As she worked, neither of them spoke again. The air between them was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts, the sharp scent of disinfectant mixing with the faint earthy aroma of the wooden house.
Outside, the storm raged on.
Inside, Sophia’s hands were steady, sewing shut a wound that was only the beginning of a much deeper, more dangerous conflict.
After the two established their relationship, they began living together. Now, after not seeing each other for a few days, Sophia kept thinking about him.
Livinus looked the same as before, only his complexion was slightly haggard. Sophia’s heart clenched, “You…”
“Sophia, the old man has fallen ill.”
“What?” Sophia frowned. “What illness?”
“A cerebral hemorrhage.”
Sophia’s expression turned grim. The old man was already eighty years old, and at this age, a cerebral hemorrhage made it very unlikely for him to wake up. According to Livinus, the old man’s condition was already severe when he had the stroke. By the time he was taken to the hospital, his gaze was unfocused. Although the best specialists were treating him, no one could guarantee that he would wake up.
Even though Livinus didn’t say much, Sophia could tell that he was deeply attached to his parents. Men and women expressed emotions differently. Women easily showed their feelings, whereas men tended to be more reserved and restrained.
Livinus’s dark eyes were deep as he said, “Sophia, will you come with me?”
Sophia nodded, picked up a medical kit, and accompanied him to the hospital.
Since it was nighttime, there was no one staying by the old man’s bedside. Sophia took his pulse. The old man had been in poor health for a long time. This stroke was triggered by emotional distress. Given his previous ailments, the illness struck suddenly, and he wasn’t treated in time. His chances of regaining consciousness were extremely slim. In fact, unless a miracle happened, he would likely die during treatment.
“What did the doctors say?”
“Because he has been unable to eat for a long time, continuing like this is not an option. The doctors believe that excessive treatment is unnecessary. However, if the family insists, they could perform a tracheostomy to feed him and see if there is any chance of improvement.”
“No way!” Sophia firmly opposed tormenting a critically ill patient in this manner. Besides, the old man wasn’t eight years old—he was eighty. Forcing such extreme measures on an elderly person would be inhumane. “That would be too cruel. It would strip him of all dignity. Imagine being that old, lying in bed without any awareness—would you want your throat cut open? At this stage, while it’s natural for the family to feel reluctant and want to fulfill their filial duty, this is not the way to do it.”
Disagreeing with the plan, Sophia frowned and asked, “Do you think there’s any way traditional Medicine can help?”
Upon hearing this, Sophia carefully examined the old man’s condition. He had tubes inserted to suction out phlegm. He had excessive phlegm, clenched fists, limb spasms, and unfocused pupils—all typical symptoms of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Traditional Medicine (TCM) has a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating cerebral hemorrhages. A competent TCM practitioner knows which aspects to focus on. Generally, cerebral hemorrhages occur in middle-aged and elderly individuals who suffer from severe kidney deficiency and a lack of nourishment for the liver. This often leads to an extreme yin deficiency and an imbalance between yin and yang. When they encounter emotional agitation or excessive worry, their qi and blood flow in reverse along the liver meridian to the brain, triggering a cerebral hemorrhage.
Sophia took out a needle pouch and selected a three-edged needle, which was relatively short and thick, typically used for pricking and bloodletting.
Livinus watched as Sophia pricked the old man’s toe, causing blood to ooze out immediately.
Then, she pricked the peripheral nerves. This method could help reduce intracranial pressure.
Next, she used fine needles to stimulate acupuncture points on the feet, moving from top to bottom to activate the old man’s consciousness and attempt to wake him up.
After completing the procedure, Sophia put away the needles.
“How is he?”
“I’ll come again tomorrow. We’ll need a day or two to determine the outcome. If the acupuncture works, it means there’s hope. At that point, I’ll prescribe herbal medicine for treatment. If there’s no effect…”
Sophia stared at him. Although Livinus appeared calm, she knew very well that if the old man truly passed away, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Livinus pulled her into his arms and whispered, “Thank you.”
“What’s there to thank me for? I’m just giving our child some prenatal education,” Sophia said with a smile.
Livinus held her as they walked out.
“Oh, by the way,” Sophia added, “I heard that things haven’t been peaceful at Scott Corporation lately. You should be careful.”
Livinus’s voice turned cold. “This was inevitable. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
Richard had been keeping tabs on the situation. When his assistant reported that Livinus had been released, he and his associates analyzed the situation. It turned out that Livinus had been unaware of the Aged tangerine peel incident beforehand. Even though the investigation results showed he wasn’t involved, releasing him wouldn’t be without consequences.
