Chapter 37 Clues Emerge

Chapter 37: Faint Traces

Lei Li looked up from among the dishes before him, glancing at Lei Ding and Wu Qiu sitting across from him, intimately sharing food from their bowls as if completely oblivious to what he and Lei Tan were discussing. He lowered his head and whispered covertly to Lei Tan, "Not long after Brother Qiu came to our home, I once saw him having a meal with Eldest Brother. Even then, I could tell their relationship was something special, though I never imagined it would truly come to this."

Lei Tan stuck his tongue out playfully. "Eldest Brother comes home late all the time—who knows what hour. Besides, he never talks about anything interesting—nothing but patients' symptoms. I don't even wait to eat with him. Brother Qiu isn't a physician, yet he's willing to listen to all that."

The two of them lowered their heads, using their raised bowls to shield their mouths, tsking in unison with shared astonishment.

Lei Li asked again, "So when did you figure it out?"

Lei Tan also peeked at Lei Ding, seeing he was still talking with Wu Qiu, and continued holding his bowl to hide his face, whispering, "That's a long story. Eldest Brother has always been quite concerned about Brother Qiu, but when I truly felt something was up was that time they went into the mountains to gather herbs. Eldest Brother insisted Brother Qiu accompany him and even asked me to help persuade him. Later, when Father fell ill, the handkerchief Brother Qiu used to wipe my tears was actually Eldest Brother's! But at the time, with Father being sick, I didn't have a chance to ask about it."

Again, they shook their heads in unison. "Who would've thought... I *never* would have guessed it was like this."

When Lei Li and Lei Tan looked up again, they saw Wu Qiu's face flushed red, biting his lip and sitting with his head bowed. Lei Ding had one arm around him, the other propped on the table, resting his chin on his hand as he stared at the two of them. He didn't speak, only smiled meaningfully. The two immediately fell silent, focusing intently on their meals.

Lei Ding smiled and said to Wu Qiu, "I originally thought they were still young and didn't understand anything. But looking at this, it seems we've left quite a few clues."

The shopkeeper brought two more dishes. Wu Qiu, putting on a brave face despite his flushed complexion, reached to pick up some food while speaking softly to Lei Ding. "Turns out the kids are the observant ones. During that busy time at the clinic, even Mother didn't notice anything, and Father never mentioned it either."

Lei Ding chuckled. "True. But although Father and Dad didn't bring it up earlier, they've liked you for a long time. If we hadn't gotten married, I'm afraid they wouldn't have been willing to let you go either."

Wu Qiu looked up and saw both Lei Li and Lei Tan staring wide-eyed, their food forgotten, completely absorbed in watching them. He became even more embarrassed, not knowing what to do, and shifted his leg to the side, brushing against Lei Ding's knee. Lei Ding suppressed a laugh and waved his hand. "Alright, alright, everyone eat properly now, no more fooling around." Only then did he get his two younger brothers under control. As a result, even after finishing the meal, Wu Qiu was still too shy to speak with the two youngsters. Lei Tan found it amusing and insisted on chatting with Wu Qiu all the way back.

The group noisily chattered and laughed, a cheerful racket all the way back to the clinic. As soon as they entered, they heard a child's crying from inside. Everyone quickly quieted down and went in to look. In the main hall, sitting on a chair, was a young man holding a child. The man's clothes were threadbare, and the child looked sallow and emaciated. Lei Xun was applying acupuncture needles to the child's small hand. The child cried in pain, but the cries were thin and weak, sounding especially pitiful.

Without needing further instruction from Lei Ding, Lei Li and Lei Tan hurried—one to assist Lei Xun, the other to the small medicine-brewing room to help Cui Nanshan. Wu Qiu, soon to become a father himself, couldn't bear to see this and wanted to stay and watch, hoping to see the child safe so he could feel at ease. Lei Ding had no choice but to agree, helping him settle into a seat at his own desk before also stepping forward to help.

Lei Xun sighed. "Infantile wasting disease isn't serious in itself—it's just an imbalance of the spleen and stomach. If brought in earlier, a few doses of medicine would have cured it. How could it have been delayed to this extent?"

The man seemed hesitant, stammering for a while before finally crying out, "I... I hadn't managed to save up enough money for the doctor's visit, so it was delayed. Do you think... is there still hope?"

Lei Xun examined the child more carefully, pondering for a moment before saying, "At this point, I dare not guarantee anything, but I will do my best. After today's acupuncture, take a few doses of decoction back with you. Give it to the child dose by dose and see if he can regain some strength. Leave us your address. In a couple of days, our clinic will send a physician to check on him, so the child, being so ill, won't have to endure traveling in this bitter cold."

