Zhou Qinghe came from a family with a long medical tradition. His family had practiced medicine for generations, and he himself had spent his entire life studying medical skill. In the medical path, his attainment could be described as profound. He was usually extremely conceited, yet he had never even heard of Fumigation Therapy.
The older people get, the more they care about their reputation.
He had poured countless hours and efforts into earning the reputation of Qingshui City's miracle physician. Although he felt this method might not work, he still did not dare let Li Qingshi try it. If Li Qingshi happened to be right, and an illness even he, a miracle physician, could not cure was instead cured by a teenager, then his reputation as a miracle physician would probably be ruined.
He therefore let out a cold laugh and said, “Strip a young daughter who is still in her boudoir completely naked? How is that proper? Please think this over carefully, County Magistrate. If she can be cured, then so be it. But if she cannot, once word gets out, people will surely say that the County Magistrate was made a fool of. You may even become the laughingstock of Qingshui City.”
Zhang Gaoshan furrowed his brows. The young man had been able to write that Prescription, so he clearly possessed genuine ability and was not a charlatan. However, Zhou Qinghe’s words also made sense. If this method did not work, once word spread, people would not care about the truth. They would most likely ridicule him over it, damaging his reputation. For a moment, he could not make up his mind, so he looked toward the others, wanting to hear what the other Physicians had to say.
The other Physicians had no backer like Zhou Qinghe. Who cared whether this method worked or not? Throwing away this troublesome hot potato was what mattered!
An elderly Physician said, “This humble one has never heard of such a method, but the medical skill of this world is broad and profound. Perhaps that is only because this humble one’s experience is shallow.”
The implication was that they could give it a try.
The other Physicians exchanged glances and began voicing their agreement.
Zhou Qinghe was extremely surprised. He did not know what was wrong with these fellow practitioners. Were they not afraid that this young man might truly cure her? Where would everyone’s dignity go then? He cursed inwardly. They were a bunch of idiots who only knew how to treat illnesses and could not even understand something this simple!
Zhang Gaoshan was still somewhat hesitant.
His Madam said anxiously, “Her life is almost gone. How can we worry about all that now? Whether it works or not, try it first and talk afterward!”
Zhang Gaoshan was, after all, worried about his beloved daughter. Hearing his Madam say this, he immediately made his decision and politely said to Li Qingshi, “I will have to trouble the young physician to give the instructions.” He thought, “If he cannot cure her, I will have this boy buried with her. Under such a deterrent, surely no one will dare gossip behind my back.”
Li Qingshi had not heard their argument at all. He had already finished writing a new Prescription. Fully confident, he was certain that the County Magistrate would try his method, because in his view, did anyone really need to ask whether life or reputation was more important?
Under his direction, the servants in the residence busied themselves. Once all the arrangements were complete, Zhang Gaoshan said, “Please rest in the Side Hall for now, young physician. Once my daughter’s condition improves, this official will certainly reward you handsomely.”
Li Gouzi had been waiting outside the whole time. The steward brought the two of them to the Side Hall and said, “If the young physician needs anything, just tell the servants to handle it.” He withdrew outside and casually closed the hall door.
Seeing that no one else was present, Li Gouzi asked, “Brother Stone, what is the situation now?”
Li Qingshi sat down in a chair, stretched, and said, “Wait to collect our reward.”
Just then, a servant brought them tea. After the servant left, Li Gouzi said uneasily, “Can you really cure that illness? Then why have they locked us up? There are even people guarding the door!”
Li Qingshi glanced toward the door. Sure enough, there were guards on both sides, but he did not care. He said, “It is our first time dealing with them. It is normal that they do not trust us.”
Although this was only a Side Hall, it was spacious and brightly lit. Famous paintings hung on the walls. On the left stood an antique display shelf filled with precious curios. Farther inside was a screen, and behind it there was even a Commode.
They had even prepared a Commode. Clearly, before the treatment results were known, the two of them had no hope of taking even one step out of the Side Hall.
Li Gouzi felt uncertain and paced back and forth across the hall. Li Qingshi lifted his teacup, took a sip, and praised it. “Good tea!”
