Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Snap, Not Painful At All
265 A SNAP, NOT PAINFUL AT ALL
Being called stupid by a nine-year-old girl, Niu Baishun’s expression was quite a sight. However, the throbbing pain in his hand was far more critical. He couldn’t be bothered with saving face any longer. So what if she thinks I’m stupid? he thought, then reluctantly asked, "Niece, please explain it to me more clearly."
Zhao Zhitong was unmoved. "Don’t try to claim kinship with me. There are two ways to treat your hand. One is cheap, simple to perform, and offers immediate results. The other is expensive and requires a slow period of recovery. Which do you choose?"
Niu Baishun didn’t even need to think. "Of course, I choose the cheap and fast one!" he exclaimed.
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Alright, we’ll do it your way!"
With that, she turned and yelled to Sun Daxiang, "Third Cousin, go to the backyard and bring the fodder chopper!"
Niu Baishun was stunned. "What’s the fodder chopper for?"
Zhao Zhitong gave him a look one might reserve for a fool. "What do you think? To treat your ailment, of course. Didn’t you choose the fast method? This poison is currently in your finger. One cut, SNAP, sever it at the root, and the poison will be gone. Isn’t that an instant result?"
As Zhao Zhitong vividly described it, especially the "SNAP," Niu Baishun felt as if his finger had truly been severed, and his hand trembled in fright.
Nearby, Sun Kang struggled to suppress his laughter. This little minx is really starting to tease him now.
Behind the counter, Sun Daxiang instantly understood his younger cousin’s meaning and shouted, "Alright, little cousin, you wait! I’ll go get it right now! I’ll grab the sharpest new fodder chopper we have in the house. I guarantee it’ll cut clean through in one go!"
Then, he turned to Niu Baishun and said, "Don’t you worry, that fodder chopper is incredibly sharp. Just one cut, it’ll only hurt for a second, and then the pain will be gone for good."
With that, he ran off towards the backyard.
Niu Baishun’s face went white with terror. "Hey, no, no, no! You can’t chop off my hand! You can’t!"
Xiao Guizi also shielded Niu Baishun, crying out, "Doctor, Doctor, you mustn’t chop it off! Do you have any idea how precious my master’s hand is? My master earns his living with this hand! You can’t chop it off!"
"Not chopping it?" Zhao Zhitong frowned, displeased. "Fine. You don’t want to chop it? Then there’s nothing I can do."
Niu Baishun forced a placating smile. "But isn’t there another method?"
Zhao Zhitong sighed. "Very well, then. We’ll use the second method."
Saying this, she picked up a brush and wrote out a prescription. "This method involves expelling all the poison from your body, bit by bit. That’s the only way to ensure the toxic sores don’t return."
Niu Baishun nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, as long as it cures the illness, that’s fine."
Zhao Zhitong picked up the prescription, blew gently on the still-wet ink, and then said to Niu Baishun, "The consultation fee plus the medicine comes to 20 taels of silver."
Niu Baishun choked. "T-twenty taels? That... that much?"
Xiao Guizi’s eyes nearly popped out. "You... aren’t you ripping us off? What kind of medicine costs 20 taels? That’s... that’s outrageous!"
Zhao Zhitong blinked. "Oh? You think it’s expensive? This is a secret formula plaster from our De Ren Tang. In the entire world, only our De Ren Tang has it. You don’t want to buy it? Fine, then go seek treatment from someone more capable."
Hmph! Still complaining it’s expensive! When you used this trick to give Zhang Jinbao’s wife a hard time, you didn’t think you were being despicable then, did you!
Seeing Zhao Zhitong refuse to treat him, Niu Baishun panicked and quickly backed down. "Hey, no, no, no! It’s not expensive, not expensive at all! It’s only 20 taels, right? I’ll pay, I’ll pay."
With that, he fumbled in his robes for a money pouch and reluctantly counted out 20 taels of silver, handing it to Zhao Zhitong.
Only after accepting the silver did Zhao Zhitong pass the prescription to Sun Daqing, who had just returned. "Get his medicine for him. Oh, and by the way, give him a six-day supply of our pharmacy’s homemade Tingzi Ointment."
