Meng Yingying stared at Song Nianchu for a long moment. Only after confirming she wasn't lying did she look at her with a trace of disbelief.
"Why are you helping me?"
"You think I should help that beast Third Wu instead?" Song Nianchu said in a low voice.
Meng Yingying was about to say more when she suddenly heard shouts from outside about taking someone to the hospital.
Hearing this, Song Nianchu immediately panicked.
"We can't let them send Third Wu to the hospital. If a doctor examines him, they'll know he's been poisoned. Then suspicion will definitely fall on you."
"The Wu family won't listen to me," Meng Yingying said, her eyes flickering.
Truthfully, from the moment she decided to act against Third Wu, she hadn't expected to escape legal punishment.
And once she reached the underworld, she planned to file another complaint against Third Wu.
"I'll go and stall the others. You remember to get rid of the pesticide bottle!" Song Nianchu urged firmly.
Meng Yingying opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just gave a slight nod.
Song Nianchu turned and hurried out of the room. Wu's mother was already calling for people to help carry Third Wu to the hospital.
"Third Wu has a filthy disease. Who would dare touch him? What if they get infected?" Song Nianchu spoke up at just the right moment.
The few men who had been about to step forward immediately shrank back.
After all, everyone knew how terrible a 'filthy disease' was—it could make your whole body rot.
"Song Nianchu, what are you trying to do? We're all from the same village. Do you want to watch my son die right before your eyes?" Wu's mother, seeing the people she had begged finally refuse to help, glared at Song Nianchu with red-rimmed eyes.
"It's not that I'm refusing to help. If it were any other illness, it would be fine. But this disease is contagious. Why don't you go and carry your son down yourself?" Song Nianchu retorted fearlessly.
Wu's mother stiffened slightly. Naturally, she didn't dare either.
Third Wu's lower body was completely rotten. She had no desire to end up the same way.
"See? You don't even dare yourself. How can you ask others to take the risk?" Song Nianchu snorted coldly.
"You heartless woman! You were trying to trick us into taking a risk!" The others, seeing Wu's mother fall silent, all looked at her angrily.
"What trick? How could an old woman like me have the strength?" Wu's mother naturally couldn't admit to it.
"Looking at Third Wu's condition, I'm afraid he's already beyond cure. Taking him to the hospital will probably cost a lot of money," Song Nianchu spoke up again.
Hearing it would cost a lot of money, Wu's mother's expression flickered once more.
"Besides, people with filthy diseases usually can't be saved. I heard someone in the next village had one too. They spent a fortune, but the person died within a few months. Apparently, their family can only afford one meal a day now, tightening their belts to repay the money they borrowed from the villagers." Song Nianchu could tell at a glance that Wu's mother wasn't the type of mother who would sacrifice everything for her son.
After all, Third Wu wasn't her only child.
"Yeah, no one with a filthy disease ever recovers. Better not waste the money," other villagers chimed in.
"But whether to treat him or not is your family's business. Since we're from the same village, if you make a decision, you can come call us again."
"Although we don't dare touch him, if you family members carry him onto a cart, we can help pull him to the county hospital," Song Nianchu said, feigning magnanimity.
"He can't lie on our cart! We still need it to haul goods. Who would dare use it if he gets it dirty?"
"Exactly! It's his own fault for messing around outside and catching a filthy disease. Now he wants to drag the whole village down. If they want to see a doctor, let his own brothers carry him. I have plenty of work at home."
Everyone was afraid of being entangled by Wu's mother and quickly ran off.
In an instant, only Wu's mother, Third Wu on the bed, Song Nianchu, and Wu Zhenggui and his wife remained in the room.
"Village Chief..." Wu's mother turned to Wu Zhenggui.
But before she could finish, Wu Zhenggui cut her off.
"A-Chu is right. Your family has men too. If you're determined to get him treated, then make a simple sled and have your men pull Third Wu to the county town."
With that, regardless of whether Wu's mother agreed or not, he turned and left, even taking Song Nianchu with him.
Just before leaving, Song Nianchu glanced back and saw Meng Yingying coming out of the room.
Song Nianchu gave her a meaningful look before turning to leave.
Meng Yingying's heart was beating fast, her hands constantly twisting the hem of her clothes.
She had originally been resolved to die, but if Song Nianchu was willing to help her, then perhaps... she didn't have to die?
Meng Yingying gritted her teeth. She had thought that the heavens had granted her a second life precisely so she could kill Third Wu with her own hands.
But if she could live, who would choose to die?
Meng Yingying took a deep breath and stepped into the room she shared with Third Wu.
Wu's mother was still cursing the villagers for being heartless, for refusing to save a dying man.
"Mother-in-law, I'll take care of Third Wu..." Meng Yingying stepped forward.
"You wretched girl! It's because you couldn't keep your man satisfied that he went out to fool around! This is all your fault!" Seeing Meng Yingying return, Wu's mother's anger flared up again.
"I tried to stop him before, but didn't you say... a woman shouldn't interfere in a man's affairs..." Meng Yingying's gaze fell on the cabinet behind Wu's mother.
That's where she had hidden the pesticide she bought.
"You dare talk back?" Wu's mother raised her hand, ready to teach Meng Yingying a lesson.
But Meng Yingying met her gaze head-on without backing down.
"Mother-in-law, Third Wu is in no state to be left alone now. Are you sure you want to beat me up and then have to take care of him yourself?"
Stopped by this question, Wu's mother's hand froze mid-air.
She certainly had no desire to personally care for Third Wu. Filthy diseases spread quickly.
"You wretched girl! You take good care of Third Wu. If anything happens to him, you won't get off easy either!" Wu's mother finally withdrew her hand and turned to leave, still muttering curses.
Hmph.
Watching Wu's mother scurry away as if fleeing a plague, a trace of mockery curled at the corner of Meng Yingying's lips.
Wasn't she always calling him her 'good boy' before? Now that something had actually happened, she ran faster than anyone.
Meng Yingying waited until she was sure no one else was home before walking to the wardrobe. She opened the door, reached into the bottom drawer, and pulled out a small bottle.
She hadn't had enough money for a full bottle, so she'd only bought half. She had used a few drops each time she soaked Third Wu's clothes, and there was still quite a bit left.
Carefully, Meng Yingying wrapped the bottle in newspaper and tucked it into her pocket.
Without a glance at Third Wu, who was moaning on the bed, she turned and strode out the door.