Li Gouzi said, “I say, Brother Stone, at a time like this, you are still putting on airs. What the hell do you know about tea?”
Li Qingshi said, “Why would I not know? Old Liu taught me.”
Old Liu had indeed told him how to taste tea. At first, Li Qingshi had thought the old man was making things up. How could that crude old man possibly understand such an elegant pursuit as tea tasting? But now, following Old Liu’s instructions, he carefully savored the tea in the County Magistrate’s residence and actually detected hints of flavor. He could not help feeling surprised. He truly had not expected that shabby old man he spent every day with to actually understand such pretentious refinements.
Li Gouzi had no time to chat with him and continued worrying himself sick.
Li Qingshi said, “Put your mind at ease. Don’t you trust my medical skill? In all these years, whenever someone in our village fell ill, have I ever failed to cure them?”
Li Gouzi said, “Our village has good feng shui. The villagers never get serious or strange illnesses. How can that be the same?”
Li Qingshi could not be bothered to waste words with him. He let Li Gouzi worry and turned his attention back to tasting the tea.
Li Gouzi paced for a while before finally settling down. Since things had come to this, worrying would not help. They had finally come to the County Office, so he might as well broaden his horizons. Even if he ended up being executed, at least he would have seen the world.
He began examining the famous paintings on the wall, but no matter how long he looked, he could not understand them. He then walked over to the antique display shelf. Unfortunately, aside from thinking the objects were exquisite and beautiful, he could not make heads or tails of them either. He went behind the screen and saw the Commode.
Several rose branches were carved into the body of the Commode, with golden edging painted around them. Beside them was a fierce tiger, rendered vividly.
Li Gouzi praised it. “As expected of the County Magistrate’s household. Even a water bucket is this beautiful!”
Li Qingshi followed the sound over, looked at it, and said, “Gouzi, when you are out in the world and come across something you do not understand, say less. Otherwise, you will only embarrass yourself and become a laughingstock.”
Li Gouzi glared at him. “What did I do?”
Li Qingshi said, “How could this be a water bucket? Does your family’s water bucket have a lid? It is not a water vat.”
Li Gouzi said, “If it is not a water bucket, then what is it?”
Li Qingshi squatted down and touched the relief carving. With an air of confidence, he said, “Look at this carving, then look at the wood. It is obviously an antique.”
Li Gouzi suddenly understood. “No wonder it was hidden back here. So it is an antique.”
After admiring it for a while, Li Qingshi said, “Everything in this room is valuable. Take a careful look, so you can brag about it when we return to the village. Those bumpkins in the village have definitely never seen such things... You keep looking. I am going to take a piss.”
When he opened the hall door, a servant asked, “What does the young physician require?”
“I drank too much tea and need to relieve myself. I am going to use the privy.”
“Is there not a Commode prepared in the hall?” The servant pointed behind the screen.
Li Qingshi froze for a moment, then retreated into the hall and closed the door.
Li Gouzi looked at him and blinked.
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
After a moment, Li Qingshi grinned and said without changing expression, “Damn, the County Magistrate really is rich. He actually uses an antique as a piss bucket.”
Li Gouzi: “…”
…
Outside the residence, the yamen runner who had brought the two of them there was still waiting nearby. Seeing that nothing had happened inside for so long, he wondered whether there might really be hope. If that young man truly cured the young lady’s illness, Laozi would have rendered a great service! He wondered how the County Magistrate would reward him then...
Just as he was imagining good things, the steward hurried out and slapped him squarely across the head, cursing, “You confused fool, you were tricked! That boy is just a local. Wait until you suffer the consequences! Damn you, you dragged me into this too!”
When Li Qingshi had examined the patient, the steward had waited outside the room and had not known what was happening inside. Later, when his master ordered him to bring the two youths to the Side Hall and keep them under strict watch, not allowing them to take a single step outside, how could he fail to understand what his master intended?
The yamen runner immediately stood there dumbfounded, his face turning deathly pale with fright.
That boy’s fluent official language had been an act?
This was the end of him!