"Master, Doctor Li stayed half the night and just left at dawn." Steward Han Zhong happened to enter from outside with Lian Shouli, and upon hearing Lian Shouxin’s call, he quickly stepped forward to respond.
Lian Manman turned around and saw Lian Yeye squeezing in from outside. Lian Yeye’s eyes t Lian Manman’s, and he quickly moved forward to her.
"Sister Manman, have you just returned? You haven’t slept all night, have you?" Lian Yeye seed to notice so fatigue on Lian Manman’s face and asked softly.
"Yes, got the news, it was just getting dark, we packed imdiately and rushed back overnight." Lian Manman nodded, then curiously glanced at Lian Shouli and lowered her voice to ask Lian Yeye, "Yeye, where did your father go just now?"
At tis like this, there were stewards, clerks, and villagers from Manman’s Family helping with everything, so Lian Shouli should have stayed with Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and Lian Jizu by Old Master Lian’s side.
"My father just went up the mountain; the village elders said our grandpa seems to be close to the end and that we should prepare for the arrangents and check out the burial site." Lian Yeye explained to Lian Manman.
"Oh." Lian Manman nodded, thinking this was indeed a proper thing to do, yet, "This matter shouldn’t be..."
Lian Manman’s eyes glanced towards Lian Shouren, considering that checking burial sites should be the duty of the eldest son, Lian Shouren.
"He won’t go, saying he can’t leave our grandpa and let my father go instead." Lian Yeye said.
"Oh." Lian Manman replied with a aningful acknowledgnt. Yes, how could Lian Shouren leave Old Master Lian at this mont? Even though everyone said Old Master Lian was failing, what if he woke up? Even if he couldn’t recover, it would be precious if he were lucid even for a brief mont. The final words of an elder are invaluable.
Lian Shouren certainly wouldn’t leave for a single mont.
Besides, Lian Manman reckoned that if Old Master Lian did regain consciousness, the person he would most want to see would likely be Lian Shouren.
Thinking about the decades of interactions between the two, Lian Manman could only shake her head silently and sigh.
"Call again, call again." anwhile, Lian Shouxin was urging Han Zhong to call Doctor Li again.
Han Zhong knew this wasn’t the ti to reason with Lian Shouxin, and since the master requested it, he could only comply. Thus, he agreed and went out to fetch Doctor Li.
The few people in the room, including Lady Zhou, Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouli, Lian Jizu, and others, though they sowhat understood Old Master Lian wasn’t going to make it, still harbored a sliver of hope and wishful thinking—hoping Old Master Lian might wake up or get better.
Soon, Doctor Li was summoned.
Lian Shouxin grabbed Doctor Li’s hand, asking him to save Old Master Lian. Doctor Li, having practiced dicine for years, had seen such situations before. He had examined Old Master Lian’s pulse several tis and stayed with him for quite a while, and now just by looking at Old Master Lian’s complexion, he knew the person was beyond help. However, glancing at Lian Shouxin, Doctor Li sighed inwardly but still sat down by the bedside to check Old Master Lian’s pulse.
Doctor Li did this not only as a gesture to Lian Shouxin but even with an ordinary family, he would do it to provide comfort. Doctor Li’s reputation over the years was excellent partly because of his skill and partly due to his understanding of customs while being upright.
Doctor Li examined the pulse attentively for a while, then stood up; Lian Shouxin anxiously went forward to inquire.
"Mr. Li, how is my father? Whatever dicine is needed, Mr. Li, please feel free to prescribe."
"All possible prescriptions have already been given..." Doctor Li sighed and waved his hand.
As if to confirm his words, Lady Chiang ca in from outside through the curtain with a bowl of steaming dicine.
"Try again, if he can take this dicine, it may spark a bit of life." Doctor Li said upon seeing the dicine brought in.
Lian Shouxin brightened a bit, as did the faces of Lady Zhou, Lian Shouren, and the others. Everyone, hands all around, raised Old Master Lian’s head a little higher, and Lady Zhou took a spoonful of dicine to feed him.
However, although a spoonful of dicine was barely fed into his mouth, it almost entirely leaked from the corners of Old Master Lian’s mouth. This was what was commonly said as being unable to ingest anything.
Even so, Lady Zhou continued to feed two more spoonfuls, but eventually, her hand couldn’t stay steady.
It was the first ti Lian Manman saw Lady Zhou’s hands tremble so fiercely, and this ti, there was no pretense involved. The people in the room almost all shed tears, with Lian Shouren even crying aloud. Only Lady Zhou, despite her red eyes, didn’t shed a single tear.
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