Since the Bao family had become respectable wealthy people in the county seat, no one had ever dared to cause trouble so brazenly at their gates.
The gatekeeper stomped his feet in exasperation. How had this mess fallen to him?
It just happened to be his turn at the gate today, and he couldn’t leave. If he really let these people run to the authorities to make trouble, the masters of the Bao family’s fourth branch would surely flay him alive.
These few coins burned in his hands. The young servant didn’t dare keep them and stuffed them all back to the blue-robed youth at the gate who was declaring he would report to the authorities. “Just wait here. I’ll go report this immediately.”
With that, he ran off, afraid the people behind him would chase after him.
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow.
He returned the coins to his sleeve pocket and went back to Madam He’s side.
Madam He had also been startled by his words. Clutching her chest, she asked anxiously, “Yi’er, are we really going to report to the authorities?”
Commoners had always feared officials. Few people casually mentioned reporting to the authorities.
Xu Yi shook his head at her.
Shouting about reporting to the authorities at the young servant was to let the other party know they weren’t soft persimmons that could be squeezed at will.
A small gatekeeper couldn’t make decisions. Whether they could enter the Bao household today depended on what the fourth branch intended, and… what exactly had happened to He Qiulin at the Bao household, why he hadn’t returned home, and why they wouldn’t let them see him.
After he explained this to Madam He, she understood and nodded solemnly. “Yes, the priority is to see Qiu’er.”
That was their purpose in coming to the Bao household.
Soon, not only did the young servant return, but accompanying him was the second steward who had recently visited the He household.
Seeing Madam He, the second steward asked with a smile, “Young He’s mother, why have you come? Didn’t I tell you that young He had duties today and couldn’t return home?”
“Since he’s on duty, then have him come out to see me. Once I see him, I’ll leave.” Madam He raised her head to look at him without backing down.
The corner of the second steward’s mouth twitched. He said, “Young He is on duty. It’s not something you can see just because you want to. Do you think the Bao estate is some common market street you can visit at will?”
Madam He wavered at his words, but glancing at Xu Yi from the corner of her eye, she became more resolute.
“Since he’s on duty, he should be able to see people when he’s off duty.” Madam He said, “We’ll wait right here for him to come out. If we can’t see him today, then tomorrow we’ll go to the yamen and have them judge what’s right.”
The second steward pointed at Madam He. “You…”
Before he could finish cursing, Xu Yi stepped forward and blocked Madam He.
“Are you the steward of the Bao family’s fourth branch?” Xu Yi asked him.
The second steward frowned. “And who are you?”
Xu Yi replied, “I’m He Qiulin’s neighbor, a physician. I’ve accompanied Madam He to see him.”
The second steward thought to himself, who was this person?
“This matter has nothing to do with you. Don’t cause trouble here.” He impatiently tried to drive him away.
One Madam He was already giving him a headache. Adding some physician would make things even harder to deal with.
After dismissing them, he planned to first placate Madam He. After threatening and intimidating her a bit, what courage would this woman have to cause trouble at the Bao family’s gate?
“Madam He, since you want to see young He, then follow me inside. You’ll be able to see him soon.” He looked at her with a half-smile, making a gesture of invitation.
Madam He hesitated. She looked at Xu Yi, bit her lip and said, “I won’t go in unless Yi’er comes with me.”
The smile on the second steward’s face froze.
He said angrily, “I’m being generous with you, proactively inviting you into the estate, but you refuse to listen and insist on causing trouble. Don’t think that by threatening to report to the authorities, the Bao family’s fourth branch will fear shameless things like you. In the end, not only will you gain no benefit, you’ll have to kowtow and beg for mercy.”
Madam He glared with reddened eyes, pointing at him and shouting, “Have you really done something to Qiu’er?!”
“What could we do? If someone works honestly, the madam and young master won’t have enough time to dote on them.” The second steward said this without blushing or feeling guilty, acting completely righteous.
“Is that so?” Xu Yi looked at him calmly.
The second steward huffed and cursed, “Who are you? Do you have any right to speak here?”
Xu Yi calculated in his mind, his expression unchanged. “I’m not anyone of consequence, but I’m acquainted with County Sheriff Pan. I wonder if County Sheriff Pan has the authority to inquire into this matter.”
