Chapter 115
Ma Laosan being beaten up caused a huge uproar in the village.
It was said that on his way to work in the fields, he was dragged into the woods and beaten severely. He was carried back on a wooden plank, his face bruised and swollen, his left leg mangled and bloody. His trousers were badly torn and completely soaked with blood, some fragments even embedded in the flesh.
It was unclear how it happened, but it was disgusting and terrifying. Those who saw it all gasped in shock.
Old Master Ma sent Ma Laoda to fetch a doctor. The village's barefoot doctor had been an apprentice at a clothing shop in his youth, but he was competent enough to treat minor ailments like headaches and fevers.
He arrived at the Ma family and was invited into Ma Laosan's room.
Ma Laosan had bruises on his face and stomach. These weren't fatal—with some medicine, taken orally and applied topically, and good rest, he would recover in about half a month. The serious injury was his left leg.
The flesh and trouser fabric were stuck together. The old doctor, despite his years of practice, had rarely seen such a severe wound. While cutting and cleaning with scissors, Ma Laosan broke out in a cold sweat, wishing he could just pass out from the pain. After cleaning, as soon as the old doctor touched it, Ma Laosan howled in agony. After pressing for a while, the old doctor shook his head: "I can't treat this leg of his. You'd better find someone more skilled."
Sun-shi began to sob, her eyes swollen: "How can you not treat it? Didn't you fix Auntie He's sprained ankle the other day? Doctor, please, I beg you, save my husband! We can pay whatever it costs."
"How is that the same?" The old doctor stood up and took his medicine box: "Your man here, his bone is broken. What can I do? Go to Shanren Hall in town and find Doctor Qian. There might still be some hope."
Old Madam Ma was not pleased to hear this. How could a town doctor so easy to invite?
A home visit would double the consultation fee, also the medicine, oral and topical, wouldn't that cost several taels of silver??
Old Madam Ma felt as if this was cutting her flesh, not only painful but also deeply unpleasant.
Moreover, if the leg was really broken, wouldn't it take months to heal? During that time, lying in bed, everything from eating to relieving himself would require care. While it wouldn't fall to her to serve him, that meant Sun-shi wouldn't be able to work in the fields!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
Before leaving, the doctor advised that if they wanted treatment, they should find a doctor quickly. Otherwise, if left too long, the bone might set incorrectly and become difficult to treat, and he might end up crippled.
Old Master Ma and Old Madam Ma doted on their youngest son dearly. Coupled with Ma Laosan's constant cries of pain, how could they dare delay?
Ma Laoda borrowed an ox cart from the village chief's house and hurried to town.
A crowd had gathered again outside the Ma family courtyard. Seeing Li-shi come out with a basin of bloody water, those close to her quickly asked what was happening and why they needed to go to town.
Li-shi told them everything exactly as it was.
In the village, neighbors often had conflicts. In minor cases, it might be just arguments, cursing each other's ancestors, pulling up someone's corn seedlings at midnight, or blocking the water in someone's paddy field. In serious cases, they might fight, but it usually 'stopped short of going too far,' after which they would cut ties completely.
Farmers like them relied entirely on their physical strength to make a living. Breaking a leg or an arm was almost like taking half their life.
Ma Laosan's leg was broken in the beating. What kind of deep hatred and resentment could cause this?
Someone whispered: "Who did your brother-in-law offend?"
Li-shi frowned and shook her head: "I don't know."
The two men who carried Ma Laosan back said they didn't see anyone.
The Ma family had a plot of land on the southern slope, quite remote. After lunch, he went there to weed. Halfway through, he saw the thugs he hired a few days ago charging at him with wooden clubs.
Before he could react, he was pushed to the ground. Those people surrounded him and kept beating him. As soon as he opened his mouth to shout, a thug stuffed his mouth with mud.
When his leg was broken, the intense pain was unbearable. His eyes rolled back, and he passed out. After the thugs left, a while later, the pain woke him up. He shouted for a long time before two men came and carried him back.
The Ma family didn't have good relations in the village and had offended quite a few people. But the Ma brothers were numerous, and among the second generation, there were also several strong men. Ordinary people didn't dare provoke them easily.
If someone dared, Ma Laosan wouldn't have been ambushed only today. The Ma brothers would have been beaten half to death eight hundred years ago.
The doctor was soon invited.
It was Doctor Qian, recommended by the barefoot doctor.
By now, it was already late. The home visit fee was even more expensive. Regardless of whether the patient could be saved or not, the consultation fee of two taels of silver was unavoidable.
Doctor Qian followed the usual procedure, first feeling the leg, then gently pressing it. Seeing him frown, Old Master Ma asked: "Doctor, what about my third son's leg..."
"I can't feel the bone." Doctor Qian sighed and said: "It must be shattered."
"Ah..." Old Master Ma's lips trembled: "Then, then is there still hope?"
Doctor Qian: "The injury isn't life-threatening, but this leg..."
Medical conditions in ancient times were limited. A severe comminuted fracture, even in modern times, was difficult to treat completely without leaving sequelae, let alone in ancient times.
Ma Laosan wanted to ruin Fang Zichen's future. Although he didn't succeed, his intentions were truly malicious.
If Fang Zichen himself were powerless and just a weak scholar, he would probably have fallen victim.
"Destroying someone's future is like killing their parents." Fang Zichen was furious. Before parting, he said to the leader: "Phrases like 'let bygones be bygones' and 'take a step back for broader horizons' are too hypocritical for me. I am not a magnanimous man. I prefer the wheel of fortune to turn, and to turn with a vengeance. I don't want to see Ma Laosan merely limp for a few months, only to have him swaggering before me again later."
He walked step by step up to the leader. His downcast eyes were cold and unfeeling, and combined with his imposing presence, he exuded an oppressive pressure that was impossible to ignore: "You, do you understand my meaning?"
The leader, watching him approach, tensed up completely, his legs trembling uncontrollably. He tried hard to keep himself calm: "Y-yes... I know."
To ensure the task was completed to Fang Zichen's satisfaction—and fearing his wrath if it was not—the men beat Ma Laosan until his leg was broken. Then, worried a doctor might successfully set the bone later, they then used stones to crush it relentlessly.
Ma Laosan's leg bone was practically crushed to dust. He would never be able to stand up again in this lifetime.
Hearing that Doctor Qian also had no solution, Old Madam Ma and Sun-shi wailed and cried to the heavens.
"My poor son... What heartless bastard could be so cruel..."
"Husband, wu wu wu..."
Ma Laosan was dumbstruck, as if hit by the shock. For a long time, he didn't react. He still couldn't believe it—his leg was really crippled...
His three children, the eldest only nine years old—what were they to do in the future?
Madam Ma had been clamoring to divide the family, but it was only suppressed by the two elders that the division hadn't happened yet.
But after the two elders passed away and the family was divided, with his leg broken and unable to work, how would his family manage?
Originally, it wasn't just his leg that hurt, his whole body ached. But now, he seemed to feel none of it.
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