Aunt Chen winked at Xia Chujian, put down the large bundle on her back, and whispered, "Yeah, went hunting again. You wouldn't believe it, winter's almost here, and the animals in the Exotic Beast Forest are putting on their last layer of autumn fat, they're incredibly plump!"
As she spoke, she looked around to make sure no one was nearby before taking things out of the large bundle.
"Chujian, this is Red Pine Forest Ginseng, especially good for nourishing the body. Your aunt's body is so weak, she can definitely use it."
"This is Old Banyan Wild Honey. The old banyan trees in the Exotic Beast Forest are probably all becoming spirits. The wild bees that can make hives on them must also be spirits. Take it and eat it, they say it's especially good for a girl's body..."
"And this, wild rhino pig ribs grown eating wild Black Truffles. I remember you especially like to eat them, so I saved a rack for you. The Black Truffle Wild Rhino Pig we hunted this time was especially big, and it was already butchered outside the city. The meat was all sold to restaurants in the city..."
Aunt Chen said as she took out many things to give to Xia Chujian.
Xia Chujian was very embarrassed and quickly waved her hand to refuse, "Aunt Chen, it's not easy for you to go to the Exotic Beast Forest, you really don't need to give me these things. My aunt has been in the hospital for three years, and you've taken care of me like my own aunt. I can't keep eating your food for free..."
Aunt Chen put on a stern face, pretending to be angry, "Chujian, are you looking down on your Aunt Chen?! Although I don't have a fixed job, I go to the Exotic Beast Forest once a month to scavenge, and the money I earn is higher than your Uncle Chen's salary! Besides, these things don't cost any money, they're all scavenged in the Exotic Beast Forest. If you don't want them, are you disgusted with me for picking up trash?"
Xia Chujian felt a warmth in her heart.
"Aunt Chen, the Exotic Beast Forest is full of dangers, how can that be called picking up trash? If I'm disgusted, then I'm really ungrateful..." Seeing that she couldn't refuse, she had to accept.
Besides, Red Pine Forest Ginseng is indeed a good thing for nourishing the body. Buying it at an outside pharmacy is sky-high, and you can't even be sure of buying the real thing. Xia Chujian really wanted to get some good ginseng for her aunt to nourish her body.
And she wasn't broke anymore, she didn't need to eat other people's things for free.
If it wasn't because Aunt Chen didn't have a smart bracelet, Xia Chujian could transfer money to her right away.
She made up her mind that after returning from the hospital, she would go and withdraw cash for Aunt Chen.
"That's right! We're all neighbors, and you're still my daughter's classmate. When your aunt wasn't sick, she also took good care of my daughter, and even tutored her. In terms of emotion and reason, I should take care of you." Aunt Chen laughed heartily, nodded to her, and tied up the bundle again.
Xia Chujian also had to take the things home.
While packing, she asked curiously, "Aunt Chen, is the Exotic Beast Forest really that good?"
It seemed like there were many rare birds and animals and rare plants that she had never even heard of.
Aunt Chen's hand paused, she shifted her gaze, and said somewhat unnaturally, "The Exotic Beast Forest is too dangerous. The first time I went, I suffered a big loss. Later, I only dared to wander around the edge of the Exotic Beast Forest near Mulan City, and only dared to pick up things that others didn't want."
Seeing that Xia Chujian obviously looked a little eager to try, Aunt Chen earnestly dissuaded her, "Chujian, Aunt Chen isn't trying to scare you, do you know why the Exotic Beast Forest is called that name?"
"...Because there are exotic beasts inside?"
"That's right, those aren't ordinary beasts! Have you seen a ten-meter-tall tiger? Have you seen a python that coils up like a mountain? There are also flying squirrels that can breathe fire, and golden pheasants that can release poison. As for those grasses, thorny vines, and big trees, they can all take people's lives if you're not careful!" Aunt Chen whispered to Xia Chujian about the dangers of the Exotic Beast Forest.
"Also, the most dangerous place in the Exotic Beast Forest is in the Land of the Far North. The most core place in the Land of the Far North is called the 'Restricted Life Zone'! I haven't heard of anyone who went to the Land of the Far North and came back alive! Think about it carefully yourself!"
Aunt Chen finally packed up the large bundle, raised her hand and rubbed Xia Chujian's hair, "Little girls should study hard, get into a good university, and then find a stable job. Otherwise, you'll only be able to live like Aunt Chen, going to the edge of the Exotic Beast Forest with your head in your hands to make a living when you're old. -- This is a young idler, an old beggar!"
Xia Chujian blinked, "Aunt Chen, tuition fees are so high now, and you know my family's situation. If I want to go to university, I have to save tuition fees."
"Actually, your aunt's illness is terminal, it can't be cured at all, why spend so much money in vain? You have to consider yourself too." Aunt Chen looked at Xia Chujian sympathetically and advised in a low voice.
Xia Chujian pursed her lips, smoothed her hair with her hand, and said seriously, "It's not a waste of money. If it can save a life, it's worth spending as much money as possible."
"But you've already sold your house, and now you're renting. If your aunt knew..." Aunt Chen sighed, "Also, you're going to take the college entrance examination next year. I heard that you often don't go to school these days, you're going to the hospital to take care of your aunt, right? What about your studies then? Do you still want to go to university?"
Aunt Chen's daughter is a classmate of Xia Chujian, in the same high school, she probably heard about her from her daughter.
Xia Chujian knew that Aunt Chen was kind, but their situations were different, so they couldn't be generalized.
