Before long, a man around fifty years old with an unpleasant expression strode into the main hall.
This man was Qin Zhong, proprietor of Baohe Hall and head of the Qin Family’s main branch, renowned in the capital as Qin Shenyi.
Following closely behind him was a young woman.
The girl was stout and robust, single-handedly dragging a broken door plank on which lay a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man lay with closed eyes, his face ashen, clearly breathing more out than in.
The girl set the plank down with a thud and knelt before Qin Zhong with a heavy “thump,” weeping as she spoke.
“Doctor Qin, everyone says you’re the finest physician in the capital. I beg you to treat my father—I’ll kowtow to you!”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
No sooner had she spoken than the sturdy, robust girl heavily kowtowed three times before Qin Zhong.
Seeing this, Qin Zhong casually glanced at the man lying on the broken door plank. With just one look, he knew the man had one foot in the grave—beyond saving.
This was the first time Qin Zhong had encountered such a destitute person recklessly dragging her father here!?
If this man were to die at Baohe Hall, wouldn’t the hall’s century-old reputation be ruined by his hands!
And his title of “Qin Shenyi” would be tarnished by this poor girl’s deadbeat father!
Damn it, the poor were nothing but filthy scum not to be touched.
Pauper! Wretch! More detestable than ghosts!!
Qin Zhong stood with his hands behind his back, unmoved by the robust girl’s kowtowing pleas.
Though he was truly incapable of treating the man, Qin Zhong outwardly adopted a benevolent healer’s demeanor, sighing hypocritically.
“Young lady, treatment requires payment. Baohe Hall has its rules—I cannot break them.”
After speaking, Qin Zhong shot a meaningful glance at the servants of Baohe Hall.
Taking their master’s cue, several servants hurried over to forcibly remove the kneeling sturdy girl and her deadbeat father.
“Doctor Qin, I beg you, save my father. He’s fading fast.”
“They all say no one in the capital but you can save him, wuuu…”
The girl clung desperately to Qin Zhong’s leg, weeping and pleading.
Qin Zhong struggled to pull his leg free, but the girl’s strength was astonishing—no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break her grip.
Impatience flickered in Qin Zhong’s hypocritical old eyes as he snapped irritably,
“If you want me to save your father, then bring ten taels for the consultation! If you can produce it, this old man will treat him!”
Qin Zhong was certain the brawny girl before him couldn’t possibly come up with ten taels of silver.
Thus, he deliberately used these words to make her back down.
This way, even if word spread, it would only be that the patient’s family couldn’t afford treatment—his reputation as a divine healer would remain unscathed.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the sturdy, robust girl was plunged into despair.
Tilting her tear-streaked round face upward, she choked out, “Doctor Qin, I… I have no money. Please, have mercy, show compassion, save my father…”
“Ten taels, and I’ll treat your father. Without it, leave.”
“Though a physician’s heart should be like that of a parent, my Baohe Hall is not a charity. If I make an exception for you, how will I conduct business in the future?”
Qin Zhong assumed the lofty posture of a superior who always prioritizes family interests, sternly interrupting the sturdy girl’s pleas.
As his words fell, the servants hastily lifted the dilapidated door plank on which the girl’s father lay, preparing to carry him out directly.
Seeing this, the robust girl scrambled up from the ground, weeping and tugging at the servants.
“Let go of my father! Let go of my father!”
During the struggle, the girl was brutally kicked several times by the servants.
Yet she clung desperately to her father, stubbornly refusing to leave Baohe Hall.
It was as if Baohe Hall was her father’s last lifeline—even if beaten to death, she would not budge!
Witnessing this, Ji Yunsu was deeply moved. Almost involuntarily, she calmly stated, “Ten taels—I’ll pay for the father and daughter. Physician Qin, you may proceed with the consultation.”
These ten taels were her mother’s entire savings from sewing and mending, originally intended to purchase Qi Yu Nanzhu Cao.
Now that the purchase was impossible, rather than keeping the silver, she decided to use it to help those in need.
As she spoke, Ji Yunsu thumped a silver ingot onto the counter of Baohe Hall.
Observing this, the hypocritical old face of Qin Zhong shifted slightly.
A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes, and for a moment, he was at a loss for how to respond.
“Physician Qin, this young lady has paid the silver for me! Please treat my father quickly—he can’t wait any longer!”
The sturdy girl, overwhelmed with gratitude toward Ji Yunsu for covering the fee, urgently pressed Qin Zhong to attend to her father.
Her shouts were loud, and coupled with the bustling street where Baohe Hall was located, along with the attention she had drawn while dragging her father on the door plank, a crowd had gathered at the entrance.
Everyone knew Baohe Hall was a clinic the poor could not afford.
Now, suddenly, a poor family had arrived and, as demanded by Qin Shenyi, produced ten taels for the consultation.
The onlookers eagerly anticipated Qin Shenyi demonstrating his medical prowess, expecting him to cure the middle-aged man on the broken door plank and bring him back from the brink of death.
Whispers filled the air.
“Qin Shenyi is going to take action!”
“Indeed, this is a rare opportunity we’re fortunate to witness!”
“Qin Shenyi’s medical skills are unmatched in the capital—they say he’s even better than the physicians at Tài Yīyuàn.”
“I heard even the consort of Princess Zhaoyang sought treatment from Qin Shenyi. Just one visit, and he was cured—truly miraculous!”
“Treating this sturdy girl’s father will surely be a piece of cake for him!”
“…”
The public’s praise for Qin Zhong was effusive.
At that moment, Qin Zhong’s muscles tensed, and he stood rigidly in place, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
The consort of Princess Zhaoyang had come to him for a secret ailment contracted in brothels, which he dared not let the princess discover, hence avoiding Tài Yīyuàn and seeking Qin Zhong instead.
Such hidden diseases could be treated by any trained physician.
But the illness afflicting this girl’s father was clearly a stubborn malady—one he could not cure!
Qin Zhong’s mind was in turmoil, his conscience thoroughly unsettled.
However, the common people’s flattery was something he greatly enjoyed. After just a brief moment of guilt, his confidence quickly returned.
Qin Zhong raised his chin high and, putting on airs, spoke with feigned profundity to the sturdy young woman who was crying her eyes out.
“Young lady, with just one glance, this old man can see your father is shrouded in the aura of death. He cannot be saved.”
“You’ve brought him here too late. Take these ten taels of silver back and buy him a fine coffin.”
Upon hearing this, the common people all gave Qin Zhong a thumbs-up.
“A miracle doctor is truly a miracle doctor! Without even taking the pulse, he can tell at a glance whether a person can be saved!”
“Indeed, such medical skill is truly remarkable!”
“…”
Qin Zhong heard every word of the people’s praise clearly, secretly gloating to himself: What fools! This old man just spouted some nonsense, and you all believe it!