Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 6: Hanging the Pot to Help the World
Sun You saw the guests off and returned to the main hall.

While asking the servants to pack the tea leaves, Sun You apologized: "Father-in-law, if you are here for my son and your daughter's marriage, then I can only say sorry... It's really not that my family deliberately delayed it, it's because my son has a stubborn illness and has not recovered after many treatments, so the wedding date can only be postponed again and again... But I am ready to go to your house in the near future to complete the betrothal ceremony, and good things are coming soon."

"No rush, no rush."

Zhang Luan was too proud to mention the matter of breaking off the engagement.

Sun You said, "Today's shopkeeper Qin is a wealthy businessman from Huizhou. He has recently had some business dealings with my family... Come here..."

Sun You probably heard about the recent situation at Zhang Luan's home, and hurriedly asked someone to bring out a wooden tray. He lifted the red cloth covering it, and saw five small silver ingots neatly placed on the tray, each weighing about one or two taels.

Zhang Luan’s eyes widened when he saw it.

At this moment, he had forgotten about breaking off the engagement.

"This is……?"

Zhang Luan asked hurriedly.

Sun You said, "I heard that your family has encountered some difficulties recently. Our two families are old friends, and I cannot sit idly by. I hope you will accept my small gift."

"Why is this so embarrassing?"

Zhang Luan said this, but his body was honest and he couldn't help but reach out.

Giving both tea and silver, Zhang Luan almost treated Sun You as the God of Wealth.

Zhang Yanling quickly pulled his father from behind and said, "Dad, aren't we here to discuss breaking off the engagement?"

Just one sentence made the situation very awkward.

"Second brother, what did you say?"

Zhang Luan scolded with a stern face.

Zhang Yanling quickly moved closer to his father: "You tuberculotic fellow... Uncle Wan... you need to return the money..."

Hearing these "key words", Zhang Luan calmed down instantly.

Only then did he remember why he came to the Sun Mansion.

Although the Sun family has generously given a lot of silver, it can only be regarded as a betrothal gift. It is the money he got from selling his daughter. If he sells her to Uncle Wan's family, he may get more. If the marriage contract cannot be fulfilled, the silver must be returned.

Even if the marriage contract is fulfilled, the money can be said to be borrowed by the Sun family and needs to be returned.

"Brother Sun, there is something I want to say but I don't know whether I should say it or not..." Zhang Luan was a face-conscious person. Since the other party had given him enough face, he wanted to return the favor. It was not easy for him to say anything that would break the relationship.

Sun You hurriedly asked, "Brother Laizhan, is there anything wrong with my house?"

"This one……"

Zhang Luan hesitated and had no answer.

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, didn't the fortune teller say that my sister and Mr. Sun's fate are in conflict? It is very likely that it is because of my sister that Mr. Sun's illness has not been cured. We are here to cancel the engagement, isn't it also to protect the safety of the two families?"

Zhang Luan's eyes lit up, and he said quickly, "Yes, yes, yes, we are here to cancel the engagement in order to protect the safety of our two families, especially considering your son's health."

Sun You was also anxious, looking reluctant: "Canceling the engagement is such a big thing, why didn't you discuss it in advance? If this gets out, our two families will lose face!"

Zhang Luan saw that the relationship had fallen out, and immediately became tough: "Aren't we here to discuss this? Brother Sun, we agreed on the marriage, but your son never fulfilled his promise and got married early. This delay has made my daughter almost an old maid. So I asked a fortune teller, and he said that they are not a good match because of their fates."

"how is this possible?"

Sun You shook his head repeatedly, "When I was looking for a matchmaker, I asked a fortune teller to look at the two people's horoscopes, and they didn't conflict with each other."

It was originally a friendly meeting between the in-laws, but the situation quickly became delicate.

This battle is somewhat disadvantageous for the Zhang family's father and son, after all, they are now on the Sun family's territory.

As they were talking, a cough was heard from the inner hall.

Then a young and handsome man, helped by a servant, opened the curtain and walked out. Just by looking at his miserable and unsteady gait, one could tell that he was seriously ill.

Zhang Yanling searched his memory and found that the pale and sickly young man in front of him was Sun Bojian, who had been to Zhang's house several times.

"Father, I heard what you said. We should not force others to do anything. Since the Zhang family intends to cancel the engagement, we should also know when to advance and when to retreat. A forced melon will not be sweet."

Sun Bojian stood still with the help of the servant and spoke sensible words.

"My son, why did you come out?"

Sun You hurried over.

"Ahem, don't worry, father. When you were entertaining guests outside, I was in the back hall and heard everything, but I didn't come out to disturb you. I think the Zhang family must have a reason for doing this."

Zhang Luan felt relieved after hearing this. He walked over and asked with concern, "My dear nephew, are you feeling better?"

