When he dragged himself home, the wound on his hand had swelled significantly and turned black.
It was one of his uncles who had summoned a Pharmacist to treat the poison, saving his life. It was after that bite that his right hand became somewhat deformed, and what was worse, he was left with the aftereffects of facial paralysis and a limping gait.
After this, the thought of taking another girl as his bride was pretty much out of the question.
Lying on his rickety bed, Elder Jiu Yin sighed deeply, cursing the thieving heavens and lamenting the unfairness of his fate.
It was then that he discovered a cockroach looking for food in a corner of the wall, providing companionship in his days of hardship.
He deliberately tossed some scraps of food onto the floor every day for no other reason than to have the cockroach keep him company.
Because lying in bed alone was just too lonely.
Not even someone to talk to.
Now at least he had a cockroach for company.
