Five gold coins for treatment—this was an astronomical sum for an ordinary farming family. Yet even so, his father's internal injuries had not fully healed. Without proper care, his father's life was still in grave danger.

In almost an instant, Chad Sullivan had already devised a treatment plan: make a tiny incision in his father's lung to drain the internal hematoma, then use herbal medicine to reduce inflammation, and nourishing tonics to restore vitality. In a few months, he would recover.

“Father, your unfilial son promises never to let you and mother worry again.” As Chad Sullivan spoke, he placed his palm on his father's forehead.

He had a fever, a sign of inflammation. The infection had to be treated immediately, or his life would be at risk within days.

His father's eyes remained fixed on Chad Sullivan's face, desperately holding back a cough, his gaze filled with boundless love.

“Dalang, you've become clever.”

A father who loved his son as his own life was indeed very perceptive, immediately noticing the change in Chad Sullivan.

Both parents loved Chad Sullivan dearly, but they also knew their son well—he was... intellectually slow. Though they were reluctant to admit it, deep down they knew their beloved eldest son was a good-for-nothing. His eyes were dull, his expression wooden.

They hadn't expected that, upon his return this time, he would actually seem clever.

That was enough. The father was overjoyed. Even if he was still a good-for-nothing, at least he no longer looked so dull. Maybe he could even marry a wife someday—even a widow would be fine.

Mother stepped forward, cupped Chad Sullivan's face, and looked at him for a long while, then exclaimed with delight, “That's right, that's right! Our Dalang has become clever. These eyes are so likable, so full of spirit. Heaven bless us, heaven bless us.”

Chad Sullivan had been thinking about how to explain his change, but it turned out there was no need. His parents loved him so much that seeing him become clever filled them with endless joy—there was no need for Chad Sullivan to explain anything.

“Brother, did the Xu family drive you out?” his younger brother asked.

Chad Sullivan nodded.

“It's good they drove you out, it's good!” Mother said. “I couldn't bear to have my son stay in such a heartless family. Our home may be poor, but with your father, brother, and me working hard, we can always support you. We'll never let our Dalang suffer.”

Such favoritism was truly boundless. Judging by his mother's words, Chad Sullivan still wouldn't have to do any work at home in the future—he'd just need to eat plain rice every day.

“You married into the Xu family just to get a wife, right? Once your father and brother recover, we'll go earn some money and find a wife for our Dalang.” Mother said, “How about Widow Liu from the village? She's three years older than you, but she's pretty and caring.”

It wasn't that his parents looked down on Chad Sullivan, but given their family's circumstances and Chad Sullivan's poor reputation and slow wit, with no skills to make a living except for his good looks, being able to marry a widow was already quite good.

Chad Sullivan smiled, then walked over to his brother's bed, lifted his trouser leg, and saw a large, swollen bruise on his calf—his right shinbone was broken.

“Brother, I'm fine. Just lying here for ten days or half a month and I'll be better. At worst, I'll be lame, but at least you, big brother, can carry on the family line.” His brother Brian Sullivan said, “And if I end up lame, that's fine too. I'll go to Xuanwu City every day to fake accidents for money. Whenever I see a carriage, I'll throw myself under the wheels and extort compensation.”

That was his brother—very good to Chad Sullivan, but absolutely unreliable.

With a broken leg like that, if left untreated, he would die even sooner.

“When did this happen?” Chad Sullivan asked.

“The day before yesterday,” his brother replied. “We hadn't heard from you for almost a month, so I went to the Xu family to ask about you. I didn't even get through the door—on my way home, I was ambushed and my right leg was broken.”

The news of Chad Sullivan's illness had been completely sealed off by the Xu family, so his family had no idea. But the bond between mother and son was strong—his parents had grown increasingly worried after not hearing from Chad Sullivan for so long, so they sent the younger son to find out what had happened.

After leaving the Xu family, he was attacked and his leg was broken—this was definitely connected to the Xu family.

Such a vicious family. Chad Sullivan's handsome face seemed covered in frost, the corner of his eye twitching.

Chad Sullivan said, “I'll set your broken leg in a while. It'll hurt a lot, so you'll have to bear it.”

His brother said, “Brother, when did you learn how to treat injuries?”

Chad Sullivan used to need his mother’s help just to get dressed—how could he possibly know how to set a broken leg?

On modern Earth, Chad Sullivan treated patients every day. Though not a top-tier doctor, he had extremely rich clinical experience.

His father and brother’s ailments were nothing to him, especially since he had X-ray vision. Even in this underdeveloped world, treating the two of them was a piece of cake.

……

Chapter 8: Stunning Performance

Chad Sullivan said, “Father, Mother, I’m going up the mountain to gather some herbs.”

“Dalang, I’ll go with you. There are wild beasts on the mountain, and you might get lost.” His mother rushed out immediately.

She treated Chad Sullivan like a child, unwilling to let him go up the mountain alone.

“Mother, boil a pot of water at home, sharpen a small knife, prepare a thick, long needle, and put some cotton cloth in the boiling water to sterilize.” Chad Sullivan spoke quickly, but his instructions were clear and calm.

His mother was stunned for a moment, but didn’t question him. She nodded and said, “Alright.”