seen again.
Li Hu, a sturdy boy, was delirious from the fever. Xie Sui dared not delay. "Wen Feng, hurry! Saving a life is like fighting a fire."
"Alright, Brother Xie. Hold on tight."
Chen Wenfeng cracked the whip, and the mule bolted. The cart drove fast and steady.
What would have taken an hour to reach the county hospital took only thirty minutes. Xie Sui rushed in with the child. "Doctor, save him quickly!"
They went straight to the emergency room. After a brief examination, the doctor shook his head. Xie Lan was close to breaking down. "How is my child?"
"It's not very optimistic. He was brought in a bit too late."
Xie Sui was exasperated. Couldn't he stop shaking his head like that? It was terrifying.
"Can you save him or not? No matter the cost, we'll pay. If the county can't cure him, we'll go to the city. If the city can't, we'll go to the province. We'll try as long as there's a sliver of hope."
Hospitals in this era didn't have as many diagnostic tests. This doctor, with his extensive experience, recognized the probable condition. "It looks like meningitis, but further examination is needed. This illness isn't necessarily difficult to treat, but it can be costly."
Seeing their attire, they didn't appear to be from a wealthy family, which put the doctor in a difficult position.
"Approximately how much will it cost?"
Li Wenjun asked cautiously, his heart in his throat.
"At least two hundred yuan, and that's if the treatment goes smoothly and requires hospitalization. You need to be mentally prepared."
"Treat him. Write out the paperwork, and I'll pay the fees. Sis, brother-in-law, problems that can be solved with money are not real problems. I'll handle the money. You two take care of Li Hu."
Alas, these few taels of silver had stumped countless people.
Xie Lan produced the hundred yuan given by Lin Wanwan. "This is from sister-in-law. You go pay the fees. Little Sui, I really owe you this time."
"We're family, don't mention it. He'll be fine. Don't worry, Sis."
Xie Sui went to pay the fees and complete the procedures. He was busy from start to finish, only finishing in the evening. Li Wenjun was bewildered. He could barely speak coherently when asked to handle the paperwork and was filled with gratitude towards Xie Sui.
"Little Sui, drink some water. You must be exhausted."
Xie Lan felt a little embarrassed. Her own husband was useless; when it came to crises, her brother was the one to step up.