TFWYH – Chapter 5 The Dying Old Man

Fortunately, Ling Yu didn’t say a word—probably just didn’t want to talk to Tang Wan.

Tang Wan carefully glanced at his back before slowly closing her eyes.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Tang Wan woke up early and tiptoed out of bed.

Outside, Madam Jiang and the two children were already up and busy in the kitchen.

When they saw her come in, Madam Jiang quickly scooped a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her.

Tang Wan glanced at it—it was wild vegetable roots stewed with pork bones.

Smelled pretty good!

Tang Wan drank it all without hesitation, then silently stared at the pot.

Madam Jiang hesitated, “Wan Niang, do you want more?”

“No.” Tang Wan shook her head.

There wasn’t much in the pot to begin with. If she had another bowl, there wouldn’t be enough for the three of them.

Tang Wan looked away from the pot and got up to leave.

Madam Jiang thought she was just going out for a stroll and didn’t think much of it.

Little did she know, Tang Wan had taken the wolf pelt she skinned yesterday and was now heading toward town, following the original host’s memories.

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At the same time, Old Madam Liu was at home cursing the heavens, the earth, and even the air.

She had only just heard from the villagers this morning that Tang Wan had hunted a wild boar yesterday.

Knowing Tang Wan didn’t bring any meat to honor her and even sold it all, Old Madam Liu was fuming.

“This little wretch! Got meat and didn’t think to show me any respect? Sold all of it—300 jin of meat, and this old woman didn’t see a single piece!”

The more she talked, the angrier she became.

You see, Tang Wan used to bring her all the good stuff. After all, if it weren’t for her, Tang Wan wouldn’t have married into the family.

Over time, Old Madam Liu came to see this as her rightful due.

As for the Ling family’s relations, they weren’t complicated.

Old Madam Liu had three sons with the old man of the Ling family: the eldest Ling Canghe, the second Ling Cangshan, and the youngest Ling Cangshun—the “late-born son” and favorite of the elderly couple.

This youngest son was quite accomplished. Before turning 30, he had already passed the tongsheng exam (entry-level scholar), earning him a special place in the elders’ hearts.

Whenever there was anything good in the household, it was always reserved for Ling Cangshun.

The eldest, Ling Canghe, married and had a son and a daughter. Because he worked as a manager in a tavern in town, he held a decent status in the family.

The most miserable was the second son, Ling Cangshan.

Three years ago, he fell off a cliff while chopping firewood and died.

Fortunately, his son Ling Yu was outstanding—passing the tongsheng exam at just sixteen, even earlier than Ling Cangshun.

As a result, Old Man Ling had high hopes for him.

But the good days didn’t last long.

A month ago, Ling Yu fell off an ox cart on his way to the academy and had his leg crushed under a wheel, rendering him unable to walk.

Old Man Ling knew then that the second household was completely finished.

Old Madam Liu also showed her true colors. She immediately cast out the now-useless second family. Not long after, she even forced Ling Yu to marry Tang Wan in exchange for five taels of silver—squeezing the last bit of value from the second household.

What she didn’t expect was that this foolish Tang Wan actually treated her as an honored benefactor, constantly trying to please her. If the second household had anything good, Tang Wan always thought of her first.

She was quite happy to let Tang Wan fawn over her and even thought more than once that this granddaughter-in-law wasn’t bad.

Ugly? A little. Fat? Also true.

But she had good sense!

Now? Not so much.

That damn pig-girl Tang Wan was just using her and cutting ties!

She didn’t even think—if not for her intervention, how could someone like Tang Wan even dream of marrying Ling Yu?

At this point, Old Madam Liu had completely forgotten that Tang Wan’s family had given her five taels of silver.

She also forgot that Tang Wan was the wife of someone from the second household, which had already been cast out of the Ling family.

“Mother, don’t worry. I don’t think that fat sow would dare not to bring you any meat. Let’s just wait a bit. Maybe she’s on her way now,” the eldest son’s wife, Qian Shi, said.

Old Man Ling nodded and puffed on his pipe. “That’s right. Wan Niang has always honored you. She probably just forgot. She’ll come later.”

Hearing their words, Old Madam Liu calmed down and smugly said, “Alright, let’s wait a bit longer then.”

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Though Huan Shan Village was surrounded by mountains, it wasn’t far from town. A straight path led directly to Xiangxi Town, and walking there took about an hour.

Following the route in her memory, Tang Wan arrived at Xiangxi Town and paid two copper coins to enter the gate.

She passed a leather workshop and sold the wolf pelt for forty copper coins, then headed straight to the grain shop.

Fine rice cost six copper coins per jin, and coarse rice cost three. Tang Wan bought fifty jin of each, spending a total of 450 copper coins.

Tang Wan: …

Money doesn’t go far!

But on second thought, wasn’t money meant to be spent?

If it runs out, she’ll just earn more.

Tang Wan had no real concept of money. Once she let go, she started buying like crazy.

She bought salt, sugar, clothes for Madam Jiang and the siblings, and even got a decent-quality robe for Ling Yu.

By the time she was done with just one round of shopping, most of the one tael of silver she brought was gone.

Finally, remembering her handsome husband who refused treatment, Tang Wan went to a well-reviewed clinic—Jimin Clinic—to ask about house call fees.

“House call? That’s twenty copper coins,” Doctor Li replied with a smile. “Wan Niang, is someone in your house ill?”

Yes—Doctor Li recognized her.

Who on this street didn’t know the daughter of Butcher Tang?

Tang Wan nodded. “My handsome husband’s leg is injured. It stinks.”

He won’t let me look at it—otherwise I would’ve treated him myself.

After all, she had plenty of medicine in her space. Western medicine works much faster than ancient herbal remedies.

Doctor Li paused.

Why does Butcher Tang’s daughter seem so different today?

She was even giving him weird, resentful looks.

Was he imagining things?

Doctor Li cleared his throat and continued asking, “It stinks, huh? Sounds like the wound wasn’t treated properly—there’s necrosis. That kind of injury is hard to deal with. I’ll need to see it first to know for sure.”

Tang Wan nodded. “Let’s go!”

Doctor Li looked troubled. “I can’t go today. How about tomorrow? Leave me your address, and I’ll come by in the afternoon.”

Tang Wan thought for a moment and nodded again.

“Alright, alright. I’ll be there for sure tomorrow!” Doctor Li said, stroking his beard and seeing Tang Wan out.

Just then, a carriage raced over and stopped in front of the Jimin Clinic.

A young man jumped out, carrying an elderly man in his arms and rushed inside.

“Someone, help! Please, help!”

Doctor Li saw this and didn’t even have time to speak to Tang Wan again—he rushed over.

The old man was unconscious, his face pale and lifeless, twitching now and then.

The young man looked on the verge of panic. After laying the elder down, he stormed over, grabbed Doctor Li, and nearly dragged him over—Doctor Li almost tripped.

Once he regained his balance, the young man shouted at him again.

“Hurry and check my father! Stop dawdling!”

Doctor Li shook his head, ignoring the rudeness, and crouched down to examine the old man.

But very quickly, his expression changed. He let go of the elder’s hand and said in shock:

“Sir, your father… he no longer has a pulse!”