“You really know how to make things harder for yourself. I know this child—he’s always had a weak constitution and poor nutrition. Forget falling into the water; even a change in weather can make him catch a cold or develop a fever.”
There was only one set of triplets in the village—impossible not to notice them.
Last winter, the three children had come to the clinic, only to be driven out with scolding and even blows.
“Let’s do a skin test first. With his condition, medicine alone won’t be enough.”
As she spoke, Doctor Wang went to another room and brought back a syringe.
She glanced at Jiang Yunshu and sighed. “These three kids are pitiful, but you haven’t even sorted out your own situation. It’s best not to be too soft-hearted. Their aunt is not someone easy to deal with.”
Da Bao looked at Jiang Yunshu nervously. She immediately caught the worry in his eyes.
“It’s okay, Doctor Wang. The children are so well-behaved—their parents must be reasonable people. Let’s treat the child first. If there’s any misunderstanding later, I can explain.”
Although Doctor Wang kept advising Jiang Yunshu, her hands never stopped working.
She lowered her gaze to look at Da Bao and Er Bao. Though their baby fat hadn’t completely faded, their bodies were far too thin.
Their little arms were as thin as sticks. Er Bao’s hair was sparse and yellowish. All three children wore clothes covered in patches.
“It’s really something… Ever since I came to this village, I’ve never seen their mother. Some say she died of illness, others say she ran away with someone. The more people talk, the more rumors there are.”
Da Bao lowered his head, as if he wanted to say something.
His lips moved, but in the end, he restrained himself from arguing.
The pretty auntie was helping Xiao Bao. They couldn’t cause her trouble.
Jiang Yunshu held Xiao Bao in her arms and rolled up his sleeve.
His arm was so thin that his veins were barely visible. Even his fingertips were burning hot.
“What about the children’s father?”
Before Doctor Wang could answer, Er Bao eagerly spoke up.
“Grandma Liu said my dad died in the line of duty, but my brother says Dad will come back soon. Auntie, when Dad comes back, we’ll pay you back for my little brother’s medicine.”
When Dad comes back, they’ll have money. The clinic won’t drive them out anymore.
Jiang Yunshu glanced at Doctor Wang, her heart aching. She hugged Xiao Bao a little tighter.
Doctor Wang flicked the syringe, pushing out the air and revealing the needle.
“The kids are living at their uncle’s house now. That aunt of theirs… she’s the kind who smiles on the surface but isn’t kind at all. Oh dear, why am I telling you all this!”
“I’ll cover today’s medicine cost. But I have to remind you—this child’s condition means endless medical expenses. You’re still a young woman. Don’t be foolish.”
She could tell Jiang Yunshu was soft-hearted.
Helping once or twice was fine—but she couldn’t support them for a lifetime.
In this village, who didn’t avoid these three children?
It wasn’t that people were heartless—it was just that even their own relatives didn’t care about them. So naturally, outsiders wouldn’t either.
“It’s heartbreaking that such young children have to depend on others and live under their moods. Doctor Wang, I understand what you mean, but I still can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
Strangely, although Jiang Yunshu didn’t even like children, these three felt inexplicably close to her.
Seeing Xiao Bao curled up in her arms like a kitten, her heart felt tightly clenched by an invisible hand.
Doctor Wang said nothing more.
The needle pierced into Xiao Bao’s vein.
The little boy shut his eyes tightly. It clearly hurt—his small hand clenched—but he didn’t cry.
Da Bao covered Er Bao’s eyes with one hand.
After just a few seconds, Doctor Wang picked up an alcohol swab from the table.
“All done. Let’s observe for a while to see if there’s any allergic reaction. If there’s no problem, go home, get some rest, and let him sweat it out. Come back tomorrow for another shot to stabilize things.”
Only after hearing it was over did Xiao Bao dare to open his eyes. When he looked up, he met Jiang Yunshu’s gaze.
Her eyes were full of tenderness and concern. She gently pressed the cotton on the needle mark and blew softly on it.
“Don’t be afraid, Xiao Bao. You’ll get better soon.”
Xiao Bao nodded.
He felt that his mother must have been this gentle too.
If only this pretty auntie were his mother.
Er Bao held Da Bao’s hand as the three children quietly waited for the result.
More than ten minutes passed—there was no reaction from the skin test.
Doctor Wang prepared the medicine, snapping open the glass vial and drawing it into the syringe.
Jiang Yunshu helped Xiao Bao take off his clothes. He looked a little nervous.
Clutching her clothes tightly, he shut his eyes the moment he saw the needle.
Er Bao held his hand and softly comforted him, “Don’t be scared, Xiao Bao. Big sister is here to protect you. It’ll be over soon.”
Jiang Yunshu’s heart was pierced.
If she had children, would they be this adorable and sensible too?
Xiao Bao pressed his lips tightly together. The moment the needle went in, his small body stiffened instinctively.
Doctor Wang was relatively gentle, slowing her movements knowing children feared pain.
“You’re very brave.”
Just as the pain in his bottom became unbearable, her praise helped him hold back his tears.
His brother had said—they were boys. Boys shouldn’t cry all the time.
After the injection, Xiao Bao sniffed.
Er Bao held his hand, tilting her head as she asked, “Did it hurt, Xiao Bao? Once you get better, you won’t need injections anymore.”
She wished she could take the injections instead.
At least then her little brother wouldn’t have to suffer.
Xiao Bao nodded, then quickly shook his head.
He was a brave boy. He couldn’t make his sister worry.
After the injection, Jiang Yunshu helped him put his coat back on.
His body was frail, and autumn was approaching, yet the three children were still dressed thinly.
Their clothes were full of patches. Da Bao’s sleeves were even too short.
Er Bao, a little girl, wore shoes with holes.
The three children were so thin they were little more than skin and bones.
Just from their eyes, one could glimpse the kind of life they lived.
Doctor Wang sighed softly and lowered her voice.
“You might be able to help them for a while, but not forever. You should first think about how to take care of yourself.”
Jiang Yunshu’s situation wasn’t much better than the children’s.
Although Sun Yanhua had been detained for now, as the saying goes, with a stepmother comes a stepfather. The road ahead would still be difficult.
Jiang Yunshu smiled faintly without replying, gently placing a hand on Xiao Bao’s forehead.
“Make sure he drinks more hot water after you go back. No need for more medicine today. But his body is weak—he must come back tomorrow for another injection. Otherwise, repeated high fevers could do serious harm.”
Da Bao’s expression dimmed.
Getting money from their aunt was extremely difficult.
But Xiao Bao’s illness couldn’t be left untreated…