Chapter 26: Resurrection (1)
Sweat soaked her entire body. She gritted her teeth, stomped her feet, and with all her might, made a sudden thrust, ignoring the excruciating pain in her chest. The necklace opened a crack, and she immediately reached her hand inside.
There was only one crack, and it was almost closed. She didn't have time to grab anything else. She quickly reached inside for the medicine bottle and pulled it out. The whole process took no more than three seconds.
The necklace immediately closed tightly, and she lost her connection with it once again.
Fortunately, the medicine was brought out; whether Magistrate Meng could be brought back to life depended entirely on it.
To be honest, this kind of special medicine is not very rare in the post-apocalyptic world. As long as you can afford it, you can buy it at any hospital. Otherwise, it would be impossible for a minor who can only burn metal to carry it with her.
It can rapidly enhance the body's functions, kill invading viruses, and boost immunity, allowing the body to recover in the shortest time without any side effects. Therefore, it is almost an essential item for people who need to go out hunting in the apocalypse.
She went to the kitchen, filled a bowl with thin porridge, poured the medicine in, stirred it, and then carried it to the main room.
She was a rather simple-minded person. She thought that since she had already obtained the medicine, she could just pour it into Magistrate Meng's mouth. As for the fact that a kitchen maid like her couldn't freely approach the master's house, that was not even on her radar.
Unfortunately, she was quite lucky. Mama Mao and Granny Qi had both gone out, Yingchun and Liuzhi were serving Liu Shi in the side room, Meng Liniang was not there, and only Meng Guanqi was guarding Magistrate Meng's bedside in the main room.
Although Magistrate Meng was barely breathing, he was not yet dead. Meng Guanqi was lying by the bedside, holding his father's hand and dozing off.
During this period, he was busy running around and constantly worried about Magistrate Meng's illness, so he was also very tired.
Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes: "How did you get in?"
Li Xiaoxiao placed the porridge on the table: "I'll feed the adults the porridge."
Meng Guanqi was somewhat dazed. Logically speaking, a kitchen maid like her shouldn't be able to do such delicate work, but there was no one else in the room right now, so she stood up and said, "I'll do it."
Li Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "Can you do it?"
Meng Guanqi was taken aback, then blushed.
He really didn't know how to do things like serving others.
Li Xiaoxiao sat down on the edge of the bed without any hesitation and helped Lord Meng up.
She was strong. Although Lord Meng was so thin that he was just a skeleton, an adult male still weighs at least 100 pounds, and she easily lifted him up.
Meng Guanqi felt that her movements were too rough, so he immediately stepped forward and said, "Be gentle."
Li Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said, "How about you help me and I'll feed me?"
Meng Guanqi had tried to feed the magistrate Meng medicine several times but failed. When he saw Li Xiaoxiao help his father up, he immediately suspected that his posture was wrong. His father was lying down and it was difficult for him to swallow. Perhaps he could drink it if he sat up?
He immediately stepped forward to take the magistrate's hand, carefully supporting him and scooping a spoonful of porridge to the magistrate's lips.
But Magistrate Meng didn't even open his lips.
He said dejectedly, "My dad still won't open his mouth."
Li Xiaoxiao said, "You do this—" She adjusted Magistrate Meng's posture, turning him into a semi-reclining position, leaning against Meng Guanqi. Then she reached out and directly pinched open Magistrate Meng's chin.
She pried open the mouth that Magistrate Meng couldn't pry open with a spoon.
Meng Guanqi had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but he was still pleasantly surprised when his father opened his mouth: "My dad opened his mouth, we can drink porridge now."
Li Xiaoxiao scooped up a spoonful of porridge and fed it into Magistrate Meng's mouth. After making sure it was in, she closed Magistrate Meng's chin to prevent the porridge from spilling out.
She carefully observed Magistrate Meng's throat.
This tilted posture is most conducive to the porridge flowing down. Even though Magistrate Meng was already unconscious, the porridge that had already gone halfway down his throat still made him want to swallow.
Seeing that he had swallowed, Li Xiaoxiao repeated the same action, and in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she fed all the porridge in the bowl into Magistrate Meng's stomach, leaving not a single drop.
Meng Guanqi's initial reproach turned into pure joy. He never expected that Li Xiaoxiao would be so resourceful as to get his father to drink more than half a bowl of porridge.
Li Xiaoxiao was also very satisfied: "Yes, I've finished drinking it. I'm glad I've finished."
Knowing he shouldn't ask her, Meng Guanqi still felt a glimmer of hope, especially longing for Li Xiaoxiao's approval. He opened his eyes, which had turned red again, and asked, "Do you think my father will get better?"
Li Xiaoxiao nodded naturally: "Of course, Mama Mao said that as long as I can eat, I will get better."
Upon hearing this, Meng Guanqi trusted Li Xiaoxiao even more. He grasped at her like a lifeline and asked, "Now that my father has finished his porridge, shouldn't he take his medicine?"
Of course not! He just drank life-saving medicine, how can he drink traditional Chinese medicine now? What if the two medicines fight each other?
Li Xiaoxiao thought for a moment: "But the medicine is so bitter. What if Lord Meng can't drink it and vomits up the porridge he just drank? Wouldn't that be a waste of time?"