These words… Xu Yi was naturally using them to intimidate.
“What is your relationship to County Sheriff Pan?” The second steward’s legs trembled slightly, frightened.
Xu Yi smiled at him without speaking.
Now the second steward didn’t dare act as arrogantly as before.
But he still said stubbornly, “Without proof or evidence, who in this county seat doesn’t know County Sheriff Pan?”
Xu Yi said, “If you don’t believe me, go ask at the Pan residence whether they recognize a person called Doctor Xu.”
These words weren’t entirely false. When he had returned to the county seat with Uncle Pang, Uncle Pang had told him about the search for him.
Xu Yi wasn’t afraid his lie would be exposed. Speaking so much to a steward who answered irrelevantly, clearly this person couldn’t make the decision.
If that was the case, further delay was useless.
“Steward Bao, I won’t make things difficult for you. Go report to your young master or madam. Someone who can make decisions must come out.” Xu Yi watched his face gradually pale and knew he had bet correctly.
“Go ask someone who can make decisions. Either see us, or we’ll go invite County Sheriff Pan. I imagine County Sheriff Pan will stand on the side of justice and law.”
…
In the fourth branch quarters, Madam Tao was removing her hairpins for an afternoon rest when Mama came in to report, saying something had happened at the gate.
Upon hearing the details, she learned that the second steward had failed in his duties, allowing young He’s mother to notice something was amiss and come to the Bao household demanding her son. This matter wouldn’t normally need to disturb her, especially over a servant’s affair, but there was someone there to back them up, leaving the second steward uncertain what to do.
A fierce look appeared in Madam Tao’s eyes.
This matter probably couldn’t be resolved peacefully.
But as a respectable madam, how could she be seen by strange men at will?
This matter could only be handed to Mama to handle. Madam Tao instructed the Mama not to let this matter escalate.
Even if they had to compensate with money, they must appease the people.
Old Lady Zhang received the instructions, bowed, and left the room. She called a maid over to speak with her, telling her to prepare two cups of hot tea and send them to the small side hall.
Before long, Xu Yi and Madam He were invited to the small side hall.
The person who entered was a woman in her forties who said her surname was Zhang and that she was the fourth branch wife’s dowry mama.
Xu Yi looked at her and said, “I want to ask Mama Zhang, where is Qiu’er?”
Old Lady Zhang’s sharp eyes examined him before she said with a smile, “This young sir is somewhat impatient. It’s not that I won’t let you see him, but young He has made mistakes these past two days. I didn’t want to say anything, but since you’re pressing so urgently, I’ll tell you.”
She sat in the chair opposite them and had a maid bring tea. She continued unhurriedly, “For the past two days, he’s been doing things improperly, looking ahead and behind, wanting to go work for the second branch family. Unfortunately, the second branch didn’t fancy him. Somehow he angered the second branch’s young master and was beaten and scolded.”
She saw Madam He nervously trying to stand up to speak and smiled, telling her not to be agitated.
“Our madam was kind and let him rest in his room. She even had a physician prescribe medicinal soup for him and sent the second steward to deliver compensation money.”
She stared at Madam He and asked, “You received the money, didn’t you? That money was what our madam rewarded young He out of pity.”
Madam He’s face went pale. She swayed as she sat in the chair.
Xu Yi called out beside her, “Madam He.”
Madam He steadied herself, took a deep breath, and looked at Old Lady Zhang. “I don’t want any money. I want to go see Qiu’er.”
“That won’t do. He can’t get up right now. I’m afraid he can’t walk.” Old Lady Zhang said.
Madam He’s eyes instantly reddened. All that remained in her mind were the words “Qiu’er can’t get up.” How severely had he been beaten!
Xu Yi couldn’t stand listening to this person’s reasoning any longer and spoke up. “I’m a physician. I can treat him.”
Old Lady Zhang smiled. “Our Bao family doesn’t lack physicians.”
“Whether you lack them or not is irrelevant to me. We came in just to see Qiu’er.” Xu Yi didn’t back down. “You claim that young He was unproductive and at fault, but your Bao family beating and scolding servants is a fact. Your madam sent you out because she probably doesn’t want this matter to escalate.”
