Chapter 409 What Medicine Are You Drinking?

Chapter 409 What Medicine Are You Drinking

Carrying a pile of just bought stuff home, Jiang Yu instantly became the center of attention the moment she appeared.

"Oh, Jiang Yu, bought so much again?" Xu Lihua looked at the items in her hands and once again sighed at her wasteful habits.

Jiang Yu grinned. "Was bored, so I went shopping."

Xu Lihua: "..."

She was both amused and exasperated. "Was bored"—now that's a new one.

She didn’t even wash her own clothes at home, yet dared to claim she had nothing to do.

"If you’ve got nothing to do, stay home and cook or clean. I think you’re just lazy," Mrs. Sun spat out a sunflower seed shell and scoffed.

Jiang Yu blinked, adopting a troubled tone.

"What can I do? My younger siblings help with the chores, and He Tingyue washes the clothes. They won’t let me do anything."

Jiang Yu sighed heavily. "Ah, I’ll have to talk to them again—maybe I can at least wash the dishes once a week."

Mrs. Sun’s face darkened, too stunned to reply.

She simply couldn’t stand Jiang Yu’s attitude, believing she was ruining the whole compound’s morals.

Every time she tried to tell Zhao Qing what to do, she’d get shot back: "Liangzi and I both work to earn money—I make just as much as he does. Why do you only nag me about housework and not him?"

Mrs. Sun would always argue, "He’s a man—housework isn’t his place!"

To which Zhao Qing would snort, "Why can’t men do chores? He doesn’t bear children, I earn my share, and if he won’t even lift a finger at home, what’s the point of him? He’s not even good-looking enough to be a decoration."

Just then, He Feiyan got home from work.

"What’s everyone talking about?"

Mrs. Sun pursed her lips and said sarcastically, "Your sister-in-law says the housework is all on you guys—she doesn’t need to lift a finger. Feiyan, your sister-in-law treats you like maids!"

He Feiyan laughed. "Mrs. Sun, don’t you do all the housework at your place? Are you saying Liangzi treats you like a maid?"

Mrs. Sun gaped, opening and closing her mouth several times but failing to counter.

After a long pause, she finally muttered, "That’s different!" She huffed.

"How is it different? My sister-in-law makes more than Liangzi, and she gives me 20 bucks in spending money every month. What’s wrong with me doing some chores? I wonder how much Liangzi gives you every month."

Mrs. Sun gasped, screeching, "You’re already working, yet you still take spending money from your brother and sister-in-law?"

He Feiyan tapped her chin playfully. "My sister-in-law insists on giving it to me—what can I do?"

Her infuriating demeanor was a perfect match for Jiang Yu’s.

Like sister, like sister-in-law.

Mrs. Sun: "..."

Unable to out-argue He Feiyan or trick Jiang Yu, she could only take it out on Zhao Qing, who had just returned home.

"Zhao Qing, come drink your medicine!"

Jiang Yu's eyes gleamed faintly; she definitely smelled the scent of herbal medicine brewing again.

"Zhao Qing, what medicine are you taking?"

Xu Lihua cut in, "I know this one. Zhao Qing’s periods have been irregular, so Ruan Xiu Yu got her this herbal medicine."

Jiang Yu suddenly understood. "Zhao Qing, does this medicine work? Which traditional doctor gave it to you? I’d like to try it too."

Zhao Qing hesitated, shooting a look at Mrs. Sun.

"My mom got it for me. I don’t know."

As for whether it worked, she hadn’t noticed any difference.

After drinking it, she felt a heavy, cramping ache in her lower abdomen, along with a bloated, uneasy feeling.

Before, though her periods were irregular, she never experienced pain.

Since taking it, not only was her cycle still irregular, it seemed even later.

"Mrs. Sun, can you put in a word for me? I’d like to see this old doctor too," Jiang Yu said, clapping excitedly.

Mrs. Sun stammered, "That old doctor retired. He’s not taking patients anymore."

