Chapter 7: A New Look

Making money to take revenge on the Xu family was important, but first, he had to return home because his father was severely injured, and his younger brother had a broken leg. He needed to go back immediately to treat them. His family hadn't seen him for three months and must be worried sick.

"Master Shen, let's go!" said the thirteenth and fourteenth adopted sons of Tian Heng. "Do you want us to carry you back?"

These two would keep a close eye on Shen Lang and wouldn't give him a chance to escape.

Shen Lang stretched his entire body and continued walking towards home.

...

The state of Yue was located in the southeastern part of the Great Yan. This area was hilly, with many mountains that weren't particularly high. Despite the complex terrain, the road conditions were surprisingly good. Even the roads between villages were about four meters wide and relatively flat, allowing three horses to walk side by side. This was far superior to ancient China.

After dawn, Shen Lang saw many farmers working in the fields. Their attire was similar to that of ancient China, but their physical condition seemed slightly better, they were taller, and more robust.

Moreover, almost every village had a sturdy stone fortress, with militiamen patrolling, carrying knives on their waists, and some even had bows and arrows. This was very surprising. In most dynasties of ancient China, bows and arrows and knives were prohibited, yet they were openly displayed in the villages here. The martial spirit of this world far exceeded that of ancient China.

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

Maple Leaf Village was nestled in a valley, with a population of about six hundred. The village had a stone fortress and about twenty militiamen. Most of the villagers lived together, with hundreds of houses crowded along both sides of the river. Only Shen Lang's home stood alone on a hillside.

Shen Lang's family was an outsider, having moved here from elsewhere about ten years ago.

This village was very conservative and xenophobic. Since Shen Lang's parents didn't interact with the villagers, they had never been able to integrate.

Climbing to the hillside, Shen Lang looked at the mud house in front of him—this was his home.

It was in a terrible state, even worse than he remembered from three months ago.

The yard, which his father had once kept very tidy, was now overgrown with weeds. The mud walls, battered by wind and rain, had several holes. The roof was covered with thatch instead of tiles.

The poverty was truly shocking, unable to even provide shelter from the wind and rain.

Before he even reached the door, Shen Lang heard his mother crying, his father coughing violently, and his younger brother's cries of pain.

"Go to the Xu family and bring Daliang back home, bring Daliang back home..." his father said hoarsely, coughing as he spoke. His lungs were damaged from his long-term injuries, and his breathing was very difficult, indicating a severe inflammation and possibly a blood clot in his lungs.

"Father, I'll go bring brother back tomorrow," his younger brother said.

His mother cried, "Old man, you've been coughing up blood and can't get out of bed. Erliang's leg is broken, how can he go? I'll go to the Xu family tomorrow. If they don't let Daliang go, I'll smash my head against their gate."

"My Daliang, so honest and kind, in a family of tigers and wolves, I can't imagine how much he's been bullied. My child..." his mother sobbed, "I don't know if he's eating enough or staying warm."

"My child, you've never suffered, never left our side. I can't imagine how much you're suffering now."

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

Hearing these words, Shen Lang felt a surge of heat and a bitter ache in his heart.

He rushed into the house, knelt in front of his parents, and said, "Father, Mother, I'm a disobedient son, but I'm back."

His parents and younger brother were first stunned, then overjoyed.

His mother immediately rushed over and hugged him, crying, "Daliang, it's really you! You're back! I thought I'd never see you again. Is this a dream?"

His father, trying to get out of bed, coughed violently, blood foaming at the corners of his mouth.

His younger brother sat up, then cried out in pain.

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

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

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

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

His father also rejoiced, "My child has grown up."

His parents were so doting on Shen Lang that just saying he wouldn't go back to the Xu family made them think he had grown up.

Shen Lang quickly helped his father lie down and focused his mental energy to examine his father's injuries.

Indeed, it was internal injuries, with damage to the lungs and stomach. There was a lot of blood in his lungs, and his ribs had fractures, though they had healed over the three months, they were uneven and had bone spurs.

