When I thought about it carefully, it made sense. In this era, narcotics haven’t yet been introduced, so external injuries are typically treated directly with medicine and bandages. As for pain, people just have to bear it by clenching their teeth.
For people like Brother An who need to cut open the skin and then pull the muscles, enduring that kind of pain is unbearable to think about, especially since Ye Zi’an is still a young boy. He is not like those soldiers who often get injured and have high pain tolerance. To be honest, I’m worried he might not be able to handle it.
That’s how Yang Chuxia felt, but Ye Zi’an did not think so.
After a pause, he said, "But I want to be treated."
Yang Chuxia heard a determination in his voice. As she looked up, she saw seriousness and resilience written all over Ye Zi’an’s handsome face. "Wait till I get a little older. When I turn sixteen, I’ll go to the doctor for treatment. I can definitely bear the pain."
Hearing this, Yang Chuxia thought that there would still be a year or two before Ye Zi’an got his leg treated. Maybe they could find narcotics within these two years, so treating the injury wouldn’t be a problem by then.
"Alright, I support you," Yang Chuxia said with a smile after thinking for a moment, and there was some encouragement in her smile. "You can also use this time to review your lessons and reapply for the examination. You can surely fulfill your father’s dying wish."
She had heard from Brother An that his father’s dying wish was for him to pass the Recommended Man examination and then the Advanced Scholar examination. Even if he chose not to serve in the government, it would be good enough just to pass the examinations. Although Yang Chuxia didn’t understand why Brother An’s father had this dying wish, she still felt it would be better to have an academic degree to prevent others looking down on him.
Upon hearing this, Ye Zi’an’s eyes were filled with laughter and twinkled a few times. He then said heavily, "Okay, thank you, Xiaxia."
As they left Brother An’s house, the new house was bustling with activity as they started to cook, because they would invite all those who were helping to have a meal in the evening.
The one in charge of cooking was naturally Ms. Wang, and she would also be in charge of the feast the next day, along with Old Aunt-in-law Gen. Both of them were excellent cooks, much better than the average rural housewife, so the Yang Family didn’t need to hire a chef.
During dinner, the Land Officer’s wife saw Ye Zi’an there, so she winked at Ms. Wang.
Seeing this, Ms. Wang smiled.
When they were washing dishes together, the Land Officer’s wife whispered to Ms. Wang, "Why is this boy still at your house?"
Upon hearing this, Ms. Wang leaned toward the Land Officer’s wife and said, "Yeah, he’s been eating dinner at my house these days. Qingrui has been studying with him every day, almost like a tutor. Besides, it’s heartbreaking, he’s only 14, just a young boy, living alone in that thatched cottage. When I think about it, it just doesn’t sit right with me. If Qingrui were in this situation, I’d probably be crying my eyes out. And this boy is very sensible too. Although he comes to my house for dinner, he often brings a dish from the restaurant, or some food for the little ones. When he’s not working at the restaurant, he spends his free time catching crabs with Xiaxia and the others. I don’t know how Ms. Hua Junior can be so cruel to a child."
"Ah, that Ms. Hua Junior and your secondary mother-in-law are just the same. Their hearts are full of malice," said the Land Officer’s wife. Shortly after, she asked, "Are you inviting them to the banquet tomorrow?"
’Them’ naturally referred to the several siblings and sisters-in-law from the Old Yang Family.