It was already dark, and Xiaojuan was sitting in the back seat of the car holding Guoguo.
Dahua stepped lightly and the wheel turned a circle. The slower he stepped, the slower the wheel turned. His whole world was in the back seat.
The two of them didn't say a word along the way, and Dahua pretended not to hear the intermittent sniffing sound behind him.
Guoguo has been ill for a week. During this long period of time, the young couple's heads were buzzing and their emotions were wandering back and forth on a tight thread, which might have broken at some point.
"You're back?" Seeing them return, Qiu Zhen hurried over to take Guoguo. "Are you feeling better? What did the doctor say?"
The only answer she got was silence from the two of them. Her heart sank, and the fire of hope was extinguished again.
The food was still hot in the pot, but Xiaojuan went back to her room without eating a few bites.
"Xiaojuan, eat some more. I'll be watching over Guoguo here."
Qiu Zhen touched Guoguo's little face. How come this child, who is usually so active and lively, is so quiet now? How great would it be if he could get up and make some trouble?
"Mom, I can't eat. I just want to stay with Guoguo..." Before she finished speaking, tears were about to come out again.
"Mom, you go to sleep first." Dahua patted Xiaojuan on the back and said, "We will go to the city hospital early tomorrow morning. Please help us steam some buns."
Qiu Zhen nodded and said, "Okay, okay, the city hospital will definitely be effective. Cover Guoguo with more blankets at night and let her sweat. Maybe she will be better tomorrow."
As she spoke, she went to the cupboard and took out a winter quilt, shook it twice beside the bed and prepared to cover Guoguo with it.
"Don't cover it..." Xiaojuan said weakly.
Qiu Zhen continued to cover Guo Guo and said, "You have to cover it, cover it, to keep the sweat away."
Guoguo's face was flushed, his eyes were half closed listlessly, his little head was burning hot but there was not a drop of sweat.
"Mom, stop covering it up. The doctor said it will cause problems."
Dahua reached out to lift the quilt, but Qiu Zhen stopped him and said, "The doctor isn't always right. He couldn't even cure Guoguo."
"I said stop building it!" Xiaojuan suddenly yelled, "Don't you understand me? Stop building it!"
She picked up the quilt and threw it to the ground.
Qiu Zhen and Dahua were both dumbfounded. Ever since Xiaojuan came into the family, she had never been angry or spoken loudly to anyone in this family.
Qiu Zhen reacted and was also angry. She said, "Isn't this for Guoguo? You have to cover up your fever and sweat it out. Only then will it get better!"
"He's already feeling hot. If he keeps covering himself up, his brain will be damaged and he'll die!"
"What nonsense are you talking about! Is the doctor's words an imperial decree? I raised five children, and they all covered themselves like this when they had a fever!"
"Covering up every night! Does it work? Doesn't it just go down during the day and up at night? It's because of covering up! The child is like this..." Xiaojuan shouted and cried, her voice hoarse.
"Why are you yelling at me?" Qiu Zhen was also upset. After being yelled at by Xiaojuan, she couldn't help but yell, "Would I harm the child?"
"Yes, you won't hurt me. Why did Guoguo get sick? Tell me yourself."
Qiu Zhen was stunned and speechless. Xiaojuan didn't say anything, but in her heart she was blaming herself for letting Guoguo get wet in the rain.
"Okay, Mom, you go out first. Xiaojuan and I are here."
She looked at the haggard Xiaojuan and the dying Guoguo, and her anger suddenly disappeared. She walked out of the room tremblingly, and looked back at the last moment.
When Xiaojuan heard the sound of the door closing, she immediately wilted and covered her face with her hands, sobbing.
Dahua sighed and sat down beside her, hugged her from behind and said, "Xiaojuan, you have worked hard these days."
As soon as she finished saying this, Xiaojuan not only did not get comforted, but her crying became even louder.
"Cry, don't hold it back. Just cry in front of me. No one will laugh at you." Xiaojuan turned around and hugged him.
"Don't worry, I'll listen to you. If you say not to cover the sweat, then we won't cover the sweat. If the fever hasn't subsided by tomorrow morning, we'll go to the city immediately, okay?"
The person in my arms nodded. After a good cry, heavy rain fell in the gloomy summer sky, and I felt a little refreshed.
Xiaojuan pulled herself out of Dahua's arms and said, "I just spoke too harshly..."
Dahua wiped the tears from her face and said, "That's because you are Guoguo's mother. Look at our generous and sensible Xiaojuan, she has lost her mind because of Guoguo.
It’s okay, I’ll do some ideological work on Mum’s side, you just stay with Guoguo.”
She nodded, feeling somewhat relieved, and then asked, "Guoguo has been feverish for so long, I'm worried too, will he...will he..."
She didn't dare to say the rest of the words. She wanted to ask if he would be burned out or if he would become stupid.
Will a fever make you stupid?
To be honest, yes. This situation is very common in rural areas. If a child has a fever and is not taken to the hospital, the child's brain will be damaged in a few days.
"No, don't think too much." Dahua once again hugged Xiaojuan in his arms to comfort her, while also trying to hide the worry in his eyes.
"Mommy...Mommy..." The little guy murmured and called out again and again.
Xiaojuan held him in her arms, and the heat coming from the little guy almost burned the mother's heart.
If the temperature remains high, it will burn out, so the only option is to lower the temperature. She came up with a bold idea.
"Dahua, go get a bucket of well water."
"Well water?" Dahua was confused.
"Yes, well water. I can't sleep tonight. I'll wipe Guoguo with well water. Maybe it will help."
"Okay, I'll accompany you. Let's switch hands."
Seeing Dahua fetching cold water from the well, Qiu Zhen became anxious and hurried forward to ask, "What are you doing? Why are you fetching water from the well? The water is cold!"
She looked inside the room and immediately understood. She asked, "Do we need to use cold water to wipe Guoguo's body? That's not allowed! Dahua!"
"Mom, please don't stop us. We parents want to try our own way!"
"Aren't you harming the child? How can you wipe a fever with cold water?" She pulled Dahua anxiously, but didn't dare to make a sound.
"Mom! How could we harm the child? Xiaojuan did this for a reason. The doctor said to lower his temperature. How can you lower his temperature by covering him?"
Dahua was carrying the bucket and was about to go inside, but Qiu Zhen held on tightly, refusing to let go. She cried, "Dahua, my son, we can't cover her with the quilt anymore, but we can't wipe her with cold water either, right? Please persuade Xiaojuan to use warm water."
"Hey, Mom, we've been covering it up for days, applying warm water, and nothing's working. The doctor told us no today. We can't go on like this. Let's try everything. Xiaojuan and I will take care of anything that happens."
Qiu Zhen swallowed her tears and let go reluctantly. Yes, the child has grown up and has his own ideas and responsibilities. Support and assistance are the way to long-term harmony!
It was late at night and everything was quiet. Every household in Hetou Village had turned off their lights, except for the Liang family's.
Sleepless night.
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