Chapter 70: Hu Dashan and Yang’s Plan

With the entire family in such a state, how could they possibly rush off in a bullock cart to the neighboring village for medical treatment? They’d probably encounter more problems along the way.

And what if they needed to use the latrine on the way? Surely, they couldn’t just take care of business wherever they were, could they?

After thinking it over, Hu Dashan changed into a fresh pair of pants and went into his mom room. “Mother, it’s not easy to go to the neighboring village for medicine in our current condition. What if we need to use the latrine on the road? It’ll be a real challenge,” he said.

“Zhaodi that brat has medicine, but it costs one or two silver for ten pills,” he continued. “Mother, I’m already exhausted. If you give me the silver, I’ll go to Zhaodi and get the medicine.”

When Yang heard this, she struggled to sit up in bed, her voice weak with anger. “Dashan, you actually trust that little slut? Aren’t you afraid she’ll give you poison and kill you off right away?”

“Mother, she’s living at the village head’s house now. If she dared to poison us, she’d have to pay with her life,” Hu Dashan replied.

Yang, her eyes bloodshot, grumbled weakly, “Dashan, that little slut is clearly trying to scam us. Who charges one or two silver for ten pills of medicine? And besides, how could she have the heart to help us with medicine that can cure our illness, after all we’ve done to her? I don’t trust her, no matter what. You go and ask Ji Kaiyang for a bullock cart instead.”

Hu Dashan looked dejected. “Mother, I don’t have any more clean clothes. This is the last pair. What if this one gets dirty too? How can I go out then? And look at you all—you can’t even get out of bed. How can I take you to the neighboring village? Do you think you can hold on until we get there? What if something happens on the way? What do you want me to do then?”

“Mother, the only hope now is that Zhaodi’s medicine works. If you’re worried, we can have Yaozu’s mother take it first. If anything happens to her, we can make Zhaodi pay for it,” he added.

Yang’s eyes brightened. “Dashan, you’re right. We’ll have Zhang take the medicine first. If nothing happens to her, we’ll take it too.”

“Yes, and if that little brat’s medicine really works, we won’t have to keep suffering. Our lives aren’t worth less than one or two silver, are they?”

Yang’s eyes glinted as she suddenly beckoned Hu Dashan over. “Dashan, come here. I have something to say.”

Hu Dashan walked closer. “What is it, Mother?”

Yang looked toward the door, then lowered her voice. “Dashan, now that Yaozu is growing up, he’s at the age where we need money. Zhaodi that brat probably has a lot of silver on her now, buying land, buying carriages… we need to find a way to get that silver from her.”

“Mother, how do you propose we do that?” Hu Dashan asked, his face serious.

Yang’s expression turned grim. “Dashan, your wife has only had Yaozu. After I die, I’ll have no face to meet the ancestors of the Hu family. As long as we get that silver from Zhaodi, you can marry another woman and have more children for the Hu family.”

Hu Dashan froze. “Mother, you mean… Yaozu’s mother…”

He made a slicing motion across his neck as he spoke.

Yang nodded solemnly. “Exactly. Yaozu is already eight, so he won’t be too dependent on me. If we marry that woman into the Hu family, she’ll only ever have one child, Yaozu. We can’t blame anyone for this, it’s her fault that her womb isn’t working properly.”

She paused before continuing. “And besides, we’ll get a large sum of silver by using her life. With that silver, Yaozu can go to private school and have a good future.”

Hu Dashan fell into deep thought.

No matter what, Zhang had been with him for over ten years, and he couldn’t bear to harm her.

But when he thought about how Hu Zhaodi ate meat every day, her horses and carriages, and the land in Xiaosonglin worth a hundred taels of silver, he couldn’t help but feel envious.

Compared to that, Zhang’s death could bring them a large sum of silver, which would be too valuable to pass up.

With the silver, he could find another wife, one who might bear more children, thus ensuring that the Hu family would not be ashamed in front of its ancestors.

With this thought in mind, Hu Dashan nodded solemnly. “Mother, I understand. I’ll do as you say.”

Yang nodded and pulled out one or two silver coins. “This is the last of the family’s money. Take it and buy the medicine from that little slut Zhaodi. After you get the medicine, give it to Zhang first. If nothing happens to her, then we’ll take it.”

“As for Zhang, go find some poisonous herbs in the mountains and use them to get rid of her, then frame that little slut Zhaodi for it.”

Hu Dashan took the silver. “I understand, Mother. I’ll go get the medicine from that brat Zhaodi now.”

“Go quickly!”

Hu Dashan took the silver, made a quick trip to the latrine, then weakly made his way to Ji’s house.

At Ji’s house, Mr. Ji ad just returned. He was sitting with the old scholar and Hu Zhaodi, discussing the case of Hu Dashan’s family suffering from diarrhea.

Uncle Ji asked, “Zhaodi, are you really going to sell the medicine to Hu Dashan? I have a bad feeling about them. We should be cautious.”

Hu Zhaodi replied, “I know they’ll try to play tricks, but I won’t give them a chance. If I’m not mistaken, they’ll end up buying the medicine from me and then try to turn things around, making up some kind of accident to extort silver from me.”

The old scholar asked, “Then will you still sell the medicine to them?”

“Of course,” Zhaodi said. “It’s one or two silver—enough to buy a lot of grain. It’d be foolish not to take the money.”

Uncle Ji became a bit anxious. “You said they’ll try to trick you into giving them silver. How do you plan to deal with that?”

Hu Zhaodi smiled. “That’s easy. I’ll make sure I watch them take the medicine and make sure they’re fine before I let them leave. We’ll need witnesses too. If they want to make trouble after they leave, we’ll see how far they can push it. Either way, I won’t let them threaten me.”

Uncle Ji let out a relieved sigh. “Good. Remember, child, always protect yourself.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. I will take good care of myself,” Zhaodi replied and smiled.

The old scholar chuckled. “Little girl, don’t wait until they’re fine before letting them leave. If Hu’s family really comes to buy the medicine, I’ll go with you to Hu’s house to witness it.”

“Sounds good! If they really come, we’ll all go together. Uncle Ji will come too since you’re the village head.”

Uncle Ji nodded. “No problem.”

Just as Ji’s family was about to sit down for their meal, Hu Dashan arrived again.

“Zhaodi, I’ve brought the silver. Please give me ten pills of medicine. I’m feeling awful, completely drained of energy.”

Hu Zhaodi put down her bowl and walked to the door. With a neutral expression, she said, “You should go back for now. After I finish eating, I’ll come to your house and check your pulse. You can’t take the medicine randomly; if you take the wrong dose, it could be deadly.”

Hu Dashan froze. “You… you’re going to come to Hu’s house to check my pulse?”

“Of course. Have you ever seen a doctor who doesn’t check your pulse before giving you medicine? What if you take it carelessly and die? Who’s going to take responsibility then?”