Physician Li was the only physician available around their area. Even the residents from other surrounding villages often came to him when they were sick.

"I have some alcohol at home. If you want, I can bring it to you, Zhou Anran." The kind-hearted uncle told her.

Alcohol was quite effective to prevent infection. Since Physician Li wasn’t at home, they could only do anything to alleviate the after-effects.

Xiao Fenghao’s injuries were quite severe. A lot of his skin was bruised, already turning purplish blue. There were also several splits on his skin, already swelling. It wouldn’t be enough to treat him with alcohol alone.

"Please, Uncle," Zhou Anran kindly asked the middle-aged man.

While the man went back to his home, the other men proposed to bathe Xiao Fenghao. The water at the fields definitely wasn’t enough to clean him thoroughly.

Zhou Anran agreed, and they began to make preparations.

On the side, Xiao Qingya was begging the System.

[System, are you sure there are no items in the system’s shop that I can finally purchase yet? How about I borrow the item first since the system’s shop for medication is already unlocked anyway.]

The System was also helpless. If it could, it would have helped the little one when Xiao Qingya was asking so sincerely.

Alas, it wasn’t the one who made the rule and was in control of it.

[Little Ya, I can’t help you...] It muttered guiltily.

Xiao Qingya was severely depressed. She could only watch quietly as her mother and sisters were busily running around, unable to help.

The uncle who had gone home to fetch alcohol didn’t take long. He handed over the alcohol to Zhou Anran, who thanked him profusely.

They began to dab the alcohol on the wounds they had cleaned. Even when he was unconscious, Xiao Fenghao was thrashing badly. They had to hold his limbs down in order to let him stay in place.

It took a while before they were finally done. Xiao Yuxi had gone back to Physician Li’s house again, checking if he had gone back. Alas, the one who received her explained that Physician Li wasn’t going to be back today.

She was like an ant on a hot pan, extremely anxious when she heard the news.

"Let’s hope Second Brother’s condition will improve tonight," Xiao Yuxi said as she hugged her youngest sister, holding back a sob.

In her heart, she cursed her brother’s recklessness. Even if he wanted to take revenge, he could wait a little bit longer...

She sighed, bringing Xiao Qingya to Xiao Fenghao’s bedroom to keep watch over him. Xiao Yuyan had gone to the kitchen with their mother.

The men who had helped them earlier already excused themselves, either going back home or the fields. In order to thank them, Zhou Anran gave them each a few cups of soy milk.

Anyway, with Xiao Fenghao’s current critical condition, they couldn’t go to the village market. His well-being was far more important.

Even until afternoon came, Xiao Fenghao hadn’t woken up. Fortunately, the blood from his wounds weren’t actually enough to cause him blood loss, or else he wouldn’t make it until Physician Li returned tomorrow.

Zhou Anran wiped the cold sweat from her son’s forehead again, her heart clenched with pain upon seeing him in such a helpless state.

"Mother, I will wash them." Xiao Yuyan took the cloth that was smeared with some blood.

She took some dirty clothes her second brother had used and headed to the river. Her eyes were slightly red. When no one was around, she finally cried in silence.

"Eldest Brother, when will you be back...?" She muttered.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but feel slight resentment when she recalled their father. Why hadn’t he returned yet?

Is he living a better life somewhere and that’s the reason he doesn’t want to come back? He doesn’t want to acknowledge peasants like them as his family?

Despite Xiao Qingya and the System already confirming that their father was the male lead in their mother’s story, Xiao Yuyan, who was overwhelmed by negative emotions, couldn’t help but think of the worst.

She washed the clothes in a daze, occasionally sighing.

"Who goes there?" Xiao Yuyan suddenly sat up, startled. She turned around, worried there might be strangers like what had happened to their little aunt before.

However, the person in front of her was not entirely unfamiliar.

It was Zhou Wanruo, their cousin.

Her presence evoked unpleasant memories from this morning. Xiao Yuyan watched her vigilantly, her mood turning for the worse.

Zhou Wanruo bit her lip, looking incredibly nervous. "Yan’er..."

Xiao Yuyan didn’t answer. She took the clothes from the water, not even bothering to squeeze the water dry before she stood up. Her sleeve and front garment became wet.

"I-I..." Zhou Wanruo stuttered. She took a deep breath. "Yan’er, I am sorry... my father has indeed gone too far for what he did to your brother."

Seeing Xiao Yuyan staying silent, she bit her lip until it bled. "I am really sorry for what my mother has done too. I know that you are angry and disappointed in my parents and me."

She took a few steps forward, grabbing Xiao Yuyan’s hands and stuffed something in it. Once she was done, she took a few steps back as though she was worried Xiao Yuyan would feel repulsed by the sudden closeness.

"I went to town this morning to get medicine. Don’t tell anyone, Yan’er."

With that, Zhou Wanruo turned around and walked with quick steps. She didn’t wait for Xiao Yuyan to respond. Even her steps seemed to be getting faster.

Xiao Yuyan was stunned. She stared at the medicine package in her hand. Her lips parted, yet no sounds came out. She stood there, rooting to the spot.

It took a long time until she came to her senses. She went back home.

"Yan’er, can you keep watch over Second Brother for a moment?" Xiao Yuxi called over her sister.

Xiao Yuyan nodded quietly. Her eyes subconsciously followed her eldest sister figure as she led their little sister out of the room for a bath.

She bit her lip until it stung. Should she give this medicine to her second brother?