“The island’s weather, like a child’s face—
changes in an instant.
It was clear and sunny in the afternoon,
but by evening, heavy leaden clouds pressed down on the horizon,
dark and suffocating, as if the sky might collapse.
The wind began to wail,
carrying a damp, salty stench,
forcing its way through every crack in the doors and windows.
The newly hung white curtains fluttered wildly,
like struggling ghosts.
“A typhoon’s coming.”
Lu Xiangnan latched the window tight, worry written all over her small face.
Children on the island were born with a fear of typhoons.
Su Ci sat on the sofa, holding a small piece of sandpaper, calmly polishing her nails.
To her, a typhoon was perfect—
a flawless excuse not to go outside.
“What’s there to fear?”
She blew the dust off her nails.
“If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.”
Dinner was white rice with kelp and pork rib soup.
The ribs came from Su Ci’s hidden stash, cooked until the meat fell off the bone, the broth milky white.
Lu Xiangdong was weak, so Su Ci gave him a full bowl, with the biggest pieces of meat floating on top.
The little boy ate until he was sweating, cheeks flushed—
he looked more lively than usual.
..
At night—
the wind grew stronger,
like an invisible beast roaring outside.
The rain turned from scattered drops into a relentless downpour,
pounding against the roof with a chaotic clatter.
Su Ci was sleeping soundly—
when urgent knocking jolted her awake.
“Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! Open the door!”
It was Lu Xiangbei—
his voice trembling, on the verge of tears, filled with panic she had never heard before.
Su Ci frowned, reluctantly climbing out of her warm bed and throwing on a coat.
She opened the door—
and a gust of cold, rain-soaked wind rushed in.
Lu Xiangbei stood there, drenched.
Water dripped from his hair down his face—
it was impossible to tell rain from tears.
In his arms, he tightly held Lu Xiangdong.
“Sister-in-law… Xiangdong—something’s wrong with him!”
Su Ci’s heart dropped.
She immediately turned on the light.
Under the light—
the boy’s face was burning red,
but his lips were bluish-purple.
His teeth were clenched,
his whole body scorching hot like a furnace—
and he was convulsing uncontrollably.
Seizure.
Su Ci’s mind buzzed.
In the medical conditions of the 1970s—
this could kill.
“When did it start?” Her voice instantly turned cold, all laziness gone.
“J-just now! I heard him groaning—when I touched him he was burning, then he started shaking!” Lu Xiangbei’s teeth chattered.
“I’ll go get the medic!”
He turned to run—
“Stop!”
Su Ci shouted sharply.
She pointed at the torrential rain outside.
“In this weather, where will you find anyone? Even if you do—will they have medicine?”
The words hit like cold water.
He froze.
Yes—
medicine was scarce on the island.
Even simple rashes couldn’t be treated—
let alone something this severe.
“Then… what do we do?!”
Lu Xiangbei panicked completely.
“Just watch him die?!”
Tears streamed down his face.
“I’ll find a doctor! I’ll take him to the mainland right now!”
Desperation exploded.
He turned, lifting his brother—
ready to rush into the storm.
“Get back here!”
Su Ci lunged forward, grabbing his arm.
Her strength wasn’t great—
but her eyes shone fiercely.
“If you go out now, you won’t find a doctor—you’ll both die on the way!”
“Let go of me!” he roared, eyes red. “I can’t let him die! My parents told me to take care of him!”
“What do you know?! A spoiled girl like you has no idea what it’s like to have no money or medicine!”
He shook her off.
She stumbled into the doorframe, pain shooting through her shoulder—
but didn’t even frown.
“Put him on the bed!”
Her voice wasn’t loud—
but it cut through the chaos like a blade.
“Loosen his collar. Lay him on his side so he doesn’t choke.”
“Get cold water—wipe his forehead, neck, and armpits!”
The clear commands stunned Lu Xiangbei.
He stared at her—
still delicate-looking,
yet her eyes were calm and commanding.
Like a seasoned commander.
“What are you waiting for?!” she snapped. “Do you want him to die?!”
That woke him.
He moved immediately—
placing his brother on the bed, fetching water…
Lu Xiangnan woke too, crying in fear.
“Stop crying!” Su Ci barked. “Boil water! Bring a clean bowl and spoon!”
The girl ran.
The chaos transformed into order.
And Su Ci—
was the commander.
..
She entered her room and locked the door.
In an instant, she accessed her hidden space—
the supermarket below wasn’t enough.
She went straight to the medical section.
Shelves filled with medicines—
from basic cold remedies to advanced antibiotics.
Her eyes locked onto children’s fever granules—
and a sedative.
No hesitation.
She mixed the medicine into a small porcelain bottle,
added a bit of spring water—
and activated concealment.
The clear liquid turned murky brown,
smelling faintly herbal.
She took a deep breath—
and stepped out.
Lu Xiangbei was still wiping his brother,
murmuring desperately:
“You’ll be okay… big brother’s here…”
His voice was hoarse.
He knew—
cooling alone wouldn’t save him.
If the fever didn’t break—
the boy could lose his life.
Then—
Su Ci approached.
She handed him the small bottle.
“Mix it with half a bowl of warm water. Feed it to him.”
He stared at it—
hope flickering.
“Sister-in-law… what is this?”
“An ancestral remedy,” she said calmly.
“For children’s high fever seizures.”
“Will it work?” His voice trembled.
She didn’t answer.
She only looked at him.
“Do you trust me?”
He stared at her.
This mysterious woman—
who had changed everything in just days.
The food. The furniture. The miracle cures.
She was his only hope.
Without hesitation—
he took the bottle.
Mixed it carefully.
Then—
spoon by spoon—
fed it to his brother.
Time froze.
Only rain and heartbeats remained.
One minute.
Two minutes.
The boy still twitched.
Lu Xiangbei’s heart sank.
Was it useless…?
Then—
suddenly—
the small body relaxed.
The clenched teeth loosened.
Breathing slowed.
He touched his brother’s forehead—
the burning heat had dropped.
It worked.
It really worked.
A strangled cry escaped him.
He turned—
and before anyone could react—
thud.
He knelt before Su Ci.
Again and again—
he slammed his head against the floor.
Until his forehead reddened, bleeding.
Then he looked up—
eyes bloodshot, voice hoarse:
“Sister-in-law…”
“Please…”
“Save him.”