Chapter 155 – Buying Land (1)
Ms. Zhong thought that since Tian Qingquan’s family was related to Tian Dazhuang’s, and with Tian Dazhuang mediating, there shouldn’t be any problems. She nodded in agreement. “Dazhuang, we’ll be troubling you then.”
Tian Dazhuang grinned at Ms. Zhong and said, “Aunt Yan, Xiaosi is my best buddy. It’s only right for me to help him. You don’t have to be so formal with me.”
With the silver in hand, the three hurried down the mountain. Normally, Yan Xiaosi was the laziest one, but now, with twenty taels of silver in her pocket, she ran swiftly along the mountain path, leaving Tian Dazhuang and Yan Shuqin behind. “Brother Dazhuang, Big Sister, hurry up!”
Yan Shuqin tried to catch up with her but accidentally stumbled: “Ouch!” Hearing Yan Shuqin cry out in pain, Yan Xiaosi stopped and turned back.
Seeing Yan Shuqin had twisted her ankle and was sitting on the mountain path, Tian Dazhuang reached out to help her. “Sister Shuqin, are you okay?”
Looking at Tian Dazhuang’s outstretched hand, Yan Shuqin’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m fine.” She tried to get up with his help, but a sharp pain shot through her ankle as soon as she put some weight on it.
Tian Dazhuang quickly wrapped his arms around her to stabilize her. “You can’t even stand properly. Did you twist your ankle?”
Yan Shuqin moved her ankle and winced in pain. “I think so.”
Yan Xiaosi, worried that her sister might have dislocated her joint, rushed over to check her injured ankle. After examining, she found it was just a sprain, not a dislocation.
“Brother Dazhuang, I’m afraid my big sister can’t walk. I must trouble you to carry her back to the cave. I’ll go to Tian Qingquan’s house alone.”
Tian Dazhuang felt uneasy. “Xiaosi, are you sure you can manage alone?”
Yan Xiaosi replied, “Buying land is just like buying anything else with silver. There’s nothing difficult about it. Brother Dazhuang, please take care of my sister and carry her back to the cave.”
Seeing an excellent opportunity for Yan Shuqin, Yan Xiaosi didn’t wait for Tian Dazhuang’s response and hurried down the mountain with the silver.
In a few blinks, she was already far ahead. Tian Dazhuang, looking at Yan Shuqin whose eyes were reddening from the pain, squatted down. “Sister Shuqin, come on, I’ll carry you back to the cave and then go to Tian Qingquan’s house to help Xiaosi.”
“Thank you, Brother Dazhuang.” Yan Shuqin, with a flushed face, gently leaned against Tian Dazhuang’s broad back. Feeling his back against her body made her heart pound like a drum, yet she felt secure, reminiscent of the warmth and safety she felt when her father carried her as a child.
With the lightweight girl on his back, Tian Dazhuang’s steps remained light as he walked along the mountain path. The two didn’t speak along the way, creating an awkward atmosphere until they reached the cave.
Ms. Zhong, who was squatting outside the cave washing clothes, saw Tian Dazhuang carrying Yan Shuqin back and felt a sudden tightness in her chest. She anxiously asked, “Dazhuang, what happened to Shuqin?”
Yan Shuqin quickly got off Tian Dazhuang’s back and limped towards Ms. Zhong: “Mother, I’m fine. I just hurried down the mountain and accidentally fell, twisting my ankle.”
Ms. Zhong breathed a sigh of relief.
After calming Ms. Zhong down, Yan Shuqin turned to Tian Dazhuang and said, “Thank you, Brother Dazhuang, for bringing me back. Please hurry down the mountain to help Xiaosi.”
“Alright, I’m on my way.” Tian Dazhuang turned and ran down the mountain.
…
At this moment, in Shaoyao Village, at Tian Qingquan’s house.
In the main room of Tian Qingquan’s house, both he and his wife were tearfully watching their son, who lay unconscious on the bed. Besides Tian Qingquan and his wife and their unconscious son, Tian Baogen, Yan Xiaosi, Yan Shuxiu (the second young lady of the Yan family), and a servant of the Yan family were present.
Yan Shuxiu raised an eyebrow and glanced at the bed, looking disdainfully at the dying Tian Baogen. She turned her gaze away, covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief, and looked at Tian Qingquan. “Tian Qingquan, your son is almost dead. What are you hesitating for? Hurry up and sell us those three acres of land so you can get the silver to buy medicine for him.”
Yan Xiaosi spoke coldly, “Brother Qingquan, haven’t you and your wife already agreed to sell me that land?”
Tian Qingquan wore a troubled expression, while his wife, Xu Chunmei, sitting on the bed, was weeping over their son, who was barely hanging onto life.
Yan Xiaosi had arrived first and almost finalized the deal for fifteen taels for the three acres of land. Just as she was about to hand over the silver to Tian Qingquan and his wife, Yan Shuxiu barged in with a servant.
Hearing Yan Xiaosi’s words, Yan Shuxiu smirked and said to Tian Qingquan, “You know about our Yan family. If you want to continue living peacefully in Shaoyao Village, you should sell us the land. Since Yan Xiaosi offered you fifteen taels, I’ll give you one more.”
The Yan family, with the elder Master Yan having been the magistrate of Xize County and the current Master Yan working at the county court, was quite influential in Shaoyao Village. Tian Qingquan, not wanting to provoke them, was about to agree to Yan Shuxiu when Tian Dazhuang burst in.
Tian Dazhuang glared angrily at Yan Shuxiu and said to Tian Qingquan, “Brother Qingquan, you can’t go back on your word.”
Tian Qingquan, looking miserable, replied, “Dazhuang, I have no choice…”
“Xiaosi, I’m sorry, I can’t sell the land to—” Before Tian Qingquan could finish refusing, Yan Xiaosi interrupted him.
Yan Xiaosi walked to the bedside and carefully examined Tian Baogen. She said calmly, “Brother Qingquan, sister-in-law, I can cure Baogen’s illness. If you sell me the three acres of land, I guarantee he will be as lively as a dragon. I won’t charge you any extra for the medical treatment.”
The reason for selling the land was to treat Tian Baogen’s illness. Yan Xiaosi’s offer made Tian Qingquan and his wife exchange glances, hope flickering in their eyes.
They had heard about Yan Xiaosi curing Old Lady Jiang of the Yan family, but initially thought it was just village gossip. After all, the Yan family had expelled the widows and orphans of the third branch from their estate. Why would they seek Xiaosi’s help for Old Lady Jiang’s illness? Besides, Yan Xiaosi was just a teenager, barely fifteen – how good could his medical skills be?
However, after talking with Yan Xiaosi and witnessing her assertiveness, Tian Qingquan and his wife started to believe in her abilities.
Ignoring Yan Shuxiu’s threats, Tian Qingquan looked earnestly and hopefully at Yan Xiaosi. “Brother Xiaosi, do you really know medicine? Can you really cure Baogen’s illness? If you can cure him, I’ll sell you the land.”
