Chapter 9: Treating Injuries

Chapter 9 - 9: Treating InjuriesAs soon as Old Mrs. Mu finished speaking, the faces of several daughters-in-law in the house changed, especially Mrs. Lin's. She usually got along closest with Old Mrs. Mu. Although she got scolded often, at least she wasn't like the fourth daughter-in-law who got a heavy slap for doing something wrong. But she had never seen Old Mrs. Mu reward anyone with an egg. Now that the war had just ended, every family was poor. Don't even mention eggs; it was rare to see even chicken feathers. The Old Mu Family only had five hens, and only three of them laid eggs. The other two just clucked but couldn't lay, so there were only three eggs a day. But those things were Old Mrs. Mu's lifeline. No matter who touched them, they would get slapped. "Mother, are you serious?" Old Mu Family's fifth son, Mu Danian, grinned widely like a sickle. He wasn't stupid; he knew what eggs meant. In the entire Old Mu Family, did anyone have more face than him? Mu Danian felt like he was floating, speaking even more thoughtlessly. "What are we treating her for? Don't we have enough grandkids in our Old Mu Family? Losing a stinky girl isn't a big deal. If third brother and third sister-in-law have another one, it won't matter. How big of a deal is it?" Jian Shuangshuang's hands scratched at her dead skin more and more quickly. Clearly, everyone wished she was dead, so they could roll her up in a broken straw mat and bury her, right? Just as she was about to speak, Yu Si Niang stood up. "If you won't treat my daughter, I'll treat her myself. Even if I have to sell everything and risk my life, I will save Shuangshuang. She's still so young, she shouldn't die." "Hmph, shameless hussy, do you even know what you're going to treat her with? You disgraceful thing, all you can do is talk big. You really think you're acting in some fantasy drama, thinking you can have whatever you want. Let me tell you, this stinky girl won't get treated no matter what. If you dare talk back again, I'll have the third son divorce you and send you back home to fend for yourself." After finishing, Old Mrs. Mu spat at Yu Si Niang. Yu Si Niang couldn't dodge in time, and the worn-out embroidered shoes on her feet got a splash of old spittle. The color of the spittle was extremely dark, not something a normal person would spit out. Yu Si Niang's expression changed several times, unable to find any words to refute Old Mrs. Mu. "Ugh, shameless stinky thing, useless money-drainer. It's best if she dies; just looking at her makes me sick." Old Mrs. Mu cursed again. From the bed, Jian Shuangshuang couldn't hold back any longer. She put her hand on the bed to support herself, ready to speak. "Prepare the prescription!" Mr. Mu finally spoke up, setting the situation in motion. Only then did Jian Shuangshuang let go of her hand. At times like this, playing dumb was better, especially since her injuries were still serious. Jian Shuangshuang had analyzed it: the person who cursed her the most was definitely Yu Si Niang's mother-in-law. They say mother-in-laws are fierce, and from cases she'd encountered in the security team, some were indeed fierce. But those were just some fierce cases. There's no one like this old woman, who's like a collection of all bad traits, a poisonous beast with all five poisons! This vicious mother-in-law was bad enough, but then there's this Mu Family's second daughter-in-law who loves to stir up trouble. Damn it, she's just a shit-stirrer. Wherever there's shit, there she is. So sneaky, not even fearing she'll fall into the dung pit herself. In her mind, Jian Shuangshuang imagined having a tool in hand to beat this old hag and the Mu daughter-in-law to a pulp, then drag them out to feed the hello|kitty! Zhang Huai Shu had been waiting impatiently. He was a doctor, not a spectator. On the surface, this Old Mu Family looked harmonious, but inside, they too were dirty and filthy. Taking out the medicine box he carried, Zhang Huai Shu took out a bottle of medicine powder for external wounds and sprinkled some on Jian Shuangshuang's forehead. Then he took out a piece of gauze and wrapped Jian Shuangshuang's forehead. Actually, the wound had already scabbed over by now. Washing the wound would have been best. But looking at Jian Shuangshuang's greasy hair, Zhang Huai Shu estimated it would take at least ten buckets of water to wash it clean. After finishing all this, Zhang Huai Shu stood up. "What I just treated was an external wound. This girl also has internal injuries and needs to take medicine for at least ten days to half a month. Two doses of medicine a day, with one dose counting as one set. So at least twenty sets of medicine are needed." When twenty sets of medicine were mentioned, Old Mrs. Mu felt as if her heart was being dug out and was about to curse loudly, but Mr. Mu stopped her with a look. After all, Zhang Huai Shu also had a certain status in the village, and if today's events were spread, the Old Mu Family would become a laughingstock again. "How much does one set of medicine cost?" Mr. Mu hunched over and asked. "One set is twenty-five copper coins, twenty sets make half a tael of silver." Zhang Huai Shu said slowly and steadily. "What, half a tael of silver?" Old Mrs. Mu shuddered, her face turning blue and purple with anger. "This cursed one, each set of medicine costs twenty-five copper coins. That's goddamn crazy. A stinky girl, even if sold as pork, wouldn't make enough silver to cover this treatment. You're telling me it costs this much silver to treat her? Not treating, not treating, get out of here." She said while pushing Zhang Huai Shu out. Zhang Huai Shu, who had been healing and saving lives all these years, always had people seeking him, never looking at others' faces. "Hmph, don't treat and wait to collect the body!" Zhang Huai Shu snorted coldly, ready to leave. Yu Si Niang grabbed Zhang Huai Shu. "Uncle Zhang, I'm begging you, save my daughter. I'll repay you like a horse or ox in the next life, I'm begging you..." Yu Si Niang's words implied she had no money and hoped Zhang Huai Shu would do a good deed and save her daughter. Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yu Si Niang's daily wage was only seven or eight copper coins. Even a man would need to work for about eighty days to gather that half a tael of silver. But that money was gripped tightly in Old Mrs. Mu's hand, so tight that the copper coins shone brightly. No one could even think of taking them, not even a glance, without risking getting their eyes gouged out. With the war just ended, the treasury of the Da Ning Dynasty was empty, and all industries affected had yet to recover. The work done wasn't even enough for a set of medicine, which naturally made everyone unhappy inside. Mr. Mu also hesitated a bit, thinking about how he could barely afford a set of medicine if he gritted his teeth. But this half a tael of silver, while not much, wasn't little either, enough to support the family for a long time. "Hmph, I'm not a charity. If you have money for treatment, if not, forget it, so I don't get cursed at my age." Zhang Huai Shu said, still not satisfied, adding, "Let's make it clear, once I leave this door, don't talk to me about treating that girl again. Even if anyone in your Old Mu Family has a headache or fever, don't come to me. Our Zhang Family doesn't welcome anyone from your Old Mu Family." Just as Zhang Huai Shu was about to leave, Jian Shuangshuang bit her lip and suddenly sat up. But before she could speak, a sharp pain twisted in her chest and throat, like being sliced with a knife. "Shuangshuang, you're awake..." Yu Si Niang rushed to Jian Shuangshuang's bedside and supported her, but before stabilizing her, Jian Shuangshuang fell back down. Before falling, she said something, and then lost consciousness again!