Chapter 254
Chapter 254: Chapter 245 So Ruthless_1 Chapter 254: Chapter 245 So Ruthless_1 “Yes, big brother, has something happened? You look so anxious,” Lin Yue was also curious. Zhao Dahu was usually so level-headed; it was rare to see him in such a panic.
“Sister-in-law, where’s Erhu, where has Erhu gone? Tell him to hurry over to the old house. Father had too much to drink and fell in a ravine. I heard he fell so hard that half his face is covered in blood, and now he’s unconscious. We still don’t know if he can be saved?” Zhao Dahu’s face was full of anxiety and worry. Even though Zhao Jingen was often biased and not close with Zhao Dahu, in the end, he was still his own father, and when it came down to it, he was still concerned and anxious.
“What? How could such a thing happen? Have you called the doctor yet?” Lin Yue was also startled when she heard the news. Although she didn’t have a good impression of Zhao Jingen, he was, after all, Erhu’s biological father. If something happened to him, they couldn’t just ignore it.
“We don’t know yet; I just heard from someone who came to inform me. I am just about to rush over there. Wife, stop what you’re doing for now and quickly take the children with me to the old house,” Zhao Dahu said, as he wiped the sweat dripping in large drops from his forehead, pulling Mrs. Liu to leave with him.
“Big brother, what’s done is done. Stay calm. Discuss things with everyone a bit more. After all, Father doesn’t just have one son. Sometimes, you mean well, but others may not see it that way,” Lin Yue advised, seeing Zhao Dahu getting somewhat carried away. Now that the two brothers got along well, if Zhao Dahu really got into trouble, Zhao Erhu wouldn’t just stand by and watch. Naturally, she didn’t want Zhao Dahu to act impulsively and cause trouble.
“Sister-in-law, I understand, don’t worry. I am aware of what you said. I’ll head over first and let someone call Erhu to come quickly. Even though everyone knows Erhu and Father have their issues, after all, he is Erhu’s biological father. If Erhu acts too heartlessly, people will criticize him,” Zhao Dahu knew Zhao Erhu and his wife had little affection for Zhao Jingen and was afraid they wouldn’t want to go.
“I understand, big brother, you go ahead. Erhu is probably out checking on the crops right now. I’ll send someone to call him, and as soon as Erhu returns, we’ll go immediately.”
After watching Zhao Dahu and his wife leave, Lin Yue sent someone to find Zhao Erhu in the fields and also called for a long-term worker at home to drive a horse carriage to the city to fetch Doctor Zheng. Based on her understanding of the people at Zhao Family’s old house, regardless of whether they had called for a doctor, even if they had, it wouldn’t be a good one. It was still Erhu’s biological father whose life was in danger, and she would do as much as she could. If Zhao Jingen was truly beyond help, she and Zhao Erhu could both live with clear consciences, without regrets in the future.
When Zhao Erhu abruptly heard that Zhao Jingen was in trouble and it was uncertain whether he could survive, he was also shocked. He hurriedly put down his work and went back home. “Wife, I need to make a trip to the Zhao Family’s old house. Father’s had an accident, and I need to go see him.”
As Zhao Erhu spoke and was about to leave, Lin Yue promptly called him to a stop, “Zhao Erhu, wait.”
“What’s the matter, wife? Can it wait until I get back? I heard that Father’s fall was quite serious, and we don’t know yet if he can be saved. I need to hurry over. Although he hasn’t been great to me, he’s still my biological father. I can’t just not go and check on him,” Zhao Erhu explained as he spoke to her.
Lin Yue watched Zhao Erhu explain. Did this man truly think she would stop him from going?
“I know, how could I not understand such principles? I’m saying I’ll go with you. I am after all, his daughter-in-law; I can’t just stay at home all well and good while my father-in-law has an accident and not go to take a look.”
“Don’t you dislike going there? Actually, everyone in the village knows what’s up with us and the Zhao Family’s old home. There’s really no issue if you don’t go. Besides, who knows what you’ll find if you do go? The people at the old house are difficult to deal with. Just stay at home, so you don’t have to suffer any idle resentment.” Zhao Erhu still cherished his wife the most and didn’t want her to encounter those vexing issues with him.
“You’re worrying over nothing. You know me; the folks at the old house have tasted my severity. They’d only keep their distance from me. Who could possibly make me suffer? Let’s go, aren’t you in a hurry? Let’s hurry over.”
When Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue arrived at the Zhao Family’s old home, there was a noisy and tumultuous scene inside. Some villagers had come to watch the commotion upon hearing the news, while others, who were relatives and friends, had come to offer their help. At that moment, they were all gathered around the doorway, watching the heated argument inside between Zhao Erhu, members of the Wei Family, and their mother.
“Mother Wei, my father is still breathing. How could we just give up on him? We should think of something, see if we can save him.”
“It’s not that I refuse to save him, look at your father’s condition; he is beyond help. The doctor has said there’s no hope and told us to prepare for his funeral. Why waste the money? Our family doesn’t have the silver to throw away.”
Wei didn’t really want to give up on saving Zhao Jingen; after all, they had been husband and wife for so many years. It wasn’t about whether there was a bond of affection; if Zhao Jingen really passed away, the household would likely fall apart.
Not to mention Zhao Dahuo’s family, who weren’t even her own flesh and blood, had long been thinking about splitting the household. Had it not been for Zhao Jingen keeping a tight grip on family matters, they probably would have done so already. After the split, she definitely wouldn’t see a penny from their earnings. Then there was her second son, instigated by the troublesome Li Xiaomei, who had brought up splitting the household several times. Her youngest son was already of age yet unmarried, another source of worry.
But looking at how Zhao Jingen was faring, it really didn’t seem like he could be saved. Even bringing in a better doctor from the city would probably only extend his life by a few days. Medical expenses would ramp up, and if the outcome would be the same in the end, why throw all the family’s silver into it? How would they manage their days then?
Zhao Dahuo, hearing Wei’s decision to simply give up on treating Zhao Jingen, was furious. “He is just a wandering doctor with limited skills. We could go to the city and invite a better doctor; perhaps he could save father’s life. What matters more, silver or our father’s life?”
“Both matter, but look at your father now; it’s simply impossible to save him. If you want to invite a better doctor from the city, go ahead, but you’ll have to spend your own silver. Don’t you have a rich brother, Zhao Erhu? You could ask him to pay for a doctor to save your father. After all, isn’t he also Zhao Erhu’s own father? His own father is nearly dead from his injuries, and he, as a son, ought to do his part. Now he isn’t even here to be seen; how utterly heartless.”
Lin Yue, overhearing from outside the door, spoke up before Zhao Erhu could react, “Mother Wei, you shouldn’t speak carelessly and tarnish someone’s reputation like that—it’s unacceptable. Erhu and I only just found out about dad’s accident and came right away. The doctor we’ve invited is also on his way. Compared to how you, Mother Wei, seem to want my father-in-law to wait for death, we certainly aren’t that heartless.”