TFWYH – Chapter 14 It’s not Tang Wan

Tang Wan looked at Ling Chen deeply and began to take him seriously.

Three days.

If Ling Chen could hold out for three days, then why not teach him?

At first, Jiang-shi didn’t think much of Tang Wan teaching Ling Chen martial arts.

But seeing him skip meals, drenched in sweat without resting, she began to take it seriously too.

What puzzled her the most was the fact that her daughter-in-law even knew martial arts.

With that in mind, Jiang-shi asked her directly.

Tang Wan paused for a moment and then humbly replied, “Just a little.”

“Oh, I see!” Jiang-shi thought it was probably something she learned from Tang Hongba.

He was a butcher after all, so it wasn’t surprising if he picked up a bit of martial skill.

She filled in the blanks herself and didn’t press further.

Strengthening the body is a good thing anyway.

Jiang-shi was easy to appease. Ling Yu, however, was not.

Through the window, he had watched everything from start to finish.

Even though he didn’t like Tang Wan, she was still the person who slept beside him every day—his so-called “bedmate.”

Nothing intimate had happened between them, but in this household, he had the most interaction with her.

And he knew better than anyone—

Tang Wan didn’t know any martial arts!

Then, thinking about everything that had happened since she woke up from hanging herself, and that strange line about a “United Nations citizen’s code”…

Ling Yu confirmed one thing:

This woman, aside from having Tang Wan’s face, wasn’t the same person anymore.

Not the old Tang Wan, but someone wearing her skin.

Interesting…

Ling Yu let out a low chuckle, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.

Jiang-shi had no idea that Tang Wan had already called a doctor for Ling Yu.

It wasn’t until Dr. Li arrived in the afternoon that she found out, and she was beyond grateful to Tang Wan.

She had always wanted to get her son’s leg treated, but their poverty made it impossible.

She never imagined her daughter-in-law would still remember.

Even Ling Yu was surprised!

Because Tang Wan hadn’t said a word about it.

Ling Yu had studied at a private school in town and had, of course, heard of Dr. Li from the Ji Min Clinic—he was well-known and respected. So he cooperated fully.

But from the moment Dr. Li stepped into the room, his brows were furrowed.

And after examining Ling Yu’s leg, his face darkened even more.

“Dr. Li, can my son’s leg… still be treated?” Jiang-shi asked nervously.

Dr. Li sighed and shook his head. “It’s hard to say. The fracture wasn’t treated in time, and the wound was poorly managed afterward. The surrounding tissue has decayed. My skills are limited. I can only promise he may be able to walk again. But the treatment won’t be cheap.”

Jiang-shi’s heart sank.

Ling Yu, however, had mentally prepared himself, so he wasn’t particularly shocked.

Ling Yue helped her mother sit down and asked, “Dr. Li, how much will it cost to treat my big brother’s leg?”

Dr. Li thought for a moment and said, “At least fifty to sixty taels of silver.”

Jiang-shi nearly fainted on the spot.

Ling Yue cried out, “That expensive?”

Dr. Li nodded helplessly. “The leg’s been neglected too long. Some of the shattered bone has fused with the muscle. It’s impossible to return it to its original state. The only option now is to use expensive herbs to treat the wound and try realigning the bone. We’ll see if it works.”

Jiang-shi burst into tears.

Ling Yue was also deeply upset.

Dr. Li’s meaning was clear—

It could be treated, but there was no guarantee.

Even if it worked, her brother would walk with a limp for life.

And the cost? Fifty to sixty taels of silver.

Most common households spent only two or three taels in a year—they couldn’t afford that kind of money.

Just then, Tang Wan spoke up: “Do it. I have the money!”

Everyone turned to look at her in disbelief.

Jiang-shi stared at her, stunned.

Ling Yue’s heart skipped a beat.

She knew Tang Wan had money—but she didn’t expect her to actually use it to treat her brother.

Ling Yu, the one most directly involved, was visibly shocked.

Fifty or sixty taels! Not five or six!

And it wouldn’t even fully cure him!

Tang Wan ignored their gazes and looked only at Dr. Li. “May I speak with you privately?”

“Certainly,” Dr. Li nodded and followed her out.

No one knew what they talked about, but soon after, Dr. Li returned—his expression… indescribably strange.

Jiang-shi’s heart dropped. She thought Tang Wan had changed her mind. “Dr. Li, what is it…?”

“Oh, nothing,” Dr. Li snapped out of it, glanced at Tang Wan, and forced a smile. “I’ll start by removing the necrotic tissue. As for the leg, don’t worry. I’ll consult some old texts and see if there are other treatment options.”

“Yes, yes, thank you, Dr. Li!” Jiang-shi said gratefully.

“The wound needs daily dressing. I’ve already given the medicine to Wan-niang.”

“Thank you so much.”

Dr. Li chuckled awkwardly and gave Tang Wan a subtle look.

Tang Wan remained expressionless and didn’t even glance at him.

Ling Yu watched the silent exchange between them, his peach blossom eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Dr. Li finished removing the dead tissue and left, telling Tang Wan to visit him the next day for results.

After sending him off, Tang Wan turned around—

And was met with the sight of the mother and her two children staring at her.

Ling Chen looked completely confused. He was too young to understand the adult world.

Ling Yue had a complicated expression and was still processing the fact that Tang Wan was willing to spend that much money on her brother.

Jiang-shi, face full of sorrow, forced a smile more painful than crying: “Wan-niang, where would we even get that much money?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it,” Tang Wan said calmly, though her mind was on Ling Yu’s leg.

Just now, she had told Dr. Li she would do the treatment—but to do it under his name.

The bone had fused into the muscle—nothing major in her eyes. A simple surgery would fix it.

The only problem was—she needed a surgical knife.

Looks like she’d need to go to town tomorrow to have one made by the blacksmith.

Distracted, she brushed off the others and returned to the house, rummaging around.

Ling Yu couldn’t help but ask, “What are you looking for?”

“Paper.”

“In the box under the cabinet.”

Tang Wan pulled out the large chest under the cabinet and opened it—only to find it full of books.

Along with some paper and a few brushes.

She stared at the contents in surprise, then looked at Ling Yu. “Yours?”

“Yeah. After my leg broke, Yue put them away. Figured I’d never use them again.” Ling Yu said lazily, his eyes half-lidded.

But Tang Wan could hear the bitterness behind his words.

She said nothing, just stood up and cleaned off the dusty, neglected desk.

Then she carefully took out every book from the chest and arranged them neatly.

She did the same with the inkstone, brushes, and paper—cleaning them all and setting them up properly.

Ling Yu blinked in confusion. “What are you doing?”

Tang Wan didn’t look up. “You’ll get better. Keep studying.”

Ling Yu let out a quiet laugh, his eyes flashing with sarcasm. “Even if I get better, I’ll be a cripple. I can’t sit for the imperial exams. What’s the point?”

Tang Wan frowned and finally looked at him, saying each word with absolute seriousness:

“You’ll be healed. You’ll take the exam. Trust me.”