Chapter 52 - 52 Inexpressible Pain
52 Inexpressible Pain
Zhao Chuchu asked with a poker face, “Are you done crying?”
Zhao Guitang and Madam He, who was weeping secretly, drew deep breaths upon hearing that.
Putting down her back basket, Zhao Chuchu sat at the bedside. She then held Zhao Guitang’s injured leg and commented, “You have to bear the consequences of your wrongdoings. It doesn’t matter whether you were forced or not. It still won’t change the fact that you tried to harm me. Since I wounded your legs, we’re even now.”
“What do you want?” Startled, Zhao Guitang tried to retract his leg instinctively.
“Just to have a closer look,” Zhao Chuchu answered casually.
Fumed, Madam He chided, “You are the one who injured his legs! Why do you want to look at them? Are you trying to gloat at our misfortune? Chuchu, be honest with yourself. Did we ever treat you like how they did? Why are you…”
“I’m figuring out how to heal his legs.”
Madam He went silent the moment she uttered those words.
Zhao Meilan questioned desperately, “Chuchu, can my father’s legs be cured?”
“Of course. I didn’t hit them so hard to the extent of beyond saving.”
“Chuchu, I know it was our fault to get involved in the robbery. But could you please let us off the hook? We will do anything as long as you heal Guitang. We can’t afford to lose him, after all!”
Madam He and Zhao Meilan immediately fell to their knees before Zhao Chuchu and kowtowed to her.
Zhao Chuchu avoided them hastily and uttered, “Get up first.”
No matter what, she still couldn’t get used to seeing people prostrate themselves so easily.
At that, Madam He and Zhao Meilan helped each other up.
Zhao Chuchu couldn’t help but let out a sigh at the sight of their bruised bodies after being beaten by Old Madam Ma.
Even though she was merciless, she sympathized with the women to a certain extent.
After all, she was a woman herself.
Besides, Madam He and Zhao Meilan were nothing like the oddball mother and daughter duo, Madam Ma and Zhao Zhizhi.
Zhao Chuchu asked, “I can fix his legs, but I have a question before that. What if they demand you all to return to the household once his legs are healed?”
Gritting his teeth, Zhao Guitang declared, “They are the ones who kicked us out of the household first. In short, they no longer want us. If you can heal my legs, I swear I will never go back even if I have to become a beggar.”
“But Guitang, where else can we go?”
“We will definitely find a place where we belong. I’ve saved all the silvers in the public fund over these years. You were reluctant to spend a tael of the money even when you and Meilan were sick. But now you were beaten because of the issue of leaving the household. I’m a man, yet I couldn’t even protect my wife and daughter. I’m such a failure.”
“Father…”
Zhao Guitang lifted his head to look at Zhao Chuchu. “Chuchu, I know that you despise the Zhao clan. But if you are willing to heal me, I will do anything you want with just a word!”
“What if I ask you to murder your parents?”
Zhao Guitang drew a sharp breath at her exigent question.
A while later, he lowered his head in embarrassment and replied, “I can’t do that. But I can use my life in exchange for theirs. At the end of the day, they’re still my biological parents. I can’t do something that inhumane.”
Zhao Chuchu shot a stern look at Zhao Guitang and stated, “Forget about it. I’m not gonna make you do that. You should settle down first. I need to go back now. Otherwise, Da Lang will be worried.”
Having said her piece, she left the decrepit old house without waiting for their response.
Madam He held Zhao Guitang’s hands and questioned, “Guitang, will she really cure your legs?”
Zhao Guitang was not sure himself. Recounting the day when he was nearly burned to death, he nodded unconsciously. “She will.”
Madam He wore a troubled look as she held back an inexpressible pain deep inside.
When Zhao Chuchu arrived at the Xie clan, half of the walls had already been built. Niu Tongsheng and the others were truly fast workers.
Zhao Chuchu went into the house after greeting them.
Hearing close-in footsteps, Xie Heng raised his head and looked at Zhao Chuchu.
“Did you hit someone?” he asked.