AD (QT) Chapter 90

A creaking sound interrupted Han Ze’s thoughts. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the door of the house was gently pushed open. A little girl about six or seven years old came in. The girl’s clothes were patched up, and her face looked pale and sallow like a vegetable, but her eyes were dark and bright. She carefully held the bowl, and her tender eyes were full of worry when she looked at her father lying on the bed.

Through his memory, Han Ze discovered that this was the eldest daughter of the original body, Han Jinxiu. In the memory of the original body, the eldest daughter was young, but she was very experienced in doing housework and taking care of her sick father.

“Dad, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Han Ze was about to speak when he found that his throat was itchy and he couldn’t help coughing a few times. Because of coughing, his face turned red and he had difficulty breathing.

Han Jinxiu was startled, put the medicine bowl on the wooden box at the head of the bed, took a handkerchief to wipe her father’s face, and said anxiously: “Dad, this medicine doesn’t work. When mom borrows money from grandma, we would take you to town to see a doctor.”

“Dad’s body is in poor condition, and it’s useless to see any doctor. It’s a waste of money and a burden to you and your mother.”

Han Ze coughed several times while speaking. He realized that his body was not in good condition. He was too weak to turn over and his legs could not move. With such a body, let alone supporting the family and taking the exam, it was difficult to get up and walk. 

He frowned. He couldn’t do anything with this broken body. For the time being, he could only get better and then make other plans.

Seeing her father’s frustrated look, Han Jinxiu felt sad. With red eyes, she comforted herself and her father at the same time: “Grandpa Wang’s treatment is useless. Dad can see the doctor in town and he will definitely be able to cure his illness. When Dad recovers and passes the examination, our lives will be better.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Han Ze scolded her with a stern face. He was so excited that he coughed again. His face turned pale and he couldn’t breathe. He looked like he would faint at any time.

This look scared Han Jinxiu. She shut her mouth tightly, fearing that if she said one more word, her father would faint.

As for what she thought in her heart, no one knew. Everyone thought she was young and didn’t know what was good or bad. In fact, she knew everything. She didn’t talk nonsense.

Grandma Zhang in the village was seriously ill. She took ten doses of Grandpa Wang’s medicine, but there was no effect. Grandpa Zhang found a bullock cart to take her to the town, and asked the town doctor to see her. The doctor also prescribed ten prescriptions and boiled the medicine. After drinking the medicine, Grandma Zhang’s body became healthier day by day, and she was about to get better. It can be seen that Grandpa Wang’s treatment is not as effective as the town doctor.

Grandpa Wang is a village doctor, a relative of their family, and the father-in-law of their eldest aunt. Her grandparents think that avoiding him and asking others to see the doctor will offend relatives. But why didn’t they think that if Dad’s illness could not be cured, and the victims would be Dad and their family?

“Dad, I’ll feed you the medicine.”

Medicine can cure diseases. Although Dad has no use for this medicine, it is better than not drinking it. Dad drank the medicine, and his condition did not get worse, so he had to continue drinking it. If he didn’t continue to drink the medicine, once his condition got worse, it would harm Dad. She picked up the spoon and carefully scooped some medicine to feed to his mouth.

Han Ze turned his head away: “The medicine is useless, it’s better not to drink it, so as not to waste money.”

Besides, he has the memories of his original body and knows that this is not a medicine to cure diseases, but a medicine to hasten death. Drinking this bowl of medicine may not kill him, but if he drinks it continuously, even if he came to complete a mission, he will die.

Han Jinxiu was anxious and advised: “Dad, if you don’t take the medicine, what if your condition gets worse?”

After that, she stood up, tiptoed, bent over and handed the spoon to Han Ze’s mouth, and continued to feed him the medicine.

Han Ze pursed his lips tightly and refused to drink the medicine.

Dad was determined not to take the medicine. Han Jinxiu’s eyes were red. She had no choice but to put the medicine bowl on the wooden box, turn around and walk out.

“Grandma, Dad doesn’t want to take the medicine.”

Old Madam Han was sitting at the door talking to her eldest daughter. When she heard her eldest granddaughter crying, she glared at her and shouted: “What does he want to do? The whole family, young and old, save money and use the money to buy medicine for him. He doesn’t know what’s good for him, but he makes a fuss and doesn’t want to take the medicine. He is so troublesome.”

