Chapter 149 Beating People in the Street

Tens of millions of people shed tears and saw him off for dozens of miles until they reached the border between Shaoqing Prefecture and Changtai Prefecture.

The carriage rumbled away and turned into a small black dot in the field of vision. The people were still unwilling to turn back. They stopped on the hill, looked into the distance, and cried bitterly.

Thinking about the past, how they had reclaimed wasteland and built factories together, and how they had resisted foreign enemies together, the four Lords, King Zhou, Wu, and King Zheng, as well as the minor officials, all had tears in their eyes.

Wang Tongpan's voice trembled: "Aside from often punishing us to write self-criticisms, which always start at 2,000 words, the lady treats us very well."

Zhou Tongzhi choked up, his sadness mostly dissipating. He wiped his tears and said in a hoarse voice, "Everyone, please go back."

Even though the prefect has left, life still has to go on.

They had to assist the new prefect in handling official business, children had to learn to read and write, and the common people had to work and farm to earn money to support their families.

But this does not mean that they will forget the prefect.

The Changsheng Temple and the statue will remember the prefect on their behalf, and their hearts will also remember the prefect, for one year, ten years, until the moment of death.

Everyone walked down the hill and returned the same way.

He looked back every few steps and couldn't stop sobbing.

"My eldest son has always wanted to attend classes taught by the prefect. He finally got admitted to the prefectural school this month, but now that the prefect is gone, I'm afraid he'll never have the chance again in his lifetime."

"I just figured out a new way to knit a sweater a while ago, and I thought I'd get the prefect's praise like last time, but now I don't have that chance anymore."

"Whenever I think about never seeing the prefect again, my heart feels like it's being bitten by a thousand ants. It hurts like hell."

"I hope that every time the prefect sees the umbrella, he will think of us."

"Of course we will. We can't bear to leave the prefect, and he can't bear to leave us either."

"Everyone, from now on, please stop calling me 'Prefect'. This is unfair to the new Prefect."

"What's that called?"

"Just call me Lord Du."

The crowd responded sparsely.

"Fortunately, the current prefect is a good official."

"He is Master Du's nephew, and he will surely make Shaoqing Mansion prosper and get better day by day."

Because of Lord Du, they chose to trust the new prefect Yao unconditionally.

The people returned to the city, and the city, which had been deserted, gradually returned to its former bustle and bustle.

There are crowds of people and a constant flow of vehicles.

The hawkers' shouts and the people's laughter were heard one after another.

Fumin Garment has posted a notice that the latest spring wool sweaters will soon be available.

The fruit farmers in the orchard sent a batch of fresh fruits and vegetables to the fresh fruit orchard, and met a male worker from the dried fruit factory when leaving.

"Come to deliver dried fruit?"

"Yeah, are you here to deliver fruits too?"

"A batch of fruits just ripened yesterday. They were large, juicy, and incredibly sweet. They bent the branches so hard that we couldn't pick them all until the middle of the night. Then we went to see Lord Du off. After returning to the city, we quickly delivered the fruits here... Anyway, we still have to go to Jingdong Mansion to deliver the fruits, so we'll go first!"

"Yeah, okay!"

The male worker from the dried fruit factory waved his hand and carried the porcelain jars filled with dried fruits into the fresh fruit orchard.

A delivery woman passed by them, and ran all the way with a food box, delivering the pre-ordered fresh fruits and dried fruits to the diner's home.

The fruit farmers drove ox carts, humming songs in dialect, all the way to the orchard.

He had to go back to get the fruits and vegetables first, and then go to Jingdong Prefecture.

The fruits and vegetables are growing very well this year, and we will definitely make a lot of money!

After leaving the west city gate, the fruit farmer looked up at the statue of Lord Du, grinned, and murmured to himself, "Lord, please bless our Shaoqing Prefecture, and may there be good weather and no disasters every year from now on."

Driving west in an ox cart, we passed by the Changsheng Temple, which was crowded with people.

There were people who did not have time to see Lord Du off, so they came here to express their gratitude as a second choice.

There are also people who come here with their children, asking Lord Du to bless their daughters and sons, and wish them to be smart, healthy and safe.

"I don't ask them to be as powerful as you, sir. I just hope that they can have enough food and clothing when they grow up. If they can become a small official, that would be the best."

"I don't seek great wealth, I just want peace and security."

The fruit farmer laughed and said, "I guess you're making a wish for Lord Du as if he were a god."

Passing through the market, the sounds of hawking and bargaining are intertwined and the place is bustling with activity.

