Zhou's mother couldn't help but shrink her neck, and dared not make any more noise.
Inside the house, Zhao Di woke up.
Pandi looked at her with surprise and was about to call for help when Zhaodi gently shook her head and asked softly, "Are Mother and the others outside?"
Pandi nodded and whispered, "Big sister, should I call Mother and the others in?"
"No, no, let me think about it first," the pain all over her body made Zhao Di's thoughts even clearer.
She thought of her father holding her down and beating her while her mother watched. She couldn't understand why obedience was so important, even more important than life itself.
Zhou Zhaodi knew better than anyone how dangerous this situation was for her.
She thought she wouldn't make it through. She didn't expect to have another chance. One time was already a blessing from God. If she had to go through it again, she'd probably be struck by lightning.
What was she thinking at that time? That's it, she won't owe her parents anything anymore.
Unexpectedly, her aunt came to her rescue. In fact, in her dazed state, she could hear some of what was being said outside. Now, she could be considered saved, right?
However, when she thought about facing her parents outside, Zhao Di wanted to hide herself under the covers.
When Shen Banxia came in, she saw that he was about to move and quickly stopped him, "Don't move. You have needles stuck in your body. For now, don't think about anything. The sky isn't going to fall."
Zhao Di closed her eyes with relief, and she had an idea in mind, but she didn't know if her aunt would be willing to help her.
Outside, Zhou's mother felt it was too cold. Looking at Zhou's father, she said, "Old man, it's getting late. I need to go back and cook."
Zhou Mingjiao also felt cold and said, "Dad, I'll go help Mom."
Mr. Zhou was also worried that it would be awkward if Mrs. Zhou started arguing again, so he nodded.
Zhou's mother looked at Li Erya again, "Second son's wife, come back with me. We won't get anything out of this by staying here. It's good that you can go home and help with the cooking."
Li Erya was about to agree subconsciously, but thinking of her eldest daughter, whose fate was still unknown, she mustered up the courage to object for the first time, "Mother-in-law, I, I still have to watch over Zhaodi. If she, if she comes out and can't see me, she will, she will be afraid." She spoke haltingly, and cold sweat broke out on her back.
Zhou's mother rolled her eyes at her, and was about to start cursing when Zhou's father glared at her and said, "Alright, alright, keep watch, all of you keep watch. I don't believe that I, as a grandmother, can't discipline my granddaughter."
At this moment, she felt that the eldest son's wife must have lied to her.
Clearly, she had forgotten Zhao Di's pale face and convinced herself otherwise.
After Zhou's mother left with Zhou Mingjiao, snowflakes began to fall heavily.
Mr. Zhou couldn't help but stomp his feet. He was getting old and couldn't take it anymore. His eldest daughter-in-law was also heartless; she wouldn't let them in if she said she wouldn't allow it.
"Second son, you two stay here. I'll go back and check on things. I'll have your mother cook something nice and bring it over to you."
"Um".
Mr. Zhou walked away with his hands behind his back.
The inner room.
Pandi looked at her eldest sister, who had already fallen asleep, and remembering her aunt's instructions, she touched her eldest sister's forehead again; it was burning hot.
"Auntie, my sister's forehead is burning hot, what should I do?"
Shen Banxia gave her the decocted medicine, but Zhao Di didn't swallow it.
Pandi is too young to be of any help.
"Pandi, call your parents in."
With the help of Zhou Lao Er and his wife, they finally managed to get the medicine down their throats.
However, he vomited it up as soon as he ate it.
Shen Banxia quickly performed acupuncture, and after a lot of effort, Zhao Di finally stopped vomiting.
Looking at Zhou Lao Er and his wife, he said, "Remember to pay attention to the temperature of your foreheads, and also remember to wipe them with warm water."
After explaining everything, Shen Banxia realized with a start that it was already past lunchtime.
Looking at Zhou Lao Er and his wife, as well as Pan Di, it was clear that the little bit of food Zhou Mingqian had prepared that morning was far from enough.
Shen Banxia took out rice and eggs, and some sweet potatoes, and handed them to Li Erya.
"Second sister-in-law, could you please cook some porridge for me and put two eggs in it? When Zhaodi wakes up, she can eat it. Cook a lot so that she can have some for now."
Because of the hunger that comes with pregnancy, even though we've moved, the clinic still keeps some rice and flour. There's also a coal stove inside, which Zhou Mingqian found himself. It looks shabby on the outside, but it's still usable.
Zhou Mingqian was skillful and used wire to wrap around the outside.
Li Erya looked at Shen Banxia awkwardly, "Sister-in-law, no, it's not necessary. They will send it over."
"Zhao Di will be hungry when she wakes up."
Li Erya couldn't refuse any longer, but she decided to put in less rice later, and she and her husband wouldn't eat it.
My sister-in-law and her family already didn't have enough food, and they weren't given any by the family.
However, my older brother now has a permanent job, which is definitely enough to support the family, unlike them.
Realizing she had been thinking too far ahead, Li Erya quickly took the bag and went outside.
The room that Shen Banxia used as her bedroom is now being used as an "operating room".
As for the blankets, they're still the same old ones, since I spend most of my daytime hours in the clinic.
Zhou Mingqian won't be back until evening.
After it was all done, Zhao Di woke up, ate a little, and then fell asleep again.
Li Erya looked at Shen Banxia with a hesitant expression.
"It's alright, it's normal. Sleep is good for recovery. You can stay here and keep watch tonight. You can eat first, but there aren't enough bowls or chopsticks, so you'll have to take your time." Shen Banxia also planned to spend the night in the clinic.
The Zhou couple refused, but Pandi ate some of it instead.
Shen Banxia didn't try to persuade her further, and simply placed two sets of bowls and chopsticks there.
Meanwhile, at the Zhou family's side, Mr. Zhou asked Mrs. Zhou to take some of the prepared food to her second son and his family.
"What? No way, doesn't the eldest daughter-in-law need to eat too? Eating one meal of hers won't bankrupt us. Besides, I didn't even cook for them, so there's no extra food to deliver."
Zhou's father thought about it and agreed; his eldest daughter-in-law would never let her second son and the others go hungry.
The Zhou couple waited and waited, but nothing came. In the end, they managed to eat a couple of bites, which eased their burning hunger a little.
In the evening, Zhou Mingqian returned. Zhou Lao Er lowered his head, not daring to look at his elder brother.
"Second brother, what stupid thing have you done now?" Zhou Mingqian asked without any politeness.
"It's nothing."
"It's nothing yet. I'm telling you, you want to be a dutiful son, but you're dragging your wife and daughter into it too. You're really something, letting people beat you up."
Zhou Mingqian really didn't understand how his second son developed this personality.
Yes, it's not wrong to be filial to your parents, but not every decision your parents make is right. As an adult man, and the pillar of your family, why can't you have some of your own judgment?
Zhou Lao Er lowered his head even further after being scolded by his elder brother.
Zhou Mingqian became increasingly disgusted. "All you do is keep your head down. Your daughter is almost dead. I think Zhao Di is really unlucky to have you as her father."
"Big brother, I'm sorry."
Zhou Mingqian instantly felt like he had swallowed shit; what kind of situation was this?
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