Chapter 36 The Gravely Ill Child

Chapter 36: The Critically Ill Child

With the New Year drawing near, both Yongning City and Dayou Village were bustling with a festive atmosphere. On the streets, everyone's faces were filled with joy and anticipation, as if all the misfortunes of the past year would vanish along with the arrival of New Year's Eve.

But as the saying goes, some families rejoice while others grieve. In a farmhouse in Dayou Village, only the sound of suppressed sobbing could be heard. After a long while, the husband roared impatiently, "Cry, cry, cry! What are you crying about!"

The crying reluctantly stopped, followed by an old woman's hoarse voice: "Master, you must think of a way to save this child's life. This husband's health is poor. He had two miscarriages before, both within two or three months. It took three or four years to finally have this son. Please, for the sake of those ten taels of silver, you must save the child! That was half a year's savings for our family!"

No lamps were lit inside the house, making it dim and gloomy. The stove was barely burning, adding to the chill. A man paced back and forth in the room, sighing irritably. An old woman sat by the bed, also sighing repeatedly. A slender husband sat on the bed, holding a child in his arms. The child was over a year old but appeared thinner and smaller than others his age, skin and bones, with weak, feeble cries. Another man in a dark robe watched the family coldly.

The old woman forced a smile at the man in black: "Sir, could you think of another way?"

The man shook his head: "You know what you did. I already gave you instructions, but you failed to carry them out properly and missed the timing. It proves your heart wasn't in it."

The old woman immediately cried out: "Wronged! Wronged, sir! You said that if I gave the child's clothes to that pregnant husband, my child's illness would transfer to him. I did as you said—I delivered the clothes! Ling Geer, this child was born with a weak constitution and has been sickly since birth. If it weren't for your weak body, how could this happen? Hurry and beg the master!"

Ling Geer was the frail husband. He stared blankly at his mother-in-law and cried, "Mother, how can we use such a method? Isn't this harming others?"

His husband, annoyed by their crying, walked over without another word and slapped Ling Geer across the face. Ling Geer's face immediately reddened. Covering his cheek and holding the child, he dared not utter another sound.

The man in black watched him but said nothing. The old woman chimed in: "Hurry, Ling Geer! Do you want to kill the child? Who is your child? Can you still care about someone else's child? Oh, my poor grandson, why did he end up with such a father—"

She began crying again. Ling Geer saw his husband glaring at him fiercely, afraid that if he didn't comply, he would be beaten again. So he placed the child on the bed, turned, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to the man in black: "Master Wu Peng! Please save my child. I'm willing to do anything to save him, even if it costs my life. I have no regrets."

Wu Peng chuckled and said to the woman, "What use would your son's life be to me? You delivered the clothes, but later that husband never accepted them. It was your own failure. After all this time, the spell array has already been broken. There's nothing more I can do."

Early that morning, he had been in Yongning City, secretly observing the medical clinic. He saw with his own eyes Lei Ding taking Wu Qiu out. Wu Qiu's complexion was rosy, and his face had even filled out a bit compared to before. The illness afflicting Ling Geer's child was nothing more than infantile malnutrition—it wasn't contagious—but it had been neglected for too long, leading to this state. That small garment had been placed with items used by plague patients for two days under the pretext of performing a ritual. If Wu Qiu had truly accepted it, whether stored in his wardrobe or kept close to his body, he certainly wouldn't be in such good condition today.

He didn't know that the garment had been thrown into a brazier by Lei Ding that very day, but he was certain something had gone wrong. Wu Qiu had not contracted the plague as he had hoped!

Ling Geer knelt pitifully at his feet, but Wu Peng paid no further attention to the family. Ignoring the old woman's pulling and wailing, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Ling Geer had only learned of this today—that his mother-in-law had spent ten taels of silver to obtain this method from Wu Peng. Previously, she had forced the child to drink talisman water and the like, all likely obtained from Wu Peng. But he didn't even dare voice his resentment. His mother-in-law, deceived, forbade him from seeking a doctor. His husband listened solely to his mother and didn't involve himself much in household affairs. After the commotion, Wu Peng left, and soon after, his husband also went out. Ling Geer knew where he was going—to the Northern Lane's brothel, where a courtesan named Rong Jun resided. It was said he was a naturally seductive man who could captivate men.

In truth, when he married, his family wasn't in such a state. Ling Geer's parents died early, and his elder brother arranged his marriage to the son of the Wang family in Dayou Village. At the time, matchmakers all said it was a good family—a kind mother and a filial son. Indeed, when he first entered the household, his husband treated him well, and his mother-in-law was gentle and tolerant. But after he miscarried twice and failed to conceive again for a long time, his mother-in-law's expression gradually soured, and his husband grew somewhat distant. When he became pregnant for the third time and could no longer serve his husband in bed, his husband began frequenting the brothel.

Back then, he could still resist. He cried to his mother-in-law, but she only said that men were young and might occasionally stray. If he made a fuss, did he not want to live peacefully? Ling Geer refused to accept this and ran to his natal family to seek his elder brother. But his brother said that since he had married into the Wang family, his life and death were no longer the concern of his natal family. He only let him stay for a simple meal before sending him back.

It was then that Ling Geer realized he had nothing left. He was heavily pregnant, in poor health, with no support from his natal family, and his dowry money had all been taken by his husband. Yet he deeply loved this child connected to him by blood, and thus, he was trapped in the palms of his husband and mother-in-law. After the child was born, his husband became even worse, even resorting to physical violence. In the past, when conflicts arose between them, his husband would buy him favorite treats or fabric the next day to appease him. Now, he skipped even that step. Even after beating him, he showed no remorse.

