Infant Paintings

I had asked Grandma why we hadn't moved out, but she replied to me very sternly that she could never leave this place.

I never dared ask her ever since.

"By the way, where's Beth?" I finally noticed Beth's absence.

Glancing my way, Grandma said, "She's occupied with something. Go buy some herbs from the foot of the mountain."

I took her orders and went down the mountain.

At the store, the storekeeper suddenly inquired, "Darling, has your mom not gotten pregnant after all these years?"

Taken aback, I questioned, "What does that mean?"

"Don't you know? The herbs you often purchase from me are to induce ovulation. They're for those who want to get pregnant!"

My eyes widened in disbelief, as Grandma was the one who had taken these herbs before! But Grandma couldn't have possibly tried for a child.

"Ma'am, there must be a misunderstanding. That's impossible," I remarked with guilt and said no more.

Once I received my herbs, I ran home like I was being chased, worried that someone might find out it was Grandma who was taking the herbs.

This felt so weird, but I dared not ask Grandma about it.

…

A few days later, a couple showed up again. Just like many before them, it was a rich man and a young, pretty woman.

"Madam Albright, I heard from John that you could make a few paintings? May I request two more? I'd like to have options."

Grandma said without looking up, "It's an extra five million dollars per painting."

"Of course. I'll leave it to your good hands."

That day, Grandma made three paintings. She later brought Beth into the dark room. The female client screamed within the room as usual.

Once the two clients left in satisfaction, Grandma sent me off to run some errands again. "Sweetie, get me a bottle of ketchup."

"Okay," I agreed, but I was not dumb.

Grandma must have sent me away because something shady was going on. So, halfway into my trip, I went back quietly.

"I'm curious what Grandma is up to."

I slowly made my way to the house and hid underneath a window. I heard a soft moan from within—it sounded like a woman's.

"A young body is definitely more productive. I was surprised we could offer them four paintings last time. This time, we're doing three," Grandma spoke in a joyful tone.

"M-Madam Albright…"

I heard Beth gasping and moaning in the room.

"I get it. You've worked hard. Don't worry. I'll treat you right. Drink this, and you'll recover soon."

I picked up a familiar herbal smell—it was the herbal concoction that Grandma had previously been taking. The herbs, like the storekeeper had told me, were to induce ovulation.

…

Three days after that, no client showed up at our house. As for Beth, she did not once get out of bed during that time.

Grandma stopped me from entering Beth's bedroom, but I smelled a heavy, metallic tang of blood from that room.

I had no idea how Beth got injured, but from the looks of it, she seemed to be in a bad state because Grandma kept serving the herbal concoction for days.

As a result, we ran out of the herbs in no time. I had to make another trip to buy the same herbs from the store at the foot of the mountain.

Thankfully, the storekeeper did not ask me any questions. Yet, I refrained from meeting her eyes, worried that she might sense something fishy. I scrambled home after getting my hands on the herbs.