“It was me who told her to double the amount of medicine.” Zhang Jie took responsibility for her actions and put the bowl down on the table. Then she saw Li Ya Jun lying on the bed, “Oh! What’s wrong with Ya Jun? He was fine this morning!”
As soon as Wei Min heard this, she became angry, “Mother, what are you thinking?! You see, the class president has fainted again because of you!” Wei Min stomped her feet in rage. Her mother was full of bad ideas and had brought misfortune to the Li family.
Although it was her daughter who had said this, Zhang Jie was still unhappy. She raised her voice three times higher than before and said, “I just wanted Ya Jun to get better quicker. Is school not starting soon?”
“Mother, all medicines have a degree of toxicity. Can you not even understand this? You are not a doctor, so why are you deciding anything? If the amount of Chinese medicine could be altered at will, then everybody could go and become a Chinese medicine doctor!” Wei Min had a straightforward personality and spoke without thinking.
At her age, Zhang Jie was being lectured by her daughter in front of Su Mian and other people. Her face flushed red in anger, “You… you damn girl… how can you talk to your mother like this…”
Seeing that mother and daughter were about to quarrel, Father Li hurried in to make peace, “Wei Min, don’t blame your mother. She just wanted Ya Jun to get better quicker.” Turning around, he comforted Zhang Jie, “It is alright, sister. Su Mian is here, she can take another look.”
With a way out of the conversation, Zhang Jie’s expression finally looked better. She glared at Wei Min, then turned towards Su Mian and forced the corners of her mouth upwards unnaturally, “Su Mian… you have good medical skills. You should prescribe medicine for Ya Jun again.”
Wei Min was amused by Zhang Jie. Her countenance really changed too fast.
Now she knew that Su Mian had good medical skills. Who was it that did not believe Su Mian in the beginning and had made someone else carelessly increase the medicine dosage?
“That’s right, I was also foolish and too impatient.” Mother Li took Su Mian’s hand somewhat apologetically, and begged Su Mian for the sake of her son, “I misunderstood you just now, do not mind it. Prescribe medicine for Ya Jun again so that he can wake up as soon as possible.”
Mother Li was really regretful now. She had blocked Su Mian and said such unpleasant things. Anyone with a slight temper would make things difficult.
Su Mian would not dispute with her over something like this. She had just not expected them to be so bold and casually increase the dosage at will.
People in this era did not have much medical knowledge, so she had to tell them properly, “Aunt Li, Aunt Zhang, although Chinese medicinal herbs are not strong, when they are all put together, some are toxic while others are not. An error with the breadth of a single hair can lead you a thousand li astray. A little carelessness can kill someone, so be more careful in the future.”
Zhang Jie rubbed her hands in embarrassment. Her good intentions had almost harmed Li Ya Jun. Even if she did not say anything, she could not dispel the guilt in her heart.
Fortunately, Su Mian was present. Otherwise, if anything happened to Li Ya Jun, this old face of hers would have no place to rest.
Mother Li kept blaming herself and her tone of voice was much softer than before, “Yes, I will listen to you from now on and follow whatever you say.”
Fearing that something else might go wrong, Su Mian told them very carefully, “Li Ya Jun will wake up tomorrow morning, but his stomach will definitely feel uncomfortable. Aunt Li, do not give him medicine of any kind for the next two days. At mealtimes, just give him some plain millet porridge.”
Mother Li nodded her head repeatedly then quickly asked Father Li to bring a small notebook and recorded everything Su Mian said. Even though Father Li only had a junior highschool education, he was considered highly educated for his age.
Zhang Jie was relieved that Li Ya Jun was fine and her gaze towards Su Mian was much friendlier than it had been when she had entered the house.
Her daughter-in-law knew medical skills. This feeling was not bad!
