Aunt Charlotte's Tearful Plea

Lily Evans patiently explained the important details of tending to mushrooms to Belle and April. Belle, being older and quick-witted, remembered everything after just a couple of repetitions.

April was still young and got anxious when she couldn't remember, nearly bursting into tears.

"Don't worry, take your time. At first, I'll guide you both through everything, and after a while, you'll get the hang of it." Lily Evans gently patted April's head, her smile warm and reassuring.

"Yes, madam." April wiped away her tears, gazing adoringly at Lily Evans's gentle smile, thinking to herself how beautiful and kind she was.

After finishing up the household matters, Lily Evans headed over to Dr. Wu's house.

During the recent house construction, Cynthia Wu had helped a lot. Lily brought a marinated rabbit and a variety of fresh vegetables, then knocked on the Wu Family House door.

"Ah, Lily, you're here! Come on in!" Cynthia Wu opened the door and quickly took the heavy bags from Lily, saying, "Why are you still bringing gifts to my house? You really don't have to!"

Lily Evans glanced playfully at the rabbit jerky hanging in the Wu family's courtyard and teased, "Oh right, your family never runs out of rabbit meat. I guess I'm just being extra!"

Cynthia Wu blushed slightly, turned away and hurried to the kitchen, saying, "I'll put these away. Go on to my dad's room—Aunt Charlotte and Jack and Jill Evans are there too."

"Aunt Charlotte's here too?" Lily wondered as she walked inside. Just as she reached the doorway, she heard Mrs. Charlotte Evans's muffled sobs, along with Jack and Jill's crying.

"Aunt Charlotte, what's wrong with the kids?" Lily Evans stepped inside and saw the two children, faces flushed, lying on Dr. Wu's bed while he administered acupuncture.

The moment Mrs. Charlotte Evans saw Lily, her tears started streaming down uncontrollably. "Jack and Jill have been sick for two days. I kept saying we should take them to the doctor, but Grandma Evans insisted it wasn't necessary, that they'd be fine after a couple days' rest. When I tried to leave with the kids, Grandma Evans told the eldest and third sisters-in-law to block me, saying no child in the village is so precious—if they get sick, they get sick, and if they don't recover, it's just fate. All because they don't want to spend money! Arthur gave hundreds of taels to the Evans family, but when it comes to treating the children, they won't even spare two taels! This morning, I felt how badly the kids were burning up, so I made a scene at home and finally managed to bring them here to see the doctor."

"How could they do that!" Lily Evans was furious, grabbing Mrs. Charlotte Evans's hand and helping her wipe away her tears. "Where's Uncle Arthur?"

"Your uncle Arthur went back to the other side for some business matters. He's been gone three or four days." Mrs. Charlotte Evans sobbed, "He'd barely left, and they started treating the three of us like this. If anything happens to Jack or Jill, I don't want to go on living!"

On the bed, Jack was feverish and delirious, calling for his mother. Mrs. Charlotte Evans sat at the edge, holding both children tightly, not daring to let go or even blink, terrified that if she did, something terrible would happen.

Dr. Wu finished the acupuncture with a grim expression and said, "If you'd brought them any later, their lives would've been at risk."

Mrs. Charlotte Evans broke down crying. Dr. Wu shook his head and said, "They've just barely made it. I'll prescribe some medicine—take them home and nurse them carefully. They're still young, so pay attention to their diet. No matter how much adults scrimp, never skimp on the children's food."

Mrs. Charlotte Evans sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. Ever since Arthur Evans was no longer useful, the Evans family had done everything to mistreat their branch. Poor Jack and Jill—once cherished and adored, now suffering so much!

Dr. Wu finished writing the prescription and asked Cynthia Wu to prepare the medicine.

The total cost—including the consultation fee—was two taels of silver. Mrs. Charlotte Evans searched herself and barely managed to scrape together two hundred copper coins. "Dr. Wu, can we pay you later? When Arthur comes back, we'll settle up for sure."

Dr. Wu glanced at the two hundred coins, pushed them back, and sighed, "Just pay me when your husband returns. Use the money to buy some meat for the children."

Mrs. Charlotte Evans stared at the coins, tears streaming down again. Even a stranger like Dr. Wu showed compassion for her children, but their own grandparents didn't care if they lived or died!

Crying, Mrs. Charlotte Evans remembered how Arthur once told her about being abandoned as a sick child. At first, she couldn't believe parents could be so heartless, but now she realized the Evans elders were capable of anything!

Looking at her two children, Mrs. Charlotte Evans wiped her tears, straightened her back, and tucked the coins safely away. Until Arthur returned, she was determined to protect her children from the Evans family!