The old Yang Family house had finally quieted down, but a sour, stinky odor permeated every corner of the yard and rooms, deterring the onlookers from getting too close.
Yang Peili and his wife had suffered a lighter poisoning and were treated by Li Yi, so they were already awake. However, being of an advanced age, this ordeal had taken its toll on their vitality, leaving them without an ounce of strength, confined to lying on the heated brick bed.
Yang Anshi wanted to curse someone but lacked the energy. She could only clasp a small broom used for sweeping the bed and kept hitting the bedstead with it, startling up dust whenever it struck the bed mat. She wanted to go to the outhouse, but she was too weak to get up or even shout for help.
After Li Yi had treated them, Yang Baixiang had taken care of everything. Although he couldn’t eliminate the stench, at least he cleaned up the filthy mess and provided them with water. But now, with Baixiang off to town, only Yang Baihe and Yang Rusong were left. Both of them dared not come closer; when the vomiting was induced, their clothes and blankets were soiled, and Baixiang hadn’t had the chance to change them...
Yang Anshi was so furious she wanted to scream, but the voice that came out was feeble: "Outhouse..."
Yang Baihe nudged Yang Rusong: "Go."
Yang Rusong’s face was somewhat unnatural: "Sister, grandma is a woman, and she needs to go to the outhouse. You should be taking care of her."
"I..."
"Sister, grandpa and grandma always loved you the most. Besides, there is the matter of propriety between men and women; I, a grandson, simply cannot step forward," Rusong said frankly.
"Doesn’t grandma love you too?" Baihe didn’t want to go, but couldn’t say no.
"Grandma is female, I’m male."
Baihe was helpless, regretting coming home today; she could only pinch her nose and use one hand to support Yang Anshi.
However, Yang Anshi who was usually pampered at home, was not exactly light, and Baihe couldn’t lift her with one hand alone. Halfway up, Baihe fell back down with a thud that echoed off the brick bed.
"Ouch..." Finally, Yang Anshi let out a loud cry of pain.
"Mother, are you alright?" Baihe quickly used both hands to pull up Yang Anshi. She was not yet married, and still relied on her mother to arrange her marriage, so at this moment, nothing could befall her mother, and she ignored the smell.
"It’s my Baihe who is filial..." Yang Anshi murmured.
Baihe forced a smile and slowly helped Yang Anshi off the bed and out the door.
Just at that moment, the courtyard gate opened, and Yang Ruxin entered carrying Yang Ruyu.
Upon seeing Ruxin, Baihe instinctively wanted to back away, but as soon as she loosened her grip, Yang Anshi began to slide down.
"Mother..." Baihe was frightened and quickly steadied her.
"I’ve brought your granddaughter back home," Ruxin said as she pushed Ruyu toward Yang Anshi, "We’ve severed ties. From now on, I don’t want people from here running to my place for no reason. If they do, be careful, I’ll break her legs..."
Baihe suddenly felt delighted, grabbed Ruyu, who had been pushed her way, and pressed her against Yang Anshi: "Come on, quick, help your grandma to the outhouse. She’s always been so good to you; now it’s your turn to exert yourself..."
Ruyu, who had been feeling breathless from being hauled by Ruxin, now found herself pressed down by Yang Anshi, and directly collapsed onto the floor, with Yang Anshi falling on top of her.
A muffled groan was heard, and Ruyu rolled her eyes in pain.
Yang Anshi also got startled and groaned on Ruyu’s back, then a funky odor began to spread...