CHAPTER 1333: CHAPTER 680: FORCING MEDICINE DOWN

"What does a family live for, isn’t it just to be happy together? Please, sir, find a way to cure my grandma. No matter how much it costs or how much trouble it takes, we are all willing... If my grandma can be healthy and happy, only then can we as children and grandchildren have a good life."

"Please help us, sir. My father and brother aren’t here, and my mother’s health isn’t good. It’s just me at home, and if I can’t handle this well, I wouldn’t be able to explain when my father returns... My father and brother both praise your medical skills, saying you’re better than the doctors in the big city pharmacies. You must have a way, sir."

Doctor Li, being both flattered and pleaded by Lian Manman, couldn’t say no. No adults were at home, just a young girl being put through the wringer, running back and forth. Anyone would feel compassion. Besides, Doctor Li knew quite a lot about the Lian family’s affairs and had always respected and liked Lian Manman.

"Please, sir, think of a way for my grandma first, and then could you please take a look at my grandpa? I noticed he didn’t look well today," Lian Manman added.

"Alright." Doctor Li agreed readily. If he had any hesitation before, seeing Lian Manman’s concern for Old Master Lian, he no longer hesitated.

Doctor Li took Lady Zhou’s pulse again and prepared to write a prescription.

"The old lady has too much heat," Doctor Li said while prescribing, "We’ll need Coptis root, which is especially expensive."

"I don’t mind the cost, as long as it cures the illness. Please prescribe a bit more," Lian Manman immediately replied.

The price of Coptis was high, and Lian Manman certainly knew it. A little Coptis required quite a bit of silver; moreover, just a bit of it would be exceedingly bitter. Doctor Li was straightforward, and Lian Manman felt quite pleased. She thought Doctor Li must have had enough as well. In the past, when Lady Zhou pretended to be sick, Doctor Li’s prescriptions were always very cheap. This alone showed he was an upright person.

Even if Doctor Li hadn’t mentioned it, Lian Manman had in mind that once Doctor Li wrote a prescription, she would send someone to buy medicine and add more Coptis into it herself, so that Lady Zhou would truly suffer some bitterness.

The reason Lian Manman thought of this tactic was that every time Lady Zhou pretended to be sick, Doctor Li’s medicines were not only inexpensive but also useless and harmless—once, the main ingredient was even hawthorn, making it a nearly hawthorn tea-like concoction. Just out of courtesy, it wasn’t directly prescribed as hawthorn pills.

Therefore, Lady Zhou’s pretending to be sick wasn’t really a secret. After looking at the prescriptions a few times, the pharmacy attendants understood everything. Doctor Li might not speak of it, but the pharmacy attendants couldn’t care less.

"Boil two bowls of water into one thick bowl; take it once after breakfast, and if taken properly, the old lady’s illness should greatly improve within two days," Doctor Li said as he finished the prescription.

Lian Manman took the prescription and couldn’t help but cast another glance at Lady Zhou lying on the kang, wondering how many bowls of medicine it would take for her illness to get better.

Doctor Li then took Old Master Lian’s pulse and prescribed a standard remedy.

Lian Manman handed the two prescriptions to the young attendant, telling her to immediately buy the medicine. She stayed in the old house to wait. When the attendant returned with the herbs, Lian Manman had Xiao Qing help Lady Chiang brew the medicine, while Lian Yeye, sensing something from Lian Manman’s demeanor, volunteered to help as well.

Soon, Lady Zhou’s medicine was ready—a full bowl of dark, thick decoction.

"This is good medicine, Doctor Li reminded earlier not to waste it. In my grandma’s current state, she’ll flail around with any movement, so feeding her bit by bit might not work. How about we do it while it’s hot..." Lian Manman whispered to Lady Chiang and Lian Yeye outside the room.

"Then let’s pour it," Lian Yeye said decisively, "When my dad drank medicine, he complained about the bitterness, so each time, he pinched his nose, tilted his head, and downed the whole bowl. My dad said it didn’t taste bitter that way."

"Let’s do that," Lian Manman nodded immediately.

"Who will help hold the old lady in place so she doesn’t move around?" Lian Manman looked around and her gaze fell on Lady He.

Soon, Lady Zhou would struggle; Lian Manman feared she, Lady Chiang, and Lian Yeye wouldn’t be able to hold her down. Lady He was solidly built and strong.

"I’ll do it, I’ll do it," Lady He, having been instructed by Lian Shouyi to ingratiate herself with Lian Manman, eagerly stepped forward to help.

A few of them went inside, pushed Lian Lanlan aside, and helped sit Lady Zhou up. Surprisingly, Lady Zhou was very compliant, occasionally letting out little hums from within.

Perhaps she had grown fond of the hawthorn ’soup’ from her past feigned illnesses and thought this time’s medicine was also sugary water.

Lady He sat behind Lady Zhou, tightly holding her from behind. Lady Chiang held Lady Zhou’s legs to prevent her from kicking about. Lian Yeye jumped onto the kang wearing shoes and squatted in front of Lady Zhou, exchanging a glance with Lian Manman as she joined her.

Lian Yeye reached out and pinched Lady Zhou’s nose tightly. Naturally, Lady Zhou’s mouth opened.

Lian Manman inwardly chuckled maliciously, pinched Lady Zhou’s chin with one hand, and held the bowl with the other, pouring the medicinal decoction into Lady Zhou’s mouth. Lian Manman didn’t pour quickly, as this was a precious medicine bought with their hard-earned money; it ought to be savored thoroughly by Lady Zhou.

As soon as the medicine poured into Lady Zhou’s mouth, she started to struggle. However, against all of them, she couldn’t break free. Lady Zhou wanted to shout, but with both her nose and mouth blocked, she naturally couldn’t make a sound.

Once the bowl of medicine was poured down, Lian Manman reckoned that Lady Zhou had swallowed it all, and signaled Lian Yeye to quickly retreat to a safe distance.

"Murder, murder," Lady Zhou shrieked weakly once her nose and mouth were freed, taking a few gasps of air.

"Seems like my grandma’s illness still isn’t cured. She’ll need more medicine," Lian Manman said quietly.

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The third update, an additional 300 for pink points.

Almost at 400 votes, thanks, everyone, for the tremendous support today. Keep asking for pinks, 450 pinks, 600 pinks...

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Recommending Ruoyan’s completed book: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles" light house fight farmland tale, the mundane family affairs, grudges, and entanglements in a large mansion.

Book number: 1771214

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