Chapter 33: Learn from Your Cousin

Because he was a doctor, Old Qin had encountered quite a few similar cases.

Usually, those who were bedridden and had lost the ability to move wouldn’t be all that clean.

Let alone someone like Zhou Changdong, who was in a vegetative state.

But after the examination he just performed, he confirmed that the patient had indeed been taken care of very well, with no excess unpleasant odor on his body.

Moreover, the patient’s complexion looked very good. After hearing about the diet provided to him, it was clear that sincere effort had been made.

Zhou Quansheng and Chen Aihong both looked at the third daughter-in-law with gentle expressions.

Zhou Changping, on the other hand, didn’t look at his sister-in-law with that kind of gaze; he simply nodded as a form of acknowledgment.

Su Luyun didn’t say much. Her focus was on something else. “Old Master, can Changdong recover?”

Zhou Quansheng, Chen Aihong, and Zhou Changping also looked toward Old Qin.

But Old Qin didn’t answer. He took out a pack of silver needles from the medicine box he had brought along and began inserting them into Zhou Changdong’s forehead.

Only after the needles were in place did he speak. “Although he’s in a coma, his pulse is strong and forceful. But I can’t say anything for certain right now. Starting today, I’ll come by every day to give him acupuncture. As for the results, we’ll have to wait and see. It might help, or it might not.”

No doctor would ever guarantee a cure.

But the fact that he was willing to come by every day for acupuncture showed that while the chances were slim, there was still some hope.

It was worth a try.

So no one—neither Zhou Quansheng, Chen Aihong, nor Zhou Changping—said anything about this result. Su Luyun didn’t either. She nodded and said: “Old Master, please go ahead and treat him. If he gets better, I’ll give you a generous reward and a banner of appreciation!”

Old Qin chuckled. “Healing and treating illnesses is my duty. You don’t need to be so courteous.”

He then asked: “I just checked—have you been massaging him to stimulate his blood and energy flow?”

Everyone turned to look at Su Luyun and saw her nod. “Yes, I was afraid that if Changdong lay there too long, his body would stiffen. But since he can’t move now, every night before I go to sleep, I wipe his back with a hot towel and spend half an hour massaging his hands and feet.”

As she spoke, she rubbed her somewhat sore wrists.

Chen Aihong immediately said: “Child, why didn’t you tell Mom? I could’ve helped. You didn’t need to carry it all on your own.”

Although she was from the older generation, she had no experience caring for someone in a vegetative state and didn’t know how to go about it.

She never imagined that her daughter-in-law would be this thoughtful!

Zhou Quansheng hadn’t considered it either. He was truly touched by how considerate his third daughter-in-law was!

Zhou Changping also spoke. “I’ll come over later to give you a hand, sister-in-law.”

“No need. It’s nothing.” Su Luyun shook her head and politely declined, then looked at Zhou Changdong with great gentleness. “As long as Changdong can recover, none of this matters.”

Chen Aihong and Zhou Quansheng could both feel their daughter-in-law’s sincerity!

Old Qin also thought the Zhou family had really married well!

He said: “Keep up this habit. Make sure to help him with blood and energy circulation like this every day.”

“Alright, I’ll remember that!” Su Luyun nodded.

The acupuncture session lasted about half an hour. When time was up, Old Qin removed the needles. “That’s all for today. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Old Master, don’t you need to prescribe any medicine?” Su Luyun asked.

“No need. Just continue feeding him the meals like you have these past few days.”

“Okay. How much is the consultation fee?”

“There’s no need to pay now. You can settle it all together later.” Old Qin waved his hand.

Zhou Quansheng and Chen Aihong then escorted Old Master Qin out. Zhou Changping grabbed the bicycle and took responsibility for sending him home.

Of course, the neighbors had seen all this and naturally came over to ask Chen Aihong what Old Qin had said.

Everyone knew Old Qin. His medical skills needed no further praise—he had even treated provincial leaders back in the day!

He was quite famous in their area.

“Old Master said to start with acupuncture and observe the results. He’ll come every day to give Changdong acupuncture.” Chen Aihong explained.

