Madam Shen's eyes reddened as she recounted her child's illness.
"Sister Chen, I nearly died giving birth to this child. I raised him with the utmost care, yet he still fell ill. We consulted every physician in Huainan Prefecture, and all said they could do nothing. We had planned to take him to Jiangning Prefecture to find the divine physician Jin, but then this great disaster struck."
"If you say we are fated, then my husband and I were close to despair when your family arrived."
Chen Yuezhi was straightforward and immediately put down her chopsticks. "Where is the child? I'll examine him right away."
Madam Shen quickly rose. "Sister Chen, please follow me."
Lord Shen also rose.
As Jiang Wan stood up, Jiang Pan also prepared to go.
Everyone ended up going to the courtyard of the young Master Shen.
The young Master Shen was only ten months old and had many attendants, including three wet nurses.
Madam Shen dismissed all the servants in the room and invited Chen Yuezhi to the bedside.
On the bed lay a baby with a belly as round as a drum, yet with abnormally slender limbs. The child's eyes were tightly closed, but his small mouth was open, and his breathing was heavy.
Chen Yuezhi sat on a stool by the bed, pulled the baby's arm out from under the covers, felt his pulse carefully, and then gently tapped his belly a few times.
A muffled thudding sound came from within his belly, and the baby whimpered uncomfortably.
Madam Shen asked nervously, "Sister Chen, is there a way to cure Qi'er's illness?"
Chen Yuezhi nodded. "It can be treated, but it will be somewhat troublesome. Some of the medicines are also difficult to find. I have a few of the necessary herbs at my master's place, but given the current situation, it's a bit complicated. However, I can prescribe some palliative medicine for the young master to take, and I'll find a way to send you the rest of the medicine once I return."
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen immediately expressed her profuse gratitude. "Thank you, Sister Chen, thank you so much."
Chen Yuezhi quickly said, "Madam Shen, there's no need to be so polite. As you said, we are fated. I delivered this child myself, and I wish for him to grow up healthy and strong."
With that, Chen Yuezhi turned to write the prescription.
After half a year of study, Chen Yuezhi had learned to recognize many characters, though her handwriting was still not very presentable.
This was unavoidable; to write well required years of practice. It was impossible to achieve beautiful handwriting in just half a year.
After the prescription was written, Madam Shen sent someone to fetch the medicine that very night. The young Master Shen took his medicine that evening.
After taking the medicine, the young master slept soundly for the first time since falling ill, which greatly delighted Madam Shen and her husband.
In the guest courtyard.
Jiang Xiao and Xiao Bao slept soundly through the night.
Shortly after dawn, Jiang Xiao woke up.
She thought of Xiao Bao's situation and sat up abruptly in fright. When she saw the child lying beside her, she almost doubted her own eyes.
So, she carefully reached out and gently touched Xiao Bao's slightly thin face.
The warm touch made Jiang Xiao's nose sting.
Xiao Bao had also slept through the night. The moment Jiang Xiao touched him, he woke up. Realizing his parents were not beside him, but the woman who had held him tightly yesterday was right there, Xiao Bao burst into tears and tried to jump out of bed barefoot.
Jiang Xiao quickly scooped Xiao Bao up and said gently, "Xiao Bao, the floor is cold. Mother will help you put on your clothes and shoes."
Xiao Bao cried and struggled desperately, refusing to let Jiang Xiao hold him.
Jiang Xiao wouldn't let go. This was her lost and found treasure; she wished she could tie him to herself at all times.
Mother and son were in a tug-of-war on the bed, one trying to escape, the other refusing to release him.
Cornered, Xiao Bao bit down hard on Jiang Xiao's hand.
Jiang Xiao felt intense pain but still refused to let go.
When Chen Yuezhi heard the commotion and ran over, she was startled by the confrontation between mother and son and quickly stepped forward. "You two, let go immediately!"
Xiao Bao fearfully released his mouth, exposing the wound on Jiang Xiao's hand, which immediately began to bleed.
Chen Yuezhi stomped her foot in anger. "What are you doing? Xiao Bao, how could you bite your mother? How have you learned to bite people now?"
Scolded, Xiao Bao shrunk his head and cried.
Seeing him frightened, Jiang Xiao quickly shielded him. "Don't be scared, don't be scared. Grandma isn't scolding you."
"Mother, it's okay, I don't hurt. Don't scold Xiao Bao, he's timid and easily frightened."
Chen Yuezhi glared at her angrily, then turned to get something to clean the wound.
As soon as Chen Yuezhi left, Xiao Bao started to get restless again.
Jiang Xiao still wouldn't let him go. Anxious, Xiao Bao tried to bite again.
Jiang Wan's chilling voice drifted in from outside the door. "Try biting again, and I'll pull out your teeth!"
Xiao Bao immediately became still, terrified.
Jiang Xiao, worried he was too scared, gently patted his back and rubbed his head. "There, there, you won't be scared."
Jiang Wan entered the room, her gaze like a knife slicing over Xiao Bao, making him shrink back. But he was behind Jiang Xiao, so as he shrank, he nestled into Jiang Xiao's arms.
Jiang Xiao quickly hugged him, her eyes filled with joy.
"Wan Wan, don't be so fierce. Xiao Bao is still young, and he didn't do it on purpose; he's just scared."
Jiang Wan snorted. "Being scared is an excuse to bite? Sister, you can't indulge him like this! A boy who bites people whenever he feels like it is not a good habit."
"I know you dote on him and are unwilling to discipline him, but spoiling children is absolutely not advisable, or they'll grow up crooked and can't be straightened."
Seeing how frightened Xiao Bao was, Jiang Xiao felt immense pity. "Wan Wan, stop talking. I understand. Xiao Bao really didn't do it on purpose; I don't blame him."
Jiang Wan understood Jiang Xiao's current indulgence of Xiao Bao, especially since Xiao Bao didn't recognize Jiang Xiao at all. Jiang Xiao was even less willing to say a harsh word to him.
Considering Xiao Bao's ordeal, Jiang Wan didn't say anything more.
She would indulge him for a while, and once the boy accepted their family, she would educate him slowly.
With her around, let alone a biting habit, even if Xiao Bao had a habit of eating people, she could beat it out of him!
Jiang Wan glanced at Xiao Bao, her gaze filled with pressure.
Xiao Bao was as scared as a quail, not daring to move.
Jiang Xiao seized the opportunity to hug Xiao Bao, kissing and coaxing him.
Children instinctively tend to rely on adults they trust.
The Jiang family was completely unfamiliar to him. Although the woman holding him yesterday had prevented him from leaving with his father, she had been protecting him. Therefore, she was his current reliance.
Jiang Wan noticed this and gave Jiang Xiao a look, her meaning clear: she would play the bad cop and scare Xiao Bao, while Jiang Xiao would play the good cop, protecting him and forcing him to rely on and grow close to her.
This method was incredibly effective for dealing with a little brat under three years old!