Before Song Wenqing could respond, Pei Jinrong leaned down once again. He found himself entirely unable to withstand the assault, his whole body turning soft, feeling as though he would be completely overwhelmed if he did not grasp onto something.
However, the youth’s movements gradually grew gentle. He buried his head in the crook of Song Wenqing’s neck and breathed heavily, his warm breath cascading over his skin.
The chill of the night allowed his rationality to return a little. He tilted his head back, taking the initiative to kiss Pei Jinrong back. After a long moment, the youth spoke softly with a tender gaze, “Thank you, Brother.”
Song Wenqing was entirely dazed, sitting frozen on the bed. A wave of inexplicable annoyance rose in his heart, and he said crossly, “Carry me to take a bath.”
Pei Jinrong seemed to transform into a completely different person. His voice turned soft, and he said aggrievedly, “All right.”
To an outsider, it would look as though Song Wenqing was the one taking advantage of the youth, which only made him feel more irritated.
Once the commotion settled, a wave of sleepiness washed over him. Pei Jinrong seemed entirely unaware of Song Wenqing’s dissatisfaction, wrapping his arms around his waist and nuzzling his furry head against his chest.
Song Wenqing: “…”
Forget it. Why bother nitpicking so much with him?
The next day, after the two of them finished their meal, Song Wenqing instructed Pei Jinrong to stay obediently at the inn to wait for him. He then dragged his aching body and headed toward Jishi Hall.
Pei Jinrong tilted his head up to look at him, a deep reluctance evident in his watery, wide eyes. Seeing this, the innkeeper laughed and teased, “The young master truly cannot bear to part from you.”
Only then did the two separate, their necks flushing red with embarrassment.
Jishi Hall was located somewhat far from the inn. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he was scheduled to stroll through the streets with Pei Jinrong in the evening. Fearing he would not make it back in time, and knowing that hiring a carriage was expensive, Song Wenqing negotiated with an elderly uncle hauling vegetables outside the inn and climbed aboard.
By the hour of the Chen period, he finally arrived before the doors of Jishi Hall. The scene was somewhat different from what Song Wenqing had envisioned. An elderly physician was seated outside the entrance of Jishi Hall offering free consultations, and a substantial crowd stood in line waiting. A young assistant sat beside him; as the elderly physician spoke the prescriptions, the assistant lifted his brush to record them.
Seeing how busy the clinic was, Song Wenqing did not disrupt them. He sat quietly on the steps, listening to the elderly physician’s diagnoses and formulations, his heart growing increasingly astounded.
The medical skills in the county seat had already reached such a profound level; those in the capital must be even more advanced.
After sitting for nearly an hour, despite finding a shaded spot, he was still incredibly hot. The elderly physician concluded the free consultations, accepted the tea handed over by the assistant, took a sip, and asked Song Wenqing with a smile, “Young man, are you here to see a doctor?”
Song Wenqing lowered the round fan he had just purchased, shook his head, and said, “Old Physician, for that prescription you just formulated to treat stomach pain, would the effect be slightly better if you added a portion of cassia bark?”
The elderly physician froze slightly upon hearing this. The young assistant assumed Song Wenqing was there to cause trouble and was just about to berate him when he saw the elderly physician contemplate deeply for a moment before hurriedly lifting his brush to note it down.
Cupping his hands, the elderly physician stood up and said, “My old eyes were blind. May I ask under which master you studied, young man?”
Song Wenqing dared not accept such courtesy, bowing in return as he said, “Old Physician, your words are too heavy. I merely learned a little from the physician in my household during my childhood. I dare not act presumptuously.”
The elderly physician was just about to question him further when Song Wenqing continued, “Regrettably, I never knew his name.”
Only then did the old man drop the matter, patting Song Wenqing’s shoulder. “Then what business brings you to seek me out, young man?”
Song Wenqing paused for a moment and said, “Old Physician, do you still recall a youth roughly eight feet tall who came to your establishment a few months ago to have a prescription filled?”
As he stated this, the elderly physician immediately remembered. Under normal circumstances, he truly might not have recalled it, but the prescription Zhao Lin brought had been formulated so brilliantly that his heart had been itching, and he had consistently wished to meet the person behind it.
A few days ago, that youth had come by once more, telling him that the person who formulated the prescription would pay a visit shortly. He had assumed it would be someone around his own age, but who could have guessed it actually originated from a youth?
The smile on the elderly physician’s face could instantly no longer be concealed. He turned to the young assistant and said, “Quickly go and prepare tea. A distinguished guest has arrived.”
The assistant sized Song Wenqing up and hurriedly went inside.
The elderly physician raised his hand, leading him toward the interior. “I thought I would be calling you Old Song, but it appears I should call you Young Song now.”
Song Wenqing naturally knew the elderly physician was joking, so he also asked cheerfully, “How should I address you, Old Physician?”
The elderly physician replied, “Tang Mo. You may simply call me Physician Tang.”
Before they could begin their conversation, someone else entered to have a prescription filled. Tang Mo stood up, gesturing for Song Wenqing to make himself at home.
