"It's nothing." Robert grinned foolishly and said, "Third Brother said, once you fall asleep, you won't feel hungry. This trick works." With that, he climbed onto the bed and went to sleep as well.

Charles Brooks's body was still weak and he couldn't get out of bed. On top of that, Henry was hugging his arm and Robert was clutching his clothes, so he couldn't even move if he wanted to. He had no choice but to lie there obediently.

Lying on the bed, he discovered that through the hole in the roof, he could actually see the brilliant stars. He couldn't help but open his eyes wide, realizing how beautiful the night sky was. He really couldn't understand how there could be such heartless people who would treat underage children so cruelly—they ought to be torn to pieces!

After cursing those heartless elders fiercely, he began to worry about his own situation. As a little child, was he really going to be abused like this forever? Maybe he should run away, but there were still two burdens—these two pitiful kids clearly saw him as their only support. How could he just leave them behind?

'These two little fools, I don't even know who I can rely on myself.' Charles Brooks was extremely frustrated and eventually fell asleep in his worries.

※※※

"Cock-a-doodle-doo..." A series of loud rooster crows broke the silence of dawn.

Charles Brooks's whole body was numb from being pressed by his two younger brothers, so he hadn't slept well. As soon as the rooster crowed, he woke up. Only then did he realize that Little Henry was lying directly on his chest, having drooled a huge puddle.

For the first time, Charles Brooks took a good look at this little brother. He saw that his eyelashes were long and his features delicate—he should have been a rare, beautiful child. But because of malnutrition, his head looked big and his body small, ruining the cuteness he should have had, and making him even more pitiable.

He turned to look at Robert. This child was actually skin and bones too, but his frame was bigger, so he looked a bit sturdier. Even in his sleep, Robert's brows were tightly furrowed and his expression was serious... To put it nicely, he looked righteous; to be honest, he just looked like he was suffering from deep misery.

'Are these really my little brothers?' A trace of warmth rose in Charles Brooks's heart—something he had never felt in his previous life as an only child.

There were gradually sounds of people outside, and the two younger brothers were woken up by the noise. Little Henry rubbed his sleepy eyes and mumbled, "Gotta pee..."

Charles Brooks tried to get up, but couldn't find the chamber pot. In the end, Robert led him outside to take care of it.

Once the two left, the shack quieted down. Only then did Charles Brooks realize something was wrong with himself... His whole body felt like it was being pricked by needles, and he broke out in a sweat before he even moved—he was clearly running a fever. His soul, which came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the modern era, hadn't studied medicine, but had picked up enough to be a half-baked doctor.

Wasn't last night's headache a warning sign? He just hadn't noticed because he was so distracted at the time.

He lay down, not daring to move. With the medical conditions of this era, if he didn't take care of himself and acted recklessly, he could very well lose his life.

At that moment, the half-closed door opened. He thought it was Robert and the others, but when he looked up, it was a boy about his own age.

After a brief moment of confusion, Charles Brooks remembered that this was his cousin, the second son of his eldest uncle's family, David.

Compared to his two raggedly dressed brothers, David Brooks's clothes were worlds apart. He wore a dark blue silk robe, even adorned with floral patterns, a black vest over it, fitted trousers below, and brand-new soft boots on his feet.

Although he didn't recognize the fabric, Charles Brooks was still madly jealous, wishing he could strip him and dress his two brothers in those clothes.

At this moment, the boy spoke, also in Mandarin with a Sichuan accent: "Third Brother, are you alright?"

Seeing the genuine concern on his face, Charles Brooks had to suppress his urge to rob him and replied grumpily, "Not dead yet..."

"I heard you had an accident yesterday afternoon, but I didn't get a chance to come by." David Brooks said a little uneasily, "Third Brother, have you seen a doctor?"

"Would I be able to get a doctor?"

"It's all my mother's fault..." David Brooks said gloomily, "I'll go back and beg Sister Grace to help find Mr. Howard." In this era, '先生' was the term for a doctor.

"No need to go to all that trouble." Charles Brooks didn't want to make a fuss and shook his head. "David, can you do me a favor?"

"I can, as long as it's something I can help with." David Brooks nodded repeatedly.

"I know there's a family raising silkworms on the east side of the village. Can you get me some silkworm droppings? It's the poop from silkworms..." Seeing that David looked kind, Charles Brooks decided to make use of him. "And ask your Sister Grace for some dried tangerine peel—the kind used in the kitchen. She'll know if you mention it."

"..." David Brooks silently memorized it, nodded, and before he could say anything, a middle-aged woman's voice, several times louder and harsher than the rooster's crow, shouted from outside: "David! David Brooks, where the hell have you gone!"

"My mother is calling me, I have to go!" David Brooks took a bundle out from his pocket and placed it by the bed. "I stole this from the kitchen!" With that, he hurried out.

Outside, the shrewish scolding started up again: "How many times have I told you, if you go to that pigsty again, I'll break your legs!"

Charles Brooks's personality couldn't stand being wronged. Instantly, anger surged up and he actually sat up, wanting to go out and settle the score with that old hag.

But his legs felt like they were filled with lead—how could he move fast? By the time he reached the door, there was no one in sight. He could only hear a few voices drifting from the bamboo grove.

"Mother, my Third Brother is sick..."