Her face went pale as she clutched her chest, her body pitching forward uncontrollably, shoulders heaving violently. Each breath only produced a faint “ho ho” sound.
Soon, her little face turned a bluish-purple.
Ningning’s asthma was flaring again.
Although Qiao Xingyue was a doctor, seeing Ningning’s asthma attack still made her chest tighten with anxiety.
In this era, medical conditions were limited and far from the advanced standards of later times. Emergency medications were scarce, and the special drug Ningning had been taking could only manage routine care.
If the attack worsened, even that special drug might not work.
Qiao Xingyue’s chest raced with worry, yet she remained calm, instructing An’an beside her:
“An’an, quickly get the medicine for your sister.”
Panicked, An’an dashed up the stairs as fast as she could.
Huang Guilan, hearing that medicine was needed, hurried to fetch a cup of water in an enamel cup. Seeing it was hot, she poured it back and forth between two cups, blowing to cool it.
“Comrade Qiao, what medicine is An’an bringing for Ningning? Will it work? Should I quickly call Zhongming to come back and drive Ningning to the hospital?”
“Aunt Lan, don’t panic yet. Let Ningning take the medicine and observe for fifteen minutes. If there’s no relief, then we’ll go to the hospital.”
Soon, An’an came running down the stairs with the medicine.
In her haste, she slipped on the stairs but was unafraid of the pain, quickly getting up and rushing to Qiao Xingyue.
Qiao Xingyue gave Ningning the medicine without delay.
Only then did Huang Guilan notice that the special medicine Ningning was taking was identical to the one Xie Mingzhe’s father used for asthma.
However, she saw that Ningning’s dose was only half of Xie Mingzhe’s father’s.
After seeing Ningning’s symptoms, Huang Guilan had already guessed that this child might have asthma like Xie Mingzhe’s father.
Her suspicion was confirmed.
Huang Guilan couldn’t help feeling it was quite a coincidence.
Previously, she had learned that An’an, like her and Zhongming, was allergic to peanuts.
Now Ningning had asthma, just like Xie Mingzhe’s father.
These two children seemed so connected to the Xie family, even inheriting the family’s hereditary illnesses.
But for now, Huang Guilan had no time to think about anything else.
She kept a close eye on Ningning, hoping her symptoms would subside quickly.
Qiao Xingyue’s focus was fully on Ningning. Seeing Ningning’s breathing gradually stabilize, her fingernails changing from purple back to red, Qiao Xingyue finally exhaled in relief.
After about twenty minutes, Ningning took a deep breath and said to Qiao Xingyue, “Mom, I’m okay now. Don’t worry.”
Qiao Xingyue was terrified.
This special medicine was not as fast-acting as modern inhalers.
If it hadn’t worked, Ningning would have been in serious danger. Thankfully, she had stabilized.
Only then could Huang Guilan think clearly and confirm, “Comrade Qiao, Ningning really has asthma?”
Qiao Xingyue nodded.
“Yes, Ningning has had asthma since birth, congenital and hereditary. When it doesn’t flare up, it’s manageable, but when it does, it’s very dangerous. Long-term medication is needed, and the medicine is expensive. I’m really grateful to Aunt Lan for giving me this job. I’ll work hard from now on.”
Huang Guilan thought for a moment.
No wonder when she had heard the two girls mention Ningning needing treatment, it was for asthma.
This condition had no cure, and the medicine was indeed costly.
Xie Mingzhe’s father also took the same medicine as Ningning. One box cost 24 yuan.
Even a family like theirs found it expensive, not to mention Qiao Xingyue, a widowed single mother with no support. It made sense why the mother and daughters wore tattered clothing; they must have spent all their money on Ningning’s treatment.
Huang Guilan decided to make a set of new clothes for the three of them.
Seeing her not speak, Qiao Xingyue’s heart tightened, and she quickly reassured,
“Aunt Lan, don’t worry. Asthma isn’t contagious and won’t affect you.”
She was afraid Aunt Lan might misunderstand and find an excuse to dismiss her.
“Don’t be silly,” Huang Guilan clarified. “I have no intention of sending you away.”
She continued, “I’ve noticed you work efficiently, cook meals that suit our taste, and Grandma likes you. You don’t need to finish a one-month probation. Let’s just make it official you’ll stay with us long-term, helping me around the house. I’ll pay you every month on time.”
Qiao Xingyue’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Aunt Lan…”
“Don’t cry,” Huang Guilan said, her throat tight. “If you cry, it makes me upset too.”
She didn’t know how hard life must have been for these three over the years.
Looking at them, all three were likely malnourished and very thin.
Huang Guilan patted Qiao Xingyue’s hand, “Treat my home as your own. Finding such a capable helper is a blessing for me.”
By evening, smoke rose from the kitchens of every household in the compound.
The air was filled with the aroma of different home-cooked meals.
Xie Jiang rode his bicycle, greeting the elders sitting on small bamboo stools, before slowly riding into his courtyard.
Huang Guilan also took a small bamboo stool and sat by her bean trellis, sewing shoe soles.
The shoes were the right size for a four- or five-year-old specifically for An’an and Ningning.
Seeing Xie Jiang dismount, she waved, “Old Xie, come over. I want to tell you something.”
“What is it?” Xie Jiang asked.
“Old Xie, I told you An’an is allergic to peanuts, just like Zhongming, right?”
“Yes, you did. What a coincidence.”