Having her words exposed, Old Lady Zhang wasn’t as direct as the second steward in showing it on her face. She composed herself, knowing this person was difficult to talk to. She didn’t dare make decisions on her own and went inside to consult Madam Tao.
Madam Tao furrowed her delicate brows in worry. Who was this “Doctor Xu” that he was impervious to both soft and hard approaches?
“Go, let him see. After he sees the person, escort them out, seal their mouths, and don’t let them gossip outside.”
Madam Tao’s heart was uneasy. After making these arrangements, she lost all desire for an afternoon rest.
She paced in the room for a moment, then called the head maid in and ordered her to take a letter to the Tao residence, telling them to investigate this person called “Doctor Xu.”
Here, the fourth branch’s head maid had just left the Bao household. On the other side, Old Lady Zhang led Xu Yi and the others to the servants’ quarters to see He Qiulin.
The servants’ quarters where He Qiulin stayed were in the rear courtyard of the Bao household, separated by a courtyard wall. Entering through a small gate, one could see a stretch of low buildings.
Even more shabby than the thatched houses on South Street, short and small with insufficient light.
He Qiulin wasn’t a household-born servant, so he was arranged to sleep in a communal dormitory with ten people to a room.
He was in the inner room where the light was even worse. In broad daylight, they actually needed to light a bean lamp to see the surroundings clearly.
After Madam He entered and saw this environment, then saw Qiu’er lying face-down on the bed, her tears fell uncontrollably.
“Qiu… Qiu’er.”
She sobbed uncontrollably, startling the drowsy He Qiulin awake.
He Qiulin turned his face to see them, hardly daring to believe it. “Mother? Is it really you, Mother?”
After calling out, he asked fearfully, “Mother, why are you here? Did someone come find you?”
“No, no. I came looking for you.” Madam He knelt beside his bed, her trembling hand touching his cheek. Seeing Qiu’er’s completely bloodless face, her heart twisted in pain.
“It’s all thanks to Yi’er. He helped your mother, which is why I could see you.” Madam He didn’t forget to tell him this, then turned to look at Xu Yi.
Xu Yi’s expression was not good. This room was damp and dark, with the smell of blood in the air. Clearly, He Qiulin’s injuries hadn’t received proper treatment.
He couldn’t be allowed to continue recuperating here.
Xu Yi looked at him and asked, “Qiulin, do you want to go home?”
He Qiulin’s eyes moved with emotion. Looking at Xu Yi, he nodded heavily, his voice choked. “Yes, I want to go back with you.”
After speaking, his nose stung and his eyes hurt, becoming blurry. Only then did he realize something was falling.
He realized he was crying.
Xu Yi handed a handkerchief to Madam He, who wiped Qiu’er’s tears with tear-filled eyes.
Mother and son cried while embracing. Speaking of which, He Qiulin was still a child not yet sixteen.
Xu Yi wanted to take the person away. Old Lady Zhang initially disagreed. The madam hadn’t said to let young He leave, so she couldn’t agree.
At this point, that Xu Yi could still maintain a calm attitude while speaking with the Bao family was already difficult. Seeing her disagreement, he made up his mind to go to the yamen and report to the authorities.
With him being like this, Old Lady Zhang finally became afraid.
She hurriedly told them to wait while she went to ask the madam’s intentions.
Xu Yi had Madam He use this time to pack up Qiu’er’s belongings so they could leave shortly.
The fourth branch wife’s dowry maid took the madam’s letter to the Tao family, inquired about Doctor Xu’s identity, and rushed back without stopping.
She told Madam Tao about this Doctor Xu. Madam Tao could no longer remain calm.
This person was good friends with their Tao family main branch’s legitimate young master, and even had close dealings with the young masters of the Xin and Xing families. The “physician” her family had mentioned was this Doctor Xu.
Now, they had to release the person whether they wanted to or not.
Not only did they have to release him, they had to ensure the other party didn’t vent their anger on her fourth branch.
For him to be so confident without fear, he probably already knew her identity and dared to act this way.
Madam Tao sat dejectedly on the brocade stool, supporting her forehead, full of worries.
“Madam, what should we do?” Old Lady Zhang nervously asked.