Old Madam Han stood up cursing and went to her eldest son’s room. Han Daya and Han Jinxiu followed her into the house.

When Old Madam Han saw her eldest son lying on the bed, she was furious. She pointed at him with her hands on her waist and scolded: “What are you doing? Your eldest daughter brought you the medicine early in the morning and sat in front of the clay pot for half a morning to boil the medicine for you. Are you still holding on?”

The eldest son was a piece of flesh that fell from her body. He was thin and weak since he was a child. As a mother, how could she not feel distressed and worried about him. With such a weak body, it was difficult for him to farm, let alone get married and have children, and support the whole family. 

Fortunately, he was smart and clever and could read. As long as he passed the examination to become a scholar, he could make a living as a teacher in the town. He was about to become a tongsheng, and as long as he passed the last level of the examination, he could become a scholar. 

Unfortunately, the older this child got, the more useless he became. For several years in a row, he fainted every time he entered the examination room. She was so anxious that burning incense, praying to Buddha and eating vegetarian meals were useless. For him, the family not only spent all the savings, but also borrowed a lot of money. Even the money for medicine these days was not enough. Fortunately, the money owed was to their eldest daughter, otherwise they would not be allowed to keep on going on credit every day. 

The two old people loved their son, and they were reluctant to spend the money, but for the sake of their eldest son’s health, they gritted their teeth and endured it. But how could the two younger daughters-in-law understand their painstaking efforts? They kept gossiping since they came in, and a few days ago they even made a fuss about splitting up the family. Their father suppressed them. 

If the eldest son’s health could not be cured, she knows that the two younger daughters-in-law would still make trouble, and it would be useless even if the old couple suppressed them. The eldest son just wouldn’t stop making trouble in all kinds of ways. This time he doesn’t even care about his health, and he doesn’t want take the medicine. No one knew what he wanted to do. 

Han Ze turned around and looked at Old Madam Han and Han Daya behind her, his eyes were red and his voice was choked with sobs: “Mother, my education and medical treatment cost a lot of money. The whole family’s hard work has been invested in it. My parents and the children are so thin and hungry that I can’t bear to see it. My illness has not been cured even with the medicine. Why waste money? It is better to use the money to buy food so that my parents and children can have a full meal, so that my two sisters-in-law won’t think that our family is poor and can’t even raise the children. No matter what you say, I won’t drink this medicine.” 

Han Daya was anxious and pulled Old Madam Han’s clothes. 

Her son’s words made Old Madam Han burst into tears. She wiped her eyes with her sleeves and said in a rough voice, “If you are sick, you should take medicine. Who dares to say anything? You don’t have to worry. Your father and I are here. No one can stop us from treating you. Even if they want to stop it, they have to wait until we two old guys are buried in the ground.” 

Han Daya chimed in, “Brother, take your medicine when you need to. Your brother-in-law and his father are both doctors. My family has nothing but medicinal herbs. If my brother is sick and has no money to see a doctor, should he not take medicine? If outsiders know about this, they will say I am stingy and don’t even help my brothers from my mother’s side.” 

Han Ze shook his head. He smiled bitterly and said, “Sister, everyone in the village can see how you have helped me. You have helped me so much since you married into the Wang family. Every time before I entered the examination room, you personally cooked all kinds of tonic soups for me to drink, for fear that I would faint in the examination room again. I am ashamed and have failed your high hopes. My body is just like this, you don’t have to spend your time on me, it’s useless.” 

Han Daya choked and said with a smile, “You don’t have to be ashamed, we are siblings, and siblings should help each other. In the future, when you pass the examination to become a scholar, you will still help me if I have any problems, don’t be ashamed.” 

The words that siblings should help each other only made her feel ridiculous. In her previous life, Han Ze passed the examination to become a juren, and her husband got into a lawsuit involving a murder because of treating a patient. She asked him to help her use his connections, but he refused and even refuse her visit. The words of mutual help between siblings became a joke.

Old Madam Han felt upset, angry and distressed. She said to Han Daya: “You don’t want to take the medicine, right? We have to force it in. Daya, come and help me.” 

