Chapter 33: Dabao Is Injured

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Dabao Is Injured

"An Orphanage?" Ji Huan was a little surprised.

She hadn’t expected Widow Xie to call her over just to persuade her to send Dabao to the Orphanage.

What was even more unexpected was that an Orphanage would even exist in this era!

’Isn’t that just... an orphanage?’

Widow Xie didn’t understand her shock and thought she was just reluctant to part with him.

"The Orphanage doesn’t lack for food or clothing. I heard that when the children reach a certain age, the county government even sends a teacher to teach them how to read and write... Just think about it, it’s ultimately inconvenient for a young woman like you to be raising a child. What will people say? Do you ever plan on getting married..."

"Wait!" Ji Huan interrupted her. "This orph— this Orphanage, when was it established?"

Widow Xie really couldn’t remember clearly.

"It must have been several decades. It was already around when I was a little girl."

’The current Emperor has only been on the throne for five years. Counting back several decades, it must have been established during the reign of the previous emperor, the old Emperor Ren Zong.’

’Ren Zong reigned for nearly seventy years. He was known for being magnanimous, loving his people, and ruling benevolently, and was deeply cherished by the common folk. Leaving everything else aside, this single good deed of establishing the Orphanage is enough to change my opinion of him.’

’It seems this former Emperor only had one son, a Prince who, for some unknown reason, was granted a fiefdom in the southwest, a world away from the Capital City. I heard that not long after the Emperor passed away from illness, the Prince also died from excessive grief, leaving no children behind. The one sitting on the throne now is the former Emperor’s nephew.’

’But the royal family’s affairs have nothing to do with me. My focus is on the Orphanage.’

’To be honest, I’m not very good with children. I’ve only been taking care of Dabao for two days, and I already feel mentally and physically exhausted.’

’One of us barely speaks, and the other doesn’t speak at all. It isn’t much different from being alone.’

’The only difference is probably that the room no longer feels so empty and desolate after nightfall.’

’But Dabao is a person, not a pet.’

’He needs a normal environment to grow up in, and even more, he needs friends his own age to play with—things I can’t provide. I have no experience, not even a shred of confidence in raising a child.’

Ji Huan had said she would raise him out of gratitude for saving her from drowning, but she also knew it wasn’t a long-term solution. Therefore, upon hearing that "orphanages" existed in this era, she felt a sense of relief.

"I’ll think about it."

Seeing that she was already mostly convinced, Widow Xie felt relieved and sighed.

"You’re soft-hearted, just like your mother... I remember back then, your mother took pity on that grandfather and grandson. She secretly had your father send them food many times, and she even made clothes and shoes for the child on the sly... You’ve done everything you can now. It’s enough..."

Ji Huan froze, not expecting to hear this piece of history.

’I was never able to figure it out before, but now I think I understand. This must have been why Dabao’s grandfather reached out to help me that night.’

’Is this what they call "one generation plants the trees, and the next gets the shade"? Mrs. Wei sowed a seed of kindness, and it resulted in a benevolent connection for her daughter. It’s just a pity... that this daughter is an imposter.’

Ji Huan left the Hu Family home, carrying the clothes and shoes. Hu Ximei followed along to play, bringing Xiao’an and Hua with her.

As she neared the dilapidated shack, she saw several mischievous village children running out of it in a panic from a distance. One of them spotted her and broke into an even faster sprint.

Ji Huan saw it clearly. The one in the lead was none other than Mrs. Zhu’s youngest son, Ji Mingmao.

Her heart dropped. She quickened her pace and ran into the yard.

She pushed open the door to a scene of utter chaos. The quilt was yanked onto the floor, and the entire room showed signs of being ransacked.

Ji Huan didn’t have time to check if anything was missing. Her eyes immediately fell on Dabao, who was lying face down on the ground.

The child’s body was covered in black and blue bruises. The only piece of furniture in the room—that three-legged table—was pinning down his calf.

Ji Huan dropped what she was holding and rushed to lift the table. Dabao was unconscious, completely unresponsive.

Ji Huan carefully examined him. Aside from the external injuries from being kicked and stomped on, the most severe injury was to his right leg—it was clearly broken.

’Those little bastards!’

But now was not the time to settle scores. Dabao’s injuries couldn’t be delayed.

