Chapter 161: Please Call the Doctor (4000 words)

Chapter 161: Please Call the Doctor (4000 words)

The eaves of the house were arranged at the same angle, creating an orderly and solemn beauty.

The Chen residence was a very typical "four waters return to the hall" Huizhou-style building. The rooms had odd-numbered spans, each about three to four meters wide. Rain fell like a continuous curtain of pearls from the eaves, as if it were a meeting between time and a waterfall.

Xianjin sat on the crossbar of the veranda, looking up at the drizzling rain.

Aunt Zhang ran over in small steps and draped a large velvet blanket over Xianjin's head. As she helped dry Xianjin's wet hair, she whispered, "What's going on? The gatekeeper said Old Lady Qu is livid. Is it related to us?"

Xianjin quite liked the word "us."

It gave her a sense of solidarity, even when facing danger or trouble.

Xianjin shook her head, "No relation."

Aunt Zhang continued to look slyly around, whispering, "Is it because of Fifth Master?"

Xianjin pursed her lips, "Not entirely."

After a moment of silence, Xianjin looked up at the unrelenting rain and then whispered, "In our hometown, there's a saying: 'If you can't find a sore spot to scratch.' It means someone with a grievance or frustration but no outlet for it."

Old Lady Qu was in such a state now.

Someone had to be held responsible for the sudden death of Chen Jianfang's father. Old Lady Qu did not believe it was herself—oh no, perhaps she had considered it, but refused to admit it, nor dared to admit it.

That person could only be someone else.

Xianjin glanced at the small hall.

The Chen family made paper, so naturally, the paper they used to cover their windows was excellent.

Thick and snow-white.

Only through the warm yellow light of the oil lamp inside could one see a few shadows.

Xianjin turned her head and asked Aunt Zhang softly, "Is Brother Zheng Er okay?"

Aunt Zhang hunched over slightly, shaking her head minimally, whispering to Xianjin, "He's fine... He returned earlier than you. When he jumped down from the beam, he almost twisted his ankle. I didn't even tell Lu Badan; I just had Master Li use the red flower oil from Zhou Ergou's room to massage his ankle. It doesn't hurt anymore."

Xianjin nodded.

Even if the beams were fake, they wouldn't be struck down by thunder on the first day.

If thunder couldn't bring them down, Brother Zheng Er would.

"Have Manager Dong give Lu Badan a few days off and send him out of the Chen residence."

After all, he was related to Chen Wu, and accommodating him was already risky. There was no need to test Lu Badan's loyalty at this time.

No one can withstand a test. In human relationships, there's no need to set up traps or play tricks.

Aunt Zhang hurriedly nodded and added, "Have you eaten? Should I make you a bowl of vegetarian three-treasure noodles? To fill your stomach?"

Xianjin shook her head, "I'm not hungry. You eat with Su'er and Brother Zheng Er first. I'll wait a bit longer."

Wait for what?

Aunt Zhang wanted to ask but thought better of it. She wasn't as smart as Jinjie—her job was simply to take care of the people under Jinjie's wing, making sure they were well-fed and healthy.

But thinking about it carefully, among these people, only Third Master met that standard—and that wasn't her doing, it was his own effort...

Aunt Zhang reflected daily: Am I feeding them enough? Am I eating with my colleagues? Am I gaining weight?

After reflecting, Aunt Zhang felt ashamed and determined, turning quickly toward the kitchen as if something was chasing her.

Yes, performance was chasing her.

Once Aunt Zhang left, the veranda returned to its quietness. No one in the entire residence dared to act recklessly at this moment.

Not even Mr. Chen Wu in the small hall.

He knelt on the square bricks, his eyes lowered, and glanced at Aunt Qu, only to receive a cold stare in return—he had rushed back, and upon arrival, the gatekeeper hurried him to the small hall. Upon entering, he saw Old Lady Qu in a rage, ordering him to kneel down. Then, she brought out his elder brother's memorial tablet.

At his age, he couldn't endure such treatment.

Within moments, his knees ached and felt stiff.

"...Sister-in-law, even a thousand cuts don't fall on the innocent. If you're going to punish me, at least let me die understandingly," Chen Wu said with a bitter smile. "Your anger today is like thunder, and after being your brother for so many years, I still can't predict where your lightning will strike."

