Chapter 12

Most rural people in this era were very simple, and Mother Pei never thought that Jiang Xi would lie.

Jiang Xi was a high school student, which was very impressive in the eyes of rural people. If she could have gone to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, she would have been a college student.

It was normal to know some medical skills.

Moreover, Jiang Xi was instructed by an old doctor while still studying. She must have been very capable to need the old doctor’s instruction. You have to know that in this industry, it’s all about apprenticeship. If a master teaches his apprentice too much, the master could lose work. How many people would be willing to pass on their family skills to others?

So when Jiang Xi was adding firewood to the stove, Mother Pei suppressed her bitterness and quickly stopped her: “Xiaoxi, you take care of the medicine, I’ll do this!”

“It’s okay. I can do it.” Jiang Xi shook her head and refused. Rural people were reluctant to use coal, so they used wood to burn the stove. There was a lot of smoke, but the fire was strong. They took out the burnt ashes and put in new wood. It was a very simple task.

But Mother Pei still pushed her away forcefully: “No, no, your hands aren’t meant for this, I’ll do it, I’ll do it.”

Jiang Xi was pushed aside and had to wait for her to finish.

The medicine was boiled for an hour until it turned a thick brown color. It accumulated in the bowl, making the bottom invisible. She carried the bowl to the main room. Li Aimei, whose complexion had improved a lot, was lying there weakly. When she saw her coming, she tried to get up, but her legs were too weak, and she sat back down.

“Please sit down,” Jiang Xi said, placing the bowl on the table beside Li Aimei. “Drink this when it cools a little. Take it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Come back tomorrow morning.”

Since there were no points or money, Jiang Xi could only give her the medicine for a few days. The effect wouldn’t be as strong later on, but it was better than nothing.

“Okay!” Li Aimei nodded quickly. Then, looking shy, she said, “I only have 60 cents. It probably isn’t enough for the medicine. Can I pay you the rest later?”

Jiang Xi felt sympathetic and replied, “It’s okay, that’s enough.”

Overall, she had completed the system’s task and earned twenty points. It only cost fifteen points to treat Li Aimei’s illness, so she still earned five points, which is equivalent to half a pound of meat.

Li Aimei was overjoyed. She knew that the money she had wasn’t enough. She had been poisoned, and going to the clinic in town would have cost at least two yuan. Sixty cents wasn’t even enough to buy medicine.

Since she couldn’t pay more now, she could only accept Jiang Xi’s kindness. She wanted to live!

Feeling grateful, Li Aimei knelt on the ground and bowed, saying, “Thank you so much!”

Jiang Xi was taken aback by this gesture. In her previous life, she had cured many people, but they were mostly young and would simply express their gratitude or give her banners.

This was different.

She quickly helped Li Aimei up. “There’s no need for that. Please stand up.”

After being helped up, Li Aimei sat back down in the chair. The chair had a backrest, allowing her to lean back comfortably.

After a moment, Jiang Xi said slowly, “Usually, eating a bit of spoiled fish or shrimp isn’t so serious. But your body is too weak, and your stomach is in bad shape from long-term hunger. That’s why it got this bad. You need to eat better and take care of your stomach. If your stomach gets worse, no medicine will help, and you’ll suffer even more.”

Although everyone was hungry these days and many had stomach problems, it was rare to see someone as seriously ill as Li Aimei.

If gastrointestinal^[1]refers to everything related to your stomach and intestines, including how they help you digest food and get rid of waste. issues aren’t treated properly, they can turn into cancer, and the patient will suffer and die in pain. When Jiang Xi was alive, gastric cancer hadn’t been conquered yet. In its late stages, patients would look emaciated, couldn’t eat, and were bedridden in extreme pain.

Li Aimei’s face froze, and she nodded hesitantly, “I understand.”

“If a dog bites you, you can’t bite back, but you can hit it. Hit it until it’s scared and won’t dare to bite you again. Otherwise, you’ll be bitten to death,” Jiang Xi added.

