Chapter 20: Seeking Treatment at Baohetang

Daybreak arrived.

After breakfast, Lin Heng and Zhiwen hurried to town, where they hired a carriage and headed straight for Lijiazhuang.

Lin Sumei had only dozed off for a little while before waking up. She got up, helped Li Zhongyi wash up, then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. After he finished eating, she sat at home, waiting anxiously.

The quiet morning in Lijiazhuang was suddenly disrupted by the sound of galloping hooves. A carriage stopped in front of Li Zhongyi’s house. Lin Heng stepped down and entered the courtyard, bowing to Old Man Lǐ as a sign of respect. He explained that he was here to take his brother-in-law to the county for medical treatment before heading straight inside.

Seeing Lin Heng arrive, Lin Sumei was overwhelmed with emotion. Lin Heng went in to examine his brother-in-law’s leg, then, without hesitation, picked him up and carried him out. Lin Sumei quickly followed, turning back to instruct her eldest daughter to take care of her younger siblings before chasing after them.

As soon as their father emerged, Zhiwen swiftly got out of the carriage to help. Old Man Lǐ assisted Lin Heng in lifting Li Zhongyi onto the cart, while Zhiwen invited his little aunt to get in.

Standing at the entrance of the courtyard, Old Man Lǐ watched as the carriage sped away.

Li Zhongyi was his third son and the most beloved among the three brothers.

After his marriage, Lin Sumei also gained the favor of Old Man Lǐ and his wife. However, after giving birth to three daughters in a row, the elderly couple began to resent her. They remained affectionate toward their son, though, and it wasn’t until she gave birth to a son with her fourth pregnancy that they started treating her better.

Now that Li Zhongyi had broken his leg, the elderly couple was deeply distressed but had no money to help. Selling everything they had wasn’t an option—they still had their eldest and second sons’ families to consider. So, when Lin Heng took Li Zhongyi to the county, they didn’t go along—not because they didn’t care, but because they simply couldn’t afford it.

They could only hope that their third son’s leg could be healed. After all, how could a crippled farmer continue to work?

The elderly couple spent the entire day in restless anxiety, waiting for their return. Finally, the carriage arrived back at the house.

Lin Heng carried Li Zhongyi out of the cart and, smiling reassuringly at Old Man Lǐ, said, “Uncle Lǐ, don’t worry. With proper rest, he’ll recover.” Then, he carried Li Zhongyi back to his room.

After stepping off the carriage, Lin Sumei turned to her in-laws and said, “Father, Mother, the doctor in the county said that my husband’s leg can heal. But he must stay in bed for three months and can’t work during that time.”

Hearing this, Old Man Lǐ and his wife were relieved. As long as his leg could heal, that was enough. Since it was winter, there wasn’t much farm work to do anyway, so they simply let their third son recover properly.

Lin Heng placed Li Zhongyi onto the bed and instructed him to rest and not try to get up.

Then, turning to Lin Sumei, he said, “Take good care of your husband.” Without waiting for her to persuade him to stay, he hurriedly got back onto the carriage and left for home.

Lin Sumei smiled slightly and told Li Zhongyi that she would go prepare his medicine. Feeling grateful yet apologetic, Li Zhongyi said, “Your brother has gone through a lot of trouble today.”

Thinking about the medical expenses Lin Heng had covered, Lin Sumei replied, “My third brother said you should focus on recovering first. We’ll deal with everything else later.”

Li Zhongyi nodded.

That evening, after bringing Li Zhongyi his meal, Lin Sumei sat down in the hall to eat with the rest of the family.

Her two sisters-in-law briefly inquired about Li Zhongyi’s condition, but no one mentioned how much money had been spent in the county.

Lin Sumei didn’t mind—her third brother had already paid, and she would just live frugally and pay him back slowly.

Back home, Lin Heng told his family that Li Zhongyi’s leg could be healed. Although it would take some time, there was no major issue, and Doctor Su had confirmed that treatment was possible.

Madam Lǐ nodded repeatedly, relieved to hear the news.

She thought back to when she had first married Lin Heng. Back then, Tianshi had disliked her and constantly found faults with her, while her two sisters-in-law, seeing that she wasn’t favored, often ridiculed her and even tried to take food from her.

Because of her personality, she didn’t like to argue or fuss over such matters. It was her little sister-in-law who had comforted her, chatted with her, and helped her through those difficult days.

Now that her brother-in-law was in trouble, she wanted to do whatever she could to help, even if it was just a small contribution.

Lin Heng hesitated as he looked at Madam Lǐ, seeming as though he wanted to say something but held back, scratching his head instead.

Noticing her father’s expression, Wanqing’s eyes flickered with understanding. She immediately asked, “Father, did it cost a lot of money, and you’re too embarrassed to say it?”

Li Shi also noticed and smiled, “Is the money not enough?”

“It’s enough. This time, I spent five taels of silver. I told Sumei not to worry about repaying it right away. It’s a matter concerning her family, and they probably don’t have any silver left. I want to send some food over so she can make something nutritious for her husband. The doctor, Su, said he needs good food to help his bones heal faster.”

