CHAPTER 359: CHAPTER 347: DON’T BORROW TROUBLE (1)

"Should we talk about this?" Li Yuzhu asked Sister-in-law Chai.

Sister-in-law Chai glanced in the direction of Old Mrs. Zhao’s courtyard, "Let’s not mention it for now. There are many Zhao family members present today. Even if we say something, it would be difficult for our cousin-in-law to take it back, and it might not be good if it spreads."

"Why would the old lady do such a thing?" Eldest Young Master Chai couldn’t figure it out either.

Li Yuzhu nodded, "Then I’ll wait for Sister-in-law Chai’s arrangements."

"Miss Li, I invited E Ying to bring you all to the county for a visit, but this matter came up instead. I really feel bad," Sister-in-law Chai apologized.

Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "It’s nothing. If Old Mrs. Zhao doesn’t take it back, I might get a tael of gold."

They had morning tea snacks and lunch at the Zhao family, but still didn’t receive an invitation from Old Mrs. Zhao to speak with them.

Sister-in-law Chai had no choice but to ask the Chai family matron for permission, then took everyone back from the Zhao family.

.

Li Yuzhu stayed for another day at Chai Eying’s brother and sister-in-law’s place before returning to the County Magistrate’s Wife.

When she left, she took Guoguo and Li Jing with her.

Chai Eying had been working hard for many days, and it was time for her to rest.

Initially, Chai Eying wasn’t assured about her taking the two children away and kept persuading her.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Spring’er is here to help, so Sister-in-law, feel free to take a couple of days to rest."

Chai Eying reluctantly agreed.

However, by the next day, Chai Eying sent Uncle Gui with a message, saying that Old Mrs. Zhao had contracted a strange illness and asked if she wanted to visit.

Li Yuzhu was surprised, "Wasn’t Old Mrs. Zhao still very lively the night before last? How did she suddenly become ill?"

The night when everyone celebrated her birthday, Old Mrs. Zhao was full of life and looked nothing like a sick person.

Uncle Gui shook his head, "Yes, everyone is quite puzzled. Miss Li didn’t explain much to me, just said she wasn’t acting quite right and suggested that if Miss Li had some time, she could go and check. The Zhao family is wealthy; the consultation fee they would give you certainly won’t be small."

Li Yuzhu returned to the County Magistrate Mansion, intending to find an opportunity to talk to the County Magistrate’s Wife about Lord County Magistrate’s affairs. After all, one could consider it private matters, and being a little girl, it’s not easy to bring up. Just as she hesitated, Uncle Gui came over.

Well then, she’ll set aside the magistrate’s affairs for now and visit the Zhao family instead.

Just for the tael of gold that Old Mrs. Zhao promised her, she ought to take a look.

"Alright, I’ll go and see."

Li Yuzhu informed the County Magistrate’s Wife, then took the two children and Chun’er, returning to Chai Eying’s brother and sister-in-law’s shop.

Chai Eying was upstairs, playing chess with her little nephew, Chai Tianlang.

The little one didn’t know how to play chess and was just goofing around.

Chai Eying was patient, playing with him without sticking to the rules.

When Li Yuzhu went over, she saw the aunt and nephew using black and white chess pieces to make drawings.

"Sister-in-law." Li Yuzhu stepped forward.

"Mom!"

"Aunt!"

Guoguo, holding Li Jing’s hand, ran toward Chai Eying with laughter.

Chai Eying smiled as she came over, hugging the two children, one on each side.

"Were you naughty at Uncle Lixing’s place?" Chai Eying teased the little ones.

"No." Guoguo shook her head.

"We behaved well." Li Jing added.

Spring’er saw a jug on the table, took a cup, and poured water for the two children.

It was hot, and the kids drank water heartily after walking outside for a while.

Spring’er smiled, "Drink slowly, drink slowly."

She knew Li Yuzhu had something to discuss, so she took the three children aside to play.

Chai Eying found a moment to step away.

She took Li Yuzhu to the corridor outside, where it was quiet without the children’s noise.

"Sister-in-law, you sent a message with Uncle Gui. I asked him about Old Mrs. Zhao’s condition. He said he wasn’t very clear. What’s going on? Sister-in-law? The night before last, wasn’t she still fine when I saw her?"

"She seemed fine, but actually, not so well." Chai Eying explained, "This morning, my sister-in-law and I went to see her, and found her in the garden with her pants down, urinating, even though she’s a sixth-rank Mrs.! There were still many people around at that time! Everyone was just stunned."

Chai Eying kept shaking her head, looking extremely shocked.

Li Yuzhu widened her eyes, "Did you see this with your own eyes, or did the servants tell you?"

