The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 177 - 176: Gone Stupid?

Mrs. Liu stepped forward to get a closer look at Daya. Suddenly, Daya’s hand shot out, grabbed Mrs. Liu’s hair, and pulled hard.

Mrs. Liu shrieked in pain, "Let go, you wretched girl! You’re killing me!"

After a frantic struggle, Mrs. Liu saw the lock of hair in Daya’s hand and was in so much pain she almost slapped her.

Just then, Liu Jian Country came in with the doctor.

Daya tilted her head, one hand stuffed in her mouth, and stared at the doctor, gnawing on her fingers.

The doctor gave Daya a brief examination, but seeing her current state, he became uncertain.

Liu Jian Country timidly asked the doctor, "How is she?"

The doctor shook his head.

Mrs. Liu asked anxiously, "What does that mean, you shaking your head? Don’t tell me she’s really become a fool?"

The doctor glanced at Daya again. She was still the same—fingers in her mouth, drool trickling down her hand, letting out a vacant giggle from time to time.

"You brought her in too late. The fever has very likely damaged her brain. If you’re still worried, you can take her to a hospital in a major city for further examination."

The hospital here in town has almost no diagnostic equipment; doctors mostly have to make a diagnosis based on the patient’s presenting symptoms.

Liu Jian Country grabbed the doctor’s arm. "Doctor, can she get better?"

The doctor shook his head. "If it’s a mild case, there might be some recovery with follow-up medication and rehabilitative therapy. But that would probably take a very long time, and the costs wouldn’t be low. If it’s severe, then it’s likely incurable."

Liu Jian Country stood frozen in place, completely stunned.

Mrs. Liu stared at Daya in disbelief. ’How can a simple fever burn out someone’s brain?’ She still couldn’t quite believe it.

"Doctor, why don’t you check again? Everyone gets a fever now and then. Why is she different?"

The doctor gave Mrs. Liu an annoyed look. "Why did you people wait so long to bring her in? Looking at her condition last night, she’d already had a fever for a very long time. She was completely unconscious. You, her family, are just too irresponsible."

Mrs. Liu’s eyes darted away guiltily as she muttered under her breath, "It’s obviously your fault for not curing her."

The doctor glared at her, turned to walk out, and added, "The nurse said you still haven’t paid last night’s bill. Hurry up and pay it."

As soon as the doctor left, everyone in the hospital room stared blankly at Daya. She was still giggling vacantly and drooling, and now she had started to incessantly tug and pull at her own clothes.

Other than the sound of Mrs. He’s sobs, the room was frighteningly silent.

After a long moment, Liu Jian Country dazedly said to his mother, "Mom, go pay the bill."

Liu Jian Country had rushed over yesterday without a single penny on him.

Mrs. Liu shrieked, "Where am I supposed to get money? Besides, why should we pay? They didn’t cure her—they turned her into a fool! It’s a good thing I haven’t demanded compensation from them!"

Liu Jian Country looked at Mrs. Liu, words catching in his throat. In the end, he said nothing. His shoulders slumped, and he squatted down, clutching his head in his hands.

He Lang glanced at Daya, then tugged on Mrs. He’s sleeve. "Mom, let’s go home."

Mrs. He stood up and took Daya’s hand. "Oh, my poor Daya... what’s going to happen to you now?"

He Lang gave Mr. He a meaningful look, so Mr. He grabbed He Nan and left as well.

Mrs. Liu pointed after them. "Hey, you people—"

Mrs. Liu wanted to call He Lang back, but seeing the number of people from the He Family, she held her tongue.

Once outside the hospital, the He family stopped. Mrs. He sat down on the front steps and broke into loud sobs.

Mr. He, however, turned to He Lang. Inside the ward, he had been about to speak, but He Lang had stopped him.

"He Lang, what was that about?"

He Lang deliberately rubbed his nose. "What was what about? I just wanted to tell you that we shouldn’t get involved in the Liu Family’s affairs."

He Nan, who had been holding his anger in, burst out, "So we’re just supposed to stand by and watch this happen to Daya?"

He Lang looked at him. "Then what do you suggest we do? Daya belongs to the Liu Family. We can’t meddle in their affairs."

"This is so damn frustrating! The Liu Family are barely even human. And Liu Jian Country is such a useless coward. I really want to beat the crap out of him."

He Lang sneered. "What, you want to get hauled in for questioning by the police? Or would you rather get extorted by the Liu Family and cough up some cash? Can’t you see they’re desperate for someone to walk right into their trap?"

"But Daya—"

He Nan felt a pang of pity just thinking about the girl.

He Lang started walking back with a confident swagger. "Just wait. They’ll come knocking on our door in less than three days."

Watching He Lang’s retreating back, Mr. He narrowed his eyes. He Nan, on the other hand, was completely baffled.

"He Nan, help your mother. Let’s head home."

He Yun didn’t get to the hospital until mid-morning, by which time Mrs. Liu had already thrown several fits.

Mrs. Liu didn’t want to pay and had tried to leave, but unfortunately for her, the hospital staff had been prepared for such a move.

They wouldn’t let them go and stated bluntly that if she caused any more trouble, they would call the police.

Liu Jian Country had tried to reason with her several times, but Mrs. Liu just cursed him, cursed Daya, cursed the He family, and cursed the hospital, until her voice was nearly gone.

They finally saw He Yun arrive with Jinbao, but He Yun had no money either; Mrs. Liu controlled all of the Liu Family’s finances.

In the end, it wasn’t until she heard the hospital had already called the police and that officers were on their way that Mrs. Liu got scared enough to quickly pay the bill and go home.

Back at the Liu Family’s home, it was as if the sky had fallen. Daya sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a quilt, because she had wet the mattress as soon as she got back.

He Yun tearfully took off Daya’s pants and pulled the soiled mattress pad off the bed.

She had never imagined Daya’s brain would be damaged by the fever, that she would become a fool.

Liu Jian Country sat staring blankly from a stool. Jinbao stood on the floor, watching Daya as she drooled and giggled mindlessly. When she grinned at him, it scared Jinbao so much that he ran outside.

In the main house, Liu Jian Country’s younger brother and sister-in-law had come back, and the family was discussing what to do about Daya.

Mrs. Liu couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. ’If I’d known it would turn out like this, I should have just let the He Family take Daya yesterday. Then, even if she turned into a fool or died, it would all be on them. We’d at least have something to hold over them. But now? Not only is our money gone, we’re stuck with a fool. What good is she going to be? Just another mouth to feed, a waste of grain.’

Liu Jianwei said impatiently, "What’s the point of bringing a fool home?"

Mrs. Liu sighed. "Then what do you suggest? We couldn’t just abandon her at the hospital, could we?"

"Then send her to the He Family! Aren’t they always going on about how well they treat Daya? So why aren’t they stepping up now?"

Mrs. Liu looked to Mr. Liu. "Would that work? Do you think the He family would agree?"

Mr. Liu was silent for a few seconds. "Is the doctor certain Daya can’t be cured?"

Mrs. Liu nodded. "He basically said so. Even if she could be cured, it would mean endless medication and therapy or something... I didn’t really get it. All I know is it’ll cost a fortune, and there’s no guarantee it’ll even work."

"Jianwei, go get your older brother and his wife."

When He Yun heard her father-in-law wanted to see them, she glanced at the vacant-looking Daya on the bed, then went over with red-rimmed eyes.

As Liu Jian Country and his wife entered, Mr. Liu sighed. "Jian Country, Daya is... like this now. What do you two plan to do?"

Liu Jian Country replied helplessly, "What can we do?"

"Do you think the He Family would take responsibility for Daya?"