Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Ji Linhai Seeks Help, Gifts of Medicine

Still waiting for a reply from Sister Luo Ning, Gu Qinghuan’s days went on as usual.

After Zhong Zijun left, the responsibility for the two children’s education fell to her.

Dabao had already learned to count from one to one hundred, could do addition and subtraction within one hundred, and could read and write some simple characters.

Beibei was a bit behind—she could only do addition and subtraction within ten and knew just a few simple characters, but she was still young, so there was no rush.

Gu Qinghuan continued to teach them step by step, while also taking care of the household chores—cooking, laundry, tidying up the house.

Xu Huaian had been extremely busy lately, barely having a moment to rest, but whenever he was home, he’d always help out with the chores.

There was a lot of work during the autumn harvest, and they had to go to the fields, otherwise they wouldn’t get their share of grain at the end of the year. From time to time, they also had to go up the mountain or visit the neighboring village.

Gu Qinghuan understood how hard he worked, so she tried to make delicious meals for him. After Zhong Zijun left, she became even more brazen about taking things from her space.

Every day, the family had different kinds of meat, and there was no shortage of fruit, nuts, and snacks.

The two kids were getting chubby from all the good food. Every day, they’d go with Xu Huaian to work in the fields, tagging along behind a group of children, picking up whatever was left behind. Sometimes they’d bring back a basket of corn or peanuts.

Gu Qinghuan even used some of the corn they brought back to make a big pot of popcorn, coated in syrup, fragrant and delicious.

Dabao would secretly stash some in his pocket to share with Erdan.

Gu Qinghuan saw this but didn’t stop him, pretending not to notice. She didn’t want to interfere—this was the children’s own business, adults didn’t need to get involved.

Through this, they’d learn how to make friends and figure out boundaries for themselves, instead of being controlled by adults.

Every other day, the kids would come back saying they’d caught and roasted quail with Erdan using a trap. It was delicious.

Life went on simply like this.

One evening, the family was having dinner. Gu Qinghuan had made sweet and sour pork ribs, twice-cooked pork, a cold wild vegetable salad, and a green vegetable soup.

Knock, knock, knock—

A series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.

“Who is it?” Xu Huaian put down his chopsticks and got up to call out.

The only response was even more frantic knocking.

Gu Qinghuan quickly gathered up the dishes with the two children and hid them away—fortunately, they’d almost finished eating.

Xu Huaian went to open the door.

When he opened it, he saw the face of a middle-aged man he didn’t recognize.

He’d grown up in Xujiatun, but he’d never seen this person before, though there was something vaguely familiar about him.

The man looked anxious and introduced himself, “Hello, my name is Ji Linhai. I live in the cowshed not far from here. Sorry to bother you so abruptly.”

Xu Huaian immediately realized—this was the “Stinking Old Ninth” who lived in the cowshed.

No wonder he looked familiar. Usually, that father and son kept their heads down working, so he’d never really seen their faces.

“What’s the matter?” Xu Huaian nodded, signaling him to continue.

Ji Linhai looked troubled, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, “My father has suddenly come down with a high fever and is in critical condition. The barefoot doctor in the village gave him some medicine, but it hasn’t worked. I… I was wondering if I could borrow some money from you? I want to take my father to the commune clinic, but right now…” He spread his empty hands.

Even a hero can be brought low by lack of money.

In this poor, remote place, a bout of illness could be fatal. He was truly scared.

Ji Linhai had his reasons for coming to Xu Huaian. For one, they lived nearby, and he’d seen Xu Huaian bring game down from the mountain, so he was sure Xu Huaian was capable of helping. That’s why he’d come, even if it was a bit presumptuous.

On the other hand, he knew Xu Huaian had been a soldier.

He was gambling—gambling that Xu Huaian would help him.

Sure enough, Xu Huaian didn’t hesitate. He pulled Ji Linhai into the yard, closed the door, and quickly explained the situation to Gu Qinghuan.

“Should we just give him some money and let him handle it himself?” Xu Huaian wasn’t sure about the people in the cowshed or what kind of character they had, and he was worried about getting into trouble.

But as a former soldier, his sense of responsibility told him he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Ji Linhai’s name sounded very familiar to Gu Qinghuan, and then she remembered.

Wasn’t this the down-and-out big shot Lin Xiaomeng saved in the book?

In the book, this big shot also came seeking help because his father was seriously ill, but he went to Xu Mingshan’s house instead.

Xu Mingshan had just given him a few coins to send him away.

Lin Xiaomeng, remembering her past life, secretly gave Ji Linhai ten yuan behind Xu Mingshan’s back, which allowed Ji Linhai’s father to pull through and earned her a huge favor in return.

Later, Ji Linhai, in gratitude, helped her a lot.

But why was it different from the book now? Wasn’t he supposed to go to the old Xu family for help? Why had he come to them instead?

There was no time to think about it. Gu Qinghuan pondered for a few seconds and made a decision.

