TFWYH – Chapter 70 Blackmail

“Don’t you start talking nonsense. When that fat woman treated your man, she didn’t just use up a bunch of my precious medicinal herbs—she also used one of my ginseng roots. And not just any ginseng—fifty years old! Go ask around if you don’t believe me. You’ll see how much it’s worth. Fifty taels is already my friendship price for you.”

“Friendship price my foot! You think you own such expensive medicine? Even if you carved off that measly bit of flesh you’ve got, it wouldn’t sell for fifty taels! Heartless, shameless, taking advantage of a disaster—may you drop dead!”

“You shameless little slut, what did you just say? Say that again if you dare!”

“I dare even if I didn’t—may you drop dead…”

…

The more they argued, the fiercer it got. Zhang the doctor looked like he wanted to raise a hand, but when he saw Ling Sheng and Li Dashan standing behind Madam Yang, he didn’t dare, so he just kept quarreling with her.

Before long, a whole crowd of villagers gathered to watch.

Madam Yang’s tongue was vicious, and she knew plenty of gossip. In no time, she had dragged all of Zhang the doctor’s dirty laundry into the open for everyone to hear.

Some villagers already knew these things, others didn’t. Either way, it was a feast of gossip, and they were stuffed.

Zhang the doctor was shaking all over, looking like he was about to have a seizure.

Fine!

If I can’t win an argument with you, I’ll report you to the authorities!

“I’m going to town right now to find the magistrate. I refuse to believe there’s no one in this world who can deal with a shrew like you!”

Madam Yang froze at his words.

The villagers all exchanged uneasy looks.

That’s how it was in ancient times—once officials were involved, common folk lost their fight.

Li Dashan’s face tightened. He quickly grabbed his mother’s arm, swallowing his frustration. “Mother, just forget it. This… this is our fault.”

“Our fault? Just because he says it’s ginseng, it’s ginseng?”

Zhang the doctor looked around to make sure Tang Wan wasn’t there, then gave a cold snort and produced his “evidence”—a ginseng root with a small section cut away. “See? This is the very ginseng that fat woman didn’t finish using last night. I’ll take this straight to the magistrate right now!”

With that, he turned to leave.

Madam Yang’s face went pale—she was out of moves.

“Wait!” Li Dashan called out through gritted teeth. “We’ll pay. But… we don’t have that much right now. Could you give us a few days?”

Zhang the doctor stopped, smug. “Now that’s knowing your place. We’re all neighbors—don’t say I’m being hard on you. Whatever you have, give me now to pay part of the debt. You can owe the rest—it’s not like the monk can run away from the temple.”

Madam Yang and Li Dashan felt bitter to their cores.

Fifty taels.

They’d never imagined they’d one day fall into such debt.

Li Wu was still unconscious, and there would be more medical expenses.

Even if he recovered, who knew if there’d be lasting effects?

This trip into the mountains had nearly killed father and son, and now they were drowning in debt.

Blow after blow had left Madam Yang completely crushed.

She clung tightly to her son’s hand, teeth clenched, swallowing her grief.

But the tears still spilled over.

Once a well-off family, they had fallen so low.

A widow and orphan, bullied by Zhang the doctor.

Some villagers couldn’t stand to watch anymore—especially those who had gone into the mountains with the Lis this time. They glared daggers at Zhang the doctor.

Suddenly, Meng Shi stepped forward and held out his last five copper coins to Madam Yang.

“This is all I have left… Madam Yang, I’m sorry…” Meng Shi said, crying again.

It was all his fault. If he hadn’t urged everyone on, they wouldn’t have gone so deep into the mountains.

Li Wu wouldn’t be like this.