Song Wenqing did not stand on ceremony. He glanced around the perimeter, forming a general assessment of Jishi Hall.
This Jishi Hall truly lived up to its background in the capital. Even in this small Qingyu County, it possessed over a thousand varieties of medicinal ingredients.
The tea was served, and Song Wenqing nodded his thanks, raising the cup to take a light taste.
Having finished his tasks, Tang Mo sat down and asked him, “Young Song, although it might be a waste of your talents, I still wish to ask if you would be willing to sit for consultations in my clinic?”
Hearing this, both Song Wenqing and the young assistant standing behind them froze slightly.
Fearing he would decline, Tang Mo continued, “The moment I saw the prescription you formulated last time, I knew you were an expert. If you are willing, Jishi Hall welcomes you.”
Tang Mo was highly confident. In Qingyu County, Jishi Hall was the largest medical clinic, and the compensation was exceptionally good.
Song Wenqing replied with a slight smile, “Physician Tang, thank you for your kind intentions, but I do not have that intention at present.”
Now it was Tang Mo’s turn to be astonished. He stood up, frowning as he said, “Are you aware that the capital stands behind the Jishi Hall of Qingyu County? If you study here for a few more years, you might even be able to go to the capital.”
Tang Mo did not state the remaining words explicitly, but the underlying implication was that as long as he studied diligently and refined his skills for another year or two, he would be able to go to the main headquarters in the capital.
Song Wenqing said, “I am aware, but my visit today is simply to conduct a piece of business with Jishi Hall.”
Hearing this, Tang Mo sat back down, half-believing and half-doubting.
“Physician Tang, I possess many more prescriptions like the one from last time, and their efficacy can be guaranteed to match what you saw previously.”
Upon hearing this, Tang Mo’s interest was indeed piqued. He quickly stood up and said, “Let us speak in the inner room.”
Only after the young assistant closed the door did he continue, “Are you certain?”
Song Wenqing offered no extra explanations. Picking up the paper and brush from the table, he looked up and said, “You may randomly state any symptom from your consultations today, and I will write the prescription.”
He did not dare to boast by letting Tang Mo select any medical case arbitrarily; he knew exactly how much capability he possessed. During the free consultations today, he had also followed along, thinking about how he would formulate the prescriptions, but in truth, there were several cases where he felt uncertain.
Hearing him speak in this manner, Tang Mo’s expression improved considerably. At the very least, this was not an arrogant youth who did not know the heights of heaven.
“Then write a prescription for treating purple spots.”
Song Wenqing silently let out a sigh of relief. He recalled the youth who had come for a consultation this morning. Purple spots had appeared on his skin, some as small as needlepoints, while larger ones merged into patches that did not fade upon pressure. They occurred frequently on the limbs, particularly on the lower extremities, and often recurred. Pausing for a moment, he concentrated his mind, finished writing the prescription, and handed it to Tang Mo.
“Astragalus, Atractylodes, Poria, Saposhnikovia root,” as he read further down, Tang Mo’s expression grew increasingly strange. The hand holding the prescription trembled slightly, and after a brief silence, he said, “A hero emerges from youth.”
The prescription Song Wenqing formulated possessed a better efficacy than the one he had written.
Seeing his reaction, Song Wenqing felt slightly apologetic. The medical conditions of modern times were inherently superior to those of ancient times, let alone the fact that many of the prescriptions he knew had been refined and passed down through thousands of years of accumulation.
“How shall we conduct this business?” Tang Mo’s eyes shone with vitality, and he grasped his hand excitedly.
Song Wenqing exhaled and said seriously, “Three prescriptions every month in exchange for Jishi Hall providing medicinal ingredients free of charge.”
Tang Mo did not agree immediately, thinking to himself that Song Wenqing alone could not possibly consume many medicinal ingredients. Furthermore, many medical prescriptions were worth a thousand pieces of gold, so this business transaction was highly worthwhile.
“It is a deal,” he extended his hand.
As he was about to depart, Song Wenqing turned around and said after some deliberation, “Physician Tang, could you gift me a few of the medical books resting on your table?”
He still had much to learn, rather than remaining stagnant. Even though Song Wenqing’s mind was filled with a vast amount of modern medical knowledge, it was undeniable that there were many lost prescriptions in ancient times that were well worth his detailed study.
Tang Mo was startled, and once he reacted, he nodded with a smile, “Naturally, even if I gave them all to you, I would not feel the slightest bit of regret.”
Consequently, Song Wenqing truly walked away with all the books resting on the table of Jishi Hall.
Tang Mo and the assistant: “…”
By the time he returned to the inn, it was already the hour of the Xu period, and the festive atmosphere was growing increasingly dense. Before he even stepped inside, Pei Jinrong was already waiting outside. Seeing him, the youth’s eyes curved into beautiful smiles, and he waved his hand forcefully.
Song Wenqing instantly felt his heart turn thoroughly soft.
He stepped forward, gently wrapping his arms around Pei Jinrong, and said, “I missed you.”