She smiled slightly, "I know, I'll consider it. You're busy, I'll go first."
Her aunt, Xia Yuanfang, had been hospitalized in the Imperial Official Hospital No. 892 in Mulan City for three years.
...
Xia Chujian carried the insulated lunch box and took the inner city suspended train to her aunt's ward.
She lived in a single ward, not the most expensive and luxurious VIP ward, but it was also one where someone was on duty twenty-four hours a day.
The cost is more than ten thousand a year.
Three years ago, Xia Chujian made the decision to sell the cheap house at home, so she had some money to allow her aunt to receive the best care within her ability.
Standing at the door of the ward, Xia Chujian was about to knock when the ward door opened.
Her aunt's attending physician, Shen Junyi, was about to come out from inside.
Xia Chujian busily greeted him with a smile, "Doctor Shen, are you doing your rounds?"
Shen Junyi was a refined middle-aged man with fair skin, bright and piercing eyes, and deep lines at the corners of his eyes.
He wore a white coat, his brow always slightly furrowed, giving him a perpetually worried look.
Seeing Xia Chujian, he nodded in greeting, "Chujian, you're here. Your aunt is still the same as before, she hasn't woken up."
Xia Chujian glanced into the ward and said earnestly, "I have something to tell you. Oh, right, I brought you some fresh pork rib porridge. My aunt taught me how to make it, it's your favorite flavor, just in time for your breakfast."
Shen Junyi didn't decline, taking the insulated lunch box from her hand, nodding, and stepping aside to let her in.
Xia Chujian tiptoed inside and went to Xia Yuanfang's bedside.
Due to years of illness, her complexion was haggard, pale without a trace of blood.
Her hair was also dry and yellow, and a lot of it had fallen out on the pillow.
She was skin and bones, completely lacking the elegant and scholarly air she once had.
Xia Chujian carefully tucked the blanket around Xia Yuanfang, then quietly walked out.
The caregiver who provided twenty-four-hour care was already waiting at the door of the ward.
Xia Chujian politely nodded and greeted her as well, before following Shen Junyi away.
Shen Junyi took her to his office to talk.
Opening the insulated lunch box, Shen Junyi scooped out the porridge, put it into two bowls, and gave one to Xia Chujian, "Here, eat together."
Xia Chujian hadn't had real food in a long time, except for those extremely unpalatable low-grade nutrient solutions.
She licked her lips, unable to resist the aroma of normal food, silently took the bowl, and began to eat slowly.
Shen Junyi ate the porridge while talking to her.
"Chujian, I'll say what I said three years ago. Your aunt's illness is actually a genetic disease. In our Beichen Empire, it's terminal, incurable. You don't need to waste any more money."
He looked at Xia Chujian calmly, a hint of imperceptible pain in his eyes.
He was acquainted with Xia Chujian's aunt, Xia Yuanfang, and he was saddened to see her in this state.
Xia Chujian didn't speak, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, and asked softly, "...Is there really no way? Please tell me, what kind of medicine do you need, who do you need to find, or should I send her to the Imperial Hospital headquarters on Beichen Star? I'm willing to do anything! Don't worry about the money."
Beichen Star was where the capital of the Beichen Empire was located.
She had just received a large sum of money, and even in a high-consumption place like Beichen Star, she could do a lot of things.
Shen Junyi looked at Xia Chujian with some surprise.
He was well aware of the economic situation of this aunt and niece.
Ever since Xia Yuanfang suddenly fainted three years ago, she had never woken up again.
As a result, she lost her job and her medical insurance.
All the medical expenses were paid by Xia Chujian in real money.
He also knew that in order to get Xia Yuanfang the best treatment, three years ago, Xia Chujian, who was only fourteen years old, resolutely sold their only asset—that cheap apartment—for thirty thousand star coins.
Xia Yuanfang had been in a coma ever since.
Xia Chujian was still a minor, so when she sold the house, Shen Junyi, the attending physician, wrote a certificate proving that the homeowner, Xia Yuanfang, was no longer capable of acting, so that Xia Chujian, the only relative and also a minor, could be qualified to sell the house through a lawyer.
But that money was only enough for Xia Yuanfang to stay in the hospital for three years.
He knew that she didn't have any extra money to seek other treatments, so he advised her to consider giving up treatment.
"Where did you get the money?" Shen Junyi couldn't help but ask.
Xia Chujian's eyes flickered, and she didn't answer the question, but insisted on asking, "Doctor Shen, tell me, is there really no way at all?!—I heard that Li's Medical Group claims to be able to treat all diseases? In the early years, even cancers were conquered by them, why are genetic diseases terminal?"
In the Beichen Empire, the Imperial Hospital was considered a hospital run by the government for ordinary people, and in addition to that, there were some very expensive private hospitals.
The vast majority of the Beichen Empire's commoners couldn't afford to go to private hospitals.
And Li's Medical Group had the most high-end private hospitals in the Beichen Empire.
As usual, a reminder for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and Xiaoxiang tickets. Also, new book collections, adding to the book list, etc. (#^.^#).
I watched The Wandering Earth 2 yesterday, and it was so shocking! It felt like it was over in the blink of an eye, like Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit, I didn't even get a chance to savor it! As soon as I finished watching it, I bought another ticket, and I'm going for a second viewing next Tuesday!
I've never gone to the cinema to watch a movie twice, but The Wandering Earth made me make an exception. (^▽^)
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