A moment later, the physician arrived. After a series of examinations, stroking his white beard, he declared, "Consumption. This is consumption."
"It's not consumption, it's just pneumonia," Su Xiaoqi shouted.
But after speaking, she suddenly realized that in ancient times, all lung ailments were referred to as consumption.
Whether it was curable pneumonia or incurable and contagious tuberculosis.
"Apologies, young lady, we cannot treat this illness. You should take her away quickly, or no one will come to my clinic." The old physician, surnamed Lu, was actually a good sort.
He did not look down on the group of beggars who had swarmed into his clinic.
And he hadn't chased them away at any point.
"We'll go, then." Xiao Yi, perhaps accustomed to being driven away, bent down to pick up Xiao Xique.
Su Xiaoqi quickly stopped him.
"Wait, where are you taking her?
Are you going back to that dilapidated temple?"
In such an environment, even healthy people would fall ill.
Let alone Xiao Xique's current condition, she was on the brink of death.
"Where else can we go if not there? Should we wait for someone to come with a club and drive us away?" Xiao Yi's tone was sharp.
Su Xiaoqi could tell he still harbored strong resentment towards her.
She glanced around, confirmed their location, and realized they were very close to her newly opened shop, "Supermarket."
Remembering her long-held plan, she slapped her thigh and decisively said, "Wait here for a moment. You, come with me, I'll be right back."
She pulled Xiao Yi outside, and before leaving, asked Zhao Xiaozhu to look after Xiao Xique.
Seeing Physician Lu, she took out a silver coin from her embrace and handed it to him, requesting, "Please let my sister stay a little longer. I'll find a place to settle her and be back."
Physician Lu waved his hand, saying the medicine wouldn't cost that much.
He said it was fine for her to stay a bit longer without extra charge.
After much persuasion, Su Xiaoqi paid two hundred wen.
"Take me to Meng Ji Realty Agency," she requested.
Xiao Yi was a little confused, but Su Xiaoqi's attitude was firm, leaving him no room to refuse.
Though he was unwilling, his body was honest as he led the way.
The two of them ran, and soon arrived at their destination.
Manager Meng was sitting at the entrance of the shop, holding a teapot and drinking tea, looking thoroughly bored.
Upon seeing Su Xiaoqi, his eyes lit up, as if he had seen the God of Wealth. He put down his teapot and quickly stepped forward to greet her.
"Oh, miss, you're here. That courtyard I showed you last time is ready. Would you like to see it today?"
"No need to see it," Su Xiaoqi said quickly. "How much is it? Name your price, I want to move in immediately."
Manager Meng was initially disheartened by Su Xiaoqi's refusal to view it.
He thought all his hard work had been dismissed with a single sentence.
But when he heard she wanted to buy it without even looking, he was overjoyed. He gently guided Su Xiaoqi inside, "Ah, please come in."
Su Xiaoqi didn't want to waste time with pleasantries and asked for the price again.
Manager Meng hesitated for a moment before quoting, "One hundred and fifty ding."
Thinking the price might be too high, he cautiously explained,
"It's mainly because you insisted on buying the courtyard behind the shop you looked at earlier.
That courtyard is quite large, with three sections, and a large shop in the front.
No matter how I tried to persuade the owner, they wouldn't budge on the price.
Ah, I'm telling you, that place is in high demand. It's right on the main street, and at a crossroads.
It even comes with an old woman who looks after the place."
So, it was a package deal, the house and the person.
Su Xiaoqi took out money and said directly,
"Alright, here's one hundred and fifty taels. Get it done for me immediately. The rest can be considered tax and your tea money."
Su Xiaoqi emptied all the money she had earned during this period.
Her only request was to get the keys immediately, as she was in a hurry to move in.
This request was simple, and Manager Meng readily agreed, "No problem, no problem.
The owner has already moved away, and the old woman inside is diligent and cleans the place every day."
Su Xiaoqi asked Manager Meng to send a young assistant with Xiao Yi to recognize the property.
