Chapter 432 Ouyang Contracts a Depressing Illness
Ye Shengsong nodded with mock seriousness and whispered in Zi Yisheng's ear.
Zi Yisheng's brow furrowed even deeper upon hearing this, but seeing his wife's strained expression, he understood.
"Does that mean these few days are safe then?"
"Uh, not necessarily."
"Alright, I get it. I'll let my wife bear with it for these few days. I'll figure something else out later."
Ye Shengsong felt like she had done something foolish. In the future, when she was safe, some people would be even more unrestrained.
After resting, Ye Shengsong returned to her parents' home. It happened that Mo Lin had just returned from school.
"Mo Lin, how was it? What grade did the teacher say you can be in?"
Before Mo Lin could answer, Ye Mu'en interjected, his face filled with disbelief.
"Shengsong, you don't know what the teacher said about Mo Lin? He's an absolute genius! His current level allows him to directly enter the second year of junior high. If he reviews the second-year material, he can even take the high school entrance exam with this year's graduates."
Ye Shengsong was very surprised. Mo Lin had never focused on his studies before, so she had never realized he was so talented. It seemed that talented people could achieve what others worked hard for without much effort.
"Mo Lin, you're amazing. Are you going to start in the second year of junior high?"
Mo Lin sheepishly scratched his face. He was already a grown man; how could his sister still treat him like a baby?
"I want to finish the entire second-year junior high curriculum in the remaining half semester and then take the high school entrance exam with them."
Ye Shengsong calculated. Junior and senior high school were both two-year programs. Mo Lin was only twelve this year. If everything went smoothly, he would be fourteen when he graduated from high school. However, there were no universities for Mo Lin to continue his studies at now, so what could he do after graduation? Even factories wouldn't hire such young children.
"Mo Lin, I don't think you need to rush. Even if you want to earn money right away, you're not old enough. It's better to take your time and solidify your knowledge."
"But I don't want to waste all my time in school. I want to earn money. I don't want to be a burden to the family."
Ye Shengsong sighed as she looked at Mo Lin's stubbornness. Was this the feeling of living under someone else's roof? No matter how well they treated him, he still felt like a burden.
"How about this? If you're willing, just persist until you're sixteen. Then, I'll find someone to arrange a job for you, okay?"
"Sister, I want to find a job myself. You and my brother have done too much for me and my sister."
Ye Shengsong stared at Mo Lin intently, remaining silent. This made Mo Lin feel afraid for the first time; he had never seen his sister like this.
"Sister, are you angry?"
"Mo Lin, I am very angry. Don't forget that you have been adopted by the Ye family. You and Xiao Tiantian are essentially part of the Ye family. Why are you acting like this? Your behavior only makes me feel like you can't integrate into the Ye family and see yourself as an outsider."
"I didn't. I really didn't. I just want to contribute to the family quickly, since I can't endlessly consume your kindness towards me."
Ye Mu'en patted his sister's shoulder from the side. He knew how much Ye Shengsong expected from Mo Lin.
"Mo Lin, actually, I want you to grow into a towering tree. After all, Xiao Tiantian's future depends on you. Do you think by graduating and earning money quickly, working in a factory and making twenty or thirty yuan a month is enough?
Do you know how much money is needed to continue treating Xiao Tiantian's illness? Do you know how much the trip abroad cost last year? That's not something an ordinary worker's family can afford. In fact, the money you earn in a factory wouldn't even be enough to buy a plane ticket.
You can be anxious, and you can want to work hard. All these intentions are good, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture. I hope you first focus on elevating yourself to the highest level, so you'll truly have the ability to take care of Xiao Tiantian for a lifetime.
Besides, does the Ye family lack the twenty or thirty yuan you'd earn monthly? What are you rushing for? Calm down and study hard now. I still want to send you to Micheng University. You're smart, so don't waste it."
Mo Lin lowered his head, his shoulders shaking. Ye Shengsong knew Mo Lin was crying, but she didn't go to comfort him. She truly didn't want to waste a genius.
"Oh, what's wrong? Someone bullying little Mo Lin while I'm away?"
Seeing Min Xing's slovenly appearance, Ye Shengsong felt like sprinkling him with powder. His face was just too infuriating, and he would only corrupt Mo Lin.
Min Xing laughed heartily after Ye Mu'en finished explaining what had happened. When he saw Ye Shengsong's ravenous eyes, Min Xing immediately stopped.
