Chapter 315: Successful and Benevolent
"Brother Liang, come here." Sui Yu waved.
Sui Liang came out of the school and asked, "Sister, do you need me for something?"
"Did the old teacher assign a lot of homework today? School hasn't ended yet?" Sui Yu looked inside. She instructed, "After school, keep the two Yang brothers here. I have something to tell them."
Sui Liang responded with "OK". He almost subconsciously thought of the purpose of Sui Yu's action.
Less than an incense stick later, Sui Liang led Yang Erlang and Yang Sanlang to find Sui Yu, "Sister, I've brought the people here."
"Aunt, what do you want to talk to us about?" Yang Erlang asked.
"It's about Wang Zhu. How is her illness? Do you have any news about her?" Sui Yu asked.
Yang Erlang couldn't remember who Wang Zhu was for a moment, but Yang San still remembered her, after all, he was the one who discovered the girl with the big neck.
"No, there's been no news since her mother took her home. She never returned to that old house. I went to her house twice, but I only saw her mother out buying groceries. I never saw her go out." Yang San was a little excited. He jumped to Sui Yu's side and said, "Aunt, do you want to go see her? I'll take you there."
"Okay, Liang'er returned from Chang'an with another 150 kilograms of kelp. I'll give her a few." She'd been busy with family matters, but now that the new guesthouse was finalized and the cotton harvest was in, Sui Yu could finally focus on her kelp business and the little girl she'd helped but never met. She wondered how she was doing. Three years had passed, and Wang Zhu's parents hadn't even visited, let alone expressed their gratitude. Sui Yu didn't need a word of thanks. She was just wondering: was kelp so effective in treating goiter? Could drinking kelp and tofu soup for two weeks cure goiter?
"Sister, I'm going too." Sui Liang was also very curious.
"Okay, go to the kitchen and get the kelp. It's the sack under the eaves. I weighed it and it's more than six pounds, enough for her to eat for a year." Sui Yu said.
Dried kelp doesn't weigh much, and while six pounds might sound small, it filled half the sack. Sui Liang lifted the sack and hoisted it onto his shoulder, acting as if he were carrying several dozen pounds, which caused Yang Sanlang to boo him.
"Mom, where are you going?" The little boy realized something was wrong and ran out of the school, followed by Lu Yaer who was about to go home.
"Let's go into the city, do you want to go?" Sui Yu asked.
The answer is yes, and the cub immediately ran over with a smile on his face.
On the way, Lu Yaer learned of Sui Yu's purpose. After entering the city, she did not go home, but followed him on horseback.
Sui Yu: ...
She felt it was rude to show up with such a string of hair, so she changed her mind midway and asked Yang Sanlang to lead the way back to his house. She had originally asked Mrs. Yang to contact the Wang family, so today it would be best if she could invite them to meet at the Yang residence. The Wang family certainly didn't want the neighbors to know that Wang Zhu had goiter, and if her visit exposed the matter, it would be a double-edged sword.
"That girl is gone. I remember it was the summer two years ago when Wang Zhu's mother came to tell me. You were not at home at the time, having led the caravan out of the customs, so I didn't mention it and later forgot about it." Mrs. Yang sighed and said, "I asked the maid to go out and ask around. The neighbors in the alley where the Wang family lived didn't know there was a person named Wang Zhu. To outsiders, the Wang family only had two sons. The neighbors didn't know about the Wang family, and I couldn't find out how the girl died. I only heard her mother say that she had fallen ill again, and her neck was so swollen that she couldn't breathe. She didn't want to go out or talk to anyone, and she didn't know what was going on. It was only when she found that the food she had sent was untouched that she discovered the girl lying on the bed, dead."
"Are you sick again?" Sui Yu looked at Sui Liang and asked, "Did we still have kelp at home at that time?"
"Yes." Sui Liang nodded. "They've eaten all the kelp they gave them. Why don't their family members come to ask for it?"
"They can throw their own flesh and blood in an abandoned house for several years, without seeing anyone or the light of day. How can you expect them to have any feelings for her?" Mrs. Yang said with an annoyed look, "I think the Wang family just wanted Wang Zhu to die sooner rather than later. I'm not sure if they even gave her the kelp you sent. When her mother came to announce the death, she didn't even get her eyes red when she mentioned the girl's death."
Sui Yu sighed pitifully.
"Alas, the whole family is not good people. The girl was miserable when she was alive. She will not suffer in death and will be reborn into a good family to enjoy happiness in her next life." Mrs. Yang said, "You are kind-hearted and still think about her. She did receive some kindness in her life."
