Chapter 33 Li Yingsong’s Illness

Chapter 33: Li Yingsong's Illness

After a day's work at the clinic, Jian Ru returned home with sparkling eyes, looking as if he'd spent the day at play.

With the Second Young Master away, Madam Li arranged for Jian Ru to eat with the main kitchen staff, saving him the trouble of cooking for himself.

During dinner, Jin Hui glanced at Jian Ru and, smiling, asked her elder brother, "How did Little Ru fare at the clinic today?"

At the mention of the clinic, the Eldest Young Master set down his chopsticks, placed both hands on the table, and said, "Little Ru is intelligent and capable; he was a great help."

Jian Ru modestly replied, "Elder Brother, you flatter me." Despite his humility, he couldn't suppress his joy, a wide smile curving his lips.

Seeing this, Jin Hui tapped his forehead and remarked, "Quite the promising young man, aren't you!"

Madam Li smiled and said, "If you're willing, you can continue helping out at the main clinic these next few days."

Jian Ru responded with a bright, clear "Yes!"

The Eldest Young Master was still a little concerned about his brother-in-law weighing medicines. That afternoon, during a lull, he spent some time by the counter observing Jian Ru at work. He soon discovered that, just as the assistant had reported, Jian Ru was indeed very reliable.

During quieter moments, with the Eldest Young Master present, Jian Ru would ask him about anything he didn't quite understand. The Eldest Young Master patiently explained each point, and this young man grasped everything quickly, even applying what he learned to other situations.

For the past two years, the Eldest Young Master had been considering taking on an apprentice. Were it not for Jian Ru's unsuitable age and status, he would have seriously considered taking him as a disciple.

After dinner and tidying up, Li Qinglan returned to her room.

The Eldest Young Master sat at his desk, cluttered with various bottles and jars, preparing an ointment for treating bruises and injuries. He added two more ingredients to aid in dissolving blood stasis.

After the Spring Festival, the weather grew warmer day by day. In another half-month, the thaw would begin, making the ground muddy and leading to even more slips and falls than during the snowy winter.

That period coincided with the Li Family Clinic's free clinic event—a perfect opportunity to test the ointment's efficacy.

After entering the room and changing her clothes, Li Qinglan went to prepare a cup of hot tea for him. His desk was so messy there was no room for anything, so she placed the teacup elsewhere.

She then went to help him tidy up the bottles and jars on his desk. Seeing this, the Eldest Young Master quickly raised a hand to stop her, saying, "Don't mess with them; I'll tidy up myself in a bit."

Li Qinglan bit her lip and said, "I've left your tea nearby then."

The Eldest Young Master, focused on his task, simply mumbled in response.

A while later, after Li Qinglan had finished washing clothes and returned to the room, she noticed the tea remained untouched and had grown cold.

By then, the Eldest Young Master had finally finished his work. Seeing Li Qinglan's hands red and chapped from the cold, he quickly stood up and walked over, taking her hands in his and warming them. Anxiously, he said, "Didn't I say I'd do the laundry? How will you recover if you're touching cold water in such chilly weather?"

Li Qinglan lowered her head, her eyelids reddening. "What else can I do besides these chores?"

The Eldest Young Master frowned. "You're still weak and should rest more. No one is blaming you; why do you think this way?"

Li Qinglan's eyes welled with tears. "Today, Little Ru went to help at the clinic. During dinner, everyone praised him. You didn't even notice how pleased Mother looked at him—so content. Compared to him, I'm just a useless person in this family."

The Eldest Young Master's frown deepened. "If you want to go to the clinic, you can go tomorrow too. There's no need for such bitter remarks."

Struggling to hold back tears, Li Qinglan pulled her hands from his grasp. "You all go ahead. I won't." With that, she turned and went to the bed, lying down fully clothed with her back to him.

Not allowing her to go made her unhappy, yet when permitted, she refused. The Eldest Young Master couldn't understand his wife's thoughts and felt somewhat annoyed. After standing there for a moment, he simply returned to his desk to tinker with his bottles and jars again.

...

Another two or three days passed. Jian Ru took a half-day off from the clinic to pack two sets of clothes, including undergarments and outer clothes. He also steamed two batches of date cakes and wrapped them up, along with herbs for the Second Young Master's health, a couple of his recent calligraphy practice sheets, and a letter he had written the previous night—all packed into a bundle.

Madam Li had also prepared a package for Jin Rong, adding some of her favorite snacks.

