During the day, Huang Bita was drenched in cold water. Although she ward herself by the fire later, the cold had entered her body, and she delayed too long before changing into dry clothes.
So by night, she developed a high fever and began to speak gibberish.
When Mu Dalang discovered it, Huang Bita had already beco a burning furnace, her whole body scorching hot.
"Bita, Bita..." he called twice, but Huang Bita did not respond to him.
Mu Dalang almost went crazy with anxiety.
In a state of panic, he was about to carry Huang Bita to find Zhang Huai Shu.
As soon as he moved Huang Bita’s body, she cried out, "Get away, no..."
Mu Dalang listened for a long ti before he clearly heard the words "get away."
In such a situation, taking her to see a doctor was not feasible, so he had to call Zhang Huai Shu to the Old Mu Family.
Mu Dalang had to care for Huang Bita and couldn’t leave.
He went to his parents’ room and asked his father Mu Dazhong to call Zhang Huai Shu to co over to see her.
Unexpectedly, not only did Mu Dazhong refuse to call Zhang Huai Shu, but he also blad Mu Dalang.
"If she’s sick, she’s sick, she’s not dead, it’s already dark, can you just let rest properly?"
Mrs. Lin was even more direct in her criticism: "A worthless wretch, why waste money on this? Besides, whose wife gets sick and then calls Zhang Huai Shu?
Everyone just bears with it, and after one night it’s fine. She’s no more valuable than anyone else, so why waste money unnecessarily?"
Their words boiled down to two points.
First, not spending money on Huang Bita, and second, not calling the doctor for her.
Helpless, Mu Dalang could only call Mu Shuangshuang.
But before he left, Mu Dalang still dropped so harsh words.
"Father and Mother, your actions have left cold-hearted. I will definitely learn and imitate from now on," said Mu Dalang.
This statent almost made Mrs. Lin faint with anger.
She kicked Mu Dazhong in the back, and even Gou Dan, who had just climbed into bed and hadn’t washed his feet, was awakened by the noise.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked Mrs. Lin in a daze, "Father and Mother, why are you hitting ?"
"Shut up!" Mrs. Lin shouted.
Terrified, Gou Dan burrowed into Mu Dazhong’s arms, while Mu Dazhong, having been kicked unexpectedly, didn’t react imdiately. When he did, he kicked Mrs. Lin, sending her off the bed.
...
When Mu Dalang arrived at the third branch, Mu Shuangshuang was playing cards with Mu Dashan and Lu Yuanfeng, playing "Fight the Landlord."
As the ga was becoming intense, Mu Dalang rushed in.
The young man’s forehead was beaded with sweat, and upon seeing Mu Dashan, he said, "Third Uncle... Third Uncle... Bita, Bita has a fever. Can you help call Zhang Huai Shu, Grandpa Zhang!"
The three of them simultaneously put down their cards and gathered around.
"What’s going on? Take your ti and tell us," Mu Dashan asked.
Without waiting for Mu Dalang to explain, Lu Yuanfeng said, "I’ll go call Grandpa Zhang over."
"Thanks, Fengzi!" Mu Dalang expressed his gratitude to Lu Yuanfeng and then explained the situation with Huang Bita to Mu Dashan and Mu Shuangshuang.
"I’ll go and take care of Sister-in-law," Mu Shuangshuang said.
"Then I’ll go make so ginger soup; it’s good for driving out colds," Yu Si Niang said.
"I’ll follow and wait for Uncle Zhang."
Everyone in the third branch made a move, even the already asleep children got up upon hearing that Huang Bita was sick.
With such a big commotion, even the resting Mr. Mu got up, followed by the fourth branch.
Old Mrs. Mu insisted on not getting up and wanted Mr. Mu to reprimand Huang Bita.
But Old Mrs. Mu couldn’t influence Mr. Mu’s actions.
Mr. Mu scolded Old Mrs. Mu a bit, got dressed, and headed to Mu Dalang’s place.
*
The Old Mu Family lit the lamps anew, led by Mu Dashan, and waited for a long ti before Zhang Huai Shu arrived.
After winter arrived, Zhang Huai Shu rarely went out to see patients. If people needed consultation, they would go to his place.
Zhang Huai Shu was getting old and was fearful of any injuries from falls, which could lead to serious complications.
This ti, it was Lu Yuanfeng who called him, coupled with it being Mu Dalang’s wife, so he agreed to co.
Upon seeing Mr. Mu, Zhang Huai Shu complained.
"Your Old Mu Family calls for consultations more in a month than other families do in several years. The family doesn’t seem to take care of itself; soone’s either overworked or malnourished.
If this continues, how many people will your Old Mu Family even have left? We’re all from the sa village, and I’ve never given you trouble, so don’t burden , this old man, with your problems, okay?"
Zhang Huai Shu held grudges against Mr. Mu, not only recently.
Whenever he got the chance, he would give a good telling-off.
Each ti, he would make Mr. Mu blush, and this ti was no exception.
After examining, Zhang Huai Shu announced in front of the Old Mu Family, "The cold has penetrated the body. As for the cause, in such freezing weather, don’t let girls soak in cold water. Even for a grown man, it’s unbearable, let alone a girl, I don’t know what’s in your heart..."
Zhang Huai Shu’s words stunned the Old Mu Family.
"Old Zhang, you’re not misdiagnosing, are you? Soaked in cold water?" Mr. Mu couldn’t believe it.
But deep down, he feared that this was the result of his wife’s or daughter-in-law’s actions.
The two of them had bullied Huang Bita together more than once.
"Old Mu, you can doubt my character, but not my dical skills. If you don’t trust , you’ll have to seek soone more capable."
Zhang Huai Shu had a proud deanor in everything he did.
If you truly offended him, even if Lu Yuanfeng intervened, it wouldn’t necessarily resolve things.
Mr. Mu fell silent.
But his silence didn’t an Mu Dalang was silent.
He recalled that wet clothes he had washed for Huang Bita and her odd behavior that morning.
"Grandpa, Bita... I’m afraid Grandma splashed cold water on her. In the morning, I went to the village well, fetched two buckets of water and then..."
Mu Dalang dared not say he had helped Huang Bita wash her clothes. Pausing, he continued:
"When I returned, Bita’s clothes were soaked, and she had changed clothes, her hands were ice-cold, like needles pricking her..."
Mu Dalang had no suspicions about his mother, Mrs. Lin, because around noon, his grandmother and mother were discussing the grass being stolen in the yard.
His mother looked like she hadn’t fully woken up, indicating she had been sleeping all morning.
"What?" Mr. Mu couldn’t sit still.
His legs trembled, nearly causing him to kneel.
"Dalang, don’t rush to conclusions on this matter. Let ask your mother."
Mu Dade was about to head to the Capital for exams, and Mr. Mu didn’t want another commotion in the Old Mu Family.
Mr. Mu didn’t want to upset Mu Dalang and Huang Bita, as the two juniors were crucial for his eldest son’s future.
"Grandpa, I’ll wait here for your answer. Please tell later whether it was Grandma who did this."
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