Father Huo had originally wanted to grit his teeth and endure it, thinking that if he just held on, it might pass.
By evening, his ankle had swollen thicker than the root of his thigh. Faint black blood seeped out, and the pain was so intense that he clenched his teeth tightly, his whole body breaking out in cold sweat.
Mother Huo ordered him to fetch water. After calling for a long time and seeing no movement from him, she walked from the outer room toward the bedroom while saying, “Changsheng’s father, what’s going on with you? Ever since you came back, you’ve been staying inside and haven’t gone out. I told you to carry some water, and the water jar is already empty, yet you still don’t move…
Changsheng’s father, what’s wrong with you?”
Mother Huo noticed that Father Huo’s expression was off and asked anxiously and nervously.
Father Huo could no longer hide it and lifted his ankle for her to see.
One look was enough to frighten Mother Huo badly.
“I was wondering what was wrong with you. You injured your leg like this and didn’t say a word. If this turns into a disability and you can’t walk, what are you going to do for the rest of your life?”
While scolding him, Mother Huo helped him down from the bed.
However, Father Huo was too heavy, and Mother Huo could not support him alone. She could only shout toward the courtyard, “Yuchan, Taohua, hurry and come inside to help.”
Father Huo was seriously injured. Even with three women, they could not lift him.
Mother Huo had no choice but to call for Zhuzi from next door to help.
They were all neighbors. As soon as Zhuzi heard that Father Huo was injured, he hurriedly climbed over the wall and carried him on his back toward the medical hall.
There was no medical hall in Huojia Village, so they had to go to the neighboring Dayang Village to find a doctor.
Mother Huo cried while complaining, “Your father too, he was injured and didn’t say anything. If it gets delayed any longer, his leg will be ruined.”
Ning Yuchan was even more worried than Mother Huo.
With the Huo family’s current situation, if another sick person appeared, even putting food on the table in the future would become a problem.
She walked out past the second gate, then suddenly remembered that Mother Huo might not have any silver on her. She returned to the room and took a pouch with her.
After about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, Zhuzi carried Father Huo into the medical hall.
The old doctor’s medical skills were average. After carefully examining him, he frowned and said, “I can only apply some medicine and bandage it for you. If the swelling doesn’t go down tonight, you should go to a large medical hall in the city tomorrow.”
Mother Huo felt her heart sink and asked the old doctor how much it would cost.
The old doctor had not used much medicine. “Twenty copper coins will do.”
Mother Huo searched for a long time and only managed to find seven.
Ning Yuchan made up the rest.
In front of outsiders, Mother Huo could not say much. She then asked Zhuzi to carry him back again.
Father Huo did not make a sound the entire way.
This family relied entirely on him. Now that he could not even walk and was like a cripple, what hope was there for the family’s future?
After entering the house, Zhuzi drank some water. He told Mother Huo to call him if anything happened and then left.
Mother Huo stared at Father Huo’s ankle.
“It’s too late today. Tomorrow, we’ll borrow Zhuzi’s donkey and take you to the city.”
Father Huo sighed. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. I feel like it’s nothing serious.”
Father Huo’s family had originally had a donkey as well, used for farming. Last year, it had been taken by the eldest branch to work and was worked to death.
A donkey costs at least three taels of silver. They had planned to save some money to buy another one, but now that they had fallen into debt, there was probably no chance anymore.
When Mother Huo became anxious, she spoke without thinking, “You feel like it’s nothing serious. Does that mean it’s really nothing serious? Our family only has you as someone who can work. Spring plowing is about to begin, and you’re like this…”
Father Huo’s expression grew worse and worse. It was unclear whether it was from the pain or from the discomfort in his heart.
He let out a long sigh.
“Sigh, I’ve made you suffer by following me.”
Ning Yuchan did not stay long in the main room. She returned to the east wing and gathered all the silver she had, preparing to give it to Mother Huo later.
They would go to the city tomorrow to see a doctor, and they did not know how much silver would be needed.
This was all she had, and she was willing to give it all.
However, Ning Yuchan’s silver was not used, because the next morning, the swelling in Father Huo’s leg had gone down.
