Chapter 506 Live Well!
"Is this disease truly incurable?"
Li Ersao asked this question because she had never seen Yunniang's current appearance.
Li San Niang shook her head firmly, "This disease is called uterine cavity ulceration, which means there is a problem in her abdomen. The opening of the uterus is rotten inside her abdomen, and it is beyond human help."
Li Ersao nodded, and then said nothing more.
In the end, Li's mother decided to take a two-pronged approach: she would go to the orphanage, and if possible, she would have her eldest brother, Dapeng, raise the little sparrow and gosling for a few years, while they would secretly provide some financial assistance. This should work.
After Li's mother said this to Yunniang, Yunniang was moved to tears and insisted on kowtowing to Li's mother.
Li San Niang still prescribed medicine, but it wasn't for treating the illness; it was for relieving pain and inducing sleep.
Yunniang doesn't have many days left to live, at least let her get a good night's sleep.
The next day, Li's mother hired laborers from the street to carry Yunniang home, as she had requested.
Li's mother originally wanted her to stay in the east wing of the Women's Assistance Association, which would make it convenient for Li San Niang to come and see her and prescribe medicine.
But Yunniang said, "This is a good place. I can't stay here. I can't ruin this good place."
After leaving Yunniang's house, Li's mother first went to the neighborhood office, which was similar to the ward office of the three outer city officials.
After speaking at length with Elder Li about Yun Niang's family and the arrangements he wanted to make for Yun Niang's children, Elder Li and Li's mother took a carriage to the orphanage in Chang'an.
It took a lot of effort to finally meet the head nanny of the orphanage.
"...That's how it is, Granny Wang. You see, the village elder said he's willing to include those two children in the quota, so they can receive some millet from him every month."
I wonder if the orphanage can do the same?
Give those two children a chance to survive. When they grow up and become capable, how could they not give back to the village and the orphanage?
Having seen many pitiful children in the orphanage, Granny Wang, the head of the household, was not someone who would readily agree to everything just because Li's mother had pulled Old Man Li aside with a few words.
"Since Yunniang is still alive, they can no longer be considered children without relatives."
"If Yunniang really passes away one day, then come to the courtyard again, and we'll talk about it then."
Li San Niang had estimated that Yun Niang's time would be within the next few days, but she didn't expect that, whether it was because she had entrusted the child's future and her heart's wish had been fulfilled, or because her body really couldn't take it anymore.
No more than three days later, Dapeng sent someone to tell Yunniang that she had left.
The funeral arrangements for Yunniang were handled by the elders of the inner city and the people from the outer three cities. By the time Li's mother arrived, everything was already taken care of. Only the three children, Dapeng, Xiaoque, and Xiao'e, who were wearing mourning clothes and white mourning bands, remained in the courtyard to keep vigil.
When the old man saw that Li's mother had arrived, he spoke a few words to her.
“If Midwife Li needs it, I can go with you to the orphanage right now to find Granny Wang.”
Presumably, Granny Wang should be able to follow the rules and provide some relief to the little sparrow and gosling.
After comforting the exhausted Dapeng, Li's mother and the village elder went to see Granny Wang at the orphanage again.
This time, after reviewing the documents in Elder Li's hands and confirming that Da Peng and his two siblings were indeed without relatives, Granny Wang slowly said to the two, "Da Peng is past the age and should be able to support himself, so he is no longer under the jurisdiction of our orphanage."
As for the two children, Xiao Que and Xiao E, who are not yet ten years old, they can come here every month with their household registration certificates to collect their rations of rice.
When Li's mother heard this, her face finally relaxed, and she felt much relieved. She thought that at least the two little sparrows and goslings could survive, which would also lighten the burden on Dapeng.
But then Granny Wang changed the subject and said again, "However, although our orphanage was established by a saint out of compassion for the common people, how many pitiful people are there in the world?"
Where can they be saved? Can they all be saved?
Therefore, this rice ration can only be received for a maximum of three years. After three years, their situation will depend on what becomes of them then.
"This is already very good. Thank you, Granny Wang. I'll bring the two children over to show them around later."
Old Li stood up, cupped his hands in thanks to Granny Wang, and Mother Li also stood up and bowed to Granny Wang.
When Li San Niang returned home after her shift that day, she heard from her mother about Yun Niang's death. She also heard from her mother that the village elders of the outer three cities where Da Peng and the others lived went to the orphanage with her mother and helped Da Peng and his two siblings bury Yun Niang.
"Thus, these three years have given the three of them time to grow up. Being able to eat a meal is a way to survive."
"Mother, I never expected the old man there to be so easy to talk to, to be able to help to this extent."
Remembering the help the village elder had given her, Li's mother agreed with what Li San Niang had said.
"Indeed, Elder Li has helped a lot, and he has helped sincerely and wholeheartedly. Dapeng and his two siblings should remember Elder Li's kindness in the future."
"Ah, thank goodness for Elder Li, the orphanage, and our Women's Assistance Association, otherwise what would have happened to those three siblings?"
Sister-in-law Li was somewhat emotional at this moment. She raised her hand to touch her belly, which was not yet showing, and said in a low voice, "How can the child's parents leave in peace when the child is not fully grown?"
I must live well, and only when I see them all grow up, get married, and establish their own careers can I rest easy.
"But the world is cruel; how can things be done exactly as you wish?"
However, I do agree with what my sister-in-law said; it is indeed important to live well.
I will not only live well, I will live a long life!
I must watch Dewdrop grow up, watch her live a happy and joyful life, stay with her long enough so that she always has her mother's love.
Li San Niang turned to look at her mother as she finished speaking, "Mother, you must do the same. You must stay with your son for a long time and love him for a lifetime."
The somewhat somber atmosphere was instantly brightened by Li San Niang's playful interruption.
Faced with Li San Niang's wink, Li's mother first laughed out loud, and then deliberately lowered her voice and said, "How old are you? You're a mother yourself, yet you still expect me to pamper you all the time."
"Hmph, I don't care, I will always be my mother's son. My mother is my mother, and she will love her son for the rest of her life."
Moreover, my mother must love me the most; even dewdrops can't compare to me.
As Li San Niang's words became increasingly outrageous, Li's mother not only laughed, but also raised her hand as if to hit her.
Upon hearing her name called, Dewdrop followed Little Yellow and dashed from the courtyard into the main hall, immediately running to Li San Niang's side. "Mother! Mother! Little Yellow's belly is big!"
At first, Li San Niang thought that Lu Zhu'er had fed Xiao Huang something, which made the puppy's belly swell up.
After following Dewdrop to touch Little Yellow's belly, Li San Niang realized that Little Yellow wasn't just full; it was carrying puppies!
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