Chapter 123: Unjust Money

"You... sold yourself into Jixiang Academy?"

Yuan Si asked cautiously.

Although it's not good to ask this right away, there are some things that still need to be clarified.

If she wants to go back after tomorrow's business is done, then she can; if not, I can still help her out to some extent.

It's extremely rare to live like me, let alone Qin Xiang, who is just a weak woman who ran on the road shouting for help but no one dared to come to her aid.

It's truly disheartening.

Qin Xiang shook her head: "I am not from Huaizhou. Due to a family tragedy, I was left all alone. My parents told me to come to Huaizhou to visit relatives before they passed away. But I ran out of money as soon as I arrived, which is why I was tricked by that woman."

She took advantage of my lack of Huaizhou residency, assuming I wouldn't dare make a sound, and thus detained me.

As Yuan Siyin listened, she sensed something was amiss. "Is it possible that household registration is not valid across all prefectures?"

"You must have just arrived from the capital."

How do you know?

Qin Xiang gave a pale smile: "The northern border is currently ravaged by plague, and everyone is in a state of fear. Everyone is thinking of fleeing south."

Unless you have state residency, you are now strictly prohibited from entering or leaving the state.

Especially in the capital city, where the emperor's residence is located, the regulations are extremely strict, and I'm afraid very few people know about this.

"I see."

Seeing the doctor finish with the previous patient and come over, Yuan Siyin stopped talking, got up and made room for him, and started cursing in her heart.

GoDaddy!

Don't tell her anything!

Are you afraid she won't be able to help in the slightest?

"There are some scratches, but they're not serious. It's just that the weather is very cold, so just wear more clothes to keep warm."

"Then let's prepare some herbs; applying them will help it heal faster."

Yuan Siyin crossed her arms, never expecting that her unintentional remark would immediately draw astonished glances from everyone in the clinic.

What did I say wrong?

Yuan Siyin blinked, not quite understanding.

"The price of herbs has increased several times over. I can prepare them, but I don't know if you, young lady..."

The doctor was genuinely surprised that, given the current circumstances, there would still be people eager to spend money.

Qin Xiang reluctantly took her hand, then shook her head and refused, saying, "Never mind, it's alright."

"Brother Jin, Brother Jin!"

Jin Cancan clung to the doorway, calling her softly.

Yuan Siyin frowned, paid the consultation fee first, nodded to Qin Xiang to indicate that she was going out for a while, and then left the clinic.

"What are you doing, sneaking around like that?"

"I...I dropped my coin while I was walking, could you give me another one?"

Jin Cancan carefully examined her fingers, her big, bright eyes darting around; it would be hard to believe she wasn't feeling guilty.

Yuan Siyin found a comfortable position and leaned against the pillar, not even bothering to lift her eyelids: "You have one more chance. If you don't tell the truth, I'll grant you wealth and honor in your next life."

"I just gave Uncle Beggar a coin, Sister Jin, please, please give me some more coins, Uncle Beggar is dying..."

Jin Cancan grabbed her leg and cried uncontrollably.

Including last night and this morning, it's been less than a day. Whether he was really crying or faking it, this little money-grubber is only thinking about getting rich.

Now, however, he is crying for someone he doesn't even know.

"Shut up and let go."

Jin Cancan was so frightened by her scolding that she lost her composure and blankly let go of her hand. Yuan Siyin then turned around and went inside again.

He froze, then sat on the ground, sobbing even louder with snot and tears streaming down his face: "Yijin, you big bad guy! You're a bad person! A bad person! I don't want you to take me home!"

Apart from Qin Xiang, there were no other patients in the clinic. These days, people with minor headaches or fevers could just tough it out and few were willing to waste their money.