Su Ping’an asked curiously, “No money? How could your family be out of money? What about the betrothal gifts my brother gave? And your brothers, didn’t they work at all?”
Knowing he wouldn’t believe without an excuse.
Liang Yuxin said, “We did have money before, but my dad went gambling and lost several tens of taels.”
Liang Yuxin’s words made Liang Yumei very uneasy.
She was afraid that Su Ping’an would tell Su Jixiang about this.
Afraid that Su Jixiang would look down on her for having such a father.
Su Ping’an said, “Your father is really bold, gambling with so much money. Alright, you go home first, and when my brother comes back, I’ll have him and Yumei go check on your mother-in-law.”
Liang Yuxin wanted to say that her sister going back would be enough, but she was afraid of raising suspicions, so she didn’t say anything.
…
When the seasoning in the shop ran out, Su Jixiang usually went to buy more.
So he was often not around.
Su Ping’an would occasionally look out the door, and upon seeing Su Jixiang return, he went out to help carry things.
After putting everything away.
Su Ping’an told Su Jixiang, “Brother, your mother-in-law has hurt her leg. According to Yumei’s little sister, it’s quite serious. You should go with her later to check on her.”
“Really? Where’s Yumei?”
Su Jixiang looked around but didn’t see her.
Su Ping’an didn’t know what Liang Yumei was doing in the backyard and just told him she was there.
Su Jixiang walked towards the backyard, and Liang Yumei came out of the room, “Husband, you’re back. I thought you’d be back soon, so I got changed.”
“Wait for me, I’ll be ready in a moment.”
Su Jixiang also changed out of his shop clothes.
Meanwhile.
Yu Shi and the others had already made all the preparations, even bribing the village doctor in advance.
Before Su Jixiang and Liang Yumei even entered, they heard Yu Shi’s moaning.
“What’s going on now?”
Liang Yumei felt very uneasy, thinking their family had faced too many disasters this year.
“Knock, knock, knock…”
They knocked on the door a few times and called out several times.
Liang Yuxin finally came to open the door, inviting them inside.
“Sister, brother-in-law, you’re finally here. Mom has been moaning in pain…” Liang Yuxin said as she led them towards Yu Shi’s room.
“Dad.”
Liang Yuxin called out, and Liang Nian came to open the door.
Seeing.
Su Jixiang and the others carrying things, Liang Nian warmly welcomed them, “Daughter, son-in-law, come in quickly.”
Entering the room.
Putting down the things.
Liang Yumei walked towards the bedside.
Su Jixiang followed.
“Mom…”
Liang Yumei called softly.
Yu Shi responded and started crying, “Yumei, I’m useless, so useless…”
“Mom, don’t say that.”
Liang Yumei was moved to tears.
Seeing her like this, Su Jixiang asked, “Mom, have you seen a doctor for your leg? What did the doctor say?”
“The village doctor is just like that, just prescribed some medicine.”
Liang Nian said vaguely.
Yu Shi just cried without speaking.
Su Jixiang decided to take Yu Shi to town, “Dad, go get an ox cart, let’s take Mom to town to see a doctor. I’ll pay for it.”
That would expose everything.
“No need, no need…”
Yu Shi quickly said.
Shouldn’t she be happy that someone wanted to take her to see a doctor?
Why was she reacting like this?
Su Jixiang was very puzzled. Liang Nian coughed and said, “Your mother just wants to save money. Son-in-law, how about this: you give us some money, and we’ll see how it goes first.”
“Leg injuries are not trivial matters; they can’t be delayed. Here’s what we’ll do: since Mother doesn’t want to go to town, I’ll go to town and bring the doctor here. Yu Mei, you stay and help look after Mother.”
Su Jixiang didn’t give them a chance to object and strode out.
As he stepped out, he accidentally stepped on something.
A sound was heard.
Looking down, he saw something that looked just like the tea egg shells from his own shop.
Su Jixiang thought they must have bought tea eggs from his shop, but they had all claimed to have no money, so how could they afford tea eggs?
Could it be that his wife gave it to them?
But his wife hadn’t been there before.
Could it have been when Liang Yuxin came last time?
Su Jixiang casually asked when he returned, but to his surprise, Liang Yumei hadn’t taken any, nor had they bought any.
And in town, only his family sold tea eggs.
Su Jixiang was unsettled and quickly went to fetch the doctor.
Chapter 80: This injury doesn’t look right; injuries from falls aren’t like this.
Liang Family.
After Su Jixiang left, Liang Yumei sat by the bed and started talking to Mrs. Yu, “Mother, how do your legs feel now? Does it hurt a lot?”
“It does, it does…”
Mrs. Yu replied somewhat guiltily.
Liang Yuxin saw that this wasn’t going to work. She tugged at her father’s sleeve, gave him a meaningful look, and then walked out.
Liang Nian coughed and said, “Yu Mei, talk with your mother for a bit. Your father and your little sister will go move the chopped firewood to the kitchen.”
As soon as he stepped out,
Liang Yuxin waved at him.
Liang Nian hurried over, “Xin’er, what do we do now? If Su Jixiang brings the doctor, won’t they find out Mother’s injury is fake?”
If that were the case,
Su Jixiang might not know what to think of them.
Their eldest daughter might not care for them in the future.
Liang Yuxin squinted and said, “Father, there’s only one way now: make the fake injury real.”
Liang Nian frowned, “With your big sister here, how can your mother go out?!”
Liang Yuxin explained, “Father, there’s no need to go out. Just take a stick and break Mother’s leg right here at home. As for sister, isn’t that why I’m here?”
Break it with a stick?
Liang Nian shook his head, “No, no, your mother would be in agony, this won’t work.”
He simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Liang Yuxin was about to be driven mad by her father, “Father, do you think I want to do this? But things have come to this point, what other choice do we have?”
“I, I don’t dare.”
Liang Nian finally admitted.
He didn’t dare.
Could he ask her to break her own mother’s leg?
Liang Yuxin came up with a plan, “Father, don’t overthink it. Just discuss it with Mother, and then just deliver a few quick blows with the stick.”
After some hesitation,
Liang Nian decided to follow his daughter’s advice.
Liang Yuxin, seeing him agree, breathed a sigh of relief.
“Third Sister.”
Liang Yuxin called out as she walked towards the room.
Liang Yumei looked towards the door upon hearing her, “What’s wrong, little sister?”
Liang Yuxin approached and pulled her, “Sister, I haven’t gone out to gather firewood with you in a long time. Let’s go pick some together, shall we?”
“But Mother…”
Liang Yumei hesitated.
“Mother has Father to look after her, don’t worry.”
Liang Yuxin didn’t give Liang Yumei a chance to refuse and pulled her outside.
As soon as they left,
Liang Nian entered the room with a sturdy stick.
Mrs. Yu wasn’t stupid.
She knew what he intended to do.
“Husband, I don’t want this…”
Mrs. Yu, pale-faced, cried out.
Liang Nian tightened his grip and said, “There’s no other way. If we don’t do this, when Su Jixiang brings the doctor back and they find your leg is fine, what then?”
Yes, what then?
Mrs. Yu bit her lip, took a piece of cloth to bite on, and let him strike.
The excruciating pain came.
Mrs. Yu passed out.
Liang Nian quickly fetched some medicine from the village doctor and haphazardly bandaged her up.
When Liang Yumei and the others returned,
Mrs. Yu hadn’t woken up yet.
Liang Yumei inquired,
