Chapter 69: Debts Settled, Kindness Repaid

Upon hearing that the visitor was a scholar, Xie Yushan was momentarily surprised, but quickly composed himself.

At that moment, Old Madam Xie suddenly spoke, “Shan’er, I’m feeling a bit unwell. I’ll return first. You and Rongrong take good care of our guests.”

Xie Yushan promptly rose, and the Wen family of three, realizing it was inappropriate to remain seated, followed suit. Before leaving, Old Madam Xie, supported by her maid, nodded slightly to the Wen family and departed.

With Old Madam Xie gone, Xie Yushan invited the three to sit again. It was then that Qiu Rongrong, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke.

“Qiaoyan, bring the items up.”

At her command, the maid beside her approached with a tray, placing it on the tea table between Wen Xiuyi and Xie Yushan, then respectfully retreated to Qiu Rongrong’s side.

Wen Yao seized this moment to quietly observe the mistress of the Xie household. In her twenties, her aura was now wholly different from the disheveled impression of their first meeting. She exuded the dignity of a noble lady from a prestigious family, yet her words and actions brimmed with decisiveness.

Noticing Wen Yao’s gaze, Qiu Rongrong did not ignore her, but smiled gently in return.

She had not forgotten that, had it not been for this young girl’s resolute actions that day, Yi’er might now be nothing but bones.

Qiu Rongrong was the second wife brought into the Xie family. Compared to the scholarly and aristocratic Xie clan, her own Qiu family was merely a wealthy merchant household in Jiangnan, their fortune built on business.

Having been married to Xie Yushan for many years, she had only one son, Xie Anyi. Thus, Qiu Rongrong felt a deep gratitude toward the Wen siblings.

Seeing Qiu Rongrong smile at her, Wen Yao smiled back, her impression of Lady Xie improving further. She remembered how, for the sake of her son, Lady Xie had silenced the old servant with a single retort—a testament to her competence as a mother.

After their brief exchange, Xie Yushan lifted the cloth from the tray and said, “Brother Wen, Doctor Wen, here are two hundred taels of silver. My wife and I prepared this as a token of gratitude for Doctor Wen. We hope you will accept it.”

Upon seeing such a large sum, Wen Xiuyi instinctively glanced at his children. As expected, Wen Yao was taken aback, and Wen Jun was equally stunned. After their surprise, Wen Jun shook his head slightly at Wen Xiuyi.

Healing and saving lives was a physician’s duty, and this reward felt far too extravagant.

Two hundred taels—his father had labored for months at their stall, and their family’s savings barely reached two figures. Now, the Xie family offered ten times what they’d earned in several months in one gesture.

Tempting as it was, Wen Jun held firm to his principles.

He stood and clasped his hands in salute to Xie Yushan, politely declining the gift.

“Master Xie, I merely happened to be present to save your son. In such circumstances, any doctor would have acted. It was a small matter, and there is no need for such generosity.”

Xie Yushan, however, pushed the money forward. “It is but a token of our gratitude. The day we returned, my wife and I invited Doctor Jin to examine Yi’er. Doctor Jin said that if the obstruction in his throat hadn’t been removed in time, he himself might not have been able to save Yi’er. So, you must accept this reward, no matter what.”

Wen Xiuyi pushed the money back. “I cannot accept it.”

“You must accept it.” Xie Yushan pushed it forward again.

And so the two went back and forth, pushing and pulling the silver ingots until they were scattered askew.

“Does Doctor Wen think my son is not worth two hundred taels? Qiaoyan, fetch another two hundred taels,” Qiu Rongrong said outright.

The Wen family hastily waved their hands. “No, Lady Xie, that’s not what we mean.” They simply felt the sum was too great, almost burning to the touch.

“Then why not accept it? Doctor Wen saved my son, and it is what you deserve. Without you, my husband and I would have had to bury our own child. This reward must be accepted. If you won’t, I’ll assume you find it too little and have more prepared,” Qiu Rongrong declared bluntly.

The Wen family was speechless.

They looked at each other, and finally Wen Xiuyi whispered, “Then, shall we accept it?”

Xie Yushan glanced at Qiu Rongrong, but she didn’t so much as spare him a glance.

Wen Jun was still hesitant, but Wen Yao quietly said, “Let’s accept it. If we refuse, this couple will only keep increasing the amount. Eventually, it’ll look as if we’re greedy for money.”

So, as before, they accepted the two hundred taels.

On another note, Wen Yao had already gleaned something from Old Madam Xie’s demeanor. Since their arrival, the old lady had barely spoken, and even when they paid their respects, she responded with indifference, her gaze lingering several times on Wen Jun.

It seemed the Xie family hoped to use these two hundred taels to settle the matter, severing any future ties or concerns.

If that was the case, so be it—one shouldn’t turn away free money in life.

In the end, Wen Xiuyi decided to accept the two hundred taels.

With the reward accepted, their hosts spoke politely, but Wen Xiuyi never felt the Xie family truly wished for friendship. On the contrary, once they walked out of the Xie family gates, the Xies would likely be eager to distance themselves.

Such things were understood by all. Since that was so, there was no reason to linger.

Wen Xiuyi offered his farewells. Xie Yushan and Qiu Rongrong made a brief attempt to persuade them to stay, but at the Wen family's insistence, the steward was summoned to escort them out.

The moment they left, the couple’s expressions changed almost simultaneously.

Xie Yushan watched as Qiu Rongrong, silent and refusing even to look at him, took their son by the hand and walked away. At last, he could not help himself and called out, somewhat displeased:

“Madam.”

Qiu Rongrong paused, but did not turn. She merely tilted her head slightly and replied coolly, “Is there something else you wish to say? I’ve already done as Old Madam instructed—gave them the money and sent them off. From now on, we will have no further connection with them. What more do you want?”

They had been her son’s saviors, yet—because of a single careless remark from the old lady about outsiders—their good deed, their saving of her son’s life, was dismissed with two hundred taels.

The Qiu family, though merchants, understood gratitude. The Xie family, proud of their noble status, were nothing but hypocrites, cloaked in the guise of propriety.

“If you still find it insufficient, you might as well send me back to the Qiu family—if you can bear it,” she finished. Then, without another word, she led Xie Anyi straight out of the front hall.