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Zhao Xiaohua cried out loudly, sounding extremely distressed, as if she were on the brink of death. In reality, she was truly in pain – her backside hurt, her head throbbed, and her ears buzzed as she spoke. Fear gripped her heart, and tears streamed down her face.
“Xiaohua, I believe you’re telling the truth! Endure the pain, Xiaohua! The Physician will be here soon. Hold on, you’ll be fine. Trust me!” Zhao Daliang hurriedly comforted his sister. His words, overheard by the Shen family, did not sit well with them. He believed Xiaohua, implying Sun Shi’s fault. If Sun Shi was at fault, then the responsibility fell on her. Any harm that came to Zhao Xiaohua would be seen as Sun Shi’s doing, considering she was part of the Shen family. It seemed Zhao Daliang was ready to shift blame onto the Shen family for the sake of his sister.
“Brothers, my younger sister is in severe pain and can’t move. She needs to stay here. Which one of you will go fetch a doctor? We can’t let my sister suffer here in agony. My heart is in turmoil!”
Zhao Daliang kept bowing to the Shen family, his manner seemingly pleading while also exerting pressure.
Shen Youfu remained composed, listening to Zhao Xiaohua’s cries. He wasn’t sure where she was injured, but since she was hurt on their premises and allegedly by Sun Shi, regardless of who caused it, they needed to call for a doctor. If Zhao Daliang’s claims were true and she was in unbearable pain, they couldn’t afford to ignore it. Even if she wasn’t dying, failing to summon the doctor would tarnish their family’s reputation.
Regardless of Sun Shi’s culpability, the injury occurred on their property and was serious. Shen’s family was in for trouble this time.
“Zifu, go fetch Physician Huang quickly! Zhu, prepare some hot water,” Shen Youfu ordered.
Shen Zhu reluctantly stood up and, somewhat unwillingly, asked Shen Zigui outside to bring back their elder sister-in-law and second sister-in-law. She wasn’t keen on boiling water; there might be other tasks coming up, and she didn’t want to take on that responsibility.
Shen Zigui replied, “Your elder sister-in-law and second sister-in-law are working outside. Calling them back so soon after they left will invite questions. If you don’t want to boil water, I’ll do it.”
With those words, Shen Zigui turned and headed towards the kitchen. While he cared for Shen Zhu, he wasn’t one to comply with her every whim. Moreover, he didn’t see the point in recalling the wives. It would disrupt their work and cause unnecessary distress.
Shen Zhu pursed her lips, watching Shen Zigui walk away. She noted that her second brother, despite still showing her favor, had grown distant. If she were to move out in the future, she couldn’t rely on him anymore. It seemed she would have to count on her younger brother. She turned to Shen Ziju, who stood at the door without entering, and walked over to him.
“What’s really going on?”
Shen Ziju asked Shen Zhu about the situation, his well-defined eyebrows slightly furrowed, not unattractively, but rather adding a seriousness that exuded composure. If he were to display this expression after assuming an official position, it would undoubtedly be seen as a look of concern for the country and its people, deemed a good official dedicated to serving the nation. However, at present, he was pondering over a matter between two women regarding who had harmed whom. Naturally, his main concern was whether this issue would bring trouble to the Shen family, incur expenses, or affect his future prospects. Thinking about the upcoming examinations after the New Year, his frown deepened.
Shen Zhu recounted the recent events, speaking truthfully and naturally attributing the blame to Sun Shi, albeit in a hushed tone to avoid being overheard by those inside the room. If her words were heard, wouldn’t it imply that Sun Shi had lied earlier? That would undoubtedly shift the blame to the Shen family, something she desperately wanted to avoid.
Upon hearing this, Shen Ziju sighed, realizing that even if Sun Shi wasn’t at fault, the Shen family would still be entangled in the matter. Apologies and financial compensation were inevitable.
The reputation of the Zhao family was well-known among the Shen family members. Apart from Liu Siniang, they were considered troublemakers who were adept at shifting blame.
“Later, you’ll mention not being sure who pulled or tugged whom, and then we’ll cover Zhao Xiaohua’s medical expenses. We’ll say that regardless of whose fault it was, since it happened on Shen family’s premises, we’ll bear the cost. This way, although it involves spending money, our reputation won’t be tarnished. Got it?”
Shen Ziju instructed Shen Zhu, realizing this was the best course of action.
Shen Zhu nodded, silently cursing Sun Shi. She thought about how Sun Shi had labeled Su Zhi as a jinx but now found herself in a similar predicament. As for Zhao Xiaohua, she had already caused her annoyance upon arrival and now had to burden her family with expenses. Truly an ominous presence, she vowed never to let Zhao Xiaohua cross her threshold again. She planned to inform her parents not to welcome the Zhao family members in the future.
