Ma Laosan's leg couldn't be cured, but the injury was severe, and medicine still needed to be applied. Doctor Qian helped bandage it and prescribed some oral medicine. All together, it cost nearly five taels of silver.
And this was only for three days. After three days, the dressing needed to be changed again, which would cost another sum.
This year's harvested grain had been blown to bits by Fang Zichen, not a single strand left. The coarse rice they had been eating these past two months was all bought from town.
Although coarse rice was cheap, with a large family, buying a lot added up to a significant amount of silver.
With Ma Wen losing his job, the Ma family essentially lost their income. Old Madam Ma managed the money and counted it every day. She knew the family's situation best.
They had just over twenty taels. Every coin spent was one less. Now another seven taels were gone. How long would the remaining money last?
The autumn tax was originally scheduled for the ninth month, but for some unknown reason this year, the officials hadn't come yet. But it was unavoidable, it was just a matter of time.
Without grain to hand over, they had to pay silver. The Ma family had over ten mu of land, so the silver they had to pay was not a small amount. That would take another chunk of money.
The silver was already barely enough, and Ma Laosan's incident was undoubtedly adding frost to snow.
After seeing Doctor Qian off and waiting for Ma Laosan to take his medicine, Old Master Ma leaned on his cane standing by the bed: "Laosan, tell me, what exactly is this all about?"
He had lived for decades and still had a good eye for things.
Just now, Sun-shi had clamored to report it to the authorities, but Ma Laosan repeatedly stopped her. He knew then that something was wrong.
His youngest son was the cleverest of the three children. He seemed to have the best temper, but actually, compared to the first two, Ma Laosan had the pettiest mind and never liked to suffer losses.
"I... I..." Ma Laosan stammered. Under Old Master Ma's stern questioning, he unconsciously lowered his head: "I, I don't know either."
Old Master Ma thumped his cane hard on the ground and scolded loudly: "Tell me the truth."
Sun-shi wiped her face: "Father, what are you doing? My husband was beaten, his leg is crippled, and you still..."
"Shut up! Do you have a right to speak here? Laosan, if you still want your medicine changed, tell me the truth."
Sun-shi had already felt uncomfortable hearing Old Master Ma's words and had thought of retorting, but now she completely shut her mouth.
The old lady of the Ma family controlled the money. Sun-shi knew that although she doted on Ma Laosan, she listened to Old Master Ma more.
She had some idea of the family's situation. Money was already tight enough. She was truly afraid that if she said another word, the family would really stop treating Ma Laosan.
Over the years, she had secretly saved up some privately, but it was only a little over three taels of silver. Old Madam Ma knew about it, but because she doted on her son, she turned a blind eye.
A bone injury was said to take a hundred days to heal. Who knew how long the medicine would be needed? What use had three taels of silver been?
Ma Laosan naturally thought of this too and immediately told them about hiring people to ambush Fang Zichen.
Old Master Ma was filled with the frustration of hating iron for not becoming steel: "Fool, you're such a fool! I told you long ago not to provoke him again. He is the bane of our Ma family. Why wouldn't you listen?"
[恨铁不成钢 (hèn tiě bù chéng gāng): lit. to hate iron for not becoming steel; fig. to be frustrated with someone's failure to meet expectations.]
Ma Laosan said miserably: "...Father, I just..." A grown man in his thirties, he couldn't help but redden his eyes now: "...just couldn't accept it." He hadn't expected it to turn out like this. If he had known earlier... Now with his leg crippled, Ma Laosan was bitterly regretful.
Those thugs had clearly taken Fang Zichen's silver and turned against him.
Upon hearing this, Sun-shi immediately stood up, full of hatred: "So it was him! Father, I'm going to report this to the authorities."
As she spoke, she was about to walk out the door, but Old Master Ma said: "Go ahead. If you want your son's legs to be broken too, then go."
Sun-shi stopped: "Father, what do you mean by that?"