The two bundles were tied on either side of a horse. Xiao Ning nimbly swung up onto the horse, and Madam Li anxiously instructed, "Tell both siblings to take good care of their health. Make sure the youngest bundles up warm and stays covered—he mustn't catch a chill."

Xiao Ning responded with an "Okay!" and was about to set off when Madam Li added, "Remember everything they say clearly, and repeat it to me word for word when you return."

Xiao Ning said, "Madam Li, rest assured. I'll remember everything."

As the horse trotted out of the courtyard, Madam Li sighed and returned indoors.

Jin Hui followed her and said, "When Jin Feng went out to treat patients and stayed at a patient's home for half a month, I didn't see you so worried."

Madam Li replied, "How is that the same? If the youngest were as healthy and strong as Jin Feng, why would I be so concerned?" As she spoke, she felt a wave of sadness. "My youngest has had such a hard life since childhood. If anything were to happen to him, how could I ever forgive myself?"

Jin Hui tsked and asked, "So, for the upcoming free clinic, you still won't let him go?"

Madam Li sighed. "I know he really wants to, but it's still cold now, and there's still the chance of a late cold snap. Besides, all sorts of patients come to the free clinic. Even if he just caught a cold, it would be hard on him."

The two sat down at the table. Jin Hui poured her mother a cup of hot tea and said, "The youngest is all grown up now—he's married and has a husband. He might even have a child next year. Yet you still hold him back like this. Even if he's physically comfortable, he may not be at ease in his heart."

She looked at her mother and suggested tentatively, "Besides, since his marriage, aside from that initial illness, he's been doing well. At most, we could dress him more warmly and assign him fewer patients. It's not like he absolutely can't go, right?"

Madam Li frowned, thought it over for a moment, but still shook her head. "Let's wait until after March, when the weather is warmer."

Jin Hui sighed helplessly. "Alright, whatever you say."

...

In the third son's courtyard at Squire Li's residence, Jin Rong and her brother moved into two adjacent rooms.

Madam also assigned a servant specifically to attend to them, but aside from meals, the two mostly took care of everything themselves, leaving the servant with little to do—a pretty easy job.

Li Yingsong's illness was difficult to treat. What he had said earlier wasn't entirely wrong: sex workers who fell ill and could no longer earn money were often abandoned by the brothel keeper in the wilderness to fend for themselves. Some starved to death; others were mauled by wild dogs or other beasts. Those who managed to survive were often left disabled, their internal organs slowly rotting away, inevitably leading to an early death within a couple of years.

Wealthier individuals with this disease might live longer, but once sores and pustules covered their face and body, they would typically linger for a few years before ultimately ending up in a coffin, returning to dust.

Li Yingsong had sensed something was wrong early on and secretly sought medicine from a physician. At that stage, his illness wasn't severe, and the medicine seemed to help, so he returned to his reckless, indulgent lifestyle. Eventually, just before the Spring Festival, the illness erupted severely, leaving him in his current state.

Fortunately, he was seldom home, so he didn't infect his family.

Jin Rong had privately questioned Sun Yushuang, who confirmed they hadn't shared a bed for a long time. After examining him, Jin Rong verified he was unaffected.

It was just as well that Li Yingsong had been confined since before the New Year. His excessive indulgence outside had already weakened his body, making him susceptible to this illness. These days of confinement, without access to alcohol and with regular meals and early nights, had actually allowed him to regain some health.

Jin Rong and her brother agreed: since the disease couldn't be cured, it could only be managed. If controlled properly, a long life was still possible. However, Li Yingsong would have to live cautiously for the rest of his life—no more reckless behavior, no sharing a bed with anyone, and certainly no fathering children, as any child would be born with the disease.

Squire Li and his wife wept upon learning this, but at least his life could be saved—it wasn't entirely hopeless.

They had always been kind to their daughter-in-law and their son's husband, but now, feeling guilty toward Sun Yushuang, they treated him even better.

Sun Yushuang didn't exploit the situation. Instead, he remained respectful and caring toward his in-laws and continued to attend to his husband diligently. Squire Li and his wife were deeply grateful.

They naturally offered money and gifts, which Sun Yushuang accepted graciously without false modesty. He kept the jewelry for himself but sent everything else back to the Sun family.

Squire Li and his wife didn't think he was favoring his birth family; rather, they saw it as a sign of his loyalty and integrity, and they regarded him even more highly.