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "If he’s not taking patients, why did he make an exception just for Zhao Qing?"

"I knew him before, so he made an exception for her. He won’t do it for others."

Jiang Yu’s eyes lit up. "That means Mrs. Sun must have pull! If I mention you referred me, he’ll say yes for sure!"

Mrs. Sun waved her hands in a panic. "No, no! He won’t agree. Please don’t go!"

Zhao Qing thought she was overreacting. Jiang Yu was just casually asking—why the panic?

"Mom, since Jiang Yu asked, just tell her. Whether the doctor agrees or not, let Jiang Yu ask herself."

Mrs. Sun couldn’t possibly conjure up an old doctor. She was so flustered that cold sweat broke out.

The more she resisted, the more suspicious Zhao Qing grew, even losing the desire to drink the medicine.

"Mom, what exactly is this medicine you got me? Why so secretive about it?"

Mrs. Sun glared. "What else would it be? I told you—it’s just to balance your system!"

Once doubt took root in Zhao Qing’s mind, it grew like weeds.

"If it’s just to balance my system, why can’t you tell Jiang Yu? Is it something shameful?"

A cold suspicion settled in Zhao Qing’s chest. If this wasn’t for balancing her system, then what was it?

"If you won’t tell me, I’ll take it to a pharmacist to check. I want to see what kind of ‘miracle cure’ needs to be this hush-hush."

Mrs. Sun hurriedly said, "Don’t! You’re almost done—why make a fuss now?"

Zhao Qing’s expression turned cold. "Exactly because I’m almost done, I want to know clearly—what the hell have I been taking?"

Mrs. Sun squirmed like a bug on a griddle, sweating bullets.

Who would’ve thought Zhao Qing would question it just as the medicine was nearly gone?

"Why does it even matter what medicine it is?"

Zhao Qing's usually gentle face turned sharp as she demanded, "How the hell should I know? Spit it out—what *is* this stuff?"

Sun’s mother was overcome with despair. Pressed relentlessly, she finally caved.

"It’s some medicine Xiang Hong bought off the streets. It was meant for Jiang Ting, but since she refused it, I took it instead."

Xu Lihua gasped, "Originally for Jiang Ting? So what kind of medicine is it?"

Sun’s mother faltered, her gaze dropping.

"It’s a son-bearing potion."

Zhao Qing’s head spun, her mind blank except for a deafening buzz.

Shaking with fury, she hurled the medicine bowl to the ground.

"What kind of *bullshit* is this? You dared give me this to drink!"

Tears of rage spilled down her cheeks.

"I trusted you. You told me to drink it, so I did. But how could you give me this kind of thing? If this wrecks my body, what then? You’ll answer for it?"

Sun’s mother shrank back, mumbling, "What could go wrong? Jiang Ting drank buckets of it—she’s fine! Why would you be any different?"

Zhao Qing bit her lip so hard it bled, rage blinding her. Suddenly, her vision went dark, and she fainted on the spot.

Only then did Sun’s mother panic, terrified something might really happen. She hurriedly supported her.

"Oh god, she’s out cold! Somebody *help*!"

The neighbors might’ve scorned her, but they couldn’t leave Zhao Qing like this and quickly stepped in to assist.

Sun Zailiang rushed home and, upon learning why Zhao Qing had fainted, couldn’t help but scold his mother a few times, making her burst into tears. Her sobbing wore him down until he gave up.

When Zhao Qing woke up, she stayed silent, ignoring everyone, and went straight to the south room to find Jiang Yu.

She asked, "Did you already know what my mother-in-law was making me take?"

Jiang Yu shook her head. "Not early—I just found out too."

Zhao Qing’s smile was all edges. "Thank you, Jiang Yu."

Without her, she’d still be clueless.

Jiang Yu didn’t say much, only advising, "Hospitals beat hocus-pocus every time."

Zhao Qing gave a firm nod. "I’m going."