The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 176 - 175: She Didn’t Catch Some Disease Out There, Did She?
"There’s no use saying all this now. All we can do is wait for the Liu family to feel some regret. Otherwise, there’s nothing I can do."
Mrs. He was filled with regret, slumping onto a nearby seat and sighing endlessly.
That evening, Daya suddenly began to convulse. Her lips turned blue and she started foaming at the mouth. Only then did Liu Jian Country and He Yun finally become frightened. As He Yun shrieked, Liu Jian Country scooped up Daya and rushed outside.
Mr. and Mrs. Liu heard the cries and ran outside. They saw Daya, still convulsing relentlessly in Liu Jian Country’s arms, the foam around her mouth growing thicker.
Mrs. Liu shrieked, "What’s going on? How could a simple fever turn into this? She didn’t catch some disease while she was away, did she?"
Even as she spoke, Liu Jian Country had already run a good distance away, still carrying Daya.
Mrs. Liu felt a sense of dread. ’Looking at Daya’s condition, there’s no telling what might happen. If she really dies, then we’re finished.’
"He Yun, hurry over to your parents’ house and get your brothers! It’s obvious Daya caught some disease while she was away. Our Liu Family can’t take the blame for this. You have to make your third brother’s family compensate us."
Xue Yue and her family were in the middle of dinner when they heard a series of urgent knocks at the door.
"Open up! Hurry, open the door!"
Xue Yue looked at He Lang. "It sounds like He Yun."
He Lang got up and went to open the door.
The moment He Yun saw He Lang, she unleashed a torrent of accusations. "He Lang, what in the world did you do to my daughter in Beijing City?"
He Lang’s brow furrowed. "What’s that supposed to mean? Explain yourself."
He Yun’s voice cracked. "Daya collapsed right after you left today! Just now, she started convulsing and foaming at the mouth! She must have caught some disease while she was away!"
He Lang looked at He Yun as if she were a lunatic. "Is your head stuffed with shit? If Daya’s sick, you rush her to the hospital to see a doctor!"
"She’s already there. We don’t know what’s wrong with Daya yet. You have to take responsibility for this."
"What responsibility? Wasn’t she perfectly fine when you came and took her home? Now that something’s happened, you come looking for me? You should be thinking about what kind of life Daya’s had since she went back."
He Yun was taken aback by He Lang’s words.
He Lang didn’t want to waste any more words on this fool. He went back inside, gave Xue Yue a quick update, then took He Yun to the town hospital on his bicycle.
He was worried about Daya, too. Seeing her for himself would put his mind at ease.
When He Lang arrived, Daya was already on an IV drip but hadn’t woken up yet. Liu Jian Country was the only one in the room.
He Yun glanced at Daya and asked Liu Jian Country, "What did the doctor say?"
Liu Jian Country glanced at He Lang and said in a low voice, "The doctor said she caught a cold, and the fever caused a seizure. If we’d brought her in any later, the fever might have left her with brain damage."
He Yun looked startled for a moment, then lowered her gaze to Daya, her expression complex.
’He Lang sighed inwardly when he saw that Daya’s face was still flushed bright red. He had no idea what the poor girl had been through these last few days. This wasn’t a homecoming; it was more like walking into a wolf’s den.’
He Lang went to find the doctor. From what the doctor said, her fever had spiked to over forty degrees. Whether there would be any lasting effects would depend on her condition when she woke up.
He Lang couldn’t rest easy seeing the situation, so he stayed at the hospital overnight. He Yun, worried about her son at home, went back.
Early the next morning, Mr. He, Mrs. He, and He Nan all rushed to the hospital.
It turned out that when He Lang didn’t come home all night, Xue Yue, unsure of the situation, had gone to get Mr. He and the rest of the family.
After He Lang explained Daya’s condition, Mrs. He sat by the bedside and started wiping her eyes, looking at her granddaughter.
Mr. He asked Liu Jian Country, "Has your family really reached the point where you rely entirely on Daya to support you? Can’t you survive without her?"
Liu Jian Country’s expression stiffened. "No," he denied.
Mr. He said gruffly, "Then why are you so fixated on tormenting Daya? She’s still just a child!"
"Daya is my granddaughter! What do you mean, ’fixated on tormenting her’?" Mrs. Liu barged in, fuming.
Mrs. He’s anger flared the moment she saw the old shrew. "What kind of family works their own granddaughter like a servant? And now look! You nearly killed the child."
Mrs. Liu spat. "My granddaughter was perfectly fine when she left our house! It was your son who took her to Beijing City and let her catch who-knows-what disease! And you have the nerve to blame us? I’m telling you, this isn’t over. If Daya doesn’t make it, you will be held responsible. You’ll owe the Liu Family a life in compensation!"
"Heh heh, the girl is still alive, and you’re already demanding a life as compensation? You must be insane for money."
Mrs. Liu glanced at Daya on the bed. "Even if she’s alive, you still have to pay up. Who knows what’s wrong with her?"
Liu Jian Country, his face flushed red, shouted at Mrs. Liu, "Mom, that’s enough!"
Mrs. Liu shot him a glare. "I’ll say what I want. Am I wrong?"
He Lang said, "Sorry to disappoint you, but the doctor said Daya’s high fever and seizure were caused by catching a cold. And as for why she caught a cold, I’m sure you know the reason. What kind of family dresses a child in such thin padded clothes in the dead of winter? Besides, didn’t He Yun fill you in when she went home last night? Or did they just let you out to start biting people first thing in the morning?"
"Who are you calling a dog?" Mrs. Liu snapped.
When He Yun had gone home last night, Mrs. Liu was already asleep. This morning, Mrs. Liu had rushed to the hospital as soon as she woke up, without even seeing He Yun yet.
He Lang stared straight at her, his meaning obvious.
Mrs. Liu, humiliated and enraged, whipped her head around to look at Liu Jian Country, only to see him flush red and lower his head.
Mrs. Liu finally realized she had been mistaken, but she would never admit it.
"Since Daya’s illness has nothing to do with you, then get the hell out. The Liu Family doesn’t need you meddling in our affairs."
He Nan clenched his fists, desperately wanting to beat the old hag.
Just as Mr. He was about to speak, the door to the room was pushed open from the outside.
A nurse walked in and glanced at the people in the room.
"This is a hospital! What are you all arguing about so early in the morning? Liu Daya’s family, yesterday’s bill hasn’t been paid. Go and settle it."
And with that, she left.
The moment Mrs. Liu heard the word "money," her eyes darted around before settling on He Lang.
He Lang knew exactly what she was thinking. He said nothing, simply keeping his eyes on Daya.
Only then did Mrs. Liu notice that Daya was awake. The girl’s eyes were fixed right on her. Mrs. Liu froze.
She quickly took two steps forward. "Daya, how are you feeling? You’re all better, right? See? I told you it was just a fever. Nothing to worry about. You have no idea, you scared us to death when you fainted yesterday. Since you’re fine now, let’s go home! Your mom and everyone are waiting."
When Mrs. Liu finished, she saw that Daya hadn’t even blinked. Her vacant eyes were fixed in one direction, completely still.
The He family sensed something was wrong. Mrs. He called out, "Daya—"
Daya slowly turned her head toward Mrs. He. Her gaze was vacant as she looked at her grandmother. Then, her mouth slowly stretched into a grin, and a trickle of drool ran from the corner of her lips.
At this sight, it wasn’t just Mrs. He who was dumbfounded. Liu Jian Country staggered, nearly falling over, and then scrambled to find a doctor.
