The Butcher's Little Husband - Chapter 74

“Doctor Zhou, do you think there is any way to cure this?” Li Amu asked, his heart heavy with concern for Lian Meng’s health.

“This… is not incurable,” Doctor Zhou replied after a long pause.

“Thank heavens! The Bodhisattva blesses us!” Li Amu murmured, relieved. He then looked at Doctor Zhou with pleading eyes. “Doctor Zhou, tell me, how can we cure it? No matter the cost!” 

Having understood from the earlier example that the disease might not be easy to treat, and that the medicinal materials might be rare, Li Amu was prepared to do whatever it took.

“I can’t cure this disease, but my junior brother can,” Doctor Zhou explained. “He is currently at my home, but he has an eccentric temperament, and the methods he uses might not be acceptable to everyone.” He warned them in advance, as he wanted to ensure they understood the situation fully.

“It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter, as long as there is a cure!” Li Amu insisted, feeling that as long as Lian Meng could live, there was nothing to fear.

Doctor Zhou and Li Amu agreed to take Lian Meng to see his junior brother the following day. 

After seeing Doctor Zhou out, Li Amu went to check on Lian Meng.

“Meng Ge’er, I’ve already spoken with Doctor Zhou, and we’ve agreed that you should go to his place tomorrow to see his junior brother. Is that okay?” Li Amu asked gently, finding Lian Meng lying on the bed, his back turned to him. When he received no response, Li Amu continued, “I know you’re feeling upset and in pain, thinking it’s a child, but your health is more important. You’re still young, so what’s the harm in waiting to have another child once you’re well?”

Suddenly, Lian Meng sat up, his eyes flashing with anger. “It’s clearly a child in my belly, Amu, how can you say it’s not just because of what that doctor said? I know that my brother-in-law’s husband is pregnant too. Even if you don’t like me, you can’t do this!”

Li Amu, shocked and frustrated by the misunderstanding, tried to stay calm. “Meng Ge’er, I don’t know what misunderstanding you have, but I swear on everything, the baby in your belly is also the flesh and blood of our Li family. No matter how hard I am on you, I would never harm that child!”

Lian Meng realized he was wrong, but his pride kept him from apologizing. How could a quack doctor say that the baby in his belly wasn’t real? Wasn’t every doctor in the city dead?

Seeing Lian Meng silently stewing in his anger, Li Amu felt deeply pained. Did Lian Meng really believe he wanted to hurt him? Despite his cold nature, Lian Meng was still his son-in-law, someone who would spend his life with their eldest son. 

Feeling torn, Li Amu went to find Li Yiran and told him everything.

At the time, Li Yiran was studying in his study. When he heard the news, he immediately dropped his book. “Did Doctor Zhou really say that?” he asked, already knowing the gravity of the situation.

“Yes,” Li Amu confirmed. “Doctor Zhou is highly skilled. Even people from outside the village come to see him. You may have been away these years, so you don’t know that even Mr. Du, the richest man in our county, relies on him.”

Mr. Du was the wealthiest man in the area, able to afford any doctor he wanted. If he trusted Doctor Zhou, then he must truly be an excellent physician.

“Well, I’ll go and persuade him right away,” Li Yiran said, his expression serious. He had been eagerly awaiting this child, and to suddenly learn that it might not be a real pregnancy was overwhelming. But now, Lian Meng’s health had to come first.

“Go quickly,” Li Amu urged, before pausing and adding, “When you two first found out about the pregnancy, did you consult a doctor?”

“Yes, we went to a doctor at Jishan Hall in the prefecture. At that time, Meng Ge’er had been vomiting constantly. The doctor said he was pregnant as soon as he saw him and prescribed medicine to stabilize the pregnancy. After taking it, the vomiting stopped…” Li Yiran recalled. “Since then, the belly grew steadily, and there was never any doubt.”

“He didn’t check the pulse?” Li Amu asked.

“He did. He said it was weak—possibly because the baby was still small.”

“Then we should see another doctor!” Li Amu decided, determined to get the right diagnosis. If the situation wasn’t as they feared, they could save the baby. Even if it meant apologizing to Doctor Zhou, he was willing to do it.

Li Yiran hesitated but agreed. He still held onto some hope, and it would be safer to consult another doctor.

The next afternoon, they set off.

Tian Xiaoman wanted Wenxuan to stay with him today, but priorities were priorities. He also wished for Meng-ge’er to be fine. Even if the ger wasn’t easy to get along with, he was still the eldest brother’s husband and Le-ge’er’s biological Amu.

That night, as Tian Xiaoman drifted off to sleep, someone suddenly crawled into the bed. He nearly cried out in surprise, but it was Li Wenxuan, who quickly comforted him.

“Xiaoman, it’s me.”

“Li Wenxuan?” Tian Xiaoman rubbed his eyes in confusion. “Why are you back? Didn’t you say you would stay there for the night? It’s so tiring to travel back and forth. And it’s so late, it’s scary.”

“Big brother and Meng-ge’er… they couldn’t stay any longer,” Wenxuan said, his voice somber.

“In the belly…It’s not a child?” Xiaoman asked quietly.

“We went to every clinic in the county, and none of the doctors thought it was a pregnancy… Brother -in-law insisted on going to the prefecture, but brother refused, saying it was too late. Then they had a quarrel, and I brought them back.”

“How sad they must be…” Tian Xiaoman’s voice trembled. “Husband, I’m a little scared. Do you think… could it be that mine isn’t…?”

Li Wenxuan hugged him tightly, kissing his forehead. “Don’t worry, Xiaoman. It won’t happen! Doctor Zhou is a great doctor. If he says it’s real, it’s true.”

Tian Xiaoman snuggled into his arms, feeling comforted. 

Being a parent was harder than he thought—now, even he was worried.

Back at home, Li Amu couldn’t sleep at all. He tossed and turned, unable to calm his heart. The news today had come too suddenly. He even blamed himself—why had he insisted on checking today? He should’ve waited. Now how were they supposed to celebrate the New Year like this?

Hearing the carriage outside, Li Amu immediately got up, hurriedly dressing. He saw Li Yiran helping Lian Meng back into the room, and immediately gestured to him.

After Li Yiran settled Lian Meng in bed, he stepped outside.

“Yiran, how is it?” Li Amu asked anxiously.

Li Yiran shook his head, saying nothing. But from his expression, Li Amu could already tell what had happened.

“What sin has our Li family committed?” Li Amu burst into tears. 

Their lives had been going so smoothly, and now this. What were they going to do?