With Ruan Banxia's current skills, she doesn't even need to think that even if she manages to dodge the needles today, she might be lying in bed waiting for Ruan Banxia to treat her tomorrow.
Since ancient times, medicine and poison have been inseparable, and she had witnessed Ruan Banxia's ability to use poison before.
With no one coming from either side, Cheng Qingyan retreated step by step, while Ruan Banxia advanced step by step.
The silver needle in her hand was several tens of centimeters long; once it was inserted, it would easily pierce the bone.
Ruan Banxia was amused by Cheng Qingyan's actions: "You and Shen Ziyu are practically cousins, how can you still be so stingy?"
"Even when you weren't my cousin, and you were just on your own, you never tried to renege on your debts."
"How did things get so complicated from trying to recognize someone as a relative that you mistook them for a scoundrel?"
Cheng Qingyan chuckled. She had no way out; if she retreated any further, she would be in the pond, and she didn't want to swim with fish and shrimp.
Standing by the pond, Cheng Qingyan pulled out a silver note: "How could I possibly default on a debt? I was just looking for where I put my money."
"Besides, given our relationship, shouldn't we take a break, right, Dr. Ruan?"
Ruan Banxia took the silver note and saw that it was worth one hundred taels. She didn't mind the small amount, so she folded it up and put it in her purse.
Then he stretched out his hand again: "That's not enough. You have to give me at least a thousand taels for the consultation fee."
One thousand taels, not too much, she still had some on her.
He took out a thousand-tael silver note and handed it to Ruan Banxia: "Count it carefully. Once the transaction is complete, we are not responsible for anything else."
Ruan Banxia ignored her, put the money away, and then stretched out her hand again: "It's still not enough, give me some more."
Cheng Qingyan regretted her loose tongue; why did she have to come over and ask how her mother's illness was treated?
Now look what's happened! We've angered Ruan Banxia. Although she said she wanted a thousand taels, in reality, it would take several thousand taels to settle this!
The lion doesn't bite, not because it's not hungry, but simply because it hasn't found the opportunity yet.
She was unlucky this time, encountering a gaping maw.
Faced with Ruan Banxia's outstretched hand again, Cheng Qingyan resignedly gave her another thousand taels.
As a result, Ruan Banxia wasn't done playing around, and without the slightest hesitation, she reached out her hand again after just putting down the silver notes.
Cheng Qingyan dared not speak out in anger, but gritted his teeth and said, "What medicine did Doctor Ruan use on my mother? I didn't even know when Doctor Ruan's consultation fee was changed. Now Doctor Ruan's consultation fee is more expensive than gold?"
Ruan Banxia smiled and stretched out her hand: "There's no other way. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I've saved a life, so how can I not charge more?"
Yes, yes, yes, charge her a little more, just charge her a little more!
Cheng Qingyan pulled out another silver note and slapped it into Ruan Banxia's hand: "Here, here, here, it's all yours, I have no more. Is Doctor Ruan satisfied?"
To everyone's surprise, Ruan Banxia ignored her completely, cheerfully put away the silver notes, and stretched out her hand again: "Not quite satisfied, still a little bit short."
Cheng Qingyan pointed at Ruan Banxia with a pained expression, saying, "Don't go too far!"
Ruan Banxia tilted her head, avoiding her fingertips: "What are you saying, Master Cheng? When did I go too far? I didn't know anything about it."
Cheng Qingyan was furious. This Ruan Banxia hadn't even put away the silver needles between her fingers when she asked for money!
It's too late for regrets now. The questions have already been asked, and three thousand taels have already been given, but Ruan Banxia has no intention of stopping.
Cheng Qingyan shrugged angrily: "No, I have no money left. If you don't believe me, ask my wife. I really have no money on me."
Ruan Banxia didn't believe it, and her hand was still outstretched, with the silver needle sticking out: "I don't need to ask, and I don't believe it either. You still have at least eight thousand taels on you. Hand it over to me as a consultation fee."
"otherwise--"
Cheng Qingyan stiffened her neck and asked defiantly, "Otherwise what?"
Ruan Banxia still smiled and slowly replied, "Otherwise, I'll poke you through like a sieve, the kind that leaks water."
This threat instantly gave Cheng Qingyan goosebumps.
She had seen Ruan Banxia perform acupuncture on people; those long silver needles could actually pierce through a person's arms and legs.
Even a simple prick from a needle is painful, let alone the needles she used to prick people, which were much longer than the needles we usually use for sewing.
If it were really stuck in her skin, she would be in excruciating pain.
Also, how did Ruan Banxia know that she had money, and how did she know that she had so much money?
Ruan Banxia and Shen Ziyu did not eat breakfast with them.
Very few people knew that she had so much money.
Seeing that Cheng Qingyan remained motionless, Ruan Banxia took a step forward and continued to threaten: "You think it's over once you're riddled with holes? I'll also use poison to make your flesh rot slowly, and then I'll save you, leave you with a spare life, so that you can't die no matter how you try, watching your limbs and internal organs rot and stink. Hiss, just thinking about that scene is very exciting."
"Young Master Cheng, what do you say?"
Cheng Qingyan felt a chill. Although she knew that Ruan Banxia wouldn't really do anything to her, she still felt disgusted and threw the eight thousand taels into Ruan Banxia's hand.
"Here you go, I've given you everything. I really have nothing left this time. If you don't believe me, just stab me to death!"
He gave 11,000 taels of silver to Ruan Banxia just like that, all because he had a loose tongue and asked about her illness. He should have just pretended nothing had happened, and maybe the money would have stayed warm in her arms.
With the money in hand, Ruan Banxia was very satisfied. Before leaving, she reminded Cheng Qingyan, "Young Master Cheng, do you understand now?"
"Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask about, or you'll end up like this, or even spend more money than you do now."
Cheng Qingyan was heartbroken. Why didn't she tell her sooner that inquiring about the illness and treatment would result in a fine? That was the money her mother had given Ye Lingyu to change her address.
It's just like that, gone without a trace. It's truly devastating.
Ruan Banxia left happily with the 11,000 taels of silver notes in her hand.
Cheng Qingyan sighed as he gazed at the moon. It was truly difficult to guard against a thief within the family, and even more difficult to guard against a thief with medical and poison skills.
How am I supposed to explain to Ye Lingyu that I have no money on me?
Before she could make up her mind, Ye Lingyu and the others came out of the house.
Jiang Jiang and Meng Chuying each carried a lantern, a scene reminiscent of when they made lanterns at home and carried them out before.
Meanwhile, Ruan Banxia was chatting and laughing with Ye Lingyu and the others.
Upon seeing Cheng Qingyan standing by the pond, Ye Lingyu turned and said something to Yun Yue before quickly walking over.
She was also carrying a lantern, an octagonal palace lantern, which she had bought at the market that day.
"Ayan, why are you standing here all by yourself?"
Cheng Qingyan looked aggrieved: "Wife, I've been robbed..."
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