“Even more coincidental Ningning has a hereditary Xie family illness. Today her asthma flared, and I realized she takes the exact same special medicine as Xie Mingzhe’s father. How can these two children both have our family’s hereditary illnesses?”
Huang Guilan paused her sewing.
Xie Jiang stopped buttoning his shirt as he observed the children.
His steady gaze was tinged with disbelief. “Can it really be such a coincidence?”
“I’m not lying to you,” she said, standing to show Xie Jiang more clearly. She left the unfinished shoe sole on the stool and pointed to the children playing marbles.
“Look carefully. An’an’s cleverness resembles Zhongming’s as a child. Ningning’s eyes look like how Zhongming looked when allergic to peanuts.”
Xie Jiang examined the two children. “They clearly resemble Comrade Qiao. How could they be like the Old Fourth?”
“I’m telling you, the more you look, the more they resemble him. Could it be that…”
“Don’t imagine things. Our Old Fourth is upright. He wouldn’t have children outside, let alone two.”
Indeed, Old Fourth only married Chubby Wife due to a trick with her mother adding a substance in sweet potato porridge, leading to an unintentional conception.
He was always proper and careful with women, and couldn’t possibly have two children outside.
Still, she wondered if it was really just a coincidence.
“Then why does An’an have a peanut allergy and Ningning asthma both hereditary Xie family illnesses?”
“Maybe it’s fate. The world is vast; anything can happen. Perhaps these two children are destined to be connected to our Xie family.”
“Yes…” Huang Guilan suddenly felt wistful. If only An’an and Ningning were really their grandchildren they would be so lovely, obedient, and endearing.
“Old Xie, I plan to use our cloth coupons to buy some nice fabric and make new clothes for An’an, Ningning, and Comrade Qiao.”
“I agree. The weather is warm and breathable cotton, not synthetic, so the children won’t get heat rash.”
“Okay, I’ll buy the expensive ones.”
At that moment, Qiao Xingyue called from the kitchen, “An’an, go next door to Grandma Zhou’s and bring back the soy sauce for Mom.”
“Okay!” An’an put down her marbles, dusted her hands, and politely greeted Xie Jiang, “Sir, you’re back.”
“Yes, An’an, be good.”
“I’ll go get the soy sauce from Grandma Zhou,” she added.
Grandma Zhou was always troublesome—borrowing oil, soy sauce, soap, brooms, honeycomb coal, but never returning them.
An’an went to Grandma Zhou’s to collect what had been borrowed.
Huang Guilan sighed. “That Zhou Dahong has borrowed soy sauce from us for thirty years and never returned it.”
Xie Jiang advised, “She’s been a neighbor for so many years. Let her borrow it—it’s not valuable.”
“But she only borrows, never returns.”
“Forget it. Don’t argue over it.”
“No, I need to check. Even if she doesn’t return the items, she mustn’t bully An’an.”
Though Huang Guilan had only spent a few days with An’an and Ningning, she cherished them like her own granddaughters.
An’an went into Zhou Dahong’s house.
Huang Guilan followed, worried that An’an might be bullied.
Inside, Zhou Dahong was giving her chubby grandson a peach cookie. Seeing An’an, she glared, “What are you looking at? None of this is for you.”
She handed the boy another piece, “Little Soldier, eat it yourself, don’t share.”
The boy flaunted his snack in front of An’an.
An’an kept calm, politely saying, “Grandma Zhou, you’re mistaken. I didn’t come for snacks. I’m here to get the soy sauce.”
“What soy sauce?”
“The bottle you borrowed at noon. Mom just refilled it this morning.”
An’an was frustrated, but her mother had taught her not to quarrel unnecessarily and to maintain neighborly relations.
“It’s just one bottle of soy sauce,” Zhou Dahong said sourly, “why are you making such a fuss?”
An’an held up her small hands, unfazed, “Then return it now.”
“You…”
“Grandma Zhou, borrowing and returning is simple. If you borrow, you should return. Understand?”
“You little widow’s brat, who do you think you’re lecturing?”
“Who did you call a little widow? Who did you call a brat?”
At that moment, Huang Guifang stepped in with a stern expression.
She moved quickly to shield An’an.
Zhou Dahong immediately changed her tone to a smiling face, “Guilan, you misheard. I was praising An’an—what a pretty child, just like her mother.”
Zhou Dahong loved to talk behind others’ backs and then deny it.
Huang Guilan was furious and helpless. Zhou Dahong had even tried to frame Qiao Xingyue.
Huang Guilan had no evidence, so she kept her anger inside.
She could insult herself, but she wouldn’t allow Qiao Xingyue to be slandered.
“Dahong, if I hear you gossiping about Comrade Qiao or An’an and Ningning again, I’ll call Director Chen of the Residents Committee to settle this.”
The Residents Committee handled disputes in the compound.
Someone like Zhou Dahong would face criticism if caught slandering others.
“Guilan, I was just warning you about your widow helper, and now you threaten me with Director Chen? What’s your intention?”
“Your little helper is a widow, looks like a fox spirit, and might try to seduce your sons, even Xie Mingzhe. I’m just warning you.”
Huang Guilan’s face turned dark. “You’re talking nonsense! Comrade Qiao is a single mother with two children. She works honestly and diligently. She’s not a fox spirit.”
Huang Guilan, a professor and educator, had never fought anyone, and didn’t know how to curse properly.
At that moment, another person walked into the hall.