A Good Country Wife

"You! Erhu, Erhu’s wife, now that you’re here, it’s not that I don’t want to save your father-in-law, but we’re simply out of options. With the state of our household, where can we find such spare cash?" Caught talking behind someone’s back was a highly embarrassing matter. Wei Family had wanted to argue back, but upon seeing Zhao Erhu and his wife entering, she had to change her tune, her expression becoming somewhat sheepish.

Zhao Erhu and his wife were not as easy to talk to as Zhao Dahuo; both were formidable. The Wei Family mother and son were somewhat wary of them. Even previously, when they had taken things from Zhao Erhu’s home, it was not by confronting Zhao Erhu alone but by inciting Zhao Jingen to act. Now, they quieted down and stopped arguing with Zhao Dahuo. With Zhao Erhu and his wife present, they definitely couldn’t take advantage.

Zhao Jingen, who usually seemed so carefree, truly cared for the Wei Family. Whatever the Wei Family coaxed him into, he mostly complied with. Yet now, as he lay injured, his life hanging by a thread, the Wei Family refused to spend the silver to get him a good doctor from the city. Zhao Jingen’s profound disappointment was equal to the high regard he had held for the sons the Wei Family had borne him. For the sake of the Wei mother and sons, he had never paid much attention to his other two biological sons.

Although Zhao Jingen was so severely hurt that he couldn’t make a sound, his mind was clear. Hearing the actions of the Wei mother and son, he was so heartbroken that he couldn’t hold back his tears, which streamed down from the corners of his eyes, wetting the pillow—a pitiful sight to behold. Yet, to the bystanders, Zhao Jingen had brought this upon himself, and it was only now that he had ended up in such a state.

"Erhu, sister-in-law, you’re here. You really had someone go to the city to fetch a doctor for father? When will they arrive? I’m afraid father might not have much time left," Zhao Dahuo was naive after all, single-mindedly concerned about saving his father, giving little thought to his own interests. Among these people, the only benefit for him in this situation was that if Zhao Jingen really passed away, no one would manipulate him anymore, and he could lead his own life.

Zhao Erhu also looked at Lin Yue with gratitude. His wife acted for whom? She usually despised the people of the old Zhao Family house the most, but now she could be this considerate—a thought he himself had never had to send for a doctor first.

"They should be arriving soon. I had our family’s servant hurry over with the horse carriage; it saves quite a bit of time."

Doctor Zheng was truly skilled in medicine, and having learned a set of acupuncture techniques from Jiang Ziqi, he managed to barely save Zhao Jingen’s life. It must have been destiny, for despite having his head—a vital part—so badly injured, he survived. Doctor Zheng said the patient’s will to live was very strong, which helped him pull through.

Although Zhao Jingen was resuscitated, with such injuries, he would have to lie in bed for at least ten days to half a month, unable to move. Especially in the first few days, his situation could become critical at any time and required careful attention. Zhao Dahuo did not trust the Wei Family mother and sons, especially after their recent cold attitude, so he and his wife took turns caring for Zhao Jingen in the old Zhao residence. Erhu’s side was not a problem—now that they had hired help at home, the absence of Zhao Dahuo and his wife wouldn’t affect anything.