Meng Guanqi now believed Li Xiaoxiao's words and withdrew her hand from the medicine bowl. Yes, Father had finally managed to drink this bowl of porridge. What if he vomited it up if he drank this bitter medicine?
Li smiled and said, "Don't worry, young master. As long as a person can eat, it's more effective than any medicine. Now that Lord Meng has eaten his fill, he should get a good night's sleep and he'll be better tomorrow."
Her demeanor was so calm and confident that Meng Guanqi inexplicably placed all his hopes on her. He stared intently at her and asked, "Are you telling the truth? Can my father really get better?"
Li Xiaoxiao nodded emphatically: "It will definitely get better! Just you wait and see, young master!"
Yingchun, carrying a teacup, walked into the inner room. Hearing voices inside, she was startled and quickly went to the inner room. Seeing Li Xiaoxiao standing in front of the young master and talking to him, her face immediately darkened: "Xiaoxiao, what are you doing?"
Li Xiaoxiao turned around and glanced at her: "Oh, I've come to deliver porridge to Lord Meng."
Yingchun was both shocked and furious: "You come out here!"
Li Xiaoxiao had finished taking her medicine, so there was no need for her to stay there any longer. She then followed her outside.
Meng Guanqi reached out to pull her back, but then hesitated because he was worried about Magistrate Meng on the bed. After thinking it over, he decided to stay in the inner room.
Never mind, if what she said is true and Father really can get better, then he can inform Mother and reward her.
Yingchun pulled Li Xiaoxiao back to the kitchen before scolding her: "You have no manners at all! Is the main room a place you can just walk into? What were you doing in there? Why didn't you tell me you were bringing the food? What did you say to the young master?"
Li Xiaoxiao didn't quite understand why she was so angry. She had been at the Meng residence for two months, and Yingchun had never been this angry before. She scratched her head and asked, "Why are you so angry?"
Why is she so angry? Yingchun took a deep breath. Is Li Xiaoxiao really stupid or just pretending?
She had been working in the Meng family mansion in the capital since she was seven or eight years old. She had seen many maids in the young masters' quarters fighting for favor and trying to climb the social ladder. A plate of snacks, a bowl of tea, a purse, or a handkerchief could all be used by these maids to get the young masters to play and frolic with them. The best way was to take advantage of the young masters' ignorance and become their concubines, and then use tricks to ask the madam to promote them to concubines, so that they could escape the life of a servant who served tea, water, clothes, and bedding.
Lord Meng has always been a man of integrity, and Lady Liu has been quite strict with him. Meng Guanqi was fourteen years old, and he still didn't have a single concubine in his room. Not only did he not have a concubine, but when he was twelve, Lady Liu sent away all the maids who had served him since he was a child. She replaced his personal caregivers with young servants, and replaced the maids who swept the courtyard with girls no older than ten. She was afraid that some of these maids might have impure intentions and lead him astray.
Therefore, under Liu's influence, although the maids in the main house all harbored secret feelings for the handsome young master, they dared not even glance at him without the mistress's permission. Each of them appeared upright and loyal. This was because they all knew that whether one wanted to become the young master's concubine or mistress, it had to be designated by the mistress. Anyone who dared to climb into his bed or seduce him would only be arbitrarily dismissed.
To show their loyalty to the lady, the maids of the four households dared not utter a single word to the young master on ordinary days. They had to maintain an honest and dutiful image in front of the lady, hoping that one day she would take a liking to them and betroth them to the young master.
When Yingchun was separated from her husband in the family, she had the opportunity to stay in the capital, but she resolutely refused her parents' offer to stay and insisted on going with Liu to the poor and remote Biyang County. All the maids in front of Madam Bo left, leaving only her as the only one she could trust. When the young master came of age, she would be three years older. As the saying goes, "A woman three years older brings good fortune," and she did not believe that Madam Bo would not understand her feelings.
On the surface, however, she still had to appear loyal and devoted, serving the lady wholeheartedly and acting as her confidante. When Meng Guanqi came to pay his respects, she wouldn't even glance at him, in order to show that she was upright and dutiful.
Who would have thought that a tiger fallen into the plains would be bullied by dogs? The master was demoted to the poor place of Biyang County, and the family fell into poverty. Li Xiaoxiao, who was not even a third-class maid, actually dared to go to the main room to chat with the young master. It was simply outrageous!
So she was so angry that she was trembling all over, and tears were almost coming out. She made up her mind that once the lady calmed down, she would definitely file a serious complaint against her.
As the two were arguing, Mao's mother returned. Seeing them standing in the kitchen like fighting cocks, she asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"
When Guan Lixiao's men returned, Yingchun immediately turned her criticism on Mama Mao, embellishing the story of what had just happened. She then stamped her foot and said, "Mama Mao, have you forgotten the rules of the manor? A kitchen maid dared to sneak into the main room during the chaos and even talk to the young master. Madam will definitely punish you severely if she finds out!"
Madam Mao's eyes darkened: "I understand, Miss Yingchun. It was Xiaoxiao's fault. I will talk to her properly and tell her not to go to the main room unless necessary."
Having achieved her goal of welcoming spring, she gave Li Xiaoxiao a cold look, then strode back to the main house with her head held high.
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