Life was hard for women in this era, but she needed to rely on the Pei family to survive for now. Jiang Xi didn’t have the energy to rescue them but could give them some advice.

Li Aimei was stunned for a moment. Then she saw Pei’s mother coming over. She looked at her in panic and lowered her head.

Teaching a daughter-in-law to fight back against her mother-in-law had been overheard by her own mother-in-law!

Wouldn’t this cause trouble for Jiang Xi?

But Mother Pei seemed unfazed and spoke in a gentle tone, “Xiaoxi, do you have any more of this medicine?”

Jiang Xi hadn’t expected this. She and Mother Pei didn’t have a typical mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, so she calmly stretched and relaxed her tired body. “Yes, there’s more. Just keep it. Mother, I’m a little tired. I’ll go back to my room first. Xisheng’s wife should be fine after resting for a while.”

“Okay, go ahead. You don’t have to stay with the third child all the time. Take a nap if you’re tired.” Mother Pei instructed. After seeing her daughter-in-law go inside, she was about to return to the kitchen for some medicine. When she turned around, she saw Li Aimei staring at her and asked, “Xisheng’s wife, why are you looking at me like that?”

Li Aimei lowered her eyes and shook her head. “No, nothing.”

Mother Pei looked at Li Aimei and said quietly, “Be careful with how you act. Even though Xisheng’s mother might be shorter than you, you should still show respect.”

Li Aimei’s heart skipped a beat, and she nervously clenched her hands.

Mother Pei didn’t know what else to say. She made a cup of sugar water for Li Aimei and another one for her daughter-in-law, adding an extra spoonful of sugar for Jiang Xi. After bringing them to the room, she returned to the kitchen.

Li Aimei was left sitting alone in the chair for a long time until the sun was about to set. Her stomach finally felt better, and she regained some strength. She ran to say goodbye to Jiang Xi and Mother Pei, then walked home like a ghost.

_

As usual, Xu Cui came back a little early to cook. With so many people in the family, cooking took a lot of time.

But on her way back, she ran into Xisheng’s mother. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she went over, saying, “Aunt Fen, how’s your daughter-in-law?”

Xisheng’s mother frowned and said, “I don’t know. That bastard is tough. She should be fine, right?”

Xu Cui’s eyes darkened. This wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear. She deliberately said, “Hey, I didn’t expect my sister-in-law to be so capable. So, your daughter-in-law should be able to work now, right?”

Xisheng’s mother curled her lips. “How could it be that fast?”

Xu Cui was surprised, then said quietly, just loud enough for people walking nearby to hear, “My mother-in-law has been praising my sister-in-law for being so capable. I thought she could cure it. But now we’ve spent money, the illness isn’t cured, and the patient is still suffering. It’s really sad…”

Xisheng’s mother was known for taking advantage of others. Many people didn’t want to deal with her because she would always argue and make a fuss, even if no one was paying attention to her.

Now, hearing Xu Cui’s muttering, Xisheng’s mother’s eyes lit up. She had insisted on having He Jun’s wife treat her daughter-in-law that afternoon just for the pension. She had heard that it wasn’t a small amount of money.

Her husband had died early, her only son was useless, and her daughter-in-law couldn’t give birth to a son.

She was always worried and wanted to change her daughter-in-law, but she had no money. If she could extort a little more, wouldn’t she be able to get a better daughter-in-law? The current one was tall but always timid, not quick in doing things, and even bewitched her son. She couldn’t keep him.

As Xisheng’s mother thought about it, her expression changed from indifference to panic. She pretended to be surprised and said loudly, “Oh, come to think of it, my daughter-in-law is still with Sister Guizhi. Sister Guizhi said her daughter-in-law is amazing. I have to go and see if she’s been cured after such a long time!”

There were many people from Peijia Village on the road. After hearing what Xisheng’s mother said, they were all a little surprised: “Xisheng’s mother, what are you talking about? What are you curing?”

