Chapter 028 - Intruder at Night
Li Yuan felt like he was on the brink of death, his mind foggy, his forehead burning hot as he coughed uncontrollably.
Auntie Wang helped boil some water, and Yan Yu wiped him down, changed him into clean clothes, and settled him on the bed.
With no doctor in Little Ink Village, she handed Auntie Wang a large copper coin to hire one from the nearby township.
It was a long wait before the doctor finally showed up, and even then, he stood there looking impatient, like he wanted to leave the moment he arrived.
Sensing his attitude, Auntie Wang pulled Yan Yu aside to explain that the doctor hadn’t wanted to come all this way. She had only persuaded him by offering two large coins as a house-call fee.
Realizing the situation, Yan Yu promptly produced yet another coin to give to the doctor.
Auntie Wang looked on, feeling the sting in her chest. Three large coins was more than enough to feed them for half a month. This fee was outrageous.
At last, with the money in hand, the doctor sat down to examine Li Yuan. He said, “It’s not a specific disease. He’s just severely malnourished and exhausted. Judging by his condition, he’s also badly shaken by something. As a hunter, he probably tangled with a tiger or a bear in the mountains. That sort of shock could easily bring him to this state.”
Yan Yu froze. A tiger or a bear? Her husband had tamed a tiger before. How could he be frightened of one now? Yet she couldn’t help wondering what on earth he’d seen that terrified him this much.
Memories of Li Yuan’s plan to head into the distant mountains flickered through her mind, sparking a chill in her heart. Folktales about ghosts and spirits were all too common in villages like theirs. Pushing aside her unease, she asked, “Doctor, what should I do for him now?”
“Have him drink porridge for nourishment. Once he’s stronger, you can think about supplements.”
“Should we start him on medication?”