Chapter 193
Zhao Ger stood up: "I'll go out and have a look."
Around noon earlier, Meng-shi had been quite indirect, only saying she wanted to see Xiao Feng and check how his wound was. Zhao Ger hadn't allowed it, and she had left awkwardly. This time she came, she was more straightforward, saying she wanted to take the child back.
Zhao Ger didn't let her enter the gate. He simply stretched out his hand: "He is your child. Of course you can take him back if you want. However, last time when my husband and I took him to the medical hall, we spent quite a bit on medicine. Could you give that money to me first?"
The silver in their home was all controlled by Liu Gouzi. Afraid that Meng-shi would spend money on Xiao Feng, who had no blood relation to him, so he held onto the silver very tightly.
In the village, it was common for a wife to take over managing the household money once her mother-in-law grew old, or if she herself had a bit more backbone. Meng-shi, however, had a gentle and pliable nature, easily swayed by others, and had never managed to gain control of the family's finances. The mention of money now made her feel a deep sense of shame.: "I... I don't have any. You..."
Liu Gouzi jumped out from the side: "Give what silver?"
"Xiao Feng's medical expenses," Zhao Ger said.
There was a lot of work at home. In the few days Xiao Feng had been away, Liu Gouzi had been extremely busy. He originally wanted Meng-shi to do all the work herself, but his son always clung to her, insisting on being carried on her back, crying if he couldn't see her. Liu Gouzi doted on his son intensely, so he had to do the work himself—chopping firewood, carrying water, the trivial tasks were both annoying and exhausting. Just as the Ma family, after losing Zhao Ger, couldn't last half a month and wanted him back, now Liu Gouzi felt the same: "How much? I'll give it, then."
"Six hundred taels!" Zhao Ger said.
Liu Gouzi was dumbfounded: "H-how much?"
Zhao Ger repeated: "Six hundred taels."
"Are you trying to swindle me?" Liu Gouzi’s face flushed crimson, the veins in his neck bulging as if he were ready to throw a punch. "Did that little beast feast on gold at the medical hall?"
"Pretty much." With Fang Zichen inside the house, Zhao Ger wasn't afraid. "He consumed a ginseng root. If you don't believe me, you can go ask at Jishi Medical Hall yourself. If you want to take Xiao Feng back today, give me six hundred taels. If you don't have it, then get lost."
Fang Zichen was peeking through the door crack: "Well, well, your daddy is really something now. He even knows how to tell people to get lost."
"Mm!" Guaizai nodded. He was clinging to Fang Zichen's back. "Mother tiger getting angry, that bad man is scared."
Fang Zichen patted his bottom: "Don't say that in front of your daddy later. Be careful your bottom gets beaten black and blue."
Guaizai had been spanked by Zhao Ger a few times before. Hearing this now, he instinctively tightened his little buttocks, covering his mouth, not daring to say anything.
"Money I don't have, my life is all you'll get. That's my family's child, why should he stay with you—" Liu Gouzi glared. "That silver was spent by you yourselves. I didn't tell you to spend it. Why should you come asking us for it?"
Zhao Ger laughed in anger: "So, you don't want to give it?"
"No." Liu Gouzi craned his neck and shouted into the courtyard: "Little beast, you roll out and go back with your mother. If you don't come out today, don't ever think about entering the door again."
He thought saying this would make Xiao Feng scared, as he had often used this tactic to control Xiao Feng before. But after shouting, the courtyard remained quiet, as if no one was there.
"This little beast." He pushed Zhao Ger aside and stomped over, trying to go in to drag the person out. Zhao Ger staggered back two steps. As soon as he steadied himself, he turned his head and called out: "Husband~"
Fang Zichen rushed out from the main room: "Coming, coming!"
As soon as Liu Gouzi saw Fang Zichen, he immediately stumbled back outside the courtyard gate.
Seeing his reaction, as if he had seen a pack of wolves and tigers, the corner of Zhao Ger's mouth lifted slightly. He took a piece of paper from the inner pocket of his jacket, unfolded shook it open. Fang Zichen saw three words written clearly on it—Severance Document!
He had anticipated that Meng-shi might come, which was why he had prepared everything so thoroughly in advance.
Zhao Ger didn't bother with empty formalities. He said to Liu Gouzi: "This is a severance document. You sign it for me. If you don't sign, then give me six hundred taels. If you have no silver but still want to shamelessly take the child, I will go to the yamen and sue you."
Liu Gouzi hadn't expected this at all. Signing was impossible. His eyes darted around. He pulled Meng-shi and started to leave, wanting to go home first to think of a countermeasure.
Zhao Ger gave a meaningful look: "Husband!"
Fang Zichen: "..."
Am I being used as a hired thug now?
However, Zhao Ger's face was full of authority now, completely different from his occasionally timid, shrinking, and weak self before. He was like a cat who used to keep his claws sheathed, only showing the soft pads of his paws. Now his fur was bristling, his personality developing edges. He was trying to scare off enemies by brandishing his sharp claws.
Wow, this little display, like a fox borrowing a tiger's might, was a bit spicy!
[狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi): lit. a fox borrowing a tiger's might; fig. someone using the power or influence of a more authoritative figure to intimidate others]
Fang Zichen felt his heart pounding like a drum, his blood surging. In a couple of steps, he blocked Liu Gouzi's way.
"My fulang is talking to you! Where are you going? Did he say you could leave?"
When facing Fang Zichen, Liu Gouzi couldn't be more cowardly. If he argued with Fang Zichen, he couldn't win in a fight, nor could he win in an argument.
He acted like a grandson, smiling apologetically: "Not leaving, not leaving."
[The phrase "acting like a grandson" means to behave in an excessively submissive, obedient, or fawning manner]
Zhao Ger handed the paper over: "Then sign it!"
Liu Gouzi was making a last-ditch effort: "I... I don't know how to write!"
That was a valid point. Seeing Zhao Ger frown, Liu Gouzi felt secretly pleased. Who would have thought Zhao Ger would glance at him and suddenly tell Guaizai to bring out the needle.
He didn't know how to do needlework. Previously, when he bought cloth, he always had to trouble Aunt Liu. After many times, Zhao Ger inevitably felt embarrassed. Now, although they had silver and didn't need to be as stingy as before about a few dozen copper coins, they could just buy ready-made clothes. But Zhao Ger still had Fang Zichen buy needles and thread for him. He still wanted to learn, hoping that one day he could let Fang Zichen wear clothes he sewed himself.
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