Free Web NovelChapter 221: Chapter 221: The Terrible Reality
The Director’s expression remained as benevolent as ever.
But to Su Li, he looked like a terrifying demon.
She backed away step by step, pointing toward the clinic as she asked in a trembling voice.
"Are you saying I don’t have the right to take Little Mo back? That I’m not qualified to take him away?"
Su Li’s expression was so grief-stricken that the Director couldn’t bear to look. He averted his gaze and nodded.
"Yes."
"In fact, Nurse Yang is more qualified than you are. She’s a nurse, while you..."
...are nothing.
’I’m nothing at all anymore.’
The moment her relationship with Tang Yuanxiao had ended, so had any formal connection between her and Little Tang Mo.
Little Tang Mo called her "Mama," but in reality, she was no different from any of the other wives.
In this moment of utter chaos and desperation, the Director’s words made Su Li finally recognize a truth she had to confront.
Legally, she and Little Tang Mo no longer had any connection.
As far as Little Tang Mo was concerned, she was now an outsider.
"Let Tang Mo receive treatment here. If it’s really an infectious disease like you say, taking him elsewhere wouldn’t be right. If you don’t trust Doctor Yang, find another doctor. He isn’t the only one we have."
Having made his point, the Director left.
He didn’t actually believe Su Li would let Little Tang Mo die from the fever. That was just wild speculation from the other wives who didn’t understand the situation.
Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao were already divorced, so this wasn’t a case of a cruel stepmother who couldn’t stand her stepson. He knew Su Li was genuinely worried about Little Tang Mo’s condition and wanted to get him treated.
However, regardless of whether her claims about an infectious disease were true, it was still unreasonable for her to take Little Tang Mo away. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
After all, just as he’d said, Su Li and Little Tang Mo no longer had any legal ties. In Tang Yuanxiao’s absence, it was their responsibility to care for his child.
Little Tang Mo had to stay within the compound.
The Director left, asking Aunt Chang to handle the situation.
Among the families, Aunt Chang commanded both authority and respect. When she spoke, not only did Yang Xiangyun have to listen, but even Doctor Yang had to pay attention.
Aunt Chang conferred with Grandma Cui. It was decided that Grandma Cui would make the appeal, while Aunt Chang would make the final call, ordering Yang Xiangyun to open the door and bring Little Tang Mo out.
"Nurse Yang, open the door. Give the child back to Little Mo’s grandma and Su Li."
From inside, Yang Xiangyun sounded like she was about to cry.
"Aunt Chang, I didn’t mean to! I was just scared something would happen to Momo! I was worried the fever would cause permanent damage."
Aunt Chang glanced at Doctor Yang. "Including today, you’ve been treating Tang Mo for four days, and he’s still not better. That means even after giving him medicine to reduce the fever, a recovery isn’t guaranteed. You can’t promise you can make him well."
"Su Li saw that something was wrong and proposed her own opinion and treatment plan. What’s wrong with that?"
Though she seemed to be speaking to Yang Xiangyun, her words were really directed at Doctor Yang. "You wouldn’t listen to her. Su Li was worried and wanted to take him to the Imperial City for treatment, and in response, you heap all this blame on her and snatch Tang Mo away."
The ever-gentle Aunt Chang let out a cold laugh. "Su Li just said that if she takes Tang Mo, she’ll be responsible for him. You snatched him away. Can you be responsible for him?"
The sound of Yang Xiangyun’s muffled sobs came from the office.
A few of the army wives looked on with pity. Even Miao Zhi, who had been the most vocal earlier, was now just pouting angrily. She didn’t dare argue with Aunt Chang, so she settled for shooting Su Li a venomous glare.
Su Li couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge her, or more accurately, she simply didn’t have the energy.
Grandma Cui’s face was etched with anxiety. "Nurse Yang, please give me back my grandson."
Yang Xiangyun’s tearful apology floated out. "Aunt Cui, I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m just so worried about Momo, and I don’t trust Su Li..."
She kept crying but refused to open the door, insisting that only she could be trusted.
Aunt Chang sighed and turned her gaze directly to Doctor Yang, who had remained silent the whole time.
"Doctor Yang, even if Yang Xiangyun is your niece, you shouldn’t cover for her like this. Tell her to open the door."
Doctor Yang’s expression darkened. "Since you’ve said your piece, I have nothing more to say. However, before that door opens, I need to make myself clear."
He shot Su Li a cold glare. "Once that door is open, I’m washing my hands of Tang Mo. Whether he lives or dies will have nothing to do with me!"
Su Li couldn’t help but sneer at his words. "To hear you talk, you’d think his life and death had something to do with you before."
If Su Li had felt even a shred of respect for Doctor Yang before Yang Xiangyun took the child, his behavior afterward had erased it completely, leaving only disappointment.
’He sounds so high and mighty, but he’s just shirking responsibility and refusing to admit he was wrong.’
’Everything I said, he took as a challenge to his medical expertise. All he wants to do is reject it all outright. He never even considered my words; he’s only worried about his own pride.’
"Open the door!" Su Li’s expression was glacial. "I will bear the responsibility for Tang Mo’s life or death. Me."
Doctor Yang’s face was livid. "Xiangyun, open the door."
Yang Xiangyun finally opened the door.
Su Li shot her a cold look, then went inside and carried Little Tang Mo out in her arms.
Yang Xiangyun, her face etched with worry, started to follow Su Li. Seeing this, Doctor Yang immediately barked, "Xiangyun, get back here."
"Uncle, I’m worried. I need to go watch him."
Yang Xiangyun took a deep breath. "Don’t worry, I won’t interfere. I’ll just watch her."
’I’ll just see if Su Li takes good care of Little Tang Mo.’
After saying her piece, Yang Xiangyun lowered her head and followed them, enduring the strange looks from the other wives. Miao Zhi stomped her foot, also feeling uneasy, and tagged along.
"Aunt Chang, the Director said there are other doctors here. Could you recommend one? I’ll go get him."
Su Li said to Aunt Chang on the way back, holding Little Tang Mo in her arms.
"I’ll go get him for you," Aunt Chang said, patting Su Li’s shoulder. "Don’t worry. Doctor Yang is just the resident doctor for the family quarters."
"Thank you," Su Li said.
Aunt Chang quickly returned with another doctor, a very young man.
He was familiar with dengue fever, and after hearing Su Li’s suspicions, he agreed that her theory was plausible.
However, he couldn’t be one hundred percent certain it was dengue fever, so they still had to follow the procedures the Director had laid out.
Colds and fevers spread every year, so a bit of caution was understandable.
The same would apply even if many other people fell ill soon after.
Su Li listened calmly. Ignoring Yang Xiangyun and Miao Zhi in the living room, she did what needed to be done for the boy, then took the opportunity while the doctor was there to step out.
Su Li made a phone call.
She called Yu Zhengqing, who was interning at a television station.
’The situation is dire and critical. I have to pull some strings to make them take this seriously.’
"Senior Yu, it’s Su Li. Listen, I’ve discovered something... The address is Changwei Town in Dingkang County. I suspect the scope is the entire town, but we can’t rule out the whole of Dingkang County..."
"If you can, try to get people from the epidemic prevention station to come with medical experts..."
"Okay. I’ll be waiting for you all."
Su Li hung up the phone and exhaled slowly.
That afternoon, Little Tang Mo’s high fever finally broke again. At the same time, Yu Zhengqing and the others arrived.