It was clear how viciously the Xu family's servants had attacked him three months ago. His father's internal injuries were severe, and it was fortunate that his younger brother had borrowed five gold coins to find a doctor to treat him, or Shen Lang would never have seen his father again.

Five gold coins for treatment was an astronomical sum for a poor farming family. Even so, his father's internal injuries were not fully healed. Without further treatment, his father's life was still in danger.

In an instant, Shen Lang had a treatment plan: make a small incision in his father's lung to drain the blood clot, use herbal medicine to reduce inflammation, and tonics to restore his strength. He would be fully recovered in a few months.

"Father, I'm a disobedient son, I won't let you and Mother worry anymore," Shen Lang said, placing his hand on his father's forehead.

He had a fever, indicating an infection. He needed to reduce the inflammation immediately, or his life would be in danger within a few days.

His father's eyes were fixed on Shen Lang's face, trying to suppress his coughing, his gaze filled with immense love.

"Daliang, you've become clever."

His father, who loved his son dearly, was indeed very perceptive, noticing Shen Lang's change right away.

Both parents loved Shen Lang, but they were also very clear about their son's condition—he was... intellectually challenged. Although they didn't want to admit it, deep down they knew their beloved eldest son was a waste. He had a dull expression and a wooden demeanor.

But this time, he had returned clever.

That was enough. His father was overjoyed. Even if he was still a waste, at least he looked clever and not dull. Maybe he could even find a wife, even a widow would be fine.

His mother came forward, held Shen Lang's face, and looked at him for a long time, then said with great joy, "That's right, that's right! My Daliang has become clever. These eyes are so charming, so lively. God bless, God bless."

Shen Lang had been thinking about how to explain his change, but it wasn't necessary. His parents loved him so much that seeing him become clever brought them immense joy, and they didn't need an explanation.

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

Shen Lang nodded.

"Good, good!" his mother said. "I can't bear to see my child stay in a family of heartless people. Although we are poor, your parents and brother can support you. We won't let our Daliang suffer."

This favoritism was boundless. From his mother's words, it seemed that Shen Lang wouldn't have to work at home, just eat and live.

"Your marriage to the Xu family was to get a wife, right? Once your father and brother recover, we'll earn money and find a wife for you," his mother said. "What about the widow Liu in the village? She's three years older, but she's beautiful and kind."

It wasn't that his parents looked down on Shen Lang, but given their family's conditions and Shen Lang's poor reputation and low intelligence, being able to marry a widow was already quite good.

Shen Lang smiled and went to his younger brother's bed, lifting his pants leg. His calf was bruised and swollen, with a broken right tibia.

"Brother, I'm fine. I'll be better in ten to fifteen days. At worst, I'll be limping, but at least the family has an heir," his younger brother, Shen Jian, said. "And being limping is good. I can go to Xuanwu City and make money by pretending to be injured. I'll run under the wheels of a carriage and extort money."

This was his younger brother, who was good to Shen Lang but utterly unreliable.

If his broken leg wasn't treated, he would die even faster.

"When did this happen?" Shen Lang asked.

"Two days ago," his younger brother said. "I hadn't heard from you for almost a month, so I went to the Xu family to investigate. I didn't even get inside, and on my way back, I was ambushed and my right leg was broken."

The news of Shen Lang's serious illness had been kept secret by the Xu family, so his family didn't know. However, parents and children share a deep bond, and his parents naturally worried when they didn't hear from him for a long time, so they sent their younger son to investigate.

Being attacked and having his leg broken after leaving the Xu family was definitely related to the Xu family.

What a cruel family. Shen Lang's handsome face was like a mask of frost, his eyes twitching.

"I'll treat your broken leg soon. It will hurt, so you need to bear it," Shen Lang said.

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

Shen Lang used to need his mother's help to dress, let alone treat a broken leg.

In modern Earth, Shen Lang treated patients every day. Although he wasn't a top doctor, he had extremely rich clinical experience.

His father and younger brother's injuries were nothing to him, especially with his X-ray vision. Even in this underdeveloped world, treating them was easy.

...

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