Free Web NovelChapter 216: Chapter 216: Strange
She bought five or six popsicles, all in plastic wrappers, and a bottle of rubbing alcohol.
The popsicles were for cold compresses, while the alcohol could be used for a rubdown or sponge bath, both effective ways to bring down a fever.
Besides those two items, Su Li also managed to buy some meat and vegetables on her way back.
’He can’t keep going without eating; it’s terrible for his immune system. I have to find a way to get him to eat something.’
Su Li was a skilled and versatile cook, and Little Tang Mo loved her food. She was confident that he would at least eat a little of whatever she prepared.
While she was shopping for groceries, Su Li kept catching a whiff of something putrid. It seemed to drift in on the wind, coming and going.
"Ma’am, have you been smelling that rotten odor? It comes and goes."
The woman selling vegetables nodded. "How could I not? It’s giving me a headache. It’s coming from the ditch over there."
The woman looked thoroughly fed up. "It started about half a month ago. A lot of the pigs in town got sick and died, one after another. Everyone just threw the carcasses in that ditch, and now with the sun being so hot, it’s started to stink."
An old man nearby chimed in, "It’s not so bad here since we’re a ways off. Get any closer and the stench is so bad you can’t breathe. Nobody goes over there anymore. I hear you feel like throwing up the moment you get near, and you can hear the flies BUZZING from a mile away."
As the man and woman continued to lament, Su Li frowned and bid them farewell.
’How could they dispose of dead pigs like that, especially in this heat...’ Su Li muttered to herself as she hurried back to the family housing compound.
When she reached her front door, she found it ajar. The sound of Little Tang Mo vomiting came from inside. Su Li’s expression changed instantly. She dropped her things and rushed in.
"Is Little Mo throwing up again?"
As Su Li entered, she saw Grandma Cui holding a basin while Nurse Yang, whom she had met once before, was cradling Little Tang Mo and gently patting his back.
Hearing Su Li return, the nurse glanced up for a moment before her gaze returned to Little Tang Mo, her face etched with concern.
"Mama..." Hearing Su Li’s voice, Little Tang Mo lifted his head and let out a weak cry before retching again.
This time, what came up splattered all over Yang Xiangyun’s arm.
Su Li rushed forward. "I’m so sorry, Nurse Yang! It got all over you. Here, let me take him." fгeewebnovёl.com
Su Li reached for Little Tang Mo as she spoke.
"It’s nothing." Yang Xiangyun didn’t even glance at Su Li. There wasn’t a hint of disgust or impatience on her face; her eyes were only for Little Tang Mo.
"Momo, don’t cry, don’t cry..." she cooed, rubbing Little Tang Mo’s back, her face full of distress for him.
Su Li remained frozen, her hands still outstretched, as she watched Yang Xiangyun gently soothe Little Tang Mo.
Little Tang Mo’s retching gradually subsided. Su Li breathed a sigh of relief, retracted her hands, and hurried to get a cup of water.
"Nurse Yang, I’ll take it. Your sleeve..." Before Su Li could finish, Yang Xiangyun had already taken the water from her and was helping Little Tang Mo rinse his mouth.
Her movements were incredibly practiced.
After Little Tang Mo finished rinsing, Yang Xiangyun handed the cup back to Su Li, her attention still fixed solely on the boy.
"You must feel awful, huh? Momo, lie down and get some rest."
Yang Xiangyun’s actions were gentle and skillful, her voice soft and tender.
Standing to the side, Su Li couldn’t help but blink. ’The way Yang Xiangyun acts is so full of maternal love. She’s just like a mother.’
After lying down, Little Tang Mo’s eyes lit up when he saw Su Li, and he silently mouthed the word ’Mama.’
Before Su Li could respond, Yang Xiangyun answered first. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Good boy, Momo. Close your eyes and rest for a bit." She felt Little Tang Mo’s forehead. "He’s still burning up."
With a frown, she then replaced the damp towel on his forehead.
The whole process was smooth and seamless. Little Tang Mo didn’t resist at all, lying there obediently while gazing longingly at Su Li.
