She put everything back in its original place, then closed the door before slowly going downstairs.

On New Year's Day, Su Li got up early in the morning, cleaned the house inside and out, and put up the couplets.

Thinking that Gou Sheng was alone at home, I invited him and Chen Shengnan over so the three of us could have a lively New Year together.

Without hesitation, she went to find Gou Sheng, but despite knocking on the door for a long time in the freezing cold, no one answered.

It's impossible that he wouldn't be home during the Lunar New Year!

Gousheng rarely visits other people's homes, let alone during the Lunar New Year, and he doesn't have any relatives.

"Gousheng, are you home?"

Su Li knocked on the door and called out, but there was still no response from inside.

She thought to herself that Gou Sheng might have gone to Lu Huai's house, and then she headed towards Lu Huai's house.

At this moment, light snow began to fall from the sky. Su Li walked for a few minutes and arrived at Lu Huai's house. Just as she was about to knock on the door, she saw Lu Huai carrying a plate of dumplings and about to come out.

His eyes lit up when he saw her; "Su Li, what brings you here? I was just about to look for you."

Is Gou Sheng at your house?

“He’s not here. He should be home at this hour.” Lu Huai said, frowning.

Su Li shook her head; "I knocked on his door for ages, but no one answered."

Lu Huai handed a plate of steaming dumplings to Su Li, saying, "These are dumplings that Grandma made this morning. Take them home and eat them first. I'll go check on Gou Sheng's place."

Su Li didn't accept the offer. It was rare for Lu Huai's family to have a good meal, and she didn't want to eat their food. After all, she wasn't lacking in these things.

“Take it back and keep it for Xiaohu and Yaya. I’ve also prepared some at home.”

Lu Huai still insisted, "Take it back, otherwise Grandma will scold me again."

Su Li took the dumplings home, while Lu Huai went to Gou Sheng's house.

After Su Li put the dumplings down, she went back to find Lu Huai. When she got to Gou Sheng's house, she saw that he had already carried Gou Sheng out.

Su Li stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Lu Huai's expression was grave. "Gou Sheng has a fever, and he's delirious now. I'll take him to the village doctor first."

I'll go with you.

The two walked towards the village doctor, but when they arrived, they found that the village doctor was not at home.

Aunt Liu, who lives next door to the village doctor, said that he had gone back to his relatives' home in town for the Spring Festival.

As Lu Huai watched the snow fall heavier and heavier, he grew anxious. With such heavy snow, even an oxcart would have a hard time getting to the town hospital!

Su Li looked at Gou Sheng, who was clinging to Lu Huai's back. His cheeks were burning red. His condition couldn't be delayed any longer.

“Lu Huai, carry him into his room. I know some physical methods to lower a fever, but we have no other choice but to try this as a last resort.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Huai quickly carried Gou Sheng back to his home.

When Su Li arrived at Gou Sheng's house, she finally understood why he was sick: the walls were drafty, and there was a tattered quilt on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Looking around the room, all he had was a pair of worn-out single shoes, and his cotton-padded coat was so tattered that the cotton inside felt lumpy to the touch—how could it possibly keep him warm?

Lu Huai put the person on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Su Li said to him, "Go back and boil a kettle of water and bring it over."

Okay, I'll go now.

After he left, Su Li found the broken bowl in Gou Sheng's house and fed him some spiritual spring water.

Soon his clothes became soaked, and black mud began to seep out.

It wasn't much, which might be related to the fact that he only drank a few sips of the spiritual spring water.

When Lu Huai arrived, Gou Sheng looked as if he was soaked in sweat.

His cheeks weren't as red anymore. Su Li touched his head and found that his fever had subsided.

"Lu Huai, he's soaked in sweat. Wipe him down and change him into some clean clothes."

Lu Huai nodded, and Su Li went back first, taking out the quilt she had taken from Su Guoqiang from her spatial storage.

Then he headed towards Gou Sheng's house, where Lu Huai had already changed his clothes.

Su Li went inside and said to Lu Huai, "Take off the blanket that's covering him and use this one."

Lu Huai nodded and took the tattered quilt off the bed.

Su Li covered Gou Sheng with the blanket and noticed that his complexion looked much better now.

She then turned to Lu Huai and said, "I'll watch over him here. You must be very busy today, it's the New Year! You go ahead and do your work."

Lu Huai is indeed very busy. He has to take care of everything at home, from the elderly to the young.

Although he really wanted to stay and keep Su Li company, he ultimately left.

Su Li stayed by the bedside for half an hour before Gou Sheng woke up.

He opened his eyes and saw Su Li sitting by the bed. Was he dreaming?

Why was Sister Li by his bedside? He pinched his thigh and hissed in pain; it seemed to be true.

"Sister Li, what are you doing here?"

"You're asking me? Do you even know you almost burned yourself silly?"

Gousheng actually knew a little bit; he was really too cold, and there was less and less food at home.

He could only eat a little, but the weather was too cold. Even on the kang (a heated brick bed), he could still feel the cold wind blowing into his body.

He huddled up in a ball from the cold, and then felt uncomfortably hot all over.

His throat was so thirsty it felt like it was on fire, and finally someone gave him ice water, instantly extinguishing the heat in his body.

"Sister Li, was it you who fed me the water?"

Su Li nodded; "How are you feeling now? Are you any better?"

Gou Sheng felt no discomfort at all and was even unusually energetic. He threw off the covers and was about to get out of bed.

He then realized that the clothes he was wearing and the blankets on the bed were not his own.

He asked somewhat shyly, "Sister Li, did you change these clothes for me?"

"No, Lu Huai changed it for you."

Gou Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. He was not young anymore, and if Su Li had really changed it for him, he would have been quite embarrassed.

"What about the blankets on this bed?"

This quilt is much newer than his, and it's very warm to use.

"This quilt used to be mine. If you don't mind, you can keep it and use it."

Gou Sheng's eyes were red-rimmed, and he lowered his head. How could he possibly despise him?

Sister Li was even willing to give him such a nice quilt; he would only be more grateful to have met her.

"Sister Li, what about you? Do you still have a blanket?"

He absolutely couldn't accept Sister Li without her blanket.

"I've gotten a new bed, so I don't need this one anymore. I'll keep it for you."

"Thank you, Sister Li."

He knew that Sister Li was saying this on purpose. She always did good deeds but didn't want him to feel indebted.

"Are you hungry? I'll bring you some food."

"I don't..."

"Coo coo..."

Before he could finish speaking, his stomach started rumbling.

He hasn't eaten a single bite of food since last night, even though he's been starving for a long time.