Old Lady Qu felt a chill creeping up her leg from her left foot, which was slightly cold due to her mobility issues. She turned to Aunt Qu and asked her to bring a pot of hot tea, then turned back and said indifferently, "For so many years, you've been the backbone of the Chen family, bringing prosperity and harmony. The current wealth of the Chen family is largely due to your efforts."

Chen Wu maintained his bitter smile, his back hunched even more, like a pitiful shrimp, "Brother, I dare not claim credit. If it weren't for Sister-in-law leading the Chen family out of Jing County, we might have been bullied to death by our clan!"

"You don't need to reminisce about the past. Look at yourself now! Forgetting your roots and betraying your ancestors! Do you still have any of the Chen family's resilience? If I say you should follow your sixth brother and go back to farming and chopping wood in the village, leaving behind only your surname!"

Old Lady Qu's words were filled with venom, implying that she intended to expel him from the family!

Chen Wu crawled to Old Lady Qu's feet and knocked his head three times, sobbing, "Even if I go to the netherworld, I want to understand why! Sister-in-law, please give me a clear reason!"

Old Lady Qu looked at Chen Wu coldly and finally spoke, "The courtyard of Erlang's father and today's Jixi Workshop... How much money did you take from these deals? Do you have any idea?"

Chen Wu's heart sank. Although he didn't know how Old Lady Qu discovered it, he immediately bowed three times to his brother's memorial tablet, leaving a faint trace of blood on his forehead.

Chen Wu endured the dizziness and said, "I was foolish! Sister-in-law, I was foolish! Over the years, as the Chen family prospered, some small merchants came to flatter me. At first, I just ate and drank with them, but later they started offering money and bribes. I accepted some, but also rejected a lot!"

After speaking, Chen Wu bowed three more times, a trickle of blood running down his temple.

"I was wrong, Sister-in-law, I was wrong!"

After knocking his head on the ground a dozen times, Chen Wu's mind buzzed as if filled with millions of flies. He bit his tongue hard to regain some clarity—just taking money wouldn't have enraged the Qu family so much. What was the real reason?

Was Jixi Workshop in such a terrible state?

It was possible.

What else could it be?

He felt like he had missed something.

When the Qu family mentioned the renovation of the eldest son's courtyard... Could it be related to that?

Could it be because he and Hai Si had ruined the feng shui during the renovation, leading to the eldest son's sudden death?

Chen Wu quickly glanced at the Qu family's expression, then immediately fell to the ground, sobbing, "I didn't personally oversee Jixi Workshop, but Hai Si promised me he would do a good job. If he didn't, even if he sent me some silver, I wouldn't forgive him and wouldn't settle the final payment!"

"As for the eldest son's courtyard..." Seeing the Qu family's expression turn stern, Chen Wu knew his guess was correct and immediately started banging his head again. "The eldest nephew's courtyard was under my supervision! I did take money, one hundred taels! But when the courtyard was completed, I congratulated him on his new home and gave him paintings and calligraphy worth one hundred and twenty taels! Whatever materials Hai Si said were good, I used them! I didn't skimp on anything or lower any standards!"

The Qu family's face turned livid, their eyes cold as ice. They slapped the table, "The main beam! You said the eldest son's courtyard's main beam was blessed by a high monk!"

The root cause was found.

Treating an illness is not about fearing medicine; it's about finding the true cause.

Chen Wu breathed a sigh of relief internally, his head still buzzing painfully, but he continued crying, "Hai Si said it was blessed by a high monk! How could I verify that when he brought it over?"

Chen Wu's body trembled, "That main beam... wasn't blessed!?"

The Qu family's gaunt face finally showed deep sorrow.

Chen Wu jumped up, wiping the blood from his forehead, and turned to rush out, "I'll... I'll fight Hai Si to the death!"

"Stop him!" The Qu family ordered Aunt Qu Er to hold Chen Wu back.

Unable to break free, Chen Wu slumped, tears streaming down his face, "...My nephew was leaving on a long journey, and he begged for a main beam to protect the house. Who would have thought someone would deceive us like this..."

Chen Wu, as if waking from a dream, looked up with red eyes, "Sister-in-law, I will repay my nephew's life!"

With that, he took three steps and charged towards the lacquered pillar in the small hall. Aunt Qu Er quickly pulled him back.

Chen Wu's forehead narrowly missed the pillar, but a large red bump instantly formed.

