Chapter 75: The Nephew's Marriage

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, all three of Zhang Ping'an's older sisters came over with their families in tow, including Lao Jia, who rode a tricycle to bring San Jie and the twins; Jia Dongxu did not come because he had to look after Qin Huairu and his own child.

"Father, Mother, those people who came looking for Ping'an that day, they..." The three sisters were all very concerned about this matter.

"They are my family..." Dong Dani explained briefly, and since the three families saw it was a good thing, they did not ask any further questions.

"By the way, Eldest Sister, didn't Xiao Ze have a match before? What is the situation now?"

"Sigh, the girl is a good girl, but unfortunately her family burden is too heavy, and that girl insists on waiting until her father's health improves before getting married."

"Xiao Ze will be twenty-one after the New Year, and we don't know when that girl's father's illness will get better, but Xiao Ze is stubborn; he insists on waiting for her, and your eldest brother-in-law and I can't do anything about him."

Zhang Ping'an listened from the side, guessing that the girl probably looked quite good, so he pulled Li Ze aside and asked.

"Xiao Ze, tell your uncle about the girl's situation; perhaps I can help you."

"Uncle, I..."

Li Ze hesitated for a moment, but thinking that his mother and several aunts had been almost completely obedient to his uncle since he was a child, perhaps he really could persuade his mother.

"Uncle, Xiaoyu's family is..."

It turned out the girl was named Fang Xiaoyu, and she still had a young younger brother and a seriously ill father at home; now everything in the family relied on her to hold it up. She was pretty and filial, and once she married, the family would lose its pillar, her father would not be far from death, and her younger brother would be unable to survive.

Zhang Ping'an frowned as he finished listening, feeling that he had heard this story somewhere before: a gambling father, a seriously ill mother, a young brother, and a broken her—ugh, ptooey, ptooey, ptooey.

Zhang Ping'an hurriedly dispelled the strange thoughts in his mind; he still had to inquire about the true situation of that family. People in love usually subconsciously beautify the other person, so he could not fully believe Li Ze's words.

"Alright, I will talk to Eldest Sister properly."

"Mm, thank you, Uncle."

Zhang Ping'an asked Eldest Sister about that family's situation in private again.

"Ping'an, that girl Xiaoyu is indeed quite good; she looks nice, and she keeps her home in good order. Her younger brother is also a well-behaved child. It's just that her father is the problem. She is already nineteen today; it's only because of her family reasons, otherwise she would have been married long ago."

"Ping'an, it's not that Eldest Sister is heartless, it's really..."

"Eldest Sister, I understand. Marriage is a matter between two families, and the situation of that girl's family is indeed..."

This was also normal; no one would want their own son to take a wife and have to support her father and younger brother as well. The situation of Fang Xiaoyu's family had indeed discouraged many people.

"Eldest Sister, what kind of illness does that girl's father have?"

"I don't know. It's quite serious. He is sickly all day long; anyway, he spends most of the day lying in bed."

"Actually, Xiaoyu's father was also a famous hunter in the vicinity. He wasn't old, but suddenly he just collapsed."

Zhang Ping'an frowned slightly. It seemed he would have to find time to go over and take a look after the New Year. Eldest Sister was not wrong to do this, and the nephew was not unreasonable for being willing to walk through fire for love, but this stalemate between the nephew and Eldest Sister was not a solution either.

When he went over before the New Year, he had noticed that this nephew's complexion was not right. Zhang Ping'an had initially thought it was because he hadn't taken him to Sijiucheng, but it turned out that wasn't the reason.

Since that girl's father was a hunter, his physical fitness was generally stronger than others. If his health suddenly collapsed, Zhang Ping'an guessed that eight or nine times out of ten, he had been bitten by some poisonous insect, and it was not easily detectable.

This was a bit tricky. He was at most just starting out, so this matter would still require asking his master to go over and take a look. Having made up his mind, Zhang Ping'an spoke directly.

"Eldest Sister, Xiao Ze, after the New Year, I will have my master go and take a look. If he can be cured, everyone will be happy. If he cannot be cured, Xiao Ze, you should stop insisting."

"Uncle, I..." Li Ze was just about to speak when he was directly interrupted by Zhang Ping'an.

