CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: AMBUSHED

After the attendant left, Mrs. Chen handed her purse to Yun Jiao, "There’s a bit over an ounce of silver in here, go get some medicine for Erlang first."

Yun Jiao had already looked over the prescription. She shook her head at Mrs. Chen, "Mother, the medicine in here is not cheap. A bit over an ounce of silver is probably only enough for one dose, and the doctor prescribed five doses."

Afraid that Mrs. Chen didn’t understand, Yun Jiao continued, "One dose is only enough for a day’s consumption. In Sanlang’s case, after five doses we’ll have to change the prescription and continue taking medicine, which will take at least a month."

Jiang Hua clicked his tongue from the side, "An ounce of silver only enough for one dose? Then won’t it cost dozens of ounces of silver for the whole month!"

Upon hearing it would cost dozens of ounces of silver, Mrs. Chen also felt a bit hopeless, but she still forced herself to tell Jiang Hua, "Third Brother, why don’t you go back and get some silver from our parents, otherwise this clinic’s bill won’t be settled, and Sanlang also needs silver to buy medicine."

Jiang Hua frowned, "There’s no more silver at home. I think Sanlang’s medicine money should come from that scholar Zheng."

"That scholar can easily take out dozens to hundreds of ounces without any issue."

Just then, Jiang Youzhi woke up. He weakly called out, "No!"

Mrs. Chen hurriedly rushed over, tears mixed with a smile, "Sanlang, you’re awake, is your head okay?"

Jiang Youzhi nodded gently, indicating it was fine.

He didn’t hit his head; the injuries on his face were scratches from tree branches when he fell down. In fact, he had woken up last night, the pain was unbearable, and he lay there with his eyes open through half the night.

It was only at daybreak that he fell into a daze and slept again.

Last night, Xu Zhizhong was sleeping soundly on the nearby couch, completely unaware that he was in so much pain he couldn’t sleep.

Upon waking and hearing Jiang Hua’s words, he quickly intervened.

He closed his eyes, enduring the discomfort of his body, and slowly said, "If Brother Zheng sends silver, then it’s fine to accept it."

"If he doesn’t send any, it’s absolutely not appropriate to ask for it."

He paused and added, "This matter doesn’t concern anyone else, it was my own carelessness."

"Third Uncle must not ask for silver. You must know he is a scholar, and if we anger him, our whole family will suffer for it."

Hearing this, Jiang Hua said, "I’m not insisting on asking him, but where will the money for treatment come from?"

"Your grandparents say there’s no more silver."

Jiang Youzhi, with eyes closed, slowly said, "First, try to borrow some from whoever can lend it. Once I’m a bit better, I’ll take on some work copying books at home. Over time, we’ll manage to save up the silver."

Jiang Hua stamped his foot, "That’s easier said than done. Copying books for others earns just a few copper coins, how long will it take to pay off?"

Jiang Youzhi sighed, "There’s no other way, we’ll have to pay it back slowly."

Jiang Hua was silent for a while, then suddenly said, "The doctor said the fracture is in a bad spot, at the root of your leg. It’s likely you’ll be crippled. What should we do from now on?"

With a crippled leg, there’s no need to mention it, even the imperial examinations will be out of reach.

Not only in the Great Chu Dynasty, but throughout history, it has been prohibited for those with disabilities to enter office, as it’s detrimental to the dignity of officials and the image of the court.

Jiang Youzhi was stunned for a moment, his already pale face becoming even whiter like paper.

His voice trembled, "Did Doctor Li really say that?"

Jiang Hua nodded, deeply distressed.

Jiang Youzhi closed his eyes and, in an instant, thought about many things.

Falling from the building was not his own carelessness at all, he had been pushed.

Due to the scheming against him during the autumn examinations, he had been very cautious at the banquet.

He hardly drank any wine, and when someone persuaded him to drink, he discreetly poured it into his sleeve.