Chapter 69: Gratitude Paid, Ties Severed
Hearing that the other party was actually a xiucai, Xie Yushan showed a flicker of surprise but quickly composed himself.
Just then, the Xie Matron suddenly spoke, “Shan’er, I’m feeling a bit unwell. I’ll head back first. You and Rongrong take care of our guests.”
Xie Yushan immediately stood, and the Wen family trio couldn’t remain seated either, so they rose together.
Before leaving, the Xie Matron, supported by a maidservant, gave the Wen family a slight nod, then turned and left.
Once she was gone, Xie Yushan invited the three to sit again. At that moment, the previously quiet Qiu Rongrong finally spoke up.
“Qiaoyan, bring the items over.”
At her command, the maid by her side stepped forward with a tray and placed it on the tea table between Wen Xiuyi and Xie Yushan before respectfully retreating to Qiu Rongrong’s side.
Only then did Wen Yao quietly examine this mistress of the Xie family. She was in her twenties, and the disheveled image from their first meeting was nowhere to be seen. Now, she carried the refined aura of a noble household’s lady of the house, yet her demeanor still had a crisp, straightforward edge.
Noticing Wen Yao watching her, Qiu Rongrong didn’t pretend not to see it. Instead, she gave the girl a smile.
She hadn’t forgotten—if not for this young girl’s decisiveness that day, Yi’er would likely already be a pile of bones.
She was a second wife married into the Xie family. Compared to the scholarly, noble Xie clan with its aristocratic lineage, her own Qiu family from Jiangnan was merely a wealthy merchant household. Her family ran businesses.
After marrying Xie Yushan, she had borne only one child—Xie Anyi. So when it came to the Wen siblings, her gratitude came from the bottom of her heart.
Seeing Qiu Rongrong’s smile, Wen Yao returned it, her impression of the Xie Madam improving further. She remembered how, back then, this woman had fiercely scolded the old servant who tried to cover things up—clearly, a mother who fulfilled her duty.
After their brief interaction, Xie Yushan lifted the cloth covering the tray and said, “Brother Wen, Young Doctor Wen, this is two hundred taels of silver. My wife and I have prepared it specially as a token of thanks to Young Doctor Wen. Please, you must accept it.”
The sight of so much money made Wen Xiuyi reflexively glance at his children. Sure enough, Wen Yao was momentarily stunned, and Wen Jun also froze for a second before shaking his head slightly at his father.
To save lives is a doctor’s duty—and besides, this reward was far too lavish.
Two hundred taels. After months of hard work at the food stall, their family’s total savings had just barely passed the double-digit mark. Yet here was the Xie family, handing over a sum worth ten times that in one go.
Tempting, yes—but Wen Jun had his principles.
He stood and gave a respectful salute to Xie Yushan, politely declining. “Master Xie, I merely happened to be there that day. In such circumstances, any physician would have stepped forward. It was no great feat and truly doesn’t warrant such a grand gesture.”
But Xie Yushan nudged the silver forward again. “It’s a token of the Xie family’s appreciation. That very day, my wife and I asked Dr. Jin to check Yi’er. He told us that had the object blocking his throat not been promptly removed, even he might not have been able to save him. So this silver—no matter what—you must accept it.”
Wen Xiuyi pushed it back. “We can’t, we can’t.”
“You should, you must,” Xie Yushan insisted, pushing it forward again.
The two of them went back and forth like this, and before long, the neatly stacked silver ingots were all jumbled and askew from being shoved around.
“What—does Young Doctor Wen think my son isn’t worth two hundred taels?” Qiu Rongrong interjected coldly. “Qiaoyan, go fetch another two hundred taels.”
The Wen family trio quickly raised their hands. “No, Madam Xie, that’s not what we meant at all.” It was just that the money was simply too much—it felt scalding hot in their hands.
“Then why not accept it? Young Doctor Wen saved my son’s life. This is what he deserves. Without him, my husband and I would’ve had to bury our child. One way or another, you must take this reward. If not, I’ll assume it’s because you think it’s too little, and I’ll have them prepare even more.” Qiu Rongrong spoke decisively and without pretense.
The three of them: “…”
They looked at each other, and finally Wen Xiuyi hesitantly asked in a low voice, “Then… shall we accept it?”
Xie Yushan glanced toward Qiu Rongrong, but she didn’t even spare him a glance.
Wen Jun was still hesitant, but Wen Yao leaned in and whispered, “Take it. Judging by this couple, if we really refuse, they might keep adding more and more. It’ll start to look like we’re playing hard to get, like we’re greedy or something.”
Better to follow the original plan and just accept the two hundred taels.
Besides, from the way the Xie Matron had acted earlier, Wen Yao had picked up on something. The old woman had barely spoken since their arrival, and when they saluted her, she’d barely acknowledged it. Her eyes, however, had scrutinized Wen Jun multiple times.
Judging by that, the Xie family was likely using these two hundred taels to cleanly sever any obligations tied to this life-saving deed—so they wouldn’t have to worry about any future entanglements.
If that was the case, then fine. Take it. No reason to leave money on the table. In this life, why quarrel with silver?
So, in the end, Wen Xiuyi accepted the silver on behalf of the family.
After that, though their words remained polite, he never believed for a second that the Xie family truly wanted to maintain ties. In fact, they’d probably be relieved once the Wen family walked out that door.
Everyone understood, even if unspoken. Since that was the case, there was no need to linger.
Wen Xiuyi rose and politely took his leave. Xie Yushan and Qiu Rongrong made a token effort to persuade them to stay, but upon the Wen family’s insistence, they had the steward escort them out.
As soon as they were gone, the couple’s expressions changed.
Qiu Rongrong, who hadn’t even looked at her husband once during the whole meeting, was already walking away hand in hand with her son. Xie Yushan could no longer hold back and, with a frown, called out, “Madam.”
Qiu Rongrong paused her steps but didn’t turn back. She slightly tilted her head and said calmly, “What else does Master want to say? I’ve already followed the old matron’s orders and sent them off with silver. There will be no further connection between us. What more do you want?”
That boy had saved her son’s life. And yet, because of one careless line from the old matron—he’s still an outsider male—his good deed, his act of saving her child, had been dismissed with a mere two hundred taels.
Her Qiu family were merchants, yet they knew gratitude and honor. The Xie family, so-called nobles and scholars, were nothing but hypocrites cloaked in the guise of propriety.
“If Master still feels it’s not enough, then send me back to the Qiu family. Of course… if Master can bear to do so.” With that, Qiu Rongrong said no more and left the front hall, hand in hand with Xie Anyi.
