Chapter 583: Chapter 583 Doctor Chapter 583: Chapter 583 Doctor Mo Xiuzhi led Mo Shaoxing and Doctor Xu into the firewood shed.
Madam Ruan was lying on the ragged wooden bed, lifelessly still, with no sound to indicate whether she was dead or alive.
“Oh dear! Sister Xiuzhi, why is your mother sleeping in such a dilapidated place?” Mo Shaoxing looked around the firewood shed.
The shed contained nothing but a narrow, rotting bed plank, some firewood, and a few pieces of dried cow dung. The environment couldn’t be worse–just stepping through the doorway, one was assaulted by a pungent odor.
“My dad kicked my mother out, not allowing her to sleep in the room. I had no choice but to bring her here.
As Xiuzhi spoke of this, she was overwhelmed with distress. Today had brought more suffering than the sum of her hardships over the past decade.
Mo Shaoxing: “Don’t be sad; this too shall pass.”
Doctor Xu set down his medicine chest and moved forward to take her pulse.
Although he was a doctor, he still observed the propriety between men and women. He couldn’t lift Madam Ruan’s clothes to examine her wounds, but he did check the injuries on her face and head.
“Her injuries are quite severe, and I’m afraid the medicine I have here won’t help. I’ll write a prescription, and you can buy the ingredients in town tomorrow. But I must tell you, they are valuable herbs and somewhat pricey. With these, however, your mother will see some effectiveness,” Doctor Xu said to Mo Xiuzhi, as he picked up a brush and with vigorous strokes, penned down the prescription.
He then left behind a jar of ointment for the wounds and began to pack up his medicine chest to head home.
Mo Shaoxing reached into his sleeve to take out some silver to pay for the medicine, but Doctor Xu stopped him at once, “Scholar Mo, by doing so, you’re slapping the face of old Duan. Really, it’s just a jar of ointment, not much silver involved. There’s no need to pay.”
“How can that be? You’ve made a trip here for nothing.”
“It’s fine, we’re all villagers here. If I can help, I will.” Doctor Xu was actually a good person. Just a bit too straightforward, and he particularly detested Old Lady Mo’s behavior, which led him to dislike everyone from the Mo family.
Indeed, for over a decade, Old Lady Mo had enjoyed brutally beating her daughters-in-law. This was no secret in Mo Family Village. Back when Madam Xie was staying with the Mo family, she was subjected to severe beatings every three days and minor ones daily. Bruises were a common sight on her body. Old Lady Mo was reluctant to invite a doctor unless her life was at a critical stage, and even then, she begrudged paying with silver. She would often insultingly accuse him of poor medical skill, charging exorbitant fees, leading the villagers to question him. Because of this, Doctor Xu harbored a particular distaste for Old Lady Mo.
After seeing Doctor Xu off,
Mo Xiuzhi wanted to apply the ointment to Madam Ruan, but Mo Shaoxing remained there, unmoving, so she couldn’t undress her mother in front of Shaoxing. She was forced to stand still.
Madam Ruan had remained still since they arrived.
After observing for quite some time, Mo Shaoxing finally eased his worry. He wrapped his arms around Mo Xiuzhi from behind and buried his head in her neck, taking in a deep breath and savoring the youthful fragrance that was uniquely hers.
“Brother Xing, please don’t do this. My mother is still here,” Mo Xiuzhi said uneasily, twisting her body and stealing glances at Madam Ruan on the bed.
“She’s unconscious! It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not okay. We’re at home, and it would be terrible if someone found out.” Her mother had just suffered; she couldn’t afford a similar fate.
“Alright then!” Mo Shaoxing reluctantly lifted his head from her neck and, looking tenderly at Mo Xiuzhi, said, “I’ll wait for you in the grove tonight.”