After hearing her mother’s words, she felt relieved and a smile appeared in her eyes. She picked up the medicine bowl on the wooden box, walked to the bed, and looked at Old Madam Han: “Mom, pry open his mouth, I will force him to take the medicine. How can you not take medicine if you are sick? It’s nonsense!”

Seeing that the mother and daughter were going to force him to take medicine, Han Ze said anxiously: “Mom, sister, please let me go, I don’t want to take medicine.” 

Old Madam Han paused. If her eldest son didn’t take the medicine, he would be at odds with his own body. He didn’t take his own body seriously, and she, as a mother, can’t just ignore it. Thinking so, she sat in front of her son’s bed, pretending to pry open his mouth, she asked: “Are you going to take the medicine yourself, or let us force you to take the medicine? It’s up to you.”

Han Ze frowned and begged: “I’ve been taking the medicine for so long. It’s useless. It’s better not to take it. Mother, don’t force me.”

Old Madam Han pounded the bed in anger, pointed at him and asked in a trembling voice: “I’m not forcing you, it’s you who’s forcing me. If you don’t take the medicine, you’re committing suicide. It’s unfilial if you want me and your father to send you off when we’re old. You want to piss me off to death.”

Han Ze looked at Old Han, “Mom, I don’t want to commit suicide, I want to live, not die, and I want to take the exam to become a scholar.” 

Han Daya’s mouth turned down, taking the exam for a scholar? Forget about it in this life.

Old Madam Han wiped her eyes and said, “Then you take the medicine.”

Han Ze explained weakly, “Mom, I have been weak since I was a child. I didn’t take the medicine then, and nothing happened. I have been taking medicine these days, but my condition hasn’t improved. I wonder if I have taken too much medicine and it has no effect. It’s better to stop for a few days. If my condition is still the same as it is now, it means that the medicine is useless to me. If my condition gets worse, it means that the medicine is useful, and I can continue to take the medicine then. No matter what, I want to try it. I don’t want to go on like this, and I don’t want to continue to drag you down.” 

Old Madam Han sighed. The eldest son has been in poor health, and the family is worried. He must be more worried. Outsiders poke at the eldest son’s heart and laugh at him, but his mother can’t and can’t bear to do so. Her eyes were red, and her voice was low: “Even if you want to try, you have to drink this bowl of medicine. Your elder sister personally boiled the medicine for you, don’t let her down.”

Han Daya smiled and said: “Yes, the medicine has been boiled, and it can’t be poured out.”

Han Ze still shook his head: “Mom, elder sister, since I want to try, let’s start from today.”

Old Madam Han looked at his determined eyes and suddenly didn’t want to force him. This child has been in trouble since he was a child. This time he was seriously ill. He lay in bed in the spring and was in a coma for several days. He couldn’t take the medicine. Doctor Wang said that the child might not survive, but he woke up again. He didn’t get better after drinking the medicine for so long. He couldn’t sit up, let alone walk.

Since he wants to try not drinking the medicine from today, let’s try it from today. It’s just a dose of medicine. It’s no big deal.

“Okay, mother promises you.” Old Madam Han said loudly. Tomorrow, if her son is in poor health, he will drink the medicine again. It will only take one day, and there should be nothing wrong.

Han Ze smiled, and Han Daya was dumbfounded. She hurriedly said, “Mom, curing an illness and taking medicine are big things. How can you let Eldest Brother do whatever he wants? He doesn’t care about his own body, and you don’t care about him. Instead, you give in to him. Isn’t this harming him?” 

As Han Ze’s mother, Old Madam Han only wants him to get better soon. How could she harm him? The eldest daughter’s words hit her heart straight. Her face looked very ugly: “The body is his. He has been taking medicine for so long and there is no improvement. He is anxious and wants to try. I don’t give in to him, what do you want me to do? Do you really want to force him to take the medicine? If he doesn’t drink, force him to drink? He is not in good health and can’t use his strength. If something happens to him, it will be too late to regret it.” 

Han Daya said angrily, “Then let him waste the medicine, don’t you feel bad?” 

“It’s just a bowl of medicine, waste it if you want.” A dose of medicine costs more than two hundred copper coins. It would be a lie to say that Old Madam Han doesn’t feel bad, but there is nothing she can do even if she feels bad. Her son didn’t want to take the medicine, but the others couldn’t drink it when they were healthy, so they could only let it go. 