Xisheng’s mother said, “I don’t know what my daughter-in-law ate. She has been vomiting and having diarrhea, almost vomiting out her gallbladder. She looks like she’s dying. Sister Guizhi said her daughter-in-law can cure her and even guaranteed it. I thought it was too late to go to the town, so I sent her there. I’m going to check on her now.”

Xu Cui quietly stepped aside, listening to Xisheng’s mother, grinning silently.

However, Aunt Lanhua, who was on good terms with Pei’s mother, was suspicious: “Did Guizhi really say that? Impossible! Yesterday, I heard her say with my own ears that her daughter-in-law could only treat a little dislocation!”

“Exactly. I haven’t heard of it either!”

“Being a doctor is no small matter. I saw your daughter-in-law was very ill this afternoon. How could she recover so quickly? How could Guizhi say that?”

Xisheng’s mother put her hands on her hips and said confidently, “Don’t disbelieve me. Guizhi, the eldest daughter-in-law, come here and testify. Did your mother-in-law say that?”

Xu Cui, who wanted to watch the show, froze. She tried to avoid it, but when Xisheng’s mother shouted, everyone’s eyes focused on her. Her face was stiff, but she could only bite the bullet and nod: “I said it.”

Aunt Lanhua had a gloomy face but said nothing more. No matter how much she said, how could she compare to someone else’s daughter-in-law?

Others who heard it also believed.

“Yes! I said it from my side. I’m not kidding. My own daughter-in-law has testified to it!” Xisheng’s mother was very proud. She looked at them and invited them warmly: “If you have nothing to do, come with me to see it. If it can really be cured, then our village has a great doctor. We don’t have to go to the town clinic for headaches and fevers anymore, right?”

Having someone testify made it easier to ask for money when there was a commotion.

A great doctor really excited many people: “Okay, let’s go and take a look.”

Xu Cui looked at the large crowd, feeling a bit heavy in her heart but also a bit expectant. Suddenly, her arm tightened, and Aunt Lanhua pulled her aside, saying with an unpleasant face, “Daughter-in-law, why don’t you go and see what your mother-in-law’s brother-in-law is like?”

Xu Cui’s face darkened.

_

There were quite a few people in the group, about seven or eight women. Except for Aunt Lanhua, most of them liked to chat about family matters with others on a daily basis.

This time they came not only to see the great doctor that Xisheng’s mother mentioned but also to watch the fun.

Being from the same village, they naturally knew who Xisheng’s mother was.

Xu Cui had been dragged along all the way, and had already given up, continually praising: “That’s right, it’s really amazing, my mother-in-law said so herself!”

“If you feel uncomfortable in the future, you must go to her!”

This was really an exaggeration. Some people who originally believed it no longer believed it, and they all looked strange.

Aunt Lanhua regretted dragging her over and said angrily, “Just shut up. Who knows if what you said is true? How come you were the only one who heard it, and no one else knew? How long have you been at your mother-in-law’s place these days? How could she tell you this?”

Xu Cui shut up and followed the crowd. When they were almost at Pei’s house, someone suddenly said, “Isn’t that Xisheng’s wife? That’s great.”

Xu Cui shuddered.

Alright?

How is that possible?!

How much could Jiang Xi, that little girl, know? Isn’t it all because of her bragging? Xisheng’s wife was in such a state in the afternoon, how could she still be fine?

She looked up along with everyone else and saw a tall, thin woman walking slowly. She had her head lowered, so her expression couldn’t be seen clearly, but it was completely different from the lifeless look she had in the afternoon!

Xu Cui was in doubt and hurried forward, shouting, “Xisheng’s wife?! Are you okay?”

The woman raised her head. Her face was still pale and she was still skinny, but her eyes were open, and she looked more energetic. She reluctantly nodded, “Yes, it’s done.”

“Oh my God! Is He Jun’s wife really so awesome?!” a woman exclaimed.

