Chapter 58: Returning Disappointed, New Plan

Zhang Er’s family sent his food over in the afternoon, along with a bed and bedding, so Ye Zhiqiu didn’t have to give him her own blanket.

Jiang Nian went to bed early, and Ye Zhiqiu stayed in the clinic to sew her own clothes.

After the rain, the weather became even colder. Jiang Nian’s clothes were big on her, but they were much warmer than her usual clothes. She hadn’t had new clothes of her own for many years. Girls always have a longing for new clothes.

When she went back to rest, it was already late at night. Zhang Er was still asleep.

When Jiang Nian woke up, Ye Zhiqiu was already cooking in the kitchen. Zhang Er was lying on the table in the clinic, his eyes wide open, looking a little tired.

“How are you feeling? Any discomfort?” she asked him.

“My head hurts so much. I want to sleep, but I can’t.” He still had the innocent naivety of a child.

Jiang Nian had him hold out his hand and took his pulse. She also checked his other conditions and confirmed that he was fine before telling him to rest and sleep more.

Because both acupuncture and medicine have a component that stimulates the nerves. The nerves are the most complex part of the human body. If not handled properly, it can cause more serious consequences. So it’s normal for him to feel uncomfortable or have a headache.

Ye Zhiqiu called them to eat. When Jiang Nian went out, the food was already on the table.

Zhang Er, like a child, stared at the food on the table. Simple white rice porridge and cabbage stewed with vermicelli, but there was meat in it. He couldn’t remember when he last ate meat.

Fortunately, he had been told by his family to be polite here. Although he was very hungry, he didn’t immediately reach for the food.

Ye Zhiqiu was also waiting. After Jiang Nian sat down, she handed Zhang Er chopsticks.

Breakfast was just over, and Ye Zhiqiu was cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen when the village chief came over.

He frowned, hesitant to speak. Jiang Nian pretended not to understand.

During this time, someone came to see a doctor. It was just a minor cold because of the cold weather. She calmly taught Ye Zhiqiu how to learn.

The village chief couldn’t stay here and delay things. Finally, he spoke. “Jiang Nian, I know you’re smart, so I won’t beat around the bush. The medicine for Zhou Shugen’s illness is too expensive in town. Even if we searched the whole village, we wouldn’t be able to raise hundreds of yuan. I wonder if you could…” He hesitated. “Just help him. He’s the only pillar of support for his family. He’s been rolling around in pain on the ground all day. If he dies, his family will have old people to take care of and young children to raise. They won’t even have a way to survive.”

The village chief didn’t want to be the bad guy, but he was the village chief, so he had no choice.

If Zhou Shugen lived, his whole family would be a burden on him. If Zhou Shugen died or lost his ability to work, his whole family would become a burden on Zhoujia Village. Not to mention, everyone would have to contribute relief grain to ensure their survival. This grain would have to be saved from everyone’s mouths.

“Chief Zhou, since I came to this village, I’ve always treated you like an elder. I don’t want to make things difficult for you, but you can’t make things difficult for me either.” Jiang Nian sighed helplessly. “I can collect some herbs from the mountains, but as you can see, I’m limited in my abilities. The herbs I can collect are all for treating common minor illnesses. They’re not worth much money, so I charge the villagers a low price. But Zhou Shugen’s illness requires expensive herbs. Look at my situation. I have to rely on myself for everything. I don’t have any medicine, so I really can’t treat him. I know his family is struggling, but I can only waive his consultation fee. I really can’t do anything about the herbs.”

“Just think of a way. See if you can use cheaper herbs instead, or…”

Jiang Nian understood what he meant. She smiled and said, “Actually, there’s another way.”

“Tell me…” Chief Zhou looked at her seriously.

“We have many mountains and rivers here. There are always some precious herbs that have been around for a long time in the deep mountains and old forests. I can draw these herbs. Chief Zhou can organize the villagers to go into the mountains to find them. Even if the herbs are not used, as long as they are valuable enough, they can be exchanged for other things in town. It’s just that the deep mountains are dangerous, and it’s winter now. The plants are withered and difficult to identify. It will take some effort.” Jiang Nian said. “Or if you’re not careful, you might encounter wolves or wild boars…”

She didn’t need to say more. It would spark people’s imagination.

Chief Zhou had grown up here since he was a child. How could he not know the dangers of the mountains?

If precious herbs were so easy to find, the villagers would have already become rich. Moreover, as Jiang Nian said, winter is the worst time to identify herbs.

People always like to make things difficult for others rather than themselves. Just now, if Jiang Nian hadn’t suggested this method first, perhaps Chief Zhou’s next words would have been to ask her to go into the mountains to find them.

Chief Zhou pondered for a long time. Suddenly, he saw Zhang Er helping to draw water in the yard and asked curiously, “Will Zhang Er’s illness require precious herbs?”

Jiang Nian understood what he meant.

It was a good idea, but unfortunately, people who don’t understand medicine really can’t understand it.

“Of course, it will.” She knew that no one would believe her if she said it wouldn’t. Or if there were similar cases in the future, she couldn’t just waste her time and pay for it. “But his condition is different. It can’t be generalized.”

Anyway, she wouldn’t treat Zhou Shugen for free.

Moral blackmail didn’t work on her. What did it matter to her if others were doing well?

When she was struggling, did anyone care about her?

If there were, Little Chrysanthemum’s mother wouldn’t have ended up hanging herself after living in this village for so many years. She only received a brief moment of pity from others.

Even after she was buried, Zhou Shugen brought back his new wife. They said he was not a good person, but they still laughed and chatted, maintaining an attitude of indifference.

Jiang Nian wasn’t trying to avenge anyone or to see anything.

It was just that the Zhou family had smashed her place and kicked her cat to death. They couldn’t just get away with it with a few words.

It was a good thing that this was the era. If it had been before, she would have openly made this family die in pain.

Those who had been cured by her called her a miracle doctor. Those who were not involved called her a poison doctor. But those hypocritical people called her a demon doctor and a witch. She couldn’t disappoint this title.

Jiang Nian was unwilling, and Chief Zhou couldn’t do anything about it. He could only leave in disappointment.

Outside the courtyard, he happened to run into Yan Jin.

After exchanging greetings, Chief Zhou suddenly thought that Yan Jin might be able to help. So he told him about Zhou Shugen’s family situation.

“Zhou Shugen did something wrong, but his family’s situation is really difficult. His mother is paralyzed in bed, his father is old, his two sons are only eight years old and can’t support themselves. His previous wife committed suicide, and the one he married later ran away when she saw that he was no good. She didn’t even take the children. If his condition doesn’t improve, his whole family will have to rely on the village’s relief grain to survive. Our village is really not rich…”