Transmigrated Leftover Woman in Rural Style

Three days later, under Qi Ji's guidance, Li Xiaogang changed into the designated clothes and underwent a thorough disinfection before finally seeing his father. His father had regained consciousness, but was still quite weak and unable to speak.

Li Xiaogang told his family, "Dad has a tube inserted into his hand, and they're putting some kind of nutrient solution and disinfectant into his body. The room he's in is very clean and refreshing; apart from the smell of medicine, there's no other smell at all. Dr. Jing said that in ten days, Dad can move back to his original place, and then we can all go see him."

Upon hearing this, Madam Su clasped her hands together and prayed to the Bodhisattva. Finally, she discussed with Li Xiaonuan, "I prayed to the Bodhisattva for your father's safety. Once he recovers, we'll prepare a grand ceremony to fulfill our vow. What do you think we should prepare?"

Helpless, Li Xiaonuan suggested, "A pig's head, a chicken, a duck, and a goose. The clay figurines of livestock on Linshui Street are very realistic, so we can have them make a whole sheep. Then a large basket of fruit and various kinds of snacks."

After thinking about it, Madam Su felt that it was about right, so she added, "That's all for now, just add another twenty taels for sesame oil."

After saying that, she went out to tell her best friends the good news. Li Xiaoyang leaned over to Li Xiaonuan and teased, "Look how generous our mother is. If it were before, we wouldn't even be able to afford a pig's head. Now, she doesn't even flinch at the extra twenty taels for incense oil."

Li Xiaonuan smiled and said, "As long as Mom is happy. Anyway, we don't need those twenty taels now. Besides, is twenty taels more important than Dad? Mom is at peace now; wealth and status are just fleeting clouds."

Li Xiaoyang nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, Mom is only being generous now that she feels at ease. Sister, make some pancakes tomorrow morning, I need to go to the fields to weed the rice seedlings."

Li Xiaonuan agreed and instructed, "Go and find Xiaogang and his mother. We should have dinner soon."

Li Xiaoyang responded and went out, and Li Xiaonuan then entered the kitchen. Su's medicine was already brewed, so Li Xiaonuan took the medicine pot out of the stove. She added a few pieces of firewood to the bottom of the pot of braised pork ribs with soybeans, and peeled two loofahs to make loofah and egg soup later. The greens were amaranth salad.

The food was served, but the Su family hadn't returned yet, so Li Xiaonuan went to the door to look. Outside the open bamboo fence gate, a woman dressed in worn-out coarse linen clothes hesitated and lingered.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiaonuan stepped forward and asked, "Auntie, who are you looking for?"

The sudden sound startled the woman. After calming down, she looked at Li Xiaonuan and exclaimed excitedly, "Xiao...Xiaonuan, you scared me to death! Where's your mother?"

In the dim light of the sunset, Li Xiaonuan took a closer look at the woman and, combining her memories, finally figured out who she was.

"Second Aunt, why don't you come inside? Come in quickly, my mother and the others haven't returned yet. Please come in and sit for a while."

The woman rubbed her empty hands, feeling embarrassed, and said, "Look, I didn't bring anything with me, I'm so sorry. Um, I came in a bit of a rush today, I'll make it up to you next time."

Li Xiaonuan said nonchalantly, "It's alright, Second Aunt doesn't need to bring anything. Besides, we're family, so it's fine if you come. Why bring anything?"

Aunt Li Xiaonuan knew that her second aunt was rather gentle. Her second uncle had a violent temper and would often slap her at the slightest disagreement. He was also a heavy drinker, and whenever he was drunk, he would beat his wife and children.

Of course, aside from his alcoholism and domestic violence, my second uncle and his wife are generally good people. Although my second uncle often makes mistakes due to his drinking and leaves the family in a mess, they still take the initiative to help Li Xiaonuan's family whenever they can.

For the past four years, the only family Li Xiaonuan could feel warmth from was her second uncle's family. But in the last two years, her second uncle has become increasingly unruly. Five out of ten days he's drunk and unconscious.

When Uncle Li was healthy, he could use his authority as the eldest brother to keep Uncle Li in check, preventing him from drinking too much and abusing his wife and children. But after Uncle Li fell ill, with no one to keep him in check, Uncle Li became even more outrageous.

Because he was always scolded every time he came to visit Li's father, he gradually stopped coming. He would always have his second aunt or cousin Xiaoqian come instead. The last time his second aunt visited Li Xiaonuan's house was on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. They had slaughtered a pig for the New Year and were bringing the meat to Li Xiaonuan's family for the celebration.

Five months later, Li Xiaonuan noticed that her second aunt looked older. The sorrow on her face had become etched lines, and her clothes were increasingly worn. Something must have happened in the past few months.

Li Xiaonuan asked her second aunt, Tang, to sit down in the main room and poured her a bowl of jujube tea. Tang took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp, clearly thirsty. Li Xiaonuan poured her another bowl. This time, Tang finally tasted the flavor.

"Xiao Nuan, this is water infused with red dates, right?"

Li Xiaonuan replied, "Yes, my mother isn't feeling well. The doctor said she should drink more jujube tea. I brew a big pot of it every day, so it's fine for you to drink a few more bowls."

Tang put down her bowl, somewhat at a loss, and said, "Xiao Nuan, your second aunt only just found out that you fell into the water and got sick, and also that your engagement was called off. I haven't been able to come and see you before, so please don't blame your second aunt."

Li Xiaonuan laughed and said, "Second Aunt, what are you saying? I'm perfectly fine. By the way, Second Aunt, did something happen at home? What happened to you?"

In the past, even when life was tough, Second Aunt would always dress neatly and look radiant when she went out. Her two older brothers were well-off and often helped her out. But today, Second Aunt seemed out of sorts, and besides, the clothes she was wearing were clearly old and had been worn for several days.

Tang opened her mouth several times, but hesitated to speak. Finally, Li Xiaonuan simply took her hand and said, "Second Aunt, we are family. What can't we say to each other?"

Tang gritted her teeth and finally spoke: "Xiao Nuan, your second uncle is sick. Ever since the New Year, after he got drunk, he has often been in so much pain that he can't get out of bed. We called a doctor to come and see him, and they all said to quit drinking and take some medicine to treat his liver. But you know your second uncle, as soon as he feels a little better, he starts drinking again."

“He was bedridden last month. To raise money for his medical treatment, I offended both of my sisters-in-law. I knew your fourth uncle had some money, so I went to borrow some. But when your fourth uncle came to see your second uncle, he only left one tael of silver. He said that Xiao Jun needed a lot of money for private school, and that was all he could lend.”

“But your second uncle’s illness is really too serious. In order to alleviate his pain, I have to buy some good medicine. Now, apart from the two acres of land and the house, I have sold everything else to buy medicine for your second uncle.”

"But your second uncle is like a man who forgets the pain once he's healed. He was barely able to get out of bed the day before yesterday when he went out drinking again. And look, he fainted right there at that scoundrel's house. Now, your second uncle has been unconscious for two whole days. Last night he was just vaguely crying out in pain, and today he can't even swallow rice porridge."

“I know your family isn’t doing well either. But your second aunt really has no other choice. I’ve asked everyone I can today. They all say that someone like your second uncle would be better off dead. Waaah~ I… I just came to try and see if you… could help me… think of a way. Waaah~ Your three cousins ​​are still so young.”