After switching to the new medicine, Li Yingsong took it for two or three days. The pustules on his face and body gradually began to recede. He became less agitated, though whenever he saw Sun Yushuang, he would still curse and refuse to show him any kindness.

In recent days, as the servants dared not approach him, Li Yingsong would smash whatever Sun Yushuang brought him. Not wanting his second sister to be involved in such unpleasant matters, Li Jintong took it upon himself to deliver the medicinal broth through the gap under the door every morning and evening.

Each time, Li Yingsong would glare coldly at Li Jintong, hurling sarcastic remarks and insults at him. He either accused him of being a sinister figure since childhood who had now mastered the art of pretense, or taunted that even with his current illness, Li Jintong, sickly as he was, hadn't lived as freely as Li Yingsong had, since Li Yingsong had at least indulged in a life of recklessness, while the other couldn't even go out for fun without getting permission from the old lady first.

Li Jintong showed no reaction to any of this, acting as if he hadn't heard a word.

It wasn't until one day when Li Yingsong cursed him for having ill fate and deserving an ugly, shrewish husband that Li Jintong finally lifted his eyes to look at him. But after just one glance, he said nothing and left.

Yet, Li Yingsong felt a pang of inexplicable unease.

That evening, he eyed the medicinal broth warily, hesitating to drink it and asking, "You didn't put anything in this, did you?"

Li Jintong replied calmly, "I am a physician. Tampering with medicine goes against my principles."

Li Yingsong reasoned that, though the man might be deceitful, he wouldn't dare go too far with so many people watching in his own home. So, he downed the bowl of medicinal broth in one go.

Sure enough, after he finished, Li Jintong's expression remained unchanged, and he turned and left.

Beside the medicine bowl was a plate of sugar-preserved plums. Li Yingsong, who couldn't stand bitterness, quickly popped one into his mouth before lying down on his bed.

But after only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his stomach began to ache violently. He hurried to the chamber pot in the corner of the room, and as soon as he dropped his pants, a series of loud farts and a torrent of diarrhea followed.

For most of the night, he was unable to leave the chamber pot. He was utterly exhausted, drenched in cold sweat, and the room filled with an unbearable stench. Furious, he cursed Li Jintong for being a sinister, two-faced hypocrite.

No one answered his calls for help. Sun Yushuang, having been frequently insulted by him, seldom came to the room anymore, and the servants kept their distance. He was helpless; it was like heaven and earth had abandoned him.

Fortunately, by the later part of the night, the ordeal gradually eased up. Shivering, he curled up and fell into an exhausted sleep.

By the next morning, when it was time for the medicine, Li Yingsong had figured it out: Li Jintong hadn't tampered with the medicine itself but had laced the sugar-preserved plums with a laxative.

This time, he wised up and drank the medicine without touching the plums. Yet, not long after finishing the broth, the same symptoms from the previous night returned—relentless diarrhea, and this time it was accompanied by vomiting. His guts were cramping so badly he wished he could just turn himself inside out to get some relief.

Li Jintong was indeed a cunning fellow—he had tampered with the medicine after all.

By nearly noon, Li Yingsong could bear it no longer. Peering through the gap in the wooden planks, he saw Li Jintong entering from outside. Immediately, he started slapping his own face over and over, sobbing and pleading, "I was wrong! My mouth was foul! I'll never dare again! Please, I beg you, spare me!"

He could have refused to take the medicine, but the pustules on his face and body, which were finally healing, would get worse. Moreover, he couldn't stop eating altogether, so he had no choice but to swallow his pride and beg for mercy.

Li Jintong watched him expressionlessly until he had slapped his face swollen like a pig's head, then said lightly, "Say it again."

Li Yingsong didn't pretend not to understand. Without hesitation, he loudly declared, "My younger brother's husband is elegant and wise, gentle and considerate, graceful and dignified, noble in temperament, perfectly suited for the household, and a perfect match for my younger brother! Their love is stronger than gold! May they soon be blessed with children, enjoy a harmonious union for a hundred years, support each other in all things, and grow old together!"

After listening, Li Jintong nodded, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He bowed slightly to Li Yingsong and said, "Then I shall thank Third Brother on behalf of my husband for your praise."

Suppressing his anger, Li Yingsong forced a smile and hurriedly replied, "Not at all, not at all! I merely spoke the truth."

After Li Jintong left, Li Yingsong collapsed to the floor, not daring to raise his voice but muttering under his breath, "This psycho!"