Chapter 23: Visiting the Sick

Song Jinfang carried a water jug over to refill the water for the aunties and older women.

They didn’t have enough bowls to serve everyone, but fortunately, the women had brought their own water pouches and bamboo flasks. Song Jinfang simply needed to fill each one in turn.

“Just look at her—hasn’t Wuya grown taller in just a few days? These four children are getting better and better. It really warms the heart to see.”

“Mm, back when they were living with Madam Dashí, these kids had it rough. I couldn’t bear to watch. So the moment I heard Chunsheng was leaving that household, I told my old man—it’s for the best, I said. Leaving was the right choice. Now if the children run into any hardship, we can lend a hand.”

“Our family too—just this time, when Chunsheng needed to have his leg looked at, we gave two hundred wen without a second thought. If we can help, we must help, no matter what. After all, those children have suffered so much.”

“Exactly. Back then, just sneaking a little food to Xiao Qiusheng had to be done behind his stepmother’s back. One time, Widow Sun caught me and accused me of insulting her. This time, our family managed to scrape together a hundred and eighty wen to help Chunsheng with his leg.”

Auntie Cuihua said, “That’s right. As long as we can help, how could we, the Song family, possibly let the children live in hardship? Even if the child is capable and never asked us for money, we aunties truly want to do what we can for your family.”

Song Chunsheng said gratefully, “Yes, we know. You aunties have been so kind to us—all with hearts as compassionate as Bodhisattvas. We’re deeply thankful. Once my leg heals, I’ll repay everyone’s kindness.”

“Oh, now what’s this about repaying or not? As long as you all can live a good life, that’s enough to make us aunties happy.”

The aunties chimed in one after another. After finishing off two full jugs of water, they finally got to the main reason for their visit.

“Chunsheng, we heard you received a reward from a noble person—is that true?”

“Grandfather Lizheng already had people tear down those two rooms of yours today. Said they’re going to build a new house. We just came by to let you know—were you aware of that?”

“Oh, yes, we know. Jinxiu assisted young Physician Li and ended up saving a noble person. They rewarded us with some money, so we asked Grandpa Lizheng to help us rebuild the house. We’ll also buy a few mu of land. From now on, we can finally call this place our home.”

“So that’s how it is. I knew it—these children are all good kids, truly blessed.”

One of the aunties asked, “But didn’t they say it was Sanya who earned the money? Who’s this Jinxiu then?”

Song Jinfang quickly explained, “Jinxiu is my Big Sister. I’m Jinfang, and my sister is Jinxiu. Auntie Huo, Second Aunt, dear aunties, please don’t call us Sanya and Wuya anymore.”

“Aiyo, what lovely names—so refined,” Auntie Cuihua said with a smile. “So that’s how it is. Well, now we’re relieved.”

It turned out that these aunties were warm-hearted and genuinely concerned. They had heard from Grandfather  Lizheng that Chunsheng’s family was getting a new house and buying land.

But villagers had been gossiping ever since, each saying something different.

Some claimed Chunsheng sold Sanya to pay for his leg treatment. Others said Sanya sold herself willingly to help cure Chunsheng’s leg.

In any case, the rumor spreading was that the money came from Sanya—that is, Jinxiu—selling herself.

These few aunties didn’t believe it, so they went to ask  Grandfather Lizheng. But he had already left to purchase land, and Grandfather  Lizheng’s wife only said the money was earned by Sanya, though she didn’t know the exact details herself.

So, these warm-hearted aunties took the opportunity while coming into town for market day to stop by and ask about the situation.

After seeing off the kind and inquisitive aunties, the four siblings looked at one another, both amused and exasperated.

On the third day, their Big Cousin and Second Cousin, who were studying at the academy in the county, came to the clinic to visit the sick.

The Big Cousin was nineteen years old, dressed in a pale moon-white robe. He was of medium height, slightly chubby, with fair skin and a gentle, refined demeanor.

He had failed the county-level scholar exam the previous year, but word was that his chances this year were quite promising.

Second Cousin was seventeen, also a tongsheng, and wore a scholar’s long robe. He was tall and lanky, but with dark skin, a narrow forehead, and prominent cheekbones, giving him a somewhat sharp and monkeyish appearance.

He’d inherited his looks from his maternal uncle’s side.

It was said that he too intended to sit for the county-level scholar exam this year.