However, it was still painful and he did not dare to put weight on it.
They had Zhuzi drive the donkey cart and send him once again to the medical hall in Dayang Village.
The doctor prescribed some more medicine and told him to go back and find a splint to bind the leg. He should not move around for a month. Whether it would affect his ability to walk in the future was hard to say, but he would at least be able to walk.
There was no other choice. Mother Huo had been married into the Huo family for more than twenty years and had never once opened her mouth to Old Lady Huo.
Now that Father Huo had injured his leg and could not go to the fields to work at least this spring, the family’s food and livelihood had become a problem. The backbone she had held straight for more than twenty years had no choice but to bend.
After Father Huo returned, she went to the east courtyard, intending to borrow a few taels of silver for emergency use.
After all, Father Huo was Old Lady Huo’s biological son. Upon hearing that her son was injured, she should extend a helping hand.
But Mother Huo had overestimated Old Lady Huo’s affection for her son.
Upon hearing that Father Huo was injured, not only did Old Lady Huo refuse to give even a single coin, but she also scolded Mother Huo.
She said things like she should never have allowed him to marry such an ill-omened woman back then, that their life could not be sustained, and that she had even implicated the grandson.
Mother Huo endured her tears and returned home, sitting under the window and crying bitterly.
Ning Yuchan stood helplessly in the east wing. Feeling that she could not just ignore everything, she hurried to the window to persuade Mother Huo.
“Mother, don’t worry. There will always be a way. Father’s leg swelling went down this morning, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.”
Mother Huo wiped her tears. “I just feel heartbroken. The Huo family has two to three hundred mu of land, all farmed by the eldest branch. There are also two or three shops in the city. Their family eats well and lives well, yet your father has nothing.
We finally raised Changsheng to adulthood, and he could support the family, but he suddenly went missing.
How are we supposed to live like this in the future?”
Ning Yuchan hesitated before saying, “My father’s family knows how to make pastries. I was thinking of going back to learn. Our family could set up a stall in the city. That should at least solve our livelihood problems.”
Mother Huo had never done business before and felt uncertain.
As for the daughter-in-law, she was only in her teens and had no experience. Not to mention she would still need help from her natal family. What if they ended up losing money…
“You married into this family, and we didn’t let you live a good life. Instead, you’ve had to suffer along with us. This is the fate of the Huo family, not your fate. Why don’t you return to your parents’ home?”
Ning Yuchan did not want to leave.
The people of the Huo family were all kind and generous. They should not be living such a poor life.
If she stayed and managed things, perhaps they could get out of their predicament.
“Mother, please don’t drive me away. I’ll wait for Brother Huo to come back.”
Mother Huo could not persuade her and had no mood to continue speaking.
“Your father’s leg is injured, and he’s reluctant to go to the city for treatment. The village doctor’s skills aren’t good either. Who knows if this will leave lasting damage.”
Ning Yuchan comforted her, “It won’t. My father has a fortunate fate. He’ll recover soon.”
Mother Huo knew her daughter-in-law was comforting her.
Still, after hearing a few words from her, her mood improved.
As if recalling something, she sighed, “The Huo family ancestors used to make dog-skin medicinal plasters. They were once very wealthy. The plasters they made, not to mention reconnecting broken bones, but for injuries like your father-in-law’s, just applying two patches would heal it.”
Ning Yuchan had heard a little about it before, but she had not expected it to be so effective.
“Mother, then why don’t they make it anymore?”
Mother Huo cursed, “It’s all because of those immoral and short-sighted fools. They even lost the prescription. What is there left to make?”
The hope that had just risen in Ning Yuchan’s heart was extinguished again.
“Not even anything passed down orally?”
Mother Huo shook her head.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a while, but Mother Huo was still worried about Father Huo.
At dinner, Mother Huo continued to complain about him.
From Father Huo himself all the way to eighteen generations of Huo family ancestors.
“The Huo family’s plasters were famous far and wide. The family rose through those plasters, and yet they managed to lose the prescription. How capable your Huo family is…”
Father Huo grew annoyed from being scolded by his wife and could not help but think about the Huo family’s past.
