CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 387: A JOB FOUND FOR DAD (1)

"Oh, there are guests today, make more lunch," Mr. Song said towards the back yard.

"Got it," a weary voice responded.

Li Yuzhu couldn’t help but look at the girl again.

The girl sat on a small stool in the backyard, back facing them, picking vegetables. Her back was slumped, showing her poor spirits.

"Yu Zhu, is Mr. Song’s foot injury serious?" Mu Yuanxiu asked at this moment.

Li Yuzhu came back to her senses, "This is not a common sore, it’s caused by another illness."

Mr. Song exclaimed, "Another illness? I am in good health."

Li Yuzhu took out the blood sugar measuring tool and measured Mr. Song’s blood sugar.

The result was as she expected, Mr. Song’s blood sugar was high.

"Recently, does Mr. Song often feel thirsty, hungry, have frequent urgency to urinate, become increasingly thin, see black spots flying before your eyes, sleep insufficiently and feel very tired, right?" She glanced at the little old man, who was short and his cheeks thinly shaped.

The wind blew against the pant legs, fluttering like sails.

Mr. Song was astonished, "Miss, you are completely right. But, is this also illness?"

Li Yuzhu nodded, "Yes, toxins from this illness have moved to the foot, causing the foot to develop toxic sores, which don’t heal for a long time."

Mr. Song was greatly surprised, "I have always been mindful of health, how did I get this illness?" He looked at his foot, full of disbelief.

"When people consume grains, they might have various health issues," Li Yuzhu said.

The causes for diabetes are difficult to explain clearly.

Some cases are hereditary, others are due to neglect of diet, lack of exercise from prolonged sitting, long-term high-sugar, high-fat diets, alcoholism, and unhealthy lifestyles, which can trigger diabetes.

Older people are prone to get it due to aging, causing weakened blood sugar regulation, easily leading to diabetes.

There is also gestational diabetes, but half of the people can self-heal after childbirth, and the other half can be mostly controlled through treatment.

Song Zifu sighed, "Ah, age brings more ailments, it’s just hard for Jinxiu."

He looked towards the granddaughter in the backyard and sighed.

Li Yuzhu felt very sympathetic towards this family’s plight, but she was helpless.

"Mr. Song, don’t worry. Starting medication now can control the illness and the foot injury can heal," Li Yuzhu said, "You are nearly seventy, apart from this minor ailment, you don’t have other illnesses. In our Taohua River Village, those over sixty in your good health are few, most use walking sticks, some are so muddled that they don’t recognize their grandchildren."

Mr. Song, being a teacher, knew well the situation in these two villages.

Li Yuzhu spoke the truth.

He listened and laughed, "Hahaha, that’s true."

People are this way; comparing up brings depression, but comparing down realizing surpassing most, mood then brightens.

Mr. Song didn’t make a fortune, but teaching allowed him to be free from want, compared to villagers farming hard, he lived better.

With Li Yuzhu’s reminder, much of his gloom faded.

Li Yuzhu treated Mr. Song’s foot for external injury and gave topical medicine, along with some medication to suppress blood sugar, and wrote instructions on how to take the medicine. She also wrote herbal prescriptions.

Mr. Song asked about the consultation fee.

This family wasn’t wealthy, only the mutually dependent grandfather and granddaughter, and once the old man fell ill, it relied on the young girl alone to hold the family together. Li Yuzhu didn’t charge much, "You pay eighty wen."

The price was fair, Mr. Song was satisfied, he called his granddaughter, "Jinxiu, give the consultation fee to Miss Li."

"Coming," Song Jinxiu sighed weakly, wiped her hands on her pants, and entered the house.

Without looking at anyone, she entered a side room, shortly returning with a small string of coins for Li Yuzhu, "Here, eighty wen."

Estimating it to be the right amount, Li Yuzhu didn’t count but took it in hand.

She pointed to the medicine on the nearby table and the prescription, addressing Song Jinxiu, "Miss Jinxiu, I’ve written instructions for taking the pills. Also, this is a prescription, get the herbs from the shop and brew them for your grandfather to drink. A dose can be brewed twice, taken twice a day, can be taken alongside the pills, and here is the topical medicine, apply after washing feet in warm water morning and evening, this is a three-day supply, I’ll check again after three days."

"Oh," Song Jinxiu replied blandly.

Mr. Song was displeased with her indifference, with a stern face said, "Jinxiu, how can you be so rude to the doctor?"

Li Yuzhu didn’t mind, smiled, and said, "Mr. Song, don’t scold her, she’s likely tired from walking back, managing everything alone isn’t easy."

Song Jinxiu looked up in surprise, looking at Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu turned towards her with a smile.

"Mr. Song?" From the steps, someone else called.

Mu Yuanxiu looked out and said, "It’s the village chief from Qingshui River Village, he’s also named Song."