Meanwhile, she followed Manager Meng to the government office for the property transfer.
She gave Xiao Yi one hundred wen, instructing him to hire a mule cart to pick up Xiao Xique as soon as he had recognized the property.
The two parted ways. Su Xiaoqi's money made things easy, and she quickly finished her business.
After sorting out the property deed, land deed, and the deed of the old woman who came with the house, she asked Manager Meng to escort her to the newly purchased residence.
She looked around; Xiao Yi and the others had not arrived yet.
She signaled Manager Meng to knock on the door, showed the various deeds to the old woman guarding the house, and confirmed her status as the owner.
"Oh, greetings to the new owner. My surname is Wen, everyone calls me Granny Wen."
The remaining Granny Wen was a good-natured woman. Despite being called "Granny," she was only in her thirties.
Before they even spoke, a hint of a smile appeared on both their faces.
She also had a very kind appearance.
Su Xiaoqi nodded with satisfaction and politely addressed her, "Hello, Auntie Wen."
"Oh, oh, why call me Auntie? Hehe, just call me Granny Wen,"
Su Xiaoqi disagreed, insisting on calling her Auntie.
This made Granny Wen's eyes crinkle with happiness.
After all, who wouldn't want to be respected?
Su Xiaoqi thanked Manager Meng and began to inquire about Granny Wen's history.
Through simple conversation, Su Xiaoqi learned that she was an unfortunate person.
She had been sold by her family to a wealthy household as a maid when she was very young.
Later, she was forcefully taken advantage of by the master of the house and became pregnant.
She had hoped to be elevated to the status of a concubine, but the mistress of the house was jealous and refused to allow the master to elevate her status.
She had even said that she would only do so after the child was born.
Who knew that she never had the chance to give birth to that child.
It also left her with a condition of lifelong infertility.
She was driven out of the master's household.
Sadly, she was bought by the current owner of this house. She had lived there for ten years.
Now that they had been promoted and transferred to Yizhou Prefecture, they could not look after the house here, so they sold it.
Granny Wen, however, was a local and reluctant to leave her homeland, so she was sold along with the house.
Su Xiaoqi watched her make the bed while recounting these events.
She listened with a sigh.
But Granny Wen's expression was serene.
It was as if all those misfortunes had not happened to her.
She was so proactive and optimistic.
Her personality was cheerful and full of sunshine.
After only a quarter of an hour of interaction, Su Xiaoqi had already grown fond of her.
She also introduced the group of people who were about to move in.
She particularly mentioned Xiao Xique's illness.
"Oh, poor things, they are all so young..." Granny Wen said, about to shed tears.
Su Xiaoqi patted her hand and was about to say something more when she heard a commotion at the entrance.
It must be Xiao Yi arriving with the others.
The two hurried out to meet them.
A mule cart was parked at the entrance, followed by a dozen or so poorly dressed young beggars.
The curtain of the cart was lifted, and Zhao Xiaozhu emerged, carrying Xiao Xique.
Su Xiaoqi looked at them. So many people, yet the mule cart was empty, and they all ran alongside it. These people were truly...
She took Xiao Xique, wrapped her in her clothes, and walked into the house.
She placed her in the front courtyard wing room, which she and Granny Wen had just tidied up.
As soon as she was settled, Granny Wen brought over warm water of suitable temperature.
Su Xiaoqi took a cloth and continued to wipe Xiao Xique's body.
However, her fever had not subsided.
As she slept, Xiao Xique continued to cough incessantly.
Her cough was heartbreaking.
It caused great distress.
Granny Wen stood by the side, asking if she could help.
Su Xiaoqi pointed to the small beggars standing in the courtyard, looking unsure of what to do with their hands, and said earnestly,
"Including my sister, there are eighteen of them in total. They will all live here from now on.
Please arrange rooms for them, and I will trouble Auntie Wen with their daily lives and food and clothing."
After speaking, she bowed deeply.