Chapter 8: Poor Little Thing
The villagers saw Zhou Wangshu’s appearance clearly for the first time and immediately drew in a sharp breath.
Emotions like stubbornness, grievance, sadness, and more appeared on the youth’s handsome face. He looked so weak and helpless, just like he was about to shatter.
Such a severely injured youth was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Not to mention an adult man, even a child of a few years old could probably decide his life or death.
The Village Head saw Zhou Wangshu like this and looked unkindly at Second Uncle Su: “This is the husband your niece bought to join the family. What right do you have to decide his fate? And you even said you wanted to sell him to a male brothel. That’s simply insane. This child has suffered so much hardship, and he was finally rescued. How could you bear to do this?”
“Village Head, no, this boy is lying. The wound on me was stabbed by him, really. I didn’t fall.” Second Uncle Su hurriedly explained, the wound hurting terribly.
The youth stretched out his arm and wiped away that tear at the corner of his eye.
When he raised his hand, he revealed his red and swollen wrist.
“Uncle Village Head, look, this is the evidence of him hurting my husband.” Su Yaoguang pointed at the marks on Zhou Wangshu’s wrist.
Zhou Wangshu pulled his sleeve down, covering the red and swollen wrist: “Don’t blame Uncle. I shouldn’t have struggled. I shouldn’t have wanted to shout for help or run away.”
“But I’m already Yaoguang’s person. Even if he wants to sell me, he should wait for Yaoguang to come back. I just couldn’t accept it. Because of this face that brings trouble, someone wanted to sell me to a male brothel. I finally escaped but then ran into a human trafficker. I thought my life would end like that, but Yaoguang bought me. I’ve already thought it through. Once my wounds heal, whatever Yaoguang asks me to do, I’ll do it. All the dirty and tiring work at home, give it to me. I definitely won’t let her suffer a loss.”
Su Yaoguang hadn’t said anything yet when a burst of crying sounds came from the doorway. Su Yaoguang looked over and saw that the villagers who had been watching the show were all wiping their tears.
“He’s lying.” Second Uncle Su shouted loudly, “Village Head, there’s something wrong with this person. He wasn’t like this earlier. When he stabbed me…”
“Second Uncle, stop slandering him. In this state, he can’t even walk, let alone hold a bowl. How could he stab you?” Su Yaoguang said angrily.
“Yaoguang, have I caused you trouble?” Zhou Wangshu raised his red and swollen eyes. “Don’t sell me. I can be your servant, no wages.”
“I won’t sell you. Don’t be afraid.”
Su Yaoguang looked at Doctor Lin: “Uncle Lin, please help him rebandage it.”
Doctor Lin sighed lightly: “This boy’s injuries are very serious. He can’t take any more torment, or else even an immortal couldn’t save his life.”
Doctor Lin’s words proved to the Village Head that Zhou Wangshu’s physical condition couldn’t hurt anyone.
The Village Head no longer listened to Second Uncle Su’s excuses and directly gave the result: “Su Ershi, you deliberately hurt someone. You’ll pay his medical fees, and compensate one hundred copper coins to make up for his body. If there’s such a thing again, it will be handled according to the rules. This time, consider it you being muddle-headed, just a warning.”
“Village Head, I’m injured too, and he…”
“That’s your own fault.” The Village Head was impartial. “Your brother joined the army in your place, leaving them as orphan and widow to suffer. If you had any conscience, you wouldn’t bully your widowed sister-in-law and niece.”
Su Yaoguang sobbed: “Thank you, Uncle Village Head, for upholding justice for us.”
Grandma Su and Second Aunt Su were unconvinced, but with that boy injured like this, even they suspected Second Uncle Su and had no confidence to argue further.
There was still an iron piece in Second Uncle Su’s shoulder, hurting him so much he wailed: “Doctor Lin, quickly treat my wound!”
“This little brother’s injuries are even more serious. I’ll bandage him first. Use this time to pay the medical fees and the one hundred copper coins you owe the girl Yaoguang.”
The Village Head hadn’t left yet, and Second Uncle Su had suffered a mute loss. No matter how much he hated it, there was no way out. Even if he shouted until his throat was hoarse today, no one would believe him.
He glared viciously at Su Yaoguang, only able to swallow this anger.
“What are you standing around for? Get the money.” The Village Head said.
Second Uncle Su roared at Second Aunt Su: “Give it to her.”
Doctor Lin said: “His medical fee is thirty copper coins, the medicine for bandaging the wound is twenty copper coins. You’ll also need bandaging and medicine later, so one hundred copper coins total here.”
Second Aunt Su was furious but got up to get the money.
The Village Head watched Second Aunt Su give the money to Su Yaoguang and Doctor Lin, gave a few instructions, and then left.
Doctor Lin helped Zhou Wangshu into the room, bandaged him up, and only then came out to bandage Second Uncle Su. When bandaging Second Uncle Su, he wasn’t gentle at all and directly used brute force to pull out the iron piece.
Second Uncle Su screamed miserably: “Ah…”
After Doctor Lin pulled out the iron piece, he sprinkled some medicine on his wound.
“It hurts, it hurts… so painful…”
“It should hurt. Don’t bully people again in the future.” Doctor Lin said with a cold face. “Otherwise, no matter how much money you give me, I won’t treat you.”
Second Uncle Su had bitterness but nowhere to vent it.
He wasn’t lying. That boy really wasn’t this innocent.
But even if he said so, no one would believe it. Everyone believed that boy was the victim, including his old lady and daughter-in-law didn’t believe him.
“You should leave now.” Su Yaoguang stood in the courtyard chasing them away.
Grandma Su put her hands on her hips, just about to curse, but Su Yaoguang shouted shrilly: “Grandma, the Village Head hasn’t gone far. Do you want to hit me?”
“You money-losing goods.” Grandma Su was furious.
“Mom, let’s go.” Second Aunt Su pulled Grandma Su’s arm. “His dad is still injured. Don’t make a fuss today. We can talk another day.”
After Grandma Su and the others left, Doctor Lin also took his leave, and Su Yaoguang closed the courtyard gate.
Su Yaoguang returned to the wood shed.
“I’ll go make food. Shout loudly if you need anything.”
“I lied earlier.” Zhou Wangshu said weakly, leaning there. “The iron piece in his shoulder was stabbed by me.”
Su Yaoguang frowned: “I guessed it. But he provoked you first, and you did it to protect yourself. I can understand.”
“It was real that he wanted to sell me to a male brothel. He wanted to drag me away. I was in really bad pain, struggled, accidentally grabbed the iron piece, and stabbed it in.”
“It’s okay now. Don’t be afraid.”
Zhou Wangshu said bitterly: “What he said wasn’t right. I’m not a murderer and haven’t done bad things. Did you really mean it when you said I should be your husband?”
Su Yaoguang: “…”
After experiencing an ungrateful person like Xiao Yanci, she didn’t want to randomly pick a husband now.
“You should know my situation by now. My grandma wants to marry me to an idiot, and I’m definitely not willing. You were bought to shut them up. Don’t worry. Once your wounds heal, if you have somewhere to go, you can leave anytime. I won’t force you to do things you don’t like. If you have nowhere to go, we can be brother and sister.”
Zhou Wangshu blushed: “What I said earlier was real. I have nowhere to go. If you don’t mind me, I’m willing.”
“Willing for what?”
“Willing to stay here, be a husband, be brother and sister, I can do any of it.”
“That…” Su Yaoguang felt a bit uncomfortable. “You’re still young. We’ll talk later! If you have nowhere to go, you can stay here first. I’ll go make food!”
