Chapter 85: My son isn't dead yet

The sun was setting in the west, and the rosy clouds looked like blood.

Yan Pozi sat in Tao Gu's courtyard, lifted her head to look at the sky, and felt that with her son's ability, it should be about enough.

She then stopped chatting, got up to say goodbye to Tao Gu, and took Qin Shi home.

Qin Shi had sat for an afternoon, her stomach feeling somewhat uncomfortable, bloated, so she walked very slowly.

Yan Pozi was worried about the situation at home, and also didn't notice.

After walking about half an hour, they finally arrived home.

The gate had been bolted from inside; it couldn't be pushed open, and knocking elicited no response.

Yan Pozi began to mutter to herself.

That shouldn't be; it's been a whole afternoon, so things should be over by now. Even if the son didn't want to linger a bit longer, given his age, he couldn't have come that many times.

Could it be that he finished venting and fell asleep to death?

She then waited another seven and a half minutes, seeing the sky about to darken, worried that Cao Shi and Jiang Lian'er would return and see this, Yan Pozi grew anxious and had to step forward and shout loudly at the door.

She shouted for a long time with no response, but instead attracted a passing woman.

The woman, who loved to join in the fun, peered in and asked, "Isn't Mei Niang at home? Give her a shout to see."

Yan Pozi found her annoying and, neither cold nor hot, drove her away: "Ah, it's getting late, hurry home to cook."

"Not in a hurry, not in a hurry," the woman showed no sense, still swinging down the hoe she had shouldered, eager to try, "Why don't I help you break the door open? You've been shouting so loud with no response; what if the person inside has fainted?"

Upon hearing that, Yan Pozi's heart gave a sudden jolt.

No way? Could it be that Mei Niang refused, so the son forced himself on her, accidentally killing her? The son feared legal trouble and then fled?

The more she thought, the more panicked she became, and her old face grew ever uglier.

Just then, Cao Shi returned carrying a pole of sweet potatoes, with an angry Jiang Lian'er following behind.

"Mother, why aren't you going in?" Cao Shi asked doubtfully. Just as she was about to speak, the woman enthusiastically explained, "Auntie, your courtyard gate is bolted from inside and won't open!"

Being bolted from inside also meant someone was inside the house.

If someone was inside, how could it not be opened?

Cao Shi didn't believe this, dropped her pole and went to pound the door with a series of bangs, shouting and yelling, startling the household animals into frantic flight, yet no one came.

The woman, sharp-eyed, saw a young man passing by nearby and quickly waved him over to help.

That young man, tall and long-legged, in a couple of moves jumped over the courtyard wall via the white poplar tree and pulled the gate open from inside.

Yan Pozi, heart pounding, hurried inside.

Unfortunately, being old, she couldn't match Cao Shi's speed; worried about her husband, Cao Shi dashed into the house in a few steps.

Soon after, only a shrill wail was heard: "Father!"

Yan Pozi's old heart trembled; she leaned on the wall and walked in shakily, taking just a glance before nearly collapsing to the ground.

Jiang Lian'er, who had been absentminded, seeing the situation was wrong, hurried forward.

As for the two outsiders, the woman and the young man normally wouldn't intrude on someone else's home, but hearing the commotion, they stared at each other, then without prior agreement rushed inside.

Once they saw the interior clearly, both were stunned.

Jiang Lian'er let out a startled cry, hastily covered her eyes, turned and ran into her own room.

Cao Shi collapsed beside him, weeping and wiping tears: "Father, what's happened to you? How did you become like this? If anything happens to you, how can I go on living..."

Yan Pozi, furious, leaned back, looked around, grabbed a broom, and began striking Cao Shi on the head and face.

"You stupid woman, my son isn't dead yet! Hurry up and go find clothes for him to wear!"

Only then did Cao Shi react, oh oh oh, she went inside, fumbling to fetch a blanket to cover her husband, and after covering him began slapping her thighs and wailing.

Yan Pozi closed her eyes, then shouted angrily, "Lian'er, quickly go fetch Doctor Gu! Quickly!"

Jiang Lian'er panicked and ran out.