It’s just a bowl of medicine! She said it so easily. 

Han Daya was angry, and she said, “Okay, it’s just a bowl of medicine, and you have more copper coins. Since you don’t care about a bowl of medicine, then in the future, for Han Ze’s illness, you should ask someone else for help, and don’t come to my father-in-law for treatment.” 

After that, she strode away. She wanted to see if they cared about this bowl of medicine, and she was waiting for them to beg her. 

Han Ze looked at Han Daya’s back, and looked at Old Madam Han disappointedly: “Mom, my elder sister is angry.” 

Old Madam Han waved her hand, “Don’t worry about her.” 

Han Ze hesitated and said, “I stopped taking the medicine for my illness. Once my condition worsens, I will need Uncle Wang to make a prescription. What if…” 

Old Madam Han frowned: “Are you worried that your elder sister won’t let him treat you?” 

Han Ze nodded.

Old Madam Han said angrily, “You think too much. Daya is your elder sister. She is angry with me now and can stay angry. There is no overnight hatred between mother and daughter. She left today and she will come to your house tomorrow. Do you believe it?”

Han Ze didn’t believe that Han Daya, who had not been reborn, would care about his health. After the rebirth, Han Daya hoped that the original body would die, right?

Han Jinxiu hesitated and stepped forward: “Grandma, Dad, it doesn’t matter if Grandpa Wang doesn’t want to treat Dad. Why don’t we take Dad to the town and find a doctor in the town to see him? Dad’s health has not improved, and Grandpa Wang can’t tell what disease Dad has. If we change the doctor, maybe he can cure Dad’s disease?”

Han Ze said with a gloomy face: “Jinxiu, don’t talk nonsense. That’s your Grandpa Wang, your eldest sister’s father-in-law. How can we keep it secret when treating me?”

Old Madam Han seemed to have cleared the fog in front of her eyes after hearing her granddaughter’s words. She thought about it. Her eldest son was not in good health. She just thought that her son was in poor health, but she didn’t expect to find the problem with the doctor.

It is true that Old Man Wang is the eldest daughter’s father-in-law. If his medical skills are not good and he cannot cure her eldest son, and the doctor in the town can, then Old Madam Han will not care whether he is a relative or not. Without saying anything, she will take her eldest son to the town and ask the doctor in the town to treat him. There is no need to ask which is more important, the relationship between relatives and the health of her son.

“Don’t scold Jinxiu, the child is right. It has been Old Man Wang who has treated you since you got sick. You have been taking medicine for so long, but it is useless. We should have taken you to the town to see a doctor. We were confused before. We only thought that Old Man Wang was a doctor and that doctors could treat diseases. We did not think that doctors’ medical skills could be good or bad.” 

The more Old Madam Han talked, the more she felt that her son’s illness had not been cured because Old Man Wang’s medical skills were not good and the prescriptions he gave could not cure her son. It was Old Man Wang who had ruined her son. 

Han Ze frowned, “Mom, Uncle Wang has been treating me all the time, and he hasn’t even collected the money for medicine during this period…” 

He hadn’t finished speaking when Old Madam Han interrupted him, “I’ll pay him back the money for medicine on credit when I have money. But I insist on changing the doctor for you.” 

Han Ze added, “If we change doctors secretly and the Wang family finds out, it will be difficult for my sister in the Wang family. Uncle Wang and my brother-in-law have put in so much effort for my illness…” 

Old Madam Han had a dark face, “They helped our family, and we owe them a favor, but we can’t delay my son’s treatment just because we owe them a favor. Don’t say anything, I’m the one who makes the decision on this matter. Your father can’t control it either. You were born by your mother, and your mother makes the decision about your body.” 

Han Ze could only shut up helplessly. When he was the only one left in the room, he contacted the system in his mind, “Is there any medicine that can cure my current body?” 

Even if he asked the doctor in the town, and the doctor in the town was strong and could cure it, it would cost a lot of money to see a doctor and buy medicine. Because of the original body’s study and medical treatment, this family was already penniless and heavily in debt. He couldn’t bear to empty their food money and let the whole family starve. 

