Previously, Sophia’s treatment had focused on tonifying Danielle’s kidneys to nourish the brain and marrow, removing phlegm to clear her orifices, and strengthening her overall constitution. By combining herbal decoctions and pills, she had successfully alleviated Danielle’s symptoms in a relatively short time.
What was even more remarkable was that Danielle could now interact with others like an ordinary child.
“We took her to see a modern doctor recently. They said her development is slightly delayed but otherwise not a major concern. The same doctor once told us she had congenital brain underdevelopment and would never live like a normal child.
Now, they say she’s just a bit behind but has no major issues,” Elias said, his voice trembling with emotion. No one could understand his feelings better than he did. When Danielle was diagnosed with brain underdevelopment, he had felt a crushing despair. The thought of her not understanding the joys and sorrows of life had made his own existence feel gray and meaningless.
Sophia’s diagnosis had aligned with the modern doctor’s revised opinion.
“That’s correct. As long as you continue to provide her with proper care and guidance, she might not be exceptionally bright, but there’s every chance she could live like an ordinary person,” Sophia reassured him.
“Thank goodness!” cried Abigail, Danielle’s grandmother. Tears streamed down her face as she held Sophia’s hand tightly. “You’ve saved our whole family! I used to wonder what sins I’d committed to deserve this. There was a time I even thought about giving up. But you’ve given us hope.”
Sophia smiled gently. “Auntie, it’s not as dramatic as you think. This is my duty as a doctor—to heal others.”
“It’s more than that! Even the medicine you prescribed for me has worked wonders. My temper is better, I sleep well, and my whole body feels more comfortable now.”
“Treating illnesses is all about addressing the root cause. Your condition was due to complications from a past miscarriage. Targeted treatment can resolve it, but you’ll need to take care of yourself and avoid unnecessary stress.”
“Of course! I’ll listen to you!”
Elias’s father even rushed from his company to thank Sophia, offering to pay her a large sum, which she politely declined.
—
The next day, Abigail ran into Andrea at a spa.
Andrea was chatting with a group of ladies. When asked about her family, she sighed dramatically.
“My former daughter-in-law was awful. She made me so angry and didn’t respect her elders. Worst of all, she couldn’t even have children! I don’t blame my son for finding someone else, but even the new one isn’t trouble-free.”
“Infertility is a big issue. Families like ours need heirs to continue the legacy,” one of the women chimed in.
“Exactly! And Olivia is from the entertainment industry—it’s hard to manage women like that,” another added.
“Finding the right daughter-in-law is crucial. You have to be very careful these days,” someone else commented.
Abigail couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Although this upscale spa had private rooms, the soundproofing between them was poor, and she could hear every word clearly.
Unable to resist, she spoke up for Sophia: “Andrea, I’ve heard about your previous daughter-in-law, that Smith girl. She seems like a fine young woman—steady, composed, and with excellent medical skills. I’ve met her a few times, and she doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.”
“What medical skills?” Andrea scoffed disdainfully. “She hasn’t even graduated yet—just an intern.”
“Still, she’s from a family of traditional medicine practitioners. With that kind of upbringing, she must be better than most,” Abigail argued.
Andrea’s face darkened at Abigail’s continued praise of Sophia.
“What do you know? You can see a person’s face but not their heart! That Sophia was infertile. Just for that alone, I had every reason to kick her out of the house!”
Abigail snorted inwardly. Scott Henry isn’t exactly a prize himself. Marrying him was a waste for someone like Sophia. The sooner she left, the better.
She thought to herself, *Who really lost out here?*
Andrea felt a surge of frustration. Lately, her frequent bouts of irritability had been accompanied by chest pains, a heavy feeling in her arms, and tightness in her shoulders, which she assumed were symptoms of cervical spondylosis.
—
When Andrea returned home with a sour expression, Olivia approached her curiously.
“Mom, what happened? Who upset you?”
“Who else!” Andrea snapped. “That Sophia—she’s like a ghost that won’t go away. I can’t even visit a spa without people defending her. Are they all blind?”
