In the village, for minor ailments, everyone sees Yang Wulang, who is a kind-hearted man. Luo Er's family is quite pitiable. Having a son who brings disgrace rather than honor to the family, he has brought them a lot of criticism. The whole family suffers because of this unfortunate son, yet he doesn't consider the impact of his actions on his family!
Little Tian'er's injuries shocked Yang Wulang. Although a drip was administered, he thought her chances of survival were slim. Unexpectedly, she pulled through!
He heard the commotion from afar, stopped to see Little Tian'er lying on the ground with a face as pale as wax. He was so startled that he dropped the water bucket on the ground and rushed over, his feet barely fitting in his cloth shoes.
"Don't move her! Don't move her!"
Yang Wulang's voice was loud and confident, drawing everyone's attention. Seeing him dash and shout, they knew the young widow was in trouble!
Mrs. Qin was already worried, and hearing Yang Wulang's voice, her heart sank. She kept muttering, "I won't move, I won't move..."
Yang Wulang hadn't brought his stethoscope; it was too late to get it now. So he asked a familiar person to fetch it and looked around.
"I need two strong people!" Yang Wulang glanced at the two nearest women.
In the village, men usually hunt in the mountains while women work in the fields. Those who toil in the soil aren't weak. Although they were reluctant, Yang Wulang is the only doctor in the village, so they had to comply!
The two women, both in their forties, lifted Beisitian at head and foot. Mrs. Qin couldn't help, fearing she'd mess things up, so she stepped back. In doing so, she accidentally knocked over the water bucket, spilling it everywhere, but no one paid attention for now.
Qin Hongmei stood there watching as the group noisily carried the person back, unsure whether to stay or go.
Luo Aiguo, wearing slippers and draped in a jacket, came out, frowned, and asked Qin Hongmei, "What's all the fuss?"
Qin Hongmei heard her husband speak, pursed her lips, her expression a bit unnatural. She turned away and said, "That damned girl Little Tian'er fainted. I'm going to see how she is!"
Luo Aiguo watched Qin Hongmei trot off, puzzled. Didn't she just bring water over? How's this related to fainting?
He shook his head. With Qin Hongmei going, he didn't need to go, so he turned around and went back inside.
Beisitian was carried back, finding it somewhat amusing. If it were truly a relapse of old injuries, being lifted like this would only aggravate them!
Of course, it wasn't a relapse. She used a little trick to make herself seem unwell, doing it for appearances.
When she was carried back to the west room, Luo Anping was holding a washbasin to throw out water in the yard. Seeing so many people suddenly crowd in, he was stunned.
Then, he saw the two women carrying Beisitian in the back. His face turned pale, and he dropped the washbasin; water splashed everywhere, and he didn't notice the mud splattering him.
"What's wrong with my sister!" Luo Anping rushed forward two steps but was stopped by one of the women.
He was blocking the way!
Luo Anping, though pushed away, wasn't upset. He saw that Beisitian wasn't bleeding and sighed in relief.
Remembering two months ago, watching Beisitian, all bloodied, being carried back was a haunting memory. He had nightmares for a long time.
After placing Beisitian on the bed, the two women didn't hurry to leave. They couldn't just go after doing a good deed; they had to wait for a 'thank you' at least!
Yang Wulang followed them in, stood by the bed, and observed Beisitian's complexion. He had sent someone to fetch the stethoscope; although nearby, it took about ten minutes round trip. He could only rely on his eyes for now.
Beisitian lay still, and soon the stethoscope was brought over. Curious, she glanced over.
Seeing Yang Wulang hang the hook-like instrument over his ears, with a yellow rubber tube below, and holding what seemed to be a metal disk with his right hand. He placed the disk on her body, his expression focused and serious.
Beisitian lowered her eyes slightly, outsiders couldn't tell how she felt. Her attention was entirely on that strange item.
This thing is called a stethoscope, supposedly invented by Western doctors, used to listen to the sounds inside the body. It's somewhat similar to taking one's pulse but doesn't seem as accurate. Should be okay for minor ailments.
Yang Wulang listened for a while, feeling perplexed, then checked Beisitian's eyelids and asked her a few questions. Though her voice lacked vigor, she seemed okay, even better than over a month ago.
After pondering for a long time without finding an answer, Yang Wulang concluded that Beisitian's fainting was caused by her frail body.
"With such a weak body, how can she still carry water!" Yang Wulang frowned and said to Mrs. Qin in the outer room.
Behind Mrs. Qin was Qin Hongmei, who quickly caught up with her.
Before Mrs. Qin could say anything, Qin Hongmei heard and sneered, muttering, "It's not like she carried the water, but she's the one acting all fragile!"
Yang Wulang glared at her and said, "Auntie, a hundred days to heal from tendons and bones injury. Her severe wounds were just two months ago; being able to walk is already an achievement. Asking her to carry water now is practically a death sentence!"
Mrs. Qin listened and nodded repeatedly; she'd said this long ago.
Qin Hongmei snorted, turned her head away, saw the two women's gaze with something uncomfortable in them and had to say, "I didn't know at the time. Doctor Yang, you're a doctor, but we're just common folk. We don't understand this, so I came quickly to check on her!"
Yang Wulang snorted, "No work for half a year. Aunt, let her recover properly. If there's nothing else, I'll be off now."
"Should I get some medicine?" Mrs. Qin quickly asked.
"No need, just let her rest more." Yang Wulang thought of the unfinished task of delivering water and hurried off.
Mrs. Qin didn't hold him back any longer but escorted Yang Wulang out before returning to the west room.
Qin Hongmei disgraced herself and was about to leave when she ran into Mrs. Qin.
"Aunt, it's not that we don't want to help; it's just we're unable to. Tomorrow I'll talk to mother and ask her to delay it."
Qin Hongmei, already sour-faced with a disrupted errand, didn't say much more and left with a note to discuss with the elder lady.
With Qin Hongmei gone, the two women left amidst Mrs. Qin's profuse thanks. Beisitian sighed in relief; all she wanted was for Yang Wulang to say those words ensuring Qin Hongmei couldn't order her around for six months, allowing her to recuperate properly.