"Consultation fee?"
Madam Liu had not expected this at all.
Sanlang nodded. "Of course. Don't you usually pay consultation fees when you see a doctor? If you pay other doctors, why wouldn't you pay my mother?"
Madam Liu gritted her teeth. "You're right. I'll pay. Let's go quickly then."
"What's the hurry?" Sanlang said slowly. "I haven't finished speaking. We will save this person, but we cannot guarantee if he can be saved or cured. If your third uncle dies from his injuries and the medicine is ineffective, you must promise not to trouble my mother."
Madam Liu cried out in distress, "What?! You can't guarantee he'll be saved or cured?!"
Sanlang nodded. "Who would dare guarantee that for you? When you saw doctors before, did they dare to pat their chests and guarantee they could save you? At most, they would say they'd do their best, right? My mother is kind-hearted and will definitely do her best to treat him, but if his lifespan is just that short, even the Great Celestial Emperor couldn't do anything, let alone my mother, a mortal. Therefore, you must promise in front of the entire village that if your third uncle passes away, you will not cause any trouble."
Madam Liu clenched her fists so tightly she was furious. "You... aren't you going too far!"
Sanlang spread his hands. "This is going too far? This is just to prevent my mother from being beaten after she's put in the effort. If you can't guarantee it, then we won't take this job. Who knows how serious Third Uncle's injuries really are? What if my mother just touches him and he dies? Wouldn't you beat my mother to death?"
He then turned to Chen Yuezhi and said, "Mother, we're not taking this job."
Jiang Wan nodded vigorously. "Right, we're not taking it!"
Her little brother's mouth was truly amazing! It far exceeded her expectations!
Seeing Madam Liu so angry she looked like she would spit blood was incredibly amusing!
Chen Yuezhi had been a bit soft-hearted initially, but seeing Madam Liu's attitude, she withdrew that softness. After all, Jiang Laosan's injuries were not caused by her, nor had they worsened under her treatment. Therefore, as long as she didn't touch Jiang Laosan, his life or death had nothing to do with her.
But if she went to treat him and was unlucky enough not to cure him, she would be in big trouble.
She couldn't get involved in this.
"Shucai's wife, you can go back. I can't treat your Shucai master's injuries."
Madam Liu was trembling with anger from their family's words. She desperately wanted to turn and leave.
But her husband was waiting for Chen Yuezhi to save his life.
Madam Liu wanted to kneel and kowtow again, but Su Shi rushed forward and stopped her. "Shucai's wife, what are you doing? Aren't you making things difficult for my mother-in-law? You should hurry back and stay by your Shucai master's side, lest you miss seeing him one last time."
Jiang Wan almost burst out laughing. She hadn't expected her sister-in-law to be such a clever person! Haha, look at that last sentence, it made Madam Liu's face turn pale.
Madam Liu, in her desperation, began to cry. "Eldest sister-in-law, I beg you, save my husband!"
Someone nearby couldn't stand it and said, "Shucai's wife, they've already made it very clear. As long as your family guarantees not to cause trouble afterward, they will go. If you refuse to give a promise and only ask them to save him, isn't it obvious that you intend to cause trouble if he's not cured? Even a fool would know not to get involved in this."
Jiang Wan raised her eyebrows and glanced at the speaker. It was Qin family's daughter-in-law. By seniority, she was an aunt.
Not bad, not bad. A good neighbor. She would let the Qin family receive the care of an 'immortal' in return.
Madam Liu's intentions were exposed, and her face flushed red and then white with embarrassment.
Chen Yuezhi felt even more annoyed. She bent down to pick up Jiang Wan and was about to go into the tent.
Madam Liu quickly called out, "Eldest sister-in-law! I promise!"
She said the last four words almost through gritted teeth. "I promise, no matter if my husband can be cured or not, I will not blame you, nor will I come to trouble you. Please save my husband!"
She was truly desperate. If she had any other option, she wouldn't be humbling herself and making such a promise!
Chen Yuezhi still wanted to refuse. She truly didn't want to get involved with anything related to the Jiang family.
However, Sanlang said, "Fine, since you've promised, we'll take the job. But the consultation fee must be paid first, otherwise, I'm afraid you won't honor your word afterward."
Madam Liu's face turned ashen with anger, but she said nothing. It seemed that after making the promise, she no longer cared about anything else. "How much silver?"
Sanlang dangled one finger. "Ten taels, no bargaining."
"Ten! Taels!"
Madam Liu became agitated again. "Why don't you go rob someone!"
Sanlang shrugged. "That's the price. Take it or leave it. We didn't want to come in the first place."
Jiang Wan pulled Chen Yuezhi into the tent. "Mother, let's go lie down. You must be exhausted after walking all day. Wanwan will massage your legs for you."
Seeing Chen Yuezhi about to leave, Madam Liu said hatefully, "Fine, ten taels! I'll pay!"
She had no choice. Her husband's life was hanging by a thread, and she had to endure this mockery and humiliation!
Sanlang extended his hand. "Words are not proof. Pay the silver first."
Madam Liu, with a frosty expression, took out a few pieces of broken silver from her pocket. "I only have these with me. Please, Madam Chen, move aside first. After we get there, I'll ask my mother-in-law to gather the rest."
Chen Yuezhi didn't want to go. But that troublesome child Sanlang had pushed things this far. If she really didn't go, and Jiang Laosan died, she would be drowned in a torrent of spit.
What a misfortune!
Chen Yuezhi glared at Sanlang, found her medicine bundle, and called for Jiang Pan to leave.
Jiang Wan quickly followed. She had to see how Jiang Laosan was doing. If he was really in a bad way, she had to help him survive.
Although she had forced Madam Liu to make a guarantee, she couldn't trust the character of Madam Jiang. If Jiang Laosan really died, her family would never be at peace.
She had some understanding of the personalities of Madam Jiang and Old Master Jiang. Regardless of whether her mother treated Jiang Laosan or not, as long as something happened to Jiang Laosan, her mother and their family would be resented by the Jiang family. She certainly wouldn't care about how the Jiang family caused trouble, but her parents couldn't escape it.
Therefore, Jiang Laosan couldn't die, at least not right now.
The reason for all this fuss was to let her parents vent their anger first and then extort some money from the Jiang family.
That was what her parents deserved!
Jiang Wan followed her parents with her short legs. Jiang Pan noticed her and bent down to pick her up.
Arriving at the Jiang family's resting place again, the Jiang family was in utter chaos. Jiang Laosan had already fainted, and Madam Jiang was holding him and crying. Old Master Jiang's hand had been pulled back, but the bite wound on his palm was deep, and blood was flowing continuously. Jiang Lao Er's family kept their distance, none of them approaching.
Chen Yuezhi did not greet the Jiang family. Upon arrival, she lifted the quilt covering Jiang Laosan, exposed the wound, and examined it carefully. Then, she frowned deeply.
The wound was more serious than she had imagined.
The knife that had cut Jiang Laosan was covered in who knows how much dirt. The Jiang family did not clean it and had covered it tightly with bedding, causing the wound to become severely infected and inflamed in a short period.
If it dragged on for another day or two, Jiang Laosan would surely die.
The wound was too severe; she had almost no confidence.
Her medicine was effective for ordinary flesh wounds. Jiang Laosan's wound was too serious, and these medicines would have little effect.