Chapter 77: Settling Accounts with the Li Family

But Wenfa was only a ten-year-old child; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get close enough to Datou. He could only watch helplessly as Datou was carried farther and farther away by the current.

“At that time, it seemed there was someone on the other side of the river. I saw a figure, who, in a flash, flew across the river, scooped Datou out of the water, then flew back to our side, set him down, and in another flash, returned to the opposite bank. We were too busy checking whether Datou was all right, and by the time we came to our senses, the person on the other side had vanished. Ah-choo…”

Wenfa had already changed into clean clothes and now knelt before Madam Luo, his face full of guilt as he spoke.

Madam Luo held Datou’s hand with concern and said, “Get up quickly. Go see if your mother’s ginger soup is ready, and drink a few bowls right away.”

But Wenfa did not get up. Instead, he looked at Madam Luo and said, “Grandmother, I didn’t take good care of my younger siblings. Please punish me.”

Madam Luo sighed. “How many hands do you have? Besides, it’s not as if you ignored them. It’s not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I shouldn’t have let you all go out.”

Just then, Mrs. Li came in carrying several bowls of ginger soup. Madam Luo held Datou in her arms and fed him herself, then made Wenfa and Jin Xiuyi each drink a big bowl before she was satisfied.

Although Datou was unharmed, he was listless and spiritless.

“We must take Datou to see the doctor.” Wenyao touched Datou’s forehead—still icy cold.

Mrs. Cai spoke up, “When we were coming back, I heard Father tell Third Brother to look for Eldest Brother and fetch the doctor.”

Jin Xiuyi sat on the kang, keeping watch over Datou, nodding vigorously. “Grandfather—Grandfather will make sure nothing happens to Datou.” As she spoke, she began to cry again, tears streaming down.

Wenyao was still uneasy and insisted on going to find Dr. Jin herself, but Madam Luo held her back; Wenyao’s own foot was so badly injured—how could she possibly go?

She called Wenjin over and told him to go into town immediately to get Dr. Jin.

Mrs. Li untied her apron. “I’ll go with Wenjin.”

On the way, they ran into Old Man Wen and his group coming back. Upon learning that Mrs. Li and Wenjin were fetching the doctor, Old Man Wen said nothing except to urge them to hurry, and if they met Wen Xiuyi and the others on the way, to tell them to return at once.

As soon as Old Man Wen got home, he went straight to check on Datou.

Madam Luo looked at him angrily. “Where is Li Erhu’s family?”

Old Man Wen’s brow was deeply furrowed, his expression grim. “The village chief came and told them to go home for now. The monk may run, but the temple isn’t going anywhere. When Eldest Brother and Third Brother are back, we’ll settle accounts with them properly.”

He looked at Datou again, his heart aching. He said helplessly, “Are you all foolish? If he wants eggs, just give them to him. If anything happened to you, what would this whole family do?”

Wen Ying stood with her neck stiff, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her voice hoarse. “Why should we give them to him? Grandma boiled those eggs for us. If I ever see that Li Erhu again, I’ll beat him to death.”

Though Datou was still limp, when he heard Wen Ying’s words, he nodded vigorously from under the covers in agreement. Even Jin Xiuyi looked indignant.

They had collected those eggs themselves, and Grandma Wen had boiled them. Why should they be snatched away by others?

Old Man Wen gave the three children a helpless glare. Each one of them was as stubborn as a mule.

Wenyao stroked Datou’s forehead, still cold. “Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Datou shook his head, his small hand clutching Wenyao’s, and pointed worriedly at her foot.

Wenyao’s eyes grew red, tears threatening to fall again. She sniffed hard. “I’m fine, as long as you’re all right, then I’m all right.”

Though Datou was groggy, he remained worried, clinging to Wenyao’s hand until he fell asleep.

The whole family stayed in the room, keeping watch.

Until the sound of a carriage came from outside.

“Datou, where’s Datou?” Wen Xiuyi’s voice arrived before he did. He rushed into the room, apron still on, and when he saw Datou lying motionless on the kang, his face turned pale.

“Son, son, what’s wrong? Dad’s back now, don’t be afraid.” Wen Xiuyi hurried to the side, crouched by the kang, and looked at his son’s pallid face, full of worry. When he reached out, he found that Datou was burning with fever.

Wenjun and Dr. Jin entered a few steps behind. As soon as Jin Xiuyi saw Dr. Jin, she burst into tears.

“Grandfather, please save Datou, please…”

Dr. Jin had no time to comfort her. He pushed Wen Xiuyi aside and began to check Datou’s pulse.

“Fortunately, he wasn’t in the water long and didn’t swallow much. There’s no major problem, but he’s caught a chill and is now feverish. I’ll prescribe a few doses of medicine. Awang, go back and fetch them immediately. As long as the fever subsides, he’ll be fine.” As Dr. Jin spoke, he opened his medicine chest and began writing the prescription.

Jin Xiuyi hurried over, hugging Dr. Jin’s leg. “Grandfather, Datou will be all right, won’t he?”

Dr. Jin patted her on the head. “Yes, he’ll be fine. I’ll prescribe medicine for him. And you? Are you all right?” Only now did Dr. Jin remember to ask after his own grandchild.

Jin Xiuyi choked with tears. “Grandfather, I’m fine. Datou fell into the water trying to save me. You must save him.”

Dr. Jin forced a smile—how had the child made it sound so grave? This only added to the family’s anxiety, so he explained, “Datou is fine, just chilled from the water. Don’t scare yourself or worry Grandma Wen.”

Jin Xiuyi fell silent, though her tears continued to fall.

Dr. Jin finished writing the prescription, sent Awang to fetch the medicine by carriage, and stayed at the Wen household to monitor Datou’s condition.

Once Wen Xiuyi was certain Datou was out of danger, he asked about what had happened. Upon learning that it was, once again, Li Erhu’s family, his fists clenched in fury.

“Seems the lesson Yaoyao taught them last time wasn’t enough. Yaoyao, stay here with Datou. Wenjun, come with me.” Wen Xiuyi stood and headed out.

He left Wenyao behind just in case anything happened. Wenjun had secretly checked on Datou and quietly told Wenyao to take Datou’s temperature whenever she could. If the fever got too high, give him some children’s ibuprofen to bring it down first—dealing with the fever was the priority.

As for being found out—compared to Datou’s health, nothing else mattered.

Seeing this, Dr. Jin followed. “I’ll go with you.”

When the Wen family looked at him, Dr. Jin stroked his beard and said, “This all started because of Yier, as you’ve just heard. If not for Datou, it would have been Yier in the water. It’s only right that I go with you to the Li family to demand justice.”

The Wen family all agreed—this made sense.

So, Wenyao stayed to care for Datou, while the rest of the family, a mighty crowd, marched straight for the Li household.

Villagers who saw the Wen family’s formation on the road joined them. This time, the Li family’s brat had thrown the Wen family’s precious child into the river—this feud was now a major one.

Some who had visited Jishi Hall recognized Dr. Jin. It seemed this time the Li family was truly in for trouble.