Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 34

Xin Yueying led the Lame Ma to a door adorned with frost-white lanterns. It was clear that this household had recently held a funeral, as the notice pasted on the gate—”Apologies for not informing everyone”—had not yet been removed.

Xin Yueying, wearing a veil hat, crouched at a distance.

This was Cai Er Gou’s home.

Back when Meng Ruxin was orchestrating the “Ten Thousand Signatures Petition,” the entire village had rallied behind her. Only Cai Er Gou had resisted the immense pressure, refusing to sign until the end.

He insisted that his father had been killed by Meng Ruxin’s acupuncture.

That night, as Cai Er Gou was returning home after a day of hard labour, the innocent man was threatened by Xie Asheng.

Timid by nature and confronted with Xie Asheng pinning him against a wall and threatening his life, Cai Er Gou had no choice but to press his handprint onto the petition.

Half a year later, Cai Er Gou undertook a major act.

For those six months, he had stewed in humiliation, until finally, on a dark and windy night, he took a knife and went to Meng Ruxin’s home.

Of course, in the end, he was killed by Xie Asheng instead.

But here, he absolutely must not die!

The Lame Ma, standing beside Xin Yueying with his legs that are difficult to move, leaned down and asked, “Why did you bring me to Cai Er Gou’s house?”

“Wait here with me. When Cai Er Gou comes out, ask him, ‘Er Gou, has your father’s condition improved?'” Xin Yueying said.

The Lame Ma replied, “What joke is this? His old man has long gone to see the King of Hell.”

“Exactly, so you must ask. You’re a doctor—use some professional terms. Tell him his father’s illness wasn’t fatal and that he was completely killed by Meng Ruxin using him as practice. Incite him to go confront Meng Ruxin,” Xin Yueying instructed.

The Lame Ma thought for a moment, then lifted his soft leg and sat down on the ground. He whispered to Xin Yueying, “Even if I incite him, will he listen to me?”

Xin Yueying, “He will. Tell him to go when there are many people around, to make as big a scene as possible, and to let as many people hear as possible. Don’t let others be deceived again.”

The Lame Ma looked coldly at Xin Yueying, “Is that it? Meng Ruxin has pushed us like this, and our response is to send some ‘vegetable dog’ to make a scene in front of her?”

He let out an angry hiccup.

Xin Yueying turned to look at him, “This isn’t over, but Cai Er Gou must cause this scene first!”

The Lame Ma hiccupped again.

Xin Yueying, “Master Ma, suspicion must come first before dark thoughts can arise.” She paused, then whispered into the Lame Ma’s ear.

The Lame Ma’s eyes grew brighter as he listened.

Finally, the Lame Ma gave a thumps up, “The sting of a yellow wasp, the poison of a woman’s heart—good girl, you have more potential than I do!”

With a “creak,” the wooden door of the courtyard opened, and “Vegetable Dog” walked out.

He was thin and small, hanging his head, holding a sickle in his hand—likely intending to cut leeks in the field.

He walked a few steps in a daze, raised his hand to rub his shoulder, as if something was missing, then went back inside. After a while, he came out again, carrying a basket in his left hand and holding the sickle in his right. He stood by the wall, bending over and searching for something.

“Eh? Where’s my sickle?” he muttered.

“Eh? I was just holding it.” He grew increasingly anxious.

The Lame Ma swallowed hard, crouching in the grass as he asked Xin Yueying, “So he’s an idiot?”

Xin Yueying, “Seems like it.”

The Lame Ma stood up and walked over to Cai Er Gou. “Er Gou! What are you looking for?”

“Ah!” Cai Er Gou jumped in fright, then dazedly exclaimed, “Doctor Ma! How have you been lately?”

“I’ve been just fine!” The Lame Malet let out a loud hiccup. “By the way, how’s your father’s illness?”

Cai Er Gou shook his head, pointing with the sickle in his hand toward the door and then at the white hemp mourning cords on his clothes. “My father passed last month. I’m still observing filial mourning for him.”