“Tell him to wait a moment, I’ll go get some special medicine.”

Xu Huaian raised his hand, then slowly put it down. Fine, let’s help. If any trouble comes of it, he’ll take responsibility.

Gu Qinghuan quickly went into her space and bought some fever medicine, as well as anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs.

Usually, fevers are caused by viruses or inflammation.

Just taking fever medicine isn’t enough—you need to combine it with antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs to bring the fever down completely, otherwise it will keep coming back.

These were all prescription drugs, so Gu Qinghuan had to pay three times the normal price for them.

Luckily, she wasn’t short on money now. If she’d just arrived and was still dirt poor, she’d have had to think twice.

She threw away the packaging, repacked everything in kraft paper, and labeled the effects and dosages.

She also filled a small glass bottle with spiritual spring water.

Of course, she couldn’t give the spring water as medicine, but used together, it would help the recovery go even faster and benefit the body.

Once everything was ready, Gu Qinghuan hurried out.

Xu Huaian and Ji Linhai were talking.

“I have some special medicine here. Take it and try it on your father. I’ve written the instructions and dosages. The fever medicine should take effect within half an hour.

The liquid in this glass bottle is also medicine. Every twenty minutes, pour some out and mix it with a bowl of water for your father to drink.

When someone has a fever, drinking more water helps flush out the virus. If he won’t drink, you’ll have to force it down.”

Gu Qinghuan handed him the medicine.

“Oh, and if your father doesn’t improve within half an hour after taking the medicine, take him straight to the county hospital—don’t bother with the commune clinic. Here’s thirty yuan, that should be enough.” Gu Qinghuan took out the money and handed it over as well.

Ji Linhai hadn’t expected this young couple not only to help him without disdain or scolding, but to be so thorough and considerate.

In his whole life, he’d rarely felt so vulnerable. Even being sent down hadn’t truly broken him, but this time, with his father gravely ill, he was truly scared, and couldn’t help but get emotional.

Choking up, he said, “Thank you so much. I have nothing to repay you with.” If he ever got back on his feet, he’d repay them a thousandfold.

He bowed deeply.

Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huaian hurried to help him up. “Go take care of your father, no need for all this formality.”

Ji Linhai left under the moonlight.

After he left, Gu Qinghuan thought for a moment and used her space’s clay pot and spiritual spring water to cook a pot of plain rice porridge.

After a fever breaks, it’s good for the patient to have some porridge, but they probably didn’t have the means to make it themselves. Since she’d already helped this far, she might as well go all the way.

Xu Huaian agreed.

Even though they didn’t know much about the man’s situation, just seeing his filial piety was reason enough to help.

Gu Qinghuan packed up the porridge, and the two of them went to deliver it together. The kids were already asleep, so they just locked the door.

As they approached, they could see a faint light flickering by the cowshed—it seemed the old man’s fever had broken.

They quickened their pace.

“Brother Ji!” Xu Huaian called at the door.

Ji Linhai quickly put down his bowl and ran out. “What are you doing here? Please, come in! Oh, here’s your money back—my father’s fever is gone, this medicine is amazing!”

He probably thought they’d come to collect the money—after all, thirty yuan was a lot.

Gu Qinghuan took it back without explaining.

The cowshed didn’t smell great, but the two of them entered without changing expression.

Ji Linhai had kept the little house quite clean. It was simple, but not dirty.

On the only kang bed, an old man was sitting up weakly, thin and frail.

“I followed your instructions and gave him the fever medicine. In less than twenty minutes, the fever was gone. After a while, I gave him the other medicines.

Now he’s on his second bowl of the medicinal water.”

He was holding a huge bowl of water—so big it was almost a basin. Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but laugh. This guy really was clueless. She’d only meant for him to add a little water to dilute the spring water, so as not to give away her secret.

Instead, he’d used such a huge bowl to give his father water, and had already made him drink a whole bowl.

…

It was so sudden that Gu Qinghuan burst out laughing. There really is no shortage of clueless men in this world.

Ji Linhai was baffled.

Xu Huaian immediately understood and gently pointed at the bowl, “Brother Ji, that bowl might be a bit too big.” Poor old man.

Ji Linhai looked confused. “All our bowls at home are this big, so I…”

You could have filled it halfway, or a third! Good grief, what a blockhead.

No wonder the book said he never married—now she saw why.

At that moment, the old man on the bed pounded the kang with his fist and shouted angrily, “Ji Linhai, you little rascal, are you trying to kill me?”

He thought the whole bowl was medicine, and his stomach was about to burst, but he kept drinking anyway, afraid that if he died, his son would have an even harder time. Who’d have thought this unlucky son would even mess up his own father.

This time, Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huaian couldn’t hold back, bowing their heads and laughing until their shoulders shook.

These two really were a pair of comedians.

Ji Linhai could only put down the bowl helplessly, looking at them with a hint of grievance.

Gu Qinghuan had to cough twice and step in to smooth things over."

"Chapter 81: Secrets