Adam Thompson raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you want from me?"

　　"My young master Young Master Johnson has something he needs Young Master Thompson's help with. Could we have a talk?"

　　Adam Thompson turned to his companions and asked, "Who is Young Master Johnson?"

　　"Benjamin Johnson!"

　　Little Michael Bolton blurted out, "He's that skinny rich kid—not a bad person. Last time, they wanted to hit big brother again, but he stopped them."

　　Adam Thompson nodded. "Where is he?"

　　"Just up ahead. Please, Young Master Thompson, come this way!"

　　Adam Thompson shook his head. "He's the one asking me for help, not the other way around!"

　　"I understand. Please wait a moment, young master!"

　　The servant dashed off, and before long, the skinny rich kid rode over on horseback. He dismounted and stepped forward, saying, "Pardon my rudeness. Please don't take offense, Young Master Thompson!"

　　Adam Thompson said coolly, "It's getting dark. If you have something to say, say it quickly."

　　"Here's the thing—I want to ask Young Master Thompson to play a game of polo for me. The reward is fifty strings of cash!"

　　The three of them—Little Michael Bolton and the others—cried out in shock. Fifty strings—that's fifty thousand coins! For kids from the slums, that was unimaginable wealth.

　　Adam Thompson started laughing. "Is this your new plan to deal with me that you just came up with?"

　　"No! No!"

　　The skinny rich kid waved his hands anxiously. "It's my family's business, nothing to do with them. I swear, I wouldn't dare deceive you, young master!"

　　Adam Thompson wasn't a three-year-old. In this era, fifty thousand coins had the purchasing power of fifty thousand yuan in modern times. They barely knew each other, and he was offering fifty thousand just like that? Where in the world does that happen?

　　Still, you can't just refuse outright. If you don't leave people any room, you don't leave yourself any either—it's easy to make enemies that way.

　　Adam Thompson smiled. "I'll think about it! My mother might not agree."

　　The skinny rich kid took out a slip of paper and handed it to Adam Thompson. "This is my address. If you're willing, come find me. My name is Benjamin Johnson."

　　"Thank you. My name is Adam Thompson!"

　　The skinny rich kid gave a wry smile. "Of course I know. I'm already scared of you after being beaten by you."

　　Adam Thompson laughed heartily. "No hard feelings after a fight, right?"

　　Benjamin Johnson cupped his hands in salute. "It's getting late. I'll take my leave!"

　　He mounted his horse and rode off.

　　Little Michael Bolton couldn't help but complain, "Are you really still Mr. Thompson? You act like you've been possessed by someone else."

Chapter 5: Rising to the Occasion

　　Adam Thompson was in high spirits as he walked into his home carrying a bag of money, only to run into his neighbor Grace Green.

　　Grace Green slapped her thigh anxiously and said, "Oh! You're finally back. Go take a look—your mother is in trouble."

　　Adam Thompson was startled. "What happened to my mother?"

　　"She went to gather herbs and was bitten by a poisonous snake. She insisted on coming back, but fainted as soon as she got home."

　　Adam Thompson panicked and rushed to his mother Sarah Parker's room.

　　Inside, Sarah Parker was lying unconscious on the bed. A doctor was packing up his medicine box, and Mary Wood was sitting nearby, secretly wiping away tears.

　　"Auntie, my mother... how is she?"

　　Adam Thompson rushed forward and gasped. His mother Sarah Parker was covered with a quilt, but her right calf was exposed—completely black and badly swollen.

　　Mary Wood choked up, "I don't know how she is either. Dr. Lewis applied some medicine, but he said it can only slow the poison a little. He has no other way!"

　　Dr. Lewis said from the side, "I advise you not to waste any more time. Do as I suggested, and there might still be a sliver of hope."

　　"What way?" Adam Thompson asked urgently.

　　"Ask your aunt. I can only slow it down a bit. If the swelling doesn't go down by midnight, she'll be in real danger."

　　The doctor shook his head and left.

　　"Auntie, please tell me—what way?" Adam Thompson was getting anxious.

　　"Dr. Lewis said there's a famous doctor in Yankang Ward named Jason Warren, who used to be an imperial physician. He has special remedies for poisonous bites, but he's very expensive—one visit costs thirty strings!"

　　"Ah!" Adam Thompson was filled with regret. He originally had thirty strings of cash—if only he hadn't given it away just now. But it was too late to ask for it back.

　　"Auntie, I have ten strings here. Can we scrape together another twenty from home?"

　　Mary Wood looked at him in surprise. "Where did you get ten strings of cash!"

　　"Auntie, don't worry about it. I'll explain later. Saving my mother comes first!"

　　Mary Wood wiped her tears and said, "We don't have twenty strings at home—not even two. You were sick for so long, and your mother spent all our savings buying chicken, duck, and lamb to nurse you back to health. There's nothing left."

　　Adam Thompson took two steps back, overwhelmed by guilt and unable to speak. Looking at his unconscious mother, he clenched his teeth. No matter what, he had to save her!

　　Suddenly, he remembered something and reached into his clothes, pulling out the slip of paper.

　　……

　　The Johnson Estate was just across the street in Daixian Ward. Adam Thompson ran all the way there, and by now it was completely dark.

　　Daixian Ward was a neighborhood for middle-class families, with much neater and grander houses. The Johnson Estate was near the ward gate and easy to find—he asked as soon as he entered and found a residence covering three mu.

　　Adam Thompson ran to the gate of The Johnson Estate, and as luck would have it, he saw the servant who always accompanied Benjamin Johnson.