Her madam still had to rely on her maternal family. She herself was from a concubine branch, and her birth parents also depended on the Tao family’s main branch to get by.
If they offended the main branch’s young master, life would definitely be difficult in the future.
Madam Tao made up her mind and said, “Represent me in giving a gift to this Doctor Xu. Two pairs of fine candles, one bolt of brocade, and four silver ingots of full weight as an apology. Also prepare a donkey cart to send them out of the estate.”
After saying this, she also instructed Old Lady Zhang that this matter mustn’t be known by the other branches.
…
Xu Yi was unaware that the attitude of the Bao family’s fourth branch wife had changed. When he saw the gifts Old Lady Zhang sent, he raised an eyebrow.
Fortunately, they had also prepared a donkey cart for them. Seeing Madam He’s eagerness to return, Xu Yi agreed to accept the gifts.
Seeing his willingness to accept them, Old Lady Zhang immediately showed remorse apologetically. “Previously, we didn’t know Doctor Xu was acquainted with Young Master Tao. It was our lack of courtesy. I hope Doctor Xu won’t blame our madam. It was all us servants being improper. If you want to scold someone, scold me.”
Xu Yi thought to himself that this was where the problem lay.
Thinking about the identity of the Bao family’s fourth branch wife, Xu Yi sighed. Whether he was conflicted or not didn’t matter. The question was what He Qiulin thought.
Without staying any longer at the Bao household, Xu Yi and Madam He carried He Qiulin onto the donkey cart.
They spoke no words along the way, only thinking of getting home quickly.
Madam He’s eyes were swollen from crying. She had never cried like this in her life.
After arriving home, upon seeing the bloody rod marks across Qiu’er’s back, Madam He couldn’t bear to look and turned her eyes away.
Xu Yi asked in a heavy voice, “These wounds are two days old. They didn’t apply any Flesh-Growing Ointment for you?”
He Qiulin shook his head and said, “They had me drink medicinal soup. I don’t know what it was.”
Xu Yi said, “Madam He, please go out for a moment. I’ll treat Qiulin’s wounds.”
“Mm.” Madam He wrung her handkerchief and shakily shuffled out of the room.
She didn’t indulge in crying but summoned her spirits to go to the kitchen and cook rice porridge for Qiu’er.
In the room, Xu Yi helped He Qiulin remove the inner garment that was stuck to his wounds with dried blood. This clothing hadn’t been changed since he was beaten, and the smell clinging to it was pungent.
Xu Yi’s expression didn’t change as he removed it, telling He Qiulin to bear with it.
Before applying medicine, he needed to clean the blood and dirt from the wounds first.
The person who had beaten him hadn’t used deadly force, but the injuries still looked serious. After examining them, Xu Yi discovered no damage to the ribs or spine, which gave him some relief for He Qiulin.
Ah Xu carried in a basin, saying softly, “Young master, the medicinal soup is ready.”
“Set it down.” Xu Yi said, taking a clean cloth and dipping it in the medicinal soup, bit by bit washing away the clotted blood on the wounds.
He Qiulin hissed in pain with low cries.
Xu Yi asked him, “Why did you get beaten?”
He Qiulin’s attention was drawn by his question. Forgetting the pain, he said softly, “That day, I was clearing pebbles in the Bao family’s rear courtyard and ran into the second branch’s young master…”
The way he told it differed from what Old Lady Zhang had said.
He Qiulin had been focused on clearing stones and hadn’t noticed the young master, who called him over to fetch some small toy. The item turned out to be broken, and they blamed it on He Qiulin, using him to vent their anger.
He Qiulin belonged to the fourth branch, so he ran away, not wanting to be their outlet. This angered the second branch, and the next day the second branch young master came to the fourth branch demanding him.
Madam Tao refused to hand him over, but He Qiulin still suffered. When he wasn’t paying attention, they dragged him away and beat him viciously.
Yet what spread outside was that He Qiulin had been ambitious, trying to climb up to the second branch.
He Qiulin spoke frankly to Xu Yi, saying indignantly, “Yi’er, I don’t want to go back. That place devours people. If I return, I don’t know what my future days will be like.”