“Well, that’s a good sign—it means there’s hope!”

“Yes, just cooperate fully with Old Master Qin’s acupuncture treatment!”

“……”

The neighbors, being considerate, chimed in one after another with words like these.

But it wasn’t long before they all went back to their own homes.

Originally, Zhou Quansheng and Chen Aihong were about to head back too, but Li Wenchuan arrived. He had returned home and heard from Zhao Yuzhu that Su Luyun wanted to build a toilet in the courtyard.

Zhou Quansheng hadn’t known about it, and when he heard, he was quite surprised. He asked Su Luyun: “Why would you want to build a toilet in the courtyard all of a sudden?”

“I think it’s really convenient—like how the Lao Huang family did it—so I wanted to build one too.” Su Luyun replied, then turned to Li Wenchuan. “Wenchuan, how much would it cost to build the washroom?”

Li Wenchuan glanced at her in mild surprise, because very few people used the term washroom—they usually said toilet or outhouse.

He hadn’t expected to hear such an elegant term come from Su Luyun’s mouth.

“I’ll find two people to help you out, sister-in-law. As for the labor costs, you don’t need to pay—just cover the materials like bricks and cement. It won’t cost much.” he said.

“That won’t do. Labor costs and materials—whatever it adds up to, I’ll pay it. I can’t take advantage of you.” Su Luyun shook her head firmly.

Chen Aihong agreed: “Wenchuan, just charge the right amount. We’re already asking you to find people to help—can’t expect you to eat the cost of wages too.”

Li Wenchuan had been just trying to be polite. He smiled and said: “Alright then. Where exactly? Sister-in-law, show me.”

“Over there—how about that spot?” Su Luyun pointed to the corner on the west side.

“That works.” Li Wenchuan took a look and nodded. “When do you want to start construction?”

“If it’s convenient for you, can you have someone come over tomorrow? About how long will it take to finish?”

“Tomorrow is fine. But digging the channels and everything might take several days. It won’t be quick.”

“I understand. Tell the workers when they come—I’ll provide lunch here as well.” After all, people doing hard work deserved a good meal.

Li Wenchuan was genuinely a bit surprised.

It was only now that he noticed Su Luyun, who was wearing a bulaji (a kind of simple dress) today, even her brows and expression were different from before.

She actually had a kind of stunning beauty that stirred the heart!

But he only glanced at her once, then nodded and said to Zhou Quansheng: “Uncle, I’ll go in and take a look at Changdong.”

Zhou Quansheng led him inside, and Li Wenchuan just had a look before leaving shortly after.

When he got home, Zhao Yuzhu immediately asked if he had turned her down.

Upon hearing that he had agreed, Zhao Yuzhu couldn’t help but scold him: “Didn’t I already tell you? My cousin is being ridiculous. Why didn’t you just refuse her? You could’ve made up an excuse and said you were busy. That way she wouldn’t waste her money.”

She grew annoyed just thinking that the money for building the toilet would still come from her.

“Refuse what? She didn’t spend our money. It’s her own courtyard, and she wants to build a washroom—what’s so strange about that? If we lived in a courtyard house, I’d build one too.” Li Wenchuan said with a frown.

In the apartment block where they lived, the shared toilets were honestly filthy and smelly, and overcrowded too!

“We’re living just fine now.” Zhao Yuzhu replied.

Though it couldn’t compare to the spaciousness and convenience of her cousin’s private courtyard, at least they didn’t have to live like back at the Ancestral House!

That place had been a constant source of frustration!

Li Wenchuan waved his hand: “I can’t even talk sense into you!”

Zhao Yuzhu nearly choked in exasperation!

If you think I don’t get it, then explain it properly! If you don’t say anything, how am I supposed to understand?!

But Li Wenchuan wasn’t finished yet: “When you have time, go learn from your cousin. Buy yourself a couple of new outfits too. Don’t always go around in rags. People who know you will say you’re frugal. People who don’t might think our family is dirt poor!”

In his mind, he was picturing Su Luyun in her bulaji, with a bright and youthful fair face.