“Oh no!” The Lame Ma hopped on one leg in feigned shock. “How did this happen?! I just saw your father last month! He looked to be in good spirits then! He had a slight cold, and I told him I could prescribe a couple of doses of medicine to fix him right up. But he said he wouldn’t take it, that he’d get free acupuncture from Miss Meng instead.”

“I even joked with him at the time, ‘Old Cai, saving money like this—are you trying to save up for your son’s wedding?’ He said, ‘Yes, yes, my Er Gou isn’t married yet. I have to be frugal.'”

“Father!” Cai Er Gou wailed, tears streaming down his face. Overwhelmed with grief, he was momentarily unable to speak.

Well done, Lame Ma. You’re plenty wicked yourself—playing this heart-piercing game so skillfully.

Crouching in the grass, Xin Yueying gave the Lame Maa a thumbs-up.

After a long while, Cai Er Gou finally calmed down enough to speak. “Doctor Ma, I meant to ask you—I know my father had a cold, but normally a cold shouldn’t have taken his life. His health was always robust.”

Lame Ma, “Of course! You know how I practice medicine—for minor ailments, I don’t even need to take pulses. Just by looking at someone’s complexion and listening to their voice, I can tell most of what’s going on. It was just a cold—it shouldn’t have been fatal!”

Cai Er Gou sobbed, “That day, after Miss Meng gave him acupuncture, he told me he still didn’t feel well. I told him to rest and went to work in the fields myself. When I came back that evening, my father had already passed away.”

He wept bitterly. “When my father drew his last breath, there wasn’t even anyone by his side…”

“Acupuncture for a cold? Something two doses of medicine could fix—why did she need to use needles? Moreover, if the technique and precision aren’t mastered, it can actually be life-threatening.” The Lame Ma smiled apologetically. “There are some things I can only say so much about. Any more, and it’ll seem like I’m just jealous of her.”

Cai Er Gou pressed, “Please! Say it! I’ve always suspected she killed my father with her needles!”

The Lame Ma placed both hands on his belly, shrugged, and shook his head. “This Miss Meng never charges money—clearly she’s just using people to practice. You outsiders don’t really understand. Acupuncture is all about the precision of the needle insertion. To put it bluntly, it’s a matter of practice and experience. She’s so young—how could she possibly have the necessary precision? If she hits a fatal point, death can occur instantly. It’s quite dangerous.”

“It was her after all! That damned bitch! I’m going to confront her!” Cai Er Gou’s eyes were blood red. With a furious shout, he gripped his sickle and headed toward the old locust tree.

The Lame Ma quickly intercepted him, snatching the sickle from his hand.

You little vegetable dog, Meng Ruxin is mine to kill—why should I let you have the satisfaction?! he thought.

Xin Yueying and the Lame returned to the Ma house contentedly.

From afar, they could already hear Cai Er Gou’s agonized shouts, “You treat people here for free, clearly just using us to practice! My father didn’t need acupuncture for his illness, yet you inserted needles—you killed him! You owe me an explanation!”

Meng Ruxin, “Please, calm down first. Listen to me—”

“Listen to what?! My father was strong and healthy, usually with no ailments at all. It was just a cold—why did you do acupuncture for him?! You killed him! You just wanted to use us to practice! I’ve asked around! They say acupuncture is all about practice and experience! No wonder you don’t charge money! What were you thinking?!”

Cai Er Gou’s voice was hoarse and strained from shouting, each question piercing the air.

A crowd had gathered around them, but no one stepped in to mediate.

After all, this concerned a man’s life and death.

Cai Er Gou argued his case, and Meng Ruxin argued hers. In the end, no resolution was reached. Cai Er Gou threatened to take the matter to court. “Just you wait! I’ll hire the best litigation master! I’ll spend every last coin I have to see you thrown into prison!!”

The mention of the court startled Meng Ruxin. Fearful of her identity being exposed, she hurriedly said, “How about we settle this privately? Let’s settle privately.”

“Damned bitch! You have a guilty conscience! You killed my father!” Cai Er Gou’s voice cracked, his throat nearly giving out.

Xin Yueying and the Lame Ma crouched by the window.

Xin Yueying listened with tense anticipation, her gaze fixed wolf-like on the direction of the village entrance.

She was waiting for someone.