The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 54: Money Can Be Earned Again, But There’s Only One Husband

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Money Can Be Earned Again, But There’s Only One Husband

Old Man Qian, after finishing his sentence, met Wei Zhao’s unblinking gaze.

The weakened man tugged at the corner of his mouth, then calmly looked away.

If they weren’t standing so far apart, with his voice deliberately lowered, Old Man Qian might have suspected Wei Zhao overheard them.

After the New Year, going to the county medical hall, who knows if the journey will be smooth. In these troubled times, carrying poison is a way to defend oneself.

Yu Tingwan accepted it.

"Old ginseng greatly replenishes vitality. Previously, it was thanks to it that my husband was saved and brought back half-alive. Do you still have any?"

Old Man Qian glanced at her: "Do you have money?"

In the past, Yu Tingwan would have silently hung her head and said nothing.

But times have changed; the girl straightened her back. "Yes."

Hui Niang had given her one tael as betrothal money.

Yu Tingwan was aware of Wei Zhao’s health situation, and even if Old Man Qian didn’t intend to prescribe medicine, she was afraid of the consequences of consuming it.

She didn’t want anything to happen to Wei Zhao.

Money can be earned again, but there is only one husband.

Yu Tingwan was clear about the bigger picture.

Old Man Qian waved his hand: "Having money is useless."

"I only have that one piece of old ginseng, which I dug up from the mountains before."

"Half was eaten by your husband, and the remaining half was used in medicine for the silly girl."

Because the silly girl had suffered from severe bleeding at the time.

Yu Tingwan was worried: "Then are there any other tonic herbs? The mountain road remains closed, and I feel very uneasy."

Old Man Qian had none.

"I’m the only barefoot doctor for miles around, so if I don’t have it, don’t think anyone else does."

However, he did point the girl in the right direction: "When I picked that old ginseng, there was another ginseng nearby, but I left it because it was too young."

"That could save a life."

"Your husband’s pulse is weak and irregular, riddled with ailments. As long as the mountain road stays closed, his condition drags on, but I’m afraid his body won’t hold out. If you want to save him, go to the mountains. If not, you can prepare a coffin."

Yu Tingwan felt her heart sink and quickly asked, "Where is it located? Deep in the mountains?"

"Not yet into the deep mountains. Many herbs are in the deep mountains, but so are many ferocious beasts. Except for skilled hunters, who dares to venture in?"

Old Man Qian said: "It’s in the southeast slope direction. If I could remember exactly where, I might tell you for cheap."

"But to speak frankly, I’ve searched many times and never found it again. And after so long, who knows if it’s still there."

Yu Tingwan fell silent and saw Old Man Qian about to leave, so she gifted him a basket of persimmons. He didn’t take them for free and left some wound medicine in return.

After he left, Yu Tingwan stood there, dazed for a long time.

Even though she was warmly dressed, why did she suddenly feel cold?

Wei Zhao heard all of their conversation.

He lowered his eyelids, playing with the persimmon in his hand.

To him, life or death was no release.

Neither surprising nor concerning.

But someone cared.

Yu Tingwan went to the kitchen to tell Hui Niang and Wei Shouzhong about it.

"Dad, Mom, should we go up the mountain to take a look?"

The sound of pounding ceased.

Hui Niang’s eyes were red as she covered her face, choking back sobs.

Wei Shouzhong looked at his wife: "Doctor Qian’s right. Who knows when the mountain road will be unblocked? That’s leaving it to fate."

He decided without hesitation: "Honey, pack me some dry food."

Whether or not they could find it and whether or not they tried were different matters.

He then looked at Yu Tingwan.

"You stay at home."

"Even if we turn everything over, the ginseng Doctor Qian mentioned will be hard to find. Instead of wasting our efforts, it’s better to check the deep mountains. You’re not suited for it."

At this point, he was a bit unsettled.

Making rice cakes is hard work, and no matter how strong Wei Shouzhong was, it was tiring. He didn’t sit to rest but wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve.

"I’ll go to the Peng Family."

The Peng Family? Hunter Peng?

After being married for years, how could Hui Niang not know Wei Shouzhong’s thoughts?

Her anxious heart settled down.

"Wait a minute, there’s no rush. Let me fry some rice cakes for you to take over."

Wei Shouzhong thought this made sense.

There was nothing needed from him in the kitchen, so he went to chop wood in the yard.

When he left, Yu Tingwan quickly approached Hui Niang.

"Mom, does Dad want to go into the mountains with Hunter Peng?"

The great mountain that Linxi Village relied on stretched continuously, its tree canopy layered like a sea of clouds. Upon entering, thick fog surrounded you, and beyond the poisonous snakes slithering, there were countless brambles and ferocious beasts.

Hunter Peng lived by hunting, often venturing deep into the mountains. Even bears and wild wolves had been caught and killed by him. With him, Wei Shouzhong’s safety was protected.

Yu Tingwan: "But would Hunter Peng agree?"

All these old stories were well known in the village.

Hui Niang didn’t hide anything from Yu Tingwan: "That hunter is often away from home ten days out of every month. Eight years ago, his wife left him for another man, abandoning their barely one-year-old child."

"Back then, the old house couldn’t accommodate a second family. Your father and I had no choice but to build a house elsewhere."

"Your father went into the forest to chop wood every day. When passing his house, he heard the child crying terribly and couldn’t help but check."

"Unexpectedly, the child’s face turned blue and fainted, scaring your father a lot."

After taking him to Doctor Qian, it was discovered the child had fainted from hunger after several days without food.

"I pitied the poor child, so small, and since Hunter Peng’s return date was unknown, I discussed with your father to temporarily keep him with us."

This arrangement lasted half a month.

Back then, Hui Niang and Wei Shouzhong were having the hardest time. They had no money, and the child ate from what the couple saved from their own meals.

"By that account, he owes us a favor."

Hui Niang: "But if we don’t ask him, and your father gets into trouble in the deep mountains without assistance, we..."

She felt embarrassed: "We would be demanding repayment for kindness."

The pounded glutinous rice had no graininess, sticky but not sticking to hands.

Hui Niang rolled them into evenly-sized skins.

Yu Tingwan crushed peanuts and mixed them with brown sugar and sesame seeds for the filling.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law swiftly wrapped the filling and cooked them over a low flame.

The rice cakes were soon ready, their crust slightly crisp and golden brown, crispy outside and tender inside.

There weren’t many, just a small plate, a total of eight pieces.

Hui Niang thought about it, took out two pieces and arranged them on a plate, asking Yu Tingwan to share them with Wei Zhao. Four pieces were for the Peng Family, with the last two left for their son and daughter-in-law for the New Year.

Feeling it wasn’t enough, she fetched a bowl of pickled sour beans from the ceramic barrel for Wei Shouzhong to bring along.

With someone worrying about these arrangements and everything managed, Yu Tingwan felt at ease.

She didn’t eat alone. She cut the rice cakes into several pieces, leaving half for her parents-in-law, then went out to find Wei Zhao.

"Husband."

The girl walked toward him with a bright, lively expression.

"The rice cake is delicious. You should try it."

Wei Zhao, still listless, pressed down on his pulse.

His movements were somewhat casual. Yet... Yu Tingwan felt he looked more professional than Old Man Qian.

Yu Tingwan stood firmly in front of him.

"Why aren’t you speaking? What are you thinking about?"

Wei Zhao didn’t respond.

Yu Tingwan nudged him.

Wei Zhao slowly: "Calculating how many days I have left to live."