CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 134: QUARREL AT FIRST SIGHT

The medicine was personally fetched by Song Wei, and upon returning, Song Fang wasted no time and immediately washed the medicine pot and placed it on the stove to brew.

When Wen Wan was three, she drank a lot of bitter herbal concoctions due to a high fever and was no longer afraid of bitterness. However, this medication made her wrinkle her brow instantly; no matter how hard she tried, she could not swallow it and kept wanting to spit it out.

It was truly too bitter, more bitter than all the medicines she had ever taken combined.

Seeing her suffer, Song Wei felt compassion but knew he could not indulge her at such a moment; otherwise, it would all be for naught.

"Wanwan, don’t be afraid. Close your eyes and swallow it all at once, it’ll be fine."

Hearing Song Wei’s voice, Wen Wan slowly eased her tightly furrowed brows, cleared her mind of all thoughts, regarded the bitter medicine as plain water, and with a gulp, drank it all down.

Afterward, she couldn’t help but stick out her tongue, her little face full of distaste.

Song Wei reached over to take the bowl, poured a little bit of plain water into it, and handed it back to her.

Wen Wan looked at it; there was only one mouthful, not even enough to rinse her mouth. She blinked her eyes and looked at him expectantly.

Song Wei understood her meaning and refused, "You’ve just had the medicine; you can’t drink too much water right away. Wait for a while, and then drink."

Wen Wan lowered her eyelids, raised the little bowl, drank that mouthful of water, and the bitterness in her mouth was only slightly diluted. She licked her lips with lingering dissatisfaction.

In this manner, she was like a little kitten that hadn’t eaten its fill.

Seeing this, Song Wei’s eyes involuntarily lifted slightly, a smile tugging at their corners.

——

Xu Shu returned after seeing Doctor Li off.

The small courtyard was already filled with a thick, bitter scent of medicine.

Xu Shu dreaded this smell the most, and scrunched his nose, delaying his entry, wanting to take a breather outside first.

Earlier, Song Fang was concerned the smell was too heavy, so she brewed the medicine outside, bringing the little stove from the main room, and found a brazier, picking a few pieces of burning charcoal to warm Wen Wan.

At this moment, the stove was still under the eaves.

Xu Shu stood there for less than a quarter of an hour and was already freezing. Seeing the little stove unused, he quickly walked over, squatted down, and happily warmed his hands above it.

In the kitchen, where there weren’t enough stoves, Song Fang lifted the cotton curtain and prepared to take the stove inside to cook some soup. She spotted Xu Shu squatting there, warming his hands repeatedly. She rolled her eyes silently, "Hey, hey, if you want to warm yourself, go inside; I need the stove."

Without turning around, Xu Shu knew it was Song Fang, and he didn’t respond, sitting steadfastly, with no intention of moving.

That posture made him look like a parrot perched to sleep.

Song Fang saw he remained silent, and without further ado, she walked over to him and reached for the stove to take it away.

"Hey! It’s just a stove and a few coals, is it really necessary?"

Xu Shu reached out to grab it but accidentally touched the stove’s wall, burning his fingers, and recoiled in pain.

"Why do I dislike hearing you speak?" Song Fang took a scolding stance, "What do you mean ’just a stove and a few coals’? Don’t stoves cost money? Don’t coals need to be bought with silver? Can they grow legs and run into the stove to keep you warm on their own?"

Xu Shu scoffed, "I can’t be bothered with you, always money this and money that; you’re so young yet already have money on your mind, how common!"

"Challenging me, are you?" Song Fang heavily thudded the stove on the ground, tilting her chin, "If you’re not common, what are you doing in our common household? If you’re not common, have some guts and don’t wear clothes, eat food, or ask your parents for money!"

Xu Shu: "...Fine, you’re a woman, you’re right. I won’t stoop to your level; I’ll go warm myself inside so I won’t see you and get annoyed."

Song Fang rolled her eyes, picked up the stove, turned around, and went into the kitchen house.

In the main room, Song Wei and Wen Wan sat by the fire pit.

In snowy weather, the indoor light was dim, so they lit an oil lamp.

Song Wei held a book in his hands, and when Xu Shu entered, he calmly closed it and invited him to sit.

Xu Shu glanced at Wen Wan and asked Song Wei, "Did you all fetch the medicine?"

Song Wei nodded, "Wanwan has already taken it once."

"How is it, any effect?" In high spirits, Xu Shu was particularly curious, wondering what Miss Song’s voice would be like when she spoke. Judging by her obedient and docile manner, it must be pleasant.

"It’s just once, what effect could it have? The old gentleman said that one needs to take it continually for half a month to determine if recovery is possible. It’s not even formal treatment yet; it’s at most testing the waters."

"That’s still better than having no hope," Xu Shu said, "Doctor Li is the best physician I could invite. If there’s anyone better in terms of medical skills, they might be at the Imperial Hospital now, but there’s no way to invite them to treat your sister-in-law."