"Really? Really okay?"
"He's really okay." Liu Yusheng nodded, not daring to say that Grandpa showed signs of bone fractures.
If she said, Grandma might wallop Grandpa with the ladle.
The good news was that the bone fracture was minor, and with her medical skills and the spirit spring water, it would heal in a day or two.
"Grandmother, don't you still know about Shengsheng's medical skills? It's better than any doctor in town or county!" Qian Wanjin was there to assist. "At first, my poisoning wasn't even detected by famous doctors in the capital, but Shengsheng diagnosed it."
Grandma Liu was relieved. She just wanted to say something more, when Axiu interjected, "It's burnt."
Sniff, no, the choking smell of something vaguely burnt was in the air.
"Gosh, my pot of vegetables is burnt!" Grandma Liu screamed and promptly ran to the kitchen.
She was in a panic moments ago. How could she care about the kitchen? It was over, a pot of delicious food was wasted!
Li Da had nothing to contribute, and Liu Yusheng was busy treating the old man's injuries, so he bid goodbye and left.
It was better to go home and work if he couldn't do anything to help. And besides, it's almost time for lunch. It would be too embarrassing to stay, lest the Liu family have to take care of him for lunch.
In the blink of an eye, only the old man and the three kids were left in the hall.
Liu Yusheng's face was heavy. "Grandpa, did you forget what you promised me?"
Grandpa Liu felt a momentary guilt. Nannan has always poured exhortations in his ear to take care of himself.
After his fall from the mountain and almost losing his life, in order to appease the little baby later, he patted his chest and promised her that he would take good care of himself, to grow up with their Nannan, and to live an old age.
"Nannan, I remember everything I promised you, and I haven't suffered even a minor injury in recent years. It was an accident this time. When we came out of the medical center, who knew that a carriage would suddenly rush out of nowhere, I had no time to dodge…"
As the head of the family, in addition to being afraid of the old lady of the family, the old man was most afraid of their Nannan getting angry and looking stern.
Every time she took on this look, they must have done something wrong, and related to their health.
"What were you doing at the medical center?"
"I had a discussion with your grandma and went there to ask if Axiu's face can be healed. He's such a good boy and can't be ruined by those scars, else he won't be able to marry a wife in the future." Speaking of this, the old man's back straightened up a bit. He went to the county for business.
But their Nannan squatted at his feet and stared at him quietly, not saying a word.
The old man's heart grew weak again.
"Grandpa, such a large scar isn't easy to heal. With the medical skills of those doctors in the county town, I'm afraid they can't heal it. And you should have asked Lucky Nannan if there's a cure first! Her medical skills are really higher than the average doctor!"
Qian Wanjin's rebuke made the old man even more deflated. It sounded as if he had no trust in their Nannan. He was afraid that Nannan would be saddened and disappointed.
After a moment of silence, Grandpa Liu's large palm gently caressed the top of Liu Yusheng's head and spoke earnestly.
"Nannan, I'm at fault this time. I should have discussed with you beforehand. I'll definitely remember it in the future. I and your grandma were addled by our concern. Axiu is injured on the face, and if you can't cure or treat it properly, it will affect him for the rest of his life."
"It's not that we don't believe in your skills, but you're still too young. Once you start healing, you'll be under a lot of pressure. You're pure in nature, and if the treatment doesn't turn out as you wish, you'll certainly feel guilty… Do you understand what we mean?"
They were distressed for Axiu and Nannan.
He went to seek medical help in order to find the surest way possible to cure him.
Liu Yusheng's heart was shaken and her face softened. She rubbed her head against the old man's hand.
She was the one who had neglected the old man's concerns. She was indeed too young. Except for that time with Qian Wanjin, she rarely showed her medical skills afterwards. She usually spent more time on the winery, developing medicinal wine and tea, that was why her grandparents didn't consider her as a healer. When they thought of finding a doctor for Brother Axiu, they naturally overlooked her.
In their eyes, they probably thought that although she had once followed Aunt Wanrong to identify herbs and practice medicine, her level was but a half bucket of water dangling. After all, the time she studied was too short. And at her level, it would be irresponsible of the two children if they still supported her treatment of Brother Axiu.
Nevertheless, their love for her has never changed. Even if in their hearts, they thought she possessed half-baked knowledge, they never commented on her treatment and diagnosis, because they were willing to be her test subjects for her medical journey. In this manner, they gave her silent support, and fulfilled her dream of studying medicine.
This kind of love was warm, and sublime.
But it wasn't heavy at all.
"Grandpa, I understand." Liu Yusheng looked at the old man and smiled warmly. "Your leg has a slight bone fracture, along with some bruises. I didn't tell the truth just now. Grandpa, give me a chance to prove to you that I can."
At this moment, she decided to be honest, to live up to their trust.
The old man laughed heartily. "So that's why it hurt so badly; it's a bone fracture. That was a really bad bump. I'm going to wait for our Nannan to cure me! You can heal it however you want, I'm not afraid of pain!"
"Pfft! I'm not willing to make Grandpa hurt."
Qian Wanjin took out the vial of medicine that he properly stored in his bosom and handed it to Liu Yusheng. "Grandpa, it's a bruise, so this medicine should work right? I tried it this morning, and it's very effective in relieving pain and bruises."
"It works." Liu Yusheng nodded. She had also planned to rub this medicine on her grandfather first to relieve the pain and disperse the bruises.
After receiving the medicine bottle, before she got up, a slim, white hand appeared in front of her, holding the clean cotton ball she had placed in the hall cupboard.
It was Axiu.
When she rubbed the salve for him in the morning, he noted down where she had put the cotton ball and, at the first opportunity, fetched it for her.
It was as if he knew what she was going to do next – a tacit understanding.
"You're all good children." Grandpa Liu was all smiles, crinkles of laughter folding on his face, and the pain in his calf didn't affect his good mood at all.
The atmosphere should have been solemn since a family was injured, but peals of laughter would sometimes ring in the hall, making the blues lighter.
Grandma Liu, who was cooking in the kitchen, perked her ears up from time to time to listen to the goings-on there, and her face softened.
When the food was ready, everyone who went to work came back, and Grandpa Liu was moved from the stool to the bed.
Liu Dalin and the others could still hear their father's exclamation the moment they entered the house. "Whoa, this medicine is really good. It really doesn't hurt after rubbing it. Nannan, did you personally concoct this medicine? Oh my, our Nannan is so amazing!"
Whenever he drank the medicinal wine and tea concocted by his precious granddaughter, he just felt fit all the time. He has never suffered any minor ailment or aches over the years. Because he has been used to it for a long time, he failed to appreciate his precious granddaughter's medical expertise.
Now that there was a potion that has instant effect to compare, the old man's pride was about to take flight.