Chapter 1504: Mrs. Meng
Chapter 1504: Chapter 1504: Mrs. Meng
The eldest cousin mentioned by Village Chief Wan is the Wan Family Patriarch, whose eldest son works as a squad leader in the Prefecture Government Office. He is well-regarded in the government office and has been a confidant of several Magistrates, managing affairs at the Prefecture Government Office for twenty years.
"Brother Hong’s second child also suffered from this illness, but it wasn’t as severe as Liubao’s. Oh dear, we can’t delay! I must hurry into the city, or I won’t get in if the gates close!" Village Chief Wan was very anxious, glancing at Wan Liubao and then at Qin San Lang, thinking that Qin San Lang’s troops would still be stationed in the village for a few days and wouldn’t dare harm Liubao. So he decided to leave Liubao with Qin San Lang: "Company Commander Qin, watch over Liubao for me. I’ll come back for him after returning to the village. Lend me a carriage, I’ll take Doctor Dai into the city!"
Wan Liubao was born of a concubine, while Village Chief Wan’s legitimate wife was still alive and traditionally disliked these offspring from concubines. Thus, she had told Village Chief Wan she wouldn’t care for the concubine’s children, and if asked to care for them, she wouldn’t refrain from beating them three times a day.
Village Chief Wan’s wife, Mrs. Meng, was formidable, and her family was influential, with one brother working as a prison chief in the government office and another managing a gambling house. Village Chief Wan didn’t dare offend her.
Though Qin San Lang was unhappy, he nodded and said to San Qi, "Drive Doctor Dai and Village Chief Wan into the city."
"Yes." San Qi was the first to leave to prepare the carriage.
"Thank you." Village Chief Wan bowed in gratitude to Qin San Lang and said to Wan Liubao, "Don’t be afraid, Liubao. Stay with Company Commander Qin and play. I’ll be back soon."
Wan Liubao, somewhat blank-minded and as long as he had food, didn’t care about Village Chief Wan leaving and continued chewing on caramel.
Seeing Wan Liubao wasn’t crying, Village Chief Wan felt relieved and left with Doctor Dai.
After Village Chief Wan left, Qin San Lang stood up to leave, leaving Wan Liubao to Uncle Mu Tong’s care. He returned to the next room and told Gu Jinli about what happened.
Gu Jinli furrowed her brow and said, "It seems that the Wan Family Patriarch is very important to Xiao Bei Village; otherwise, Village Chief Wan wouldn’t have abandoned Wan Liubao and rushed to the Prefecture to report."
She further asked, "Didn’t Village Chief Wan send someone back to inform his own wife? Their family’s allergic condition is hereditary. Wasn’t the deceased eldest son born to Mrs. Meng? Then Mrs. Meng’s second son, third son, and grandsons might also inherit this illness."
She looked at Qin San Lang and said, "Let Uncle Mu Tong take Aunt Xiong to the village to meet Mrs. Meng and inform her, lest the children at home eat peanuts and fall ill."
Wan Liubao had the allergic reaction after eating peanuts a few days ago, indicating that Village Chief Wan’s family had peanuts at home. It was urgent to inform them, to avoid harming the legitimate offspring.
"Okay, I’ll go tell Uncle Mu Tong." Qin San Lang went to find Uncle Mu Tong and conveyed Gu Jinli’s message.
Uncle Mu Tong had been learning medicine from Elder Wu for many years, and although he had become accustomed to life and death, he wasn’t cold-hearted to let people die. Hearing this, he said, "Okay, I’ll go find Sister-in-law Xiong."
Saying this, he handed Wan Liubao over to Mai Dong, "Take care of Liubao. He likes to eat. Give him something to chew on, and he won’t cry. He’s easy to look after."
"I know, Uncle Mu Tong." Mai Dong replied, taking out a handful of roasted pine nuts and offered it to Wan Liubao, "Roasted pine nuts, with added sugar. Want some?"
"I want some, I want some!" Wan Liubao finally spoke, his eyes shining as he reached for Mai Dong’s hand.
Mai Dong raised his hand, teasing Wan Liubao, who was so eager that he threw away the caramel and used his two chubby little hands to try to grab Mai Dong’s hand, wanting to snatch the roasted pine nuts.
Qin San Lang glanced at them briefly, exited the room, spoke with Gu Jinli next door, and then headed to the soldiers’ encampment to inspect the setup.
Uncle Mu Tong, trusted by Village Chief Wan, and with Aunt Xiong not being a soldier, just a woman, smoothly entered the village and arrived at Village Chief Wan’s house.
Village Chief Wan’s household was indeed wealthy, living in a three-entry large mansion with several servants. However, there weren’t many servants, and Mrs. Meng didn’t like offspring from concubines, so Village Chief Wan carried Wan Liubao alone to meet Qin San Lang.
Wan Erbao heard that Uncle Mu Tong sought an audience, frowned, and said, "Why is he here? Get him out quickly, lest he ruin my mother’s appetite."
His mother never liked offspring from concubines, although she hadn’t harmed them, she wasn’t opposed to them dying prematurely.
Therefore, upon learning that Uncle Mu Tong saved Wan Liubao, his mother was very displeased with that Mu Tong.
"Yes." The messenger servant turned away and relayed Wan Erbao’s words to Uncle Mu Tong.
Uncle Mu Tong hurriedly said, "Young man, didn’t you convey what I said to your Second Young Master?"
Knowing Mrs. Meng disliked him, Uncle Mu Tong had specially mentioned when knocking that Wan Liubao’s illness was inherited from Village Chief Wan’s grandmother, and close relatives of Village Chief Wan’s lineage could potentially suffer from this allergic illness.
The servant was stunned, having forgotten: "Wait a moment."
The servant ran back to inform Wan Erbao once more.
Wan Erbao had a bad temper, and seeing the servant running back and forth without dismissing Mu Tong, he was furious: "Get out there quickly and drive him away! It’s the second day of the second lunar month, Dragon Raising Its Head, who’s he cursing here? The Mu family should all suffer from this life-threatening disease instead!"
The servant was scolded, hurriedly ran, but in his haste, collided with a woman, causing her to sit on the ground: "Liu Zi, are you blind? Trying to... injure the old lady, are you?!"
Intending to say ’die,’ but saying it on the second day of the second lunar month was inauspicious, so the woman swallowed it back.
Liu Zi quickly helped the woman up, saying, "Mrs. Gui, are you alright? I’m really sorry, Second Young Master told me to drive off that Mu Tong, and in my haste, I didn’t see the path."
Mrs. Gui took Liu Zi’s hand to stand, patted the dirty coat, and said, "Mu Tong? The doctor who saved Master Xiao Liu? What’s he here for? Madam doesn’t like him; if it’s nothing important, just let him leave."
"That’s him." Liu Zi said, recounting recent events to Mrs. Gui.
Mrs. Gui frowned as she listened, remembering the eldest master’s premature death, trembling a bit until being shaken by Liu Zi’s urgings; only then did Mrs. Gui come to her senses, quickly instructing Liu Zi: "You stay here first; I’ll go meet the madam... This matter seems serious!"
With that, she quickly ran to the main courtyard.
"What’s serious? What do you mean, Mrs. Gui?!" Liu Zi shouted after her, but Mrs. Gui had already disappeared.
Wan Erbao was irritated by Liu Zi’s noise, yelling, "Liu Zi you rascal, instead of driving someone away you’re dallying here. Do you want a beating?!"
"Sorry for the inconvenience, Second Young Master. I’ll drive them away at once!" Liu Zi dared not offend Wan Erbao. After the eldest brother’s premature death, Second Young Master was the eldest son of the Wan family, set to inherit the family’s titles and the village chief position.
Liu Zi hurriedly ran to the main door to drive Mu Tong away, but didn’t succeed as Mrs. Gui was hurriedly supporting Mrs. Meng to arrive.
Upon seeing Mu Tong, Mrs. Meng immediately asked, "You there, Mu, is what you said true? Liubao’s disease is really hereditary? What is heredity? Can it really harm descendants?"