Cui Nanshan emerged from the back at that moment, handing over two packages of medicine. "The one wrapped in white paper is the child's medicine. Brew it for him three times a day. The one in yellow paper is for you. Take it once a day; it will help replenish some of your qi and blood. You suffered depletion after childbirth; you must learn to take care of yourself. Don't let yourself fall ill at such a young age."

The man flustered, about to stand up. "Sir, I truly don't have enough silver for any additional medicine. Just saving the child is enough. My own health isn't important."

Cui Nanshan helped him sit back down, smiling. "It's no trouble. This bit of medicine isn't a burden; they're all common herbs."

Their clinic often aided impoverished commoners, frequently reducing or waiving medicine fees for those who genuinely couldn't afford them. Cui Nanshan placed the medicine securely for him and asked for his home address. The man began to cry. "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but... my family..."

He hesitated for a long while before finally telling the truth. He said his name was Ling Ge'er and that he had a mother-in-law at home who swore by evil magic and forbade him from seeking a physician for the child. His husband only listened to his mother. He truly didn't dare have a physician come to the house, afraid it would provoke his husband's beatings, which would not only delay the child's treatment but also cause trouble for the physician.

Ling Ge'er cried pitifully. Lei Xun, Cui Nanshan, along with Lei Li and Lei Tan, all sighed with sympathy for him, trying to think of ways to help him avoid his family and save the child first.

Lei Ding had been standing to the side without speaking, his eyes narrowed as he watched Ling Ge'er.

Wu Qiu's thoughts were keen and meticulous. While everyone else was comforting Ling Ge'er, he recalled recent events. An old woman who swore by evil magic... a family with a seriously ill child... and Lei Xun had just said the child's illness had been delayed for many days. Calculating the timeline, the old woman who came to the clinic some time ago with the small clothing...

The more he thought about it, the more something felt off. By the time he regained his focus, his hand was already protectively resting on his belly. Although the father and child before him were pitiable, it was still unknown whether Ling Ge'er might also harbor harmful intentions.

As he was lost in these chaotic thoughts, Lei Ding walked over and stood in front of him. Wu Qiu immediately felt much more at ease. He tugged on Lei Ding's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, I just remembered something."

Lei Ding nodded slightly. "The old woman who came to the clinic with the small clothing, right?"

Wu Qiu pressed his lips together. "I truly hope it isn't him. He and his child are so pitiful."

Having been destitute himself, Wu Qiu could tell at a glance that Ling Ge'er's wretched poverty wasn't an act. Ling Ge'er's neck and the wrists exposed while holding the child were covered in bruises and scars, both light and severe. Even one side of his face was slightly swollen. However, such matters were considered family shame. Earlier, Cui Nanshan, not wanting to embarrass him further, hadn't hurried to bring out ointment for the injuries. When Ling Ge'er stood up, he didn't stand fully straight, always slightly hunched—a consequence of not receiving proper postpartum care and his body suffering damage. From the bottom of his heart, Wu Qiu sympathized with Ling Ge'er and his child. But the more he felt this way, the more upset he would be if it truly was Ling Ge'er's doing.

Lei Ding gently stroked his face, his fingers massaging the furrow between his brows. "Let's ask him to come to the study to talk."

Ling Ge'er had just stopped crying, accepted the medicine, and was about to thank them and leave when Lei Ding spoke up from the side. "Sir, please wait a moment."

Wu Qiu stepped out from behind Lei Ding. His expression was much kinder, and with his pregnancy, he appeared gentler. He said to Ling Ge'er, "Sir, please don't be afraid. It's just that, for the sake of the child in my belly, I have some personal matters I'd like to ask you about. It will only take the time for a cup of tea."

Hearing this, Ling Ge'er assumed Wu Qiu, being pregnant for the first time, had some symptoms he wanted to ask about from someone with experience. He wasn't a cold-hearted person by nature, just forced by circumstances to be more guarded. After Wu Qiu earnestly pleaded several times, he agreed. So, Lei Ding supporting Wu Qiu, and Ling Ge'er carrying the child following behind, they entered the small study next door.

Lei Ding and Wu Qiu sat on the chaise lounge, while Ling Ge'er sat on a chair opposite. Before he could even speak, Lei Ding said first, "I notice your complexion isn't good, sir. Allow me to take your pulse. We can talk while I do it; it won't waste any time."

He took out a silk handkerchief, placed it over Ling Ge'er's wrist, and without further ado, rested his fingers on his pulse.

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Author's Note: This chapter is a bit shorter because I wanted to get the author's note out ( ) Tomorrow's will be longer! Applied for VIP status starting on the 1st! Chapters will be locked starting from Chapter 18. The editor should start reviewing once they're back at work on the 1st, not sure when it will be approved, so letting everyone know in advance~