And he actually remembered something.
“Yuchan, can you read?”
Ning Yuchan had just eaten half a bowl of rice and was still thinking about ways to earn money. Hearing this, she was startled. “I can.”
Father Huo instructed Mother Huo to open the chest. At the very bottom, there was a pitch-black book. She took it out.
A musty smell wafted out. Mother Huo disliked it. “Why are you looking for this? You can’t even read. Your leg is injured, and now even your brain is affected.”
Father Huo did not argue with her. “Give it to Yuchan.”
While taking the musty book, Ning Yuchan said to Father Huo, “My mother can read. My sister and I learned from her when we were young. We’re not capable of scholarly study, but we can read letters and such.”
She flipped through it casually.
“Father, these are all prescriptions.”
Mother Huo leaned over. “What prescriptions?”
Ning Yuchan pointed at the words in the book and explained, “Amber Plaster, Hemostatic Pain-Relief Powder, Restorative Blood-Activating Decoction…”
Mother Huo did not understand. “What are they for?”
Ning Yuchan explained one by one, “Amber Plaster reduces swelling and relieves pain. The Restorative Blood-Activating Decoction promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis…”
Mother Huo had no patience to listen to everything. “Is there anything that can treat your father’s kind of injury?”
Ning Yuchan carefully searched and suddenly became delighted. “Yes, there is. Strengthening Tendons and Reconnecting Bones Pill. It can treat fractures where the leg bone is broken into two parts, as well as fractures of the upper and lower leg bones.”
Mother Huo became happy and snatched the book from Ning Yuchan’s hands.
Father Huo was also happy, though he was more careful than Mother Huo.
“Don’t tear it. This book is old and fragile.”
Mother Huo immediately held it carefully. She could not read, but as she stared at the musty book, it was as if she were looking at Huo Changsheng when he had just been born, both pained and full of love.
“Changsheng’s father, your leg can be saved.”
Father Huo was still worried. “We have the prescription, but how do we make it? Who in our family can do it?”
Mother Huo could cook well enough, but asking her to boil medicinal plaster was almost a joke.
Father Huo himself could barely read a few characters, so it was even more impossible for him to make it.
Taohua and Changshou were still young.
Only Ning Yuchan could read, and she seemed capable of taking on this responsibility.
Except for Changshou, who was not at home, Father Huo, Mother Huo, and Taohua all looked at Ning Yuchan at the same time.
Ning Yuchan’s mind went blank. “Me?”
Father Huo looked at the musty book and asked her, “Is there a method for preparation inside?”
Ning Yuchan nodded. “Yes, there is.”
Father Huo gritted his teeth. “Then let’s try. If it doesn’t work, at worst we’ll waste some medicinal materials. But if it does work, our family will have hope.”
Ning Yuchan held the musty book. It felt as if she were holding something weighing thousands of jin, and also as if she were holding Father Huo’s injured leg, as well as the lifeline and future of the Huo family.
If she succeeded, not only could she treat Father Huo, but they could also become prosperous.
That’s right, Old Man Ning’s hand was also injured. Perhaps even his old injury could be treated.
Ning Yuchan was not very confident. “Then I’ll try?”
Several people nodded at the same time. “Try.”
Mother Huo had suffered many losses over the years and was very cautious. She instructed, “What happened today must not be told to anyone, especially this book. If word gets out, people will definitely come asking for it.”
Ning Yuchan naturally would not say anything and was the first to nod.
Taohua hated her grandmother and the eldest uncle’s family, so she would not say anything either.
Mother Huo, of course, would not speak.
That left only Father Huo, whom Mother Huo did not fully trust.
“Be more careful. In this family, you’re the only one who can’t forget about those people in the east courtyard. If any news leaks out, we won’t have anything left.”
Father Huo said awkwardly, “But if someone asks, what should we say? After all, boiling medicine isn’t something that can be hidden.”
Mother Huo laughed. “Isn’t that easy? Just say Yuchan brought it from her natal family.”