Madam Zhao looked up, her expression returning to its usual self, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she said, "Don't worry, old sister-in-law. Once the foulness is expelled, the person will be fine."
Upon hearing that the person was alright, Wu Chunmei's face also broke into a smile, and she said to Madam Zhao, "Thank you so much, Auntie."
Seeing that the 'illness' had been sufficiently attended to, Zhang Chunyan exchanged a look with Zhang Chunhua. The latter understood and asked Madam Zhao, "Auntie, what do you think would be a fair price?"
The two parties had already reached an agreement before coming. Zhang Chunhua had mediated, and whatever money was received would be split equally between the two families.
Madam Zhao's smile faded. She didn't mention money at all, only frowned and sighed, "This time, we've encountered a formidable foe, an evil spirit that's lingered for years and has some cultivation. To persuade it to leave your second son, it took all my energy. Now that I'm old, after exerting myself this once, I likely won't be able to take on any more jobs for a while."
Wu Chunmei felt even more grateful upon hearing Madam Zhao's words, but she didn't know how to express it, repeating her previous sentence, "Thank you so much, Auntie."
Seeing that she was stubborn about not mentioning money, Zhang Chunhua took the initiative, saying, "If not for Auntie, Uncle Second wouldn't have recovered. She's practically a lifesaver to this family. It wouldn't be right to give too little. I think fifty would be appropriate. What do you think, sister-in-law?" He knew that Chen Man-tuan and his wife had just sold a pig a couple of days ago, so they were surely not short on cash.
Fifty?
Upon hearing Zhang Chunhua's words, Wu Chunmei gasped. An aspirin tablet cost mere cents, and to have a shaman treat an illness was this expensive!
"I don't think that's appropriate."
Just as everyone was waiting for Wu Chunmei's reply, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Chen Li-shu walked in with a stern expression.
"Asking for fifty right off the bat, why don't you just rob people? That would bring in money faster."
Except for Madam Zhao, everyone else present, including Madam Chen and the Zhang sisters, cursed their bad luck upon seeing her enter. Why did this unlucky person have to show up?
"Li-shu, why have you come?" Wu Chunmei asked, surprised.
"I heard Li Fei and the others say Dad was sick?" Chen Li-shu said, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally landing on Chen Man-tuan, who was leaning weakly against the wall on the kang, his complexion sallow. Her heart tightened.
"Your father was possessed by an evil spirit, but he's alright now. Your Auntie Zhao said he's fine, so don't worry."
Nothing was more important than Chen Man-tuan's health. Wu Chunmei took out her keys, preparing to open the cabinet to get money.
Seeing her actions, Chen Li-shu's breathing hitched in anger. "Mom, you were so stingy when I suggested taking Dad to the hospital, but now, without even checking his pulse or prescribing any medicine, you're willing to pay fifty? Don't you see how bad Dad's complexion is? Can this be called being alright? Are you fooling a ghost?"
"You don't understand anything. Your father has been entangled with an evil spirit for a long time, which is why his complexion is bad. Now that the ghost is gone, he just needs to rest," Zhang Chunyan interjected with displeasure from the side.
Chen Li-shu whipped her head around, her eyes shooting sharply at her. "What kind of ghost are you invoking? I think you're invoking a bunch of ill-intentioned vampires! I have something to say." Chen Li-shu walked to the side of the kang and looked at Chen Man-tuan, asking softly, "Dad, are you feeling unwell anywhere? I'll go to the team to get someone to hitch a horse cart and take you to the county hospital right away."
"I'm fine. They didn't find anything at the clinic before. I just have a stomachache, and I feel much better after the 'immortal' saw me and I vomited," Chen Man-tuan forced a smile at her.
"Didn't you hear your dad say he's much better? What do you, an outsider, know? Your Auntie Zhao has already cured him, so why waste money at the hospital? Hurry up and pay her, or you'll offend the 'immortal' and bring disaster upon your father!" Madam Chen stepped forward, saying with displeasure.
Chen Li-shu completely ignored her. Looking at Chen Man-tuan, she stated resolutely, "No, Dad, we can't delay any longer. You must go to the hospital for a check-up today, no matter what."
As Chen Li-shu spoke, she turned to walk towards the door, but Zhang Chunyan grabbed her arm to stop her.
"What hospital? My mother-in-law just finished treating a patient, and you're immediately taking him to the hospital. If this gets out, how will we continue taking on jobs in the future?" Because she still remembered the incident where Chen Li-shu had beaten her and her son with a stick, Zhang Chunyan was not about to let her ruin her business so easily.
Hearing Zhang Chunyan's words, Madam Zhao realized what was happening. She stepped forward, her emaciated fingers like chicken claws gripping Chen Li-shu's arm tightly. "I, Madam Zhao, have been practicing for so many years, and I've never seen anyone try to renege on a debt. A child who hasn't even grown all their hair is accusing me of being a charlatan? If you're allowed to leave today, my reputation will be ruined."
Even through the padded jacket, Chen Li-shu's arm felt a sharp pain from the grip. Her anger flared, and she forcefully yanked her arm, causing Madam Zhao to stagger.
"What? Calling you a charlatan is even giving you too much credit. I think you're all just swindlers. Asking for fifty right off the bat, your big heads truly match your big faces. The country is promoting the destruction of the old and the establishment of the new. Haven't you felt the pressure enough to think you can take advantage of the situation?" Chen Li-shu swept her gaze over everyone present. "Nobody is leaving for now. Everyone come with me to the county police station. Let's see how the police comrades rule on this. If they agree that I should pay you, I'll pay without a second thought."
"You, don't try to scare me with the police. I, this old woman, am not someone who grew up being scared." Others didn't react much to this, as they hadn't personally experienced it. Madam Zhao, however, had been paraded as a demon and enemy of the people during criticism sessions. In the most extreme times, even burning paper could lead to being reported and sent to a re-education class for a couple of days.
Zhang Chunyan didn't take Chen Li-shu's words seriously at all. "You think you're so capable just because you're a little girl? Do you think the police station is run by your family? Since the patient was treated, payment is due. This is only natural. No matter how you put it, we are in the right. You're not going anywhere without paying today." That was fifty yuan. Even split with Zhang Chunhua, it was twenty-five, enough for a prosperous new year. How could she let such a fat piece of meat slip away?
Chen Li-shu was anxious to take Chen Man-tuan to the hospital and had no patience to argue with them. Seeing Zhang Chunyan reach for her arm again, she struck first, kicking her knee hard. Zhang Chunyan, caught off guard, fell to her knees.
Chen Li-shu looked down at her, her voice icy. "My patience is limited. I'm not like my parents; I'm not the pushover you think I am. If you want money, go ask whoever invited you."
"You little beast..." Seeing Zhang Chunhua and Madam Chen about to speak, Chen Li-shu shot them another glare. "You're ganging up to swindle money from my family? You'd better shut up and get out of my house with your people immediately, or no one will have a good year. I mean what I say."