Chapter 84: Freedom
The ox cart wheels turned quickly, carrying the bound Zhang Pandi and the constantly coughing Jia Chunni away from the village, soon disappearing from sight.
Only after they were far from the village did Su Yaoguang take a pill from her sachet and feed it to Jia Chunni.
“Jing’er said that taking this pill will stop the coughing. These past few days have really been hard on you. Your throat must feel terrible, right?”
Zhang Zhaodi untied the ropes on Zhang Pandi.
“We were worried before that you couldn’t pull off acting like a madwoman, but today you really opened our eyes. With your rabbit-like temperament, you actually dared to do so many crazy things. Now that we’ve gone far away, there’s no need to fear them anymore. Rest a bit!” Zhang Zhaodi said. “We’ll have to tie you up again when we’re about to reach Anning Village.”
Zhang Pandi hugged Zhang Zhaodi’s neck and burst into loud sobs.
At this moment, she was not a mother, but a aggrieved and frightened ‘child’. Facing her most trusted relative, she dropped all her pretense.
Jia Chunni also hugged Su Yaoguang and cried.
“Cousin, this isn’t a dream, is it? I’ve really left the Jia family. I really don’t have to suffer their torment anymore?”
“It’s not a dream. You’re very clear-headed now. From now on, we won’t have to endure that suffering anymore.” Su Yaoguang patted her back and said, “This time we were able to smoothly escape the Jia family, and we have to thank you all for that. You defeated the coward in your hearts and bravely stood up to fight for freedom for your own futures. Tonight, we’ll celebrate properly.”
Zhang Pandi wiped her tears, making her already dust-covered face even dirtier.
“Big sister, you don’t know how hateful they are.” Zhang Pandi said angrily. “Chunni was right. They were really secretly discussing marrying Chunni off to that old bachelor. Also, they planned to rent me out as a pledge wife to bear children for others. They planned to remarry someone who could bear sons, but they weren’t willing to just let me go like that.”
“I was wondering how you, with your rabbit temperament, managed to think it through. Those moves just now were like you wanted to swallow them alive. Turns out it was because of this stimulation.”
“Tomorrow we’ll go into the city and register your divorce letter at the government office.” Zhang Zhaodi said. “Then, your niece will take you and Chunni to earn money properly. From now on, you mother and daughter can live good lives together.”
Zhang Pandi nodded repeatedly.
The ox cart was approaching Anning Village. Zhang Zhaodi tied Zhang Pandi up again, and Jia Chunni continued playing the role of the sickly, weak young lady who coughed.
“Yaoguang’s Mother, what’s wrong with your second sister and Chunni girl?”
“Sigh, that heartless brother-in-law of my second sister is inhumane. My second sister and Chunni were sick, but they wouldn’t call a doctor for them. They wanted them to die of illness alive. I couldn’t bear to watch, so I brought them back. That wretch, to avoid responsibility, even wanted to divorce my sister. Of course I wouldn’t allow it. I forced him to write a divorce letter. Now, I’ve brought my sister back to take good care of her. Men are heartless, but as her big sister, I can’t just ignore my own little sister.” Zhang Zhaodi said angrily.
“It takes someone as kind-hearted as you, her big sister! Luckily she has you. Otherwise, she probably wouldn’t last more than a few days.”
“Who made me her sister? These two little sisters of mine were practically raised by me. Others can ignore them, but as their big sister, I can’t.”
Before long, most of the village knew about Zhang Pandi divorcing Jia Jinshui. At the same time, the news of Jia Jinshui abandoning his sick wife and sick daughter spread.
Zhang Zhaodi had Zhang Pandi pretend to sleep, not wanting too many people to be curious about her and come to their house to watch the excitement. However, everyone had seen Jia Chunni’s sickly appearance since she coughed all the way.
Jiang Jing and Zhang Yingdi were waiting at the doorway.
“They’re here.” Jiang Jing had sharp eyes and spotted the ox cart first.
“I see them too.” Zhang Yingdi breathed a sigh of relief. “Looks like our plan was very successful. I’ll go tell husband the good news.”
Zhang Yingdi happily ran inside and said to Wang Huanzhi, who was fiddling with flower clay in the room, “Husband, big sister and Yaoguang are back, and they’ve brought second sister and Chunni.”
“Now you can relax, right?” Wang Huanzhi said with a smile. “Second sister has escaped the Jia family. The hard days are over. From now on, it’s all good days.”
“Mm.” Zhang Yingdi nodded repeatedly. “Us too.”
Wang Huanzhi’s health was getting better and better. Now, they were earning money alongside big sister and Yaoguang too, so their future held much hope.
The ox cart drove in.
Jiang Jing closed the courtyard gate, blocking the sneaky gazes from outside.
Zhang Zhaodi helped Zhang Pandi through the door, while Su Yaoguang supported Jia Chunni. Once the gate was shut, the outside eyes couldn’t see, and everyone relaxed.
“The hot water has been ready for a long time. Second aunt and cousin, you’ve suffered grievances. Take a bath first and rest. We’ll call you when the meal is ready.” Jiang Jing said.
Jia Chunni rolled up her sleeves. “I’ll make dinner.”
“You should clean yourself up first!” Zhang Zhaodi said. “There are so many people, and it’s not like only you can cook. There will be plenty of chances for you to show off your culinary skills later. No need to rush right this moment.”
“Listen to your big aunt.” Zhang Pandi said. “We look too disheveled right now. Let’s bathe first!”
Su Yaoguang carried bathwater into Zhang Pandi and Jia Chunni’s room. After the mother and daughter finished bathing, Su Yaoguang made more than ten trips in and out.
At dinner time, seeing the mother and daughter wolfing down their food, everyone felt a pang in their hearts. The questions they wanted to ask became unimportant, and they just let the mother and daughter eat quietly.
“For the next few days, you still can’t go out. You can only make cosmetics in the room. After a few days, we’ll let you appear gradually in front of people, saying your conditions have improved. As for who cured you, of course it’s our Jing’er. This is a good chance to promote Jing’er’s medical skill.”
Jiang Jing blushed. “I’m too young, and I’ve only learned a little bit. No wonder they don’t trust me.”
“Who says you only know a little?” Zhang Zhaodi said. “A few days ago when I had diarrhea, wasn’t it you who cured me? This time’s scar removal cream formula, wasn’t it you who improved it? Yesterday, Auntie Wang from the neighboring village came to me. She didn’t quite believe it at first, so she only bought a trial size. Unexpectedly, the scar on her daughter’s face really faded a bit. She came back yesterday and spent money on a big bottle. Now we’re just short of patients’ trust, but that’s something that can be cultivated.”
“Mom, whether others trust her or not doesn’t matter. Anyway, our Jing’er doesn’t need to stand out too much in the village, so as not to take away Uncle Lin’s business. Once we get to the city, we’ll set up a separate sign for Jing’er, so she can see patients freely.” Su Yaoguang said.
Clap clap! Clap clap clap! Anxious knocking came from outside.
“Who is it?” Zhang Zhaodi impatiently opened the courtyard gate. “Doctor Lin, what’s wrong with you?”
