Chapter 711 - 246: Hunger Strike (Part 2)

Xu Jiali’s eyes went wide. Qin Mei turned her head and said to Jie Jingshan, "Jing Qi, get a glass of warm water."

"Okay." Jie Jingshan immediately poured half a glass of warm water and handed it to Qin Mei. "Fourth Sister-in-law, here."

"Force her to drink it." Qin Mei didn’t take the glass, speaking directly to Jie Jingshan.

Jie Jingshan hesitated for a moment, then moved to comply. Xu Jiali tried to struggle, but after starving for a full day and night, her stomach ached and her body was too weak to resist.

Qin Mei held Xu Jiali down while Jie Jingshan poured the water. The two worked together perfectly; not a single drop spilled from Xu Jiali’s mouth.

Once Xu Jiali had swallowed the medicine, Jie Jingshan stepped back. Qin Mei grabbed her hand to take her pulse.

"What did you make me take?" Xu Jiali’s voice was weak. ’I’m on a hunger strike, and they actually forced medicine and water on me. This is outrageous!’

"Poison," Qin Mei snapped.

The word "poison" made Xu Jiali panic for a moment. But then she had a second thought. ’Qin Mei is Jie Jingchen’s wife. There’s no deep-seated hatred between us, so she wouldn’t actually poison me. She’s definitely just trying to scare me.’

"Scared to hear it’s poison?" Qin Mei asked sarcastically.

Xu Jiali glared at Qin Mei and closed her eyes. "Then let it kill me. I don’t want to live anymore anyway."

"Dying for love is something two people do together. You’re doing it all by yourself. You’ll be dead, but he’ll still be alive. He might be sad for a few days, but then he’ll meet someone suitable, start a new relationship, get married, and have children. Won’t you have died in vain?" Qin Mei shot Xu Jiali a contemptuous look.

Xu Jiali’s eyes flew open, and she glared at Qin Mei. "I’m not dying for love."

Qin Mei scoffed. "If you’re not dying for love, then what’s with the hunger strike?"

"You forced me into this." Xu Jiali glanced at Qin Mei, then at Jie Jingshan. Her gaze clearly conveyed that they had forced her into this hunger strike, and if she actually starved to death, they would be the ones to blame.

Qin Mei deliberately played dumb. "How did we force you?"

"You wouldn’t lend me money," Xu Jiali accused.

Qin Mei and Jie Jingshan fell silent. Lending her the money would be a kindness; refusing was their right. ’But to use a hunger strike to threaten them into lending her money... The nerve of her.’

Xu Jiali continued, "You’re supposed to help a friend in need. You obviously have money, but you’re not being fair. You refuse to lend it to me. The more I think about it, the more disappointed I become, and the more disappointed I am, the less I want to keep on living. I might as well just die."

’Borrowing money to scrape together your own betrothal gift... Xu Jiali, you’ve really got some nerve!’ And on top of that, she was trying to emotionally blackmail her and Jing Qi.

"It’s true love," Xu Jiali retorted, jutting out her chin.

Qin Mei finished taking Xu Jiali’s pulse, a grave look flickering in her eyes. Jie Jingshan asked worriedly, "Fourth Sister-in-law, is Auntie going to be okay?"

"She’s fine," Qin Mei lied.

"That’s good." Jie Jingshan sighed in relief. ’My aunt’s stomach condition is very serious, so I was really worried. But if Fourth Sister-in-law says she’s fine, then she must be fine.’

"Jing Qi, go to the kitchen and have someone make her a bowl of millet porridge," Qin Mei said to Jie Jingshan.

"Okay." Jie Jingshan immediately did as she was told and ran out of the room.

"Hmph, I won’t eat it." Xu Jiali clutched the comforter and rolled over to face away from Qin Mei, as if determined to see her hunger strike through to the end.

’My stomach was hurting badly just a moment ago, but after taking the medicine Qin Mei forced on me, the pain has eased.’

Qin Mei stared at Xu Jiali’s back, her expression gravely concerned. "How long?"

"How long for what?" Xu Jiali’s muffled voice shot back.

"The stomach pain," Qin Mei forced out through her teeth.

Seeing Xu Jiali turn back over, Qin Mei immediately resumed her normal expression. Xu Jiali looked at her as if she were a fool and said, "I’ve had a bad stomach since I was a child. Isn’t it normal for it to hurt?"

"Haven’t you gone to the hospital for a check-up?" Qin Mei asked, her voice still calm.

"I used to go often, but I haven’t in the last three or four years. When my stomach hurts, I just take one of the pills Doctor Zhang prescribed and it’s fine." Xu Jiali looked at Qin Mei, uncomprehending. Then, remembering Qin Mei’s medical skills, her eyes flickered. "Don’t tell me I..."

"Stomach pain is no small matter," Qin Mei cut in.

"I know it’s not some small matter, Xiao Mei. Tell me honestly, I’m not terminally ill, am I?" Xu Jiali asked.

Qin Mei’s almond-shaped eyes tightened. She raised a hand and pressed the corner of her eye. "It’s not that serious. I just want to remind you, since you have a stomach condition, you should get regular check-ups. That way, if it gets worse, you can get treatment right away and not miss the optimal window for recovery."

"I know all about my condition. It’s an old problem. Going to the hospital is just a waste of time. The medicine Doctor Zhang prescribed works just fine," Xu Jiali said dismissively.

"What medicine did Doctor Zhang prescribe for you? Let me see it," Qin Mei asked.

"In the first drawer of the nightstand. Get it yourself." Xu Jiali lay on the bed, not wanting to move.