Li Suisui and Li Niannian had just come down the mountain, carrying nearly a full basket of hawthorns, when they ran into Aunt Hu from the village.
“You two girls, hurry back! Your mother’s in trouble!”
Both of them were startled. “What happened to Mom?”
“She fell while doing laundry and lost a lot of blood!”
Without a second thought, they dropped the basket and ran home.
By the time they arrived, the doctor they had called had just finished examining her.
“This woman is carrying twins, likely two boys. But because she has suffered from long-term malnutrition and had this fall, keeping the fetuses will be very difficult.”
Upon hearing that the babies might be boys, Lin Guiying panicked. She didn’t even think to scold Wang Xiulian—she could only beg Doctor Fang.
“Doctor Fang, please do everything you can to save my daughter-in-law’s sons! These boys are the roots of my son’s family!”
“If you want to try, I can do my best. But the cost of care is high, and success isn’t guaranteed.”
“How much silver will it take?”
“For your daughter-in-law’s condition, she needs to remain in bed for a long time, and she will need both medicinal and nutritional support. The medicine alone costs two taels of silver per month.”
At the mention of two taels, everyone in the room gasped. Even Lin Guiying, who had been insisting on saving the babies, went silent.
She couldn’t even raise 500 wen, let alone two taels. She and Li Laotou still had an acre of land, but by family agreement, after they died, that land would go to the eldest branch.
Moreover, the land was their livelihood. Selling it would jeopardize not just them but also the main branch. She couldn’t endanger the family for Wang Xiulian’s two unborn children—especially when even keeping the babies wasn’t guaranteed.
“Have you decided? If so, send someone with me to fetch the medicine.”
“We… don’t have enough silver.”
“Then I will prepare a potion to terminate the pregnancy, so your daughter-in-law doesn’t suffer.”
Wang Xiulian couldn’t help crying. “My sons… I’m so sorry. Erzhu, I’ve failed you… I’ve failed you!”
Hearing Wang Xiulian’s suppressed sobs, everyone in the room felt moved—even Li Lanzhi.
Zhang Chunge gritted her teeth and spoke up, “Mom, we still have three acres. Sell one to help the second son’s family.”
“The land is our family’s root. If we sell it, how will we live? And Sen’er will soon marry—without land, no good bride would marry him.”
Zhang Chunge hesitated at first, but upon hearing Lin Guiying’s words, she fell silent.
“Have you decided? Give me a clear answer!”
“Decided! Treat her!”
Everyone turned toward the door at the sudden declaration—it was Li Suisui, rushing back.
Lin Guiying saw her and scolded, “Suisui, what nonsense are you causing? This isn’t your place to speak.”
“Grandma, I am my mother’s daughter, and the older sister of the baby in her womb. I have the right to act.”
“You have the right, but what can you do? Can you pay that much?”
“Not immediately, but I can earn it slowly. Doctor Fang, you said my mother’s medicine costs two taels per month?”
“Yes.”
“Can I have medicine every half month instead? I’ll give you one tael now for a half-month supply, then come back for the next half-month.”
“Alright, we’ll do as you suggest.”
Li Suisui quickly ran to another room and brought out one tael of silver. She had originally planned to use this silver to buy the house—but the house would have to wait.
“Doctor Fang, here’s one tael. I’ll go with you to town to get the medicine.”
“Let’s go!”
At that moment, Aunt Hu returned Li Suisui’s basket.
“You left your basket on the way. I’ve brought it back for you.”
Grateful, Li Suisui smiled at Aunt Hu, then turned to Doctor Fang.
“Doctor Fang, I picked some hawthorns from the mountain. Will your pharmacy buy them?”
Seeing Li Suisui’s hopeful eyes, he nodded. “Alright, I’ll take them for two wen per jin.”
Hawthorns were common medicine, so the pharmacy didn’t really need them—but Doctor Fang felt pity for Li Suisui’s family.
However, for Aunt Hu, it was different. At this season, hawthorns were everywhere. Anyone picking and selling them could make a decent profit. Many villagers, inspired by this, carried baskets up the mountain, including Li Lanzhi.
After collecting the medicine in town, Li Suisui hurried home and prepared it for Wang Xiulian. Only then did her anxious heart finally settle.
“Suisui, Mom has failed you.”
“Mom, your priority now is to recover. Don’t cry anymore. If you feel sorry for me, then after you recover, treat me even better.”
“Alright, I will, I promise to treat you even better.”
Having two sick people at home was no small pressure for Li Suisui, but half of it was eased by Lin Guiying and Li Laotou. The remaining half, she could handle.
Though her spiritual sight was useful in the mountains, she couldn’t find anything valuable there. The hawthorns sold for just 36 wen—far less than what she earned at the seashore.
To earn more, she would have to spend more time gathering seafood. Tomorrow, she would rise even earlier. After all, with her spiritual sight, darkness was no obstacle.