The villagers saw Zhou Wangshu's face clearly for the first time, and they gasped in shock.
The youth's handsome face was filled with emotions like defiance, grievance, and sadness. He looked so fragile and helpless, as if he would break at any moment.
Such a severely injured boy was like a lamb ready for slaughter; not to mention an adult man, even a small child could decide his fate.
The village chief saw Zhou Wangshu in this state and looked unkindly at Uncle Su: "This is the husband your niece bought, how do you have the right to decide his fate? And to say you want to sell him to a brothel is simply insane. This child has suffered so much, he was finally rescued, how can you be so heartless?"
"It's not like that, village chief, he's lying. I got stabbed by him, really. I didn't fall." Uncle Su hurriedly explained, the pain from his wound unbearable.
The youth stretched out his arm and wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye.
When he raised his hand, he revealed a swollen wrist.
"Uncle Li Zheng, look, this is the evidence of how he hurt my husband." Su Yaoguang pointed at the marks on Zhou Wangshu's wrist.
Zhou Wangshu adjusted his sleeve to cover his swollen wrist: "It's not Uncle's fault, I shouldn't have struggled, I shouldn't have tried to scream for help, I shouldn't have tried to run away."
"But, I already belong to Yaoguang, even if he wanted to sell me, he should wait for Yaoguang to come back. I'm just unwilling, because of this troublesome face, someone wanted to sell me to a brothel. I barely escaped and ran into a human trafficker. I thought this would be my life, but Yaoguang bought me. I had already decided, once my wounds healed, I would do whatever Yaoguang asked. I'd do all the dirty and hard work at home; I wouldn't let her suffer any loss."
Before Su Yaoguang could say anything, a cry came from the doorway. As Su Yaoguang looked over, the villagers who had been watching the drama were wiping their eyes.
"He's lying." Uncle Su shouted, "Village chief, there's something wrong with him, he wasn't like this just now. When he stabbed me..."
"Uncle, stop slandering him, he can't even walk, can't even hold a bowl, how could he stab you?" Su Yaoguang said angrily.
"Yaoguang, am I causing you trouble?" Zhou Wangshu lifted his swollen eyes. "Please don't sell me, I can work as your servant, without pay."
"I won't sell you, don't be afraid."
Su Yaoguang looked towards Doctor Lin: "Uncle Lin, can you help bandage him again?"
Doctor Lin sighed lightly: "This boy's injuries are very severe, he can't take any more distress, or not even a deity could save his life."
Doctor Lin's words affirmed to the village chief that Zhou Wangshu's condition made it impossible for him to harm anyone.
The village chief no longer listened to Uncle Su's excuses and directly made a decision: "Su Ershi, you deliberately injured someone, you will pay for his medical expenses, and compensate him with one hundred cents to aid his recovery. If something like this happens again, we will deal with it according to the rules. Consider this a warning for your confusion."
"Village chief, I'm injured too, and he..."
"That's your own doing." The village chief was impartial and stern. "Your brother went to join the army and left his widow and orphan in hardship because of you. If you had any conscience, you wouldn't bully your widowed sister-in-law and niece."
Su Yaoguang cried, "Thank you, Uncle Li Zheng, for seeking justice for us."
Grandma Su and Second Aunt Su were dissatisfied, but seeing the boy in such a condition, they also doubted Uncle Su, lacking the confidence to argue further.
Uncle Su, still with metal pieces in his shoulder, cried out in pain: "Doctor Lin, please treat my wound!"
"This young brother's injuries are more severe, I'll bandage him first. In the meantime, you can pay the medical fee and the one hundred cents owed to Yao Guang." Doctor Lin said.
The village chief hadn't left, and though Uncle Su was embarrassed, he couldn't do anything about it. Even if he shouted himself hoarse here today, no one would believe him.
He glared viciously at Su Yaoguang, swallowing his anger.
"What are you standing around for? Get the money." The village chief said.
Uncle Su yelled at Second Aunt Su: "Give it to her."
Doctor Lin stated: "His medical fee is thirty cents, the medicine for bandaging the wound is twenty cents, and you'll also need bandages and medicine later, which will be one hundred cents here."
Second Aunt Su, fuming, got up to get the money.
The village chief watched as Second Aunt Su handed money over to Su Yaoguang and Doctor Lin, said a few things, and then left.
Doctor Lin helped Zhou Wangshu to a room and bandaged him before coming out to tend to Uncle Su. When he treated Uncle Su, it wasn't as gentle, as he forcefully removed the metal piece.
Uncle Su screamed in pain: "Ah..."
After removing the metal, Doctor Lin sprinkled some medicine on the wound.
"Pain, pain, it hurts so much..."
"That's exactly what it should feel like. Don't bully others in the future." Doctor Lin said coldly, "Otherwise, even if you give me a lot of money, I won't treat your wound."
Uncle Su had nowhere to complain.
He wasn't lying; that boy wasn't entirely innocent.
But, nobody would believe him even if he said it. Everyone believed that boy was the victim, including his own mother and wife.
"You all should leave now." Su Yaoguang stood in the yard, urging them to go.
Grandma Su placed her hands on her hips, about to scold, but seeing Su Yaoguang shout sharply: "Grandmother, the village chief hasn't gone far, do you want to hit me?"
"You are such a money-losing girl." Grandma Su was seething with anger.
"Mother, let's go." Second Aunt Su pulled on Grandma Su's arm. "His father is still injured, let's not make a scene today, whatever it is, we can talk about it another day."
After Grandma Su and the others left, Doctor Lin also bid farewell, and Su Yaoguang closed the courtyard gate.
Su Yaoguang returned to the woodshed.
"I'm going to make dinner, if you need anything, just call me loudly."
"I lied just now." Zhou Wangshu leaned weakly there. "The iron piece in his shoulder was inserted by me."
Su Yaoguang frowned: "I guessed it. But, he provoked you first and you were just protecting yourself, I understand."
"What he said was true, he really did want to sell me to the brothel. When he tried to drag me away, I was in so much pain, struggling, and I accidentally grabbed the iron piece and stabbed it through."
"It's alright now, don't be afraid."
Zhou Wangshu said bitterly: "He's wrong, I'm not a murderer, nor have I ever done anything bad. When you said I could be your husband, did you mean it?"
Su Yaoguang: "..."
After dealing with someone like Xiao Yanci, she was not keen on setting a husband now.
"You probably know my situation. My grandmother wants to marry me off to a fool, and I don't want that. I bought you to shut them up. Don't worry, once you're healed, if you find somewhere else to go, you're free to leave. I won't force you to do anything you don't like. If you have nowhere to go, we can be brother and sister."
Zhou Wangshu's cheeks reddened: "I was serious, I have nowhere to go. If you don't mind me, I'm willing."
"Willing for what?"
"Willing to stay here, to be a husband, or a brother and sister, I'm fine with both."
"Um..." Su Yaoguang felt a bit awkward. "You're still young, let's talk about it later! You can stay here for now since you have nowhere else to go. I'll go make dinner!"