Chapter 86: A Family Departs
The next day, Wei Chengchao went to find Han Lei, only to be told that she was out.
After Han Lei took Yang Haibo on a tour of the brewery, she went with them to the Yang Family Village. The main purpose of personally visiting Yang Haibo’s home was for a home visit.
Upon entering the Yang Family Village, passersby greeted the two of them along the way. From these villagers’ greetings and chats, Han Lei sensed that Yang Haibo was renowned in the village as a filial son.
His mother was a hardworking and humble rural woman. Years of labor and the grief from his father’s death at the hands of a noble family caused her to fall ill.
The village’s old traditional doctor had seen her many times, boiling pot after pot of herbal remedies, but her condition showed no improvement. This made the already impoverished tenant family even more clouded in despair.
Yang Haibo dedicated his days to caring for his mother and traveled around selling goods while seeking any means to cure her illness. Yet, in this isolated little village, what miracle could happen?
"Mother, mother, I’m home." Yang Haibo shouted as he pushed open the rotting wooden door of the thatched hut, his words filled with inconcealable joy.
During his days in Songyang Town, he and Tang Xiaotong gradually became familiar with Da Wu’s group of brothers.
According to Da Wu, they were saved from the brink of death on the battlefield by Miss Han.
Miss Han’s medical skills are exceptional. Now that his mother could receive Miss Han’s treatment, they didn’t know when they had accrued such a blessing.
Han Lei followed Yang Haibo into the dilapidated dark hut and immediately frowned. The room was dim, filled with an indescribable odor.
Ms Yang lay in bed, her face sallow, eyes lifeless. A twelve or thirteen-year-old girl sat by the bed, feeding Ms Yang a porridge made from wild vegetables and unknown ingredients.
On the floor beside the bed lay a pair of shoes woven from palm fiber, obviously belonging to Ms Yang.
Upon hearing Yang Haibo’s voice, the girl’s eyes lit up, and she stood up happily.
"Brother, brother, you’re back?"
"Xiaomei, I brought you some goodies." Yang Haibo raised the few paper packets in his hand, shaking them a little, then asked, "How’s mother doing?"
Yang Xiaomei, who was originally quite happy, lost her smile upon hearing the question about her mother.
"Not so well, mother’s still the same."
Ms Yang’s eyes finally focused a bit, she turned her head to look at Yang Haibo, her voice extremely weak.
"Haibo, is that you?"
"Mother, it’s me."
Yang Haibo set down the paper packets, quickly went forward, squatted by the bed, and holding Ms Yang’s hand, pointed tearfully at Han Lei.
"Mother, there is hope for your illness. I was fortunate to meet Miss Han. She is not only kind but also a doctor who can bring the dead back to life. She will definitely cure your illness."
"Yes, godmother! Miss Han’s medical skills are excellent." Tang Xiaotong also quickly squatted by the bed, looking at Ms Yang as if she were his own mother.
Ms Yang’s gaze turned to Han Lei, who gave her a slight smile, feeling a twinge in her nose.
She hadn’t expected Yang Haibo’s home to be like this. No wonder he and Tang Xiaotong would risk stealing wine. Despite being a family that could barely make ends meet, they took in an orphan like Tang Xiaotong. Evidently, this was a household of accumulated virtue!
"Auntie, my name is Han Lei. I know a bit of medicine, and maybe I can cure your illness." Han Lei squatted down to meet Ms Yang’s eyes.
"Young lady, forget it. But, but still... thank you, we... we don’t have silver to pay for the medicine."
Ms Yang, noticing Han Lei’s rather fine clothing, instinctively tried to refuse.
In fact, Han Lei didn’t want to be too conspicuous when she went out, so she wore a simple dress Zhao Zun bought for her in Beiguan. But even such clothing appeared quite valuable in the eyes of poor people.
"Auntie, don’t worry, I won’t charge you any silver." Han Lei said, taking the bowl from Yang Xiaomei and handing it to Yang Haibo. "Mother shouldn’t eat this anymore; it’s not nutritious. First, take some pork from the carriage to cook some soup, then add some minced meat to make porridge for mother. Her diet needs to include some meat."
Before coming here, Han Lei had already put some pork and rice in the carriage.
Originally, it was meant as a gift to Ms Yang as a first meeting gesture, but unexpectedly, it became her first prescription now.
"Alright!"
Yang Haibo agreed and was about to get up to make porridge when Tang Xiaotong held him back.
"Mr. Yang, stay with godmother; I’ll do it."
With that, Tang Xiaotong got up and went out.
Watching Tang Xiaotong’s sensible back, Han Lei became more determined in her thoughts.
Now that she had come to this era, she would strive to ensure these poor people could lead good lives.
"You two also go out! I’ll treat auntie here." Han Lei waved to Yang Haibo and his sister, signaling them to leave.
Han Lei stepped forward, lifted Ms Yang’s eyelids, observed carefully, gently pressed a few acupuncture points, and asked about her symptoms. Once Yang Haibo and his sister were out, she took a set of equipment from the space.
First, she measured Ms Yang’s blood pressure and heart rate with instruments and then applied a seemingly ordinary ointment on Ms Yang’s abdomen, massaging gently. Initially resistant, Ms Yang gradually relaxed upon feeling the coolness brought by the ointment.
In a preliminary diagnosis, Ms Yang had no major issues, just suffering from overwork, malnutrition, poor immunity, and emotional distress.
The prolonged lack of improvement was due to the village doctor prescribing cheap, ordinary herbs, which weren’t very effective for her condition.
Han Lei administered some nutrient solutions and symptomatic medications to her, confident that with improved nutrition, Ms Yang’s health would gradually recover.
After packing the equipment, Han Lei opened the door to let Yang Haibo and his sister inside.
Seeing the needle in their mother’s hand and the bottle of liquid hanging high, the siblings were amazed and curious. Besides drinking the dark traditional medicine, this was their first time seeing such unusual treatment.
Yang Xiaomei was about to speak, but Yang Haibo quickly stopped her with a look. Stifled, Yang Xiaomei obediently stood behind Yang Haibo.
Han Lei glanced at the already sleeping Ms Yang and spoke proactively, "Don’t worry, auntie is just asleep now. I’ve given her medicine, and when she wakes up, she’ll feel much better."
"Thank you, thank you, Miss Han." Yang Haibo thanked repeatedly.
"Thank you, Sister Han." Yang Xiaomei also said timidly.
Han Lei smiled slightly, glanced around the impoverished grass hut, and sighed lightly.
"Yang Haibo, your mother’s condition requires long-term care; staying at home isn’t convenient. Once Tong finishes cooking the porridge, bring your mother and sister to the brewery for recuperation! You can stay by my side to learn while taking care of them. Once auntie’s condition improves, take them to the Capital City."
"Alright! Thank you so much, miss."
Yang Haibo, filled with gratitude, pulled his sister and knelt to kowtow to Han Lei.
Han Lei gently assisted them in standing, "Get up! From now on, we’re all family; there’s no need to kneel at every turn in front of me."
At this moment, Tang Xiaotong brought in the cooked meat porridge, and Ms Yang was still asleep.
Han Lei took a thermal lunchbox from the space, filled it to the brim, and gave Yang Xiaomei the remaining porridge to eat directly.
Yang Xiaomei ate while crying, having forgotten the last time she had meat.
Since Yang Haibo’s family would be leaving with her, Han Lei decided that while Yang Xiaomei was eating, she would have Tang Xiaotong and Yang Haibo distribute the pork and rice they brought to the neighbors.
Then, they lifted Ms Yang onto a carriage, and the group returned to the county’s brewery.