Old Mrs. Wu's illness came quickly but lingered on, the fever lasting several days, her delirious mutterings unceasing. Li Dafu was beside himself with worry. Without any carts available in the team as they were all at the river working, he had no choice but to borrow a bicycle from Li Sanwang's family and take her to the commune health center for an IV drip. After several consecutive days of treatment, there was slight improvement, though her spirit was still weak.
Li Xianglu felt very conflicted when she found out. It was for her sake that the old lady had fallen ill with anger, and regardless of anything else, she felt obliged to visit; to not go would be utterly heartless.
In the evening, Li Xianglu informed her grandfather before allowing Qin Xi to take her to Erdaoliang, where she then entered Li Dafu's courtyard on her own.