"Yes, right away!" Sun Daqing responded. He took the prescription and hurried to the counter to prepare Niu Baishun’s medicine.
"Scoop out an appropriate amount of the plaster and apply it to your finger. Change it every two days," Sun Daqing said, rattling off the instructions as he wrapped the medicine and placed it on the counter.
Niu Baishun glanced at Xiao Guizi. The attendant quickly stepped forward, took the medicine, and then supported his master as they turned to leave.
Once they were out of the pharmacy, Niu Baishun, gritting his teeth against the pain, said viciously, "That damn girl! She didn’t leave me a shred of dignity! It’s infuriating!"
Just then, a sharp, concentrated pain shot through the toxic sore, and Niu Baishun yelped, "OUCH!"
Xiao Guizi said, "Master, don’t be angry. Be careful, or you’ll harm your health. She’s just a little brat who hasn’t even lost all her baby teeth. Once your hand is healed, dealing with her will be as easy as crushing an ant!"
Niu Baishun glanced back at De Ren Tang. Damn girl, you just wait! he thought, then snorted coldly. "Let’s go!"
After Niu Baishun returned home, he immediately instructed his servants to brew the medicine.
When Lady Zhao heard her husband was back, she hurried over to show her concern. "My dear husband, is your hand feeling any better? I’ve stewed some pear soup for you; it’s good for reducing heat. Would you like some?"
Niu Baishun was already simmering with a bellyful of anger.
Lady Zhao’s arrival was like walking straight into the line of fire. Without a second thought, Niu Baishun unleashed a torrent of reproaches upon her.
"You ask if I’m better? Can’t you see your man is in agony? You’re so unobservant! If there’s nothing important, don’t hover around me. Just looking at you irritates me!"
Lady Zhao felt a surge of indignation from the scolding, but she didn’t dare argue with her husband. Suppressing her anger, she returned to her own courtyard.
There, the servant girls in the courtyard bore the brunt of her temper; she smashed things and lashed out at them.
Zhao Miaomiao and Zhao Liuniang, who had followed Lady Zhao to the county town full of hope, now stood frightened in a corner of the room, too scared to speak.
They had come with such high expectations. When they first arrived, Lady Zhao had treated them reasonably well, giving them new clothes and tasty food.
However, Lady Zhao had a volatile temper. Often, after suffering some grievance from Master Niu, she would return and vent her frustrations on them. The first time this happened, Zhao Miaomiao had stepped forward to comfort Lady Zhao.
But Lady Zhao had slapped her squarely across the face, then proceeded to beat and curse her, with Zhao Liuniang also receiving a share of the abuse.
Afterward, Lady Zhao had tearfully apologized to both of them, crying about her own hardships and saying she had been so furious that she’d lost her head and struck them.
Nevertheless, Zhao Miaomiao and Zhao Liuniang were terrified. From then on, whenever Lady Zhao lost her temper, they would become as quiet as mice, never daring to approach her again.
After her outburst, Lady Zhao’s gaze fell upon Zhao Miaomiao. "Miaomiao," she asked, "how old are you this year?"
Zhao Miaomiao answered fearfully, "I’ll be thirteen after my birthday."
Lady Zhao nodded, seemingly lost in thought. "Thirteen, you say? That’s old enough to be married."
Hearing the words "old enough to be married," Zhao Miaomiao blushed and shyly lowered her head, a wave of happiness washing over her.
Is Auntie going to find a husband for me? she wondered, a flicker of anticipation kindling in her heart.
Seeing through Zhao Miaomiao’s girlish hopes, Lady Zhao sneered inwardly. An ugly chit like her, dreaming of marrying into a good family in the county town? Dream on! She’d be fortunate just to be a bed-warming servant girl for someone; that would be good enough for her!
Noticing that Lady Zhao had only questioned Zhao Miaomiao, Zhao Liuniang grew anxious and quickly spoke up, "Auntie, I... I’m already fourteen this year."
Having said this, she looked at Lady Zhao with hopeful expectation.