Chapter 17: The Root Cause Was Here All Along

What they did not know was that these words were heard clearly by Liu Chuxue, who had returned to the Liu family from outside the door; though she did not know what secret they were hiding, she had discerned that her father was very likely not a member of the Liu family.

"Keeping the bowl of water perfectly level," indeed they dare to say that; had she not heard these words, she would have thought it was only because her own parents had no son, so her grandparents were so cold-blooded; the root cause lay here.

The next day, as soon as dawn broke, Liu's mother returned to the village; whether or not they could split the household, for the sake of her own husband's leg, she had to risk everything; seeing Liu the Old Man in the courtyard, she said: "Father, I beg you to be merciful and agree to send Shanliang to the hospital in the city to treat his leg; it truly cannot be delayed any longer."

Yesterday evening, a disturbance had already erupted, and the matter had long since been spread by the neighbors.

As soon as there was movement on this side, the villagers gathered around, and some who did not know the situation asked in a low voice: "What is going on?"

"It is nothing but the Liu family acting inhumanely; the commune health clinic cannot treat the second son of the Liu family's leg, so they were told to go to a higher-level hospital, but the Liu family is unwilling to pay for the treatment."

"Could that be? Normally the Liu family is quite united; besides, the second son of the Liu family was injured at the reservoir construction site; would the state not take responsibility?"

"I heard it was an injury sustained outside of work hours; the reservoir side only bears half the responsibility."

"Yesterday at dusk, the second daughter-in-law of the Liu family came back once; they almost fought to a standstill."

"The second son of the Liu family is more honest than the eldest and the third; why is the Liu family still refusing to treat him?"

"I heard the Liu family used connections to find a quota for Dongzi of the eldest branch to enter the city and become a worker; if they treat the second son's leg, then that job will be out of the question."

"This is far too unfair to the second son of the Liu family; the family's money was not earned by Dongzi; on what grounds must the second son of the Liu family sacrifice himself to fulfill his nephew's future?"

"It is simply because the second branch has no son and thus has no say in the household."

For a moment, outside, people said all sorts of things.

Seeing the courtyard surrounded by a crowd, Liu the Old Man's head throbbed with anger: "Second son's wife, is there anything that cannot be said behind closed doors? Why must you make such a scene?"

Liu's mother had decided to risk everything: "Father, I would have liked to speak properly, but look at how you acted; if my husband's leg is not transferred for treatment, it will be ruined; can I not be anxious?"

Liu Pozi walked over with a gloomy face: "Why do you not listen to advice? The doctors have already said that even if the second son's leg goes to a big hospital in the city, it will not fully heal; why can you not consider the family more? Must you throw the money into the water before giving up?"

"Mother, I am not forcing you; the doctors said there is hope if we go to the hospital in the city; why do you simply refuse? Has my husband not contributed enough to this family?"

At this moment, Ge Xiulan broke free from her husband's restraint and rushed forward a few steps: "Zhao Lamei, will you never stop? Did I not tell you yesterday that that money concerns my Dongzi's future? The second son's leg cannot be cured anyway; why cannot you yield to your nephew?"

Liu's mother did not care what she said; in front of so many people, she stared at the Eunuch: "Father, I ask you one last time: will the family take responsibility for my husband's leg?"

Liu the Old Man's face was black as ink: "Second son's wife, it is not that we do not want to take responsibility; it is that we truly lack the ability."

Liu's mother wiped away her tears and stood up: "Since you will not take responsibility, then I will find a way myself."

She turned and walked out.

Liu the Old Man wanted to call out to stop her, but seeing the people outside pointing and talking about him, he opened his mouth but no sound came out; thinking of how much face he had lost today, he angrily flung his sleeve and returned to the room.