Xu Yi’s hands didn’t stop moving. After cleaning away the blood, he opened the Flesh-Growing Ointment and sprinkled the powder on the wounds.
He Qiulin hissed, then heard Xu Yi asking him, “What are your plans for the future?”
He thought and said, “I’ll heal my injuries, then I’ll travel as a merchant and do business. When I’ve earned money and become a wealthy landlord, I won’t be bullied by others like this anymore.”
Though the Song Dynasty still implemented a policy that valued agriculture over commerce, control over suppressing merchants had loosened considerably. Not only were merchants allowed to enter officialdom, but officials and merchants could also operate businesses concurrently. Some merchants would even marry into official families to elevate their status, such as the Xing, Tao, and Xin families, all of whom had marriages with officials’ children to consolidate their positions.
This was also why they could hold a place in Yanting County’s upper society.
However, it wasn’t easy for merchants to reach such a level. Many had accumulated connections and resources over several generations before gradually attaining their current status.
It wasn’t strange that He Qiulin had this idea, and Xu Yi didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.
At present, there weren’t many paths to choose from. Besides traveling merchants, one either needed a skill or had to obtain scholarly honors through examinations.
He Qiulin didn’t have any special skills, and his talent and financial resources were insufficient to support him taking the examination path.
After applying the medicine, Xu Yi told him not to think so much for now. After his injuries healed, he could decide the next steps.
He Qiulin nodded obediently, looking at him with deep gratitude. “Brother Yi, if it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I would never have been able to come home this time.”
“Don’t cry,” Xu Yi said.
He Qiulin nodded while crying, “Mm, I won’t cry.”
Xu Yi sighed lightly and consoled him. “A loss may turn out to be a gain. Perhaps this will be a new beginning.”
He Qiulin had been crying.
Hearing these words, he didn’t know whether to continue crying or not.
–
The next day, Xu Yi selected from the gifts the Bao family had sent one pair of candles and one pair of silver ingots to give to the He household.
Madam He refused to accept them. Xu Yi then said, “There will be many places requiring money later. Madam He, you might as well accept them. These all came from the Bao family anyway. I ran one errand and got these things for free, so I don’t feel bad giving them away. Don’t be polite and distant with me.”
“I haven’t even thanked you yet, and now I’m taking your things. That doesn’t seem right.” Madam He struggled. “Yesterday I was so focused on caring for Qiu’er that I forgot to give you the consultation fee.”
Xu Yi smiled. “It’s a matter of five wen. When Madam He remembers, just give it to me then.”
Madam He’s swollen eyes reddened, tears swirling in her eyes, on the verge of falling but not quite, her appearance much more haggard.
Xu Yi advised her to take care of her health.
Afterward, the gifts from the Bao family still remained at the He household, and Xu Yi didn’t take them back.
He made a trip to the medical hall to procure medicinal ingredients for preparing Flesh-Growing Ointment. After returning, he shouldered his medicine box and went out to the Pang residence.
When Xu Yi arrived at the Pang residence, Pang Boyi had just awakened from a comfortable sleep. Hearing that Xu Yi had arrived, he immediately called him to the front hall.
He was eating breakfast in the front hall. Seeing Xu Yi, he asked, “Doctor Xu, would you like to join me for breakfast?”
Xu Yi looked at the table with its thin vegetable soup made from Chinese cabbage and bean porridge with added beans, and shook his head without hesitation.
“Why aren’t you cooking eggs?” he asked.
Pang Boyi thought to himself with confusion.
Though he didn’t know why Xu Yi would ask this, he thought about how rural commoners couldn’t easily afford eggs and only ate them when sick. If he didn’t eat them, perhaps in Xu Yi’s view it was unusual.
Pang Boyi said, “I ate them yesterday, so I’m not eating them today.”
But Xu Yi said, “Eggs are divided into egg whites and yolks. The egg whites are beneficial for your migraines, but you can only eat the whites, not the yolks. Don’t exceed two per day.”
Pang Boyi asked him, “Can eggs also be used medicinally to treat illness?”
“In various disease theories, there’s a folk remedy using eggs cooked in wine to treat wind-cold, and also using crushed eggshells taken as powder to treat rickets in children.” Xu Yi looked at him. “Some of these prescriptions have unclear origins, some are hearsay, truth mixed with falsehood. Only when patients use such folk remedies and obtain results can conclusions be drawn.”
