Ning Shu went to the pharmacy and found a doctor, then hurried back with the doctor. Mother Zhu was still unconscious, so the doctor started checking her pulse.

  Ning Shu stood by the bed and held Little Siyuan’s hand. If the original storyline didn’t change, Mother Zhu wouldn’t survive this winter.

  “Doctor, how is my mother-in-law?” asked Ning Shu.

  The doctor retrieved his hand, then shook his head. “It’s not any severe illness, it’s just too much depression and worry. All that’s needed is to recuperate slowly.”


  Ning Shu thanked the doctor, then paid the diagnosis fee.

  In plain terms, Mother Zhu’s illness was that she was worrying too much. Mother Zhu was a woman of a large, sheltered courtyard. Ever since Master Zhu died, Mother Zhu had been in a high stress state of fear. Her son wasn’t by her side and she didn’t have any man that she could rely on.

  Ning Shu shook her head. Mother Zhu was simply too weak.

  Zhu Suniang had looked after Mother Zhu very well and hadn’t allowed Mother Zhu to do any hard work. However, the result was that Mother Zhu had too much free time to worry.

  Ning Shu cut a block of tofu for each of the aunts that had come to help as thanks. The aunts accepted the tofu with happy laughs and told her to come to them for help any time.

  Ning Shu sat down by the bed and checked Mother Zhu’s pulse. The result she found was pretty much the same as what the doctor had said. Ning Shu was a bit speechless. Mother Zhu actually had depression.

  Mother Zhu gradually woke up. When she saw that Ning Shu was by the bed, she asked, “What happened to me?”


  “Mother, you’re fine. Your body is just a bit weak. You’ll be fine after some proper rest.” Ning Shu avoided making the situation sound too terrible. “The doctor wrote you a prescription. You’ll be fine after taking the medicine.”


  Mother Zhu struggled to get up. Ning Shu reached out to help her up. Mother Zhu said wearily, “I don’t need the medicine. Save the money for Yanqiu.”


  Since ancient times, and even in modern times, what people feared the most was falling sick, because an entire family could be emptied out by an illness.

  Zhu Suniang hadn’t given up on Mother Zhu. She worked extremely hard every day since she had to take care of her sick mother-in-law, earn enough money for medicine, and earn money for Zhu Yanqiu’s school fees as well.

  Zhu Suniang could only make even more tofu to sell. Often times, she would be so tired out that she’d fall asleep on top of the millstone. Zhu Suniang had seriously been working too hard during this time when Mother Zhu was sick and ended up severely damaging her own health, causing her early death.

  “It’s fine, the family has money to buy medicine for you,” said Ning Shu. “I’ll make more tofu to sell tomorrow.”


  Mother Zhu sighed and said, “I know my own health well. Send Yanqiu a telegram and have him make a trip back.”


  Ning Shu agreed and headed to the post office to send Zhu Yanqiu a telegram, but it was a waste of effort. Zhu Yanqiu wouldn’t come back. His excuse was that he needed to focus on his studies and didn’t have time. Zhu Suniang had repeatedly sent him telegrams, but he didn’t reply.

  Before Mother Zhu died, all she thought about each and every day was wanting to see her son. Her eyes were always fixed on the door, but in the end, Zhu Yanqiu never came back. At that time, as an ambitious young man, Zhu Yanqiu had been parading the streets to invigorate the Chinese people.

  After sending Zhu Yanqiu a telegram, Ning Shu took the prescription to the pharmacy to get medicine for Mother Zhu. In the original storyline, despite these harsh conditions, Zhu Suniang had never given up on Mother Zhu, hence her reputation in this small town was very good. She was a well-known virtuous daughter-in-law, but Zhu Yanqiu still abandoned her.

  Ning Shu had no plans to ruin this reputation. After all, in this era, reputation was very important to women. With this, even if she had to confront Zhu Yanqiu in the future, she would still be on the righteous side.

  Furthermore, she wouldn’t be sending Zhu Yanqiu money anymore. The family had near twenty silver dollars and the money from selling the tofu each day. This was enough for them to live very well.

  After getting the medicine, Ning Shu headed back to simmer it for Mother Zhu. When Mother Zhu saw Ning Shu, the first thing she asked was whether Ning Shu had sent Zhu Yanqiu a telegram. Ning Shu said that she had.

  All that was on Mother Zhu’s mind was her own son. Despite the fact that it was Zhu Suniang who had taken care of her all these past years, Zhu Suniang had never truly entered her heart. After all, one lost nothing from saying a few sweet words.

  Right before she died, she had grabbed Zhu Suniang’s hand and said ‘you’re truly the Zhu family’s good daughter-in-law, I hope you two will continue to live well together. I’ll be gratified to know that even when I’m beneath the yellow springs.’ She was clearly afraid that Zhu Suniang wouldn’t continue to support Zhu Yanqiu after she died so she made sure to address this before she died.

  Zhu Suniang had been so moved. Every single bit of recognition from Mother Zhu was enough to make her wholly devoted. After Mother Zhu passed away, Zhu Suniang continued to sell tofu to feed Zhu Yanqiu.

  Ning Shu used the medicine pot to simmer medicine for Mother Zhu. When she saw that Little Siyuan was looking at her, she got some of the dougan and gave it to Siyuan. Siyuan took the dougan and started eating happily.

  Ning Shu felt that there was a need to improve the food of the household. They should eat well, dress well, and live properly.

  Remember, correct links are in the comments section of the chapter announcement posts!