[System: I just scanned the body of the person who issued the task. The condition is very complicated. It should be caused by long-term use of random medication and his weak constitution. I need to send the scanned data to the headquarters medical department, so that they can make medicine according to the various data of the original body. It requires 300 points, and half of the points rewarded in the last world will be spent on it.] 

Han Ze nodded, “There is no need to regret it. The points will be used up, and I will have more points if I do more tasks. How long will it take to make the medicine?” 

[System: Half an hour.] 

Han Ze thought for a while and said, “Prepare me 30 days’ worth of medicine. This body cannot be cured all at once, and it needs to be made step by step.” 

[System: OK]

Half an hour later, Han Ze got the medicine. He took a pill and swallowed it dry. After a while, the medicine took effect and he fell asleep. Han Ze slept very deeply. When lunch was ready, Old Madam Han brought him the meal but failed to wake him up. Seeing that he was sleeping soundly, she saved the meal for him and let him continue sleeping. 

As dusk fell, he woke up faintly. 

“Husband, are you awake?”

Han Ze paused in his yawning and looked up. Under the oil lamp, the original body’s wife, Wang Shi, was doing needlework. Seeing him wake up, she looked at him with surprise. He hummed as a response, remembering that Han Jinxiu said Wang Shi went to her mother’s house to borrow money today, and asked, “Have you returned from your mother-in-law’s house?”

“Yes, I’ve been back for a while.”

Han Jinxiu looked embarrassed, and she said softly, “She came back after lunch.”

Han Ze looked at her expression and knew that she had not been able to borrow money from her mother’s house. He did not ask more, but said, “I’m hungry.”

He slept through lunch, and now it was time for dinner. Because he had taken medicine and felt light, he was really hungry.

“Mom said you didn’t eat lunch. It’s this hour, you should be hungry. I’ll go heat up some food for you.” Wang Shi said softly, then stood up and walked out.

Han Ze looked at her thin back, lost in thought. After completing so many tasks in other worlds, this world is the most difficult. His body is not good, he can’t move easily, he’s like a useless person, and he needs someone to take care of him when he eats, drinks, defecates and urinates. It’s terrible.

Wang Shi was quick and soon brought the food into the house. Han Ze’s eyes lit up when he smelled the food. Wang Shi noticed his eyes and said with a smile: “I’ll feed you.” 

Han Ze’s legs were slightly bent, and he had to say that he was relieved. His legs could finally make big movements. He didn’t want to lie like this all the time. His body could heal slowly, but he had to move freely. He said: “Help me sit up, I’ll eat by myself.”

Wang Shi paused, and said carefully: “Don’t be afraid of tiring me. I’m your wife. I should take care of you when you are sick. Let me feed you.” 

Her husband has been lying down these days. She knows that he is anxious, but her husband can’t get up. As his wife, she has no other way but to comfort him in this way.

Han Ze said, “I feel better. I want to try to sit up.”

It’s not that Wang Shi didn’t want to do as he wished, but she was worried that her husband would feel bad if he still couldn’t sit up after trying, “Husband…” 

Han Ze interrupted her, “Caiwei, I know my own body well. I’ve had a good sleep, and I feel much lighter. Maybe I can sit up? Let me try.”

Wang Shi sighed, “Okay, let’s try to sit up.”

Han Ze smiled and slowly sat up with Wang Shi’s help. He was prepared and didn’t feel anything. However, Wang Shi covered her mouth and sobbed in disbelief. Then the weak woman ran out like the wind, calling her mother as she ran. Old Madam Han heard her shouting, “Why are you yelling?”

Wang Shi stepped forward and grabbed her mother-in-law’s arm, “Mom, husband, he is sitting up.”

“Really?” Old Han was delighted and asked loudly.

Wang Shi nodded vigorously and was about to speak when she found that her mother-in-law had already shaken off her arm and entered their room. She sniffed, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and then trotted back into the house.

“Oh, mother, you really sat up.” Old Madam Han bowed left and right, thanking all the gods and Buddhas.

Han Ze smiled and reminded her: “Mom, I didn’t take the medicine today.”

Old Madam Han also stopped bowing, squinting her old eyes. The eldest son didn’t take the medicine, but he sat up. A few days ago, the eldest son took medicine every day, but his condition had not improved. What does this mean? She didn’t dare to think deeply about it, she was afraid that she would not be able to help but go to Old Man Wang to settle the score if she thought too much.