Yang Sanlang suddenly stood up and ran out. Mrs. Yang's face changed drastically. She immediately stood up and shouted, "Stop him! Where are you going?"
Yang Sanlang was stopped by a servant outside the door. He was so angry that his eyes were wide open and he shouted, "I'm going to the Wang family and beat those villains to death. They are such beasts. The old master said that even a tiger won't eat its own cubs, and they can't even tolerate a poor girl."
Yang Erlang and Sui Liang went over to pull him back. Mrs. Yang gave Sui Yu an apologetic smile and said, "My third son is a reckless person. I am sorry to have made my sister laugh at me."
"You are straightforward and have a sense of justice. This is what young men need to be full of vigor." Sui Yu said with admiration, "When I get back, I will talk to Mr. Chen and ask him to teach the children to control their arrogance and act with moderation."
"If we can really correct his temper, from now on, his father and I will come to give him gifts during the holidays." Mrs. Yang was overjoyed.
Lu Yaer didn't want to hear them talk about this. She was still immersed in Wang Zhu's tragic life story and couldn't help asking, "So that's it?"
"What else? Can we report the Wangs to the authorities and accuse them of murdering their daughter? Her parents say she died of illness, and we say she was murdered? Where's the evidence?" Sui Yu asked. "I know you're angry, and I'm angry too, but there's nothing we can do about the Wangs except curse them."
Lu Yaer lowered her eyes and asked no more questions.
She left the kelp she brought with her to Mrs. Yang, and Sui Yu left the Yang family with a bunch of tails. She still planned to go to the Wang family, but she didn't plan to bring the children with her. She sent them away, let the Yang family's maid lead the way, and entered the Wang family alone.
Wang Zhu's mother was a short, plump woman with a dark complexion and a loud voice. She seemed straightforward. But when she learned that Sui Yu had come to her house to ask her to explain the symptoms of goiter to the doctor at the clinic, her expression changed immediately. She begged her not to mention Wang Zhu again, saying that getting the news out would affect her son's marriage.
"The girl had a miserable life. She got a strange disease and couldn't even bear to look at herself. She thought she was ugly. She used to live alone in the old house and couldn't see outsiders, yet she could still eat and sleep. After you intervened and made a fuss, we had to take her back. But when she came back, she couldn't stand seeing normal people and couldn't bear to see or hear their voices. She died in less than a year." The woman's words seemed to blame Sui Yu and Mrs. Yang.
Sui Yu wouldn't take the blame on herself. She gave a fake smile and asked, "Didn't you tell Mrs. Yang that Wang Zhu died of a seizure? She drank the kelp and tofu soup we sent her, and her neck had become much thinner. How come she had a seizure again after you brought her back? Did the kelp you gave her not get into her mouth?"
The short and fat woman's face suddenly changed. She refused to admit it and, feeling guilty, she pushed Sui Yu and drove her out.
Sui Yu brushed the dust off her sleeves, looked back at the closed wooden door, and walked away.
Sui Yu went back and packed 30 kilograms of kelp with her. After entering the city, she went to the clinic where she often saw a doctor. She found the old doctor and mentioned goiter to him. Fortunately, he had met two people with goiter and had some understanding of the disease. He learned that kelp could cure goiter and prevent it. He accepted the 10 kilograms of kelp given by Sui Yu and promised to help her spread the word to the people who came to see the doctor.
Afterwards, Sui Yu went to the next two clinics. She didn't know any of the doctors in these two clinics, so she had to persuade them to accept the kelp. As for whether they were willing to use it as a medicine, Sui Yu had no idea.
After returning home, Sui Yu approached Old Chen to discuss Yang Sanlang's behavior today, suggesting he teach the children something about thinking before acting and about the law. As she left, she suddenly realized that relying solely on the clinic's doctors to spread awareness about goiter prevention and treatment was a long and arduous task. It would be more effective for doctors to go to the village to spread the word. While she couldn't command the doctors, she could use Old Chen's name to command a group of children. These children's fathers and uncles all had some authority, and for the illiterate villagers, having them promote the idea that eating kelp could prevent and treat goiter would likely be more effective than even the head of the family using Old Chen's endorsement.
Sui Yu immediately returned to discuss the matter with Elder Chen. Elder Chen had no objection. He had eaten kelp before, and regardless of whether it was a medicine or not, it was edible, delicious, and filling. As long as it didn't cause any harm, he wasn't worried about it. As long as it didn't cause any harm and didn't involve him, he wasn't particularly opposed. Thinking carefully, if kelp could truly prevent and treat goiter, then Sui Yu's move was a good deed, worthy of support.
