Chapter 80: Big Head Speaks

In the end, after the village chief mediated, the Li family apologized and paid five taels of silver for medical expenses, and only then did the Wen family let the matter drop.

With the Wen family no longer pursuing the issue, Jin Xiuyi also spared them, though before leaving he gave Li Erhu a stern warning: if he ever heard again that Li Erhu was bullying children in the village, he would have his father come and arrest him.

No one dared doubt Jin Xiuyi’s words. After all, even the village chief had said: the Jin family was not to be trifled with, not even by the county magistrate.

On the way home, Wen Ying suppressed her voice and couldn’t help but ask Jin Xiuyi, “Can your father really send anyone to prison if he wants?”

At this, Jin Xiuyi reverted to his original childlike demeanor, his cheeks flushed as he whispered, “I was bluffing. My father is the most upright and honest official—he would never imprison a whole family without just cause. For someone like Li Erhu, the most he’d do is make him pay medical expenses and give him a light punishment. He wouldn’t actually arrest him.”

Wen Ying was taken aback; she hadn’t realized things could be handled like this.

Yet, somehow, this approach felt oddly familiar to her.

Along the way, everyone in the Wen family except Wen Jun kept sneaking glances at Dr. Jin and Jin Xiuyi, subconsciously lagging behind them. Even when Wen Ying and Jin Xiuyi huddled together to talk, Li’s wife wanted to pull Wen Ying aside—afraid she might offend the young master.

Who would have thought Dr. Jin’s son was so formidable—a fourth-rank official in the capital, no less! What a high position that must be.

Dr. Jin noticed the Wen family’s strange looks, but since he had already accepted Wen Jun as his apprentice, some things couldn’t be hidden forever. He decided it was better to let them be mentally prepared.

When the group returned home, Jin Xiuyi hurried to Luo’s and Old Wen’s room to check on Bighead.

“How is he?” Bighead was still asleep, so Jin Xiuyi could only ask Wen Yao in a low voice.

“The fever just broke; he’s sleeping now,” Wen Yao replied.

Jin Xiuyi breathed a sigh of relief and sat in Wen Yao’s spot, keeping watch over Bighead.

Wen Jun took the opportunity to pull Wen Yao aside and asked quietly, “How is he?”

Wen Yao lowered her voice, “Thirty-nine point five degrees. I gave him Meilin, he sweated, the fever went down, and he only just fell asleep.”

Wen Jun relaxed.

Just then, Dr. Jin came over. Hearing Bighead’s fever had broken, he quickly took his pulse and checked his temperature, astonished. “It really has gone down. Girl, how did you do it?”

Ah Wang hadn’t returned yet, and the medicine wasn’t back—how could the fever have broken without drugs?

Wen Yao certainly couldn’t admit she’d given Bighead children’s ibuprofen, so she feigned ignorance. “I just kept wiping his forehead, body, and the soles and palms of his hands and feet with a cloth—those places were so hot, I thought it might help draw out the heat and lower the fever. I didn’t expect it to actually work.”

Dr. Jin examined him again, found that the palms and soles were indeed cooler, and saw a basin of water nearby, finally convinced.

“This is not a bad method. As long as the high fever has subsided, he’ll be fine. Just keep a close eye these next few days: whenever his temperature rises, wipe him down. Children are most vulnerable to high fevers—many have been left mentally impaired because their fevers weren’t treated in time. You must be diligent,” Dr. Jin advised.

The Wen family nodded repeatedly. Stories of children left simple-minded by untreated fevers were all too common in their rural world—they understood the stakes well.

“Papa…”

At that moment, a faint call drew everyone’s attention. The voice was so soft, they all thought they’d imagined it.

Until—

“Papa.”

Jin Xiuyi could hardly believe his ears. He stared in amazement at the drowsy Bighead on the bed, then at the Wen family, pointing to himself. “Bighead—did Bighead just call me? He can talk now?”

Everyone gathered around, “Bighead? Bighead?”

The child, still dreaming, didn’t hear their calls. His expression grew increasingly anxious, his brows furrowed in distress.

From the first cry of “Papa,” Bighead kept calling out, wrenching Jin Xiuyi’s heart.

“Papa’s here, right here. Don’t be afraid, Bighead,” Jin Xiuyi climbed onto the bed, kneeling beside Bighead, comforting him.

No one expected Bighead to speak at such a moment. Luo, realizing what had happened, ran to the courtyard with reddened eyes and thanked the family ancestors for finally granting the child speech.

Jin Xiuyi cradled Bighead, soothing him. Perhaps finding safety in his arms, Bighead stopped crying, his brow relaxed, and he drifted back into sleep.

Dr. Jin seized the moment, “It seems this disaster brought a blessing. Bighead’s silence was mostly caused by his inner troubles—now that they’re gone, he’ll have nothing more to fear.”

Everyone began expressing their thanks to Dr. Jin, and seeing the family’s joy, he felt gratified.

Ah Wang returned carrying several packets of medicine. Dr. Jin gave further instructions on preparing the decoctions and on Bighead’s diet for the coming days, then prepared to leave with Jin Xiuyi.

Since Bighead had fallen into the water, Wen Jun didn’t need to return with them. Although Wen Jun hadn’t been Dr. Jin’s apprentice for long, he could handle basic patient care, so Dr. Jin left him behind.

Seeing Dr. Jin about to leave, Luo hurried forward with the five taels of silver from the Li family. “Dr. Jin, how much do we owe for the consultation and medicine? Is five taels enough?”

Dr. Jin pushed the money back. “Sister, you’re too polite with me. Xiao Jun is my apprentice—once a teacher, forever a father. We’re one family now. How could I charge for treating my own child? Keep the money, and buy something good for Bighead to nourish him.

Besides, if not for Bighead, it would have been Yi’er who fell in the water. How could I possibly take your money? Put it away, quickly.”

Luo didn’t want to take advantage, but since Dr. Jin insisted, she accepted the money and resolved to give it to Jin Xiuyi later so he could buy something good for Bighead.

After bidding farewell to Dr. Jin and Jin Xiuyi, the Wen family returned inside, keeping watch over Bighead, all eager to see if he would speak again when he awoke.

Jin Xiuyi sat on the bed, gently patting Bighead to help him sleep soundly.

Luo came in and looked them over. “You’d better stay here these next few days. It’s troublesome enough with Bighead running around. Tomorrow, when you and Wen Jun go out, Yao Yao won’t be able to manage alone; here, we can all lend a hand.”