Sun Bojian said, "Uncle, you are thoughtful. I have been resting all this time, but my illness has not improved. It has become even worse since the beginning of autumn this year. Perhaps I am not destined to have a daughter."

Apparently, Sun Bojian was more superstitious about the conflict of fate than his father Sun You.

Sun Bojian was suffering from the disease, and his symptoms had not improved. When he had nothing to do, he would occasionally think about where the problem lay. However, his symptoms had worsened in the past two years after he had made an engagement with the Zhang family. He wondered if the two were related.

Zhang Yanling watched from the side and laughed in his heart. Whether you believe it or not, my job is to make you believe it, especially to prevent you from continuing to harass our Zhang family.

Zhang Yanling smiled a child's innocent smile: "Mr. Sun, I see that you don't look well. Has your wheezing become more serious recently? Didn't you seek medical advice? My family has an ancestral remedy that may be able to help you."

Zhang Luan glanced at his son with a warning look when he heard it: "Second brother, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhang Yanling was certainly not making this statement without a purpose.

He is a real "old Chinese medicine doctor". If he can't even identify the symptoms of asthma, then his eleven years of studying Chinese medicine would be in vain.

The other party not only has asthma, but also seasonal asthma. In spring, it is mostly caused by inhalation allergic asthma caused by pollen and dust, and in autumn and winter, it is caused by infectious asthma.

Zhang Yanling knew at first glance that this was a mixed disease, mainly caused by bacterial and viral infections, which was also the fundamental reason why Sun Bojian's illness persisted.

"That's right."

Zhang Yanling said, "Father, you forgot that there is actually a way to relieve this wheezing disease."

Zhang Luan was so angry.

What kind of wheezing is this? People outside said that the young master of the Sun family had tuberculosis and would not live long, so he was determined to break off the engagement for his daughter. In this matter, the old father was not simply despising the poor and loving the rich, or it could be said that the Sun family was originally very wealthy, much stronger than the Zhang family, so he had no right to despise it.

To a certain extent, Zhang Luan did this all for his daughter's good.

When Sun Bojian heard what his former brother-in-law said, he said with delight: "It is indeed wheezing."

This was probably because people outside were certain that his illness was tuberculosis, which was incurable and contagious, and everyone was afraid of it like a tiger. This made him extremely depressed and he dared not leave the house on weekdays. He originally thought that the Zhang family would cancel the engagement, and it might be because of some misunderstanding after hearing this rumor.

For a person who cares a lot about his reputation, he didn't want to explain. Besides, the Zhang family didn't mention tuberculosis at all, but only said that their fates were in conflict. So it was natural for him to give each other a way out and agree to cancel the engagement.

Zhang Yanling said, "Father, am I right? Our prescription is actually quite effective, but I wonder if Master Sun dares to use our medicine." Sun You asked curiously, "Brother Laizhan, does your family... have any profound attainments in healing people?"

"This one……"

Zhang Luan's face turned pale and blue, and he looked extremely embarrassed.

Zhang Yanling pulled his father's sleeve and said, "Father, although we are not professional doctors, Mr. Sun has a deep connection with our family. We will give them the medicine. Whether they accept it or not is their business. We can also do our part, right?"

Sun You hesitated for a moment after hearing this.

After all, I've never heard of the Zhang family treating anyone before. Their son's illness has been treated by so many famous doctors but none of them could cure him. So would they easily adopt your Zhang family's secret prescription?

Sun Bojian seemed very calm: "If that's the case, I should thank Uncle Zhang."

"Where, where."

Zhang Luan was very nervous and was wondering how he was going to cover up this lie.
Zhang Yanling smiled as brightly and innocently as a child again: "Dad, the work is done, let's go. Mom is still waiting for us at home."

"But, but..."

Zhang Luan was obviously not in a hurry to leave. He wanted the Sun family to sign the cancellation of the engagement in black and white before leaving.

Sun Bojian said, "Since this is the case, I will personally come to your house to return the marriage certificate, which will also preserve the friendship between the two families."

Not only Zhang Luan, but even Zhang Yanling had a little more respect for this "former brother-in-law".

Just now, Zhang Yanling urged his old father to leave, and he was also reminding Zhang Luan that if the engagement was cancelled here, everyone would know that our family took the initiative, and our reputation would be very bad.

Since the Sun family has agreed to cancel the engagement, they will definitely not go back on their word for the sake of their reputation. If we let them come in person to cancel the engagement, then the logic will be on our side.

This is the logic on the surface, but in fact it is more about all the expenses incurred due to the cancellation of the engagement. Whoever takes the initiative will suffer the loss.

My dear father, you want to cancel the engagement here. Are you sure you can afford to pay the Sun family for the betrothal gift?

But Sun Bojian seemed to realize that the Zhang family was not doing well recently, so he did not intend to make things difficult for the Zhang father and son, and simply proposed to come back and cancel the engagement.