"We saw it with our own eyes. Otherwise, why would I be so surprised and ask Uncle Gui to inform you?" Chai Eying shook her head, "Also, when people asked her why she relieved herself in the garden, she denied it and wanted to punish the housekeeper lady who asked her. The expression on her face didn’t look like she was joking, but was rather serious."

"..."

"Apart from this incident, Old Mrs. Zhao inexplicably cried and made a fuss. She was clearly sitting in her own bedroom, but in a momentary daze, began to wail that she couldn’t find her home. The Zhao family is discussing, saying she’s got a strange illness, maybe hit something, or something bad has possessed her, making her sometimes confused, sometimes clear."

Li Yuzhu frowned and contemplated.

"When things got chaotic, she stopped eating and drinking, lying there with a blank stare. The Zhao family matron was very anxious and sent someone to invite a witch and a Daoist." Chai Eying said, "Yuzhu, what kind of strange illness is this?"

She certainly didn’t believe in being possessed by spirits and ghosts.

Li Yuzhu shook her head and sighed, "It’s not some strange illness; it’s that she’s old and a bit muddled."

If she guessed correctly, Old Mrs. Zhao had Alzheimer’s disease.

Commonly known as senile dementia.

At seventy years old, with little exercise, good nutrition, and obesity with high blood pressure, the elderly are particularly prone to this disease.

If Old Mrs. Zhao indeed had this condition, then the unusual birthday money packets they received could be explained.

People with cognitive impairment, during an episode, can’t distinguish things, and just mess around, putting money in just like that.

And then, she happened to give these packets to them, to Chai Eying and others.

The other visitors to the Zhao Mansion didn’t receive packets from Old Mrs. Zhao, so theirs was normal, all having ninety-nine coins.

Chai Eying was astonished, "Is she senile? But...aren’t some people not like this? In Taohua River Village, there are quite a few elders older than her, why aren’t they like this?"

"..."

"Those old folks still work in the fields. My neighbor’s grandfather, at my old house, still weaves baskets to sell at the market. He never makes a mistake with prices, even when haggling."

Li Yuzhu said, "On the contrary, people who are poor rarely get this disease. Poor people have to worry about making a living every day. They’re always laboring, keeping their minds sharp. Families with money, with neither lack of food and drink nor toil or worry, might stop thinking over time, and gradually become like Old Mrs. Zhao."

Chai Eying seemed to grasp it partially, "Oh, is that how it is? Then, can this illness be treated?"

Li Yuzhu shook her head, "No cure."

In that modern world, there was no drug that could cure or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Some medicines could only temporarily alleviate memory loss and cognitive dysfunction to help improve a patient’s condition and ease symptoms.

To put it bluntly, they can only make the patient’s life more dignified.

Chai Eying sighed in disappointment, "Can’t be cured, huh? I thought it could be treated, so when I came back from the Zhao family, I immediately asked Uncle Gui to send you a message."

Li Yuzhu said, "Although it can’t be cured, the condition can be alleviated a bit. If left untreated, the patient will not only suffer, but those caring for her will also have a hard time. For example, she might relieve herself anywhere."

Indeed, for a sixth-rank Mrs. to relieve herself anywhere, talking nonsense, in a notable family like the Zhao’s in a county town, if this spreads, the Zhao family would lose face entirely.

Chai Eying realized, "If she continues like this every day, the Zhao Family will certainly have headaches. I’ll go talk to the elder sister-in-law and see when she plans to visit the Zhao family again, and take you along to see her."

"Alright." Li Yuzhu nodded.

Chai Eying immediately went downstairs to find Sister-in-law Chai.

Sister-in-law Chai, upon hearing that Li Yuzhu would check on Old Mrs. Zhao’s condition, was very pleased.

She promptly came to see Li Yuzhu, "Although the old lady is just my great aunt from two generations back, my brother and Eying managed to set up this shop in the county thanks to her, and I need to repay this kindness."

Eldest Young Master Chai’s parents passed away early and his stepfather didn’t care much for him.

Old Mrs. Chai still cared for Eldest Young Master Chai, but was simply a rural elder, and beyond looking after her living conditions, couldn’t help with other issues.

Moreover, Second Master Chai withheld the property and wealth from the first family, and the old lady didn’t help Eldest Young Master Chai to reclaim it.

After Eldest Young Master Chai got married, life was difficult.

They borrowed some money, came to the county to make a living, but being unfamiliar with the area, everything was difficult.

Since the Zhao family lived in the county for decades, they were very reputable in town.

When Sister-in-law Chai approached Old Mrs. Zhao, without a second thought, she offered them a spare old shop from their household.