When Song Dalang saw this younger cousin, he almost didn’t recognize him.

Although Chunsheng was sitting up in bed, he wore clean, new clothes. Even little Qiusheng had on a fresh, tidy outfit.

Their complexions were fairer, and they’d both gained a bit of weight. Even the scar on Chunsheng’s face looked less frightening now.

Who ever walked into a clinic without leaving lighter in the purse and worn out in spirit?

And yet here they were—looking not like they had come to the clinic for treatment, but as if they were here to recuperate and enjoy a life of comfort.

It seemed the rumors in the village were true after all.

No wonder Grandpa and Grandma couldn’t sit still and insisted they come mediate things.

Song Dalang stood with his hands behind his back, saying nothing.

Song Chunsheng sat up straight. “Big Brother, Second Brother, what brings you here?”

Song Dalang gave him a complicated look. “Heard you’ve been staying at the clinic. We came to check on you.”

Song Erlang let out a cold snort. “Chunsheng, I’ll be frank—you’ve gone too far. Cutting ties with your own Father? Have you no sense of filial duty? If Big Brother and I hadn’t gone home yesterday, we wouldn’t even have known something this serious had happened.”

Song Chunsheng’s expression turned cold. “Well, now you know. We’re living in Third Grandfather’s Courtyard, worshiping at Third Grandfather’s grave. We have nothing to do with your family anymore.”

Song Erlang’s face darkened. Without another word, he stepped forward and punched Chunsheng squarely in the face.

“Talking to me like that? Looks like you need another beating.”

Song Chunsheng’s head spun. His nose stung, and then a warm stream of blood began to flow.

Song Qiusheng, who had been hiding under the covers, saw his Big Brother’s nose bleeding and immediately burst into loud sobs.

Song Dalang shot him a glare. “When are you going to fix that temper of yours? Back at home, it was one thing for you brothers to fight, but this is a clinic. Aren’t you ashamed, causing a scene here?”

Song Chunsheng felt a chill settle in his heart.

His Big Cousin was always like this—playing favorites. Even though it was clearly Erlang who hit him unprovoked, he’d still make it sound like just some mutual squabble between brothers.

All because Erlang’s maternal uncle worked as a cook at the county academy?

In the next room, Song Jinxiu was helping young Physician Li set a cast for a patient preparing for discharge. The moment she heard her little brother crying, she rushed over.

The moment she entered, Song Jinxiu saw two men in scholar’s robes standing with their backs to the door, facing her brother’s sickbed. Then she spotted her elder brother—his face covered in blood, while her little brother cried out in fear.

Song Jinxiu’s heart clenched. She immediately circulated her inner energy to her eyes, examining her elder brother’s injuries in detail.

His nasal bone was slightly fractured, but fortunately, not caved in.

Only then did Song Jinxiu turn away, her gaze icy as she swept over the two so-called refined scholars in their long robes.

“Who hit him?” she asked coldly, her eyes already locked on Song Erlang.

Song Dalang looked at the striking young girl before him and asked uncertainly, “Are you Sanya?”

Wasn’t she supposed to have been sold? If she’d really been sold, how could she be here caring for her brother? It seemed she must’ve encountered a kind-hearted master.

Song Erlang was just as startled—he hadn’t expected that in just a few days, Sanya would blossom into someone even more beautiful than his own younger sister.

No wonder Master Zhao had taken a liking to her. What a pity—twenty taels of silver, gone just like that.

If they’d sold her a few days earlier, that money would’ve been theirs.

The thought made him glare fiercely at Song Chunsheng again.

It was all this brat’s fault—throwing a tantrum, talking about severing ties like it was life or death. He’d actually thought Chunsheng had a backbone.

Hah! Turns out he just wanted to keep the money from selling his sister for himself. A few days without a beating, and the boy was already growing bold.

Song Jinxiu stared straight at Song Erlang and asked again, her voice sharp as a blade: “Was it you who hit my Brother?”

Infuriated by her stare, Song Erlang shouted, raising his fist, “Yeah, I hit him—so what? You little brat, keep looking at me like that and I’ll—don’t think I won’t hit you too—”

He hadn’t even finished saying the word “hit” when Song Jinxiu’s hand shot out. She grabbed his raised arm and, in one swift, fluid motion, flipped him clean over her shoulder.

With a loud thud, Song Erlang landed hard on the ground, the impact rattling the floor beneath him.