Chapter 46: The Argument

Xiu Ling went against the will and wishes of her mother-in-law, Mrs. Lin. She brushed past the elder woman, saying, "Mother, I do not have the time for this. I need to get to the hospital. Lin Xi needs medical attention."

Mrs. Lin was so shocked by this sudden burst of disobedience that she failed to process what had happened. It was not until Xiu Ling almost reached the front door that what Xiu Ling had done registered in Mrs. Lin's mind.

Mrs. Lin roared angrily, with a volume so loud that it felt like she was attempting to bring the whole house down, "Young woman, did you not hear me? Stay where you are! Where the hell you think you are going?! You are not to step one foot out of this house!"

Mrs. Lin's enraged shout froze Xiu Ling's footsteps. She hesitated as the filial responsibility to placate her mother-in-law started to conflict with her responsibility to her son. In the end, it was the latter which had won out.

Xiu Ling bit on her lower lip as she came to a decision. She turned around defiantly to face Mrs. Lin and said, "Mother, I cannot stay. I have to send Lin Xi to the hospital. I cannot let him continue to suffer his fever like this. I wish for him to get better soon."

Mrs. Lin's face twitched in rage noticing the unfamiliar defiant look on her daughter-in-law's face. In her understanding, under no circumstances should the daughter-in-law go up against her mother-in-law, that was the traditional Chinese way. Therefore, her fury was born out of indignation. With her chest puffed up from indescribable fury, she challenged, "Based on what you are saying, it sounds like you are trying to imply that I want my grandson to suffer and I do not wish for him to get better." Mrs. Lin did not voice her dissatisfaction directly but needled Xiu Ling through an indirect, roundabout way.

Xiu Ling was understandably set back by the insinuation. "Of course not, mother. That was not what I was trying to imply. I would never imply something like that. I am sure both of us only want what is best for Lin Xi."

"In that case, what is it that you are trying to imply?" Mrs. Lin pressed. She was not going to let Xiu Ling wiggle out of this so easily.

"Mother, I am not trying to imply anything. I meant what I said. I just want to bring Lin Xi to the hospital so the doctor can take a look at his fever and treat his condition."

"Rubbish! All the doctor will do for Lin Xi is to give him some side effects that will haunt him for life from all those pills with unknown chemicals!"

"Mother, you get this all the wrong way. You are unnecessarily prejudiced against the doctors. Nowadays, we have pediatricians who specialize in treating illness and disease in toddlers and children. They are professional, they will know what is best for Lin Xi." In her hurry to leave, Xiu Ling did not realize she had inadvertently criticized her mother-in-law.

The person who did pick up the criticism was Mrs. Lin. "Prejudiced? You are accusing me of being prejudiced? If I am that prejudiced of a person, I would not have allowed Lin Kang to marry a woman from a lower social class in the first place! That is how unprejudiced I am!

"But back to the topic at hand, no matter how the names have changed, western medicine will always depend on those chemicals from unknown origin which will do nothing but harm the body. I will never let you do that to the future heir of Lin family. Let the boy burn a little, his body will recuperate on its own, that is what the immune system is for," Mrs. Lin shot back.

At that point, Lin Xi groaned weakly and wiggled in Xiu Ling's arms due to discomfort. This reminded Xiu Ling the urgency of the situation which was a good thing because she was so close to being pulled into this endless argument with Mrs. Lin.

Xiu Ling rocked her arms, trying to soothe Lin Xi and lulled him back to sleep but she knew how difficult that was with two women yelling over him. For the sake of Lin Xi, Xiu Ling knew she had to end this argument as soon as possible. She did not have the time or the energy to waste.

Therefore, she decided to end the argument by focusing on the one benefit of western medicine, the infallible medicinal proof that came from its scientific nature, "But mother, there are many scientific studies and research that prove the effectiveness and efficacy of western medicine, if it works for so many other people, I am sure it will be fine for Lin Xi as well. Please, just let me bring him to the hospital."

If only things were that easy. Mrs. Lin had the perfect counter-argument as well, "Following that logic of yours, I also can provide you with sufficient proof. Just look at your husband, Lin Kang. The traditional way is how I have raised him, isn't he a perfectly healthy man? He is a walking proof that my method works!"

Before Xiu Ling could say anything, Mrs. Lin doubled down on her threat, "No matter what, the moment you leave this house, I am calling the police to report you for kidnapping my grandson! Go on, try me!"

At this point, it was unknown whether Mrs. Lin was doing this because she was hesitant to allow Lin Xi to go to the hospital or she simply wanted to pit herself against Xiu Ling since her daughter-in-law dared to challenge her.

"But mother, Lin Xi is my son…"

Mrs. Lin cut her off by putting it plainly, "One you have sold to Lin family."

Xiu Ling was made speechless by this declaration. She was trying to figure out what to say when the front door was pushed open from the outside.

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