Chapter 53: It’s Really Karma, He Deserves It

Not long after Hu Zhaodi returned to Ji’s house, Yang Dahui arrived.

His voice hoarse, he asked, “Zhaodi, could you take a look at my wife? She’s awake, but she can’t get up, and she seems… a bit dazed.”

“Really? How could that be? I’ll go with you to take a look,” Hu Zhaodi said, turning to follow Yang Dahui to his home.

The villagers, who had been admiring the horses and carriage, overheard and curiously followed behind them.

Upon reaching Yang’s house, Hu Zhaodi entered the room where Yang Dahui’s wife was lying quietly on the bed, her gaze vacant.

Hu Zhaodi examined her and sighed. “Sigh… She hit her head too hard when she fell, and the injury was serious. She lost too much blood. Though we saved her life, her mind has been affected, and it looks like this will be her condition from now on.”

Yang Dahui was stunned. Thirty taels of silver… and all he got was a half-wit. It would have been better if she had just died.

“So… why can’t she get up?” he asked.

Hu Zhaodi explained, “Her injury is to the head, causing extensive brain Auntiege and impairing her motor functions. That’s why she can’t get up.”

“Is there… any chance of treatment?” Yang Dahui asked, his voice trembling.

Hu Zhaodi shook her head. “I can’t guarantee it. Even if it could be treated, it would take a lot of money—probably over a thousand taels of silver.”

Yang Dahui collapsed to the ground, feeling as if his heart were bleeding.

He had drained his savings, and now he would have to care for a cripple. If only he hadn’t spent that money.

Yang Dahui suddenly glared at Hu Zhaodi, his anger boiling over. “Hu Zhaodi, didn’t you say you could save her?”

Hu Zhaodi frowned. “Didn’t I save her? I told you at the time that I could save her life, but I couldn’t guarantee what would happen after that.

Now she’s alive, but she’s paralyzed, and you blame me? Did I make her fall? Did I make her suffer for so long?”

Tears filled Yang Dahui’s eyes. “But you took thirty taels of silver! You’ve turned her into this! How could you accept so much money and still do this to her? You heartless wretch!”

Hu Zhaodi was furious. “Go to hell with your complaints. At the time, you were the one who willingly offered thirty taels to save your wife. Now you’re blaming me.

Do you want me to invite the village doctor from the neighboring village and have him explain the situation in front of everyone?

The village doctor said she needed ginseng to hold her life, and maybe, just maybe, there would be a chance to save her in the county.

Now you’re blaming me for saving your wife? Was she dead at the time?

She spent so many years with you, and now, when you’re too cheap to care for her, you wish she were dead instead. You’d rather treat her like a dog!”

Hu Zhaodi’s voice was loud, and the villagers outside the room began gossiping.

“I never thought Yang Dahui was such a person. He doesn’t even want to take care of his wife and is waiting for her to die.”

“Exactly! Before, he only had to care for one person. Now, if his wife doesn’t die, he’ll have to care for two. Do you think he knows how to care for anyone?”

“He let us all suffer when he was the head of the village. Now it’s finally karma coming back to him.”

“It really is karma—he deserves it!”

“….”

No one sympathized with Yang Dahui’s family. Even those who had been friendly with them before couldn’t help but add their voices to the criticism.

Hu Zhaodi left Yang Dahui’s house with a gloomy expression.

Someone tried to comfort her, “Zhaodi, don’t worry about their family. People like them aren’t worth your concern.”

Hu Zhaodi nodded slightly. “I can’t afford to worry about them. Since everyone’s here, please act as witnesses. If one day Yang Dahui kills his wife and tries to frame me for it, I can’t bear such a false accusation.”

The villagers all agreed. “Don’t worry, we’ll testify for you. Yang Dahui won’t be able to blame you.”

Hu Zhaodi returned to Ji’s house and went into the kitchen to help Mrs. Ji prepare the meal.

As the food neared completion, Mrs. Ji spoke, “Zhaodi, go ask your Grandpa Ji to join us for dinner.”

“Okay, I’ll go right now.”

Hu Zhaodi quickly ran to the old scholar’s house. He was still in the yard, tending to the vegetables he had planted.

“Grandpa Ji, come on, it’s time for dinner.”

The old scholar looked up. “Zhaodi, I won’t go. When your private school is built, then I’ll come. How can I eat now without doing any work? It’s not right.”

“Grandpa Ji, what are you talking about? Today, I’m asking you to come to discuss the school plans. I think we’ll be starting construction in the next couple of days.”

“Ah, that’s different! Let me pick some vegetables to bring along.”

“No need, no need. The food is ready, we can eat right away.”

The old scholar locked the door and followed Hu Zhaodi to Mrs. Ji house.

Mrs. Ji three sons had already arrived, as their father had specifically asked them to come in order to discuss the construction of the private school.

Once the meal was served, the family gathered around the table.

Mrs. Ji spoke first. “I went to the county yamen today and secured a piece of land. When the county magistrate heard that Zhaodi was building a private school, he waived the land fees. However, if the school is not built, the land will be reclaimed by the government.

Building this school is a big deal, so I asked you all here today to discuss the plans. Starting tomorrow, we’ll need to hire craftsmen and begin construction as soon as possible. We need to get the school up and running so the children don’t fall behind in their studies.”

Mr. Ji-ge nodded. “Father, I’ll go with Third Brother tomorrow to hire the craftsmen.

The school is for our village, so you can also get the villagers to help. Many hands make light work, and it will speed up the construction.”

Hu Zhaodi agreed, “That’s right. Grandpa Ji, you could rally the villagers to help. Anyone who helps should have their name written down.

Once the school is finished, the children of those who helped will get a discount on the first year’s tuition.”

Mrs. Ji and the old scholar exchanged approving looks.

The old scholar asked, “What can I do to help?”

Hu Zhaodi smiled. “Grandpa Ji, you can act as the supervisor. You’ll need to keep an eye on the workers to make sure they don’t cut corners. This is a school, and the children studying here are the future of our village. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

The old scholar’s face lit up with excitement. “Alright, I’ll take on the job of supervisor. I never expected that in my old age, I would still have a purpose. I won’t have any regrets in life now!”

“What do you mean ‘a small role’? Grandpa Ji, you’re the pillar of this school. Without you, how could I possibly get this school running?”

After saying that, Hu Zhaodi turned to Mrs. Ji. “Father, please make arrangements for tomorrow, and the day after we can go together to buy the bricks and tiles. The school needs to be built with brick and tile.”

“Alright, Hu Tieniu has an ox cart. I’ll go find him tomorrow and see if he can help transport the bricks.”

Hu Zhaodi nodded. “Brother Ji Wu can also drive my cart to help. I still need to figure out how to get more silver. Once the school is built, we’ll need to buy books for the children.”