Chapter 89 – Chaos in the Yan Family
The room was filled with people.
Aside from the members of the Yan family, their servants, and long-term workers, even those who were just sitting in the village center mending shoe soles had flocked to the Yan’s residence.
A large crowd surrounded the bed where Ms. Jiang was sleeping. Those standing at the back tiptoed to get a view.
Ms. Jiang lay in bed, unable to speak, only humming from her mouth.
Ms. Li glanced at Ms. Jiang and said to Elder Yan, “Father, could she be possessed by evil spirits? Maybe we should try some exorcism.”
Elder Yan was at a loss, but he agreed with Ms. Li’s suggestion and ordered the servants to prepare the necessary tools for the exorcism.
Following the local customs in Xize County, a moment later, a long-term worker from the Yan family brought an ax and chopped in the main hall of the Yan’s residence for quite a while.
Ms. Li also wiped Ms. Jiang’s body with some white liquor.
Despite all their efforts, Ms. Jiang’s condition did not improve; on the contrary, her convulsions became even more severe.
The sight of Ms. Jiang in such a state made everyone in the Yan family increasingly anxious.
“Elder Yan, we can’t continue like this. You have to send someone to invite Doctor Ge to examine the old lady,” someone in the crowd suggested.
Upon hearing this, Ms. Li glared at the person who spoke.
Everyone in Shaoyao Village knew that Ge Dongshu loved money. With the old lady now sick, if they sent someone to invite Doctor Ge to treat her, given Ge’s character, he would definitely take advantage and charge a hefty fee.
Now that the people from the second house were not around, it would be their main house that would have to pay for the old lady’s treatment. Their main house was not as wealthy as the second house.
Even though the money had not been spent yet, Ms. Li was already feeling the pain in her heart.
“What are you waiting for? Go to the Ge family quickly and invite Ge Dongshu to examine the old lady,” Elder Yan ordered without hesitation, seeing that the local exorcism method wasn’t working.
Despite her reluctance, Ms. Li did not dare to go against Elder Yan’s wishes. She fiddled with the cuff of her sleeve, standing there with a sullen face.
Her displeasure immediately caught Elder Yan’s sharp gaze.
Yan Shuqing noticed Elder Yan’s stern look and her heart skipped a beat. She walked over to Ms. Li, lightly touched her arm, and said, “Mother, don’t be too sad. Grandma has her own blessings. She will definitely get better.”
Originally, Ms. Li was unwilling to spend too much money on Ms. Jiang. But after what Yan Shuqing said, it seemed as if Ms. Li was just worried about Ms. Jiang, and that’s why she was upset and looked unhappy.
Upon hearing this, Elder Yan immediately withdrew his stern gaze from Ms. Li.
Yan Shuqing let out a sigh of relief, stood by Ms. Li’s side, supporting her arm, and secretly signaled Ms. Li with her eyes.
Ms. Li came to her senses, a sense of relief in her heart, thankful that Yan Shuqing was quick-witted and helped her cover up her emotions just now. Before the Yan family was divided, they couldn’t afford to offend the old master and the old lady. The old master had been a county magistrate for so many years, and the Yan family was quite wealthy. If they offended the old master and the old lady, the two old people might very well give all the property to the second room in a fit of anger.
A short while later, a servant of the Yan family led doctor Ge Dongshu in.
Doctor Ge was in his forties, with a thin face and sharp features, dressed in a pure blue long gown. He was carrying a medicine box on his right shoulder. At first glance, this man was cunning and shrewd.
As Ge Dongshu entered, those who were originally crowded around Ms. Jiang’s bed scattered to the side to avoid delaying Ge Dongshu’s treatment of Ms. Jiang.
“Doctor Ge, what’s wrong with my mother? Please take a look quickly.”
This time, Ms. Li was smart, urgently asking doctor Ge to treat Ms. Jiang as soon as she saw him.
“Uh… ah…”
Ms. Jiang lay on the bed, moaning and groaning, clearly still wanting to live, and was excited to see doctor Ge.
Doctor Ge stood in front of the bed, looked at Ms. Jiang, saw her condition was serious, retracted his gaze, and slowly stretched out a hand, palm open in front of Ms. Li.
The meaning was clear, he wanted Ms. Li to give him silver before he would treat Ms. Jiang.
Ms. Li cursed him silently in her heart, shameless.
Despite her discomfort, she swiftly took out a piece of broken silver from her sleeve and handed it to Ge Dongshu, “Doctor Ge, you can treat my mother now, right?”
Ge Dongshu weighed it in his hand, the piece of broken silver was quite heavy. Only then did he smile and put the silver away, rolling up Ms. Jiang’s sleeve to take her pulse.
After taking her pulse for a while, he shook his head slightly and then sighed as he got up.
This behavior made everyone from the Yan family and other people present anxious, especially Ms. Jiang.
Was her illness serious or not?
When the old master Yan saw him shake his head, he couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor Ge, how is my wife’s condition? Please tell us truthfully.”
Doctor Ge looked at Ms. Jiang with regret, then answered the old master Yan, “The illness has entered her marrow, I am powerless. Old Master Yan, you should prepare for her final affairs as soon as possible.”
One sentence frightened everyone, old master Yan wobbled, the Yan family and their servants were at a loss, and those present didn’t know what to say.
“Uh… uh…”
Ms. Jiang was frightened into incoherent crying, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Doctor Ge picked up his medicine box and bowed to Old Master Yan, “I am powerless, I take my leave.”
Just now, that piece of broken silver, at least five taels of silver, bought just this one sentence from Ge Dongshu. Ms. Li felt it was not worth it, she was not convinced, “Doctor Ge, you just came to see for a moment, and you took so much silver, that’s not okay.”
Saying this, Ms. Li rushed up, and in front of so many people, she grabbed Ge Dongshu’s robe.
“You can’t leave unless you leave the silver behind.”
“Madam, let go, a woman should not shamelessly hold onto a man’s robe.”
“If you put down the silver, I will let go of your robe.”
“Madam, if you don’t let go, I will have to use force.”
In front of so many people, Ms. Li and Ge Dongshu were tugging at each other. Ms. Li was not weak and managed to undo the button on Ge Dongshu’s robe, exposing his undergarment.
The onlookers had an expression of watching a good show, with no one stepping forward to stop them. The Yan family was a prominent family, and Old Master Yan, having once been a magistrate of Xize county, placed great importance on propriety. Seeing Ms. Li, a woman, clutching onto the robe of Ge Dongshu, a man, over a bit of silver, Old Master Yan immediately felt it was damaging the Yan family’s reputation, and his face darkened.
“Ms. Li, what are you doing? Let go immediately.”
Old Master Yan usually addressed Ms. Li as his daughter-in-law, only calling her directly by her name when he was very angry.
Upon hearing this address, Yan Shuqing’s heart jolted, and she quickly reached out to pull Ms. Li away. “Mother, taking care of grandma and her treatment is the priority now, don’t quarrel with Uncle Ge.”
