My domineering ex-husband is living off his wife in ancient times.

Chapter 106 Going to the Door to Ask for Moxa Sticks

After saying that, Si Shaoheng took his wife and children and drove away from Daxi Village in the dark.

The men who were eating in the middle of the shack were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

Dr. Hu came out of his shack, still holding the bowl and chopsticks he had finished eating, and put them into the wooden basin next to the water vat.

He sighed and said quietly, "Listen to what your second son is saying. What wife wouldn't run away after hearing that?"

I just wonder when my apprentice's son-in-law will come back and take this old man away with him?

Upon hearing this, Zhao became anxious: "Dr. Hu, if you leave, what will happen to my illness?"

Stroke is not something that just any doctor can treat.

Doctor Hu asked in confusion, "You didn't pay me for your consultation. I'm only treating you because of my apprentice. How did I become the Si family's resident doctor?"

Zhao:......

These days, she's gotten used to having Dr. Hu take her pulse, examine her, and prescribe medicine.

She really felt that Dr. Hu was their family's doctor.

But now that her third daughter-in-law has run away, Dr. Hu is going to run away too, so she has no reason to stop her.

So Zhao glared at Erlang with her big, ox-like eyes. Although she didn't say anything, her resentment was almost overflowing.

I told you not to bring those thoughts out into the open, but why won't you listen?

Si Erlang got angry, put the bowl on the ground, stood up and shouted, "Mother, what kind of look is that to me?"

Did I drive her away? It was the family's poverty that scared her away, what does that have to do with me?

If everyone worked together and focused their efforts in the same direction, this family wouldn't be so poor.

Si Silang said sarcastically, "You want everyone to work together towards the same goal? You clearly only want Third Sister-in-law's family to work towards our family's goal."

"Fourth brother!" Si Erlang roared angrily, "You're siding with outsiders!"

Just then, Niu Er from the carpenter's family came running over in a hurry.

He entered the Si family's property area and peeked around at the entrance of the shack area, but did not see Cheng Ruoan near the campfire.

Instead, seeing that annoying Si Erlang standing in the middle, he choked on what he wanted to say and turned to leave.

Knowing that Si Erlang had offended the Niu family during the day, Zhao quickly called out with a smile, "Master Niu Er, why are you leaving without even coming in for a drink of water? Come in and sit down, what brings you here?"

After saying that, he glared at Madam Lin and said, "Aren't you going to pour some hot tea for us? Don't you have any sense of propriety!"

Mrs. Lin quickly put down the bowl and left.

When Niu Er heard the elders call him to stop, he had no choice but to go inside and sit down to talk.

"Aunt Zhao, your third daughter-in-law said she asked you tonight and will give you a definite answer on how to build your furniture, doors, and windows. I shouldn't have come to ask so hastily, but my parents used the moxa sticks that Madam Cheng gave me this afternoon and said they were very good."

It just so happened that my maternal uncle came to visit and also tried half of the moxibustion. He found it effective and wanted to ask Madam Cheng for more to take back to Kaihuang Town…”

The Niu family was known in the village for their skills and honesty. Si Erlang knew this, which is why he shamelessly tried to get them to give him a discount and free gifts.

Niu Er was worried that Zhao would think he was asking for something for free, so he repeatedly reminded her, "It's a purchase, not a freebie. Our family doesn't take advantage of others for nothing."

Zhao was stunned: "This thing can still be sold?"

She knew that Doctor Hu and Cheng Ruoan often took some waste paper, rolled up the scraps of herbs into strips, saying that it would be a waste to throw them away, but they could use them to fumigate acupoints or repel mosquitoes.

But she didn't know that Cheng Ruoan had also sorted these moxa sticks, and they weren't made from ordinary moxa floss.

Cheng Ruoan and Doctor Hu tried to mix the crushed herbs according to the prescription, and added some grass fluff that did not affect the medicinal properties to make moxa sticks. Some were for clearing heat, some for removing dampness, and some could even regulate the spleen and stomach. As long as the acupoints were not wrong, the effects were very obvious.

Cheng Ruoan gave the Niu family moxa sticks for treating rheumatism and told them which two acupoints to focus on.

It just so happens that Master Niu and his wife, along with Uncle Niu's second uncle, had been suffering from rheumatism flare-ups these past few days, and their knees were stiff. After taking the fumigation treatment at home today, they naturally felt the effects firsthand.

“My uncle’s family lives far away, and my maternal grandparents also have knee pain, so he wanted to bring a lot home at once, about twenty or thirty pieces. My family can’t possibly ask Madam Cheng to deliver them, can we?”

Niu Er is quick-witted, but his personality is still that of the kind and honest people inherited from the Niu family; he speaks his mind directly.

He scratched his head. "I just don't know how much each one costs. Is Madam Cheng home?"

The crowd looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

The Niu family wanted to ease tensions, but Cheng Ruo'an had already been scared away by Zhao Shi and Si Erlang. How could they possibly call for help?

Everyone remained silent, and Niu Er was starting to get restless.

Lin poured him a cup of eagle tea. While Niu Er was drinking his tea, Si Silang went to call Doctor Hu out. "Doctor Hu, someone has come to buy medicine. Can you come out and take a look?"

After saying that, he took his wife and daughter and went back to their shed.

"Grandma, I have to go feed Da Niu. I'm taking Daya with me." Da Hua also carried Daya to Da Niu's shed.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Li quickly helped clear the dishes and then asked Ershuan and Erzhu to help her wash the dishes.

For a moment, only Zhao Shi, Si Erlang, and Niu Er remained by the campfire.

Doctor Hu had heard what Niu Er had said long ago, and thinking that this was a family his apprentice wanted to build a good relationship with, he took out all of his limited inventory.

"My apprentice told me before he left that the moxa sticks he gave you during the day were for dispelling dampness and cold. There are only twenty-eight left. They would cost at least seven coins each, but we didn't make them to sell for money, so don't pay him. If the Si family ever has any problems in the future, just remember my apprentice's kindness."

Niu Er took the moxa stick, somewhat bewildered.

Cheng Niangzi's master just gave away these nearly two hundred coins like that?

But looking at Dr. Hu's energy, demeanor, and attire, it seems he really doesn't care about such a small amount of money.

After all, the barefoot doctor in the neighboring Xiahe Village charges at least 100 coins per prescription, while this old doctor seems to have much better medical skills than that barefoot doctor.

He must charge a lot for his medical consultations, right?

Niu Er thought for a moment and then asked, "Master Cheng, is it very expensive for you to treat people? My wife recently gave birth and has been unwell ever since. How much would it cost if you could take a look at her?"

Dr. Hu stroked his beard and said calmly, "It's a matter of personal connections."

"what?"

"If it's my apprentice who I'm treating, I'll pay 100 or 10 coins. If it's someone I don't have a personal connection with, I'll pay 50 taels for each house call, no bargaining."

Niu Er almost slipped off the stool. "Then I'll have to have my mother get on good terms with Madam Cheng, or my little sister will do too!"

"Too late, my apprentice has already been bullied away by the Si family."

Zhao and Si Erlang, who were stunned by the high price of Dr. Hu's consultation, finally came to their senses.

Both of them stared at Doctor Hu in disbelief.

Aren't you making enemies of the Si family with those words?!

Niu Er frowned, looking at Si Erlang and Zhao Shi with displeasure. "What's wrong with your family? Not only do you bully your fellow villagers, but you even bully your own family members?!"