Next, Zhou Tao worried about her safety. He felt it was dangerous for a young woman to carry so much money, so he insisted on taking her home. After dropping her off, he left without saying a word. Only then did Li Li believe that Zhou Tao simply wanted to help her; he was just kind-hearted and had no other intentions.
Zhou Xuan smelled a strong scent of Chinese medicine in the room. He knew it was medicine for Li Li's father. Looking at the bare and simple walls, he could tell how poor this family was. He felt a pang of sadness.
This is the love and care of a family, an effort made to save the lives of a husband and father. Although it was very difficult, they persevered relentlessly.
Zhou Xuan thought for a moment, then said to Li Li, "Li, don't worry about anything else. I know a little bit of medicine; I'll take a look at your father. I hope it can be of some help!"
Li Li was indescribably grateful to Zhou Tao and Zhou Xuan. However, as a modern college student, her thinking was at the forefront of the world. She had already found out everything about her father's illness in the past two days!
Uremia actually refers to the body's inability to produce urine through the kidneys to excrete metabolic waste and excess water, leading to a series of kidney dysfunctions. In its early stages, the disease is usually treatable, but in its later stages, it is essentially incurable. Li Li's father is currently experiencing symptoms of the late stage.
As soon as Li Li started talking about her father's illness, tears streamed down her face.
Zhou Tao stood there, somewhat at a loss. He took out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Li Li, who took it and wiped away her tears, but the more she wiped, the more tears flowed. She choked out, "Thank you!"
Li Li was a very polite and adorable girl. Zhou Xuan had a very good impression of her. When she glanced up and saw her younger brother Zhou Tao acting awkwardly yet caring, a thought suddenly struck her: Had her brother fallen for someone? She didn't notice it when she wasn't paying attention, but once she did, Zhou Xuan immediately realized that it was indeed true; her brother's behavior was indeed a bit unusual.
Li Li didn't ask Zhou Xuan to go into the room to see her father. If even the big hospitals couldn't cure him, what use was a young man with a little medical knowledge? But she was still very grateful.
Zhou Xuan had made up his mind. His younger brother was his own brother, not an outsider. How could he not care about his brother's affairs? He looked up at Li Li and said, "Li, I heard you graduated from a university. May I ask what your major was?"
Li Li was taken aback. Although she couldn't understand why they had suddenly brought up this unrelated topic, she still answered politely, "I am an undergraduate student at Beijing Business College, majoring in Business and Financial Management."
Zhou Xuan nodded and then asked, "Did Xiao Li look for a job after graduation? Or does he already have a job?"
"Not yet!" Li Li shook her head, her faint sorrow truly pitiful. "Firstly, good jobs are hard to find, secondly, I don't have much experience, and it's very difficult for fresh graduates to find satisfactory jobs. And most importantly, there's my father's illness, which keeps me busy!"
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "Xiao Li, if our store wants you to be the finance manager, would you be willing? The starting salary is five thousand a month, but it will increase if business improves in the future. We can discuss other benefits in detail. What do you think?"
Li Li was stunned for a moment. Her mother was also so stunned that she forgot what she was doing. After she came to her senses, she quickly said, "Oh my, this is great news! Li Li, hurry up and thank Boss Zhou!"
Li Li understood why she was stunned. Zhou Xuan's statement essentially meant that her monthly salary was at least six thousand yuan. While not the highest among her classmates, this salary was definitely good. Of course, many classmates wanted to find jobs in large companies with good prospects and security. Antique shops were completely outside her imagination, and she was utterly unfamiliar with the industry. If she hadn't wanted to sell the jade cicada, she would never have entered this field!
She didn't know much about Zhou Xuan and Zhou Tao's background, but based on her impressions today, she still felt that the Zhou brothers were good people. From Zhou Xuan's expression and words, Li Li couldn't sense any evil intentions. Zhou Xuan gave her the feeling of sincerity and positivity.
Many of Li Li's classmates had just found jobs, most of them earning a base salary of two or three thousand yuan. Zhou Xuan's words made her hesitate for a moment.
Zhou Xuanxian made it very clear that the minimum salary was this base amount, and secondly, the nature of the job was also very clear—it was finance, which aligned with her major, and the salary was basically satisfactory. Moreover, given her current situation, it was undoubtedly a godsend.
Zhou Xuan waited for her reply with a faint smile, while Zhou Tao on the side was extremely nervous!
Zhou Tao never expected her brother to suggest that Li Li work at the antique shop. Her heart pounded wildly as she worried that Li Li would refuse, and she was also afraid that others would discover her intentions.
To be honest, Zhou Tao had indeed fallen for Li Li. After taking her home, seeing how this seemingly fragile girl was so devoted to her father, he instantly fell for her!
But there's a gap between him and Li Li. He's just a country boy, uneducated and unskilled, while Li Li is beautiful and a college student. Whether she'll fall for him is still unknown. And right now, Li Li doesn't seem to have any of those thoughts at all; it's all just his unrequited love.
