Chapter 513: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 513: The Plan Succeeds (2)
These people gathered to watch the drama unfold, curious to see if the Mo family would cause another scene and if Hong shi, the malicious mother-in-law, would once again torment her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Seeing Mo Yan standing there, they wondered if she would stand up for Wu shi and her daughter, as everyone in Liuyang Village knew of their close relationship.
The villagers were mainly there for gossip, not ill-intentioned. Without them, Wu shi and her daughter might still be lying under the old poplar tree!
Mo Yan ignored their probing questions and, after greeting familiar faces, kept her eyes fixed on the Mo family's gate, unfazed by the scrutinizing gazes.
By now, Doctor Du had taken Wu shi’s pulse, set Mo Dani’s bone, and applied medicine. He was inside, explaining the diagnosis to the family.
Ignoring the long faces of old Mo, Hong shi, and the others, Doctor Du explained the severity of the mother and daughter's condition in refined language. Finally, with a grave expression, he told the ashen-faced Mo Yongfu, "Given your wife's age, conceiving is already difficult. This miscarriage has severely damaged her vitality. Even if she appears to recover, internally, she is thoroughly weakened. If she is well-nourished with good medicine, she might live peacefully, though she will be unable to do any heavy work. As for your daughter, she is in a dangerous condition. She should stay in bed and rest, or the broken bone might shift, potentially injuring her internal organs and threatening her life..."
“What? What did you say?” Before Doctor Du could finish, Hong shi shrieked, “Can't work and needs good medicine to nourish her? Bah! Those two wretches are nothing but disasters. Do they expect me to support them like some noble ladies? They should take a look at themselves in the mirror!”
Hong shi's coarse words flowed smoothly, but Doctor Du found them extremely jarring. He glanced at her indifferently and said, “Everything I’ve said is true. If you don’t believe me, feel free to consult another doctor. I’ve said all I can; whether you treat them or not is up to you.”
With that, he didn’t bother arguing further and walked out of the Mo family’s gate with his medical box.
Doctor Du’s voice was loud, and the Mo family’s thatched house had poor sound insulation. The onlookers outside heard everything clearly, and their hearts filled with even more sympathy for Wu shi and her daughter. Some villagers, understanding the Mo family’s character, began to worry about the mother and daughter. However, this concern was weak, as no one had the courage or ability to solve their impending difficulties.
With no more drama to see, the villagers gradually dispersed. Mo Yan took Doctor Du back to her home and inquired about the condition of Wu shi and her daughter.
Learning that their health wasn't in serious jeopardy and that Da Ni’s shoulder blade was set correctly, Mo Yan felt relieved. She eagerly went to the kitchen to prepare a meal to thank Doctor Du.
...
“Mother, should we treat those two wretches as the doctor said?” As soon as Doctor Du left, Mo Yongxi impatiently asked.
Treating them would cost money, and she didn't want the family to spend her dowry on this bottomless pit. Besides, the doctor had said that even if they recovered, they would be useless. Treating them was a waste! They would need good medicine and care; better to throw them out!
“Treat, treat, treat? What for? Those two ungrateful wretches, treat them so they can spite me more?” Hong shi glared at Mo Yongxi, uncharacteristically harsh toward her daughter.
Mo Yongxi was pleased and said, “But Mother, if we leave them untreated, they won’t get better, but they won’t die either. They’ll just lie in bed, needing food and care. We can’t leave them like that!”
Hong shi’s face grew even darker. She pursed her lips and didn’t respond, but her eyes showed she was plotting something related to Wu shi and her daughter.
Mo Yongfu hesitated, looking from Hong shi to old Mo, whose face was also dark. A struggle flashed across his face, but he swallowed his words.
The earlier guilt he felt for his wife and daughter was fading, replaced by fear of the financial burden and the future.
A weak and selfish man, pitiful and detestable!
Niu shi, who was eating sunflower seeds, looked at the faces of old Mo, Hong shi, Mo Yongfu, and Mo Yongxi, noting their indifference and compromise. She felt a sudden sense of confusion.
She was also a daughter-in-law in the Mo family, considered an “outsider” like her elder sister-in-law. Yet she had joined her mother-in-law and sister-in-law in tormenting her elder sister-in-law, causing her to lose her child, her daughter to become disabled, and leaving her with lingering health issues—all for a few taels of silver. Had she done the right thing? Could she have a good outcome living with such a cold-blooded family?
No, it was different. She was different from her elder sister-in-law! Her elder sister-in-law was too soft-hearted and easy to bully, with a weak and useless husband. That’s why she was bullied so badly! She was different, she could be ruthless, and her husband wouldn’t let her be bullied. She couldn’t end up like her elder sister-in-law, right?
Except for Tie Tou, who had gone to the grain shop, Mo Yonglu, who was working in the city, and a few clueless children, the five people in the hall, each with their own thoughts, seemed to be subtly drawn together, silently reaching a dark consensus...
In the room, Wu shi, with a bit of color returning to her face, sat on the bed gently comforting her frightened younger daughter and son. Her eyes shone with a burning light, the light of joy and hope as her wish was about to come true.
However, when she looked at her eldest daughter on the opposite bed, her face still pale, the light in her eyes dimmed instantly, filled with guilt and self-blame.
Mo Dani happened to look over and met her mother’s gaze. She forced a smile and softly comforted her, “Mother, I’m fine. Please don’t blame yourself, or I will truly be sad!”
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