Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Not Far from Death

After a chaotic moment, Liu Zhong, Liu Bai, and Liu Fei carried Liu Ji into the house.

With so many people around, Qin Yao couldn’t very well say to let Liu Ji lie on the ground, so reluctantly, she let him lie on her single bed.

Anyway, today she had a straw mat and a cotton quilt, and didn’t care for the bed with a mattress full of straw.

Old Liu sent his grandson Liu Jinbao to call the village barefoot doctor over to check on Liu Ji.

The Da Lang Brothers and Sisters heard the commotion in the yard scattered, opened the door and came out, looking at Qin Yao first.

“It’s over, the debt is cleared, go check on your dad, I’ll go unload.” After instructing them, Qin Yao headed towards the ox cart still on the bridge.

The driver watched a free drama of debt collection and repayment, and when he looked at Qin Yao again, he couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated.

But he wasn’t much of a talker, so when Qin Yao told him to drive the ox cart forward, he obediently did so.

The ox cart was full to the brim with things that made people drool with envy.

He and Mrs. Qiu frequently glanced over, and Mrs. Zhang snorted coldly: “What are you looking at? Can’t you see it’s so late? Hurry up and go home to cook!”

“By the way, cook for Laosan’s family too.” Mrs. Zhang suddenly added.

Second sister-in-law Mrs. Qiu said nothing and responded with a simple, “Oh.”

Elder sister-in-law He asked incredulously: “Isn’t Laosan’s family split off? Are we still eating together? Our family’s grain didn’t just fall from the sky…”

The muttering was silenced by Mrs. Zhang’s dagger-like glare.

Mrs. Qiu ignored the elder sister-in-law and headed towards the old house, forcing He to follow quickly.

The main house was full of people; Qin Yao tidied up the side room where the Da Lang Brothers and Sisters slept, before instructing the carter to first unload things here.

Six bags of grain were first moved down, followed by three thick cotton quilts, three thin cotton quilts, three straw mats, two and a half rolls of cotton cloth, and a pile of second-hand old clothes and shoes.

There were also several large ceramic jars with lids full of oil, salt, sauces, and vinegar, two wooden barrels, two large wooden basins, and assorted odds and ends like needles, thread, pots, and bowls.

Lastly, two pieces of pork weighing ten pounds each.

Upon seeing the meat, no one could look away.

Qin Yao paid the cart driver his taxi fare in the blink of an eye, and behind her was a chorus of gulps.

“Da Lang!” Qin Yao shouted towards the main house.

Da Lang, who was anxiously watching Liu Ji in the house, heard and quickly ran out, “Aunt?”

Qin Yao pulled out a piece of pork weighing ten pounds, “Take this to your big aunt, and tell her this is money for the straw and for the meals she’s cooked you these days.”

Since the old house hadn’t divided the family, whoever it was given to, it was all for Liu Bai and his brothers.

But giving face to He, the elder sister-in-law, would surely make her happier.

How she arranged the meat, Qin Yao didn’t care.

Da Lang swallowed hard, feeling that the meat was too much, but knowing his stepmother had her plans, glanced worriedly at the main room, “What about my dad?”

“I said he’s fine, so he’s fine, you just take the meat over, the doctor is here.”

As they spoke, Liu Jinbao had already dashed in with the doctor in tow.

Approaching, seeing Da Lang holding the pork, he trembled all over, his eyes glued to the meat, nearly tripping over his own feet.

Luckily Qin Yao swiftly caught him, preventing a fall.

“Go ahead.” Qin Yao gave Da Lang a nod; reassured with the doctor here, Da Lang carried the pork towards the old house.

“I’ll come too!” Liu Jinbao grinned at Qin Yao to show gratitude for her help and immediately turned to chase after Da Lang, shouting as he ran:

“Da Lang, wait for me, I’ll come with you!”

“Why are you coming along? I don’t need you to come with me.”

“Come on, let me come with you, the meat is heavy, I’ll help you carry it.”

