Just as Ye Xiaohua was preparing to free herself from Zhou Er’s grip, Qin An turned his head back after all. He glared at Zhou Er, his tone remaining fierce. “Does your medicine shop not want to stay open anymore?”
“Ah?” Zhou Er froze for a moment, then smiled flatteringly. “No, no.”
“I think you don’t want to stay open, otherwise why would you make things difficult for two little children?”
Only then did Zhou Er realize that Qin An was sticking up for the two little brats. He might cross other people, but he absolutely dared not offend anyone from the Qin family. “How… how could that be? They just came earlier to sell… sell some things.”
Ye Xiaohua looked at Zhou Er mockingly; he was a complete snob. At this moment, a gust of fresh wind happened to blow past, carrying the scent of herbs from Qin An’s body straight into Ye Xiaohua’s nose. Based on these medicinal scents, Ye Xiaohua figured out that the young master of the Qin family was suffering from dysentery.
Dysentery was divided into several types. The scent of white peony root and Chinese angelica on Qin An’s body indicated that the patient was being treated for cold-damp dysentery. Yet, since the illness had not improved and had instead grown severe, it meant the treatment was reversed; it ought to be damp-heat dysentery instead.
Ye Xiaohua understood clearly in her heart, and her expression grew composed.
In any case, she originally intended to earn this silver. With such excellent medical skills from her past life, they couldn’t be allowed to go to waste. It just so happened that although this Qin An looked fierce, he was actually quite righteous. Seeing him so anxious that he was sweating profusely, she could consider this as returning his favor.
The woman outside was urging again. Qin An took a deep look at the siblings, let out a sigh, and prepared to turn and leave. However, he felt his robe being tugged by something. Looking down, it turned out to be the skinny little girl.
“Let go.” Qin An felt that this was exactly why everyone said it was hard to be a good person. He had merely spoken a word to help her; could this girl be latching onto him?
The repeated urging caused Qin An to grow increasingly irritable. “Girl, this matter of mine concerns a human life. Go take your brother and play somewhere else.”
The man strode away, but Ye Xiaohua also came out leading Little Douzi. “I know how to treat illnesses. I can examine the illness for your family’s young master.”
Qin An furrowed his brows, his face filled with helplessness and regret. He really shouldn’t have minded other people’s business; now he had truly tangled himself with a troublemaker. “Go away, go away. What big talk is a little brat like you spouting? This is a human life, it’s not a joke.”
“I really know how to examine illnesses.” Ye Xiaohua also knew that it was very difficult for anyone to believe her in her current state. She was a physician with highly skilled medical arts, especially with the silver needles in her hands. In her past life, she could bring back the dead and heal the flesh and bones. What a pity that she couldn’t carry them with her when she traveled through time.
Even Qin An himself didn’t know what was wrong with him to actually believe a child’s nonsense. It was said that a desperate patient would turn to any doctor; it seemed this wasn’t a foolish thing only ignorant women would do. He, a clear-headed man, could also have a day where he grew muddled.
But there was no helping it; today was just that unlucky. There were originally few physicians in the town, and he had already visited several shops, but none of the physicians were attending the hall. The nearest place to seek a medical consultation was also dozens of miles away.
“You… you aren’t joking, right?”
Ye Xiaohua’s gaze was clear and firm, a light of confidence shining within her dark eyes. “If you don’t believe my words, you can take me to examine your young master first, while on the other hand, you can send someone else to invite a physician. Neither will be delayed.”
“Oh, Qin An, you’d better hurry up! What are you talking about with two little children? You’re worrying me to death.” The woman was clearly impatient to the absolute extreme, her urging voice dragging out long, her face written all over with anxiety.
Caught in the middle, Qin An seemed to be making a decision. Ye Xiaohua knew she had to strike while the iron was hot at this moment. “I can save him.”
These four simple words left Qin An completely stunned. He ignored the woman’s impatient urging and sized up Ye Xiaohua once more. Looking at her with the naked eye, she seemed to be only seven or eight years old. Could a child like this truly treat illnesses and save people?
“Do you know which family I am running errands for?” In fact, the moment the words left his mouth, Qin An regretted it. Why waste words with a small child?
Ye Xiaohua knew what he meant. The person she wanted to treat was the young master of the Qin family; if even a slight mistake occurred, she feared she wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences. But whether it was the Zhang family, the Li family, the Wang family, or the Qin family, if there was an illness, she dared to treat it.
“The wealthy Qin family.”
“Then you still dare…”
“I said I can treat him, so I can treat him. But if I am to treat him, then everything must be done according to my words.”
“You?” The woman raised her voice. “What a boastful little girl! If you fail to treat him, do you think even taking your life could compensate for it? Qin An, stop talking nonsense with her. If you bring her back, the Master and Madam will definitely lose their tempers with you!”
Ye Xiaohua knew that if she didn’t show off a couple of skills, it would be hard to make people believe her. Firstly, she would miss out on earning the silver, and secondly, the young master of the Qin family would likely lose his small life. She would just consider it as doing a good deed.
“Childhood dysentery is originally no great matter, but your young master was treated incorrectly by someone. If it isn’t corrected in time, I’m afraid his small life will be lost.”
Qin An glanced at the endlessly chattering woman, then raised his hand to make her shut her mouth. His eyes truly lit up, unable to conceal the surprise in his heart. “How do you know my young master is suffering from dysentery?”
From the moment he entered the door until now, he hadn’t spoken a single word about the young master’s symptoms. This girl was somewhat interesting.
Ye Xiaohua curled her lips into a faint smile, appearing slightly childish, but Qin An no longer dared to treat her as an ordinary small child.
“I not only know what illness your young master has, but I can also state his current symptoms. Is he already passing blood in his stool, and is the stool thick like jelly, smelling extremely foul?”
Before Qin An could even answer, the woman on the horse carriage jumped down all at once, nodding her head repeatedly. “Yes, it’s exactly like that! You…”
Ye Xiaohua raised her head, looking steadily at Qin An. “I said I can treat it, so I can treat it.”
Seeing that Ye Xiaohua seemed to truly have a couple of skills—otherwise she wouldn’t have spoken so accurately—the woman felt that even if a child were allowed to speak blindly, she couldn’t speak this well. Furthermore, hadn’t she just said that while letting her go take a look first, they could simultaneously send someone to invite a physician?
Since neither matter would be delayed, what if this girl really could cure him?
The two of them exchanged glances, and an answer formed in their hearts. In the end, the maid Chun Yue would bring Ye Xiaohua back to the Qin residence—it was only a few steps away anyway, so walking was fine—while Qin An would drive the carriage to invite a physician from nearby.
After a long explanation, she had finally won an opportunity for herself. Ye Xiaohua took a deep breath, but after careful thought, Chun Yue beside her was still somewhat worried. If any mishap occurred, she wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences either.
“Little girl, the two lives of Qin An and myself are both placed into your hands.”
Yet Ye Xiaohua said calmly, “That’s easy to say, easy to say.”