The air was thick with the smell of medicine, and beneath that heavy medicinal scent lingered a trace of fishy rot. That reek of decay came from the human body—the odor emitted through breath when a person's vitality and internal organs had weakened to the extreme.
After passing through two layers of curtains, Zhang Tie caught that smell. The instant he did, his heart sank sharply.
The old master's internal organs had already begun to fail and rot. At this point, even an immortal elixir would be powerless.
In the room, the old master's first wife sat by the bed, her face haggard and her eyes red, staring blankly at the old master lying there. A gray-haired physician was also tending to him, checking his pulse from time to time and keeping constant watch over his condition.
The first wife had once carried immense authority in the household and had always been meticulous about her appearance. Yet when Zhang Tie saw her again now, he found that she seemed to have aged ten years overnight. There was more white in her hair, and her face was far more worn.
Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang had long since let go of the grievances between the older generations of the family. Seeing this woman now, Zhang Tie realized that she was merely an ordinary old woman, and a trace of sympathy rose in his heart.
"Grandmother..." Zhang Su stepped forward and called out.
Hearing Zhang Su's voice, the old madam took half a second before sluggishly turning her gaze away from the old master on the bed and toward Zhang Su and Zhang Tie as they entered.
The moment she saw Zhang Su, tears spilled from the old madam's eyes. Her lips trembled as she said, "It's good that you've come, good