novelraw Chapter 676: 660: Strike the Snake at the Vital Spot
Chapter 676: 660: Strike the Snake at the Vital Spot
Chapter 676: Chapter 660: Strike the Snake at the Vital Spot
The day after breakfast, Qin Liuxi left with two disciples and first headed to Feichang Dao, then had Wan Ce run to the temporary residence where Du Mian and the others were staying to inform them about the surgery matters.
As soon as Qin Liuxi left, Wang Yuqian brought Mr. Quan Jing from the Quan family to Qin Mansion, only to be told upon entering that Qin Liuxi had already left and they could only wait.
Wang Yuqian’s face turned green; this cousin of his was truly unpredictable, a dragon seen in head but not in tail.
He unconsciously looked towards the people of the Quan family.
The Quan Family had brought a small team of a hundred people to escort Quan Jing to Li City for medical treatment, which showed the Quan family’s concern and nervousness about him, fearing that they might encounter trouble along the way.
Among these hundred followers, aside from the necessary guards, there were also two doctors, one was a military doctor, and the other was a civilian doctor hired from the people, named Wan Bai, who was a disciple of Poison Lady and was also a doctor hired by the Quan family to protect Quan Jing’s life.
Now coming to Qin Mansion, along with Quan Jing himself and his close servant-guard-steward, the two doctors were also part of the large, imposing group, that unexpectedly met with disappointment.
Wan Bai, born in the Green Forest and of a high and cold temperament, was already dissatisfied with the long-distance medical visit, and after waiting for so long, her patience was on the edge of bursting.
If not because she had intentions for Quan Jing, she would have already left in a flurry, how could she sit there quietly waiting.
It was hard enough to wait for that Daoist doctor named Buqiu to return, they came early in the morning only to find out he was gone again.
This made Wan Bai directly change her face, unapologetically saying, “This female crown really knows how to pose, surely Mr. Quan doesn’t need to visit three times to seek medical aid, does he?”
Wang Yuqian felt uncomfortable inside, and couldn’t help but defend Qin Liuxi: “It’s my fault, I didn’t inform her in advance that you, He Qi, were coming, leading to this empty trip.”
He Qi, was Quan Jing’s courtesy name.
At this moment, he was wrapped in a large cloak, half-lying on a lounge chair, his originally delicate and handsome face, now thinned to a sharp chin, cheekbones protruding, making his narrow phoenix eyes appear even longer, and his complexion was beyond pale.
The large cloak concealed his figure, but the emptiness beneath it revealed his frailty.
Quan Jing barely managed a smile, his voice hoarse, “It was rude of us to come unannounced.”
“You should speak less and conserve your spirit,” said Wan Bai, frowning as she looked at him, her eyes filled with a bit of pity and annoyance. Quan Jing’s poison was odd, and not even her master could detoxify it, only able to suppress the poison forcefully. Nevertheless, Quan Jing continued to weaken by the day, suffering indescribably during outbreaks, enduring agony so intense he was tormented into a mere skeleton, slowly waiting for death.
She somewhat doubted, her master couldn’t cure the poison, even many renowned doctors were helpless, could this so-called female Daoist doctor solve it?
The Quan Family just placed their faith in that nonsensical Daoist Jiu Mei, the long journey seeking medical help only made him weaker.
“If you don’t want to wait in the mansion, you might as well go to Red and White Street in Shouxi Square, there’s a Feichang Dao there, go and see if she’s there,” Mrs. Wang said, ultimately unable to bear seeing Quan Jing’s weak state, thus she spoke of Qin Liuxi’s whereabouts.
Wang Yuqian asked, “Feichang Dao, what place is that?”
“The place to seek medical treatment, she opened a shop herself for fun,” Mrs. Wang said indifferently.
After hearing this, Wan Bai laughed, isn’t she a monk? How come she started a shop? It seems that she’s only after fame and reputation.
“Then let’s go there and try our luck,” Quan Jing nodded to Mrs. Wang, and the group left the Qin Mansion again.
Mrs. Xie watched them leave and anxiously said: “Big sister, are you being foolish? Why didn’t you let them wait at our house? It was the Quan family. Also, when did Miss Xi start a shop, and what business is she doing? Why don’t we know about it?”
Mrs. Wang glanced at her indifferently, “A Coffin Shop. Why should I tell you?”
“What, a Coffin Shop? No, you just clearly said it was for seeking medical treatment.”
“It can be for seeking medical treatment, for expelling evil, and ordering coffins. Do you want to check out the sizes?”
Mrs. Xie stepped back and spat disdainfully, “Who wants to see the size of a coffin? Such ominous luck.”
Her eyes shifted as she asked again, “Can it make money?”
“Whether it makes money or not, what does it have to do with you? That is her own business; I don’t interfere, and you better not either. Otherwise, who knows how that girl might react?” Mrs. Wang’s smile was not quite a smile as she looked at her: “With all this idle time, you might as well reign in Ming Yue and the others. All the manners taught before have gone to the dogs? Associating with men without being betrothed, if this gets out, her chances of locking down a good marriage, I see it as unlikely.”
Mrs. Xie’s face turned green, pursing her lips.
She mentioned this again, it clearly broke out last night already, mentioning it now was still not to reprimand her? Not giving out monthly salary, making them work as embroidery girls, she’s treating the family’s daughters like livestock!
“Big sister, the girls can earn money from embroidery to buy flowers to wear, but not giving monthly salary, isn’t that too much?” Mrs. Xie said, grinding her teeth.
Mrs. Wang coldly said, “Too much? Do you remember when we were raided and returned, we barely had any money on us and had to manage everything meticulously? It was only normal to not have monthly salaries. It is only now when living conditions are stable and the shop’s business steady, that we can give some pocket money to the kids. Don’t you think about how the men in the northwest are eating dirt?”
“Not managing the house, unaware of the cost of grain and firewood. You say not giving out monthly salaries is too much, but don’t think about the rough servants we still employ, daily expenses, and children needing tuition. Where do we not need silver? The whole family is relying on a preserves shop to get by, the recipe which Xixi gave us, and it was only because my maternal family sent us some emergency silver that we slowly started up. You’ve never managed a business, so you don’t know how difficult it is to establish connections. Now, listening to you complain about not giving monthly salaries, my heart grows cold. In your eyes, madam, does this monthly salary just blow in with the wind?”
The more Mrs. Wang spoke, the harsher her tone became, saying: “Furthermore, their monthly salary is temporarily kept in the public fund, and will eventually be added to their dowries. What’s so excessive about that? If you insist on distributing it, then let’s cut back on Ming Qi’s tuition at the academy. It’s no big deal for him to wear patched clothes to the academy; that’s how poor families do, and we indeed are facing difficulties. Supporting so many people, I really can’t cope. By the way, the emergency silver from my maternal home, I am planning to pay it back.”
Strike the snake at its vital point, so which is more important, sons or daughters? Choose one.
With a barrage of criticism from Mrs. Wang, not giving Mrs. Xie any face, she left Mrs. Xie seeing stars without time to respond, and hearing about cutting her son’s expenses, she was terrified to even breathe.
It’s nothing for daughters to wear patched clothes at home, but her precious son at the academy, wearing patches would be looked down upon.
“You are the housekeeper, what you say goes,” Mrs. Xie squeezed out the words in grievance.
Mrs. Wang snorted coldly, “Don’t let me hear again about Ming Yue running around with men, else don’t blame me for not being polite. If she doesn’t care about her reputation, the other children in the family do.”
Dropping that remark, she turned around and left, leaving Mrs. Xie behind grinding her teeth in anger and stomping her feet in frustration.