"This matter was started by Laosan. He tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice. That man, on the other hand, ranked first in the county exam. If he takes the next exam, barring any accidents, the village should have a Tongsheng." Old Master Ma had lived a long time, eaten more salt, walked more roads, and was very clear about many things: "Our Fu'an Town only produces a few Tongsheng each year. The county magistrate pays close attention! That young man ranked first in the county exam, which shows his knowledge is solid. With a bit more effort, he might even pass the Xiucai exam. Our town hasn't produced a Xiucai for many years. If one appears, not only will the county magistrate's performance record improve, but our entire Fu'an Town will gain honor. So, tell me, if you report it to the authorities, will the county magistrate help you or him?"
[偷鸡不成蚀把米 (tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ): lit. try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice; fig. to suffer a loss while attempting to gain an unfair advantage.]
Understanding the pros and cons, Sun-shi was speechless for a moment.
Old Master Ma sighed and continued: "Even if the county magistrate sides with us, Laosan only lost a leg. At most, he would compensate some silver and spend a few days in jail. That young man clearly isn't a good person. What if he seeks revenge after coming out? He knows so many people in town. Dealing with us would be as easy as lifting a finger.."
There was another point Old Master Ma didn't mention.
If Fang Zichen continued his exams and really became a Xiucai, and given that the relations between the two families were already bad, what if he held a grudge if they made more trouble?
Having confronted Fang Zichen several times, even before he had established himself, the Ma family had never gained any advantage. Once he became successful in the future, the Ma family might truly be unable to handle the consequences.
He couldn't gamble the entire family's future for a son who was already crippled.
The village was 'bustling' for a while because of Ma Laosan's incident. There were many theories about why Ma Laosan was beaten.
The Ma family faced such a misfortune, they were worried and suffering, but many people in the village were happy.
____
Guaizai was playing outside with his little friends. When Ma Laosan was carried back, a crowd of onlookers followed along the way. He didn't know the details and, like a loach, squeezed into the crowd. Seeing Ma Laosan with his eyes closed, the lower half of his body covered in blood, he wasn't scared. After the people carried Ma Laosan far away and he couldn't see him anymore, he ran back to tell Zhao Ger.
"Daddy, Ma Laosan is done for!"
Zhao Ger had been busy at home and didn't know. Peeling garlic, he asked curiously: "What happened to him?"
Guaizai blinked: "He has died already."
Zhao Ger stopped his hands, somewhat surprised: "Really? You didn't see wrong?"
A few days ago, he had just run into Ma Laosan on the road. He was fine then, and he hadn't heard he was sick!
Guaizai laughed gleefully, showing his little millet-like teeth, seeming very happy. He squatted next to Zhao Ger and gestured: "He's already lying on the plank! The uncles already carried him away to be buried! Guaizai didn't see wrong!"
Zhao Ger patted his head, told him to stay home and watch the house for a while, then went to the Liu family.
On his way, he encountered several groups of villagers. Before he had even reached the Liu residence, he had learned the truth.
This Ma Laosan wasn't lying on a burial plank, he had simply been severely beaten.
It had been a false alarm.
He turned back. Just as he reached the door, he met Fang Zichen returning from work.
Guaizai ran over, asked Fang Zichen to hold him, and then told Fang Zichen about Ma Laosan.
Fang Zichen blinked, a bit panicked.
He had told them to take one of his legs, not his life! How did it turn into a murder?
Zhao Ger, seeing his expression, seemed to understand something. Leaning close to his other ear, he said: "He's not dead. Don't believe Guaizai."
Fang Zichen instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He was a law-abiding good citizen and wouldn't dare do bad things.
Guaizai said: "Father, Ma Laosan hit Guaizai before, it hurt. Guaizai wants revenge."
Fang Zichen carried him to sit aside and asked: "How do you want to take revenge?"
Who knows what went on in the child's mind: "Father, can you help Guaizai dig up his grave? Can you or not?"
Zhao Ger: "..."
Fang Zichen: "..."
This son... should be sent to a juvenile reformatory.
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