Chapter 120 Third Brother is Sick

It was too cold outside. After a whole day, the big snow cat that the siblings had built together still hadn't melted. It sat chubby in the courtyard, visible to anyone who came by.

Although the ladies didn't go out to play in the snow, they were still quite curious about the big snow cat.

Snow is rare in Haicheng, and a snowman like this is even rarer. It's as if the old lady Lou's big white cat has come to life, so lifelike, squatting on the ground, and taller than Mao Mao.

The big white cat was also dressed in paw pads and a woolen vest by the ladies, and it scurried out for some fresh air. It crouched on the ground, a fluffy ball of snow, seemingly blending into the snow.

When you squat down next to them and compare them, the two cats look even more alike.

"Third Young Master's cooking skills are really good."

"really."

"Oh dear, it will melt away in the spring, I really can't bear to see it go."

"Is the scarf around the snowman's neck also Third Young Master's?"

The ladies exchanged glances and covered their lips to chuckle.

The eldest aunt reminded them, "Don't forget to drink ginger soup when you get back."

"I remember, of course I remember everything!"

Otherwise, you might end up getting sick from the cold like the Third Young Master!

Whether it was because his scarf wasn't warm enough, or because someone had pulled down his collar and stuffed a clump of snow into his clothes, soaking them with snow water, and then he'd been wearing wet clothes in the cold wind for ages, or perhaps he'd rolled around in too much snow after being attacked by a group of people, or whatever the reason, in any case, Lou Hongjian unfortunately caught a fever right after playing in the snow.

A bowl of ginger soup couldn't save him; in the afternoon, he started pitifully sniffling.

When evening came, Lou Heming returned home. After seeing patients all day, he would come back to see his younger brother.

"...Fortunately, the temperature isn't too high." Lou Heming closed the first-aid kit: "Observe at home for a couple of days, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and sweat it out."

Lou Hongjian, huddled under the covers, looked pitiful: "Second brother, aren't you going to give me my medicine?"

“The temperature has dropped sharply in Haicheng recently, and many people have fallen ill. The hospital is in a very tight supply of medicines,” Lou Heming said. “Your symptoms are not serious. If the temperature doesn’t drop by tomorrow, I will give you more medicine.”

That's such a cold and heartless statement!

Lou Hongjian was ill and emotionally sensitive and fragile; he almost shed tears.

The door creaked open a crack, and a fluffy little head popped out.

Mao Mao leaned against the door, looking over expectantly: "Brother."

The two brothers looked over, and Lou Heming reached out his hand to her. Mao Mao then ran over.

"Mao Mao, you've come to see me?" Lou Hongjian asked, his face full of emotion.

Lou Heming picked up his younger sister and let her sit on his lap, keeping a distance from his younger brother: "Mao Mao, Ah Hong is sick. Don't get too close to him, or you'll catch it."

"Is my brother sick?"

Lou Heming took the opportunity to educate his younger sister: "Mao Mao, the weather is so cold now, you must keep warm, otherwise you will get sick like A Hong."

Mao Mao nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite: "When will brother get better?"

"soon."

Will my brother die?

Lou Hongjian sniffed and choked out, "...Mao Mao, it's not that bad."

Lou Heming chuckled and said, "No, Ah Hong is usually very healthy. He just caught a cold today. It's not the flu. He'll be fine in a couple of days."

Mao Mao, still a little dazed, reached out her little hand to reach Lou Hongjian. Lou Heming hesitated for a moment, then let go of her hand, allowing her to snuggle into Lou Hongjian's arms.

"Brother, you need to get better soon." Mao Mao hugged his arm affectionately: "Mao Mao wants to play with you."

The warm little body pressed against him, and Lou Hongjian was moved to tears, but he still remembered not to pass on his cold to his sister. He gently hugged his sister and then pushed her away: "Mao Mao, when your brother gets better, I'll play with you."

Lou Heming also picked up the first-aid kit and carried his younger sister away: "Alright, Mao Mao, we won't disturb Ah Hong's rest."

Mao Mao perched on her older brother's shoulder and waved her little hand at her third brother: "Bye-bye, brother."

Lou Hongjian blew her a kiss.

Mao Mao immediately pouted and sent several kisses from a distance. After sending the kisses, she giggled happily.

The brother and sister kissed each other from a distance, but Lou Heming closed the door, interrupting their intimacy.

When it was time for dinner, Lou Hongjian's seat was empty.

My sick brother is so pitiful. He can't even eat properly. Mao Mao follows the maid and watches her deliver dinner. Then she runs back and pulls a big doll out of her toy box to give to her lonely brother so he can sleep with her.

The oldest and youngest in the family were all healthy, and they went to play in the snow together. Even Lou Yansui, who was weak, was fine. Unexpectedly, Lou Hongjian, who was usually the most lively, was the first to fall ill.

The others felt the same way, and even Commander Lou held his nose and gulped down a large bowl of spicy ginger soup, sweating profusely.

"The temperature has dropped sharply recently, and the hospital is full of patients with colds and fevers." Lou Heming pinched the bridge of his nose. "This winter is really too cold, and there are more sick people than usual."

The hospitals are overflowing with patients, not to mention the many poor people outside who can't afford medical care.

Nowadays, going to the hospital is expensive. Unless the pain is so severe that people can't get out of bed, they won't go to the hospital for common headaches or fevers and will just try to tough it out on their own.

This year's sudden cold wave has caused countless people to fall ill.

Even with advance preparations and stockpiles of supplies, this winter will still be tough for everyone. Today, heavy snow blanketed the city, and while clearing the roads this morning, several frozen corpses of beggars were unearthed from under the snow.

After all, no matter how low the price of firewood and rice is, you still need money to buy them.

Although Haicheng is prosperous and extravagant, it also has many beggars who are homeless and have nowhere to live.

Under the heavy snow, several old houses that had been in disrepair for many years collapsed. It is said that an elderly couple was trapped underneath and could not be rescued.

Holding her warm little daughter, Xia Xiaoxiang thought with lingering fear: If the mother and daughter hadn't come to the Marshal's Mansion, she didn't know how difficult this winter would have been.

She's a widow, earning one salary to support two families, and she used to live in an old house. With this year's cold snap, it's uncertain whether she can even raise her daughter properly.

If Mao Mao gets sick from the cold like the Third Young Master... sigh, I'd really be heartbroken for her.