Dad, Why Did You Do This?

After saying their piece, the people left.

Old Man Shen wanted to cry, but no tears came. Old Madam Shen said softly, "Are we still going to get our son's leg treated?"

Old Man Shen set his jaw. "Yes. We'll get his leg treated first, then make those people next door pay whatever it costs. I don't believe they'd actually dare refuse."

The family went straight to town, where the doctor frowned and said:

"How did this leg get hurt so badly?

It won't be cheap to heal it. It'll cost at least five taels of silver."

Old Madam Shen was so anxious she burst into tears. "Five taels of silver? Isn't that going to be the death of us? Where could our family possibly scrape together that much money?"

Old Man Shen said furiously, "If we still had those six taels from yesterday, there wouldn't be a problem. But who knows which damned thief made off with the silver."

Old Madam Shen said softly, "Could it be a haunting? Even the authorities couldn't find anything wrong..."

Old Man Shen's heart skipped a beat. "I've also been thinking something's wrong with our family lately. We haven't had a moment's peace since the people next door moved in."

Old Madam Shen nodded. "Now that you mention it, that's true. So the people next door did it?"

"No one can say for sure right now. Anyway, I'll go find our youngest son in a bit and see what he says. He's seen a lot and knows a lot, so he'll surely come up with something."

Shen Boxian's youngest son was named Shen Dahai, and he worked as a manager at a grain and oil shop in town. When he saw his father, he frowned and said, "Dad, didn't I just give you two sacks of grain a few days ago?"

Shen Boxian wiped away his tears. "Dahai, people are bullying our family to death."

"What happened?"

Shen Boxian sighed. "Didn't a new family move in next door to us? Last night, they went and crippled your brother's leg."

"What? Who'd have the nerve to do that? Did my brother do something again?"

Shen Boxian hurriedly said, "No. Your brother is especially honest and well-behaved now. It was the family next door who picked a fight. Your brother needs ten taels of silver now, or they won't treat him."

"What? Ten taels? That's far too expensive. I know someone at a medicine shop. I'll ask him to give me a lower price, and I'll go get my brother."

Shen Boxian coughed. "Your brother's leg shouldn't be moved!"

"There's no way I can come up with ten taels. I'm a manager, but how much do I make in a month?

How about this? I'll have someone take my brother to another medicine shop right now and have them take a look." Shen Dahai knew his father's nature all too well.

In the end, they moved him to another medicine shop, where it cost only three taels of silver.

Shen Dahai looked at them and said, "I've already paid the silver. Let my brother get some proper rest. As for that family, I'll ask the village chief about them."

Shen Boxian said furiously:

"What's there to ask? The village chief is on very good terms with that family now. He definitely won't tell the truth.

Son, why can't you give our family more thought?"

Shen Dahai gave them a long look and said:

"Don't be impatient. I'll get to the bottom of this. If our family is in the wrong, we'll go make amends and apologize.

If our family isn't in the wrong, I'll make them do it."

Shen Dahai was, after all, a manager in a wealthy household, and he knew his parents' tempers very well.

And his brother-how many times had he urged him not to go out stealing chickens and dogs? But he just wouldn't listen.

He was just about to leave when he saw Shen Dalu's wife being brought over too. Pushing the flatbed cart, Shen Dachuan said, "Third Brother, I saw that Eldest Sister-in-law didn't look right, so I brought her here."

Old Madam Shen cursed loudly, "Why did you bring her here? She'd get through it if she just bore with it. Won't this cost a lot of money?"

The old doctor found a female apprentice and had her help apply medicine. The apprentice exclaimed softly, "Oh! This looks like a crossbow wound. They held back, or she'd be dead for sure."

Shen Dahai's expression darkened. They had clearly offended someone badly.

He immediately called Shen Dachuan aside and questioned him closely. He then learned that his father hadn't told the truth at all. Trembling with anger, he stormed over and said:

"Dad, why did you do this? How many times have I told you? Your own grandson is studying at an academy now.

If you behave badly and get caught, his life will be ruined.

I give you whatever you want, so why do you still do this? Do you have to force me to cut ties with you?"

Shen Dahai looked utterly distraught. He immediately sent someone to fetch his second brother.

Shen Daze came over with several servants. Narrowing his eyes, he said:

"Why do you always do things people look down on?

Why don't you think about me and Fourth Brother when you do these things?

If you don't have enough clothes or food, you can tell us. Besides, the family has ten mu of land now. Isn't that enough to feed you?"

Old Man Shen hung his head. "You can't blame us for everything. It was all the family next door picking fights. You can't condemn us all with one blow of the stick."

Shen Daze sneered.

"Shen Dalu, you'd better think this through. If something like this happens again, you really will end up in prison.

I won't be giving you any more money for a while either. Take a good look at yourselves!"

With that, Shen Daze left. Shen Dahai looked at them and said:

"I've paid for the medicine today, and I'll go speak to the neighbors next door too.

If you keep doing evil, then from now on, pretend you never had me as a son. I'll find a way to move my household registration out."

Zhou Wanwan had left the six taels of silver untouched for the time being. Early that morning, she saw all six of her maternal uncles standing in a neat row outside the house.

Liu Su'e smiled. "None of you have eaten breakfast yet, have you? Have some breakfast first."

Her eldest brother hurriedly waved his hand. "Sister, don't trouble yourself. We all ate before coming over."

"Oh! Didn't I tell you not to eat breakfast?"

Her eldest brother coughed. "Sister, what work did you want us to do? Are we building a house? But this house is quite nice!"

Liu Su'e smiled. "I do need something built. Help me put up a small shed out back, just for keeping livestock. There should be a pigsty, and then a sheep pen and a chicken coop."

Her eldest brother frowned. "Huh? The pigsty and sheep pen have to be separate?"

Liu Su'e smiled. "In any case, it needs to be bigger. Wanwan wants you to help find a few more people to build it together. That'll save a lot of time."

Her eldest brother shook his head. "Why waste that money? I reckon we can finish it ourselves in half a month."

Zhou Wanwan came out and said:

"Eldest Uncle, I need it finished in two days. Please hurry and call some people from the village!

I'll pay each person fifteen wen a day. I'm in a real hurry."

"What? Fifteen wen? Isn't that far too much?" her second uncle said in disbelief.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "I need people to work for me day and night. Please hurry and call them over!"

Fortunately, the Liu family held a fairly high standing in the village. Before long, more than forty people had arrived.