A Good Country Wife
Chapter 563 - 557_1

Chapter 563: Chapter 557_1

"Life is unpredictable, there’s nothing we can do about older sister’s condition, we’ve done our best. Brother-in-law, don’t be too heartbroken," Lin Yue comforted Lin Genfa and asked Doctor Zheng if there was any way to prolong her life a bit longer.

"Madam Lin, the fact that Sister Zhao has held on until now is the result of my utmost efforts. Even with magical pills, she won’t last more than half a month. It’s better to prepare for her passing sooner rather than later," Doctor Zheng said this for Lin Yue’s sake. There were ways to delay, but the cost was too high, and even with all the effort, it would only buy half a month at most, which really wasn’t worth it. Not including what Erhu had previously used, just the silver coins Lin Yue brought to him for purchasing medicine for Zhao Yunxiang had already amounted to over eight hundred taels. Without that, Zhao Yunxiang couldn’t have held on until now.

"Please think of something, Doctor Zheng. Erhu has gone to the Capital City, and even if he rushes back now, it will take at least several days, including the time to send the message. Erhu and the older sister are blood siblings; at the very least, we should let him see her one last time. I’ve brought over a hundred-year-old ginseng; I don’t know if it could help." Lin Yue had heard that people here used ginseng to sustain life, which is why she brought such a precious herb.

"Since Madam Lin has this intention, I shall respect it. This hundred-year ginseng is rare and naturally an excellent medicinal material. With it to sustain Sister Zhao’s life, she should be able to hold on a bit longer. Hopefully, Brother Erhu can make it in time."

Though Doctor Zheng had Lin Yue’s best interests in mind, the affairs of others were not for him to decide. Since Lin Yue was insistent, he wouldn’t object, and internally, he respected Lin Yue’s character all the more. Even though Zhao Yunxiang had previously done such harm to her, almost costing her life, Lin Yue bore no grudge and did so much for Zhao Yunxiang. It was hard to find someone as virtuous and kind as her in the world.

"Thank you, Doctor Zheng, my sister’s condition is critical, and in the next few days, we will need to trouble you even more."

"The ties between our families make this a trifle, Madam Lin. Your character is what truly impresses me. I will do my best to preserve Sister Zhao’s life, so that Brother Erhu can see her one last time."

Lin Genfa’s family didn’t know what to say to express their gratitude to Lin Yue. Since last year, when Lin Yue found out about Zhao Yunxiang’s situation, not only did she provide the silver coins for Zhao Yunxiang’s medical treatment, but her support was also crucial for their household. Without her help, they wouldn’t have known how to survive the long winter without any food, not to mention having such a good one. They had never experienced such an abundant New Year before, with not only food but also blankets, coal, and clothing, all from Lin Yue—and much was still left over.

"Sister-in-law, I don’t even know how to thank you..."

"Brother-in-law, I’ve already told you not to mention such matters. The older sister is Erhu’s blood sister; are we supposed to ignore that? For now, this is all I can do. I hope Erhu can make it in time to see his sister one last time. After all, she was good to Erhu."

Zhao Yunxiang was already in such a state, and while others might not say anything, it was certain that Zhao Dahuo would come to visit. Even though Zhao Dahuo and Zhao Yunxiang had not been close in recent years, they were still siblings by blood. It was unimaginable that Zhao Yunxiang could be close to death and Zhao Dahuo not come to see her at all. Zhao Dahuo was indeed not that sort of person, having learned from Erhu that Yunxiang had fallen ill, he had already visited twice.

Lin Yue sent Liu Aniu to the Zhao Family Village to spread the news, not just to Erhu’s family but also to the other relatives. As for whether they would come or not, that was beyond her control.

Initially, Lin Yue had thought about staying in Shanglin Village if the situation was dire. However, their group, including the servants, numbered six people, and Lin Genfa’s home simply couldn’t accommodate so many guests. Therefore, Lin Yue and her party didn’t leave for Zhao Family Village until evening fell, intending to return early the next morning. Yet before she could leave, Lin Zhou, her stepmother, arrived, perhaps having learned from past lessons that Lin Yue was not to be trifled with. Lin Zhou did not dare to confront her forcefully and instead came over crying and wailing, her face a picture of misery.

"Why is my life so miserable? I raised a daughter who doesn’t recognize her own mother. I’ve spent so much silver to treat Zhao Yunxiang, who is already married off; it’s almost a thousand taels of silver now. Such a huge sum of money, and now her own brother is sick in bed and can’t get up, without any money to see a doctor. How can there be such a heartless and cruel person? I’m so unhappy, I can’t go on living!" Lin Zhou wailed and cried, making her situation sound as pitiful as possible.

Lin Yue had long known Lin Zhou’s character and did not want to bother with her. However, when she heard Lin Zhou mention that her brother was so sick he could not leave his bed, she only had Lin Qing as a brother, and it could be no one else. Thus, she felt worried and stopped in her tracks, looking at Lin Zhou.

"What did you say? My brother is so ill he can’t get out of bed? What happened?" Lin Yue asked with furrowed brows, visibly worried.

Seeing Lin Yue’s concern for Lin Qing, Lin Zhou felt emboldened and spoke even more unpleasantly. "You heartless thing, you have the nerve to ask? Go around the village and ask; you won’t find anyone as unfilial as you. No matter what, you crawled out of my womb, and now you don’t even recognize your own mother. Heartless as a wolf, soulless as a dog, all I did was wasted on raising you. Sending so many good things to Lin Genfa’s family, an outsider, and you don’t even think about being filial to your own parents. You truly are an ungrateful white-eyed wolf!"

Lin Yue watched as Lin Zhou spewed filth without a single good word and still not getting to the point. Perhaps she thought that because of her, Lin Qing would have nothing to fear. Lin Yue didn’t know what exactly had happened to Lin Qing. Under her care for the past two years, Lin Qing had been eating and living well, balancing work and rest, and his health was not bad, if not robust. So how could he be so ill he couldn’t get out of bed? Could Lin Zhou be exaggerating? At this rate, afraid she might have to wait another half-day to get any news from Lin Zhou’s mouth.

"Enough! Have you finished scolding? What exactly is wrong with my brother, are you going to say it or not? If you won’t, then forget it! I have no relation with your family now anyway. It’s out of sibling affection that I would consider helping at all. And if I don’t, no one has the right to blame me. I’m in a hurry to get home. If you’re not going to talk, I’m leaving. Who has the time to listen to your filthy mouth, it’s a complete waste of time!"

"Madam is right, it’s getting dark. We should hurry on our way back," Xixi agreed from the side, unhappy to see the old woman insulting her master and wanting to retaliate. But since the old woman was her master’s mother, she felt it wasn’t her place to talk back. It was truly infuriating. How could Madam have such a mother? Could she not be her biological child?