Now, over on Ningguang's side.
Little Ningguang got home much faster than usual that evening,
because she was carrying two boxes of food from Wanmin Restaurant and wanted to share them with her mother.
The food at Wanmin Restaurant really did come in generous portions!
As she walked, she could feel the heavy weight in her arms. They were getting hard to hold.
By then, sweat covered her fair, rounded forehead, and her hair was damp with perspiration.
Although she was tired and sweaty, Ningguang wore a happy smile.
Her mother had always wanted to try Wanmin Restaurant's food, but because their family was poor, she had never said so.
Today, at last, Ningguang could make her mother's wish come true.
····
Ningguang's home was a wooden hut.
It wasn't very big.
It had only a simple kitchen and one bedroom.
The place looked rather shabby and had fallen into disrepair; some of the wood had begun to rot.
If you took a close sniff, you could just make out the damp, musty smell in the air.
It was the kind of place even the Treasure Hoarders would take one look at, shake their heads, and pass over.
But to Ningguang, it was a shelter from the storm.
Her gentle, kind mother was here, and that made Ningguang feel safe.
"Mom, I'm home!"
"Guess what I brought back today!"
As usual, Ningguang pushed open the door and called inside excitedly.
Normally, her mother would come out of the room as soon as she heard Ningguang's voice.
But today, something was wrong. There was no sound from inside the room.
A bad feeling crept over Ningguang. She hurried into the room,
and saw her mother lying unconscious on the floor.
"Mom, what's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Ningguang tried shaking her mother awake, but it was no use.
Remembering that there was an old doctor in the village, Ningguang hurried to fetch him.
The old doctor knew how hard things were for Ningguang's family. As soon as he heard what had happened, he went back with her.
After examining Ningguang's mother for a while, he said, "Little Ningguang, your mother fainted because she's been working too hard."
"I'll write you a prescription. Get the medicine and have your mother take it for a week."
As he spoke, the old doctor took out paper and a pen and wrote down the prescription.
"Thank you, Doctor. Thank you." Ningguang thanked him quickly, then tried to pay him Mora for the consultation.
But the old doctor simply waved his hand and refused to take her money.
"Child, we're all from the same village. Forget the fee."
"Besides, everyone knows your family is struggling,"
"And the medicine for your mother will cost at least fifty thousand Mora. You should save your money and figure out how to get the Mora."
"Her illness can't wait. It'll only get worse the longer you delay, so she needs to start taking the medicine as soon as possible. Understand?"
After giving his instructions, the old doctor left with a helpless sigh.
He sighed because he felt sorry for Ningguang's family and didn't know how to help.
For a poor family like theirs, how could they possibly come up with fifty thousand Mora?
Ningguang's mind went blank when she heard this.
Her mother's illness couldn't be put off. She needed treatment soon.
But it would cost fifty thousand Mora...
That sum was enough to crush a poor family like theirs.
Ningguang could usually earn a thousand Mora in a day,
and that was only when business was good.
When business was bad, she earned nothing.
Even if business was good every single day and she earned a thousand Mora each day,
she would have to save for fifty days without eating or drinking to scrape together enough for the medicine.
Ningguang didn't mind working even harder to earn money.
But could her mother hold on until then?
Borrow money?
But who would lend it to her?
Who could she even ask?
Brother Fang Xun?
No. They'd only just met. How could she ask him for money?
Especially not fifty thousand Mora.
Ningguang felt helpless and desperate.
Just then, Ningguang's mother woke up.
Ningguang stopped thinking about anything else and hurried over to ask, "Mom, how are you feeling?"
Her mother didn't answer. Her eyes welled with tears, and she gently shook her head. "I'm sorry, child..."
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks. She had heard what the old doctor said.
"Because the source of this novel can't be verified, if this material has infringed on your rights, please contact the original publisher and let us know so we can remove it promptly. Thank you."
"We can't afford to treat this illness. We shouldn't even try."
"We can treat it. We'll find a way." Seeing her mother cry, Ningguang began crying too.
"Mom, don't cry. We'll definitely find a way!"
Ningguang tried to comfort her mother.
She would never give up on her mother. No matter what, she wouldn't give up.
Ningguang's mother reached out and gently stroked her daughter's tender face, wiping away her tears.
Then she forced a smile. "I'm only crying because I have regrets..."
"I won't get to see my little Ningguang grow up with my own eyes."
"I'm sorry, I haven't taken good care of you. You've suffered alongside me ever since you were little."
"When I'm gone, bury me with your father..."
Ningguang's mother spoke as if she were making her final arrangements,
because she knew she didn't have much time left.
But Ningguang cut her off before she could finish.
"I won't do that! Don't even think about leaving me!"
"There has to be a way. There's definitely a way!"
As she spoke, Ningguang stood up to get the food Fang Xun had given her.
"Mom, don't worry yet. Let's eat first."
"I need to eat too, so I'll have the strength to go out and figure out how to earn money!"
Ningguang had made up her mind to cure her mother.
If there wasn't enough time, she'd work day and night.
She'd make it in time!
Seeing how stubborn Ningguang was, her mother could only sigh.
She knew her daughter's personality. Once Ningguang made up her mind to do something, she wouldn't give in easily.
So be it. Let her try.
Ningguang was still young, and many things weren't as simple as she imagined...
Just then, Ningguang's mother spotted the Wanmin Restaurant packaging. She froze for a moment, then looked astonished.
"Child, is this food from Wanmin Restaurant?"
"Why did you buy something so expensive?"
Ningguang explained, "I met a big brother named Fang Xun today. He was really, really nice to me."
"He traded these two meals to me."
As she spoke, Ningguang opened the packaging.
Then she saw a heavy bag.
When she opened it, she found Mora inside!
Ningguang counted it quickly. Exactly fifty thousand Mora!
Triggering a Talent: Twentyfold Critical Hit
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