Chapter 24 Sharing the Same Misfortune

This is a very harsh reality. Shuanzi's father, who made the choice, did not think that his behavior of "considering the big picture" was wrong. As for the fact that his youngest daughter developed a high fever due to excessive fear because of his sudden outburst today, he selectively ignored it.

He said to himself with a straight face: Which parent doesn't discipline their own child? He only scolded her a few times, he didn't actually hit her, what could be wrong with him? His two sons were beaten a lot, but they grew up healthy and strong. In the end, it's just that the little girl is unlucky and has a bad fate. She's greedy and timid.

Having successfully convinced himself and suppressed the rest of the family, Shuanzi's father turned to the village head and Doctor Chen, "Well, we're not going to get treatment. We'll have to trouble Doctor Chen and Uncle Village Head to make the trip."

As for the consultation fee that should be given to Dr. Chen, they didn't have anyone treat them, so why should they need to give any consultation fee?

Dr. Chen, who was used to seeing this kind of scene, was not surprised at all, but Chen, the village head, looked rather grim. "If you don't have enough money to build the house, you can borrow more from everyone. This child is a human life after all. Are you just going to let her live and wait to die like this?"

Shuanzi's father had a bitter face. "Even if we borrow, we still have to pay it back, right? You've seen our family's situation; we really have to stretch every penny in half to spend it."

He sighed and turned to his wife, who was silently weeping, saying, "Before the little girl breathes her last, quickly change her into clean clothes."

The child had a high fever, fell into a coma, and was convulsing in fear, refusing to let the doctor treat him. To put it bluntly, it was just a matter of whether he would die sooner or later.

Shuanzi's father didn't want the family to continue to be in turmoil because of the little girl's impending death, so he wanted to quickly wrap her in a mat and bury her in the barren mountains at dawn.

Xie Wanniang stood outside the courtyard, only able to hear secondhand information from the aunts and older women who had arrived before them. When she heard that the man actually planned to send Xiaoya to the mountain to be buried, her urge to hit him became even stronger.

She was an orphan in her past life. Although she has a father and a mother in this life, it is better to have no father than to have a father, and having a mother is almost the same as not having a mother.

Having had a shallow connection with her parents in both her lives, she couldn't help but feel sorry for them when she met a child in a similar situation.

She wanted to help her, but she had no money.

It wouldn't be accurate to say she had no money; she actually did, just a pitifully small amount.

Her hands clenched unconsciously, Xie Wanniang's mind in turmoil.

Standing next to her, Jiang Yuan noticed that her brows were furrowed and her teeth were unconsciously biting her lip, so he gently tugged at her sleeve.

Xie Wanniang snapped out of her daze, and Jiang Yuan gestured for her to come out with him.

The two walked to a place a little further away from the crowd, and Jiang Yuan asked her in a low voice, "Are you unhappy? Because of Xiaoya?"

Xie Wanniang sighed, "Her parents look a lot like mine."

A father who treats his child like an object from the very beginning, weighing and measuring its value, and a mother who doesn't care much about her child usually, will be especially cruel at crucial moments that determine her child's fate.

She took a deep breath, forcing those unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. "I want to help her, but I can't."

Jiang Yuan gave her a deep look.

The "father and mother" that Xie Wanniang mentioned today is obviously very different from the "father and mother" she mentioned before.

"How do you want to help her? Will you pay for her medical treatment?" Jiang Yuan didn't pry into Xie Wanniang's private affairs. He glanced at the front gate of Shuanzi's house. "Doctor Chen and Uncle Village Head are coming out."

Xie Wanniang followed his gaze and said, "It's certain that I'll treat her illness, but I can't spend the money for nothing. I can't let the villagers think I'm a fool who doesn't know the value of money."

Jiang Yuan's lips curled slightly. "Then let's buy the little girl."

Xie Wanniang: ? ? ?

"What?"

Jiang Yuan, "Are there any scholars in your family?"

Xie Wanniang immediately understood, and she proudly raised her tail, "My father is a renowned scholar! A former third-place scholar in the imperial examination!"

Jiang Yuan gave a brief laugh. "Then you should buy the little girl. Now that she's yours, it's only natural that you treat her illness, and you won't have to worry about being taken advantage of."

Xie Wanniang hesitated for a moment, "Wouldn't that make her a lowly person?"

Jiang Yuan's eyes softened further. "You don't have to go to the government office to register her."

As long as she hasn't registered with the government, there's no need to worry about the strict regulations of the imperial court regarding the release of free people; the girl can be reinstated as a free person at any time.

As long as Xiaoya's indenture is in her possession, the government will recognize that Xiaoya belongs to her, and Shuanzi's family will no longer be able to profit under the guise of Xiaoya's family.

Xie Wanniang's eyes lit up. "You're quick-witted!"

But she quickly realized two key problems: "But I don't have enough money! And I have nowhere to put her."

The little money she earned during this period might not even be enough to treat that little girl's illness, let alone pay the little girl's parents some money to buy her.

Her shoulders slumped, perfectly embodying the phrase "dejected and downcast."

Jiang Yuan said, "She's dying, so you can ruthlessly lower the price. If she survives, you can let her stay in the room next to yours."

Xie Wanniang immediately perked up, and she smiled, "Thank you, Ayuan!"

Before Jiang Yuan could say anything more, she ran back to the front gate of Shuanzi's house, "Master! Village head!"

Dr. Chen and Village Head Chen, who were surrounded by villagers asking questions, looked over at her and Jiang Yuan upon hearing the commotion.

The villagers were so startled by her calling him "Master" that they forgot to continue asking about the little girl. They chattered among themselves, trying to confirm whether they had misheard.

Chen Lizheng was also somewhat shocked, and he looked at Doctor Chen.

Doctor Chen nodded to him, then asked Xie Wanniang, who had run up to him and Chen Li, "Is something the matter?"

Xie Wanniang nodded, "If their family is willing to sell Xiaoya to me, I can pay for Xiaoya's medical treatment."

Chen Lizheng and Doctor Chen frowned simultaneously, while the villagers began to murmur even louder.

Xie Wanniang explained, "I felt it was too pitiful for a perfectly healthy young girl to be left there by her family to die, so I thought I would try to save her. But my money doesn't grow on trees, and I won't give it away to others for nothing."

Shuanzi, along with his father and brother, came out to see off the village head and Doctor Chen. They happened to overhear Xie Wanniang's words. The two brothers lowered their heads in shame, while Shuanzi's father, whose lungs had been pierced, became angry and ashamed once again.

He rushed to Xie Wanniang in three strides, raising his hand to strike her face, "You bitch, you think you're so great? My family's affairs..."

Standing beside Xie Wanniang, Jiang Yuan grabbed Shuanzi's father's wrist with precision and speed. "If you dare to curse her again, or reach out to her again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Chen Lizheng also said, "What? You yourself are unwilling to spend money on your child's medical treatment, but you can't even help someone who is kind enough to save the child's life?"

His face was dark, and all his anger poured out.