Chapter 7: Looking at it with new eyes

Making money to retaliate against the Xu family is important, but first and foremost, he must return home because his father is seriously injured and his younger brother has a broken leg. He must go back immediately to provide treatment.

It has been three months since his family has seen him, and they must be worried and missing him terribly.

"Shen Gongzi, let's go!" Thirteen and Fourteen, subordinates of Tian Hong, said, "Do you expect us to carry you back?"

These two people would keep a close eye on Shen Lang, not giving him a chance to escape.

Shen Lang stretched his muscles and continued walking towards home.

...

Yueguo is located in the southeast of Dayan, in a hilly area with numerous, though not very high, mountains.

Surprisingly, the road infrastructure in this complex area is well-developed, with even the rural roads being about four meters wide and relatively flat, allowing three horses to pass side by side, which should be far superior to ancient China.

After daybreak, Shen Lang saw many farmers working in the fields, dressed similarly to ancient Chinese people, but with slightly better physical fitness, taller stature, and more robust build.

Moreover, almost every village along the way had sturdy stone fortresses with militia patrols, carrying knives at their waists, and some even carrying bows and arrows, which was very unexpected. In most dynasties of ancient China, bows and arrows were prohibited, yet they were openly present in the villages in this world. The martial spirit in this world far surpassed that of ancient China.

It wasn't until noon the next day that Shen Lang arrived at Maple Leaf Village, where his family lived.

The entire Maple Leaf Village was situated in a valley, with a population of about six hundred. The village also had a stone fortress and over twenty militia members. The vast majority of the villagers lived together, with hundreds of houses crowded on both sides of the river, except for Shen Lang's family, which stood alone halfway up the mountainside.

Because Shen Lang's family had moved from elsewhere to this place just over a decade ago.

This kind of village was very conservative and exclusive, and because Shen Lang's parents did not interact with the villagers, they had not been able to integrate into the community.

As he climbed halfway up the mountainside, Shen Lang looked at the dilapidated mud house in front of him, which was his home.

It was so dilapidated, even more so than he remembered from three months ago.

The courtyard, which his father had kept very tidy, was now overgrown with weeds. The walls made of mud had several holes due to wind and rain, and the roof had no tiles, only thatched with straw.

It was so impoverished that it was heart-wrenching, unable to even provide shelter from the wind and rain.

Before reaching the door, Shen Lang heard his mother's sobbing, his father's intense coughing, and his brother's cries of pain.

"Hurry to the Xu family and bring your elder brother home. Go and bring your elder brother home..." his father hoarsely said, coughing violently, indicating that the prolonged treatment of his injuries had affected his lungs, and his breathing was very difficult, indicating a serious inflammation, possibly even pulmonary hemorrhage.

"Dad, I'll bring my brother home tomorrow," his brother said.

His mother cried, "Old man, you've been coughing up blood all this time and still can't get out of bed. Second brother's leg is broken, how can we go? Tomorrow, I'll go to the Xu family. If they don't release your elder brother, I'll smash my head against the gate of the Xu family."

"My son, so honest and kind, in the Xu family, a den of wolves and jackals, must have been bullied, my child..." his mother cried as she spoke, "I don't know if he's eating enough, if he's warm enough."

"My child, who has never suffered since childhood, who has never left our side, I don't know what suffering he's enduring now."

Listening to his mother's crying, his brother couldn't bear it and said, "Mother, I'll go make a pair of crutches, and tomorrow I'll go to the Xu family to bring my brother home, even if it costs me my life."

Hearing these words, Shen Lang felt a wave of heat throughout his body, a bitter feeling in his heart.

He rushed into the house and knelt in front of his parents, trembling as he said, "Mom, Dad, I'm unfilial, but I'm back."

At first, his parents and brother were stunned, then they were overjoyed.

His mother rushed up and hugged Shen Lang, crying loudly, "Elder brother, it's really you, my elder brother, you're back. I thought I'd never see you again. Am I dreaming?"

His father was so excited that he struggled to get out of bed, causing another violent coughing fit, with blood foaming at the corners of his mouth.

His brother suddenly sat up and let out a cry of pain.

Shen Lang said, "It's me, I'm back."

His mother said, "My child, it's good that you're back. We won't leave again. The Xu family is cruel, don't go there again, okay?"

Shen Lang nodded vigorously, "Yes, I won't go to the Xu family again."

"Good, good, that's right, that's right," his mother wiped away tears of joy.

His father also said happily, "My son is really sensible."

His parents were too indulgent towards Shen Lang. Just saying that he wouldn't go to the Xu family anymore was considered sensible.

