Fan Tong enjoyed three days of carefree bliss.
On the first day, I was still uneasy, afraid that the itchy disease would relapse.
The next day, feeling refreshed, he completely let his guard down, changed his clothes, and went to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion to have a good time with two girls for the night.
On the third day, the two girls massaged and rubbed him, making him feel comfortable all over.
Unable to resist, he picked up his gun and went into battle again, thoroughly enjoying himself.
After all that, he was exhausted, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, and dragged his limp body home.
After three consecutive days without any itching in his stomach, Fan Tong felt that his illness had been completely cured.
He thought that Chen Qingqing's mysterious claims were just a way to fool him and get more consultation fees.
Upon thinking this, he immediately gave the order that Chen Qingqing was not allowed to enter the Fan residence again, and if she dared to ask for the consultation fee, he should say that it had already been paid.
After explaining everything, Fan Tong was secretly pleased with himself. He was really clever; he had not only cured the itching disease but also saved twenty taels of silver. It was truly a double blessing!
Unexpectedly, his joy turned to sorrow. He was sound asleep last night when he suddenly felt an unbearable itch on his stomach.
After a night of struggling, the itching not only didn't subside, but actually got worse.
At this moment, Fan Tong lay on the bed, itching so badly that he kicked and scratched at himself, while constantly shouting.
"Quick, go see if Miss Chen has arrived yet. Hurry up and have her give me a few acupuncture needles. I'm dying of itching."
Madam Fan was sweating profusely with anxiety, and kept reassuring him, "Master, please be patient. We have already sent someone to invite Miss Chen, and she should be here soon."
"Ouch, I can't take it anymore, it's so itchy!" Fan Tong shouted to Shi Taishou, who was standing to the side, "Come here quickly and scratch me."
Shi Taishou secretly scorned him, thinking, "You don't even listen to the doctor. You deserve to suffer. Why don't you itch to death?"
Although he was cursing Fan Tong to the core in his heart, he put on a concerned expression.
"Oh my lord, how could I let you suffer like this? My heart aches for you, I wish I could suffer in your place." Shi Taishou gently scratched Fan Tong's belly. "Master, how are you feeling? Do you feel any better?"
Fan Tong frowned. "Try harder, it seems like the more you scratch, the itchier it gets."
"Master, is this force enough?" Shi Taishou increased the pressure on his hands.
Fan Tong felt as if countless ants were crawling into his belly. Although he scratched hard, it did not relieve the itch. Every piece of flesh on his belly was unbearably itchy. He really wanted to peel off his belly and take the hateful itch out of his body.
He grimaced from the itch and roared impatiently, "Stop scratching the shit, it stinks too much. Hurry up and go see if Miss Chen has arrived. If she hasn't, send someone to urge her."
"Alright, alright, I'll go right away, sir." Shi Taishou didn't dare to delay and quickly walked out.
Seeing his father making a fuss about being itchy, Fan Hun rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Dad, just bear with it. Stop yelling. It's giving me a headache."
"You brat, you make it sound so easy. Do you think I could stand it? It's easy for you to say when you're not in my shoes."
"Whose fault is this? It's all your own doing."
"You bastard, what did you say?" Fan Tong trembled with anger. "What do you mean I caused this? Do you want to get the itch?"
Fan Hun curled his lip in disdain, "Father, don't take it personally, but if you had invited Miss Chen in yesterday, we wouldn't be suffering like this."
"Shut up! You're blaming me now!" Fan Tong sat up abruptly, his eyes blazing with anger. "Do you think I wanted to suffer like this? I was just trying to save those twenty taels of silver. If I had known this illness was so stubborn, I shouldn't have turned Miss Chen away yesterday."
"Alright, Father, stop glaring at me every time you speak. Miss Chen is such a wonderful girl, how can you go against your conscience and not want to pay her for her consultation!"
Thinking of Chen Qingqing, Fan Hun was completely captivated. Such a beautiful girl, who could also cure illnesses—he just couldn't help but like her. He complained unhappily,
“I told you then that I had taken a liking to Miss Chen, but you said you also wanted to take her as a concubine, and kept telling me to give up the idea.”
Since your father likes her, as his son, I certainly can't compete with you. But you should take action! Instead of doing something good, you're trying to renege on those twenty taels of silver.
Knowing you were so unreliable, I would have had to have a proper talk with Miss Chen.
Maybe she'd be your daughter-in-law by now. With her in our family, would you still be suffering like this? What kind of mess have you made?!
Fan Tongyi was immediately enraged upon hearing this, "You unfilial bastard, what nonsense are you spouting? I'll beat you to death!"
"Mother, look at my father. He doesn't admit what he said and even wants to hit people." Fan Hun quickly hid behind Madam Fan.
Madam Fan glared at her son reproachfully, "You silly boy, your father is already so ill, don't expose his shortcomings and embarrass him."
"Fine, fine, I won't say anything, okay?"
As soon as Fan Hun finished speaking, Shi Taishou hurriedly walked in. "Master, Madam, Wang Er, who went to pick up Miss Chen, has returned."
Madam Fan was overjoyed. "That's wonderful! Quickly, please invite Miss Chen in."
"Madam, Miss Chen, Miss Chen has not come."
Madam Fan was taken aback. "What exactly happened? Why didn't Miss Chen come?"
"Madam, let Wang Er tell you!" Shi Taishou called out to the door, "Wang Er, come in quickly and tell Madam what's going on? Why didn't Miss Chen come?"
Wang Er walked closer with his head down. "Reporting to Madam, Miss Chen said that Master's illness is terminal and he has missed the best time for treatment. Even if she comes, she will be powerless to help."
"What?! This means Master is dying?" Upon hearing the devastating news, Madam Fan was thunderstruck. Her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Trembling, she approached Fan Tong and burst into tears.
"My lord! Your life has been too hard. You are leaving us so young. You can't just abandon us, mother and son!"
Fan Tong was completely dumbfounded, so scared he almost wet the bed. He pointed at Wang Er and said, "You, you, you, don't scare me. What exactly did Miss Chen say? Say it again, word for word."
"Sir, I dare not lie. Miss Chen said that even if she came, she would be powerless. She told me to tell you to enjoy the rest of your days while you can still eat and drink!"
Fearing punishment, Wang Er was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud.
Fan Tong nearly fainted as his eyelids rolled back. He was filled with regret. He knew Chen Qingqing hadn't lied to him, and he absolutely couldn't risk his life just to save twenty taels of silver.
"Madam, what should we do now? Am I just supposed to stay home and wait to die?"
Seeing Fan Tong's sallow complexion and tears welling in his eyes, Fan Hun felt a pang of sadness in his heart. With reddened eyes, he said, "Father, you're so young and you're leaving us. Your son can't bear to part with you!"
"My dear, I can't bear to part with you either. I don't want to die!" Fan Tong cried out, his lips trembling...
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