When everyone heard this, they felt that there was no big issue. They reminded her a little and returned to their own business.
As Madam Wang was shutting the courtyard door, Madam Liu walked out of the dilapidated house. Madam Wang asked Madam Liu how the girl was doing.
Madam Liu replied, "I think it's most likely an act. She fainted after missing just one meal?"
Madam Wang glanced in the direction of the house and rolled her eyes. "Since she's pretending, let her pretend as much as she wants! Let's go then, she can skip dinner as well."
Young Madam Wang, who was under the shade of the tree, did not even get up as she watched what went on. Madam Ma's family turned a blind eye as well. Ever since that girl Juxiang was sold, Madam Ma had fallen out of favor.
At night, after dinner, in order to continue starving Wunian, Madam Liu took the initiative to wash the dishes and gave the leftovers to the pigs. She even scolded, "You want to pretend to be unconscious, do it to your heart's content. I'd sooner give the leftovers to the pig than let you eat them."
If anyone had been there, they would have seen Madam Liu's twisted face as she mouthed the vicious curses. "Harbor ill intentions and harm my grandson, will you? I'll starve you to death, you slut."
In the meantime, Wunian, who was lying in the pitch-black dilapidated house, was running a high fever. First, she was dehydrated, then her lips became dry and cracked. Then, rashes appeared on her feet. They quickly spread to her legs, waist, chest, and arms. By they time dawn broke, they had covered her entire face.
As it was summer and Wunian's clothes were all torn and tattered, parts of her hands and legs were exposed.
When Madam Wang woke up in the morning and saw that the dirty clothes were still in the basin, she put her hands on her hips and scolded, "Wunian, you lazy thing. Why aren't you getting up to wash the clothes? Are you looking for a beating?"
Madam Liu happened to be walking out of the west wing at this point and was shouting, "Weihong, get up! Have your breakfast and go to school. If you continue to dawdle, you'll be late again!"
She turned around and remarked to Madam Wang, "What's wrong? That wretched girl hasn't woken up yet! She's grown bold and learned to stay in bed! Mother, don't be anxious. I'll go and get her."
As she spoke, she walked towards the dilapidated house. The door wasn't shut but Madam Liu didn't think too much of it. She walked in and called out a few times, however there was no response. Then, she walked towards the bed. At this point the sun was up and it was bright.
Although it wasn't as bright in the room as outside, one could see clearly. Madam Liu's gaze fell on Wunian, who was lying on the bed,
The woman was so shocked that she stood there in a daze. What did she see? Then she reacted and ran for the door.
Madam Liu ran straight to the main residence. When Madam Wang saw her, she asked, "What's wrong? It's so early in the morning and you look as though you've seen a ghost!"
Madam Liu stammered, "It's scarier than seeing a ghost. You guys go and take a look! That slut has red rashes all over her body. It's so scary!"
As she spoke, Madam Liu was trembling all over. At this point, the rest of the family had woken up and come over. They asked what had happened to cause such a din so early in the morning.
"Don't ask, just go to the girl's room and you'll see."
The group arrived at Wunian's dilapidated house in a grandiose manner. They were all shocked when they saw Wunian lying on the bed. Tian Tieshan obviously cherished his life the most and ran out of the house immediately. Weixin snapped to his senses and quickly helped Young Madam Wang leave as well. The others did not dare to stay any longer and soon all of them left the house.
When they were back at the main residence, Tian Tieshan said rather rudely, "Sister-in-law, aren't you a bit inhuman. You know that that girl has an infectious disease, but you got all of us to go and take a look. Are you trying to kill the entire family?"
"Second Brother, you have to speak with your conscience. Am I that kind of person? When I saw the girl, I was just unsure, so I asked you all to take a look. Then according to what you've said, is she really…?"
"How can that be fake?"
Tian Zhuangzhu picked up his pipe again and said, "Why don't we get a physician to take a look! Let's see if it is!"
Madam Wang disagreed and said, "What doctor? You think calling in a physician is free! You think having to medicate is free? We're not getting a physician."
Tian Tieniu asked, "Then what should we do? We can't let her die in that room, right?"
Tian Tieshan added, "Let's throw the girl out before she dies. Otherwise, it will dirty the courtyard. If the disease breaks out, our entire family will die."
Madam Wang decided. "Throw her out then."
What a cruel family that took a human life lightly. Although Young Madam Wang was also vicious, she only wanted to sell that girl and make some money. If they got a physician to take a look, it might not cost much. But if they threw the girl out, surely the girl would die!