"Jinxiu, quickly invite the village chief to come inside and sit," Mr. Song called his granddaughter.

Jinxiu hesitated for a moment, but turned around and walked outside, "Uncle Li Zheng is here?"

Song Lizheng was a short and plump middle-aged man, he smiled kindly and said, "Jinxiu, why haven’t you come to my house to play these days?"

"Grandfather is ill, there are many things at home," Song Jinxiu said with her head down.

"Oh, yes, when your grandfather fell ill, you were the only one inside and outside the house," Song Lizheng shook his head, "It’s been hard on you."

Song Lizheng walked into the room.

Mr. Song invited the village chief to sit again.

"Fourth uncle, why be so polite? We are all from the same family," Song Lizheng waved his hand and found a chair to sit down.

Mu Yuanxiu called out Song Lizheng, and then introduced Li Yuzhu, "Song Lizheng, I’ve invited the doctor, and he has just checked Mr. Song’s foot disease."

Li Yuzhu nodded towards Song Lizheng and also called out Song Lizheng.

Song Lizheng hurriedly waved his hand, "It’s Miss Li, you must be tired, your medical skills are unquestionable, I trust them."

The Li Family is relatives of the County Magistrate, and when the eldest, Li Xingmao, got married, the news spread widely, many from both villages went to attend, and of course, Song Lizheng from Qingshui River Village was no exception.

Li Yuzhu did not recognize him, because there were too many guests that day, but Song Lizheng remembered all the members of the Li Family.

Li Yuzhu guessed this was the case, and smiled as she returned the greeting.

Song Lizheng inquired about Mr. Song’s foot illness.

This is not an ordinary sore wound, it belongs to a chronic illness, it’s unlikely to get better in a few days.

Li Yuzhu explained the situation.

Song Lizheng’s expression turned solemn.

He looked at Mr. Song and said in a deep voice, "Fourth Uncle, it seems that for the next month or half a month, you won’t be able to teach students. One day or two might be alright, but being absent for a month or half a month, the students will definitely demand a refund, which will be damaging to your reputation."

"I have considered this issue too, but in such a short time, where can I find someone to take over? Nephew, do you have a suitable candidate?" Mr. Song asked Song Lizheng.

Song Lizheng didn’t have a suitable candidate.

If he had found someone, he wouldn’t have come looking for Mr. Song.

Already four students’ families are demanding refunds because Mr. Song is elderly, they feel embarrassed to ask directly, so they went to the Li Zheng’s house.

And Song Lizheng and Mr. Song are from the same family.

Song Lizheng shook his head, "Fourth Uncle, if I could find someone, why would I need to come to you? I would have already found someone to teach the students in your place."

While both were in a dilemma, Li Yuzhu said, "Mr. Song, Uncle Li Zheng, if you don’t mind, I’ll go back and tell my father, let him come to substitute teach. Although he is not a scholar, he knows some literature, history, and principles of conduct."

Everyone in the Li Family can read and understand writing, the people of both villages know this.

Li Xingmao and Prince Luling, in their leisure time, even wrote wedding couplets, invitation cards, birthday scrolls, and letters for nearby villagers, earning a bit of money.

Song Lizheng was overjoyed at this suggestion.

"Oh, that’s great, but it will be a bit exhausting for Mr. Li," Song Lizheng said happily.

Mr. Song also said, "I am getting old, if Mr. Li doesn’t mind this task of mine, feel free to take over."

He gradually felt his strength waning, fearing that one day he might collapse in the school, which would be even harder on his granddaughter.

If anything were to happen to him, what would his orphaned granddaughter, who hasn’t been betrothed, do?

Li Yuzhu said, "Then it’s settled, I’ll go home and talk to my father."

With the matter of students studying settled, everyone was very happy, Mr. Song invited Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu for lunch, but Li Yuzhu had to rush back to tell Prince Luling about the substitute teaching, so she politely declined.

Leaving the Song’s house, Mu Yuanxiu drove the mule cart to carry Li Yuzhu back.

He asked, "Yu Zhu, will your father come to teach the students?"

Li Yuzhu snorted lightly, "My mother will insist he does!"

Nowadays, aside from two underage children, everyone else in the family has a job.

Chai Eying has helped draw sketches for everyone, and even now, pregnant, she’s busy making baby clothes, her mother takes care of the children while finding time to make seasonal clothes for the brothers and sisters. Needless to say, each sibling has their own task.

Her father is quite relaxed, just eating and sleeping every day.

No wonder the Great Princess dislikes Prince Luling, saying that more and more fabric is needed for new clothes.

It’s all because of getting fat.

Li Yuzhu’s disdainful tone made Mu Yuanxiu laugh, "I heard you’re all thinking of ways to make Uncle Li exercise to lose weight?"