"Ahem, Mo Lin, your sister Shengsong is telling you for your own good. Look at me and your brother-in-law. We both graduated from prestigious foreign universities. One of us is among the richest in the country, and the other is just one step away from the highest position. So, studying is important, at least it allows you to seize opportunities."
Seeing Ye Shengsong nod in satisfaction, Min Xing became animated, eager to expound on his reasoning to Mo Lin.
Xiao Tiantian also stared at Min Xing curiously, as if what he was saying was very interesting.
Mo Lin wiped away his tears and glared at Min Xing. He simply hated listening to Min Xing talk.
"Stop talking."
"Hey, look at you, kid. You're just not humble. Everyone is telling you for your own good. After all, we have the conditions, why shouldn't we seize them?"
Mo Lin stood in front of Ye Shengsong, his attitude firm.
"Sister, I'll listen to you. I was too hasty. I will study diligently and practice martial arts diligently to become someone you can all rely on."
Ye Shengsong nodded with satisfaction. She eagerly anticipated Mo Lin reaching his rightful place.
"I believe in you. Keep moving forward with all your might."
"Heh heh, alright, it seems I'm the one who enlightened Mo Lin. This guy is just a stubborn little mule."
Suddenly, the sound of a car approaching was heard from outside. Ye Shengsong rushed out and couldn't help but laugh when she saw the person wrapped like a silkworm in the car.
"Shengsong, I'm dying of heat. Hurry and save me."
"Don't listen to Tangtang. Catching a cold after childbirth is a serious matter."
Ye Shengsong followed the car to the Ouyang family's house and immediately took the little chubby baby, walking straight into the bedroom without stopping.
Old Master Ouyang had been anxiously waiting, but he first went to the car to check on Chen Tangtang.
"Child, you've worked hard."
"Heh heh, Grandpa, it wasn't that painful, actually."
"Good, you're a strong one. Go inside and lie down quickly."
Ouyang embraced Chen Tangtang and followed her into the room. Soon, the room was filled with people.
Old Master Ouyang held his great-grandson tightly, his eyes never leaving the child. His eyes even turned red.
"The Ouyang family finally has a new generation. It's truly wonderful. I didn't expect to live to see this day."
"Grandpa, what are you saying? Tangtang and I will work hard, and we can have you see a whole bunch of great-grandchildren."
"Hmph, if you really have that ability, then pigs would fly. Our Ouyang family has been single-child for six generations."
Chen Tangtang sat up immediately after lying down.
"Grandpa, really? Not even a second child, not even a daughter?"
Old Master Ouyang shook his head with regret.
"For six generations, it's been only one boy, and never a second child."
"Ah~~~ I wanted to have another daughter. Ouyang Li, give me back my daughter."
Ouyang quickly pacified his wife. He never believed in such things as single-child lineage; it must be a physical reason.
"Wife, wife, you can't get agitated now. I'll immediately invite Elder Fan and the others to examine us. Perhaps marrying you will change everything."
"Exactly, Tangtang is a blessed woman. Perhaps she can bring a lot of fortune and many descendants to our Ouyang family."
Xia Hong didn't want another grandchild, did she? These days, every family had a bunch of children, but only their Ouyang family was sparsely populated. Every time her son went on a trip, she couldn't sleep at night, fearing that something might happen and the Ouyang family would be cut off.
Ye Shengsong reached out to take Tangtang's pulse. Aside from some qi and blood deficiency, her body was quite healthy.
"Let me see your hand."
Ouyang quickly rolled up his sleeve. It was his first time being examined by the elder madam, so he had to cooperate.
Ye Shengsong took a longer time to feel Ouyang's pulse, making everyone in the room nervous. Chen Tonghua even went to find Elder Fan and the others. If there were any problems, they could discuss them together.
"Shengsong, sister-in-law, do I really have a problem?"
Ye Shengsong released his hand and looked at Ouyang's complexion. If she wasn't mistaken, Ouyang did have some issues.
"Let's wait for Master and the others to come and examine you. But it's nothing serious."
"You scared me to death. I thought I had a serious illness."
Ye Shengsong then took Old Master Ouyang's pulse, but perhaps due to his age, she didn't find anything significant.
Elder Fan and Elder Dang had already heard Chen Tonghua explain the situation on the way. As doctors, they were even less likely to believe in the notion of single-child lineage; there must be a problem with one of the spouses.
As soon as Ouyang saw Elder Fan and Elder Dang, he immediately pulled Chen Tangtang's hand away.