“I don’t need your help!”

“Alright then, if you find it heavy just let me know.”

Da Lang quickened his pace.

Liu Jinbao also sped up.

Qin Yao stood on the slope, amused by the scene.

She turned back, collected her smile, and walked into the main room.

The room wasn’t large, with ten people including the doctor, turning felt difficult.

Old Liu sent Second Lang and the Dragon and Phoenix Twins out, telling them to go to the old house as there was no need for children to worry here.

Second Lang immediately led the Dragon and Phoenix Twins away; he had just seen his eldest brother take a huge piece of meat over, surely there would be meat to eat tonight.

As for the shameless father lying in bed, he was worth less than a single piece of barbecue.

“Doctor, how is he?”

As Qin Yao entered the room, others automatically made way for her.

The person lying motionless on the bed, sensing her approach, began trembling.

Qin Yao noticed, glanced at the bed, and let out a disdainful snort; Liu Ji, feigning death on the bed, couldn’t control his fear and opened his eyes.

The doctor was about to lift his eyelid for a check when the sudden opening startled him.

Upon realization, he patted his chest and exhaled, “Waking up is good; it seems to be just surface wounds, nothing serious, apply some medicine for the swelling, and rest well for a few days.”

Old Liu and others quickly asked Liu Ji about his current feelings, whether he was uncomfortable anywhere.

Liu Ji breathed in sharply, unable to speak; his face covered in wounds hurt terribly with the slightest movement; everywhere was uncomfortable.

The doctor found it odd; people usually don’t just hit the face. What had Liu Laosan done to end up with his face beaten to the semblance of a pig’s head?

However, odd as it was, he wisely asked nothing, merely instructing the Liu Family to send someone with him to fetch medicine.

He had anti-inflammatory and pain relief herbs at home, conveniently collected from the mountains, much cheaper than those at the town pharmacy.

Old Liu sent Liu Zhong with the doctor for the medicine and asked Mrs. Zhang and Liu Fei to head home first, then asked Qin Yao for a basin of water, asking Liu Bai to wipe Liu Ji’s body.

Qin Yao stepped outside, listening closely to the conversations of the father and sons inside.

Liu Ji was breathing heavily, struggling to speak: “Brother, will my handsome face be okay?”

Old Liu squeezed a washcloth intending to wipe him, almost unable to resist slapping him upon hearing this.

“At a time like this, you’re worried about your face? Can your face feed you or quench your thirst?”

Liu Ji knew he was in the wrong, coupled with how speaking hurt his face, he didn’t retort.

Nevertheless, he was stubborn about having Liu Bai hold up the basin for him to see his reflection.

Seeing the pig-head visage reflected back at him in the basin, he couldn’t hold it together, collapsing into a scream: “Ah!!!”

Qin Yao coolly voiced: “Liu Ji, you’re hurting my ears.”

The room fell into silence.

Liu Ji hadn’t passed out just now; he’d been feigning unconsciousness for years, a skill for avoiding beatings.

Thus, the exchanges between Qin Yao and Lin Erbao, and the words spoken behind the house with Old Liu and Mrs. Zhang, he’d heard it all.

Knowing his father had sold him to Qin Yao, the wicked woman, Liu Ji felt his world darken, nearly fainting for real.

Recalling Qin Yao’s ruthless disregard for his life when speaking to Lin Erbao, Liu Ji felt he was doomed to die by her hands eventually.

As Old Liu turned to leave, Liu Ji exerted himself, grabbed his father’s hand, tearily imploring:

“Dad, I want a divorce.”

Old Liu turned around in shock, not believing Liu Ji had such an ungrateful thought, just after she’d settled his debt?

Old Liu, eyes red, grimly declared: “Liu Ji, if I hear you mention divorce again, I’ll beat you to death before committing suicide, so our ancestors don’t blame me for raising such an ungrateful son!”

Stunned, Liu Ji wiped the spit off his face, pain causing cold sweat to trail down.

It’s over, death must be near.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep