Yang Shi jumped up and cursed, "You bringer of bad luck, little whore, dare you ask me for silver?"
"I—"
"Second Aunt—" Jiang Youzhi interrupted her, finding her words truly unreasonable.
Only then did Yang Shi notice Jiang Youzhi. She was momentarily stunned before putting on a big smile, "Oh, our family's literary star has returned!"
"How did you do on the exam? Surely you passed, right?"
Jiang Youzhi slowly shook his head, "Didn't pass, I didn't even take the exam."
Yang Shi's face immediately turned pale.
The whole family had been living frugally to support Sanlang's studies, all hoping he'd become a scholar and bring prosperity to the family by becoming an official.
But he didn't even take the exam?
Wouldn't that mean another three years of hardship?
For a moment, Yang Shi couldn't tell if she was sad or disappointed, her whole being deflated.
At this moment, the Liu Family's Liu emerged from the room. She had heard everything clearly inside and came out pretending to be alarmed, "Oh dear, who banged up Erlang's arm like this? Is it serious?"
Hearing her words, Jiang Erlang remembered how several times on the way, he had accidentally moved his arm, causing him excruciating pain. Filled with rage, he picked up a stick, swore loudly, and charged at Gu Yunjiao, "Little whore, I'll just beat you to death today!"
Jiang Youzhi took a swift step forward to block him, "What's Second Brother trying to do?"
Jiang Erlang impatiently said, "What's it got to do with you? This little whore needs a lesson, and I'm going to teach her well!"
Jiang Youzhi coldly retorted, "Does Second Brother have no regard for the law?"
"If Sister-in-Law reports today's incident, you'll be beaten with rods and have to do a year of hard labor; do you want to try that?"
Jiang Erlang was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, "So what? Does she dare to report? Doesn't she care about her reputation? Is she not afraid of being spat on?"
Gu Yunjiao brandished the hatchet she held in her hand, "I'm really not afraid."
"I'm not planning to marry anymore, so why would I need a reputation?"
She waved the hatchet and took a few steps forward, "Come on, come on, this blade has no eyes; don't blame me if it hits somewhere!"
"Anyway, life doesn't mean much to me, and I'm willing to exchange my life for yours."
As the saying goes, the soft are afraid of the hard, the hard are afraid of the reckless, and the reckless of those who disregard life.
At this moment, Jiang Erlang was the reckless one, and Gu Yunjiao was the one disregarding life.
Seeing the hatchet gleaming brightly in the sunlight, Jiang Erlang suddenly didn't dare to move forward.
He threw away the stick in his hand, yet his mouth still didn't lose its bravado, continuing to curse.
Yang Shi, genuinely anxious, was beside herself. It had been a couple of hours, and if this arm isn't treated, it could be ruined!
She hesitated and fumbled out a pouch, looking at Gu Yunjiao, "Can you really treat it?"
Gu Yunjiao merely looked at her with a half-smile. Yang Shi gritted her teeth, "Fine, then treat it, but since we're all family, can the silver be a little less? Two taels okay?"
At this point, Mrs. Chen was carrying a tray of dishes into the kitchen, and she took a moment to smile at Yang Shi, "Sister-in-law, why can't you figure it out?"
"Going to the county to find a doctor, it'll waste time, not to mention it'll cost even more silver."
"If you give Yunjiao the silver sooner, it'll be treated sooner, saving Erlang from unnecessary suffering."
Seeing Yang Shi still hesitating, Jiang Youzhi's eyes flickered. He was about to leave but accidentally brushed against Jiang Erlang's injured arm.
Jiang Erlang screamed like a pig being slaughtered once more.
Jiang Youzhi apologized with insincerity, "Sorry, Second Brother, I wasn't paying attention earlier."