Chapter 864: Scumbag Brother and Scumbag Father, Stay Away (10)

Chapter 864: Chapter 864: Scumbag Brother and Scumbag Father, Stay Away (10)

In the midst of Zhang Shi and Meng Wengan’s panic, she reminded them, "Father seems to be ill, we need to get a doctor."

"Yes, we need a doctor." Zhang Shi finally calmed down, her eyes turning to Meng Wengan, "Wen Ang, you hurry to town and fetch a doctor."

It was so late, and the only man in the house who was able to go was Meng Wengan, so the task of getting a doctor could only be assigned to him.

Meng Wengan wanted to decline; after all, it was really too late, and it would take an hour to walk to town, and another two for the round trip, which was equivalent to half the night gone. But since Meng Chongxi suddenly fell ill, he had no choice but to go; he still needed Meng Chongxi’s help to repay his gambling debts.

Therefore, he went.

Zhang Shi’s face was clouded with worry, "Yan’er, what shall we do? Your father is ill, and the gambling house will soon come to collect debts — this family is likely to fall apart."

"Eldest Brother has gotten into trouble more than once or twice, and every time Father has to clean up the mess, while we suffer. Do you really think Eldest Brother can earn a title?"

Zhang Shi remained silent; had it been five or six years ago, she still might have clung to that hope.

Over the years, Meng Wengan’s behavior had become increasingly outrageous; his lies were endless, and she wasn’t a fool — he wasn’t studying at all, just squandering the family’s money on food and drink. Only that old man seemed bewitched, always thinking the child would achieve something.

Now that he’s addicted to gambling, it certainly isn’t just a couple of times.

"They all say a man should take responsibility for his own troubles — Eldest Brother caused this mess, he should resolve it himself. If the family bails him out this time, he won’t reform and will only become worse," said Qiann Yan, "Father is willing to sell me to pay his gambling debts, who knows if he won’t harm other family members in the future."

"He’s lived comfortably all these years, yet without any contribution, repeatedly causing trouble, implicating the family, and without taking responsibility, he doesn’t learn his lesson. It might be better to wait until the debt collectors arrive, cut off two of his fingers; maybe then he’ll learn," she said.

Zhang Shi’s face paled but she didn’t immediately retort.

"Does Mother remember Lee the Madman, who wanders in town?"

Zhang Shi nodded, "I remember."

"Lee the Madman took to gambling when he was young, first selling his sons and daughters, then selling off his wife, and finally even crazily sold his hardworking old mother. It was all because of gambling. Eventually, he owed so much that he couldn’t pay his debts and had five fingers cut off, only then did he stop gambling, but by then, he had gone mad," said Qiann Yan about Lee the Madman’s tale, which was well known in town, "Every time we go to town, we can see him, acting crazy and calling out to his wife, children, and mother, but no one sympathizes."

Zhang Shi said, "Then we’ll do as you say."

Meng Chongxi, overhearing, struggled to stop them, wanting to shout and curse at Qiann Yan, but he couldn’t make a sound. At this moment, he couldn’t even move his facial expressions, only lay stiffly on the bed, staring with his Bead-like eyes.

Qiann Yan caught a glimpse of Meng Chongxi’s desperate eyes from the corner of her eye, then led Zhang Shi to rest in her room, leaving herself to look after Meng Chongxi.

She closed the door and sat motionless beside him.

Is there anything to take care of when he’s paralyzed?

Ignoring Meng Chongxi’s gaze, she meditated and practiced. Her mind, however, was contemplating ways to make money. It was unsustainable to live such a frugal life, unable to even afford a decent meal.

She wasn’t used to it.

The only skills she could make use of at the moment were her embroidery. Although she knew medical skills, they needed time to be legitimized and established.

As dawn broke, Meng Wengan finally returned with the doctor.

He looked somewhat disheveled, eagerly standing aside, sweating anxiously.

When the doctor removed his hands, he hurriedly asked what was the matter.

The doctor expressed his helplessness; he couldn’t diagnose what illness Meng Chongxi was suffering from.