The fruit farmer wiped his beard and said, "Maybe Lord Du is really a god sent from heaven to save us."

During those years, they prayed to God again and again to save Shaoqing Prefecture and save them.

Perhaps their sincerity moved the gods, causing Lord Du to descend to the mortal world.

Lord Du single-handedly pulled Shaoqing Prefecture out of the dark swamp and saved the lives of tens of millions of people.

"He is truly a god who saves people from suffering..."

......

The officials returned to the government office and went to pay their respects to the new prefect.

"Your humble servant greets His Excellency the Prefect."

Behind the long desk, Yao Jingzhou was wearing a crimson official robe. He looked like a gentleman, gentle as jade, yet his expression was solemn and majestic.

"Everyone, please stand up. I will rely heavily on you in the future to jointly govern Shaoqing Prefecture."

Everyone said they didn't dare, and after some compliments, they retreated and went about their business.

Yao Jingzhou put Du Qingtang's farewell letter into the cabinet, smiled silently, picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and sat down at the desk to handle official business.

It is true that he could not create as many miracles as his uncle, and when he left office, the people shed tears and bid him farewell for dozens of miles.

But he will do his best to govern this land well and live up to the expectations of his uncle and the people.

It’s a warm spring day with a gentle breeze.

Outside the city gate, four statues stand tall, with calm and solemn expressions, guarding the city.

-

After leaving Shaoqing Prefecture, the carriage headed east.

Du Qingtang leaned against the carriage with his eyes closed, his heart was in turmoil and waves, and it took a long time to calm down.

Seeing the statue, the Umbrella of the People and the Temple of Eternal Life, and hearing the people's cries filled with nostalgia and reluctance, even the most heartless person would find it hard not to be moved.

Her efforts were rewarded.

She has won the sincere support of the people.

Du Qingtang exhaled lightly and smiled.

That is enough.

......

Two days later, Du Qingtang met the examinee from Shaoqing Prefecture unexpectedly at a noodle stall beside the official road.

At that time, the candidates were eating noodles and chatting.

"I don't know if we can see the prefect one last time after we return."

"I still remember that the prefect took office in April. He must have gone to Beijing to report on his work by now."

"It's a shame I can't share the good news of Zhou's passing the imperial examination with the prefect... Sir!"

Everyone looked at Zhou Jizhong, puzzled: "What did you say?"

Zhou Ji pointed his middle finger to the front right, his tone unable to conceal his excitement, and whispered in a low voice: "It's the prefect!"

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of Zhou Jizhong's finger.

If the person who got off the carriage was not the prefect, then who else could it be?

Du Qingtang also saw them, a look of surprise flashed across his eyes, and he walked forward.

The candidates were overjoyed and hurriedly stood up to salute, saying in unison, "Sir."

This scene attracted the diners at the noodle stall to look sideways, point and talk endlessly.

"No need to be so polite." Du Qingtang raised his hand, motioning them to sit down, and then he calmly took a seat in the empty seat. "What a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you here."

"The students didn't expect it either. Everyone thought they would never see you again."

"Sir, are you going back to Beijing?"

Du Qingtang nodded: "The new prefect has taken office, and it's time for me to leave."

Everyone's eyes dimmed, and their reluctance and disappointment were evident in their words.

"Three years have flown by, and it feels like just yesterday that the prefectural school reopened."

"If it weren't for you, sir, we wouldn't have had the chance to take the imperial examinations, let alone enter the officialdom and serve the monarch."

"All good things must come to an end." The noodle stall owner brought a bowl of plain noodles. Du Qingtang thanked her and then changed the subject, "How did you all do on your exams in Beijing this time?"

"The students ranked second, and Zhongqi was the most outstanding. He won the first place."

"The student caught a cold during the college entrance examination and unfortunately failed."

"The student ranked last among the top three and almost missed the chance to become a Jinshi."

Du Qingtang said calmly, "You are all very good. Those who passed the high school entrance exam will be colleagues in the future and we can see each other often. Those who failed the exam should not be discouraged. We can try again next year."

Those who passed the imperial examination were delighted, while those who failed tried to regain their confidence.

In fact, Zhou Jizhong did not expect that he could become the top scorer in the imperial examination. When the official read out his name, he thought he was still in a dream.

Now that he thinks about it, his achievements today are inseparable from the guidance of the instructors and professors, and even more so, the generous teaching of the prefect.

