"Auntie, the medicine is ready," Xia Xiao said as Zheng Xianghong walked in.
"Yeah, it’s still hot," Zheng Xianghong put the medicine bowl aside with a worried look and said, "I just don’t understand why they had to cancel the college entrance exam, sigh."
Zheng Xianghong truly felt it was unfair for her son. He had worked so hard and would have definitely gotten into university, but with the cancellation of the exam, all of his efforts for the past year were in vain.
"Don’t worry, Auntie, maybe they’ll bring it back later. Brother Gao has the foundation, and if the exams are restored, Brother Gao is sure to succeed," Xia Xiao said.
Zheng Xianghong shook her head, "Who knows when they’ll restore it, and with the current cancellation, it won’t be so quick to come back. Ten or twenty years would be early, and if it’s several decades later, no one knows what the situation will be like then, sigh. Jiaxing just isn’t destined to be the top scholar. I only hope he can come to terms with that."
Zheng Xianghong said this and then secretly wiped away tears, "It’s also my fault for harming my child. They always wanted to be soldiers, to apply for military school, but I kept stopping them. Now, Jiaxing hasn’t said anything, but I know he’s been trying hard. I’ve accepted it; if Jiaxing wants to apply for military school, he should. I just never expected that fate would not give him this chance."
Listening to this made Xia Xiao’s heart ache, but there was no use in saying anything more now. She also wanted to ask Zheng Xianghong why, but considering that Zheng Xianghong hadn’t even told her own sons or daughter, she was unlikely to tell her.
Now, they could only hope that Gao Jiaxing would get better and see things differently. Although not able to get into university, a high school education still meant a higher level of education and he wouldn’t find it difficult to get a job.
Xia Xiao sighed softly, thinking that if she had only been with Gao Jiaxing during the last college entrance exam, maybe she could have helped him when he faced difficulties.
"The medicine is cooling, Xia Xiao, help me out here, will you? The child is so stubborn when sick, I had to force it down with your captain’s help last night and this morning," Zheng Xianghong said.
"Alright," Xia Xiao responded and then told Zheng Xianghong, "Auntie, you help Brother Gao up, and I’ll hold the medicine bowl."
"Okay, okay," Zheng Xianghong put down the medicine bowl and went to support Gao Jiaxing, while Xia Xiao came forward to help.
She had already fed Gao Jiaxing the spring water from her space, so this time Xia Xiao didn’t feed him spring water again, but instead helped Zheng Xianghong feed Gao Jiaxing the medicine.
"Brother Gao, time to take your medicine," Xia Xiao found it wasn’t so easy this time as Gao Jiaxing refused to open his mouth.
Zheng Xianghong said, "Xia Xiao, that won’t work, he won’t drink it. You hold him steady, and I’ll force it."
Xia Xiao nodded, propped Gao Jiaxing appropriately, as Zheng Xianghong took the bowl and pinched Gao Jiaxing’s lower jaw, pressed the medicine bowl against his mouth, and even grinded his teeth to pry his mouth open.
Xia Xiao jumped in fright upon seeing this; Zheng Xianghong’s method of feeding medicine was rather fierce but turned out to be immediately effective as Gao Jiaxing’s teeth were pried apart slightly.
Xia Xiao was just relieved when she saw that the medicine Zheng Xianghong fed might have been too bitter, as Gao Jiaxing instinctively resisted, clamping his teeth tightly on the edge of the bowl and refusing to drink any more.
Zheng Xianghong laughed, "This kid has been ever since he was little, always afraid of taking medicine. It’s always tough to force it down."
"Auntie, let me try again," Xia Xiao wasn’t sure she would do any better but Zheng Xianghong’s forceful method was too crude; if Gao Jiaxing damaged the bowl’s edge or chipped a tooth, that could cause trouble.
"You give it a try; I’m all sweaty," Zheng Xianghong said and added, "We’ve got to force it down soon, or else the medicine will cool and its efficacy will diminish."
Xia Xiao nodded, capitalized on Zheng Xianghong’s support of Gao Jiaxing, applied some spring water to Gao Jiaxing’s lips, and said, "Brother Gao, drink some water."
Miraculously, Gao Jiaxing actually opened his mouth. Xia Xiao quickly poured the medicine down, but as soon as Gao Jiaxing tasted the bitterness, he resisted again. However, this time, the experienced Zheng Xianghong moved quickly to force the medicine down.
Phew, the medicine was finally down, and both Xia Xiao and Zheng Xianghong heaved a sigh of relief as they were both sweating.
Zheng Xianghong smiled, "We finally got it down, thanks to you."
Xia Xiao chuckled and shook her head, "It’s thanks to Auntie’s method."
Zheng Xianghong said, "You haven’t seen how your captain and I struggled to feed him medicine. It took reheating the medicine several times before it went down. He hates taking medicine, especially when it’s bitter. Sometimes he even spits it back out after drinking."
Xia Xiao thought to herself, she didn’t like it either, and she feared drinking Chinese herbal medicine. Besides, who knew what was brewed in Zheng Xianghong’s medicine bowl—the smell wasn’t exactly pleasant. She was a bit scared, and it would be odd if Gao Jiaxing willingly cooperated in drinking it.
For half the day, Xia Xiao stayed with the Gao family, helping to prepare meals and even staying for lunch.
Zheng Xianghong took care of Gao Jiaxing and finally, he began to sweat. A smile appeared on Zheng Xianghong’s face.
Come noon, Gao Guoqiang finally returned with a notebook.
"Has Jiaxing’s fever gone down?" Gao Guoqiang asked Zheng Xianghong.
"He just started sweating, and it’s subsided a bit now," Zheng Xianghong said smilingly.
Gao Guoqiang nodded, then asked Xia Xiao, "Educated Youth Xia, are you ready to eat?"
Zheng Xianghong said, "The meal was made by Xia Xiao. You hurry up and eat; you just came back from the brigade. Aren’t you going to the team office later?"
"Captain, why only one book?" She had heard that everyone was supposed to get one.
"Yeah, just two copies," Gao Guoqiang said. "One with Secretary Li, one here with me. Everyone is to copy it and then return it to the brigade."