06. Having malicious thoughts

The big man came out of the kitchen and saw her throwing the water carefully away and bringing new water inside. "Her fever?"

"It is quite high. Is there alcohol in the house? My father told me it's good against fever." She uncovered the woman under his astonished eyes and opened windows.

The weather was rather comfortable outside, but the room was stifling hot. She Gould feel his wondering gaze and sighed. "It's too hot. With her fever, it is not good for her."

He nodded and brought one small pot from the kitchen. "I found this, can it help?"

As he opened the pot, a stifling alcoholic smell spread quickly. Lee Mei Li took the cloth from her feet and hands and added some of the alcohol to it.

He could see her swift movements and wonder. "How did you learn this?"

"My father was sick for a long time, so I had to help him often. We have to wait. What about medicine?" She could see him shaking his head.

"With sick high fever, the medicine won't work. It might even harm her. We must wait." He saw Lee Mei Li changing the warm cloth and adding another set of alcohol-soaked cloth. "Let's hope this will work."

The day passed slowly, but Elder Min's fever became stronger. Physician Lou was now seriously worried and stared at the delirious woman. Her pained face showed that she had heavy dreams.

A small voice could be heard from the door. "Uhm, my siblings are hungry."

Lee Mei Li saw him standing up and stopped him. "Let me handle this."

She went out and saw four boys and a girl looking at her with annoyance. "Oh, did you expect ME to cook for you? You must be joking."

The hoys were bigger than her and the only girl in the house was around ten years old and stared at her with an open mouth. ''Then who will cook? "

Lee Mei Li shook her head. "No one. You are hungry? Then work. I will cook meals after I see this yard and rooms squeaky clean. Until then be hungry." She just turned around and went in.

With a nod, the Physician Lou smiled. "You think this will work?"

She shook her head. ''No, I bet they will go and leach on neighbors."

And she was right. The children went and asked others to cook for them. But when they came back, the main gate was closed. "Hey let us in!"

Lee Mei Li opened the door and pointed at all beddings in mid of the yard. "I wanted to wash beddings, but you can do it now."

They just snorted and turned around, except the little girl. She went in and silently started washing her bedding.

Lee Mei Li didn't say anything and just went inside. The little girl struggled to wash the best she could and spread the dripping bedding on the rail.

Looking completely tired she went to her room and realized that all her clothes and shoes were spread on the floor and bed. She took them out and never packed them back.

The night fell over the village and the boys realized one thing. It was one thing to eat in someone's house, but except their hone, all other homes had tiny rooms where whole families slept.

There was literally no room for them. Suddenly they remembered the empty house and went there but found it locked and closed. "What should we do now?"

The youngest boy was around eleven and looked at his brothers. The oldest suddenly had a cold smile and malicious thought. "If she dies, we can inherit that house and land. We will be finally free."

They went back and entered the side gate, but what they saw next made them stop in tracks.