Yu Mancang caught his little sister as she collapsed, then looked at the other family members.
Everyone’s faces were filled with astonishment. After a long pause, Yu Hongwen spoke up: “Xiaxia’s words are likely true. Earlier, Doctor Zhao also said whether Xiaxia would wake up depended on fate.”
“Now that Xiaxia has had this miraculous encounter, none of you must speak of it to anyone, lest she be treated as a monster by others.”
Despite how Wu Zhuxiang might seem, she truly cared deeply for her younger sister, Yu Banxia.
It was just that Yu Banxia had been too disappointing, which led to Wu Zhuxiang’s outburst today.
“Father, rest assured, your daughter-in-law is not someone who lacks judgment,” Wu Zhuxiang quickly spoke up to reassure him.
Yu Hongwen nodded. After all these years, he had a fairly clear understanding of this daughter-in-law’s temperament.
“Third son, quickly take your sister back to her room. Eldest son, go invite Doctor Zhao again to examine Xiaxia.”
“Oh, right.” The family quickly sprang into action.
Fan Cuilan hesitated for a moment before saying to her husband, “Husband, I’ll make a trip to the old house.”
“What for?” Yu Hongwen asked, puzzled.
“Xiaxia has suffered greatly this time and needs nourishment. Our home… I’ll go ask Mother for a chicken to make soup to help Xiaxia recover.”
Hearing his wife’s words, Yu Hongwen fell silent for a moment before saying, “You stay home. I’ll go.”
“No, I’ll go,” Fan Cuilan insisted.
Seeing her determination, Yu Hongwen had no choice but to nod. “If Mother says anything unpleasant, just bear with it.”
“I understand, husband. Don’t worry!” Fan Cuilan smiled and then headed out.
Despite her sharp words, Wu Zhuxiang still went to the kitchen to busy herself. She first boiled a pot of hot water, then took the last egg from the cupboard.
Scooping some hot water into another pot, she made a poached egg.
Wu Zhuxiang was the classic example of someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Moreover, she was an excellent cook, enjoyed keeping busy, and was both capable and diligent.
The Old House.
Despite her brave words, Fan Cuilan felt afraid once she actually reached the doorstep.
It was Wang Shi who came out to pour water and saw her. Yu Banxia’s eldest aunt was mute and gestured at Fan Cuilan with incoherent sounds.
“Eldest sister-in-law, I’ve come to see Mother,” Fan Cuilan said awkwardly. Wang Shi pointed toward Madam Wu’s room.
Fan Cuilan then walked to Madam Wu’s door and knocked.
“Is that the eldest daughter-in-law?” Madam Wu’s voice came from inside, followed by the door opening.
Wang Shi gestured, and Madam Wu looked toward the courtyard, where Fan Cuilan stood nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. Seeing her delicate and timid appearance, Madam Wu couldn’t help but roll her eyes in annoyance.
Nevertheless, she walked over and spoke sternly, “Second daughter-in-law, why are you standing outside instead of coming in to speak?”
“How is Xiaxia?”
“She woke up, but… but fainted again,” Fan Cuilan stammered in reply.
Madam Wu’s stern face instantly turned anxious. “What happened? How could she wake up only to faint again?”
“Did you scold her? The child has suffered so much—can’t you wait to talk about things later?”
With that, Madam Wu made to leave and visit her granddaughter.
After taking a few steps, she turned back and said to Wang Shi, “Eldest daughter-in-law, go catch a chicken and take it to the second son’s house. Xiaxia has suffered greatly this time and needs proper nourishment.”
Wang Shi quickly responded with enthusiastic but unintelligible sounds, making Fan Cuilan feel even more embarrassed.”Mother, I… I came to borrow a chicken to make some soup for Xiaxia to build up her strength.”
“Alright, enough of that. Let’s go see how Xiaxia is doing first.” Madam Wu glared at her second daughter-in-law with annoyance. Why couldn’t this woman understand what was truly important?
