“Mom, don’t worry,” Chen Lishu said, looking at Zhao Qiuyue. “Sister Xiaoyue, Xingdong and I are here. Why don’t you head back first?”
Zhao Qiuyue nodded and turned to leave the hospital room.
“Mom, fainting isn’t a minor issue. Since we’re here at the hospital, we should get a thorough check-up. That way, Xingdong and I can relax.”
Gu Xingdong added, “That’s right, Mom. Listen to Lishu, let’s get it checked out properly.”
“I know my own body. Why waste money on unnecessary tests? I came here just to see the children, and now I’ve made you both come over. Sigh.”
Li Xiulan sighed with self-reproach. As she got older, she seemed to cause more trouble for her children. She knew they were being filial, but it still bothered her.
“Perhaps it’s because of the trouble with our fourth sibling recently, making me a bit agitated. I’ll just take a couple of anti-inflammatory pills when I get home and be fine.”
However, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong insisted on having her examined.
“Some conditions are difficult to detect with ordinary check-ups. Frequent dizziness and lightheadedness should indeed be taken seriously. How about this: let’s get an X-ray first. Once the results are out and if there are no issues, the situation will be simpler, and we can just prescribe some anti-inflammatory medication.”
Since it was already afternoon, they had to wait until the next day to get the X-ray. The three of them returned home.
As soon as they arrived home, they heard the continuous crying of the two children from upstairs, interspersed with Zhao Qiuyue’s occasional comforting words. Feeling a strange sensation in her chest, Chen Lishu knew the babies must be hungry. She hurried upstairs.
“Oh, is Mommy back? Our Xiaochengzi and Xiaobai have Grandma to feed them.”
Upon seeing Chen Lishu enter, Zhao Qiuyue’s face instantly lit up with a look of relief.
The two little ones were usually easy to manage, but when it came to being hungry, there was absolutely nothing that could be done.
Chen Lishu had actually prepared milk powder, but after tasting breast milk, the two little ones refused to drink even a drop of formula. At just over a month old, they were practically geniuses. If offered formula, they would cry and absolutely refuse it.
As Chen Lishu approached, she saw the two little ones with their eyes squeezed shut, their faces already red from crying. Xiaochengzi, in particular, was kicking his little legs furiously in anger. Xiaobai, while relatively better, had large tears streaming down from the corners of his tightly shut eyes.
Chen Lishu quickly picked up Xiaobai first and then hurried to unbutton her shirt.
Smelling her mother’s familiar milky scent, Xiaobai automatically turned his head and eagerly nuzzled his little mouth towards her.
Chen Lishu had picked up Xiaobai first because Xiaocheng, the little tyrant, always insisted on hogging the feeding for longer. If he was taken away before he was satisfied, he would undoubtedly start wailing at the top of his lungs.
“Mom, why don’t you go and rest for a bit? Rui Rui will be home from school soon. I’ll go pick him up,” Gu Xingdong said after helping her to the sofa.
Li Xiulan replied, “You don’t need to worry about me, I’m fine. Go pick up the child quickly.”
By the time Rui Rui returned, the two little ones had already eaten their fill and were now lying on the bed, leisurely sucking on their fingers.
Seeing that his younger siblings were not asleep, Rui Rui was overjoyed. He rushed over without even putting down his schoolbag.
“Xiaocheng, Xiaobai, say ‘brother,’ bro~ther.”
Gu Xingdong flicked the top of his head with his finger. “You little rascal, you’re too eager.”
“Dad, when will they be able to call me brother?”
“It’s hard to say for sure. It will probably be a few more months. They should start calling me brother then.”
“Oh.” Rui Rui felt a little disappointed but quickly lifted his head again. “It’s okay. If I teach them a few more times every day, they’ll definitely learn to call me brother quickly.”
Chen Lishu said with a smile, “Hurry and take your schoolbag inside. We’ll eat soon.”
Time flew by, and it was the next day. Gu Xingdong went to work. Chen Lishu had no classes in the morning. After taking Rui Rui to school, she accompanied Li Xiulan to the hospital.
They thought it was just an X-ray that would put their minds at ease, but it turned out to be a serious problem.
The doctor looked at the X-ray film for a while, his brows gradually furrowing.
At this point, there was no need to hide anything from the patient. The doctor glanced at Li Xiulan and Chen Lishu and stated truthfully, “The situation might be a bit… not good.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Lishu’s heart sank. Li Xiulan also began to panic, clasping her hands together, her throat tightening. “Doctor, how is it not good?”
“See this spot here? It looks like there’s a tumor.”
Tumor?
Li Xiulan’s head buzzed. Her hands and feet felt numb and unresponsive.
She might not know about other illnesses, but a tumor, once it grew, was usually incurable, especially one located in the head.
At this critical moment, Chen Lishu remained relatively calm. She reached out and held Li Xiulan’s hand, finding it ice-cold.
“Doctor, can it be operated on? We’re willing to pay any amount.”
Since she married into the Gu family, Li Xiulan had always taken excellent care of her, often defending her more than her own mother, Wu Chunmei. In Chen Lishu’s heart, she had long regarded Li Xiulan as her own mother.
“We need to first determine if it’s benign or malignant. I suggest you go to a tumor hospital. They have more authoritative specialists in this area.”
Chen Lishu nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”
After informing the doctor, she took Li Xiulan’s hand and left.
“Mom, please don’t take it to heart. Medical technology is quite advanced now. If it can’t be treated here in our city, I’ll take you to Kyoto. If that doesn’t work, we can go abroad. Don’t worry about the cost at all. Xingdong and I will do whatever it takes to cure you.”
Looking at Li Xiulan, whose spirits had visibly lowered, Chen Lishu spoke with firm determination.
“Mom knows you are both good children,” Li Xiulan sighed after a long pause. “I’m almost sixty years old. I’ve lived this long life. I don’t want to be a burden to you. Let’s just get it checked here in the provincial capital. If it requires a lot of money, Mom won’t go through with it. It’s not worth it.”
“Mom, we don’t know for sure yet, so how can you say it’s not worth it? Don’t overthink things. I’ll take you to the tumor hospital right now.”
Soon, the mother and daughter arrived at the tumor hospital. After registering, they were called into the doctor’s office by a young nurse not long after.
Chen Lishu handed over the X-ray films taken at the previous hospital to the doctor.
After reviewing them, the doctor reached the same conclusion as the previous one.
“Further examination is needed, but judging by its size, it shouldn’t be a major problem.”
Hearing the doctor’s words, the somber expressions on the faces of the mother and daughter finally eased a little.
Shortly thereafter, a nurse came to escort Li Xiulan for her examination. After Li Xiulan left, the doctor looked up at Chen Lishu and asked, “Are you her daughter, or…?”
Chen Lishu’s heart immediately tensed, and her shoulders unconsciously stiffened. “I’m her daughter-in-law. Doctor, is there something else?”
“Yes, the location of the tumor is very sensitive. Even if it’s diagnosed as benign, the surgery carries significant risks.”