Chapter 71: “It’s Just a Pile of Cow Dung, Let Him Eat It If He Wants.”

—

Hu Dashan was dumbfounded. Why was this brat acting so unpredictably?

If she wouldn’t let him take the medicine back, how was he supposed to have Zhang try it?

If Hu Zhaodi went with him to the Hu family, how was he supposed to frame Zhang for her death?

Hu Dashan said, “Zhaodi, I really don’t have the strength anymore. If this drags on, I might die.

Could you feel my pulse and let me take the medicine back?

Our whole family has the same symptoms, eats the same food, so checking my pulse should be enough, right?”

Hu Zhaodi shook her head. “No, everyone’s physical constitution is different. We have different heights and weights, so the amount of medicine we need is different.

Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Every medicine has its poison’?

Or do you have other ideas? Want to set up a big pot and load it on my back? Maybe get my silver into your pocket?”

Hu Zhaodi’s gaze was so sharp that Hu Dashan couldn’t help but shiver with guilt.

When did this brat become so clever?

Did she figure it out, or did she overhear something?

Whether she guessed or overheard, Hu Dashan would never admit it.

“How could that be? Even if we’ve cut ties, you still called me ‘Dad’ for eleven years. Do you think I’m that kind of person?”

Hu Zhaodi blinked, looking utterly sure of herself. “You really are that kind of person!

Hu Dashan, I lived under the same roof with your family for eleven years.

I know each one of you, and I understand you better than you understand yourself.

You think you can swindle me?

Heh, you better keep an eye on the little bit of silver left in your house, don’t let it slip into my pockets again!”

A cold sweat broke out on Hu Dashan’s back. This brat was like a mind reader, it was terrifying.

“Zhaodi, I was wrong before. I’ve wronged you. But that’s all in the past now, isn’t it?

Even though we’ve cut ties, we’re still neighbors, right?

Look at how bad I feel right now. Can’t you pity me just a little? Let me buy the medicine first?” Hu Dashan tried to play the emotional card.

Hu Zhaodi sneered coldly. “In the past? You think it’s all in the past?

Hu Dashan, if you really think it’s over, would you still be scheming against me?

You’re practically throwing your little plans in my face!

Do you really think I’m as easy to fool as before? You didn’t even bother to hide your thoughts, it’s like you wrote them on your face!”

A shock ran through Hu Dashan’s heart, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

This brat was simply a monster! She could see through everyone’s thoughts, how terrifying!

But he could only force a calm tone and say, “Zhaodi, whether you believe it or not, I really know I was wrong. I’ll leave now, but after you finish eating, come to the Hu family.”

“Hmph!” Hu Zhaodi snorted coldly. “Get lost, don’t ruin my appetite.”

With that, Hu Zhaodi turned and went back inside to eat.

Hu Dashan stood frozen for a moment, then took a deep breath, savoring the delicious scent that filled the air.

He swallowed hard, muttering under his breath in a voice only he could hear, “What’s so great about it? Eating meat every day, you’ll eat yourself to death, spit!”

After muttering, he turned, greedily sniffing the air once more, and reluctantly left.

At the door, Hu Zhaodi poked her head out, watching Hu Dashan’s retreating figure with coldness in her eyes.

Hu Dashan thought his voice was too quiet for her to hear.

But now that Hu Zhaodi had a bit of internal energy, her hearing was far better than most people’s.

Since Hu Dashan was thick-skinned, she’d let him find the village doctor himself.

Hu Dashan’s temper flared. He had just taken a few steps when he heard Hu Zhaodi’s voice calling after him, announcing that she had changed her mind. He couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Hu Zhaodi, you ungrateful little tramp, you won’t live a good life!”

With a loud slam, Hu Zhaodi slammed her bowl and chopsticks onto the table, then turned and marched out of the hall.

She glanced around briefly, then headed straight for the cow pen.

There was a shovel outside the cow pen. Hu Zhaodi grabbed it, opened the gate, and scooped up a large pile of fresh cow dung, then hurried after Hu Dashan.

Seeing what she was up to, Hu Dashan’s mouth twitched. He turned and started running.

But after a day of stomach troubles, Hu Dashan was weak and unsteady, and after only a few steps, he felt dizzy.

Hu Zhaodi quickly cut in front of him, and with a forceful flick of her wrist, the fresh cow dung landed squarely on his face.

Mr. Ji and the old scholar, who had been following, arrived just in time to see the cow dung on Hu Dashan’s face. Mr. Ji looked at him with a look of sympathy.

“Zhaodi! That cow dung is good fertilizer for the crops. You’ve wasted it by smearing it on his face!

Such a big pile, it could’ve been used to plant two crops.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled slightly, “Uncle Ji, his mouth stinks so bad, I just wanted to block it up for him.

Heh, I couldn’t find anything better for the job, so I just used the cow dung, thought it would work.”

Mr. Ji fought to hold in his laughter, “Fine, fine, it’s just a pile of cow dung. Let him eat it if he wants.”

“Ha ha ha…” The old scholar and the two children couldn’t hold back, laughing out loud.

Mrs. Ji and Ji Chunhua also covered their mouths, laughing so hard their shoulders shook.

Hu Dashan was humiliated and furious, stomping his feet, trying to shake the cow dung off his face.

The cow dung was a bit runny, and though he lowered his head and shook, a part of it still stuck to his face.

“Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey…” Spitting out the cow dung from his mouth, Hu Dashan yelled in anger, “Hu Zhaodi, you’ve gone too far!”

Hu Zhaodi stuck her tongue out, “Well, I’ve gone too far. What are you gonna do about it? You think it’s not over the line for you to curse me?”

The old scholar spoke up, “Exactly. Hu Dashan, your mouth is full of crap. Zhaodi girl is just trying to help you out by stuffing your mouth so you can’t spit anymore. Don’t waste it, eat some more, it’ll help you spit even more.”

Hu Dashan, now beside himself with rage, lost all rationality. “You, you all just wait!”

With that, Hu Dashan used too much force while speaking, and his stomach couldn’t hold it anymore, releasing another stream of waste, soaking his pants.

“Damn, disgusting!” Hu Zhaodi cursed, holding her breath as she ran back to the Ji family’s cow pen.

She put the shovel back outside the pen, then turned and went to wash her hands.

The old scholar exploded in anger, “Hu Dashan, you son of a bitch! Go crap at your own house, don’t come around here and disgust us at the Ji family’s door.

Get lost, or I’ll feed you more cow dung!”

Mr. Ji added, “Don’t mess with my cow dung! It’s great fertilizer for crops. If you’re going to eat it, I won’t mind, but I assure you I don’t want to see it wasted!”

“Damn it, that bastard is so disgusting. I can’t even eat now,” grumbled the old scholar.

Hu Zhaodi sighed, “I can’t eat either, I have no appetite now.”

Mr. Ji asked, “So what should we do?”

Hu Zhaodi forced a smile, “Let’s go out for a walk first. We’ll get some fresh air and come back later.”