Demanding an Arm and a Leg

These dozen or so warehouses mostly contained grain, cotton, charcoal, salt, and water—all the most valuable items during years of famine.

There was also gold and silver jewelry, and she suddenly burst into tears.

The debt collector frowned and said, "What's with all the crying? Are you going to pay or not? If not, we'll cut off one of his fingers today."

Zhou Qingzhou burst into tears:

"Mom! Grandma! Grandpa! Dad! Save me!"

Without my fingers, I can't take the imperial examinations anymore! I don't want to! I don't want to! Waaah...

I was wrong, I'll never do it again.

Old Madam Zhou slapped him across the face and said:

"You good-for-nothing, the family has given you all the resources."

"But look at you, it's one thing that you can't even compare to Zhou Qingyan, but you can't even compare to Zhou Wanwan, and you still have the nerve to cry?"

"Grandma, I know I was wrong. Please save me this last time. I promise I'll study hard from now on."

Old Madam Zhou looked at him, her face full of disappointment:

"Zhou Qingzhou, this is the last time I'll help you. You still have Zhou Qingshan, Zhou Qingfeng, and Zhou Qingyuan at home."

I used to think you were a promising talent, but now I realize you're just a fool.

Our family has given you all our resources, and all you can do is become a scholar and fail all the other exams.

"We married you to the daughter of a prefect, but you couldn't keep her. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself."

Old Madam Zhou was quite clever; she had several sums of money hidden away.

She left her house and returned after a while, carrying a box in her hands. Inside the box was a stack of silver notes and several gold bars.

After paying back the money she owed, Old Madam Zhou had only two gold bars left.

Her heart ached terribly; this was the family's last savings.

She never expected that after being reborn and striving for so long, she would end up back where she started.

She was in so much pain that this time, the stress and anxiety really got to her, and she fell seriously ill.

Lying in the rented house, she said, "Eldest brother, go and call fourth brother back. Just one of him will do."

Zhou Fusheng was quickly summoned over, and Old Madam Zhou looked at him and said:

"Fusheng! When I found you, you were still an infant. Although I wasn't very good to you."

But I did raise you, and you've seen the state of our home—we have nothing left.

You should at least... at least contribute some money! Otherwise, your parents will really starve to death."

Zhou Fusheng looked at them and said, "Do you even know who dumped me at your doorstep?"

Old Madam Zhou shook her head and said:

"When we found you, it was already the next day."

In the dead of winter, I saw your little face turning purple from the cold and brought you home.

We've raised you all these years, and look at you now..."

A gloomy atmosphere hung over the house.

Old Man Zhou looked at Zhou Fusheng and said, "Fusheng, our house is gone, and our food is gone too. We really don't know what to do."

Zhou Fusheng sighed, took out ten taels of silver from his pocket, and said, "This is the last thing I can give you. This is my last bit of savings. Don't come looking for me again."

Zhou Qingzhou walked over, hugged Zhou Fusheng, and cried loudly:

Fourth Uncle, are you really going to abandon us from now on?

I truly know I was wrong. I will study hard from today onwards, and when I pass the imperial examination, I will definitely take good care of you.

Please help us! Ten taels of silver is just a drop in the ocean for us, it's simply not enough!

Zhou Fusheng looked at them and said, "This is all I have..."

Zhou Lan wiped away her tears and said:

"Fourth Uncle, your family Wanwan so much money, it's not just a few million taels."

Zhou Wanwan won tens of millions of taels of silver before; just a little of that would be enough for our family to live on for generations.

These are all shrewd people; they all know how much money Zhou Wanwan's family has.

Zhou Fusheng looked at them and said, "That's all Wanwan's money; it will be her dowry. I can't touch it."

Qian Huihui smiled faintly, "Our family doesn't need much. We're even having trouble feeding ourselves right now. Just a few tens of thousands of taels will do."

Zhou Fusheng stared at Qian Huihui for a moment, then stood up and rushed out.

Qian Huihui looked at him and said:

"Fusheng, what's wrong with you all of a sudden? Let's talk this out, don't go!"

Mother is so old, she can't take any more stress. The doctor said she only has a few days left to live, and you...

As soon as she left the hospital, she saw Zhou Wanwan, Zhou Qingyan, Zhou Qingchen, and Zhou Qinghe waiting for Zhou Fusheng at the door.

There were also many villagers nearby.

Everyone heard what I just said.

Daniu's wife exclaimed, "Oh dear! Asking for tens of thousands of taels right off the bat? Isn't this extortion? Who could possibly come up with tens of thousands of taels?"

"This Fusheng is quite filial; he gave away ten taels of silver in one go! What son could come up with so much money all at once?"

"The Zhou Family family is too greedy. They're asking for an exorbitant amount; aren't they afraid of being choked to death?"

Qian Huihui hadn't expected there to be so many people outside. She said somewhat awkwardly, "Isn't the family facing some difficulties? You didn't need to call everyone here, did you?"

Almost the entire village was present. Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:

"Isn't it more lively with more people? Besides, we did a good deed, shouldn't we publicize it properly?"

"What if we give up these ten taels of silver, and then you say we haven't fulfilled our duty of support? What then?"

Ten taels of silver could last an average family for many years.

Qian Huihui looked embarrassed. The doctor inside came out and said, "The old lady is quite ill this time. She needs ginseng, preferably a ginseng that is over a hundred years old."

Qian Huihui looked at Zhou Fusheng and said:

"This ginseng is worth several hundred taels of silver; we really can't afford it."

Fusheng, why don't you buy a ginseng root?

Zhou Fusheng's lips twitched. This Old Madam Zhou had just collapsed and was already asking for a ginseng root. Wasn't this deliberately making things difficult for them?

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Auntie, have you forgotten? I'm a doctor. I'll examine Grandma right now."

The doctor looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "How old are you? Do you think anyone will believe you if you say you can treat illnesses?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Doctor, you yourself are seriously ill, do you think anyone will believe what you say?"

The doctor's face stiffened, and he said, "Nonsense, I'm perfectly healthy."

Zhou Wanwan argued logically and with evidence:

"Your condition appears outwardly normal, but your internal organs have long been decaying and stagnant, with yin energy trapped in your chest that cannot dissipate."

I only feel weak and short of breath occasionally, which seems like a minor ailment.

But this symptom is extremely dangerous and deeply hidden. Once it flares up, there is no cure, and the patient will likely die within three days at most.

The doctor was furious.

"Nonsense, you don't know how to treat a patient at all."

If I am not in mortal danger in three days, what will you do?

Zhou Wanwan said, "Then I'll compensate you with a thousand taels. What if you die in three days?"