The next morning, just as Ji Xinhe had predicted, before Li Zheng could report the case to the authorities, the Ding Family had already sent someone and delivered ten taels of silver.
"Let me make this crystal clear. After this silver reaches your hands, consider us settled. Whether your brother lives or dies is no concern of my son from now on!" Madam Qin, Ding Hui’s mother, said viciously.
As Ji Xinhe was counting the silver, she replied without looking up, "Naturally. However, I won’t have any control over my brother’s condition in the future. If he really dies and turns into a vengeful ghost to haunt your son, don’t blame me."
Madam Qin’s face darkened, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. After shooting a glance at Ji Dong sleeping in the bed and feeling an inexplicable chill, she quickly fled the scene.
Doctor Zhong looked at the silver and couldn’t stop grinning, "My oh my, ten taels of silver in one go - what a huge windfall!"
Ji Xinhe divided five taels of silver for Doctor Zhong, "As agreed, we’ll split it fifty-fifty."
Doctor Zhong grinned from ear to ear, "If there’s anything like this in the future, count on me!" he smacked his chest confidently.
"Sister, sister!"
"Xiao Bei?" Ji Xinhe had left Xiao Bei at home the previous day, mainly to keep an eye on Lady Ding, "What happened?"
Xiao Bei ran in panting, "Yesterday, people from the Ding Family came to our house. They had an argument with our mom, erm, you know, Lady Ding, over who should be responsible for the ten taels of silver. In the end, Lady Ding simply dropped all pretenses, insisting that even if she didn’t give the money, Ding Hui would be the one going to jail, not her, so she wasn’t afraid. She simply refused to pay."
Ji Xinhe raised an eyebrow, "So, the money was still given by the Ding Family?"
"No. I eavesdropped behind the wall; they talked without any inhibition. The people from the Ding Family said that if Lady Ding didn’t provide the money, they would also report her ’buying off a murderer’ to the authorities. By then, she wouldn’t be able to escape the consequences either."
Ji Xinhe sneered, "This family...they’re truly six of one and half a dozen of the other."
"So, in the end, both parties paid half of the amount."
Counting the five taels of silver she’d received, Ji Xinhe smirked, "This is indeed the best possible scenario."
Xiao Bei approached nervously, "Sister, the Zhang Family seems to be losing patience. I heard that the people from Pork Seller San’s side have come several times demanding money. They said that if they didn’t get paid next time, they would come and steal what they were owed. If they couldn’t get the silver, they’d take someone instead. It’s really scary."
Ji Dong couldn’t help but frown, "If the Zhang Family really brings trouble to our doorstep, we all will become uneasy."
Ji Xinhe’s expression darkened, and she put the silver into her bosom, "Go outside and hire a horse carriage. We’re going back to the village immediately."
Xiao Bei was taken aback, "Why are we going back to the village?"
"To separate our household!"
--- 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Because they took a horse carriage, they got back a lot quicker. In less than half an hour, they had already arrived.
Just as the horse carriage came to a stop, they heard angry shouting from within the courtyard, "If you don’t repay my money, I’ll come and rob your house! If I can’t get the money, I’ll take Ji Xiulan. She was originally supposed to be my wife, anyway!"
Who else could that crude and domineering voice belong to if not Pork Seller San?
Ji Xinhe exchanged a glance with Xiao Bei, indicating him not to get off the carriage just yet. Ji Dong, with bandages still wrapped around his head, was pretending to be unconscious.
Soon, Pork Seller San emerged from the Ji Family’s courtyard with two people, walking with the air of someone demanding debts. When he reached the door, he even spat a glob of thick phlegm with great disdain.
When Ji Xinhe slightly lifted the curtain to look outside, she saw the courtyard door wide open. Lady Ding was stomping her foot in the courtyard, acting as if she was making a scene. "Shameless scoundrels! They’re just like bandits! Are they trying to kill me? I must report them to the authorities to teach them a lesson!"
Lady Ding was all bark and no bite. Of course, she didn’t dare report them to the authorities, given that she had taken the money without intending to pay it back. Besides, if Pork Seller San continued to bully her so recklessly, even if she didn’t report him, the villagers wouldn’t just stand by and observe.
Only then did Ji Xinhe jump down from the carriage. She spoke to the coachman, "Uncle, could you please help? My brother is unconscious and can’t move. Can you please help bring him inside?"
Hearing the howls and curses from the courtyard, the coachman hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
The coachman carried Ji Dong on his shoulders, and then Ji Xinhe led them inside.
Seeing these three misfortunate ’cubs,’ Lady Ding’s fury flared up. "Useless idiots! Not able to make any money and, on top of that, making us lose money. What a disgrace you lot are to the Ji Family!"
Hearing their return, Ji Dashan rushed out to mediate, "Dongzi is badly injured. Can you spare him the harsh words?"
"Spare him? Is his life made of gold?! Just a visit to the doctor cost us ten taels of silver! Not a penny earned, but we lost so much money. Don’t you feel the pinch since it’s not coming from your pockets!"
The Ji Family was practically financially ruined. Now, the only money they could use was tucked away in Lady Ding’s secret stash.
No wonder Lady Ding’s glares at Ji Dong seemed practically lethal.
After the coachman brought Ji Dong into one of the rooms, Ji Xinhe, looking helpless, said, "Mother, you’ve seen it yourself. My brother hasn’t opened his eyes since the incident. The doctor said that even if he wakes up, he might end up paralyzed in the future."
Lady Ding snapped, "It serves him right! Useless things!"
Without showing any anger, Ji Xinhe continued with a long face, "Doctor Zhong also said that my brother needs to take medicine every day, and these medicines are quite pricy. Estimatedly, they will cost about four to five taels of silver each month. Dad, mom, this expense..."
Lady Ding was almost hopping mad and screamed, "Money, my ass! Our household is at the brink of poverty, and you expect me to afford monthly medical expenses of four to five taels of silver for him? Get lost, as far away from me as you can!"
He can’t earn any money, so forget about that, but also wants to become a burden? Dream on!
Ji Xinhe rubbed her eyes, as if she was about to cry, "Mom, you can’t just chase my brother away like this. How will he survive in the future? His medical expenses are so expensive, we can’t fully rely on Xiao Bei and me to bear the burden, right? My brother has also put lots of efforts into this family. Mom, you need to save my brother!"
Although Ji Xinhe’s words sounded like pleading, they definitely served as an effective reminder for Lady Ding. Given Ji Dong’s condition now, supporting him would be a complete loss. Especially now, when the issues with the Zhang Family were still unresolved, she wouldn’t bear wasting even a single penny on these wretched kids. The best solution now was to simply kick him out!
Lady Ding’s eyes widened, and she snorted coldly, "Dongzi is already eighteen. It’s about time he separates from this household. What’s the point of him still relying on us parents? We’ve raised him for a lifetime. Now that he’s grown up, he can’t keep depending on his parents forever!"
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