Chapter 220
The clan patriarch's wife was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, her expression returning to normal. "A child eating a lot is a good thing! You should be worried if he didn't eat!"
"It's not that." Zhao Ger looked at the clan patriarch's wife, thinking that as an elder who had raised several children and had many grandchildren, her experience must be rich. When Fang Zichen went to take the academy exam, Zhao Ger had also taken Guaizai to see a physician. However, after checking his pulse, Physician Xu said there was nothing wrong. He was just born prematurely and hadn't eaten well in recent years, leaving his body somewhat frail. With proper nourishment at home, it wouldn't be a major issue. He didn't even prescribe any medicine. Zhao Ger had felt reassured then, but Guaizai's condition last night made his heart tighten again. He described Guaizai's situation in detail.
Deep wrinkles creased the clan patriarch's wife forehead.
For a child just over three years old, no matter how much he ate, it shouldn't be to this extent. This was truly excessive. Having lived most of her life, she had never heard of any child who could eat like this.
"Have you taken the child to see a physician?"
"Yes, I have. The physician said there's nothing wrong," Zhao Ger replied.
The clan patriarch's wife asked, "Where did you go? Lao Huang?"
Lao Huang was the village's physician.
"No," Zhao Ger shook his head. "It was Physician Xu from Jishi Medical Hall in town."
"If the physician says he's fine, then he's fine." The physicians in town were undoubtedly skilled. The clan patriarch's wife patted Zhao Ger's hand. "Don't worry needlessly. Not all children are the same. Most start learning to speak around one year old, but I once heard of a boy from Shili Village who only started talking at six. Although that was different from other children, he grew up healthy and sound. I heard his great-great-grandfather was the same way back then. It's fine."
Zhao Ger suddenly remembered Jiaojiao. Jiaojiao also ate a lot because Li Yanmei and Lin Xiaoxia had much larger appetites than ordinary people. Perhaps Guaizai...
But Fang Zichen's appetite seemed quite normal. Usually two bowls, sometimes three if the dishes were to his liking or if he had worked hard at noon. The village men had similar appetites. He wasn't like Lin Xiaoxia.
However, after talking with the clan patriarch's wife, Zhao Ger wasn't as worried as before.
The villagers had given many eggs. The weather was somewhat hot now, and they wouldn't keep long. Zhao Ger boiled several each day, put them in net bags, and hung them around the necks of the two children as snacks.
The little puppy had also been injured earlier but was now recovered. Guaizai couldn't sit still at home, so Xiao Feng often carried him out for walks. The dog would bounce along behind them.
Guaizai kissed Xiao Feng on the cheek. "Is Brother tired?"
Xiao Feng shook his head. Afraid of jostling him, he walked steadily. He used to carry firewood and pigweed, huge bundles that he never found heavy. Guaizai was small and light; he wouldn't mind carrying two more like him.
Guaizai was one who repaid kindness. His big eyes curved into little crescents as he smiled. "Brother is so good. In the future, if Brother's leg breaks, Guaizai will carry you too."
Xiao Feng: "..."
That really won't be necessary.
That night, Zhao Ger did some calculations and felt somewhat melancholy.
The six hundred taels of silver paid in compensation earlier had all been spent on Xiao Feng. Later, more medicine cost several more taels. Guaizai and his own treatment this time had cost nearly a hundred taels altogether, with the two jars of scar-removing ointment being the most expensive.
For village families, having enough to eat was the main concern; scars didn't matter much. This ointment was really meant for the wealthy. It was a luxury item, sold as a high-end product. For customers like that, if the price was too low, they'd actually look down on it. So even a tiny jar cost more than thirty taels. If it had been for himself, Zhao Ger would never have spent such wasted money. But for his son, he didn't hesitate at all.
Those scars were truly an eyesore. Every time he saw them, his heart ached. Getting rid of them was for the best.
Prices in the prefectural city weren't cheap. Fang Zichen still needed medicine, and the family's previously saved silver was now nearly gone. Before the new year, he had asked a traveling merchant, who said a small one-room courtyard in the prefectural city cost nearly two hundred taels. To rent, a place near the streets and close to the academy cost several taels per month.
He was unwilling to rent somewhere far away. First, it would be inconvenient for Fang Zichen going to and from the academy. Although the academy provided lodging, Zhao Ger was unwilling. With Fang Zichen's looks and that mouth of his, Zhao Ger wouldn't feel secure if he wasn't nearby. Second, after this incident, Zhao Ger was somewhat afraid. People like Sun Shangcheng probably weren't only in this town. Yuanzhou was vast; all sorts of people existed. If they lived remotely and something happened like that day, shouting until his throat was hoarse wouldn't bring anyone to help.
Moreover, when Fang Zichen went to study at the academy, things wouldn't be like they were now. He'd need to buy brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. There would be academy uniforms to purchase, tuition fees to pay... all sorts of little expenses that added up to several dozen taels.
Zhao Ger felt a growing urgency to earn money. Seeing the family savings nearly gone left him feeling unsettled. Their stock of chili sauce was almost sold out, and the new batch of peppers wasn't ready to harvest yet. The most profitable business was about to be cut off. It was only a few months until the ninth lunar month. He was so anxious his mouth broke out in blisters.
The rice noodle rolls business also earned money, but ultimately not as much as the chili sauce.
One jar of chili sauce netted a profit of over eighty copper coins. One rice noodle roll, after deducting costs, only earned two coins. It was a small business; counting on it to build a family fortune was hopeless.
That night, after coaxing Guaizai to sleep, Fang Zichen sidled up to Zhao Ger and poked him.
"Did you go into the mountains with Xiao Feng today?"
A ticklish feeling spread across his waist and abdomen. Zhao Ger shuddered involuntarily, a tingling wave rushing up the length of his spine. His waist, abdomen, and earlobes were most sensitive, utterly unable to withstand teasing. He turned over, grabbed Fang Zichen's hand, pressed it in his palm, threaded his fingers through his, interlocking them, and answered, "Yes!"
Fang Zichen asked, "To chop firewood?"
Zhao Ger looked at him and laughed. "Otherwise, to play?"
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