Volume One, Chapter Five: Three Thousand Taels!
“Cough, cough...” Before she could speak, she burst into a violent fit of coughing. “These are all minor matters; Father need not worry.”
“How can you say they’re minor! Where is the doctor? What does the doctor say?”
Wanxiang gave a signal, and someone hurried in from nearby. “Third Miss, you’d better stop hiding the truth from the Master. If you keep concealing it, your life will be in danger!”
Doctor Lin, carrying his medicine box, stood at the doorway, looking troubled.
He truly was in a difficult position, but who asked others to ask for so much? He was short on money, and the Third Miss had come to him. Had he not known beforehand that she was pretending, he might have been deceived too.
Master Song stood up in shock. “Doctor, what is wrong with my daughter? How can it be a matter of life and death...?”
“Master Song, I will not fear telling the truth. Third Miss’s illness came on suddenly but stems from long-term physical depletion and a chronic condition left untreated. Now the illness is severe; if not treated soon, it will be too late.”
Master Song angrily slammed his hand on the bedside. “Then why don’t you treat her?”
“I can treat her, but... but one of the medicines needed is extremely rare. It’s not just hard to find; even if found, the cost is exorbitant...”
“How much?”
The doctor raised three fingers. “Three thousand taels: two thousand five hundred for the medicine, and the rest for some nourishing herbs to gradually strengthen her... altogether, three thousand taels.”
It was truly outrageous; even he felt uneasy saying it!
He glanced at Song Ci, lying pale and expressionless on the bed, then forced himself to continue: “Only by using top-grade lingzhi in the treatment can we gently cure the stubborn ailment within Third Miss, ensuring her life is no longer in danger...”
Master Song swayed, gripping a chair for support. “Three thousand taels...”
He had been trading for nearly two months but earned only four hundred taels. Where could he get three thousand?
That huge sum felt like a crushing mountain, instantly bending his back.
“I only have four hundred taels on me. The rest... where will the money come from?” Master Song looked utterly despondent.
Song Ci propped herself up weakly. “Father, it’s alright even if I don’t get treated. I really am fine...”
After she spoke, another violent cough wracked her body—this time, blood came up.
Master Song was terrified. The doctor’s words were true; his daughter was gravely ill. No wonder such a fortune was needed for her cure.
“Lie down quickly, lie down!” he urged, carefully helping her recline.
Looking at her face, his heart ached faintly. His obedient, lovely daughter—how did she come to suffer such an illness?
Seizing the moment, Song Ci spoke again.
“Father, our third household is poor. All the money earned these years has been handed over to the family treasury under Grandmother’s care. Now that I am so ill, Grandmother and my eldest and second uncles surely won’t sit idly by...”
Her words made Master Song realize the truth at once.
The third household was poor, but the Song family treasury was rich. Over the years of trading, he had brought back hundreds, sometimes thousands of taels each time, surely accumulating a considerable sum.
He turned away, secretly wiping tears from his eyes with a clean sleeve, then stood up. “Father will go find your Grandmother and eldest and second uncles now.”
Song Ci nodded. Watching his retreating figure, her eyes gradually grew cold.
The temper of the Song family would surely disappoint him. But that was exactly what she wanted: for Father to see the true nature of the Song family early, so their family would not repeat past mistakes.
Master Song hurried to the main hall. Before entering, he overheard a middle-aged man beside Grandmother Song say, “You saved me this time, and I should repay you. But my carriage and belongings were crushed by stones on the road, and I fear they cannot be recovered. I have some silver on me; please don’t hesitate to accept it...”
He produced three silver notes—exactly three thousand taels.
Grandmother Song’s wrinkles bloomed into a smile. “In such a situation, anyone with a conscience would help.”
Though her words were kind, her hand quietly rested on the three thousand taels.
Zhang Baiwan noticed her move and smiled. Buying off a favor with money was the best outcome.
Master Song’s heart steadied at the sight of the money. He hurried inside and knelt before Grandmother Song with a loud thud, startling everyone.
“What are you doing!” Grandmother Song snapped angrily.
“Mother! Mother! Song Ci is gravely ill and needs money to save her life!”
“She seemed fine—how did she become so ill? There are guests here; if there’s nothing urgent, talk later. Now leave the room!”
Zhang Baiwan, grateful to his rescuer, quickly spoke up, “Master Song, please sit and speak slowly.”
He held a good impression of Song San, seeing him as honest and straightforward, not one to exploit favors, unlike the others in the Song family who were greedy.
Master Song sat, his fingers clenched tightly inside his sleeve, summoning courage. “Mother, eldest brother, second brother, the doctor says Song Ci is critically ill and needs money for treatment. Otherwise, she might not survive!”
Eldest Uncle Song sharply noticed Zhang Baiwan’s attitude toward his younger brother and smiled. “If she’s sick, she must be treated. Song Ci is my niece, and as her eldest uncle, I cannot ignore this. How much silver is needed?”
“Three thousand taels...”
“What!” Grandmother Song could no longer sit still. “Three thousand taels! Is she a princess or an empress? Three thousand taels for medicine! There’s no need to be so delicate. A few herbal prescriptions will do; she won’t die!”
Hearing this, Zhang Baiwan frowned, while Eldest Uncle Song quickly added, “Why would it cost so much? Third brother, are you being deceived?”
“The doctor said so. He has been taking care of our family’s health and providing medicine. I trust what he says.”
Eldest Uncle Song stiffened. Since moving from the village to the capital, they had called on Doctor Lin for three years. His words should not be false...
But three thousand taels.
That sum was a fortune to him and absolutely not to be given away lightly.
“Third brother, I understand your urgency, but our family’s finances are tight now... Perhaps Doctor Lin could find another way to treat her.”
Grandmother Song quickly agreed, “In the village, they use folk remedies—drinking talisman water, burning incense ashes. Try those first; the old ways have their merits. There’s no way it’s worth three thousand taels...”
“Before, when Third Sister came to see me, she didn’t look this serious...” Song Rouxi, standing nearby, nervously wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.