The child was barely over a year old, but Ling Geer's heart had gradually died. He no longer hoped for marital affection. He didn't even shed tears when his husband visited the brothel. All he wanted was for the child to grow up safely and not suffer bullying like he did. But the child had contracted some strange illness, unable to eat, dragging on for many days until now, when he could barely take water or rice. His mother-in-law grew anxious and summoned Wu Peng again. Now Wu Peng had left, his husband was gone, and after half a day of crying and scolding, his mother-in-law also abandoned him and the child at home, going to her sister's house.

On New Year's Eve, a day when families reunite and celebrate, only Ling Geer remained at home, holding his child.

But Ling Geer wasn't angry. He waited quietly until everyone had left, then hurriedly got up and went to the wardrobe. He took out a bundle of his own clothes—summer garments unused in the twelfth month, packed away in a bundle. Ling Geer untied the bundle and took out five hundred and thirty copper coins. Sometimes, when he sold cloth or farm produce at the market, he would secretly set aside a small amount unnoticed by his mother-in-law and save it. He tucked all the money into his clothes, dressed the child warmly, wrapped him in a small quilt, and, still uneasy, covered him with his own cotton-padded jacket.

He secretly left the house with the child. He knew there were medical clinics and doctors in Yongning City. Previously, his mother-in-law had forbidden him from going, saying doctors were frauds who only used expensive medicines and couldn't cure illnesses. Now, with no one at home watching, he would take the child to seek medical help.

Lei Ding had taken Wu Qiu out for nearly half a day, yet they hadn't exhausted the city's festivities. However, Wu Qiu, now heavily pregnant, grew tired from being out too long. Seeing him rubbing his waist, Lei Ding supported him and said, "We've done plenty of shopping. It's time to head back."

Wu Qiu was still reluctant, gazing longingly at the unexplored streets ahead: "What a pity, we haven't even been to those yet. I'm not too tired. Maybe we could walk a bit more?"

Lei Ding held him, smoothing his hair. Seeing he truly wasn't ready to leave, he thought for a moment and said, "Look, Guiyun Tower isn't far from here. Why don't we go in for a meal? It'll give you a chance to sit and rest. How about that?"

Wu Qiu was no stranger to Guiyun Tower. It was the finest restaurant in Yongning City, renowned for its ingredients and flavors. Lei Ding often bought dishes Wu Qiu liked to take home. Wu Qiu happily agreed, and Lei Li and Lei Tan were naturally delighted to have a meal there. The four entered the restaurant. It was mealtime, and Guiyun Tower was crowded with patrons. Only one empty table remained near the entrance, so they sat there and ordered dishes. Lei Tan tugged at Lei Li, chattering excitedly about the novel things they'd seen that day. Lei Ding held Wu Qiu, massaging his lower back. Wu Qiu leaned against Lei Ding, listening to the two younger brothers' banter and occasionally chiming in.

Wu Qiu was still wearing the newly bought coral earrings. With so many people in the restaurant, Lei Ding couldn't kiss him in public, so he played with one of the earrings instead.

Wu Qiu smiled at him: "Do you like it that much? Here, I'll give you one."

He took off one earring and held it up to Lei Ding's ear, laughing uncontrollably: "You know what? It actually looks good on you."

Wu Qiu pressed the earring into his hand, blinking at him: "There's no mirror here. Will you put it on for me, husband?"

Lei Ding pinched his soft earlobe and carefully put the earring on. Wu Qiu still hooked his finger, smiling: "Brother is quite suited for such delicate work. Your fingers are so long, nimble, and steady. Fine, from now on, you'll have to put on all my earrings and bracelets. I'm too lazy to do it myself."

Just then, the server brought two small dishes. Lei Ding tasted one first, finding the flavor not too strong, then picked up a piece and fed it to Wu Qiu: "Indeed, such important matters as putting on earrings shouldn't trouble the husband. Here, try this. If you like it, I'll buy some to take home next time."

Lei Li was already accustomed to watching the two banter and flirt, quietly eating his own meal. Lei Tan watched them for a while, then couldn't help shaking his head and sighing: "Still find it amazing. I never thought Brother would learn to say such sweet, teasing words in his lifetime."

He whispered to Lei Li: "Second Brother, when did you first suspect that Brother might be secretly involved with Brother Qiu?"

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Author's Note: Tingting Zi, an early enthusiast of couple items (

Lele Zi and Tantan Zi, early victims of their elder brother and sister-in-law's public displays of affection, frontline entertainment reporters eager to dig up gossip about their big brother.

Actually, in the initial outline, Ling Geer and his baby were only meant to serve as background for Wu Peng's schemes, with no extensive development. There wasn't much content about his family background, his husband didn't appear at all, and later, the baby wasn't saved. But after thinking about it... I really couldn't bear it... So I revised the plot, no longer confining his suffering solely to Wu Peng, and found a way to leave a path of hope for the mother and baby!

Although my story is niche and probably won't attract criticism, I'll explain just in case: Writing about Ling Geer's hardships earlier wasn't meant to torture him for the sake of it. I wanted to give him a relatively complete background and character, not just make him a plot device. How to put it... You could say I hope that after this book ends, in the unwritten space beyond, he can use this fully fleshed-out personality and experiences to continue living well. This might sound naive or self-indulgent, but I genuinely thought this way! That's all!