Noticing Su Li’s expression, Grandma Cui explained, "Nurse Yang has been helping take care of Momo for the past two days."
Su Li hummed in acknowledgment and turned to take the cup out of the room.
Yang Xiangyun carefully tucked Little Tang Mo in, whispered a few gentle words of advice to him, and then got up to leave the room.
"Nurse Yang, thank you for your help. If it’s convenient, you can leave your soiled clothes with me. I’ll wash them and return them to you."
Su Li said, feeling a bit awkward.
"No need, I can just wash it when I get home." Yang Xiangyun glanced at her sleeve, then smiled and greeted Su Li properly.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t even greet you properly just now. I was so focused on taking care of Momo."
"Uh," Su Li said, suppressing her awkwardness. "I’m the one who should be sorry. I just stepped out to buy a few things. I didn’t expect Little Mo to wake up and need your help."
"It’s no problem. We’re not strangers, after all." Yang Xiangyun checked the time. "Sigh, quite a few people in the housing compound have a cold. I have to get going soon, but let me run you through a few things to keep in mind."
"Okay, please do," Su Li nodded.
Yang Xiangyun went over a long list of instructions in painstaking detail, but she still looked worried.
"You have to call me if anything happens. I’ll come check on him as soon as I’m free. Tonight, I’ll make some congee and bring it over for Momo."
Suppressing a strange feeling, Su Li politely declined. "There’s no need to trouble yourself, Nurse Yang. I know how to make congee. I can take care of Little Mo. You should get some rest."
"You’re being too polite. It’s no trouble at all. I’ll bring it over tonight," Yang Xiangyun said with particular sincerity.
Su Li was taken aback for a moment, and Grandma Cui quickly interjected.
"Nurse Yang, we really can’t trouble you any more. You’re so busy all day... Su Li can handle it. She knows best what Little Mo likes to eat."
Yang Xiangyun seemed to pause at that. "Oh, right. I’m sorry, ma’am. I’ve been so busy these past few days, my brain’s a little fried."
"It’s no problem. Thank you for all your hard work." Grandma Cui politely saw Yang Xiangyun out.
The moment the door closed, Grandma Cui turned to Su Li and explained, "That Nurse Yang seems to be a naturally warm-hearted person. I’ve heard she’s very good to all her patients and very responsible."
She might as well have said, ’Don’t get the wrong idea.’
Su Li hadn’t expected this side of Grandma Cui’s personality—so afraid that she would misunderstand something about Tang Yuanxiao.
She gave an embarrassed hum of agreement. "That’s very rare indeed."
As she replied, she quickly grabbed the popsicles and rubbing alcohol she’d bought and went into Little Mo’s room.
"Mama, where did you go?"
Little Tang Mo asked the moment he saw Su Li.
"I went to buy popsicles to put on your forehead," Su Li said. Remembering what happened last time, Little Tang Mo managed a small smile.
Su Li got to work, applying cold compresses and giving him an alcohol rubdown. After a while, Little Tang Mo’s high fever finally dropped a bit, and he wasn’t throwing up as often.
"I don’t feel as bad anymore, Mama." Little Tang Mo’s spirits seemed to have lifted slightly.
"Mm, that’s good. Now you need to drink lots of water, and then I’ll go make you something delicious to eat."
Little Tang Mo had sweated so much; it was crucial for him to rehydrate.
Su Li fed him the water herself, and Little Tang Mo managed to drink it down.
Watching from the side, Grandma Cui felt a mixture of relief and sorrow.
She was relieved to see how patient and meticulous Su Li was, and Little Tang Mo’s reliance on her and his obedience were clear signs that her grandson was living a good life.
The sorrow, of course, was for her own daughter, who had passed away too soon to see Little Tang Mo grow up.
In the afternoon, once Little Tang Mo’s condition had stabilized and he had stopped vomiting, Su Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. She left him in Grandma Cui’s care and went to make dinner.
The meal Su Li cooked worked wonders. Though he hadn’t wanted to eat at all, Little Tang Mo did something unprecedented that evening: he finished a whole bowl.
This made Grandma Cui absolutely ecstatic.
