The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 436 Medicine

Chapter 436: Chapter 436 Medicine

Before he could finish his words, Song Chongjin knelt down in front of Shopkeeper Zhang without any expression and earnestly kowtowed nine times, thoroughly severing the slight bond of teacher and student that existed between them.

Shopkeeper Zhang’s remaining words got stuck in his throat. He pointed at Song Chongjin, unable to speak, simply gasping for breath.

Hunter Qin’s mouth twitched as he looked at Shopkeeper Zhang’s face, which had turned a shade of purplish-blue, not knowing what to say.

Of course, he knew Shopkeeper Zhang’s temper was like this, extremely proud and pretentious, always liking to pose. The words he had just spoken were actually meant to force Song Chongjin to admit his mistakes and to guarantee on the spot that he would, from now on, do this and that, and restore the patriarchal order and such.

Normally, being reprimanded by one’s teacher in such a way, most would have already knelt down, crying and admitting their wrongdoings, promising to turn over a new leaf and henceforth obey their teacher’s words. They would also assert that women were of no account; the future was what mattered most—a great man need not worry about lacking a wife, and so on.

Unexpectedly, they encountered Song Chongjin who did not follow conventional wisdom. No sooner had he said he wanted to sever the teacher-student relationship, the man had knelt down to kowtow and return the favor, settling the matter then and there.

Severing ties had become a must.

At this moment, Shopkeeper Zhang not passing out from anger was already a sign of good self-restraint.

After finishing his kowtows and standing up, Song Chongjin had a large blue bruise on his forehead. Wang Yongzhu hurriedly handed him a handkerchief and asked him to wipe it.

Hunter Qin sighed, "Chongjin, why did you even need to do this? You should know, being expelled by Brother Zhang from his school, wanting to enroll again will be difficult with this reputation...

Song Chongjin didn’t say a word while covering his forehead. His palm hid his eyes and expression, so no one could see clearly.

Shopkeeper Zhang couldn’t resist mocking coldly, "With him looking like this, even if I didn’t expel him, could he possibly enroll in school? Believing he is educated just because he recognizes a few characters, does he really think he has thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and is eligible for the imperial examinations? Don’t go around telling this joke; ten years of hard study, countless students reading day and night, from youth to white hair without success in the examinations—him?"

He sneered, the mockery in his voice quite evident.

Wang Yongzhu’s face darkened; what kind of lousy teacher was this, unable to speak without ridiculing others?

"Now that I’ve expelled him from the school, why do you still keep the empty title of teacher? Waiting for him to tarnish your reputation in the future?" Shopkeeper Zhang looked at Hunter Qin.

Hunter Qin was startled, "I only taught him a bit of martial arts, how could that affect my reputation?"

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Nowadays he doesn’t know what’s good for him and has offended the master. We all know the master’s means; there’s no good life after taking his advantage. Even saying now that he has great use, that he must be kept. But we know there are so many capable people under the master’s command, who really needs a poor country boy? Later when the master comes to his senses and frees up his hands, he might not deal with him. Then if you’re still carrying the name of teacher, will you help him or not? Which side will you stand on then?" Shopkeeper Zhang did not hesitate to mention the master’s methods in front of Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin.

It was a warning but also a demonstration of complete disregard for Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu—laying everything out in front of the two of them, not fearing their retaliation.

Reminded by Shopkeeper Zhang, Hunter Qin had his revelation, "Thanks to Brother Zhang for reminding me, otherwise I would have made a mistake!"

Having said that, he turned to Shopkeeper Zhang and bowed.

Only then did he turn his head to Song Chongjin and say, "Since you refuse to serve our master, our bond ends here. You’ve learned all my skills and have even followed Brother Zhang to learn reading and writing. These abilities weren’t meant for you to learn. Now, as we sever our ties, these things must naturally be taken back..."

Wang Yongzhu’s face changed, and she instantly became alert. Were they planning to cripple Song Chongjin?

If they truly intended to make a move, she wouldn’t show any courtesy today. She wanted to see what tricks Hunter Qin was planning to pull.

Song Chongjin put down the hand covering his forehead with a calm expression, revealing neither anger nor sorrow, but in the depths of his pupils, dark whirlpools swirled.

Unperturbed by their reactions, Hunter Qin pondered for a moment, then pulled a porcelain bottle from his chest, weighing it in his hand, "Well, in honor of the bond between us as master and disciple, I won’t sever your tendons. After all, you’ll need to live in the mountains in the future."

Despite his words, Wang Yongzhu grew even more wary. Hearing how casually Hunter Qin talked about severing tendons, she knew he was ruthless.

So, how exactly did he plan to deal with Song Chongjin?

"In this bottle, there’s a pill with no other purpose but to hinder your sight. Upon taking it, your eyes will blur, and come night, you won’t be able to see a thing. If you truly want to cut ties with us and have nothing to do with us ever again, then take this pill in front of us. After that, we’ll part ways definitively. Brother Zhang and I promise we won’t trouble you again. What do you say? Do you dare to take it?" Hunter Qin spread out his palm, the bottle lying quietly in his hand.

Song Chongjin stared at that bottle for a long time. Then he reached out his hand. Wang Yongzhu quickly grabbed him, "Don’t be rash. Think it over carefully. This medicine isn’t to be taken lightly. They say it just blurs your vision, but what if it’s poison? What if it takes your life after you swallow it?"

Hunter Qin couldn’t help but laugh in annoyance, "Wang Family Girl, do you know who I, Qin Shiguan, am? Do I need to lie to two poor country kids like you? Song Chongjin, if you truly have the backbone to sever ties with me and Old Zhang, then just take the pill. Whatever you’ve learned from us, you won’t have the chance to use it anymore, and we’ll truly become strangers. What, you don’t dare? Can’t let go? Talking tough, but in reality, you can’t bear to part with it, right..."

Before he could finish speaking, the bottle was snatched from his hand by Song Chongjin.

Before Wang Yongzhu could react, she saw Song Chongjin open the bottle, pour out a brown pill, and toss it into his mouth, swallowing it dry.

"Are you crazy? Why did you eat it? Spit it out!" Wang Yongzhu panicked, never having seen someone so foolishly follow through.

There were other ways to cut ties with Hunter Qin and Shopkeeper Zhang, to disassociate from their backers. Why listen to Hunter Qin?

In her urgency, Wang Yongzhu reached out and grabbed Song Chongjin by the neck, trying to force his throat to make him spit out the pill.

In her frustration, Wang Yongzhu didn’t hold back. Song Chongjin was nearly choked until his eyes rolled back, but he managed a forced smile, shook his head at her, and mouthed, "Don’t worry."

Worry? Of course, she worried! Frustrated yet easing her grip, Wang Yongzhu slapped Song Chongjin’s arm and said irritably, "I’m telling you, if anything happens to you, don’t expect me to be as foolish as Song Chunhua and keep vigil for you. I’ll find a new son-in-law immediately!"