CHAPTER 395: CHAPTER 377 COUNTY MAGISTRATE’S GUARANTEE (1)

Li Yuzhu certainly wanted to.

However, the patient was not her own family, and as a doctor, she had no right to make decisions without permission.

"Sister-in-law Chai, we are in the Zhao household. The old lady has her children and grandchildren, it’s not our place to speak," Li Yuzhu said, looking at Sister-in-law Chai.

The implication was clear: if something went wrong, the Zhao family wouldn’t let them off the hook.

Moreover, it was obvious the Zhao family couldn’t care less about Old Mrs. Zhao’s life or death. If she took the initiative to treat her, it would be seen as meddling in their affairs, and the Zhao family would use it as an excuse to trouble them.

Sister-in-law Chai was taken aback by these words.

She muttered, "Then... are we just going to ignore the old lady?"

Her expression was worried.

Li Yuzhu said, "Of course we have to care. I haven’t left yet, have I?"

"You said her bones are broken, and if untreated, they will remain so. Doesn’t this condition worsen the longer it is dragged out?"

Sister-in-law Chai was very worried about Old Mrs. Zhao’s condition after listening to Li Yuzhu explain it for a long time.

"Does Third Sister Li have any other solutions?" Eldest Young Master Chai asked.

Li Yuzhu said, "Let’s wait. The Zhao family has so many people, surely someone will come to care for the old lady?" She smiled slightly. "We shall act with propriety first, and if they do not come in three days, we will go to Lord County Magistrate." To abandon their elder so heartlessly, the Zhao family must have no shame!

Sister-in-law Chai and Eldest Young Master Chai exchanged glances and said, "This is our best option for now."

.

Night fell, and Li Yuzhu did not leave the Chai Family. When she felt tired, she wrapped herself in a quilt and slept on a small couch in Old Mrs. Zhao’s room.

Meals and bathing were not a problem; the Zhao family’s servants took care of those needs.

Eldest Young Master Chai and Sister-in-law Chai also stayed, keeping vigil alongside her for Old Mrs. Zhao.

Old Mrs. Zhao was now bedridden, needing someone to care for her every need day and night.

The number of chores was overwhelming.

Eldest Young Master Chai was responsible for fetching necessary items, Sister-in-law Chai managed the meals and daily routines, as well as overseeing the servants, while Li Yuzhu focused on medical treatment. Together with the three maids by the old lady’s side, they arranged for her care quite properly.

Old Mrs. Zhao remained intermittently lucid and confused.

Li Yuzhu frequently checked her vital signs and applied conservative treatment with medication, but the condition improved slowly, causing her much anxiety.

Every day that passed reduced their hope by one fraction.

Three days passed, yet no one from the Zhao family came to see Old Mrs. Zhao.

While walking outside the courtyard, Li Yuzhu often overheard the servants talking quietly about which Zhao masters had argued, which Zhao children had fought, and who had sworn never to associate with whom again.

She couldn’t help but smirk at the irony. No wonder they ignored the old lady; they were all so preoccupied.

During this time, Sister-in-law Chai couldn’t resist approaching the four Zhao masters.

But these brothers were busy assessing their newly acquired wealth or engaged in disputes and guarding against betrayal. When Sister-in-law Chai found them, they perfunctorily said, "Aren’t there servants watching over her? We’re quite busy, Yunniang; don’t add to our troubles."

The Zhao wives were no better off—they were even busier than their husbands.

They were worried their muddle-headed husbands had miscalculated money and given others an advantage, spending their days with abacuses in hand, calculating over and over.

Sister-in-law Chai couldn’t help but say, "Aunts and big cousins, aren’t you really going to look after the old lady?"

"She’s seventy years old; how should we look after her? Let her spend these days quietly," Eldest Sister Zhao said, waving her hand. "Yunniang, I know you benefited from the old lady and are putting on a show, but this is our family’s affair, so stay out of it."

Others also advised Sister-in-law Chai to meddle less with the old lady.

Unable to secure help, Sister-in-law Chai returned dejectedly to Old Mrs. Zhao’s room.

Eldest Young Master Chai said, "Three whole days passed, and they have not come to care for the old lady. It’s time we intervene. We should ask Lord County Magistrate to ensure justice."

Li Yuzhu responded, "We should act without delay, so we must trouble Brother Chai."

Sister-in-law Chai also urged him, "Ride the horse, and hurry back quickly."

It was evening by this time, and Eldest Young Master Chai rode through the night to the County Magistrate’s residence.

The County Magistrate, after hearing Eldest Young Master Chai’s account, already anticipated that the Zhao family would end up in such a plight. He brought two government officials and immediately headed to the Zhao household.

The Zhao family, seeing the County Magistrate arrive, guessed it must be about the old lady.

But the inheritance was already divided; they had broken no law nor violated any rule set by the old lady. The County Magistrate couldn’t do anything to them.

Facing the County Magistrate, the Zhao masters were indifferent.

The County Magistrate spoke directly, "Masters, I hear the elderly lady in your household is gravely ill and unattended?"