Someone immediately agreed: “Yes, it looks really amazing. In the afternoon, I thought Xisheng’s wife was going to die. You don’t know how scary she was at that time. She couldn’t even get up!”

Others enviously said, “The Pei Zhong family really has good feng shui ^[2]phrase used to describe favorable conditions or luck. . The ancestors’ graves are filled with smoke ^[3]phrase used to describe receiving good fortune or blessings from ancestors., right? As soon as their son got into trouble, they had such a great daughter-in-law sent to take care of them in their old age. Why don’t I have such good fortune…”

Someone immediately muttered, “So you want to have one less son?”

The envious people kept silent.

Xu Cui watched helplessly as this group of people began to praise Jiang Xi again. She felt so angry that her chest ached and she felt a little flustered at the same time.

Damn, it actually got better!

Xisheng’s mother was also disappointed. She said unhappily, “Why didn’t you just tell me earlier? You made me come back half an hour early to cook! You’re such a money-loser!”

“Okay, okay, they’re just fine, let it go,” Aunt Lanhua advised kindly.

Li Aimei pursed her lips and whispered, “I don’t have the strength to work.”

He Jun’s wife is right. If she continues to be bitten like this, she may not survive in the future.

She doesn’t want to die.

Xisheng’s mother didn’t stare at her. Instead, she rolled her eyes and headed for Pei’s yard, muttering, “Oh, they said it could be cured, but now you have no strength at all? It’s not cured yet! Sister Guizhi, your wife is a quack! Pay her money!”

The women who came with them were all stunned: “Xisheng’s mother, there is no one like you!”

How could Xisheng’s mother care about these things? She just kept rushing in.

Xu Cui was even more delighted, she smiled secretly with her hands covering her lips. She originally didn’t want to go over, but now she quickened her pace, wanting to watch the fun, but soon she was stunned.

Li Aimei, who had just been listless, suddenly ran over and hugged Xisheng’s mother and threw herself to the ground, crying with strong resentment: “He Jun’s wife finally saved me, what are you going to do? I haven’t even paid for the medical expenses! What kind of compensation are you asking for?!”

If my mother-in-law really makes trouble with her lifesaver again, she will be as good as dead! No one will give her medicine to save her for free again!

Li Aimei held her down tightly, not letting her move.

But was Xisheng’s mother willing to be suppressed by her wife? Her face turned blue, and she twisted and struggled to get up, shouting: “Li Aimei, get out! Do you believe that I will let Xisheng divorce you!”

Li Aimei didn’t move; she held her tightly, and said in a hoarse voice, “You can’t go! You can’t go!”

Xisheng’s mother was unable to stand up. Completely furious, she turned over and pinned her daughter-in-law down, slapping her mercilessly. “Damn it! How dare you, you little brat…”

“Slap! Slap! Slap!” The sound of fists hitting flesh was painful. Li Aimei’s face twisted in agony, but she didn’t dare fight back and let her mother-in-law hit her several times.

Li Aimei’s body had not fully recovered, and she was still weak. After the beating, she felt dizzy. All she could see was her mother-in-law’s angry, terrifying face and hear the sighs of those around her as they tried to pull the child away: “What a mess!”

“You’re just relying on Xisheng’s wife’s good temper. Go ahead and make a scene. If she really dies, what will you do then?”

Dead?

Was she really going to die?

Li Aimei thought it might be the case, as she was beaten so badly that she couldn’t even feel the pain anymore.

But she didn’t want to die; she wanted to live, to survive!

The desire to survive gave her strength. Just then, someone held Xisheng’s mother back. Li Aimei turned over and pinned her mother-in-law down. She grabbed her hair tightly. Her face, distorted by effort, looked a little scary. Xisheng’s mother was so frightened that she didn’t react immediately. Then, using all her strength, Li Aimei smashed her mother-in-law’s head to the ground, muttering, “Mom, I don’t want to die.”