"Masters, please examine Tangtang first. Don't let her body get injured from childbirth."
Chen Tangtang's heart swelled with sweetness. She had heard from Shengsong about Ouyang's every move outside the delivery room. It was truly fortunate to find a man who loved her so much in this life.
"Alright, let me take a look. I examined you after childbirth before, and Tangtang is in good health. After a year of recovery, she can have another child."
Xia Hong looked at her daughter-in-law excitedly. She knew Tangtang was a blessed woman, and perhaps she could give her another soft and sweet granddaughter.
Elder Fan and Elder Dang exchanged glances, and both confirmed their previous assessment: Chen Tangtang was a healthy young calf.
It was Ouyang's turn. After taking his pulse, Elder Fan looked at Ouyang with a peculiar gaze. Elder Dang also did not speak but directly pulled his young apprentice aside to discuss.
The people in the room perked up their ears again, making both parties involved extremely nervous.
The conclusion reached by the three was consistent: in their previous lives, it would be called oligospermia, but in present terms, it was insufficient vital essence.
Ouyang was struck as if by lightning upon hearing this, and for a moment, he thought he was incapable.
It was only after Elder Fan patiently explained that Ouyang calmed down.
"Your Ouyang family's consistent single-child lineage might also be partly due to this reason."
"Then why could they still have one child? Shouldn't they have been unable to have any children at all?"
"Having insufficient vital essence doesn't mean they can't have children. In the best age, at the most suitable time, it's possible to conceive. Another point is that perhaps the wives your Ouyang family found were all in good health and particularly suitable for conception, which increased the chances of pregnancy."
"So, will it be really difficult for me to have children in the future?"
Elder Fan glared at Ouyang impatiently. If that were the case, what would doctors be for?
"As long as you receive proper treatment, this condition is curable. It's just that you didn't know before. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been six generations of single-child lineage."
Xia Hong was so excited that tears streamed down her face. She used to think it was her own poor health that prevented her from having a second child for the Ouyang family. Now she finally knew it wasn't her fault, and more importantly, her son's condition could be treated.
"Elder Fan, Elder Dang, please treat the illness. No matter how much it costs, we'll pay. We must eradicate this problem completely."
At this moment, Old Master Ouyang tremblingly brought the baby to Elder Fan.
"Old friend, quickly examine the child too. If there's a problem, we should treat it early."
"The child is too young. Even if there's a problem, medicine cannot be used. It's not too late to examine him when he's five or six years old. It's not an incurable terminal illness, so what is there to fear?"
Old Master Ouyang was indeed fearful. He was afraid that the doctors outside wouldn't be able to treat this condition. After all, in this era, many good traditional Chinese medicine practitioners had either died or were injured. If the two old gentlemen didn't live to see the child at five or six years old, what would happen to his great-grandson?
"You should examine him first, so I can be more at ease."
Elder Fan, being an experienced old fox, understood what the old man Ouyang meant.
"Hmph, don't worry. Old Dang and I will live for at least another twenty years. The old man is cursing me."
"Heh heh, no, I just have complete faith in your and Old Dang's medical skills."
"Nonsense. My apprentice can also treat him. What else are you worried about?"
Ye Shengsong just smiled from the side. She truly didn't mind her medical skills being questioned, as she was indeed a novice.
"Heh heh, let everyone take a look. This child is blessed, with so many capable people watching over his growth."
Ouyang was still in a state of distress, wondering why he was a man who was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. It was truly embarrassing.
In this society, a man's capability was often judged by the number of children he had. Being able to have wife after wife give birth was considered a sign of prowess.
Ye Shengsong began by taking the little chubby's pulse. It was indeed difficult to diagnose anything in a newborn infant, but it was good practice.
It was only after Elder Fan and Elder Dang painstakingly explained the nuances of the little chubby's pulse to their young apprentice that they began to discern some issues.
This diagnostic discussion continued for more than half an hour, and it only stopped when the little chubby began to protest.
"How is it? How is it? How is the child?"
"Hmm, your Ouyang family might truly have problems with vital essence. This child has some of the same pulse as young Ouyang. We'll examine him again when he gets older. It's not an urgent matter. The priority is to treat young Ouyang."
Old Master Ouyang slumped into a chair, sighing and patting his thigh.
"Tell me, if our Ouyang family had encountered a good doctor earlier, would these things have happened? My son and I have both seen doctors, but none of them told us about this problem. They were all quacks, causing the Ouyang family to miss out on so many children!"