CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: FAINTING (FIFTH UPDATE)

Old Mrs. Luo has been holding it in for several days. A few days ago, Luo Aiguo’s emotions were on the verge of breaking down, and as his mother, she didn’t dare to make a scene at that time.

In the past couple of days, Luo Xuhua has been idling, wandering around without doing any work at home. Even the courtyard was swept by Luo Xuqiang.

Gone for over a decade, not bringing back a single thing. Not even two dates, and now he actually thinks he’s some kind of lord.

These past two days, Qin Hongmei has been grumbling in front of Old Mrs. Luo, saying that it’s one thing Luo Xuhua hasn’t achieved anything all these years, but now he comes back with nothing. He’s back and still not hastily looking for work, just eating, sleeping, and strolling all day.

Old Mrs. Luo was already displeased with him, and with Qin Hongmei’s instigation, it led to the scene at the dining table.

Only Old Mrs. Luo didn’t expect Luo Aiguo to confront her directly, which thoroughly embarrassed her.

Outside, Qin Hongmei heard the commotion inside and was glad she held back from making a fuss, otherwise she would have been the one embarrassed now. Luo Aiguo would at least not hit his biological mother, but with her, it would be a different story.

Once Old Mrs. Luo starts crying and wailing, it’s not easy to stop. Even if you give in to her, she won’t let it go. She’ll continue her tirades and crying all night, bringing up events from decades past, giving everyone a headache.

The first person Luo Aiguo fears is his mother, not for anything else, but for her drama, and the second is Qin Hongmei, fearing her antics.

The family can’t be abandoned, life has to go on, and someone has to compromise. Each compromise only fuels their arrogance. Knowing this tactic works, they’ll keep using it next time!

Luo Aiguo held his forehead, leaning on the table, his head hurting terribly. Luo Xuqiang could only go to soothe Old Mrs. Luo.

A son is the apple of one’s eye, a grandson is the lens. Old Mrs. Luo, when making a fuss, doesn’t care about her "apple," let alone the "lens."

So apart from trying to calm her down, Luo Xuqiang really couldn’t do much.

Luo Xuhua sat silently on the stool, with cries ringing in his ears, memories gradually becoming clear.

He remembers when his mother was alive, she had to face Old Mrs. Luo’s howling and scolding constantly, and was ordered around to do various chores.

In the bitter cold of winter, his mother had to wash basins even in her confinement period. The family had limited water and firewood, and Old Mrs. Luo didn’t allow lighting fires, so she had to use cold water.

In snowy days, when he was ill, and Luo Aiguo wasn’t around, there was no one to care for him. His mother dragged her sick body to take him to Doctor Bei, but at that time, Old Mrs. Luo controlled the family, and his mother couldn’t even produce a penny for the consultation, always having to run a tab that she couldn’t repay.

For Luo Xuhua, this family ceased to exist after his mother’s passing. Luo Aiguo, while not becoming a "stepfather" intentionally, was forced into such a role by family pressures.

Back then, though Qin Hongmei suppressed and persecuted him, it’s impossible that Luo Aiguo didn’t know, and eventually, he was forced to run away from home to save himself.

The noises in Luo Xuhua’s ears became unclear, and his head buzzed, then he suddenly fell to the ground.

As soon as Luo Xuhua collapsed, Old Mrs. Luo’s cries stopped abruptly. Luo Aiguo and Luo Xuqiang hurried over to lift him up, calling to get a car and rush him to Yang Wulang’s place for a check.

At this time, Qin Hongmei lifted the curtain and said indifferently, "Why take him to Yang Wulang’s, don’t we have a doctor in the family? Just take him to Little Tian’er, she just cured Ping’an not long ago."

Taking him to that worthless girl won’t cost money, if she can’t cure him, how is she qualified to run around claiming to be a doctor?

Doctors are so esteemed, a useless girl just happens to get lucky with a dead mouse, and she calls herself a doctor.

Qin Hongmei thought she had a good idea and, afraid that Luo Aiguo wouldn’t agree, added, "It’s not easy to find a vehicle now anyway, just carry him to Little Tian’er and let her take a look."

Luo Aiguo knew she was speaking the truth, having heard from the villagers recently, and most importantly, Yang Wulang had personally told him that Ping’an was cured by Little Tian’er!

So Luo Aiguo decided on the spot to send him to Beisitian.

Luo Aiguo wanted to carry Luo Xuhua, but Luo Xuqiang took over. Even if Luo Aiguo was strong, he was still over fifty, and Luo Xuhua was a large man, so it was better for him to carry.

Father and son, one carrying and the other supporting, quickly went to Luo Er’s family.

Mrs. Qin and Luo Anguo had already heard the commotion from that side, knowing Qin Hongmei wouldn’t easily accept Luo Xuhua; sure enough, it turned into a scene.

Hearing the noise, they thought Luo Xuhua, like before, was heading to them in anger to stay temporarily.

But seeing Luo Xuhua being carried in by Luo Xuqiang, they were startled.

"Quick, let Little Tian’er take a look at what’s wrong with Huazi!" Luo Aiguo, anxious, didn’t bother to say much more.

Luo Anguo and Mrs. Qin saw Luo Xuhua clenching his teeth, his face pale, and cold sweat on his forehead, knowing there was no time to delay, hurriedly called for Beisitian.

Beisitian hadn’t slept and came out upon hearing the noise. Seeing Luo Xuhua’s state, she had them put him on the kang in the east room, pressed the back of his head, then his chest at several acupoints, and subsequently mixed a pack of medicine powder with water, administering it to him.

After swallowing the pack of medicine powder, in about five or six minutes, Luo Xuhua’s breathing gradually stabilized, the cold sweat on his forehead stopped, his complexion wasn’t as frighteningly pale, he turned and fell asleep.

Luo Xuqiang, having often heard Qin Hongmei say Beisitian made things up and had no real skills, subconsciously believed it.

But seeing this, a single pack of medicine powder made Luo Xuhua recover and fall asleep, it surely wasn’t as his mother said, made up.

"What did you give him?"

"A sedative and calming medicine powder to aid sleep," Beisitian said flatly.

This medicine powder wasn’t derived from the Xuan Talisman, but rather some she prepared earlier. The main ingredients were roasted sour jujube seed, arborvitae seed, albizia bark, and licorice, all used for calming.

She often added this medicine powder to soups, which improved Mrs. Qin’s sleep significantly, helping reduce eye strain.

"Why did he suddenly pass out?" Luo Aiguo asked.

"Exhaustion," Beisitian replied.

Hearing this, Luo Aiguo’s nose tingled again; this child must’ve suffered greatly on his way home!

"An Guo, see if Huazi can stay and sleep for the night. I’ll come pick him up tomorrow," Luo Aiguo said to Luo Anguo.

Luo Anguo had no reason to disagree, so he let Mrs. Qin and Beisitian sleep in the west room while he slept alongside Luo Xuhua and Luo Anping in the east room.

With that settled, confirming Luo Xuhua was indeed asleep, Luo Aiguo left.

The next morning, Luo Xuhua awoke early, refreshed and full of energy.