But she couldn’t help but think, if her son didn’t make a fuss about stopping the medicine today, and he continued to take the medicine… thinking about the consequences, she shuddered, and screamed, “Oh my God, mother has let eldest son down.”

As soon as Wang Caiwei arrived at the door of the house, she heard the wailing of her mother-in-law. She was frightened and broke into a cold sweat. Could something have happened to her husband? She ran into the house as soon as she saw her husband sitting quietly. She took a breath and said, “It’s good that my husband is okay, it’s good that he is okay.” 

Han Jinxiu and her brothers and sister saw that their father was better, and they all smiled.

At dinner, the Han family members who were working in the fields returned home. Knowing that Han Ze was better, everyone had more or less joy on their faces.

Han Erlang’s wife Zheng Shi said, “Brother is feeling better now. Should we divide the family?”

As soon as she said this, the room fell silent.

Han Erlang looked at his parents’ gloomy faces and scolded, “What are you talking about? Eat your meal.”

Zheng Shi whispered, “I’m telling the truth. Don’t you know how much money our family has spent on brother’s education and medical treatment over the years? It’s okay for us adults to be hungry, but look at how thin the children are. The children are my children. If you don’t feel sorry for them, I do.”

Wang Caiwei lowered her head and said nothing.

Han Erlang shouted, “I told you to shut up.”

Zheng Shi looked at her man’s gloomy face and shut up indignantly.

Old Madam Han had no expression on her face, but everyone could see that she was in a bad mood. Han Youtian ate by himself and seemed to ignore them. Only Old Madam Han knew that the old man was not feeling well.

At night, the old couple lay in bed, and Old Madam Han tossed and turned like a pancake, unable to sleep. Han Youtian muttered, “It’s late at night, what are you tossing and turning for?”

Old Madam Han sat up, sighed heavily, and said in annoyance, “Old man, we harmed the eldest son.” 

Han Youtian suddenly opened his eyes wide, frowned and said, “What do you mean?”

Old Madam Han said that the reason why the eldest son’s health improved was because he stopped taking the medicine. After that, she frowned and said depressedly, “If the eldest son’s medicine had been stopped earlier, he wouldn’t have to lie in bed for so many days. After all, it’s still because Old Man Wang’s medical skills are not good. But we can’t settle accounts with him because of our kinship and because he is Daya’s father-in-law. What do you think of this?”

Han Youtian frowned, “Did you really stop the eldest son’s medicine?”

“Can I lie to you?” Old Madam Han was almost suffocated to death. She said hatefully, “We shouldn’t have married Daya to the Wang family in the first place. Otherwise, the eldest son wouldn’t have been harmed.”

“Are you, old woman confused in your sleep, and becoming hysterical?” Han Youtian said softly, “Don’t say anything. It’s still unclear whether the eldest son’s illness is caused by Old Man Wang. Don’t say anything nonsense in front of Daya, understand?”

Old Madam Han was not really confused. She spat and said in a strange voice, “I definitely can’t say anything nonsense. If I tell Daya that the reason why eldest son’s illness has not been cured is because her father-in-law is not a good doctor, do you think she can still live in the Wang family with peace of mind?

“It’s good that you understand.” Han Youtian exhaled a breath of turbid air.

Old Madam Han said again, “After a few days, when the eldest son is better, I want to take him to the town and ask the doctor in the town to see him. Eldest son is still young and has always been weak. It’s a big deal. I have to think of a way to make him strong.”

“Let’s talk about it when the time comes.” Han Youtian said, “It’s late at night, go to sleep. If there is anything, we will talk about it tomorrow.”

The next day, Wang Caiwei woke up and went to see Han Ze. Seeing that his face was brighter than yesterday, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her husband’s health has really improved. After a night, it didn’t get worse.

She put on her clothes and walked out. Old Madam Han had already stood up. Seeing her, she asked hurriedly, “Is everything alright with eldest son?”

Wang Caiwei smiled and shook her head, “My husband is fine, nothing’s wrong.”

Old Madam Han shouted “Amitabha”, thanking God. Then she said, “You go and cook. Those two lazy guys haven’t gotten up yet, so don’t count on them to cook.”

Wang Caiwei sighed and went to the kitchen to cook.