While Ding Yun tried her best to appear not too seriously injured, so as not to need a hospital visit, Doctor Ding Shuigen of the clinic naturally didn't think too much about it.
After another check, he stated that perhaps he had overestimated the severity of the injury and that it might not be as bad as he initially thought.
He then prescribed some medication for bruising and swelling.
He also bandaged Ding Yun's head, charging a minimal cost price before sending them away.
Oh right, even that cost price was covered by the village chief.
Wu Hua hadn't brought any money with her.
For this, she could only express her gratitude repeatedly and promise to repay the money as soon as she got home, ensuring no debt would remain. On their way back, Ding Yun, pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed, checked her random golden finger for this round.
[Spring of Transformation Spring Eyes]
"This is a spring eye that can continuously produce Transformation Spring water. This spring eye contains the great power of Yin-Yang reversal. Men who drink it become women, and women who drink it become men. Each drink transforms them once. Women turn male with one sip, female with two, male with three, female with four, cycling back and forth. They can drink as many times as they wish and transform as many times as they wish, with no hidden dangers.
However, be extremely careful, the process of gender transformation will be excruciatingly painful, no less painful than surgery without anesthesia, perhaps even more so. Because the transformation caused by the Transformation Spring water is more thorough. Whether a man transforms into a woman or a woman into a man, they will be able to reproduce normally.
Additionally, all living beings in the world with gender.
The Transformation Spring water can take effect."
As soon as she finished reading about her random golden finger for this round, Ding Yun immediately had an idea for dealing with her biological father. She decided she had to make him drink this spring water when they returned.
While Ding Yun was checking her golden finger with her eyes closed, her neighbor, Aunt Zhang, couldn't stop talking:
"Little Hua, I'm not one to gossip, but if you continue like this, Ding Dayang will eventually beat you to death. They say a mother's strength comes from her children, but you can't keep waiting until you are beaten to death, or your two daughters are beaten to death.
And then think about resisting."
"Although people say it's better to demolish ten temples than to ruin a marriage, I genuinely wish to be the bad guy in this case. Even divorce would be better than this.
The lives of Widow Li and Widow Wang in the village.
They are also living quite well."
"If you truly don't want to divorce, then you have to stand your ground. If he hits you, won't you fight back? Theoretically, men are physically stronger than women, but for those of us who work in the fields every day, even if our strength isn't comparable, it's not that far off.
Not to mention he's drunk.
Let me tell you, enduring domestic violence from a husband is useless. My paternal aunt, who married into the He family village, was often beaten by my paternal uncle. One time, when my aunt could no longer bear it, she took advantage of the fact that my uncle was drunk and asleep and hung him up, beating him for a day and a night. He had no intact skin on his body, and his calf bone was broken.
Although it took a year to heal his injuries, my uncle never dared to hit my aunt again. He would tremble when he saw her and was very obedient.
If men are cruel and wicked, we must be even crueler and more wicked. Look at how obedient your Uncle Chang Gui is; it's all thanks to my aunt's efforts. He used to dare to act tough with me when he was drunk, but ever since my aunt's incident, he hasn't dared to say a word after drinking.
Of course, you don't have such a capable aunt.
So you can only rely on yourself.
Otherwise, it would be good if your siblings could support you, but you don't have a good relationship with them, do you? You can only rely on yourself. Even if you don't think for yourself, you have to think for your two daughters, don't you? Lai Di almost lost her life!"
In reality, Aunt Zhang had already advised her countless times, but it had never been effective. At this point, her words were just familiar platitudes. It would be best if they were heeded, but if not, she had no other recourse. After all, they were just neighbors, and offering a few words of advice was all she could do.
She couldn't possibly interfere too much.
Or even directly meddle in their domestic affairs by ordering them to divorce or helping to beat up Ding Dayang.
Domestic fights between a couple could still be considered domestic affairs.
But it would be inexcusable for an outsider to assist in a beating.
Even the Public Security Bureau would not try to smooth things over.
Aunt Zhang spoke until her throat was dry, but Wu Hua showed little expression, merely offering perfunctory responses. The village chief Ding Jianguo and Ding Chang Gui on the side didn't know what else to say.
Finally, the village chief could only offer a few words of advice: if she really couldn't stand it, she should consult the Women's Federation, or go to the Public Security Bureau to seek help. If she didn't stand up for herself, how much could outsiders help?
When they returned to Wu Hua's house, Ding Dayang was already snoring loudly in his sleep. After Wu Hua went inside and rummaged through boxes and drawers to find over ten yuan to repay the village chief, the village chief sighed and left. Ding Chang Gui and Aunt Zhang, after exchanging greetings, also returned home hand in hand.
After everyone had left, Wu Hua finally broke down in tears.
Whether it was for her tragic marriage, the ten yuan she had taken out, or something else, it was unclear.
The crucial point was that in her tears, she had forgotten to take Ding Yun, the injured person, back into the house to care for her. It was only when her elder sister, Zhao Di, finally managed to help Ding Yun into the room and poured her hot water, applied medicine, and washed her face that things progressed.
Ding Yun's injuries were indeed quite severe at the moment, so she could only accept her elder sister's care gratefully, keeping the warmth in her heart.
Wu Hua only remembered her younger daughter after she had finished crying. She went to Ding Yun's bedside and spoke from the heart:
"Zhao Di, Lai Di, you have suffered. But I cannot divorce. Aunt Zhang speaks easily, but she has three elder brothers and two younger brothers, and her parents are still alive. Even if we were to divorce, I wouldn't have to worry.
But I'm different. My parents are gone.
Your maternal uncles even coveted my dowry. If I divorce, I will truly be homeless. If I take you with me, the three of us will only be left to face the cold wind and freeze or starve on the streets. If I leave you here and your father remarries, your lives will only be more miserable.
As for what Aunt Zhang said about beating Dayang when he's drunk, if he were to get seriously injured, our family would truly lose all income, and then we wouldn't even be able to afford your tuition fees for school!
In short, don't listen to Aunt Zhang's nonsense.
It's just that the three of us have bitter fates. We'll just have to endure this life. A few more years, and when you are of age, you will get married. I will definitely find you a good reliance, a husband who doesn't beat his wife and can provide enough to eat.
And Lai Di, why did you have to do that?
Didn't I tell you to stay far away or go out to play for a while when you saw your father drinking, and then come back? Why did you have to be so brave, not only suffering so much but also costing over ten yuan? This ten yuan is enough for your and your sister's tuition fees for a semester. Alas, forget it. From now on, stay far away when you see your father drinking.
Don't worry about Mom; Mom is fine.
I'm tough and thick-skinned; I won't die..."