But in reality, were there truly so many people willing to be experimental guinea pigs?
Perhaps there were. Set up a stall in the countryside, hang up a sign for free consultations, and quite a few people with illnesses who were reluctant to spend money on medical care would come at the news.
Xu Yi did have plans for rural free consultations, but he still needed to wait.
Pang Boyi’s expression was peculiar. “Since others obtained this through hearsay, where did this ‘Various Disease Theories’ come from?”
Xu Yi said, “Among the common people, one person tells ten, ten tell a hundred. Over time, these kinds of unreliable-sounding folk remedies emerge.”
Of course, not all folk remedies were false. Quite a few among them were useful.
Pang Boyi raised an eyebrow. “What are your own thoughts?”
Xu Yi pondered and thought, then summarized simply, “Practice yields truth.”
Pang Boyi thought to himself that this was indeed “practice yields truth.”
Thus, the next subject Xu Yi chose for practice became him.
After yesterday’s heated needle treatment combined with the Sanpian Decoction, Pang Boyi’s head ailment had greatly improved.
With his spirits lifted, he was in the mood to jest with Xu Yi.
This time during the heated needle treatment, having experience from the first time, he kept his eyes open and spoke with Xu Yi about the “poisonous prescription case.”
“Wenji has already dispatched people to apprehend the person peddling poisonous prescriptions. The villagers who originally purchased the prescriptions have also put away the medicinal ingredients.”
Xu Yi listened silently, then suddenly asked, “Have the surrounding villages been checked?”
Pang Boyi had also thought of this problem and told him, “I’ve already had Uncle Pang inform Wenji. This person is probably cunning and wouldn’t sell prescriptions in consecutive villages. He likely came from other townships. I told him to conduct searches within a five-li radius.”
As long as this person was still selling prescriptions, there would be traces. With traces, they could catch the person.
In such a short time, hearing so much news, Xu Yi was already very satisfied.
County Sheriff Pan’s actions were faster than he’d thought.
This gave him a slightly better impression of how officials currently governed and managed their jurisdictions.
Xu Yi said, “County Sheriff Pan is a good official who serves the people. He can distinguish right from wrong and perceive the finest details. One cannot help but admire him.”
Pang Boyi gave a slight laugh, seemingly dissatisfied as he shifted his shoulders and said, “There are good officials, but corrupt ministers are also plentiful.”
Xu Yi thought to himself whether this was something they could discuss.
He blinked and didn’t respond to his words.
Pang Boyi only said that one sentence and also showed no intention of continuing. He stood up, dressed himself properly, and thanked Xu Yi with a smile.
This time, he extended his hand again for Xu Yi to take his pulse, receiving good news.
His pulse was more moderate than before. Xu Yi modified the medicinal soup prescription he’d been drinking. For the main ingredient, he changed the dosage from ten qian to nine qian. After taking four more doses of medicinal soup to consolidate the therapeutic effect, he could stop the medication.
Uncle Pang sighed with feeling, “Previously when the young master’s head ailment flared up, he would usually take medicine for three weeks before recovering. It’s rare to see improvement and be able to stop medication in just one week.”
Xu Yi said, “If residual symptoms recur in the future, just use this prescription directly.”
Uncle Pang nodded. “Thank you, Doctor Xu. I’ve already written down the prescription.”
Pang Boyi watched them talk and coughed twice to attract their attention, asking slowly, “Last time Doctor Xu told me to move around more. I wonder what kind of movement would be beneficial?”
Xu Yi didn’t answer directly, only looking at him and saying, “After Official Pang has cured his head ailment, it won’t be too late to discuss fitness.”
Pang Boyi’s spirits lifted. “If that’s the case, will Doctor Xu visit again in a few days for another consultation?”
Xu Yi smiled. “If Official Pang doesn’t mind, I’ll come disturb you again.”
“Good. Good.” He said “good” twice with satisfaction, waving his wide sleeves with a joy like bathing in spring wind.
He knew it. Xu Yi understood the meaning in his words. The more he looked at this young man, the more he liked him.
oh thank god qiu’er is going to recuperate