"What are you doing, Master Wu?" Aunt Qu Er shouted angrily.

If you want to die, go outside to die!

Don't make the old lady bear the blame for forcing her brother to his death!

The bump burned fiercely, and Chen Wu's mind felt like it was filled with glue.

He pinched his palm hard, forcing himself to stay awake.

The Qu family matriarch closed her eyes lightly, tears slowly rolling down her weathered cheeks, "Did you take any more money?"

Chen Wu cried, "No... no more! Those we dealt with were either honest farmers or reserved scholars... where could we find someone like Hai Si who takes shortcuts? I was blinded by money. These few hundred taels neither made us rich nor poor; I just... just liked how Hai Si respectfully called me Fifth Uncle!"

The Qu family matriarch gripped the chair tightly, raised her head, and exhaled deeply, "Your brother died by torture... now only you remain."

Chen Wu did not try to suppress his sobs.

"Are you sure you didn't take any more money? Did you do anything harmful to the Chen family?" The Qu family's voice was despondent, "Taking money doesn't warrant death. Rest assured, for your brother's sake, I will spare your life and not bring it to the clan temple."

Chen Wu gritted his teeth.

In such a chaotic situation, admitting anything would be foolish!

"No more! If there were, may I be struck by lightning!"

Chen Wu raised his hand and swore to the heavens.

...

About an hour or an hour and a half later, Xianjin didn't count the time or check the water clock.

Until the sky was completely dark, the door of the small hall creaked open.

First out was the battered and unsteady Chen Wu, followed by the Qu family matriarch, leaning on a cane and pale-faced.

Xianjin approached, reaching out to support Chen Wu without giving him a chance to speak, and said with a sobbing voice, "Are you alright? Today, Hai Si falsely accused you... I was terrified listening to it..."

Xianjin's hand lightly rested on Chen Wu's sleeve, weightless.

Chen Wu's head was spinning, making him feel nauseous. He had lost all patience with Xianjin's pretenses and pushed her away with one hand.

Xianjin persisted, her crying becoming louder, "You don't know how outrageous Hai Si was! He even knocked down the main beam! I thought he was a good person and brought the remaining silver notes with me... thinking I'd give him extra if he did a good job..."

Xianjin pulled out a stack of new silver notes from her sleeve, presenting them to Chen Wu as proof, "Here! See for yourself! I was truly prepared!"

Chen Wu's urge to vomit grew stronger, impatiently pushing Xianjin's hand away, but caught sight of the clear, bold words on the silver notes.

—"Dechangsheng."

De... Dechangsheng?

Dechangsheng!

Chen Wu's eyes widened in fury, grabbing Xianjin's wrist, "What is this!"

Xianjin trembled, "S... silver notes..."

Chen Wu's entire body was shaking like a sieve.

Xianjin's voice still trembled, but a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. "We still have three thousand taels in Dechangsheng silver notes..."

A surge of blood rushed to Chen Wu's head, and the accumulated blood in his congested brain surged violently through the narrow and viscous space. His face turned red, his eyes bloodshot, and he screamed, "It's you! It's you who tricked me! Not the bandits from Baochanduo Temple!"

With both hands, Chen Wu tightly strangled Xianjin's neck. "You bitch! You set me up!"

Xianjin grunted, her head tilting back as the silver notes scattered on the ground.

Aunt Qu let out a scream. In the midst of her suffocation, Xianjin caught a glimpse of Old Lady Qu sliding down the door frame.

Aunt Qu hesitated, unsure whether to save Xianjin, whose neck was being choked, or to help the paralyzed old lady!

"I'll strangle you! I'll strangle you!!"

Chen Wu, his mind clouded by rage, had lost all reason.

Xianjin fumbled in her sleeve for the dagger with the ruby and sapphire handle, raised her arm with difficulty, and struck the back of Chen Wu's head hard with the hilt!

Chen Wu instantly collapsed like a taut string suddenly snapped, freezing for a moment before falling backward.

Xianjin slipped the dagger back into her sleeve, took a deep breath of fresh air, smoothed her disheveled hair, and turned around. Seeing that Old Lady Qu, though weak, was not unconscious, she lifted her delicate chin and calmly instructed Aunt Qu, "...Fifth Master has gone mad. First, help the old lady inside, then ask Mama Zhang to fetch a doctor."