Chapter 15: Broken Leg, House Raid, and Sudden Wealth Once More!
Chapter 15
Relying on his strong professional composure, Doctor Li did not laugh aloud. He restrained himself and examined Old Li, remaining silent for a long moment.
“Doctor, how is my father?” Li Feng anxiously asked. “Just tell me straight. Even if I have to sell everything, I must save him!”
Doctor Li sighed. “Alas, the bone injury is even more severe than your mother’s. The leg bone is fractured and swollen, with likely some internal bleeding. The fall was serious. Ordinary bone-healing ointments won’t suffice. I can only help realign the bones. As for the medicines to reduce swelling and remove bruising afterward, you’ll need to go to town to see the doctor at the Hundred Herbs Hall.”
“Then please realign his bones first!” Li Feng said without hesitation.
Doctor Li nodded. Old Li was still unconscious, so it was the right time for the procedure.
“Crack!”
“Ah!!!”
Screams of pain echoed alongside the sound of bones being set. Even Li Wangshi, who had been playing dead nearby, was frightened. She scrambled upright, seeing Old Li’s eyes roll back before he fainted again, and for the first time, she felt true fear. Looking at Doctor Li with trembling urgency, she stammered, “Doctor, please save him!”
“Second son, come here!” Li Wangshi called out.
She was injured and couldn’t move, so she summoned Li Feng.
Li Feng approached. “Mother!”
She bowed her head and told him where the family’s money was stored. Li Feng’s eyes brightened. When he looked up, a determined expression replaced his usual simple demeanor. His eyes were filled with filial devotion.
He sent the dog to invite the doctor to the main hall, then followed Li Wangshi’s instructions. He uncovered a layer of earth and dug a hole about the size of a bowl.
Lifting the stone slab, Li Feng saw it filled to the brim with copper coins. He flicked a finger and they jingled—a tangible sound of wealth.
“What are you waiting for? Take 100 cash coins, give 10 to the doctor, and use the rest to go to town. Have the doctor at Hundred Herbs Hall prepare a painkiller and buy a better bone-healing ointment.”
“Got it!” Li Feng looked away and took out 100 cash coins, all strung neatly by Li Wangshi in bundles of 100. He showed the money to her. She watched closely to ensure he wasn’t hiding any, then let him go.
After paying the doctor and sending him off, Li Feng ate dinner with his children. Once everyone was asleep, he went to Li Wangshi’s room to say a word before heading out toward the town.
On the way, Li Feng entered the system’s marketplace and bought a bottle of black tech.
It had no other use apart from inducing deep sleep.
After getting the item, he met several villagers along the way and explained his urgent trip to town.
People saw Li Feng hurrying under the stars toward the town.
Those who knew him said the Li family was heartless; the eldest and third siblings were ungrateful wolves.
At night, with beasts frequently roaming, sending someone to town at this hour was like sending them to certain death.
Hearing the gossip behind him, Li Feng’s lips curved slightly. Once outside the village and sure no one was around, he chose a small path and returned home.
He had stayed in the village long enough that the dogs knew him and barely barked.
He quietly returned home and sprayed a bit of the black tech in every room.
Once he confirmed everyone was sound asleep, Li Feng slipped into Li Wangshi’s room.
The room was pitch dark, filled with a foul stench.
Someone must have soiled themselves.
Li Feng ignored it and began searching everywhere.
Beside the bed, at the foot, on the walls, along the beams—he thoroughly inspected everything.
[Alert: Discovered ten silver ingots totaling one hundred taels. Sell?]
[Alert: Discovered 3,800 copper coins. Sell?]
[Alert: Discovered two taels of gold. Sell?]
[...]
The mechanical voice rang in his ears. Li Feng’s eyes lit up as he searched further.
With the system’s help, he found five hidden caches of money. The earth-hidden coins he retrieved earlier were the smallest stash.
The other spots held silver ingots.
In a secret corner of the ceiling beam, he found two taels of gold.
Looking at the gleaming treasure, Li Feng’s heart bled.
So all the money from his previous life was here.
Decades of hardship, two decades spent hunting, yet the savings had been lived off by others.
They supported the third brother’s studies, paid for the eldest’s carpentry work, and still had plenty left over. Yet Li Wangshi refused to use a penny for his treatment.
She let him die a slow death!
Hmph!
Li Feng sneered coldly, ransacking the room fiercely. In the bowl-sized hole, he left behind one copper coin as a mark, then swaggered out.
To avoid suspicion, he ransacked the two neighboring households, making a mess to mimic a thief’s raid.
He then erased his traces, took a small path, and swiftly headed toward town.
...
The next morning, Li Feng returned with medicine.
People who had seen him last night greeted him warmly.
Those who didn’t know what was going on whispered questions.
“Isn’t that the second son of the Li family? Why is he back from outside?”
“Yes, I heard Uncle and Aunt both fell badly. The doctor said it’ll take at least three months to recover!”
“Wow, that serious? Why wasn’t the second son at home caring for his parents? What was he doing?”
“What else? Going to town to buy medicine. He left last night in a rush but seemed to have arrived too late—probably the city gates had closed, so he waited till dawn.”
“What? Going to town at night? Isn’t he afraid of wild beasts?”
“Yeah, I heard there are wolves on the official road at night. People have been bitten to death. The second son’s really brave!”
...
“I’m telling you, the old couple at Li’s place are heartless. The second son is so filial, yet they treat him so badly. And his wife—if she hadn’t been abused so cruelly, how could she have died so young?”
“Shh! Don’t say that. Enough chatter. I need to get to the fields before sunrise to hoe the corn.”
Li Feng listened to their gossip as he hurried home.
Before he reached the doorstep, loud shouting burst out.
“Good heavens, what’s going on here?”
“Did thieves break in? A bunch of lazy bums still sleeping? Get up and check if anything’s missing!”
With that, chaos erupted—chickens flying, dogs barking, people rushing about.
Li Feng glanced, then strode into his house.
“What’s all the noise outside?”
Li Wangshi lay on the bed, glaring at Old Li with disdain. Seeing Li Feng enter, she scowled and cursed loudly.
“You good-for-nothing! You can’t even buy medicine properly. Useless in everything except eating. What use are you? Why did I give birth to you?”
“Never mind the third son, even the eldest can’t compare to you. Tell me, why are you even alive?”
“Can’t you be more alert? Didn’t you see your father soiled himself? Hurry and clean it up!”
Li Wangshi ranted and raved.
Li Feng remained calm and unmoved.
He didn’t care who she favored or hated; he wouldn’t serve her.
The big dog was about to enter but was held back by Er Niu.
“Don’t go in!” Er Niu said to his older brother.
“Father is trying to save the family from misery. We shouldn’t ruin his plan!”
“But...” The big dog scratched his head and anxiously looked toward the main room. “If we act like this, people will say we’re unfilial. Father might not be pleased.”
Er Niu said firmly, “Who says we’re unfilial? Remember the books Cheng You brought back?”
Er Niu stared at the big dog steadily. “The books say: ‘When the father is kind, the son is filial. When the father is unkind, the son runs far away.’”
“Grandfather was unkind to Father, but Father still showed filial piety. What did that get him? Only more suffering. Father has endured half a lifetime of pain. It’s time he thought of himself!”
“We should be glad. Father has been good to us, never mistreated us. After we split the family, we will care for Father so he can enjoy his old age!”
“Today, I say this clearly: from now on, no one is allowed to do anything to hurt Father. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being harsh!”
“I won’t!” the big dog said instinctively.
Others looked at Er Niu and nodded in agreement. “Second brother, we won’t!”
...