Ji Huan wasn’t skilled in orthopedics. She told Hu Ximei, who had followed her in, to go get help. In the meantime, she administered first aid to Dabao’s fracture to ensure no secondary damage occurred.

She found some wooden planks in the kitchen to use as a makeshift splint, padded them with some cotton between the wood and the limb, and had just finished tying it with cloth strips when the people Hu Ximei had called for arrived.

When Hu Ximei explained the situation, Widow Xie knew they needed to find someone to help.

Uncle Niu had gone to the county town and wouldn’t be back in time for the mule cart. As for the other families with oxcarts, when they heard it was to transport the two from the dilapidated shack, they either pursed their lips in disdain or shook their heads.

Many people had followed along to watch the commotion, but no one was willing to lend a hand.

Ji Huan watched them with cold eyes. If it weren’t for the fact that Dabao’s injury couldn’t be moved carelessly, she would have rather carried him on her back than deign to ask these people for help.

In the end, it was Second Uncle Shi—the same Shi Yong who had spoken up for Ji Huan when the family property was divided—who found a stretcher and carried it with Hu Liang.

Although the neighboring village had a traveling doctor, he never treated serious injuries, so they had no choice but to take him to town.

When they arrived at Jishi Hall, they were once again met by that same clerk, Wang Shun, who had his nose in the air. Seeing a few shabbily dressed villagers, he blocked the entrance and refused to let them in.

Faced with such an imposing figure, Second Uncle Shi and Hu Liang lacked the confidence to negotiate.

Ji Huan came forward from the back and tried to reason with him as calmly as possible. "Please, have a doctor take a look first. The child is seriously injured and we really can’t afford any delay. Whatever the consultation and medicine fees are, we’ll pay. We won’t be short a single coin."

"Oh! Not selling hand cream this time?" Wang Shun actually remembered Ji Huan. "Not short a single coin, you say? Well then, why don’t you take it out for me to see right now."

As he spoke, he thrust out his hand.

’Demanding money before we’ve even stepped through the door—what kind of logic is that?’

But when you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. Ji Huan could only swallow her anger and search her sleeve pocket. After fumbling around for a while, she remembered that in her panic earlier, she had completely forgotten to bring any Silver Coin.

Wang Shun rolled his eyes. "I’ve seen plenty of country folk like you. You thank us profusely and promise to pay, but as soon as we’ve treated you, it’s all kneeling and kowtowing and claiming you have no money. If you have no money, what right do you have to see a doctor? There’s no cure for being poor! Now, get lost..."

’It’s only natural to pay for medical treatment. I myself look down on people who try to get treated for free. After all, a doctor’s compassion is one thing, but emotional blackmail is another.’

’But this man is launching an indiscriminate attack, a naked humiliation.’

Hu Liang and Second Uncle Shi couldn’t bear to listen any longer, but with their hands full carrying Dabao, they could only grit their teeth and endure the clerk’s ridicule.

Ji Huan stared at the clerk, then turned her gaze to the Jishi Hall sign for a few seconds before saying to the two men, "Let’s go. We’ll find a place that can treat him."

Wang Shun spat at their departing backs. "Let’s see who’s willing to treat a bunch of paupers like you!"

Eventually, in an extremely remote alley, they found a small clinic with a tiny storefront and no proper sign. There was only a wooden board propped up next to the door, with the two words "Yide Hall" scrawled crookedly on it.

It was also the only place willing to treat the patient first, even though they couldn’t pay upfront.

The doctor was very young, and Hu Liang worried he was a quack.

Ji Huan was also doubtful at first, but after watching his treatment technique for a while from the side, she knew he wasn’t an incompetent doctor and felt relieved.

’I have no money on me, so I can’t even treat the men who helped to a meal. It’s one thing with Hu Liang, but I don’t know Second Uncle Shi well. The man willingly helped, carried the stretcher such a long way, and his clothes are soaked with sweat. I feel truly terrible about it.’

Second Uncle Shi told her not to treat him like a stranger and headed back to the village with Hu Liang.

Ji Huan told Hu Liang where she had hidden her money. He was to get it and make another trip back later.

In the west wing of the Ji Family residence, Mrs. Zhu poked her head out to look around the courtyard. Seeing no one, she closed the door and began to question Ji Mingmao.