He benefited a lot from the test questions set by the prefect himself. He even encountered similar test questions in the imperial examination. He was extremely lucky.

Zhou Jizhong said with a smile, "I will be serving in the Hanlin Academy soon. Maybe I can really meet you, sir."

Gao Lin echoed: "The student ranked second and was granted Jinshi status. The probability of him being admitted to the Hanlin Academy is relatively small. He may be assigned to one of the six ministries and five temples."

Du Qingtang knew Gao Lin's past and how difficult it was for him to turn over a new leaf and return to the provincial academy. He comforted him, saying, "As long as you work diligently, you will definitely be promoted."

Gao Lin cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll take your good words."

In fact, he doesn't care whether he can be promoted or how high he can climb in his lifetime.

He just wanted to prove to his wife and children that even after so many years, even after he had fallen into depravity and indulged himself, he could still be their pride.

And he did it.

This life is enough, and I will die without regrets.

"After failing the exam, the student reviewed and concluded that there were significant problems with the policy essay. He will practice more and try again in three years."

Du Qingtang readily replied, "Only by identifying problems can we solve them. We can strengthen the weak points in a targeted manner. We can do more policy essays."

"Yes, I will follow your instructions."

Du Qingtang did not stay long. After eating the noodles, he said goodbye to the candidates from Shaoqing Prefecture and set off again.

The Jinshi and Juren watched the carriage go away and also set out on the journey back home.

They met the prefect by chance, and their wish was fulfilled.

Whether they enter officialdom or continue preparing for the exam, they are full of confidence and are certain that there is a bright future ahead.

......

It was past noon and the number of vehicles and horses on the official road gradually decreased.

Du Qingtang didn't like reading in the car because it was bad for his eyes and made him dizzy. So he spread out the chessboard on the table, sat cross-legged on the car seat, and started playing chess with his left and right hands.

The fight between the left hand and the right hand is quite interesting.

After an incense stick of time had passed, the game was still undecided, and Du Qingtang felt a little tired.

I have been riding on horseback for the past two days, and I have to be on guard day and night against Cao Yuan and the Fourth Prince, two bastards who might bite people and send people to kill them halfway. Even if I fall asleep, I dare not sleep too deeply, for fear that I will be shot into a sieve by arrows and die in my sleep. Now my eyelids are heavy and I am getting sleepy.

Du Qingtang yawned, took a sip of tea, lifted the curtain and looked out.

The afternoon sun is shining brightly, flowing across the back of my hand like honey, warm and comfortable.

Du Qingtang squinted comfortably, his gaze sweeping across the mountains and forests on both sides, his casual look concealed by sharpness.

"Be alert."

"yes."

Du Qingtang lowered the car curtain, took out a soft pillow from the cabinet under the table, put it on the car seat, and lay down to fall asleep.

The accident happened at this moment.

A rumbling sound of wind tore through the air, shattering the afternoon silence as it roared towards the carriage.

In the sunlight, the arrow gleamed coldly, revealing its murderous intent.

"Bang!"

The arrow hit the carriage and penetrated three inches into the wood.

Du San's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he drew his sword: "Master?"

"I'm fine." Du Qingtang sat upright, his tone indifferent, "Find them all, and leave no one behind."

"yes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several more sounds of breaking wind came.

Du San and others raised their swords to block, but several arrows still hit the carriage.

Fortunately, the carriage was made of high-quality golden nanmu wood, and the arrow did not penetrate the wooden board, but the sound was annoying.

Du Qingtang rubbed his eyebrows. It seemed that he couldn't sleep anymore, so he simply pushed the soft pillow to the corner and continued playing chess.

The swords collided, making a clanging sound.

Shouts and screams were heard everywhere. Du Qingtang sat steadily, his fingertips stroking the ring on his middle finger, and he lowered his eyes to watch the chess game. The inside and outside of the carriage seemed to be two separate worlds.

Just at this moment, an assassin took advantage of the chaos to approach the carriage, cut open the curtain with a sword, and went straight for the people inside.

Three feet, two feet, five inches, four inches...

The sharp blade approached, and the black and white eyes reflected the blood on the blade and the murderous assassin.

The pungent smell of rust was blown into Du Qingtang's nose by the wind, irritating his nerves.

Du Qingtang held a black dot in his left hand, which made his fingers look even whiter like jade. He raised his right hand calmly, and a silver needle as thin as an ox hair flew out and pierced the assassin's eyebrows.

The silver needle is poisoned and kills with one strike.

"clang!"

"Bang!"