Fan Cuilan hurriedly followed her back home, just as they encountered Doctor Zhao at the entrance to the courtyard.
Fan Cuilan quickly stepped forward to ask, “Doctor Zhao, how is my Xiaxia?”
“She’s fine now. She just woke up after I administered acupuncture. She was severely injured this time—it’s truly a blessing from heaven that she regained consciousness. She must rest well and recover properly, and you mustn’t let the child act recklessly again.”
Fan Cuilan nodded tearfully, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.
“Thank you, Doctor Zhao. Thank you so much.”
“Ah, no need for thanks. It’s not like I came here for free. Just take good care of her!” With that, Doctor Zhao picked up his medicine chest and left.
Madam Wu went straight into Yu Banxia’s room.
“Xiaxia, how are you feeling? Do you feel nauseous at all?” Madam Wu’s tone softened considerably as she spoke to Yu Banxia.
Yu Banxia looked at her grandmother in this lifetime. Grandmother Wu was a seemingly stern old lady who would scold her harshly at times, but whenever she had something delicious, she would always save it for her.
Come to think of it, in her previous life, this identity of hers had truly been the center of everyone’s affection.
Even her nephews and nieces adored her immensely.
Unfortunately, in her previous life, she had been utterly foolish, obsessively fawning over that Xu Xiucai, blind to the goodness of her own family. She had brought hardship upon her household and ultimately brought about her own demise.
“You must take good care of yourself, understand? When I saw you covered in blood that day, it nearly scared your grandmother to death.” Madam Wu’s heart ached as she wanted to touch Yu Banxia’s injured head but didn’t dare.
Seeing her grandmother’s pained expression, Yu Banxia threw herself into Madam Wu’s arms.
“Grandmother, you’re so good to me. Everyone is so good to me. It’s Xiaxia who was wrong, who let everyone down.” Hearing Yu Banxia’s coquettish words, those present couldn’t help but smile with relief.
Wu Zhuxiang walked in carrying a bowl, just in time to hear this.
Without a word, she placed the bowl on the small table beside the bed. “Knowing you were wrong and wanting to change makes you a good child. Eat this while it’s hot—it’s good for your health.”
“Are you feeling dizzy? Do you want your sister-in-law to feed you?”
Yu Banxia looked up at this sharp-tongued but soft-hearted sister-in-law and gave her a sweet smile. “It tastes better when Sister-in-law feeds me.”
Wu Zhuxiang wore an expression of helplessness but still picked up the bowl and sat by the bedside, gently feeding her.
Yu Banxia ate happily, her eyes crinkling with joy. Seeing her like this, all the anger in Wu Zhuxiang’s heart melted away.
The other family members exchanged glances, smiling without a word, and soon dispersed, leaving the two women—sister-in-law and younger sister—alone in the room.
Wang Shi soon brought over two chickens, and Fan Cuilan quickly said it was too much.
But Madam Wu insisted it wasn’t excessive. She instructed them to slaughter one first and keep the other for later, to make more soup for Yu Banxia.
Seeing that her mother-in-law had spoken, Fan Cuilan said nothing more.
“Alright, Xiaxia just woke up. Focus on taking good care of her for now, and don’t scold the child anymore. She already knows she was wrong.”
“What about that Xu Xiucai? Should we send someone to sound him out?” Madam Wu hesitated before finally speaking up.
Yu Hongwen quickly shook his head at his mother. “Mother, Xiaxia said she’ll never go looking for Xu Xiucai again. Please don’t bring this up anymore.”
“She said that herself?” Madam Wu’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this. It seemed her granddaughter had truly made up her mind.”Well, this time it should be real.” Yu Hongwen nodded, and Madam Wu hummed in agreement.
Then she spoke disdainfully: “That Xu Xiucai was never any good to begin with, stringing our Xiaxia along day after day, swindling things from her.”