“Oh, so that’s what it is,” Li Shi said. “We have some white rice and fine flour at home. You can take some over tomorrow.”

At first, Wanqing had no objections. Her father and aunt grew up together and had a close bond. Her aunt also got along fairly well with Li Shi. In such a critical situation, helping out family members was natural—after all, turning a blind eye to her uncle’s disability would be rather cold-hearted.

But when she heard that Li Shi planned to send white rice and fine flour, she felt a little unhappy.

Why? She was the one earning money, yet she had to eat coarse, throat-scratching black grain cakes at home, while her uncle would be eating white rice and fine flour?

Her mother was truly generous!

“Father, how about you buy a few big bones from town tomorrow and have Aunt make bone broth porridge for Uncle?” Wanqing propped her chin on her hand and suggested.

“Good idea,” Lin Heng’s eyes lit up.

Wanqing smiled slightly. “And buy some meat too? Just two bones are too little.”

“Alright,” Lin Heng nodded.

“Also, bring over a fish or two. Actually, two or three should be enough,” Wanqing continued. “I think that black fish we saw in the county last time was pretty good—very nourishing! Why don’t you go to Xishan Village and ask around?”

“Uh, this…” Lin Heng finally sensed something was off in his daughter’s tone and turned to look at Li Shi.

Wanqing’s voice remained innocent. “Father, why don’t you just buy the entire Fuman Restaurant and gift it to Uncle?”

Lin Heng: …

Li Shi frowned. “Qing’er, how can you speak to your father like that?”

“Mother, I’m being serious. I just don’t understand—why are we sending so much? Even white rice and fine flour? You won’t even let me eat those at home! You only let me eat those throat-scratching coarse grain cakes!”

“Qing’er!”

“Father, Mother, even if you don’t like hearing it, I have to say it. White rice and fine flour are precious. Mother, you’ve said it yourself—how many farming families get to eat such good food? Have you considered what people will say if they find out we’re sending these over? How will they gossip? We only separated from the family recently. If people start asking where our money and food are coming from, how will you explain it?”

Lin Heng and Li Shi fell silent upon hearing this. What their daughter said was not without reason.

…

The next day, when Lin Heng arrived at the Li family’s house, Lin Sumei was startled, thinking something had happened.

Lin Heng took out the things from his basket and explained that they were for his brother-in-law. Since his brother-in-law had to stay in bed for three months, he couldn’t work, but he still needed to eat, so they had brought over some food.

“It’s nothing fancy,” Lin Heng said with some embarrassment.

His daughter was right—white rice and fine flour were not things they could just hand out, nor should they.

For a moment, Lin Heng and Li Shi didn’t know what to send. In the end, it was Wanqing who suggested taking the coarse grain they used for making black cakes, finally solving the problem.

Wanqing’s thoughts: I can’t throw it away, but at least I’ve finally found a way to get rid of that throat-cutting, scratchy coarse grain!

However, what Wanqing despised as unpleasant coarse grain was actually a lifesaver for Sumei’s family!

Since Li Zhongyi had to rest in bed for three months, he wouldn’t be able to work, which meant no income and no food. Without money or grain, even eating would become a problem.

Sumei was deeply grateful to Lin Heng. “Third Brother, you’ve spent money on us again.”

Li Zhongyi quickly added, “Thank you, Third Brother! I have no way to repay your kindness!”

“No need,” Lin Heng replied.

He looked at the thin and small children and picked up Xiao Hai, who was about the same age as Zhi Yuan.

“Third Uncle,” Xiao Hai called out sweetly.

“Mm, Xiao Hai needs to be a good boy,” Lin Heng said.

“Xiao Hai knows. Dad is sick, so Xiao Hai is being very good,” the child replied obediently.

Lin Heng suddenly remembered the malt candy that Wanru had stuffed into his pocket.

He put Xiao Hai down, took out a packet of candy, gave one piece to Xiao Hai, and placed the rest on the table. “Each of you take one,” he said to Da Feng and her sisters.

Da Feng, Er Feng, and San Feng quickly said, “Thank you, Uncle.”

Da Feng, now thirteen years old, was the eldest in the family. Since childhood, she had helped take care of her younger siblings and had become very sensible.

Ever since their father’s leg injury, their mother had been devastated, unable to eat or sleep properly. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and she had grown thinner. Da Feng saw all of this but was powerless to help.

Now, her Third Uncle had appeared like a god descending from the heavens, bringing relief to their suffering family. She was filled with gratitude toward Lin Heng. “Third Uncle, please stay and rest for a while.”

She placed a stool beside Lin Heng and poured him a cup of hot water.

Lin Heng sat down and said to Sumei, “In the blink of an eye, Da Feng has grown so much.”

“Yes, Da Feng is the same age as Wanru,” Sumei replied.

Lin Heng turned to Da Feng and said, “Once your father’s leg is healed after the New Year, have your mother bring you and your siblings over to my house for a visit.”

“Okay,” Da Feng responded, glancing at her mother.

After finishing a cup of tea, Lin Heng bid farewell and returned home.

Looking at the things her Third Brother had brought, Sumei gradually felt a renewed sense of hope for her once-dark future.