Chapter 116: She Doesn’t Need It

At first, Jiang You didn’t quite catch what was being said. It wasn’t until Doctor Qi repeated himself that he finally grasped the gravity of the situation.

“How could this be?” Jiang You murmured to himself.

“If you were healthy before, then most likely the woman you came into contact with was ill. In any case, your chances are slim,” the clerk shook his head.

Doctor Qi also shook his head. “This disease is difficult to treat. Once contracted, it’s a lifelong burden.”

Jiang You took a deep breath. Doctor Qi and the clerk were already preparing to move on to see other patients.

Yet at that moment, Jiang You neither argued nor demanded back the silver he had previously arranged. Instead, he emptied all the silver he had on him to bribe them.

He bribed them not to disclose this matter.

After Jiang You left, the clerk glanced at the gleaming silver in his hand and chuckled lightly. “At first, I didn’t think there was anything special about him, but just now, he didn’t panic at all. Instead, he used silver to seal our lips. He’s certainly a man who knows his way around business.”

Doctor Qi stroked his beard and nodded in agreement.

...

When Jiang You emerged from the examination, the defeat that had weighed on him before was gone. He looked vigorous and full of spirit.

He headed straight for the alley where Hua Niang lived.

As expected, the place was deserted.

Jiang You clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging at his temples. He stood there for a while, seemingly calming the storm of emotions within, before finally leaving the alley.

By the time he returned home, evening had fallen.

Mrs. Qian had waited by the door all day and finally saw Jiang You before darkness set in.

Seeing Mrs. Qian, Jiang You didn’t wait for her to speak. Instead, he stepped forward first. “Madam, I’ve made a decision today.”

Since their family’s decline, Mrs. Qian hadn’t seen Jiang You looking so determined for a long time.

“What decision? Did you get the silver back? Was your new job successful today?” Mrs. Qian asked one question after another.

“I’ve recovered the hundred taels of subsidy, but I gave up on the job. Rather than wasting time as some petty official, it’s better to make a comeback,” Jiang You said firmly. Though it sounded somewhat reckless, Mrs. Qian felt unexpectedly reassured.

“What about the silver you used to grease palms before? Can we get it back?” Silver was always a concern for Mrs. Qian.

“Either way, it was spent on favors. Once given, it’s gone,” Jiang You smiled lightly.

Mrs. Qian looked puzzled and was about to ask more, but Jiang You suddenly grasped her shoulders. “Madam, let’s have a son as soon as possible. I believe you can give me a big, healthy boy.”

The mention of a son made Mrs. Qian forget all other worries instantly.

She happily took Jiang You’s hand, ready to enter the courtyard.

...

Early the next morning, the yard of the Jiang family echoed with Mrs. Zhao’s shouts: “Girl, the sun’s already high! Hurry up and get up. Aren’t you supposed to be digging the pond?”

Wrapped in a quilt, Bai Yan kicked her legs stubbornly, refusing to get up.

Mrs. Zhao was about to push open the door in frustration when Jiang Chengyan blocked her way.

“What’s the matter? Don’t let her sleep in. She’s not exercising, and a little wind will knock her down!” Mrs. Zhao glared at Jiang Chengyan, never pleased when she looked at him.

“She doesn’t need to,” Jiang Chengyan shook his head.

She’s been running around the mountains for over a hundred years. How could she not be in good shape? She’s practically become a spirit herself.