Chapter 237: I Acted to Save Xingxing

Chapter 237: I Acted to Save Xingxing

Da Zhangshi borrowed some silver from her sister-in-law, Zhangshi, and wrote an IOU, reluctantly paying the doctor's fee.

Daxisipo weighed the silver, seeing no issue, and tucked it into her bosom, ready to leave.

Panicked, Zhangshi quickly stepped in front of Daxisipo. "She hasn't woken up yet!"

Daxisipo's face fell.

Her silly Xingxing had given a detox pill to stabilize the patient's heart. She had also prepared a special antidote soup for snake venom. How could the patient still be in danger?

With a cold face and impatient tone, Daxisipo said, "If the patient hasn't woken up, the doctor can't leave? What kind of ridiculous rule is that? If the patient stays unconscious for weeks, are we supposed to tie the doctor to the bed?"

Zhangshi quickly smiled and said, "Don't be angry, Daxisipo. My elder sister doesn't understand your rules... Feel free to take care of your business. If something happens with our Xuefeng again, we'll come to ask for your help..."

This was barely acceptable, so Daxisipo hummed in response and left with her medicine bag slung over her shoulder.

Zhangshi wiped her sweat.

You can't afford to upset a famous doctor who can bring people back from the brink of death!

Da Zhangshi was still somewhat indignant.

Zhangshi chided gently, "Elder sister, you really should change this temper of yours... Our Xuefeng is waiting to marry into the Yujia family. We just offended the Yujia people. Do you not want Xuefeng to be a young mistress and enjoy a comfortable life?"

"Wasn't I just anxious?" Da Zhangshi defended, "If it was your daughter lying there, wouldn't you be anxious?"

Zhangshi coldly thought to herself: If I had a daughter of marriageable age, would such a good opportunity fall to Xuefeng?

But despite her inner thoughts, Zhangshi still advised, "Elder sister, even if you're anxious, look, the Yujia people saved Xuefeng. That's a favor. When Xuefeng wakes up, let her use this as a reason to get closer to the Yujia family. Our Xuefeng is stunning, with a beautiful face and a graceful figure. If the Yujia young master spends more time with her, how could he resist falling for her?"

Da Zhangshi was confident in her daughter's looks. "That's true."

But she still felt somewhat dissatisfied and muttered, "My daughter is so beautiful that she could easily match with the young masters in town. Yet now, she has to please a farmer's family..."

Zhangshi thought her elder sister really had no sense. Sure, those young masters in town were attractive, but who would marry a village girl as their main wife?

As a concubine, it might be possible, but as the aunt of a concubine, she wouldn't be considered a proper relative and couldn't enjoy the benefits.

Naturally, it was better for her to marry into the Yujia family!

The Yujia's prosperity was there for all to see.

Opening shops, buying carriages, sending their young masters to study, buying maids, and building new houses.

All these things required piles of silver!

The Yujia family was rich!

Zhangshi was waiting for her niece, Li Xuefeng, to marry into the Yujia family so she could enjoy the wealth as well!

...

Wei Pozi was still somewhat angry at the Zhang family's ingratitude, but the next day, when she took Xingxing out, Zhangshi, carrying thick gifts and leading Li Xuefeng, who had been detoxified but was still somewhat weak, happened to intercept Wei Pozi on the road.

Wei Pozi didn’t look pleased at first, but seeing Li Xuefeng's still pale face, she paused and refrained from losing her temper, asking Zhangshi what she wanted.

Zhangshi smiled and said, "Aunt Wei, my elder sister was anxious when she saw Xuefeng faint and said some inappropriate things. Please don't take it to heart. I wanted to visit yesterday, but I thought it would show more sincerity if I brought Xuefeng over. As soon as she felt a bit better today, I immediately brought her here."

Saying this, Zhang Shi hurriedly tried to put the snacks she had been carrying into Wei Pozi's hands, "... Thanks to Xingxing yesterday, we really appreciate it. These snacks are for the child."

Although Zhang Shi's words were tactful, Wei Pozi’s expression only softened a bit as she looked at Li Xuefeng's pale face, thinking the child looked pitiful after being bitten by the snake. Still, she declined the snacks, "I appreciate your gesture, but no need. Keep the snacks for your own children."

Zhang Shi hadn't expected Wei Pozi to remain unmoved even after she had said so much. Feeling anxious, she quickly nudged Li Xuefeng with her elbow, signaling her to say something as well.

Li Xuefeng, still feeling a bit dizzy and having forced herself to come, was reminded of the snake when she saw Xingxing standing safely next to Wei Pozi. It should have been Xingxing who got bitten...

In a flash, a thought crossed Li Xuefeng's mind. She lowered her eyes, putting on a pitiful expression, "... Actually, I was just unlucky. I saw the snake near Xingxing's feet and tried to save her, but I ended up getting bitten by the snake myself."

With her pale face and slender frame, Li Xuefeng looked truly fragile, as if her story were entirely true.

Zhang Shi mentally applauded, thinking how clever that was.

But Wei Pozi paused, her eyes narrowing.

Xingxing let out a small "Really?"

But she remembered that this older girl had been aggressive, scolding and pushing her around. It hadn’t seemed like she was trying to save her...

Wei Pozi narrowed her eyes and said, "... After you were bitten yesterday, you also pushed Xingxing down. Was that also to save her?"

Li Xuefeng barely resisted glaring at Xingxing.

That little girl, tattling on her like that!!!

—Li Xuefeng was wronging Xingxing.

It was Wei Pozi who had noticed the scrapes and slight bleeding on Xingxing's palm the day before. Feeling heartache, Wei Pozi had asked Xingxing how she got hurt. Xingxing, who never lied to the Yu family, had truthfully recounted what had happened.

So, hearing Li Xuefeng suddenly claim she had been trying to save Xingxing, Wei Pozi found it rather absurd.

"Th-that's right..." Li Xuefeng stammered, feeling a bit guilty, "I... I was afraid Xingxing would get bitten by the snake..."

Wei Pozi glanced at Li Xuefeng, gave a meaningless half-smile, and said nothing.

Li Xuefeng didn’t dare to continue.

After all, the snake that bit her was hidden in the grass. Pushing someone to the ground and claiming it was "to save them" was a bit hard to believe.

Wei Pozi didn’t bother to expose the truth further and simply said, "Xingxing and I have other matters to attend to, so we'll be on our way."

Without waiting for a response, Wei Pozi took Xingxing by the hand, walked past them, and headed straight toward the new courtyard.

Wei Pozi left them some dignity by not exposing the full truth, but when Zhang Shi heard her daughter’s excuse, she truly believed that her daughter had been injured while saving the little girl and angrily said, "... That seven taels of silver should have been paid by the Yu family!"

Li Xuefeng didn’t dare to respond.