Chapter 127 Repaying Kindness
Zhang San put the barefoot doctor down on the ground. The doctor staggered a couple of steps before regaining his balance, his chest heaving violently, looking like a broken bellows just pulled out of the water: "You little brat! I'm not without legs! If you carry me like this and I break my leg, we'll both be dead here today!"
Zhang San scratched his head and apologized, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, the situation was really urgent, Qianqian, she..."
Before he could finish speaking, the door creaked open, and Lu Zheng rushed out, shouting, "Quick! Quick, let me see Qianqian! Her stomach is hurting terribly!"
Upon hearing the words "stomach ache," the barefoot doctor swallowed back the complaint that was about to come out, his face changing instantly: "Why didn't you say so earlier!"
He shoved Zhang San aside and rushed into the house, the medicine box clattering loudly against his waist.
Xia Qianqian lay on the bed, her complexion better than before. Hearing the doctor's voice, she struggled to sit up, but the doctor reached out and pressed down on her shoulder.
"Lie still." The barefoot doctor put on a stern face and placed his fingers on her wrist to check her pulse. "Let me see."
Lu Zheng stood to the side, clenching his fists, barely daring to breathe. Only when the pulse under his fingertips gradually became steady and strong did the barefoot doctor slowly release his hand and let out a long sigh of relief: "Luckily, you are usually in good health. Just now you only had a slight miscarriage, thankfully you didn't suffer any serious damage."
He rummaged through his medicine box and pulled out paper and pen: "I'll prescribe you a nourishing and restorative herbal decoction to help with pregnancy, one dose each morning and evening. Don't do any work at the clinic these next few days, just rest and take care of your pregnancy."
Xia Qianqian nodded obediently, gently placing her hand on her lower abdomen.
Just then, she suddenly grabbed Lu Zheng's wrist, her eyes sparkling like a galaxy: "Lu Zheng! Come here quickly! Quickly!"
She placed his hand on her lower abdomen, her fingertips trembling slightly with excitement: "Did you feel it? Just now... just now he moved!"
Lu Zheng thought she was feeling unwell again and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Qianqian? Is your stomach hurting even more? I'll go right now—"
Before he could finish speaking, a soft bump suddenly came from under his palm, like a small fish blowing bubbles, or like a butterfly flapping its wings—faint yet clear.
Lu Zheng froze instantly, forgetting even to breathe.
He stared blankly at Qianqian, then looked down at his hands, his pupils contracting sharply. After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a trembling sentence: "Just... just now, was it... was the baby moving?"
She nodded slightly, tears welling in her eyes, her fingertips gently resting on the back of his hand. Feeling the playful kicks of the new life inside her, a smile spread across her face, more beautiful than peach blossoms in spring: "Yes, he's saying hello to you!"
Lu Zheng's large hand tightened suddenly, but then, afraid of hurting her, he quickly loosened it, and the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
Before the joy had even faded, his brows furrowed.
"Little one, now that you can move, you need to be sensible. Your mother went through so much hardship carrying you. She had leg cramps at night and still had to take care of things at home during the day. You have to be good, okay?"
Xia Qianqian poked him with her finger and scolded, "He's still a little kid who hasn't been born yet, what does he understand?"
Lu Zheng's heart softened at her words, and he nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice: "You're right about everything. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."
He carefully helped her sit up, gently massaging her lower back with his palm. "Would you like me to help you go to the yard to get some sun?"
The room was warm and cozy, and even the air was filled with a sweet fragrance.
Inside the dilapidated Xia family house, Xia Wenwen's hands trembled as she held the chopsticks. A few grains of rice husk floated in the porridge bowl, the watery broth reflecting her pale face.
Having exhausted most of her energy throwing a tantrum at the Lu family's house, Xia Wenwen's stomach was growling with hunger. Upon seeing the porridge, she slammed her chopsticks on the table and turned to go into the kitchen.
She shook the empty flour sack again and again, and finally poured all the bran and flour bits at the bottom of the sack into the pot. The "porridge" was still clear to the bottom, just like dishwater.
"What kind of porridge is this? It's no different from drinking plain water! If we keep eating like this, we'll starve to death in this dilapidated house sooner or later!"
Madam Xia was also so hungry that she was seeing stars. She drooped her lips listlessly and said, "What's the use of complaining here! The neighbor's kids go up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables every day, but you stay cooped up at home like a pampered princess. If you complain that there's not enough to eat, go and pick some with them tomorrow!"
"Me, go pick wild vegetables?" Xia Wenwen felt disgusted at the thought of those country bumpkins with mud under their fingernails. "You want me to climb all over the mountains like them? I'd rather die than go!"
Xia Wenwen looked at Madam Xia with dissatisfaction, thinking to herself: Didn't we get any food today? Isn't it all her fault? She raised Xia Qianqian all these years, and yet she doesn't appreciate her kindness at all. She's truly useless!
Suddenly, a thieving glint appeared in her eyes.
"Mom, that ungrateful Xia Qianqian doesn't recognize you, can't we find someone else? Lin Shulan owes you a huge debt of gratitude!"
Seeing Madam Xia in a daze, she nudged her arm: "Back when I was living a life of poverty in the countryside, her daughter was raised like a princess. Now that we're down on our luck, do you think she'll just stand by and watch? Besides—"
She suddenly raised her voice: "This is what she owed us, and now it's time to pay it back!"
Mrs. Xia was persuaded, and her eyes lit up: "You're right! Lin Shulan owes us! If it weren't for her back then, you wouldn't have suffered so much outside for so many years."
She and Xia Wenwen walked out: "Let's go! To Willow Village! I don't believe Lin Shulan will just watch us starve to death! I've raised her daughter for over ten years, does she dare to disown her?"
The two men found each other's argument increasingly reasonable and set off for Willow Tree Village.
Things are different now. In the chaos of war, the oxcarts in the village have long been stopped, and the only way to leave the village is on foot.
Thinking that they would soon get food, neither Mrs. Xia nor Xia Wenwen complained of being tired. They walked for more than an hour before finally reaching the entrance of Willow Tree Village.
As soon as they entered the village, an old neighbor recognized them. The old woman immediately spat out a mouthful of phlegm: "Pah! After ruining your adoptive parents' reputation outside, you still have the nerve to come back to Willow Tree Village?"
Xia Wenwen had never been treated like this before, and immediately put her hands on her hips and cursed back: "What nonsense are you spouting, you old hag!"
She used to act like a pampered young lady of the Xia family in Nancheng, but after returning to this poor place that had raised her for more than ten years, she picked up all the skills of a village woman cursing in the streets, spitting everywhere and speaking in a voice so shrill it could lift the roof off.
She pointed a finger at the other person's nose and said, "No wonder you raised a mentally challenged son! It must be because of your sharp tongue! This is your karma! Humph! You deserve to be dumped by men!"
The neighbor was so trembling from the scolding that his vegetable basket clattered to the ground.
These words were so hurtful, they made her feel dizzy and her vision blurred.
Her fingers trembled with rage: "You...you little bitch! I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Fearing that it would delay important business, Madam Xia quickly pulled Xia Wenwen aside: "Why are you angry with her? Let's go quickly, don't delay our important business."
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