Chef Hua
Chapter 74: Episode 61 Seeking Medical Help

Chapter 74: Episode 61 Seeking Medical Help

Hua Xiaomai always remembered that on the night when old man Jing and his wife came to ask for money, Jing Taihe sat in front of the courtyard gate, his silhouette indescribably desolate and lonely.

When she first learned that her second sister-in-law, Hua, might not be able to have children, she was shocked and found it unbelievable. Having lived with them in the small courtyard for so long, she knew the couple was strong and deeply in love, and they were very enthusiastic about matters of intimacy, yet there had been no sign of movement in second sister-in-law’s belly, which made her anxious as well.

If it turned out that the second sister-in-law truly couldn’t have children, then that was unfortunate but unavoidable. However, what if there was still hope, and by not seeking medical advice in time they missed the opportunity? Would that not lead to lifelong regret?

As their younger sister-in-law, it wasn’t proper for Hua Xiaomai to interfere too much in the couple’s affairs. Yet now, living as dependents on each other, she couldn’t help but worry on her sister-in-law’s behalf.

Now that they had some spare money in the family, it was time to find a reputable doctor as soon as possible for second sister-in-law to consult. Hua Xiaomai figured that her second sister-in-law was likely not one to listen to others’ advice. After much thought, she came up with a plan.

...

To prepare those dozens, if not hundreds of pounds of candied fruit cakes, Hua Xiaomai hadn’t slept well in two or three days. When her sister-in-law saw how her younger sister had stayed up for several nights, with her eyes sinking in, she couldn’t help but feel tenderhearted. On the night Pan Ping’an left Fire Knife Village to return to the Provincial City, after dinner, she immediately sent Hua Xiaomai back to the west room, telling her to rest properly.

Hua Xiaomai indeed felt tired and obediently went to sleep with her head covered. However, as the morning sun rose high, she still hadn’t gotten up.

The doors and windows of the west room were tightly closed, without a sound coming from inside. After pacing the courtyard twice, the impatient second sister-in-law couldn’t hold back anymore and barged into the room. Upon entering, she saw Hua Xiaomai huddled entirely under the quilt, her head included, with only a clump of somewhat messy hair remaining on the pillow.

"Tsk, I told you to rest well, but I didn’t mean for you to sleep yourself to death!" second sister-in-law muttered, walking to the bedside and roughly shoving Hua Xiaomai twice, "Hey, third sister Hua, shouldn’t you have some sense of measure? How can you be so irresponsible? Didn’t we agree yesterday that we would go buy ingredients for making sauces after lunch? Look at the time now!"

Hua Xiaomai, curled up in the quilt, did not respond but moved slightly.

"I’m talking to you!" second sister-in-law frowned, slapping her hard on the body, "Aren’t you hungry if you don’t eat? Always sleeping irregularly, if you don’t ruin your health, it would be strange!"

"Ouch..." Hua Xiaomai groaned faintly from within the quilt, her voice sounding lifeless and seemingly very painful, "Second sister, I feel awful..."

At her words, second sister-in-law paused, hurriedly pulling back the quilt from over Hua Xiaomai’s head, her voice immediately softening, speaking gently, "...What’s the matter? Goodness, you’ll feel worse if you keep stifling yourself like this. Come on, tell your second sister, where do you feel unwell?"

Hua Xiaomai then struggled to poke her head out, biting her lip and speaking in a pitiful whisper, "My stomach hurts..."

"Stomach hurts? Everything was fine, how could your stomach suddenly start hurting?" Seeing her pale little face, second sister-in-law became anxious, touched her forehead to check for fever, and mumbled in confusion, "You don’t have a fever... Tell me, little sister, it’s not your monthly period, is it?"

Hua Xiaomai listlessly shook her head, "Not yet. I don’t know what’s been going on these last few months, ever since I arrived at Fire Knife Village, my period has been irregular, sometimes delayed by half a month. And every time before it starts, I feel a dull pain. The previous times, I could still bear it, but I don’t know what’s wrong today; I woke up in the morning and the pain was unbearable. Second sister, I’m afraid I can’t go with you to buy ingredients today..."

"Oh, don’t worry about those things now, what’s the use of thinking about them at this moment?" second sister-in-law stamped her foot, stood up, and paced in the room, muttering incessantly, "This menstrual disorder is a matter of great concern that can’t be delayed! You’re in such severe pain, we need to see a doctor immediately, but... the doctors in Fire Knife Village are all just muddling along, no use at all! Goodness, what to do?"

Nattering on, she suddenly spun around, "Little sister, what if we go to the County?"