Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 492 - 492 493 Dissolved_1

Chapter 492: Chapter 493: Dissolved_1 Chapter 492: Chapter 493: Dissolved_1 The villagers, naturally, were mostly illiterate, but the sight of that golden plaque made them half-believe, and they were stunned, frozen in place until the Village Head exclaimed, “It’s really an Imperial Physician!”

The Village Head, being somewhat schooled and able to recognize a few characters, naturally recognized the three words ‘Imperial Medical Institution’.

As soon as the Village Head said this, he immediately fell to his knees, “Greetings to the Imperial Physician!”

The villagers also knelt down in unison, their hearts full of trepidation. Many had cursed the old man just a short while ago; could it be that he would seek revenge now?!

Doctor Xue lifted his hand slightly and said, “I’m just telling you, I am not spouting nonsense.”

The villagers stood up again, still somewhat frightened, and unsure of what to do next. The old man was staunchly defending Dabao’s Mother. Considering his status as an Imperial Physician, they naturally did not dare to act rashly, but then again, thinking about the deed Dabao’s Mother had committed, was it possible for them to raise the child in their village?

In the end, it was the Village Head who took the initiative to speak, “Imperial Physician, may I ask what brings you to our humble place so suddenly?”

Doctor Xue waved his hand dismissively, “You need not concern yourself with that. I will tell you only this: I will absolutely not ignore the welfare of Dabao’s Mother and her child, both clearly innocents. How can you so easily conclude that the child is a bastard?”

The Village Head also felt troubled and replied with his hands clasped in respect, “But this goes against our customs. Imperial Physician, please understand our position as common folk. Reputation is of utmost importance. If we in Tupo Village were to keep the child, in the future, people would surely talk behind our backs.”

Doctor Xue had anticipated this outcome. These people only feared him because of his status as an Imperial Physician; they would not change their inner thoughts because of it. That was also why he hadn’t revealed his identity during the earlier dispute. Revealing it now was essentially to increase his own authority.

Doctor Xue stroked his beard with a feigned profundity, “I am not someone unreasonable. Looking at this woman, with her kind face and good heart, she does not seem like a liar. Moreover, even now, she desperately insists that she has not been violated, and that the child belongs to the Xu family. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

The Village Head was confused indeed. Why was Dabao’s Mother insisting? Could it be there truly was an injustice? The villagers were at a loss, and couldn’t help but feel somewhat convinced by Doctor Xue’s words.

Only Madam Li was furious, stamping her foot, “What’s so strange about it? She just wants to save her life, that’s why she’s made up such an excuse.”

Doctor Xue immediately challenged her, “If she wanted to save her life, why would she seek death alongside her son?”

Madam Li was suddenly at a loss for words, unsure of what to say.

Dabao’s Mother’s eyes were swollen from crying, and while she was grateful to Doctor Xue, she also understood that there was no way she could turn her situation around. She could only sob, “I thank the Imperial Physician for speaking on my behalf, but my fate is such. I don’t ask for much now. Since no one believes me, just let me die, to be done with it all.”

But Muniang stepped forward, “How can that be right? If the true facts of the matter are not known, how can you be so quick to go to your death? What if someone has purposely framed you? You would die wronged then.”

Dabao’s Mother looked up in astonishment, “Someone framed me?”

Muniang then asked, “Who was present when you performed the blood test to acknowledge kinship?”

The villagers exchanged looks and then, all at once, turned to look at Madam Li.

Madam Li immediately jumped to her feet in anger, “What do you mean by that? Are you implying I’m the one who harmed her?!”

Muniang simply said, “I never said that, just asking casually.”

The midwife who delivered the baby then spoke up, “It was Madam Li alone who did it. As soon as the child was born, she drew blood from the baby, and then tested it alongside Xu Shuzhuo’s blood for a blood paternity test. She found the blood didn’t mix, and that’s when she flew into a rage. She gave Dabao’s Mother a harsh scolding, and after that, it turned into the scene everyone saw.”

Muniang raised an eyebrow, “Now that you mention it, I arrived quite early, but I just happened to miss the blood test. Instead, as soon as I arrived, it was Madam Li grabbing Dabao’s Mother by the hair and beating her, all the while shouting about a bastard child.”

Madam Li, furious, started to curse, “What are you implying? I did a blood paternity test, and if the blood doesn’t mix, it doesn’t mix. Does it mean I must have harmed her? Could I possibly harm my own grandchild?!”

“Then let’s have Doctor Xue perform the blood paternity test again in front of everyone. I want to see what the truth actually is!” Muniang stated, word by word.

“Why do it again? As if our Xu family hasn’t been shamed enough. Just throw that bastard into the river and be done with it,” Madam Li said irritably.

Muniang sneered inwardly. When she had beaten and scolded Dabao’s Mother in front of everyone earlier, where was her concern for the Xu family’s face? Now, she was suddenly all righteous and indignant.

“Madam Li, you wouldn’t be scared, would you?”

With Madam Li’s fiery temper, she really couldn’t withstand such provocation. She stiffened her neck and shouted, “What would I be scared of? Let’s do it again then! Am I supposed to be scared of you?! A bastard will always be a bastard, and no one can escape that!”

A cunning smile formed on the corner of Muniang’s lips as she turned towards Doctor Xue, “Doctor Xue, we’ll have to trouble you once more.”

Doctor Xue thought to himself, really not knowing what kind of woman Yu Ze had married, cunning as a fox, trapping with every sentence. Poor Madam Li, she was no match for her. Now she was probably going to be dealt with mercilessly.

The villagers also had their doubts. Although they were merciless toward a woman who tarnished her reputation, after all, it was a human life at stake and one must not be rash. What if there really was a conspiracy? So, they waited with bated breath for the Imperial Physician to take charge of the situation and redo the blood paternity test in front of everyone.

Doctor Xue directly scooped a bowl of clean water from the river, drew blood from Xu Shuzhuo, and then from Dabao’s Mother’s child. Dabao’s Mother was extremely nervous, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Doctor Xue consoled her with a few words, “Don’t worry. If you are firm in your belief that this child belongs to the Xu family, then the upright need not fear a crooked shadow.”

Dabao’s Mother bit her lip and finally responded, “Yes, the upright need not fear a crooked shadow. Even if I die wrongfully, my words remain the same!”

Doctor Xue took advantage of the moment he was speaking to Dabao’s Mother to deftly shake something from his left sleeve into the bowl unnoticed.

When the bowl was presented, everyone stared intently at the contents, and saw the two drops of blood slowly begin to mix!

The crowd was shocked, “This is the child of the Xu family! The blood is mixing!”

Xu Shuzhuo himself was thrown into a panic, “My son? He is my son? But why didn’t the blood mix in the previous test? What’s the reason for this?”