Chapter 197: His identity was exposed in just two days…

Chapter 197: His identity was exposed in just two days...

Lord Zhang was trembling with anger, pointing at Lady Zhang. "Foolish woman! Do you think Grand Scholar Liu cares about the things in your private coffers?! I'm telling you, if something happens to Grand Scholar Liu, all the officials from the Liu family in the capital will have to return to observe mourning. Just now, that beast almost collided with Grand Scholar Liu, and he was so frightened he might fall ill. Do you think the Liu family will let us Zhang family off?!"

Although Lady Zhang felt a chill from Lord Zhang's words, she gritted her teeth and said, "I checked with the doctor, and Grand Scholar Liu wasn't seriously hurt, right?"

Lord Zhang was so angry that he slapped her across the face. "If something had really happened, the officials would have arrested your son by now!"

He didn't see the county magistrate panicking as well!

Lord Zhang was seeing stars from anger.

Zhang Hongjun, the only son, had been spoiled since childhood and was utterly unruly. He shouted, "Father, what are you afraid of?! That old man from the Liu family is just an ordinary old man now! My brother-in-law is the county magistrate of Zhoucheng!"

This was the source of Zhang Hongjun's arrogance.

He was the younger brother-in-law of the county magistrate!

Who wouldn't give him some respect?

Lord Zhang was on the verge of losing it because of his son's words!

In this small place, people might look up to them, but to be honest, they were just the family of a concubine. What kind of relatives were they?!

Lord Zhang's eyes were bloodshot as he raised the stick toward his son.

Lady Zhang, having been married to Lord Zhang for many years, threw herself over Zhang Hongjun in fear. "If you want to hit our son, you'll have to kill me first!"

Lord Zhang shouted, "Drag the lady away!"

The servants hurriedly pulled away Lady Zhang, who refused to move.

Zhang Hongjun, seeing his father's bloodshot eyes, began to feel a little afraid and swallowed. "Wait, Father, are you really going to do this?"

Lord Zhang said darkly, "The only way to save the Zhang family is to beat you. Then, we'll go to the Liu family to apologize humbly tomorrow."

And this beating couldn't be light!

Despite his inner reluctance, Lord Zhang gritted his teeth and swung the wooden stick at his son with force!

Zhang Hongjun ran around the courtyard, trying to escape the beating!

Lord Zhang angrily ordered the servants to pin Zhang Hongjun down and ignored his son's cries as he beat him severely!

At this point, even Lady Zhang screamed and struggled. "Master, stop hitting Jun'er! Hit me instead! Jun'er, Jun'er! Let me go!"

No one paid her any attention.

Finally, Zhang Hongjun was beaten to the point of near collapse, and Lord Zhang, unable to bear it anymore, threw the blood-stained stick aside and closed his eyes.

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Lord Zhang couldn't wait to take Zhang Hongjun to the Liu family to apologize.

Zhang Hongjun, covered in wounds and barely conscious, lay like a broken man at the entrance of the Liu family's residence, thorns tied to his back as a sign of penance.

Lord Zhang shouted, "Grandfather Liu, my wayward son was rude to you yesterday. Today, I have brought him here to apologize humbly!"

Old Mao glanced outside, frowned, and closed the gate before reporting the situation to Grandfather Liu.

Early in the morning, Awu went to Old Master Liu’s room to supervise her grandfather taking his medicine and having his meal. Hearing that the Zhang family was “apologizing with thorns on their backs” outside, she blinked curiously.

Old Master Liu didn’t even lift an eyelid: “If they’re happy to kneel, let them.”

Lao Mao remained calm and simply replied, “Yes.”

It was Awu who hesitated for a moment before asking Old Master Liu, “Grandfather, can I go see?”

Lao Mao said, “Miss, it’s bloody and not much to look at. You might get scared if you go.”

But Awu was very curious and pouted to Old Master Liu, “Grandfather, I really want to see what ‘apologizing with thorns on their backs’ looks like.”

Old Master Liu, who always indulged Awu, said, “Then take Molu and have a quick peek from inside the gate.”

Awu left happily.

A short while later, she returned with a pale face, gesturing frantically to Old Master Liu: “... So much blood ...”

Old Master Liu remarked, “That Zhang fellow is ruthless.”

He looked at Lao Mao, “Find some trauma ointment and send it out. Tell them to leave quickly.”

Old Master Liu huffed, “Covered in blood, blocking the entrance, how unlucky. People might think we did something terrible to someone.”

Lao Mao sighed, “Old Master is still kind-hearted.”

With that, he followed Old Master Liu’s instructions and found a box of trauma ointment to send out.

When Master Zhang saw the Liu family voluntarily sending out the trauma ointment, though he still wouldn’t allow them to enter, he breathed a huge sigh of relief and left with a thousand thanks, leading the blood-soaked Zhang Hongjun away.

Not long after, someone from the county magistrate's office arrived, saying they had invited a renowned healer who had been living in seclusion in the mountains for Grandfather Liu.

Grandfather Liu was a bit annoyed: “I’m not on my deathbed...”

But he didn’t want to offend the county magistrate, so he had the healer invited in.

When the renowned healer walked in, both Grandfather Liu and Old Mao were taken aback.

It was Ah Wu who exclaimed in surprise: “Xingxing?”

—Of course, the renowned healer wasn’t Xingxing.

The healer was Grandma Daxisipo, and Xingxing was just a medicine apprentice tagging along to gain some experience.

Xingxing had never visited the Liu family villa before, so she was delighted to see Ah Wu sister and the old man who had nearly been hit by a carriage the day before.

“Ah Wu sister!”

Xingxing’s eyes widened in surprise.

Ah Wu rushed over, scooped Xingxing up, and grinned: “Xingxing, how did you come to be here?”

Grandma Daxisipo was also somewhat surprised: “You two know each other?”

Xingxing nodded repeatedly, answering Grandma Daxisipo first, as it was easier to respond to: “Yes, we know each other.”

Grandma Daxisipo was pleased that the young girl had responded to her first. It showed that the young girl considered her quite important!

Hmm, that’s good!

Xingxing turned her small head again to explain to Ah Wu: “...Daxisipo is teaching me medicine. Someone came to invite Daxisipo to the county for a consultation, so she brought me along!”

Ah Wu’s eyes widened in realization!

It was Xingxing, however, who glanced at Grandfather Liu and then back at Ah Wu: “...Ah Wu sister, is this your grandfather?”

Grandfather Liu coughed lightly, feeling a bit awkward about being discovered.

He never thought his cover would be blown in just two days...

Ah Wu was taken aback. “Xingxing, you know my grandfather?”

Xingxing rattled off what had happened the day before. Ah Wu, being her usual simple self, didn’t overthink it and simply assumed there was a special connection between her grandfather and Xingxing.

She even happily hugged Xingxing and gave her little pecks on the cheek. “Xingxing, thank you so much for saving my grandfather yesterday!”

Xingxing’s cheeks flushed bright red!

“Alright, you two, enough with the catching up. Don’t forget why we’re here.” Daxisipo gave a cold glance, interrupting the girls’ affectionate exchange.

Ah Wu quickly let go of Xingxing.

Daxisipo snorted, then stepped forward to check Grandfather Liu’s pulse.

After a brief moment, she pulled her hand back. “Nothing seriously wrong, he’ll be fine.”

Old Mao frowned, unable to hold back his disapproval.

This famous doctor sure had a way with words—by which I mean, she didn’t.