Shen Lang quickly helped his father, concentrating his mental power on his eyes to assess his father's injuries.

Sure enough, there were internal injuries, with damage to the lungs and stomach, especially a large amount of blood stasis in the lungs, and cracks in the ribs, which had already healed over the past three months, but were very uneven, with many bone spurs.

It was evident how severe his father's internal injuries were from the attack by the Xu family's servants three months ago. Fortunately, his brother had borrowed five gold coins to find a doctor to treat the injuries, otherwise Shen Lang would never have seen his father again.

Five gold coins for treatment is an astronomical figure for an ordinary farmer. However, even so, his father's internal injuries have not completely healed. If not treated, his father's life is still in danger.

In almost an instant, Shen Lang had already formulated a treatment plan. He would make a tiny incision in his father's lungs to drain the blood clot, then use herbal medicine to reduce inflammation and restore vitality. After a few months, his father would be cured.

"Dad, I have been unfilial. I will never let you and mom worry again," Shen Lang said as he placed his palm on his father's forehead.

He has a fever, indicating inflammation, which must be treated immediately, or his life would be in danger within a few days.

His father's eyes were fixed on Shen Lang's face, desperately holding back a cough, filled with immense love.

"Son, you've become clever," his father, who loved his son dearly, was very perceptive and noticed Shen Lang's change immediately.

Both parents loved Shen Lang very much, but they were also very clear about their son's condition, that he was... intellectually disabled. Although they were unwilling to admit it, deep down they knew that their beloved eldest son was a waste. His eyes were dull and his expression was wooden.

Unexpectedly, this time he came back, he had become clever.

That was enough. His father was very pleased. Even if he was still a waste, he looked clever and not dull. Maybe he could even marry a wife, even if she was a widow.

His mother approached, cupped Shen Lang's face and looked at him for a while, then exclaimed, "That's right, that's right! Our eldest son has become clever. Those eyes are so endearing and lively. God bless, God bless."

Shen Lang had originally thought about how to explain his change, but it was completely unnecessary. His parents loved him so much, and seeing him become clever brought them infinite joy. Shen Lang didn't need to explain at all.

"Brother, did the Xu family kick you out?" his younger brother asked.

Shen Lang nodded.

"Good that they kicked you out! I can't bear to see my son stay in such a cruel person's home. Although our family is poor, your father, mother, and brother can work hard to support you. We won't let our eldest son suffer," his mother said, showing her favoritism. It seemed that Shen Lang would still not have to do any work at home, just eat and live.

"Did you want a wife when you married into the Xu family? When your father and brother recover, go make money and marry a wife for our eldest son," his mother said. "How about the widow Liu in the village? Although she's three years older than you, she's beautiful and kind."

It's not that his parents looked down on Shen Lang, but their family's conditions and Shen Lang's bad reputation and intellectual disability meant that, apart from being good-looking, he had no skills for making a living. Being able to marry a widow was already very good.

Shen Lang smiled and then went to his brother's bed, lifted his pants, and saw a large bruise on his calf, with the right leg bone broken.

"Brother, I'm fine. I'll be fine after lying down for ten days or half a month. At worst, I'll be lame, but our family has you to carry on the family line," his brother, Shen Jian, said. "And being lame is good. I can go to Xuanwu City every day to make money by pretending to be hit by a carriage and extorting money."

This was his brother, very good to Shen Lang, but absolutely unreliable.

With this broken leg, if not treated, he would die even faster.

"When did it happen?" Shen Lang asked.

"The day before yesterday," his brother said. "Because I hadn't heard from you for almost a month, I went to the Xu family to find out. I couldn't even get in, and on my way back, I was ambushed and had my right leg broken."

The news of Shen Lang's serious illness had been blocked by the Xu family, so his family didn't know. But the bond between mother and son was strong, and his parents had not heard from Shen Lang for a long time, so they naturally worried and sent his younger brother to find out.

He was ambushed and had his leg broken right after leaving the Xu family. This matter was definitely related to the Xu family.

What a cruel family. Shen Lang's handsome face was covered in a cold sweat, and his eyes twitched.

"I'll help you treat the broken leg later. It will be very painful, so you have to bear with it," Shen Lang said.

"Brother, when did you learn to treat injuries?" his brother asked.

Before, Shen Lang needed his mother's help even to get dressed, so how could he treat a broken leg?

In the modern world, Shen Lang treated the sick every day. Although he was not a top-notch doctor, he had extensive clinical experience.

His father and brother's minor injuries were nothing in his eyes, especially since he also had X-ray vision. Even in this underdeveloped medical environment of the other world, treating them would be a piece of cake.

...

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