Chapter 1573 - 1562: Honest Fool

Chapter 1573: Chapter 1562: Honest Fool

Inside, Ye Qiu was happily sipping a bowl of chicken soup with Niu Xue Mei’s help. As he listened to the commotion outside, he thought that Wang Po needed someone to set her straight. Ye Xia’s lack of filial piety, he could say, was forced out of her. Which woman would want such a conflict with her parents?

Now it was just Ye Xia, an outsider. He believed Wang Po and Old Man Ye’s later years would be even more miserable. Firstly, he, Ye Laosan, wouldn’t be filial in the future, and he had no hopes for the other two either.

Firstly, Ye Dong was always spoiled, developing a selfish personality. Asking him to be dutiful? Ye Qiu estimated that the family property would be squandered before Ye Dong got married.

Then, Ye Chun and Wang Hong were no better, suppressed for so long by Wang Po. Ye Qiu didn’t believe they harbored no grievances. He just hoped that Ye Conghui and Ye Conghuang, once educated, would understand filial piety, but given the family’s environment, Ye Qiu had his doubts.

After quarreling with Wang Po, Ye Xia returned to continue eating, unaffected. She had long been in business and had seen stranger and more frustrating things. If she got angry at every oddity, she’d drive herself mad.

Jia Zhihe closed the door to eat. The chicken stew was excellent, and he had laid the hearth today himself, already feeling quite hungry.

Gazing at the closed door and smelling the fragrant chicken aroma, Wang Po became even angrier. She was making some noise outside, and the chicken was frantically clucking everywhere.

Ye Xia and her husband ate their fill. They somehow finished the entire big hen. Finally, unable to refuse Niu Xue Mei’s strong insistence, they agreed to bring a doctor the next day, only then taking one to go.

By this time, it was quite dark, but the couple walked together without fear. Jia Zhihe smacked his lips, saying, "I must say, visiting your family has been the best meal yet."

Ye Xia glared at him, "Enjoy eating and shut up, so many words."

Jia Zhihe wasn’t bothered at the scolding, chuckling as he said, "I just think your Ye Family, only your third brother and sister-in-law are good. If your third brother gets better, we should mingle more."

Ye Xia sighed, "I hope he really recovers soon. Otherwise, as an outsider, even with goodwill, I can’t protect Xue Mei and the two nieces."

"I saw him eat quite a lot tonight. He shouldn’t have serious issues."

"But did you see his complexion? Does it look problem-free? How did this illness come on so fiercely? Can’t diagnose anything."

"I suspect he was frightened. The previous day was fine, but once your mother cursed him and put him to work, he fell ill. If it wasn’t fear, it’s exhaustion. If there were truly unclean influences, wouldn’t Divine Woman’s three rituals have fixed it?" Jia Zhihe analytically reasoned.

"No more thinking, we’ll know after seeing the doctor tomorrow."

The next morning, Niu Xue Mei headed to ask the village chief for help fixing the roof with two people, while Ye Xia brought the elderly doctor to examine Ye Qiu. Concerned about the real illness, Wang Po and Wang Hong peeked in from outside.

The old doctor examined for a long time, unable to conclude anything. Finally, he concluded, "Nothing except exhaustion from incessant labor, then losing spirit from fright, akin to what we commonly call soul-loss. Spirit corresponds to yang energy; it stems from the heart and affects the liver. With insufficient liver energy, spirit wanes. This energy, being vital essence, was depleted without replenishment, resulting in weakness."

Wang Po listened, pursing her lips. Wasn’t this saying she caused Ye Laosan’s plight by overworking him and not feeding him well, scaring him into this state? Who was he fooling?

She argued stubbornly, "Ye Laosan is so strong; could he have weak liver energy, weak body? Hasn’t he been fine for years?"

The old doctor glared, "Do you think illnesses arise suddenly? They accumulate from neglect, then strike all at once."

Ye Xia bypassed these remarks, asking eagerly, "Doctor, how should we treat him?"

"Treatment isn’t hard, just takes time. His illness needs gradual toning. I’ll prescribe some remedies to nourish energy and blood. He must be nurtured meticulously; if he can have chicken, meat often, that’s ideal. Wild ginseng would be best. Still, he was frail for so long, unable to tolerate too much reinforcement initially, so progress must be slow, not rushed."

"Understood, understood." Niu Xue Mei replied gratefully. "Doctor, the consultation fee?"

"Ah, my visit costs about two taels of silver. The prescriptions aren’t much either, around two or three taels. I didn’t bring medicine, now, take the prescription to the pharmacy. If there are issues, contact me directly." The old doctor said kindly.

Upon hearing the price, both Niu Xue Mei and Ye Xia sighed in relief. They hadn’t expected Ye Qiu’s illness to be so severe yet inexpensive.

Some neighbors, having heard Niu Xue Mei brought a doctor, gathered to watch, then commented endlessly about the mere four or five taels of silver. Wang Po previously refusing was astonishing; didn’t her son matter more than money?

Some scoffed, "Even if the consultation is cheap, without splitting the household, do you think Wang Po would slaughter chicken, buy meat to nourish Ye Laosan?"

"Exactly! Not a single egg given usually; she values money even above life."

"To say nothing of how his illness was scared into him, being forever mistreated by her, could Ye Qiu’s illness explode suddenly so ferociously?"

"I’d say you’ve overlooked one figure. Wang Po is heartless, but isn’t Old Man Ye just as unkind? Isn’t this his son, with the same surname? Yet he utters no words."

"Old Man Ye supposedly can’t speak up in this household?"

"Do you truly believe that? Unable to speak, yet Wang Po buys him wine, makes appetizing dishes at every meal? Have you forgotten how infatuated Wang Po became with him back then, losing her senses?"

"Enough, enough, Wang Po’s glaring over. Nevertheless, Ye Qiu wasn’t meant to perish. Fortunately, Niu Xue Mei demanded the household be split."

"If not divided, they’d be finished, with four members total and no son. She had no choice!"

"Thus, women need to stand firm when necessary."

After Ye Qiu’s doctor’s checkup, Niu Xue Mei started moving things piece by piece, Wang Po only then learning that Ye Laosan’s family was moving now.

Her face darkened. First struck by Ye Qiu’s illness, now he was moving away. If Ye Laosan recovers later, wouldn’t she lose him and his family to help with work?

But the house given by the village chief justified Niu Xue Mei’s relocation, leaving Wang Po no grounds to block it. She could only watch Niu Xue Mei drive pigs and carry chickens away, thinking how these chickens and pigs were no longer hers, her heart aching more.

If she’d known beforehand how little medical expenses cost, what would she have hesitated for? Couldn’t find a way to snatch an egg or fish occasionally? Now she lost two laborers for nothing.