"Take this money back. I can't treat this wound. You should hurry and find another doctor. If you delay any longer, he will surely die."
Chen Yuezhi decisively returned all the silver that Sanlang had extorted from Liu Shi.
Although she also wanted to earn money from the Jiang family, she couldn't get involved in this matter.
Seeing this, Liu Shi's heart sank, but she immediately said, "Sister-in-law, are you afraid I'll shortchange you? Don't worry, I'll go get the money for you right now. Wait here, I'll be right back."
Chen Yuezhi pulled her back, "Third sister-in-law, I'm not lying, nor is it about the money. If Sanlang's injury were from two days ago, I would be confident in healing it. But given the current situation, I truly cannot. If you really want to save his life, hurry and take him back. Travel faster on the road, and you might still be able to save his life."
After speaking, Chen Yuezhi let go of her hand and beckoned Jiang Pan and Jiang Wan to leave.
Liu Shi finally realized that Chen Yuezhi was not lying and hurriedly grabbed her, "Sister-in-law, you can't leave. What will happen to my husband if you leave? Sister-in-law, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted you before. I apologize to you and beg you to find a way to keep my husband alive. I'll give you money, ten taels. I won't shortchange you a single cent, I beg you."
"What?! Ten taels!" Old Mrs. Jiang's sharp voice rang out. "Chen, you truly have a black heart to dare to extort ten taels of silver from us! You really have the nerve to ask for it!"
Chen Yuezhi pursed her lips, "Even if you gave me a hundred taels now, I wouldn't accept it. I cannot save Jiang Wen's life. Hurry and find other ways, don't waste time on these things."
After thinking for a moment, Chen Yuezhi took out some medicinal powder and handed it to Liu Shi, "If you are willing to trust me, give this powder to Sanlang. Although it cannot save his life, it can at least prevent his wound from worsening. It might buy you some time. If you don't believe me, you don't have to use it."
Seeing her attitude, Liu Shi trembled as she cried and took the powder, "Sister-in-law, how do I use this powder? I don't know how. Please help me. I swear on my life and the lives of my children, whether my husband is saved or not, I will never resent you. Please, sister-in-law, help me."
As she spoke, Liu Shi knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to Chen Yuezhi.
Chen Yuezhi gritted her teeth, "Alright, come over and help me. First, we'll clean the pus from his wound and apply the medicine. Also, send someone to find more help. After applying the medicine, hurry and take Sanlang to seek medical attention. Either turn back or head to the next town. Remember, don't delay, otherwise, Sanlang will surely die."
Old Mrs. Jiang's legs went weak from fright, and she collapsed onto the ground, wailing at the top of her lungs, "Oh, my son!"
"Shut up!"
Liu Shi suddenly roared, startling Old Mrs. Jiang's wailing back into her throat. "My husband isn't dead yet! He can still be saved!"
With that, she pulled Chen Yuezhi towards Jiang Laosan.
Zhou Shi ran over and deliberately said in front of Jiang Pan's family of three, "Sister-in-law, are you really going to give Sanlang this medicine? Don't give him medicine carelessly. If there's anything harmful mixed in, it could cost Sanlang his life."
Old Mrs. Jiang also ran over to stop her, "Yes, one must guard against others. We can't just use the medicine they gave us carelessly."
Jiang Wan was furious and pulled Chen Yuezhi, "Mother, let's go. You shouldn't be worrying about this."
Liu Shi quickly stopped her, "Sister-in-law, don't go. I believe you, I really believe you. Let's hurry and give my husband the medicine, he can't be delayed any longer."
Old Mrs. Jiang and Zhou Shi rushed to stop them. In the struggle, a lot of the medicinal powder was spilled, making Liu Shi cry in distress.
Old Man Jiang came over and roared, "All of you, stop! Third sister-in-law, help your sister-in-law give the medicine to Sanlang. I'll go find people to help. Old woman, give me the family's silver."
Finding help would cost money.
As soon as Jiang Lao Er heard this, he couldn't sit still and jumped out, "Father, we can't! That's the capital we rely on for our family's livelihood."
Old Man Jiang roared at him, "Get out of my way! How the family's money is spent is not for you to worry about!"
Jiang Lao Er sheepishly retreated.
Liu Shi wiped away her tears and quickly went to assist Chen Yuezhi.
Chen Yuezhi took a deep breath, washed her hands, pried open Jiang Laosan's wound, and began to squeeze out the pus. Liu Shi held the water, ready to pour it for rinsing at any moment.
Squeezing out the pus was very painful. Jiang Laosan, though delirious, still cried out in pain.
Liu Shi cried like a drowned rat, and Chen Yuezhi's face also turned pale.
After finally cleaning the wound and applying the medicinal powder, Chen Yuezhi was covered in sweat.
"Alright, that's all I can do. Hurry and take Sanlang to seek medical attention, don't delay."
After speaking, Chen Yuezhi prepared to call Jiang Pan and Jiang Wan back.
Liu Shi quickly took out some silver, "Sister-in-law, this is the agreed-upon consultation fee. Take it."
Chen Yuezhi glanced at the silver, "Forget it, let's consider it a debt. We'll settle it when Sanlang recovers."
While the adults were talking, no one noticed Jiang Wan's actions. She reached out her chubby hand and pressed it near Jiang Laosan's wound, channeling a bit of her special ability into him.
Just a tiny bit, enough to ensure he wouldn't die.
After all, she still wanted that ten taels of silver.
When the family of three returned to their resting place, Su Shi had just finished stewing the mushroom soup.
Seeing the food, Jiang Wan forgot about everything else and quickly pounced on it, begging for food.
After she finished a bowl of mushroom soup, she heard that Liu Shi had hired several men to carry Jiang Laosan to the next town.
She was smart enough to know that no one would be willing to help if they turned back now, but if they headed to the next town, people would be willing to take risks for money.
After dinner, Dalang was called to stand guard.
They were fleeing famine as an entire village, so the village chief had set a rule: every night, twelve strong men would be selected and divided into four small teams to guard the perimeter of the convoy. Each household took turns, and no one could refuse. Tonight was Jiang Wan's family's turn, so Dalang volunteered.
With this guard team, the people of the small mountain village could sleep soundly at night.
The next day's breakfast was also mushroom soup. Chen Yuezhi, fearing that everyone would be too weak to walk if they didn't eat enough, divided one jin of grain given by the village chief's wife and had Su Shi cook it into porridge.
After breakfast, the convoy began to move again.
This was the third day since they had set out, and the atmosphere was much more somber than yesterday.
This was because some families were running out of water.
Jiang Wan's family still had enough water for two more days, but Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi's expressions were not relaxed.
After fleeing, they were in unfamiliar territory, and no one knew where to find water. If they couldn't find any, everyone would be without water to drink.
Jiang Wan put the matter of finding water to heart and decided to find a water source when they stopped to rest that night.
However, they hadn't gone far when the convoy ahead stopped.
The village chief was somewhat vigilant and also raised his hand to signal the people of the small mountain village to stop.
Seeing that they had stopped, the convoy ahead sent a few people to negotiate, "Esteemed uncles and brothers, our convoy has run out of water. Please be kind and spare us some water. We don't ask for much, just enough for our elders and children to drink."