Chapter 13: Seeing the Doctor Left Me 900 Wen in Debt!
Chapter 13
The system was quite decent—no unnecessary complications.
If there was something useful, just buy it.
The prices were fair.
There was no need to go to town to sell goods, no worry about envy from others, and no merchandise tax—pure profit.
After selling the items, Li Feng calculated the time, took a pound of pork, and went to the village doctor’s home to invite him over.
On the way, Li Feng discreetly revealed his family’s situation to the doctor.
“My mother was so angry yesterday that while reprimanding her grandchildren, she accidentally twisted her waist.”
“Her injury looked severe, and I felt guilty. So, early this morning, I took the whole family up the mountain and worked hard to catch a few rabbits and wild chickens. We exchanged them at the town’s inn for a pound of pork and some tonic herbs to help her recover…”
The doctor remained silent but inwardly thought the old Li and Mrs. Li were unreasonable.
Looking at this man, he was barely in his thirties, yet he appeared somewhat stooped, his face deeply marked by hard labor. Compared to the eldest and third sons of the Li family, the second son looked more like their father.
Feeling reluctant but choosing not to intervene, the doctor kept quiet. Other people’s family matters were best left alone.
Just as they reached old Li’s doorstep, the courtyard echoed with children’s wails and pleas.
“Grandma, we really didn’t laze around!”
“We went up the mountain…”
“Still making excuses! You bunch of little wolves! I’m bedridden and no one is taking care of me—not even a sip of warm water. Such a disobedient, unfilial family!”
Mrs. Li’s sharp, cutting voice rang out repeatedly, always the same few sentences.
Li Feng’s face darkened, his honest features showing a hint of helplessness. Then he pushed open the door and said to the doctor, “Sorry to make you witness this.”
“Please, come inside.”
The doctor sighed as he looked at Li Feng. Such a pure man, such a filial son, wasted like this!
His own mother scolded and beat his children, yet he couldn’t get angry and still invited the doctor to treat her.
For a son to go this far, Li Feng was already doing well!
Mrs. Li was never satisfied.
No sooner had Li Feng stepped into the yard than a broom flew toward him. Had he not grabbed it in time, it would have hit him squarely!
“You lazy…”
Mrs. Li had thought it was Li Feng returning and simply threw the broom.
Then, turning around, she spotted the village doctor not far off.
This was the only doctor in Li’s village; offending him would be disastrous.
After all, everyone gets sick sometimes. Offending the doctor was like half a foot in the grave!
Mrs. Li then demonstrated her skill in changing faces.
One moment she was cursing and ranting; the next, she was extremely obedient.
“Doctor Li, what brings you here?”
“You’ve worked hard. Come up, have some tea!”
“No need!” the doctor snorted coldly. “Your second son said you were injured and had a twisted waist. From what I see, you’re fine. I probably don’t need to treat you!”
“Oh no!” Mrs. Li immediately backed down. “You don’t understand. I just got angry.”
“You see, early this morning the second son’s whole family left, and your father burned down the kitchen to take care of me. I was so upset when I saw them return that I lost my temper!”
“Ouch!” Mrs. Li clutched her waist and screamed. “Now that you’re here, please take a look. What’s wrong with me?”
She aspired to be a top scholar’s mother; she couldn’t just give up now!
The doctor, seeing she wasn’t faking, turned to Li Feng.
Li Feng had already handed the meat to eldest daughter Da Ya and sent everyone back inside.
Seeing the doctor’s expression, he hurried forward to support Mrs. Li. But the moment he touched her, his legs suddenly gave way, and he stumbled, falling toward her.
The doctor was stunned.
Mrs. Li cried out in pain.
In the end, Da Gou and Er Niu, along with some of the younger children, hurriedly helped them inside.
Now, Mrs. Li was completely immobilized.
The doctor examined her and shook his head. “Ah, two ribs are broken.”
“From now on, she must rest well and not move around recklessly. If shattered bones puncture her internal organs, I won’t be able to help!”
Then the doctor looked at Li Feng. “Your mother’s injury is severe. It takes a hundred days to heal bones and tendons—don’t let her get angry again!”