Physician Huang was quickly summoned and examined Zhao Xiaohua. He found a large bump on the back of her head with some blood seeping through. As for her body, he didn’t inspect it thoroughly since she was well-covered for winter, likely only experiencing bruising at most. Physician Huang prescribed medication for her.
“Physician Huang, I feel dizzy, my vision blurs at times, and I feel like vomiting. Could I have injured my head?”
Zhao Xiaohua inquired, though besides the pain, she wasn’t actually feeling dizzy or nauseous. She simply described the sensations she experienced when she fell, perhaps exaggerating the symptoms. Having heard her mother’s stories about her father falling from a tree and then passing away shortly after, she couldn’t help but worry.
Physician Huang grew concerned upon hearing this. He examined her eyes, finding some blood vessels visible, but considering her recent crying, this was normal. He couldn’t determine if it was related to any brain injury. Her pulse was slightly fast, but he wondered if it had any connection to her head.
Physician Huang was just an average physician, not a renowned one. His abilities were ordinary, evident in how Su Zhi’s prescription of several remedies earned his admiration easily.
“Well, it’s best to observe for a few more days. Take your medication, rest peacefully, and avoid unnecessary movements. If you’re still concerned, you could consider visiting Shen Zi’an’s young wife. She has some unique medical skills.”
Physician Huang gently pointed them to Su Zhi. While his medical skills were average, his humility and respect for those with genuine abilities set him apart. When Zhao Xiaohua complained of a headache, he immediately thought of Su Zhi, considering whether she could offer a solution. If she could, it would not only save a life but also provide a learning opportunity for him.
Zhao Daliang exclaimed in surprise, “Can Zi’an’s wife treat illnesses?”
Physician Huang replied, “Indeed, that young lady may be petite in stature, but she not only has literacy and dexterity but also possesses knowledge of herbal medicine and healing. Despite her modesty, claiming to know only the basics, her skills suggest otherwise. Some time ago, when Shen Zi’an’s brother, Ziju, suffered a head injury, the wound was likely to scar. However, after her treatment, there’s not a trace of it left. Her abilities truly border on miraculous healing.”
Zhao Daliang, filled with admiration, felt a pang of jealousy. He couldn’t believe how Shen Ziju, once the most awkward member of the Shen family, had returned after half a year not only wealthy but also with a beautiful and talented wife. This fortunate wife even managed to attract sacred beasts, displaying an extraordinary streak of luck.
Shen Youfu, observing Zhao Xiaohua’s complaints, decided to bring Su Zhi in to avoid overemphasizing her condition and risking blame on the family. He called for Su Zhi to come over.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaohua felt anxious. Unsure of Su Zhi’s abilities, she recalled Physician Huang’s praise, coupled with the village’s high regard for Su Zhi’s medical skills. Despite her reservations about Su Zhi potentially revealing her lack of serious injury, she couldn’t refuse the request. As the sounds of someone approaching and the subsequent footsteps grew closer, it was evident that Su Zhi was being summoned.
In her heart, Zhao Xiaohua plotted that if Su Zhi declared her injury minor, she wouldn’t admit it. After all, nobody could peer into her mind, let alone open it up! Since Su Zhi was part of the Shen family, Zhao Xiaohua planned to accuse her of siding with her family against her. Secretly envious of Su Zhi, she hoped Su Zhi’s reputation would suffer from this encounter.
Shen Youfu tried to console Zhao Daliang, while Shen Zhang Shi comforted Zhao Xiaohua.
Sun Shi, huddled in her chair, continued to protest, expressing her grievances to Shen Ziping, adamantly refusing to cover the medical expenses.
Zhao Daliang instructed the Shen family members to fetch Zhao Dazhu and his wife from next door, stating that Xiaohua needed family care, making it more convenient for Dazhu’s wife to attend to her.
Shen Youfu’s expression darkened upon hearing about summoning Zhao Dazhu and his wife. The couple had recently caused trouble at Su Zhi’s place, displaying poor character. Their arrival would only reignite past grievances, potentially complicating the current situation. Despite his reservations, they had to be called over.
Shortly after, Su Zhi, along with Wang shi and Li shi, returned.
Wang shi and Li shiappeared noticeably more anxious than Su Zhi, as they both still resided in the old residence. Although Li shi had verbally declared their separation, they had yet to move out, and the formal division of assets had not been documented. With Zhao Xiaohua injured at the Shen household, the question of how the expenses would be divided remained uncertain. Both women feared sharing the financial burden, but Wang shi felt particularly distressed. Even if they didn’t share the costs, it would still deplete the public family funds, making her feel as though throwing the money into the river would have been more satisfying than spending it on Sun Shi.
Su Zhi, on the other hand, remained calm. She simply thought the Zhao family members were troublesome, especially when it came to dealings with the Shen family. They had almost succeeded in shifting their debt onto her during their previous encounter, and now Zhao Xiaohua seemed poised to shift the financial burden onto the Shen family’s old residence.