61: Chapter 61 Remuneration Issue 61: Chapter 61 Remuneration Issue “The bamboo basket has a problem?”
Looking at each other, both Li Hanchu and Zhang Xiu were momentarily stunned.
At that moment, Li Hanchu suddenly remembered, when he first met that woman in the floral dress, she had clutched his bamboo basket and walked to the other side of the water trough.
After returning from the market that day, the basket had been cast aside into a side room and neglected ever since.
Had it not been for Chen Hai mentioning it just now, he would not have recalled the matter of the bamboo basket.
“Burn it, the basket must be burned!”
Supporting his body, Li Hanchu staggered to his feet, took a few steps to the bamboo basket, and with several forceful stomps, crushed it beneath his feet.
The bamboo basket had cost him fifty yuan when purchased.
Having used it for less than a year, he was now forced to burn it.
Although he felt the pinch, at that moment, he could hardly attend to such concerns.
After all, he did not believe that Chen Hai would speak nonsensically about such a matter.
No matter how expensive the basket was, it could not compare to the importance of his family’s health!
“Head of the household, you’re not well, take a rest first.”
“Burning the bamboo basket, I can handle it myself.”
His wife, Zhang Xiu, with half a bottle of kerosene in hand, quickly approached the basket.
After steering Li Hanchu back to his chair, she poured some of the kerosene onto the basket and lit it— the basket was soon engulfed in flames.
Chen Hai to the side remained silent, just watching quietly.
Not intervening was one thing, but since he had decided to lend a hand, he would certainly do his utmost to eliminate any potential dangers for Li Hanchu.
“Master Chen, my husband’s health, do you have any solutions?”
Amidst the glow of the fire, Zhang Xiu’s face still showed concern.
She looked toward Chen Hai, tentatively speaking and inquiring.
Li Hanchu used to carry a hundred jin on his shoulders and walk briskly.
But now, he would pant heavily after merely taking a few steps or speaking at length.
Given how dire his physical condition was, it was no wonder Zhang Xiu had such worries.
“Aunt Xiu, Uncle Hanchu’s health will require some time to recuperate.”
“You should look for a reliable traditional doctor to prescribe a few doses of strengthening and nurturing medications for a trial.”
“In addition, you can ask people you know well to see if they have any boys under the age of ten.”
“Such a boy’s first urine after waking in the morning, taking neither the beginning nor the end but only the middle portion, and having Uncle Hanchu drink it continuously for a period, should yield an improvement in his condition!”
Tilting his head, Chen Hai thought for a while before suggesting.
Li Hanchu’s physical weakness mainly resulted from rampant yin qi within his body.
Boy’s urine has a not insignificant effect on expelling yin qi.
Although the remedy suggested by Chen Hai was concocted from his own musings, he believed it would be effective for Li Hanchu’s situation.
Of course, he was merely making a suggestion.
Whether or not Li Hanchu would follow through wasn’t up to him to decide.
“Drinking a boy’s urine every day…” Li Hanchu grimaced, confirming with discomfort.
“What’s the harm in drinking urine, head of the household?”
“The little San next door has just started school and is not even seven years old yet; he’s currently on summer break.”
“If you feel embarrassed to ask yourself, leave it to me; I assure you you’ll have fresh, warm boy’s urine to drink every morning!”
Li Hanchu wanted to say something more, but Zhang Xiu silenced him with a fierce glare, biting back his words.
“Uncle Hanchu, Aunt Xiu, I’m just putting it out there.
Whether or not you follow through is up to you!”
He chuckled softly and stood up, patting Sun Jinzhong on the shoulder.
“Brother Zhong, let’s go, we’re heading back!”
After calling Sun Jinzhong, he walked out to the main hall at a relaxed pace.
He didn’t mention a word about compensation.
Given the situation at Li Hanchu’s home, he couldn’t bear to ask for too much, unable to bring himself to speak.
Yet, to ask for too little?
Chen Hai felt that would be belittling his craftsmanship.
After thinking it over, he decided not to broach the subject; as for compensation, he’d leave it to Li Hanchu and Zhang Xiu’s generosity.
Chen Hai had already left, and naturally, Sun Jinzhong would not stay there any longer.
He quickly rose to his feet and walked out closely behind Chen Hai.
Watching the two men leave, Li Hanchu and Zhang Xiu exchanged a look, hesitating, with words on the tip of their tongues.
Of course, they remembered the matter of compensation.
Previously, out of desperation to seek Chen Hai’s help, they had abandoned all pretense of dignity and knelt directly on the ground.
If things had truly been resolved as Chen Hai said, it would definitely be necessary to offer compensation and to express their gratitude earnestly.
That morning, when going to ask Mrs.
Ge for help, Zhang Xiu had already given her two hundred, and now, their family really did not have much spare cash.
“Head of the family, Master Chen has left without even mentioning compensation, what do you think…”
Looking at her husband, Zhang Xiu spoke tentatively, seeking his opinion.
“Isn’t he a relative of Sun Jinzhong?
If we need to find him, we’ll just contact Sun Jinzhong.”
“Let’s wait and see what happens these next couple of days.
If everything really is settled, and my health starts to improve, it won’t be too late to thank him then.”
“We can’t shortchange him for this life-saving favor.”
“It’s better to be alive and well than anything else.
If we really can’t afford much, let’s borrow from relatives…”
After a sigh and a moment of silence, Li Hanchu instructed Zhang Xiu.
Although she was distressed about the money, she had no objections to Li Hanchu’s instructions.
When they had arrived at Li Hanchu’s place, night had just fallen.
But now, it was already eight or nine in the evening, and the darkness had grown much denser compared to before.
“Cousin, I was really scared earlier.”
“When we left, we didn’t even take any money.
Didn’t we just waste our time?”
Pouting, Sun Jinzhong muttered discontentedly.
When Chen Hai signaled him to leave, he hadn’t thought much of it and just followed out.
But halfway there, the realization that they hadn’t received their pay started to bother him.
“Brother Zhong, why rush about the compensation?”
“Let’s give Li Hanchu and his wife some time to be sure whether the issue is truly resolved.”
“If they are decent folks, they definitely won’t let us work for nothing.”
“If something goes wrong and they turn their back on us, unwilling to pay us, I have plenty of ways to deal with them, you just relax!”
He laughed and added mysteriously, “Actually, we’ve got some gains if you think about it.”
Tell me more?” Curious, Sun Jinzhong quickly asked.
“Don’t ask too many questions.
When we get to your house, grab a couple of shovels and just follow my lead!”
With a teasing grin, Chen Hai responded with a laugh.