Zhou Xuan was well aware of Zhou Tao's anxieties and uncertainties; how could he not understand his younger brother? Since his brother had these thoughts, he, as the older brother, should lend a helping hand. Although his brother was from the countryside, he was now a legitimate Beijing resident, and through his own arrangements, he was a wealthy man with tens of millions of shares. Li Li, although a college student, was a complicated matter of love. Perhaps Li Li would eventually be drawn to his brother's kindness and simplicity?
As the saying goes, time can breed affection. If he could create an opportunity for them to be together, good things might just happen. Besides, he had other plans. If he could do it, Li Li's family would be completely grateful to him and want Li Li to work at the antique shop. Right now, she still seemed hesitant and had reservations, but as long as he could do it, Li Li would definitely work at the antique shop.
Thinking about the future, once the antique shop grows larger, it will indeed need professionals in various fields, rather than just one family. Without skilled personnel, a family business will never truly thrive.
Li Li pondered for a while, still unable to make a decision. Her mother, however, was quite anxious. A job paying five or six thousand yuan a month was hard to find; their fish shop only made a profit of around three thousand yuan. Add to that rent, utilities, and living expenses, and there was practically nothing left. And the most crucial thing was Li Li's father's medical bills!
Although it was in its late stage and incurable, Li Li still wanted to find money to treat her father at all costs, even if it was just to send him off on his final journey. She didn't want her father to suffer, even if it meant she would be burdened with a huge debt. She didn't care at all!
Zhou Xuan smiled slightly and said, "Xiao Li, don't think about work now, we'll talk about it later. I want to take a look at your father's illness!" He then stood up.
Li Li understood that her father's illness was incurable, and she just wanted to use medicine to reduce his suffering so that he could pass away peacefully. She hadn't thought about Zhou Xuan treating her father for a while, but Zhou Xuan kept insisting that she should see him.
Zhou Xuan's gaze was so calm and composed. It seemed to soothe her heart, and she almost involuntarily led Zhou Xuan to her father's room!
The room contained only a bed, and against the wall stood a worn-out table with a thermos on it. The room reeked of medicine.
The man lying on the bed was nothing but skin and bones. His lips were bluish-purple, and his face was covered in stubble. It seemed the little man was barely clinging to life!
Volume 1, Chapter 141: Supernatural Healing Abilities
Zhou Tao and Li Li's mother walked into the bedroom like bodyguards, one on each side.
Zhou Xuan understood that the fish pearl was merely an accidental find. It wouldn't cure Li Jiangfu's illness on its own. In truth, no matter what kind of medicine it was, legends were just legends in this world. All elixirs and miraculous medicines were just legends; none were real. For example, this fish pearl was something Zhou Xuan had just happened to find, and he was using it as a shield.
Fish pearls only have some medicinal uses to activate bodily functions, but they do not have the power to bring the dead back to life or restore flesh to bones.
Zhou Xuan was simply taking advantage of Li Li and her daughter's lack of knowledge and understanding. After curing Li Jiangfu's illness, he would have a reason to claim it was due to the fish pearl. Even if some curious people or experts found out, it wouldn't matter, since Li Jiangfu had eaten the pearl, and there would be no evidence to prove it.
Li Li carried the beads into the room. Zhou Xuan noticed that the mother, daughter, and her younger brother Zhou Tao all looked nervous, but he suppressed a smile, took the beads from them, and said, "Li, bring me a bowl and a spoon too."
After Li Li hurriedly brought over the spoon and bowl, Zhou Xuan took them, put the bead in the bowl, and then pressed the bead down hard with the spoon. With a "smack," the bead shattered into powder in the bowl.
Li Li held back her words, but her mother exclaimed "Oh dear!"
The powder from this bead was very similar to the pearl powder found in oyster shells; it was as white as snow and without any impurities. A faint fragrance filled the room, which smelled particularly pleasant. This made Li Li and her mother believe it even more.
Zhou Xuan then said, "Play with warm water!"
Li Li's mother quickly picked up the water bottle on the table, removed the soft stopper, and Zhou Xuan called out when the bowl was about half full of water: "It's ready!"
Judging from the touch of my fingers on the outside of the bowl, the water in the bottle wasn't very warm and didn't retain heat very well.
Zhou Xuan used a spoon to mix the water and bead powder. When he estimated the temperature to be around 20 or 30 degrees Celsius, he handed the bowl and spoon to Li Li's mother and said, "Auntie, please feed this bead powder water to Uncle."
Li Li quickly helped, taking the bowl from her mother and holding it. Her mother then sat down on the edge of the bed, helped Li Jiangfu sit up, and pinched his mouth open slightly.
Li Li held the bowl and went over to her mother, who then spoon-fed the powdered water to Li Jiangfu until he finished.
Li Li's mother was extremely careful, not letting a single drop of water slip by; to her, this was something money couldn't buy.