Chapter 53: Pay the Price

As he continued to writhe, several of the boils on his body burst in plain sight, making it even more unbearable to watch.

“Doctor Jiang, Zhou Shugen is a scoundrel, but he has already paid the price. Little Chrysanthemum’s mother is gone, his current wife ran away and doesn’t want him anymore, he has two sons and a paralyzed mother at home, and his father is also old. This whole family, old and young, will have to rely on him alone. If there’s any way, please help him!”

“Yes, yes, we’re all neighbors. We used to run around and play together when we were kids. It’s really heartbreaking to see this.”

This is the gap that marriage brings.

Little Chrysanthemum’s mother paid with her life, but all she got was a sigh of regret from others, saying, “Why did she hang herself?”

Because her relatives weren’t here, and her childhood playmates had long since married and scattered. Those who lived nearby could occasionally visit their parents’ home and talk about their lives. But those who lived far away might not see each other for years, or even a lifetime.

The world she could access was brought to her by her in-laws.

So, who would feel sorry for her?

But Zhou Shugen was different. He was such a scoundrel, but when he was in pain, people still felt sorry for him.

Because he was born and raised in this village, everyone here was his relative, his parents, elders, and siblings.

Ye Zhiqiu clearly realized this too. She had quietly taken a few steps back, distancing herself from the crowd, but her red eyes couldn’t be concealed.

She wasn’t feeling sorry for him, she just felt sad.

She felt sad for her mother, and for all women.

Thinking about the wives and mothers in the village, they were all basically repeating the same life. When they had grievances and difficulties, they always had to endure them, swallow them down.

Only a few fierce ones seemed to be in charge, but when people talked about them, they would say, “So-and-so’s wife is really not a good person. She bullies her in-laws and husband at home, and they’re too scared to speak up.”

But even these women had to shoulder the burden of the whole family, working from morning till night just like the men, and they also had to take care of the housework and the children’s chores.

Everyone was begging her to this extent, so Jiang Nian couldn’t say that she wouldn’t help. So she said, “Don’t think that I can save him but I’m unwilling to. After all, everyone in the village has seen how I, Jiang Nian, have been since I came to the village. But as I said just now, it’s not easy to cure his illness, and it’s not cheap either. I can’t help with that, because it requires some rare herbs. You either have to go deep into the mountains to collect them, or buy them from a medicinal herb collection station. I can’t do that either.”

“I have money, I have money. Please save me, I’m in so much pain…”

It was so cold, but he was sweating profusely from the pain. Coupled with the burst pus, he looked miserable.

Jiang Nian sighed helplessly. “This is not a small amount of money. You have to think carefully.”

“I really have money. Just give me the medicine first. I’m in so much pain!”

Zhou Shugen had wanted to die, but when he heard that he could be saved, he didn’t care about the money anymore. He just wanted to get rid of the pain in his body.

It was so painful, it made him want to die.

It was just boils at first, although they were a little itchy, but besides being ugly, they weren’t that painful. Since it started raining yesterday afternoon, the pain in his body hadn’t stopped. He couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Alright, I’ll go get some medicine to stop the pain first.”

Jiang Nian went to the clinic to get the medicine and asked Ye Zhiqiu to boil it.

Ye Zhiqiu hesitated and didn’t really want to go. Although she knew she shouldn’t interfere with Jiang Nian’s decision, her hatred still made her impulsively speak up. “Master, are you really going to cure him? This is his retribution from heaven. He should suffer for the rest of his life. It’s only right that he dies in pain.”

Her eyes were red, and her voice was full of resentment. Even she didn’t know that Zhou Shugen’s current state was all due to Jiang Nian’s doing.

Medicine can heal the world, poison can kill silently.

“They’re all begging me. If I just refuse, wouldn’t it make people think I’m narrow-minded and intolerant?” Jiang Nian smiled. “Don’t worry, even if I treat him with all my might, he won’t be able to afford this illness.”

He couldn’t afford the necessary herbs.

Besides, Zhou Shugen still owed her money. He wanted her to treat him for free without paying back the money. If anyone dared to say anything, she would let them pay for him. She wouldn’t accept any moral blackmail.

After a bowl of medicine was poured down, the pain in Zhou Shugen’s body did ease somewhat, but it didn’t completely disappear.

But he was already exhausted, lying on the door panel, completely half-dead.

Easing the pain a little would allow him to regain his senses and have a better conversation.

It was the middle of the night, and Jiang Nian was still waiting to go to sleep.

Several people greeted him, and when they learned that the pain in his body had indeed subsided, they began to praise Jiang Nian, showering her with flattery.

Those with ability are always more likely to gain respect from others.

“This medicine can only relieve the pain in his body, it can’t completely cure it. But it should allow him to sleep well tonight. However, one of the herbs is quite rare. I’ve only found one in the mountains after all this time, and I’ve already used it for him. There won’t be any next time, so if he’s in pain again, I can’t do anything. Unless you can get the herbs.”

If they couldn’t get it, it wouldn’t be her fault.

Zhou Shugen had experienced the pain, and he didn’t care about all that. He quickly nodded. “I can get it, I can definitely get it. Doctor Jiang, how long will it take for my illness to be cured?”

“I can’t guarantee that. But since it’s already much better, please settle the medicine bill. It’s 16.5 yuan in total. Plus the money you owe me for smashing my house and redeeming Zhou Xiaoyu, I’ll give you a discount. Just give me 100 yuan.”

“One hundred?”

His voice, sharp with shock, was lowered under Jiang Nian’s gaze. He gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll pay. When I get back, I’ll have my father send the money over. Doctor Jiang, will my illness be cured?”

He no longer doubted. He was convinced that Jiang Nian had done this on purpose.

Jiang Nian remained calm. “I already said that I can’t guarantee it. After all, I’ve never seen your condition before. I can only try to treat it.”

Zhou Shugen dared not say anything more, as he was asking for a favor.

He was exhausted now, and he could only be carried back.

Jiang Nian closed the door and went to sleep. Ye Zhiqiu stayed awake.

Not long after, Zhou’s father came over with a large handful of bills.

Ye Zhiqiu took the money and her mood improved.

Because she often felt uneasy about the 80 yuan she had been exchanged for, now she felt relieved.

Although, it was still her master’s skill that earned it.

Zhou’s father felt heartbroken. “Little Chrysanthemum, I know you feel that the family has wronged you, but you are the flesh and blood of our Zhou family after all. Blood is thicker than water. No matter how bad your father is, he gave you life. Think about when you were little, your father carried you on his shoulders every day. Those days were so good. It’s just that a piece of pie from heaven fell on his head, but he didn’t have the good fortune to hold it down. Grandpa knows you don’t want to hear me say these things, but Grandpa is old, and your grandmother is like that. Our family only has your father left as the pillar of support. If something happens to him, our family will be finished. Even if you don’t care about us two old people, think about your brother. Xiao An is still young, someone has to raise him. Would you be willing to let him lose his mother and then his father?”