"Oh, we can't ruin the relationship. My dear nephew, take good care of yourself. I will... come back to visit you later..." Zhang Luan was deeply moved and didn't know what to say.

It is such a pity that the man in front of me cannot become my son-in-law.

……

……

Zhang Luan came out of Sun's house with a bag of tea in his hand.

When he was about to leave, he seemed very regretful that he could not bring the silver with him.

He was deeply concerned about his former son-in-law. In front of his two sons, he lamented, "Such a promising young man, full of talent and a promising future, why did he suffer such a misfortune? God is so unfair."

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, the only chance for you as a former son-in-law is that you are engaged to your daughter, and your future is bright from then on.

God is still fair.

Zhang Heling said, "Dad, didn't you say that his family is about to fall into poverty? I see that they have imported a lot of goods, and they may make a fortune... And that shopkeeper Qin, he looks like a big businessman..."

"Don't talk nonsense if you don't know."

Zhang Luan gave him a lecture and then glared at Zhang Yanling, "Second brother, what are you doing crazy in the Sun Mansion? It's ok for you to speak rashly in front of Manager Qin, but why did you mention curing diseases and saving lives? Where do you want your father to find medicine for him?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Dad, is there really nothing you can do?"

Zhang Luan was startled by the question, and his momentum was not as strong as before. He waved his sleeves and said, "Just find a doctor and ask him to prescribe some medicine for wheezing. Whether it works or not has nothing to do with us. It's wheezing, but I think the matter is not that simple... If his illness has not been cured, why did he come to our house to cancel the engagement?"

Zhang Yanling said, "So, I am also helping the family. If we help him stabilize his condition, he will think that it is really because of the conflict between his fate and his sister that he is suffering from a serious illness and will be more willing to come to our house to cancel the engagement. And if he comes to our house himself, we don't have to return the money to his family. Isn't this helping the family?"

"Why are you saying those nonsense? Do you really think curing the disease is that easy?" Zhang Luan certainly understood that his son was right, but he was troubled by the fact that this was an unsolvable proposition.

Zhang Yanling smiled and asked, "Then Dad, let's go to the pharmacy, or find a doctor or something, right?"

Zhang Heling said, "Second brother, you were just talking nonsense before, weren't you? In fact, I saw it when we were at Sun's house. You are better at talking nonsense than me, and you don't blush or get nervous. It's amazing!"

"I'm so pissed off by you two little brats! Why did I give birth to you two losers! Let's go!"

Zhang Luan was extremely angry.

Zhang Heling asked, "Dad, where are you going?"

Zhang Luan said angrily, "Where else can we go? To the pharmacy! Just pick up some medicine and send it over, and say it's a gift from us! He should know whether it's good or not. I think his family is really desperate and they actually believe such nonsense? If you keep talking nonsense wherever you go, I'll tear your mouths apart."

"Dad, that was all said by the second son. I didn't say anything..."

……

……

Zhang Yanling was very happy.

This time when he left home, going to the Zhang family mansion or the Sun residence was not his purpose.

His main purpose of going into the city was to experience the customs and culture of the Ming Dynasty, and also to appreciate the medical culture of the middle period of the Ming Dynasty.

Those legendary prescriptions that could cure serious diseases might be waiting for him to discover. He couldn't help but think of his childhood when he often saw his grandfather, an old Chinese medicine doctor, flipping through some ancient books at home. At that time, he developed a great interest in Chinese medicine.

Although the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine has become increasingly bad in modern times and fewer and fewer young people believe in it, he firmly believes that it is a treasure of traditional culture and its value is immeasurable.

"If I wake up and find myself still in bed in modern time and space, and I remember all the ancient prescriptions I came across in my dream clearly, maybe I can change an era!"

Thinking of this, Zhang Yanling was filled with endless longing.

When they entered the drugstore and randomly found a doctor on duty, asking about prescriptions for treating wheezing and asking for some ready-made medicines to take back, the doctor just randomly prescribed a few medicines.

When Zhang Yanling saw the medicinal materials listed in the prescription, he instantly began to doubt the true level of doctors of that era.

"Doctor, what is the three-year-old blood residue?"

Although Zhang Yanling already realized what it was, he still couldn't help but ask.

The doctor said impatiently, "It's the hair of a three-year-old child. This is the medicine. Remember, it has to be three years old, not one year more or less, otherwise the medicine won't work. Try to use a girl's hair, and you can just grab the other medicines from the counter."

Zhang Yanling cursed in his heart, I thought you were so capable.

I can understand using hair as a medicine, but why do you have to use the hair of a three-year-old child, and it has to be a girl... Are you trying to explain metaphysics to me here?

Although Zhang Yanling knew that the doctor was just reading from a book, he still silently labeled him in his heart... a quack!
It's a new week, please collect and recommend it! Thank you very much!

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(End of this chapter)