Brother Zhao and Second Brother Zhao carried Zhao Nanying back to the study. Patriarch Zhao directed people to bring a bathtub and carried hot water from the kitchen.
They changed the water three times before they could wash him clean. Then they changed his clothes and settled him on the couch.
Zhao Nanying's body could not withstand the exertion. Third Brother Zhao had already rushed off with the ox cart to town to fetch a doctor.
Patriarch Zhao: "Nanying, how are you feeling?"
"Great-Grandpa, I'm in so much pain all over."
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Your third cousin has already gone to get the doctor."
Zhao Nanying was in too much pain to speak and just nodded to show he understood. After everything was tidied up, several aunts crowded in.
"Nanying, I'm your Aunt Cui. They say after a great disaster comes great fortune. You are a blessed person and will surely be alright."
"Nanying, I'm your Aunt Li. These are eggs from my own chickens. They're not worth much, but you must accept them. You are the first scholar from our entire village to pass the exam. You will surely have great wealth, honor, peace, and safety in the future!"
The room instantly became noisy as several women introduced the gifts they had brought. Patriarch Zhao coughed heavily to interrupt them.
"Alright, Nanying has received your well wishes. His priority now is to recover from his injuries. What is all this commotion?"
The aunts quickly placed their items at the foot of Zhao Nanying's bed and left the study together.
"Oh dear, it's so late. I need to get home. Do you want to come along?"
"There are so many people taking care of Nanying, they don't need us. I need to go back too, I have a pile of things waiting for me at home."
"Don't we all? Let's go, let's go, let's leave together."
...
Zhao Xiaohua: "Sister-in-law, don't worry. My third brother has already gone to get the doctor. I just heard them say that Brother Nanying can still speak, so he should be alright."
"Cough, cough, that's great. If my husband meets with misfortune, how will my Ling and I live? *Sob sob*... cough cough cough..."
Mother Yang patted Jun Jiuli's back with concern. Zhao Xiaohua quickly went to fetch some medicine for Jun Jiuli to drink.
"Xiaoliu, don't get too excited, you're still sick yourself."
"Yes, Sister-in-law, taking care of your health is most important."
"Mhm, mhm."
The doctor, after learning about the incident and examining him for a long time, couldn't make a diagnosis. His brow was deeply furrowed.
Patriarch Zhao: "Doctor, what is the situation?"
The doctor put down Zhao Nanying's wrist and began to examine his body. Zhao Nanying cried out in pain wherever he was touched.
"Alas, this scholar has several broken bones. I can manage his arms and legs, but for other parts, I am powerless."
"Doctor, please find a way. These bones are not a minor issue. My cousin still needs to participate in the imperial examinations, and his future is immeasurable!"
"Young man, please don't put me in a difficult position. I truly have no solutions. I am not learned enough. Perhaps you should take the scholar to the county to see someone."
Patriarch Zhao: "We will certainly go, but please, doctor, treat Nanying first."
The doctor nodded, prescribed some painkillers, and had someone prepare them. He then stuffed a handkerchief into Zhao Nanying's mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue.
Afterward, he picked up Zhao Nanying's arm and began to feel it. After a while, he forcefully pulled it. With a crunch, everyone present gasped.
The doctor quickly took bamboo splints to immobilize the affected area and then began to feel other parts. Zhao Nanying was sweating profusely from the pain.
After working for a while, the doctor stopped. Brother Zhao quickly stepped forward to wipe his sweat, and Second Brother Zhao went to pour tea.
Patriarch Zhao: "Doctor, are Nanying's arms and legs reconnected?"
The doctor put down the tea bowl and quickly shook his head.
"I can only try my best to reset the fractured bones. No one can guarantee a complete recovery. However, the scholar is not to be moved in his current state, and the ox cart is too bumpy to transport him. I'll give you a piece of advice: send someone to inform the government officials about the scholar's condition. They will send a doctor skilled in orthopedics."
Patriarch Zhao bowed to the doctor. "Thank you for your reminder. In the rush of the day, I completely forgot about this."
"Oh, please don't do that. You're welcome, you're welcome."
The doctor accepted his payment. Third Brother Zhao and Second Brother Zhao drove the ox cart to send him back to town. The two brothers would not return that night and would drive straight to the county seat.
Jun Jiuli: "Mother, it's getting late. You should go back quickly. Father is waiting for you to cook dinner, and it's hard to travel in the dark."
"Mother is worried about you. Anyone can cook dinner. I'm not going back tonight. I'll stay here and watch over you."
"If you don't go back, Father and my sister will worry. There are so many people here, nothing will happen."
Zhao Xiaohua: "Yes, Auntie. You should go back quickly. I'll look after my sister-in-law."
"Alright then, Mother will come to see you tomorrow."
"Mhm, mhm."
Sister-in-law Zhao and Zhao Xiaohua stayed behind to cook. The male members of the Zhao family took turns watching over Zhao Nanying, for fear of any accident.
Aunt Li went to visit Aunt Cui's house and found several familiar old sisters already there. They were gathered around a small fire, each holding a handful of pumpkin seeds and cracking them.
Aunt Li rubbed her hands, grabbed a handful from the wooden bowl, and sat down on a small wooden stool in their midst.
"Oh dear, I'm late."
"Hahaha, we were just talking about you. People really can't stand to be gossiped about."
"What were you saying about me? Tell me quickly."
"We were saying why you haven't come over yet. Usually, when there's any news in the village, you're the first one to rush over."
"Alas, I got home late. My scoundrel husband is waiting for me to cook dinner. He goes off to tend to the livestock, exhausting me to death."
Aunt Wang: "I didn't go today. Is what they're saying true? Did Zhao Nanying really fall into the cesspit?"
"Absolutely true, and I was the one who found him. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I wonder when he fell in. Such a big person, and he was even crushed by a pig. I really don't know what to say."
"Oh, you scoundrel. How do you know he was crushed? Wasn't he just soaking in the cesspit?"
"My Er Gou came back and said that several of his bones were dislocated. Do you think he could have fallen like that and ended up like this?"
The aunts covered their mouths in surprise, "It didn't look that serious at the time. What are we going to do? Didn't they say he had to take some exam in February?"
"The imperial examinations, yes. If he passes, it will be incredible. Alas, it's a pity that my family didn't produce anyone with scholarly talent."
"Hahaha, even if you don't send them to study, can they learn on their own? Besides, Zhao Nanying's education cost a lot of money. It even took a toll on his mother, and they say his wife doesn't have many days left to live. (Whispering)"
"Alas, do you think their family has provoked something unclean? His wife fell ill, and then this happened to him."
"Oh, it's not a big problem. My husband says that a scholar is extraordinary. They don't even need to bow to the county magistrate. There are many people who want to curry favor with him. His injuries are not a major issue."
"Yes, yes, money makes the world go round. After someone came to their house to announce his success, many wealthy people visited. Even though he claimed to have accepted nothing, who knows if it's true."
"Oh, then he will have a great future. Can our village benefit from this? Perhaps I should have my Er Gou follow him."
The aunts burst into laughter. "Old Woman Wang, you only realized today that he has a great future? They will promote their own family members first. However, being on good terms is never wrong."
Old Woman Wang slapped her forehead hard. "You didn't remind me. I haven't even gone to send any gifts yet."
"Then let's go take a look together tomorrow."
"Alright, alright, you must call me when you leave. My Er Gou has no other skills but obedience. I'll bring him along tomorrow. If Zhao Nanying takes a liking to him and keeps him around to serve, it will certainly be better than farming."
"Hahaha~"