At present, she was the only one who could treat this disease.
Because of what had happened with Granny Qin before, she had already studied the relevant courses in her space.
Therefore, she didn’t need to enter the space again to learn and could directly prescribe the medicine now.
At this point, binding the system was also for the convenience of monitoring Aunt Liu’s physical condition in real time.
“Aunt Liu, I’ll prescribe the medicine for you now. Take this prescription, decoct it twice a day, and you’ll see obvious improvement in three days.”
“This medicine can be taken for seven days. After seven days, come back, and I’ll prescribe some more for you. After another seven days of taking it, you’ll be fully recovered.”
As she spoke, Gu Jianing swiftly wrote down the prescription, then tore it off and handed it to her.
“Aunt Liu, take this prescription to the counter next door to get the medicine.”
Aunt Liu blankly took the prescription. “Two rounds of medicine? And I’ll be better in half a month?”
“Yes.”
“Aunt Liu, do you have any other questions?”
“N-no.”
Watching Aunt Liu’s retreating figure, Gu Jianing thought that Aunt Liu probably didn’t know she had tuberculosis.
It was better if she didn’t know. She wouldn’t mention it either—treating her was the priority.
If she were to say it out loud…
People in this era all believed tuberculosis was incurable. If Aunt Liu lost hope in treatment, what then?
Aunt Liu held the prescription in her hand, lost in thought. Suddenly, she started coughing again.
As she coughed, she could only take out a handkerchief and cover her mouth.
Soon after the coughing fit, she saw blood in the phlegm on the handkerchief.
A passerby who witnessed this scene whispered, “She’s coughing up blood—could it be tuberculosis?”
After saying that, the person acted as if they might catch the disease and quickly scurried away, keeping their distance.
Aunt Liu heard it but didn’t pay much attention.
She knew she had tuberculosis.
She had known for two years.
At first, she and her son had hoped it was just an ordinary cough. But when it didn’t get better and instead worsened over time, they realized the truth.
Back then, though she wasn’t highly educated, Aunt Liu, with her life experience, had vaguely sensed something was wrong.
Sure enough, when Xiwang stubbornly insisted on taking her to a major hospital for examination, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
It was incurable—all she could do was endure, holding on for as long as possible.
She still remembered the moment the diagnosis was confirmed, how her son Xiwang’s eyes had instantly reddened.
Aunt Liu had been heartbroken too.
Because she couldn’t bear to leave her son.
Her husband had passed away early, her natal family couldn’t offer much support, and her in-laws had treated her harshly.
Aunt Liu and her son had practically relied on each other for survival.
Two years ago, Xiwang had only been eighteen, unmarried and without a wife. He had already lost his father—if he were to lose his mother too, who would stand up for him when troubles came? What would he do?
So, Aunt Liu had stubbornly held on until now.
Half a year ago, somehow, Xiwang had managed to persuade his cousin in the Northwest Military District to bring him here, hoping to find treatment for her.
Unfortunately, they had made it here, but…
Even though Xiwang’s cousin had been a doctor for many years, there was nothing she could do about an incurable disease like tuberculosis.
Still, this cousin had been kind to Xiwang.
After learning that Xiwang refused to leave and wanted to stay with her to keep searching for a cure at the military hospital, she had arranged a job for him.
Now, he was working in the hospital cafeteria.
Aunt Liu thought this was fine.
Except…
Xiwang had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Earlier this year, the military hospital had even held a training program—a great opportunity—but unfortunately, Xiwang hadn’t qualified for it.
But now…
As his mother, she had finally found a way to give him that chance.
If it meant Xiwang could become a doctor, she would gladly die right now.
She knew her own condition.
Holding on for these few years had already been her limit.
As for what Dr. Gu had just said…
Aunt Liu figured the doctor was either too young to recognize the illness or had noticed but didn’t want to worry her—hence the claim that it could be cured.
Aunt Liu smiled bitterly. How could it possibly be cured?
Clutching the prescription in her hand, she knew the medicine wouldn’t help.
But…
She would take it anyway, since she had been told to.
With these thoughts in mind, Aunt Liu handed the prescription to the person at the window and soon received several packets of medicine before heading home.
The so-called “home” was also arranged by Xiwang’s cousin—a small, single-room house in the residential compound. It was tiny, so after moving in, they had to partition the room to make it livable.
Still, since they weren’t officially military dependents, being allowed to stay in the Northwest Military District and having a place to live was already a tremendous blessing.
Whether it was the housing or Xiwang’s job, Aunt Liu was deeply grateful to his cousin.
Soon, soon… Xiwang’s dream of becoming a doctor will also be within reach.
As she brewed the medicine, Aunt Liu picked up a needle, thread, and fabric beside her, thinking that while she was still around, she should make her son another set of clothes. Otherwise, once she was gone, no one would sew for him anymore.
The thought brought tears to her eyes.
At noon, Liu Xiwang returned.
He carried a meal box from the cafeteria, containing some meat—one of the perks of working there.
The moment he stepped inside, the scent of medicinal herbs hit him. When he spotted the pot simmering on the stove, his eyes lit up with hope.
He rushed in eagerly. “Ma, you went to see a doctor?”
Aunt Liu, who had just finished stitching, looked up at her son, her gaze softening with affection.
“Yes. Your cousin said that Dr. Gu from the Traditional Medicine Department is very skilled, with remarkable talent. She thought she might be able to cure me.”
“Cousin recommended her?” Xiwang frowned slightly at first.
But then, hearing “Dr. Gu from the Traditional Medicine Department,” he immediately recognized the name.
“Ah, Dr. Gu! That’s good—I’ve heard of her! They say she’s incredibly gifted, and her medical skills are outstanding. What did she say, Ma?”
Working in the cafeteria, Xiwang had been quietly gathering information about skilled doctors, hoping to find someone who could treat his mother.
Lately, the name he heard most often was Dr. Gu Jianing from the Traditional Medicine Department.
Everyone said that despite her youth, her medical abilities were truly exceptional—especially in fertility treatments.
Xiwang had wondered if this Dr. Gu could also treat tuberculosis.
But regardless, he had decided they had to try.
He had planned to find a way to convince his mother to see Dr. Gu.
His biggest worry had been her refusal.
After all, tuberculosis was considered incurable.
The fact that his mother had survived this long was already a miracle.
So, she had long given up hope and refused to see doctors.
But Xiwang was her son.
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