"The villagers are not well-off, so the kelp cannot be sold at a high price. If you want to do good deeds, you can't expect to make money." Old Chen reminded.
Sui Yu understood. "Five coins for one ounce, which makes fifty coins for one pound. People with illnesses can afford it, and those interested in prevention and treatment can also buy one or two pounds to try. If it's any cheaper, it won't work. I don't have much stock on hand, and if I sell it cheap, people will flock to buy it, and those who really need it may not be able to buy it."
Old Chen nodded. "I'll assign this task tomorrow morning. Prepare the kelp, and I'll take care of the rest. I traveled all over Dunhuang last year, and I know every village and every person in the city better than you do."
Sui Yu bowed and thanked him. It was great to have someone help her with the chores.
The next day, when Lu Yaer and the Yang brothers heard the news, they couldn't help but look at each other and secretly rejoiced. It was like a pillow being given to them when they were sleepy.
"Come with me, all of you." The old teacher knocked on the tables of Sui Liang, the Yang brothers and Lu Yaer with his teaching stick.
Sui Liang led the way out, and as soon as he stood still, Yang Sanlang was hit with a cane. "Have your father borrow the Han Dynasty laws from the government. The four of you will be responsible for copying them. After a month, you will be responsible for teaching the other students in the school to recite the laws. Learn how to judge the crimes of beating and killing people. Judge your own cases first."
Sui Liang glared at Yang San. He was the one who had caused all this trouble. Oh, no, he was leaving in five days.
"Master, I will leave Dunhuang for Zhangye on July 24th. My sister wants to build another guesthouse in Zhangye, and I have to go and look after it. My return date is not yet determined." He will stay in Zhangye for a full month before coming back.
Lu Yaer was overjoyed when she heard this and quickly said, "Master, next month I will also be leaving the customs with my mother and the caravan, and will not be back until next year."
Yang Erlang clenched his fists, his mind racing, but even with sweat on his forehead he couldn't think of a way to escape. He was so angry that he wanted to pour manure all over his brother.
"Then you two brothers will be responsible for copying it, and the deadline will be changed to two months." Old Chen glanced at the two men who were secretly delighted. He pretended not to see anything and said, "I've heard about Wang Zhu's matter. Don't spread the news. If anyone in the Wang family suffers because of you, the three families of Sui, Yang, and Song will all have more enemies. You three families are powerful, and you may think that people from smaller families can't bring you down. But it's easier to avoid an open attack than an arrow from the dark. Remember, no matter how small a wasp is, its sting is poisonous. Whoever is stung by it will suffer."
Sui Liang responded seriously, and the Yang brothers and Lu Ya also nodded.
But they lowered their heads, and Mr. Chen didn't see their rolling eyes.
The Yang brothers and Lu Yaer plotted for two days. Taking advantage of a trip to the countryside, they took a detour back to the city, finding a nightshade collector and buying two buckets of manure. They deposited the manure in the abandoned house where Wang Zhu once lived. In the middle of the night, the Yang brothers sneaked out through a dog hole, carrying the stinking yellow liquid and pouring it over the Wang family's gate and walls.
The next morning, Lu Yaer went out without even eating. She ran to Yang's house with excitement to meet up with the two Yang brothers. The three of them sneaked to the alley where Wang's family lived. Before they got close, they heard loud shouting and cursing.
"That damn old woman, she stinks to death." Lu Yaer laughed.
"Let me tell you, the wall of her courtyard is made of earth. Once the manure is poured on it, it will be absorbed into the earth. Unless the wall is demolished and rebuilt, it will stink for half a year." Yang Sanlang was proud.
"We'll pour the water after we push the wall down," Green Bud said. "I'm leaving next month, and I'll leave this to you two."
"Help us copy the laws, and you won't leave until the 16th of next month. Don't tell me you don't have time." Yang Erlang made a request.
Lu Yaer shook her head and immediately ran away, "I want to go back and eat."
"If you don't help me, I'll tell the Master that it was you who came up with the idea of throwing manure," Yang Erlang threatened proudly. "And tell Sui Liang that you said he was boring and that you deliberately wanted us to hide it from him and not let him play."
Lu Yaer stamped her feet and said angrily, "Alright, Yang Erlang, be careful and don't get into my hands."
"I'll send the law to your home in a few days." Yang Erlang was not afraid.
The three-person feces-throwing team immediately disbanded on the spot.
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