"Xiao Ze, in this life, you don't just need love; you also have family affection. You can't abandon your entire family for your partner, right?"

"It wasn't easy for Eldest Sister and the others to raise you; you can't just remain a bachelor for life because of a blind date partner, right?"

"Of course, these words should only be said based on the situation that he cannot be cured, but my master has superb medical skills, and there is a high probability that he can be cured."

"Mm, Uncle, I will listen to you."

Zhang Cuihua felt relieved to see her son no longer stiffening his neck to argue with her. This stubborn temper was exactly like his father's. Thinking of this, Zhang Cuihua glared at Li Huaijin again.

Eldest Brother-in-law Li Huaijin was glared at for no apparent reason and scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Alright, whatever the matter is, we'll talk about it after the New Year. Let's eat first."

"Cuihua, come and serve the dishes."

"Alright, Mother."

The family had a harmonious reunion dinner, and Zhang Ping'an also set a time with Li Ze to go over after the New Year to examine his future father-in-law.

The difference this year compared to previous years was that on the second day of the New Year, the family was picked up by their grandfather to spend three days in Sijiucheng; of course, they returned to the Clothing Shop to sleep at night.

It was also Zhang Ping'an's first time returning to Sijiucheng at the beginning of the year. Everywhere there were the happy laughter of children and the sulfurous smell of firecrackers. Compared to later generations, it could be said to be full of the atmosphere of the New Year.

"Master," Zhang Ping'an took this opportunity to set a time with his master.

"Ping'an, why did you come so early this year?"

"Master, there is a matter..." Zhang Ping'an put down the gifts and explained the ins and outs of the matter.

"That is eight or nine times out of ten a case of poisoning. To make a man in his prime suddenly become sickly for a year or a year and a half, this poison shouldn't be very strong; of course, it's also possible that the person has a good constitution. Let's go take a look now," Wang Lao said after pondering for a moment.

"Ah? Master, let's make it tomorrow; it's already the afternoon."

"That's true. Alright then, come find me early tomorrow morning."

"Good."

Early on the fifth day of the New Year, Zhang Ping'an pedaled Jia Dongxu's tricycle to pick up his master, while his parents and the others would have a car to send them in the afternoon.

After two hours of riding, he finally arrived at the door of his eldest brother-in-law's house.

"Master, please wait a moment; I'm going to call my nephew."

"Fine, go ahead."

"Xiao Ze, hurry up and tidy up; my master is waiting outside."

"Oh, oh, okay."

"Ping'an, wasn't it said to be the sixth day?"

"I told my master yesterday, and he wanted to come yesterday, but time was tight, so he came today."

"Oh, I need to go and greet your master." After Eldest Sister finished speaking, she called Eldest Brother-in-law over.

"Good."

"Master, this is my Eldest Sister and Eldest Brother-in-law."

"Wang Lao, sorry to trouble you with this trip."

"Hmm, it is no trouble; I am also curious about the situation."

"Alright then, Big Sister, Brother-in-law, we are heading over now."

"Good."

Half an hour later, at the entrance of Fang Family Village.

"Uncle, Wang Lao, that house over there is Xiaoyu's home," Li Ze said, pointing to a solitary house at the edge of the village.

"Understood, let's head over."

"Mm."

"Xiaoyu, I've brought a doctor to take a look at Uncle Fang."

"Oh, it's Xiao Ze, you are very thoughtful. Xiaoyu took her younger brother to check the traps at the foot of the mountain," said Fang Dahu.

Fang Dahu, as his name suggested, was a fierce and sturdy man, but at this moment, he was lying listlessly on the bed.

"Uncle Fang, this is my uncle Zhang Ping'an and his master, the Divine Doctor Wang; they both came from Sijiucheng."

"Good, sorry to trouble you, Brother Zhang, Wang Lao."

"It is no trouble. Tell me, how did this happen?"

"Right. A year ago, I returned from hunting on the mountain feeling fine, but the next morning when I got up and practiced a set of punches, I felt weak all over, and it has been like that ever since."

"Level Eight Fist?"

"Yes."

"Are there any marks on your body from insect bites?"

"I don't feel any."