The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 720 - 709: Being Robbed

Chapter 720: Chapter 709: Being Robbed

An oblivious Bai Erlang, carrying his own book basket, also came out with Mr. Zhuang, and even reached the carriage side faster than Manbao and the others.

They had just finished school not long ago and hadn’t expected to just take a quick stroll here before heading back, which was especially easygoing.

So, Bai Erlang was in a good mood, and upon seeing the three of them come down, he vigorously waved his hands, calling out, "Hurry up, we’re just waiting for you."

If they could get home so early, why dawdle?

As the group climbed into the carriage, Bai Shan mentioned going out for dinner, Bai Erlang cheered, asking, "Where are we going to eat?"

After counting his money, Bai Shan said, "Let’s go to Zhiwei Restaurant."

Zhou Lijun remarked, "Not sure if Fourth Uncle will be back today, it’s already the fifth day, and according to past practice, he should be back by now."

"Fourth Brother Zhou usually comes into the city late, let’s eat first and bring a portion back for him, hmm, choose something different, in case he doesn’t come back today, we can have it as a late-night snack."

The others thought this was a good idea.

Mr. Zhuang, smiling, listened and waved his hand, "You all have the late-night snack. I won’t have any."

They were growing, and not to mention a late-night snack, even an extra meal would be fine for them, but that wasn’t the case for him.

The conversation was lively on the way, but just as they reached the entrance to the alley, everyone saw a carriage stopped at the door. Daji furrowed his brows, recognizing it as their own horse, and said, "It looks like Silang has come back."

Manbao immediately lifted the curtain to look out and indeed saw the carriage stopped at the door, the big plank was still not unloaded from the horse’s neck.

Manbao also found it strange and jumped off the carriage, asking, "How come you’ve come to the city so quickly?"

Nowadays, the days were getting shorter; even if he started out early in the morning and traveled quickly, it wouldn’t be possible for him to enter the city so early, would it?

Moreover, he usually returned to the city with a full load.

Manbao hopped off the carriage and ran back home to check, with Zhou Lijun following closely, and Bai Shan and Bai Erlang also jumped down and ran after them inside the house, leaving only Mr. Zhuang in the carriage.

Daji, seeing this, paused for a second and let out a chuckle. He had no choice but to put down the carriage step and extend a hand to help Mr. Zhuang step down.

Manbao ran into the courtyard and then discovered that the house was peculiarly lively. Seven or eight men were sitting together having soup, and her Fourth Brother Zhou was lying back in a chair, mumbling for them to eat.

When he lifted his head, Manbao almost didn’t recognize him. Not only was his face bruised and swollen, but his hair and clothes were also a complete mess, clearly the aftermath of a beating.

Zhou Silang saw Manbao too. He had been smiling but suddenly grew upset, his eyes turning red in an instant, "Manbao—"

Manbao rushed over, eyes wide as she looked at him, "Fourth Brother, did you get into a fight?"

Zhou Silang grabbed her hand, crying and sniffling, "I was robbed, Manbao. Our wheat seeds, money, and even the food, shoes, and clothes I brought from home were all stolen."

Manbao quickly checked his arms and legs, "Are you hurt? Any pain or bleeding? Why didn’t you go see a doctor?"

Zhou Silang, supporting his waist and standing up, said, "My waist hurts, my back hurts, my arms and legs all hurt, everything hurts, but I can still move. All the money on me was taken. What doctor could I see? Aren’t you the doctor?"

Manbao knew he was reluctant to spend the money on consultation fees, and she was quite upset, "What if I hadn’t come back in time? If you have no money, go to Jishi Hall, do you think they won’t give you credit? Fourth Brother, you didn’t used to be like this!"

Zhou Lijun ran up too and felt that Fourth Uncle was becoming less reliable, "Fourth Uncle, you used to spend money without even blinking an eye. Why are you becoming more like Grandpa?"

"Ptui, ptui, ptui. This is called turning over a new leaf. You don’t know the cost of firewood and rice when you’re not running a household. Raising a wife and children costs a lot of money."

Manbao quickly supported him, "Alright, let’s go to the room and I’ll check you over."

Then, looking uncertainly at the seven or eight men who had stood up awkwardly, she hesitantly asked, "So, who might these gentlemen be?"

Zhou Silang immediately replied, "They are kind-hearted people I met on the road. They said they knew you and brought me back home."

Bai Shan felt something was amiss, asking, "Fourth Brother Zhou, when were you robbed?"

Zhou Silang wept, "Yesterday afternoon, just a bit away from Yizhou City. If I walked for another hour or so, I could have made it into the city. It gets dark quickly now, and the sun had just set behind the mountains at the time. I was thinking whether I could manage to make it into the city when people suddenly jumped out of the woods. I was startled, afraid of hitting someone, so I grabbed the horse, but then ten or so people ran out and pulled me off the cart, beating me up and taking everything on it."

Grateful, Zhou Silang looked at the group of men standing to the side, "I was beaten pretty badly. I barely climbed back onto the cart, dazed, and didn’t dare to go any further. I hid in the woods without even starting a fire, enduring a night of cold. It was only early in the morning the next day that I managed to get the horse and cart to Yizhou City. I was famished and had not drunk anything, and I was full of injuries. Thankfully, I ran into Second Brother Chen and the others gathering firewood outside the city, and they brought me home."

Bai Shan narrowed his eyes, smiling as he thanked Second Brother Chen and the others, then said to the newly arrived Daji, "They only took the things on the cart, not the horse or cart itself. They’re likely not bandits but villagers nearby. Daji, go report it to the officials now. I believe it won’t be long before they’re caught."

Daji agreed, casting a glance at Chen Erlang and the others before bowing and stepping back.

Mr. Zhuang frowned slightly and instructed Manbao, "Quickly check on your Fourth Brother. If the medicine at home isn’t enough, write a prescription and have Erlang buy it."

He also ordered the cook, "Prepare some hot water and take good care of the guests."

Then he politely excused himself from Chen Erlang and the others, and went into the house with Bai Shan to help out.

Manbao examined Zhou Silang all over and found that most of his injuries were bruises, with his arm and head likely being the worst.

He had been hit on the head with a club, creating a large swelling. He complained of dizziness and blurred vision, which to Manbao seemed a concussion as described by Teacher Mo.

Worried about possible brain damage, as the medical books had several cases where brain injuries didn’t show symptoms at first but led to sudden death after a period, she made him keep his head on a pillow and strictly forbade him from moving.

The severity of the arm injury was due to a broken bone.

Upon hearing his arm bone was broken, Zhou Silang burst into uproarious crying, "I’m so badly hurt, won’t I be a cripple in the future?"

Manbao, "...It’s just a broken bone, I just felt it, and it shouldn’t be shattered. Once the bone is realigned and a splint is applied, and some medicine is put on it, it will heal in a few months."

Zhou Silang, with tears streaming, asked, "Is it that simple?"

Manbao nodded, "That’s how simple it is. I’m not worried about the injury to your arm, but I’m more concerned about your head. Fourth Brother, tell me, how many fingers am I holding up?"

"That’s two. I just have dizziness and blurred vision, but my brain isn’t addled. If I were dazed, do you think I could speak so much to you?"