Just as she stepped out of the gate, she saw Qin Shi holding her belly, about to walk in, and Jiang Lian'er hurriedly called out, "Oh dear, sister-in-law, you mustn't go in—Father's bare-bottomed right now!"

Qin Shi's steps froze; she turned and leaned back against the tree, holding her belly with a blank expression, not knowing what she was thinking.

Inside, the woman craned her neck to stare intensely at Jiang Dabo on the floor, the fire of gossip in her eyes blazing.

"Ah!" Yan Pozi said with a dark face, "It's already dark; shouldn't you be heading home?"

The woman still wanted to stay and watch the fun, but the host had issued an eviction order, so she reluctantly shuffled outward, sighing, "Well, I'm heading back then."

She and the young man came out one after another; the young man shook his head and sighed, "It's over; I fear he can't be saved."

Having said that, he departed regretfully.

The woman, unwilling to leave, saw Qin Shi at the doorstep, immediately approached, raised her eyebrows suspiciously, and whispered, "Zongbao's daughter-in-law, your father-in-law seems... not capable anymore, you know?"

Qin Shi glanced at her lightly, then lowered her head without speaking.

The woman pursed her lips.

This Qin Shi really doesn't know what's going on; since marrying in, she's been a silent gourd, unable to emit a fart even with three sticks, very dull.

Finding the gossip unsatisfied here, she shifted her eyes, hoisted her hoe, and ran eagerly toward the big locust tree at the village entrance.

There, the women are most numerous and love to chatter—perfect for spreading this strange tale among everyone, hehe!

After a ke, Doctor Gu finally arrived, panting with his medicine case.

Before, Jiang Cheng used to carry it for him; now that his apprentice is gone, he has to bear it himself, and only then did he realize how exhausting it is.

"Doctor Gu, please come quickly and see what's happened to my son," Yan Pozi had been waiting anxiously.

Doctor Gu stepped forward, lifted the blanket, and looked down.

His face instantly changed color.

He immediately took Jiang Dabo's pulse, and the more he felt, the more alarmed he became: "This is... yang-withdrawal syndrome!"

Yan Pozi's body swayed; she plopped onto a stool, her face ashen like death.

"Doctor Gu, please save my son!" Yan Pozi tore up with tears, nearly kneeling to him.

The old doctor stroked his thin mustache, hesitantly said: "This illness is hard to treat; I can only first apply acupuncture to preserve his last breath, then have him take Dushen decoction to recuperate, but this Dushen decoction requires a large amount of ginseng to brew, making it expensive..."

In other words, a lot of money is needed.

Since it concerns her son's life, Yan Pozi, despite her reluctance, had to agree: "I'll figure out the money myself; please, Doctor Gu, hurry and save him!"

Doctor Gu then stopped talking, quickly took several slender needles from his medicine box, and stabbed them into the man's Renzhong, Hegu, Sanyinjiao, and other acupoints on the ground.

After considerable effort, Jiang Dabo's complexion finally returned to normal, but he still couldn't move.

Doctor Gu could only help Cao Shi lift him onto the bed together.

At this moment, Doctor Gu couldn't help but think of Jiang Cheng again; if Jiang Cheng were still here, he wouldn't need to do these things himself—Jiang Cheng alone could hoist Jiang Dabo.

Ah, if I had known it would come to this, why bother in the first place...

After giving his instructions, Doctor Gu took the one tael of silver Yan Pozi gave him and left, saying he would deliver the medicine later.

This one tael of silver only covers two days' worth of medicine; afterward, prolonged recuperation will still be needed.

It can be said to be a bottomless pit.

Seeing Doctor Gu off, Yan Pozi slumped down in a chair.

How did things come to this? She couldn't figure it out.

Yan Pozi suddenly stood up and headed toward the west wing where Mei Niang lived.

This room used to be where Jiang Mo Nian and Madame Su lived; after Jiang Mo Nian died, Madame Su also moved out, leaving the room empty, and now it has been given to Mei Niang to stay in.

Mei Niang, however, was not in the room.

Indeed, with such a commotion outside, if she were still alive she would surely have heard it; it's impossible for her to remain unseen until now.

Could it be that Mei Niang has fled...

"Are you looking for me?" a hoarse voice suddenly sounded from outside the door.