Spiritual Spring—
Gu Nuan Nuan was thrilled. She focused her consciousness, staring intently at that single dewdrop. Her mind couldn't help but jump to all the powers of a Spiritual Spring from the dimension-hopping, farming web novels of later generations: prolonging life, enhancing beauty...
She swallowed hard, feeling like she had just struck gold. 'If this little dewdrop has the same magical effects as the legends say, wouldn't it be amazing if I could convince Mom to make health supplements or beauty products with it?'
'Either of those could make a massive profit. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a veritable cash cow.'
'But why is there only one drop?'
'What good is a single drop?'
After her initial wave of excitement, Gu Nuan Nuan immediately felt a little dejected. 'Fine. Even if I could make any beauty or health products, it would only be enough for our own family.'
She was only down for a moment before she suddenly felt excited and joyful again. 'I'm being too greedy.'
'As long as this stuff really has such heaven-defying effects, isn't it enough if there's just enough for my family? At the very least, Grandpa and Grandma can use it to improve their health and live longer...'
With this thought, Gu Nuan Nuan's eyes lit up as she stared at the dewdrop as if it were a priceless treasure.
'How can I find out what this dewdrop does?'
'Swallow it directly?'
'Or maybe dilute it?'
Gu Nuan Nuan's mind raced. 'If I swallow it directly, will it have the legendary marrow-cleansing effects? What if I suddenly start reeking? Wouldn't that make everyone suspicious?'
Gu Nuan Nuan stared at the dewdrop, torn. 'To eat, or not to eat?'
'What if it's poisonous? Or what if my little body can't handle its potency...?'
After agonizing for a long time, she steeled herself. 'I'll take the gamble. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The dewdrop came from a plant, so its effects probably won't be that aggressive. If I really do end up stinking, I'll just take a bath...'
"Grandpa, I'm going to go wander around for a bit." With that thought, her eyes darted around before she finally announced her departure to her grandfather. She figured that if the dewdrop really did make her stink, she could just roll around in the dirt and come back with a ready-made excuse.
'Look how smart I am.'
Gu Nuan Nuan thought smugly.
"Okay, don't run off too far, and stay away from the water." Zhang Dazhuang was focused on his weaving. Hearing her, he figured she was just a restless kid and nodded casually, giving his instructions without much thought. In the village, it was common for children to play outside on their own. Kids much younger than Gu Nuan Nuan were already used to playing by themselves and coming home for meals, so he wasn't worried.
"Okay." Hearing the words "by the water," Gu Nuan Nuan's nose tingled, and a wave of sadness washed over her. She forced herself not to show any strange expression as she nodded in agreement. Only then did she leave the Zhang family's courtyard, forcing her mind to go blank so she wouldn't dwell on it.
After finally getting her emotions under control, she found a secluded, deserted spot outside and swallowed the dewdrop directly. Then, she waited with great anticipation for a "miracle" to happen.
Five minutes passed. No reaction.
Ten minutes passed. No reaction.
Half an hour passed. No reaction.
An hour passed. Still no reaction...
As time ticked by, Gu Nuan Nuan's expression grew more and more crestfallen. After she swallowed the dewdrop, she didn't feel a "cool sensation spreading through her body" or a "wave of heat." Instead, she felt nothing at all. Not only was there no sensation, but after all this time, her body hadn't shown the slightest hint of a reaction.
'Was it just an ordinary dewdrop after all?'
Gu Nuan Nuan was incredibly unwilling to accept it.
'What happened to the promised Spiritual Spring and Spiritual Liquid?'
*Sob*—
'I'm not asking for some heaven-defying power anymore! I'd be happy if the dewdrop just had a tiny, tiny effect on improving my body. Is that too much to ask?'
「The hospital.」
"Oh, my son! You have such a bitter fate! How could this happen to you? Which bastard who deserves to die a thousand deaths did this?" Chen Suxiang wailed the moment she entered the ward and saw the miserable state of her son, completely ignoring the other patients who were still napping.
The awakened patients and their visiting families looked over in annoyance. However, when they saw Gu Lihui's condition and noticed it was almost three o'clock, they figured that with his face wrapped in gauze, he must be a critical patient. It was understandable for his family to cry a little. So, they all just furrowed their brows in tolerance.
"Mom, who did you come with? Did you bring any food? I only had a small bowl of plain congee this morning. I haven't eaten anything else since and I'm starving to death." Seeing his mom just crying from the moment she entered and noticing her empty hands, Gu Lihui hopefully craned his neck to look outside the ward.
He thought about his younger brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, who were all supposed to come back today. After the family got the news about his hospitalization, there was no way his mom would be the only one to show up, right? 'Maybe his brother or sister-in-law is holding the lunchbox,' he thought.
This morning, he had figured his mom would definitely buy some good food today, so he specifically told that woman, Zhang Minzhen, not to cook much. There was only enough rice for a small bowl of thin congee for each person, including himself.
"I came by myself. What, you haven't eaten yet? By the way, where's your wife? Where did she go? Why haven't I seen a shadow of her?" Chen Suxiang's mouth formed an 'O' shape, clearly shocked by his words.
"How should I know where she and that money pit of a daughter ran off to die? I haven't seen her since I got out of the emergency room." As Gu Lihui said this, his gaze shifted slightly, a trace of guilt in his voice. "I thought they went to tell you the news. If it wasn't her, then how did you know I was here?"
'Don't tell me my business has already become public knowledge in such a short time,' Gu Lihui's heart began to pound with anxiety.
"That venomous shrew! That bitch! May any son she bears be born without a..."
Chen Suxiang's eyes instantly turned red as she opened her mouth and let loose a torrent of the most vicious curses she could muster. But as soon as the words "born without a..." left her mouth, the people around who heard it couldn't help but stare at her as if she were a fool. Some couldn't hold it in and let out a "PFFT" of laughter.
"Ahem! Mom, what are you saying?" Gu Lihui's face darkened. His mom cursing Zhang Minzhen about giving birth to a son without a... wasn't that the same as cursing *his own son*?
"Pah, pah, pah! Hui, my son, no, that's not what Mom meant! I meant if she had a son with someone else, may *he* be born without a..." Seeing her eldest son's displeased expression, Chen Suxiang realized her slip of the tongue. Her rage instantly vanished, and she hurriedly explained.
It would have been better if she hadn't explained. Her explanation immediately made Gu Lihui feel like his head was crowned with green. Seeing the people around them burst into even louder laughter this time, followed by hushed whispers, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Humiliated and angry, he snapped, "Mom, I told you to stop talking! I'm hungry. Hurry up and go buy me something to eat."
"Alright."
Chen Suxiang also heard the surrounding laughter. Thinking back on what she'd said, she realized it was inappropriate. She shot a fierce glare at the onlookers, then turned to her son and gently slapped her own mouth. "That'll teach you to run your mouth."