After sending off her phony aunt and uncle, Su Tang and Lu Xiao hadn't even had a chance to catch their breath before one problem after another arose.
The first to strike was the pervasive dampness.
The walls were perpetually clammy to the touch, with nauseating green and black mold creeping up the corners. The air was thick with the pungent stench of mildew and the briny smell of the sea.
Within two days, the bedding they had brought with them became cold and heavy, as if you could wring water out of it.
The worst part was Mr. Su. His already weak lungs couldn't handle the strain of this environment. His coughs came in rapid, dense fits, full of a wet, heavy rattle that made your heart clench just to hear it.
Seeing her father in such pain broke Su Tang's heart. She immediately pulled Lu Xiao into action.
They moved every piece of furniture they could lift outside to bake under the scorching sun.
Sunlight was the best disinfectant and dryer.