“This is a bone-setting ointment, to be applied once every three days. After three months, she should recover.”
“Also, her liver fire is quite strong. Here are prescriptions to reduce inflammation and to remove blood stasis and promote coagulation. Take these,” he said, handing them over.
“Three doses should suffice!”
As the doctor finished, Da Gou and Er Niu paled.
Grandma’s bones were broken, and she needed to take a lot of medicine.
The good news was Grandma couldn’t move anymore, so she wouldn’t beat them at will.
The bad news was Grandma needed medicine, which would cost a lot.
They would have no meat to eat again.
“Alright!” Li Feng said nothing, only nodded and took the prescriptions and ointment.
“The bone-setting ointment is a bit expensive—30 wen per dose. Your mother needs 30 doses, one every three days, totaling 900 wen.”
“The prescriptions cost nothing. Later, send someone to fetch the herbs from me. The anti-inflammatory herbs cost 15 wen; the blood stasis remedy is pricier. Three doses total 300 wen.”
“Understand?”
Li Feng remained silent, pale as death, then shakily reached into his sleeve and tremblingly produced a handful of copper coins.
On the bed, Mrs. Li, seeing Li Feng had secret money, almost cursed him out of anger.
But she quickly inhaled sharply.
No rush—once the doctor left, she would make the second son pay.
“There’s 345 wen here in total, Doctor Li. You take this first. When I gather the rest, I’ll pay you the remaining 900 wen. How’s that?”
The doctor glanced at Li Feng, then at the pale-faced children outside, and nodded. “Come settle the balance when you have it!”
“Thank you, sir!”
Li Feng smiled and stood, telling Si Niu, “See the doctor off and bring Grandma’s medicine back!”
“Yes, Father!”
Si Niu bounced along behind the doctor, eyes shining brightly.
Making money.
Doctors make good money.
No wonder Grandma never invited the doctor before.
Doctors were too expensive.
A round trip cost Father over a tael of silver.
So costly!
If only Grandma would die!
Then they wouldn’t have to spend money on her, and Father wouldn’t worry.
Once Doctor Li left, Li Feng’s expression changed immediately. He lay back in his chair, whining, “Mother, my back pain is acting up again. I won’t be able to work the fields for a while.”
“Da Gou and Er Niu have to take care of me, so they can’t go to the fields either!”
“The kitchen was burned down by Father. Mother, how are we going to eat and drink now?”
“You scoundrel!” Mrs. Li’s face turned green with anger at Li Feng’s boldness.
“If you hadn’t left, could your father have gotten into the kitchen? Could he have burned it down?”
“You took them up the mountain—where were Da Ya and Er Ya?”
“If they hadn’t left my side to serve me, we wouldn’t have suffered such a loss, and I wouldn’t have broken two ribs. They’ll have to make this right!”
“I’ll contact a matchmaker. Da Ya is no longer young; she can be married off!”
Mrs. Li spoke coldly.
Li Feng stood up and approached the bed, looking at Mrs. Li. His face no longer carried the honest expression but was like a demon from hell.
“Mother, this is your fault!”
“I won’t trouble you about my children’s marriages anymore!”
“Also, the family has no money left. You can’t stop your medicine. Your son only has 345 wen to give. As for the remaining 900 wen, you can talk to eldest and third brothers and have them pay!”
He said this while tucking the blanket closer to her and pressing on her injury, causing Mrs. Li to gasp.
Better not speak—just breathing was painful!
“If you don’t respond, I’ll take that as agreement. I’m off to find Father to discuss the family affairs with eldest and third brothers.”
“They won’t abandon you.”
Having said that, Li Feng turned and left.
Mrs. Li lay on the bed, hearing Li Feng’s voice behind her.
“You all need to be careful not to disturb Grandma, understand?”
“If she asks for anything, just pretend you didn’t hear. The doctor said Grandma’s temper is fierce; she needs to calm down and avoid greasy foods. Make your own meat for her!”
“I’m going to find your grandfather and then head to town. Don’t wait for me at dinner!”
“Yes, Father!”
The crowd responded in unison.
These were Father’s orders, and they had to obey; otherwise, they would be unfilial.
…