Chapter 28 If nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will happen

The village doctor Li Shuisheng’s house was located at the east end of the village. It was a simple adobe house, with the village clinic right next door. It was still early, and the clinic hadn’t opened for the day. At this moment, Li Shuisheng, wearing a faded blue cloth jacket tied at the waist with a hemp rope holding up his loose trousers, sleepily opened the door. Seeing so many people gathered there, he was clearly startled for a moment.

They were carrying Xie Jianguo—his face pale, eyes tightly shut, body stiff and motionless—obviously unconscious.

“Doctor Li, Jianguo fell into the cesspit last night and has been freezing all night. Look at him…” someone explained.

“Quick! Take off his wet clothes and wrap him in a warm blanket,” Li Shuisheng ordered firmly, immediately taking charge.

Several young men carefully removed Xie Jianguo’s soaked clothes, then carried him into the clinic next door, laying him on an old wooden bed.

Li Shuisheng grabbed a blanket from the cupboard and wrapped Xie Jianguo up. He sent someone to boil hot water, then gently lifted Jianguo’s eyelids and felt his pulse, his brow furrowing deeply.

Zhao Xiulan, grasping Li Shuisheng’s arm tightly, begged, “Old Li, you have to save my son! If you can’t, I don’t want to live either!”

Li Shuisheng frowned tightly and said, “Don’t panic yet. I’ll do my best. But if you keep crying and making a scene, it will affect my treatment.”

Zhao Xiulan wanted to wail but feared disturbing the doctor, so she forced herself to hold back, staring fixedly at Jianguo lying on the bed.

Soon, the hot water bag was ready; Li Shuisheng placed it inside the blanket. He then carefully re-examined Jianguo’s body and found his body temperature was dropping rapidly—his condition was critical.

Li Shuisheng’s frown deepened. “We must get him to the town hospital immediately! This place can’t handle such emergencies,” he said seriously.

Hypothermia can be minor if treated in time, but fatal if not.

Hearing this, everyone hurried to prepare for transport to the hospital.

Suddenly, a different voice rang out, “No need to send him to the hospital, I can cure him.”

Everyone turned to look and saw Chang Meili standing firmly at the door, holding a small bottle filled with an unknown liquid.

Zhao Xiulan’s face darkened instantly. She had never liked Chang Meili, who always seemed to flirt with her son and put on a false front. Now seeing her claim she could cure Jianguo, Zhao Xiulan thought she was deliberately causing trouble.

“You little wretched girl! My Jianguo is already like this, and you come here to cause trouble? Are you trying to kill him?!” Zhao Xiulan shouted, lunging at Chang Meili with rage and hatred aimed to vent all her frustrations.

Chang Meili quickly stepped back to dodge.

“Auntie, trust me! I really can cure Jianguo. This bottle contains a secret family remedy, passed down through generations, especially for emergencies caused by cold,” Chang Meili said confidently, raising the bottle.

It was Lingquan Water—miraculous water that could cure any illness. She wouldn’t have brought out such a precious thing if not to show off in front of the village doctor. Her supply was running low, and she was sacrificing a lot, but since Jianguo was her future man, she was willing.

Fuming, Zhao Xiulan yelled, “Secret family remedy? Since when did the Chang family know medicine? You little brat! Trying to kill my son! I’ll fight you!”

She lunged again.

Li Shuisheng quickly stepped in, blocking Zhao Xiulan. “Zhao Xiulan, stop this nonsense! Hurry up and get Jianguo to the hospital! His condition can’t wait!”

Zhao Xiulan’s heart skipped a beat. She glared fiercely at Chang Meili, then reluctantly said to the others, “Please help me carry Jianguo to the hospital…”

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Chang Meili tightened her grip on the bottle, then decisively approached Jianguo and poured the liquid down his throat.

Zhao Xiulan turned just in time to see this and almost screamed, rushing at Chang Meili, “You little brat! What did you give my son? If anything happens to him, I won’t let you off!”

Li Shuisheng was shocked by her reckless move. He quickly checked Jianguo’s pulse again. Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on Jianguo.

His face was still pale, eyes closed, with no obvious reaction.

Zhao Xiulan trembled with rage, grabbing Chang Meili’s hair and beating her face fiercely. Chang Meili cried out in pain but shouted, “Auntie! Wait! Jianguo will wake up soon!”

No one dared intervene immediately because what Chang Meili did was extreme. If Jianguo recovered, it would be fine; if not…

Suddenly, Jianguo’s body twitched. His eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. His eyes were still a bit dazed but showed signs of life.

“He’s awake!” Li Shuisheng breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing exactly what Chang Meili gave Jianguo, but it seemed to work. His pulse steadied.

“Son! You’re awake!” Zhao Xiulan rushed to Jianguo’s bedside.

Jianguo weakly moved his lips, whispering, “Mother… Meili saved me…”

Though faint, it was clear he was better.

Chang Meili immediately flopped down beside him, putting on a pitiful, humble expression that softened Jianguo’s heart.

Li Shuisheng was less anxious now. “Looks like this little Chang family secret remedy does have some effect. But he still needs to be taken to the town hospital—he’s very weak.”

Just as everyone was relieved that Jianguo was out of danger, he suddenly sat up abruptly, his face turning deathly pale.

Then an indescribable smell filled the air…