The long sword fell into the carriage, and blood stained the carpet. Du Qingtang frowned and kicked the assassin out of the carriage.

After landing, the assassin rolled twice and stopped next to Zhuifeng.

With eyes wide open, he died with his eyes open.

"Hic——"

Zhuifeng snorted unhappily, raised his horse's hoof and kicked the assassins away, knocking down two of them.

Du Qingtang stroked the ring gently and praised it generously: "Good chasing of the wind, well done."

"Hah~"

Zhuifeng shook her ponytail, feeling very proud.

The fierce battle ended in just a cup of tea.

There were more than a dozen corpses lying around the carriage, and the earth was stained with blood.

Those who died were all assassins, and the guards on Du Qingtang's side only suffered minor injuries.

The injured guards sat on the ground, helped each other and treated their wounds. The uninjured guards buried the bodies on the spot, pulled out the arrows on the carriage, replaced the curtains, and the group set off again.

The sun is warm and the sky is clear.

The atmosphere remained quiet, as if nothing had happened.

-

On the other side, Xia Jing.

Since the establishment of the Women's Medical Bureau, two selections have been held, and a total of 69 people have passed the assessment and become medical practitioners.

According to the rules, there were only thirty doctors in the Imperial Medical Service.

However, the situation of the Female Medical Bureau is special. It aims to train female doctors for use by concubines in the harem, noble ladies in the capital, and women among the people. Therefore, an exception was made to increase the number of vacancies from 30 to 300.

These doctors will study in the Women's Medical Bureau for half a year. In addition to studying medical books in depth, they will also study pulse diagnosis, herbal medicine and suturing techniques.

Traditional medicine is extensive and profound, and it may not be possible to fully comprehend it in half a year. However, the number of medical assistants is limited, and they must leave after half a year, leaving the opportunity to other female doctors.

At this time, Du Qingju was teaching medical staff how to suturing.

In front of the sixty-nine doctors was a palm-sized piece of chicken with a finger-long cut on it.

Du Qingju personally demonstrated it three times to ensure that every doctor could see it clearly. Finally, he said seriously, "Please follow my technique and sew up the patient's wound."

The doctors looked down at the "patient" lying on the table and smiled secretly with their hands covering their mouths.

However, they quickly stopped smiling and became serious. They threaded the needle, recalling how the deputy director taught them how to insert the needle and how to sew, while they sewed up the "patient's" wounds.

During this period, Du Qingju walked among the doctors, occasionally stopping to give some instructions.

The doctors present all have a medical background and are considered excellent among their peers.

With Du Qingju's guidance and some hard work, he had almost mastered the technique after one suturing class.

"That's all for today. If you have time after returning, please practice more." Du Qingju blinked, changing her usual calmness to a playful tone. "After all, real patients are not chickens. They breathe and bleed, so we need to be extremely careful."

The doctors couldn't help laughing and responded in unison.

Du Qingju did not hide her master-disciple relationship with Liang Chuxia. After finishing her homework, she took her little apprentice away.

"I really envy Doctor Liang for being able to learn from the Vice Dean and receive his dedicated guidance."

"Becoming a disciple requires fate, which shows that the Vice Dean and Doctor Liang have a connection. However, we have also received instruction from the Vice Dean, so we can barely be considered half a disciple."

"According to what you said, from now on, when I go out, I will tell everyone that I am the half-disciple of the Deyang Township Master."

The doctors laughed heartily, their laughter full of joking.

The healer who first proposed the "half-apprentice" theory was embarrassed and annoyed, with a blush all over his cheeks and neck: "Oh, stop laughing, stop laughing!"

Seeing that she was about to cry, everyone hurriedly stopped laughing.

"However, with the guidance of the Vice Dean, our medical skills will definitely improve a lot. After six months, we can leave the Women's Medical Bureau and open a clinic together. We can look after each other and it will be more convenient for women to see doctors."

"That's a good idea. Count me in then."

Du Qingju didn't know what her "half-disciples" were planning yet, and even if she knew, she would only give them her full support.

This world is too harsh on women. Under the premise of strict separation between men and women, women cannot even see a doctor if they have a more private illness, otherwise it means "losing their chastity."

Du Qingju scoffed at this. How could chastity be more important than life?

But in the eyes of many people, starving to death is a minor matter, while losing one's chastity is a major matter.

Once you lose your so-called chastity, you will have no face to live in this world.

If that's the case, shouldn't those men who have three wives and four concubines and have been seen naked by so many women should have been hanged long ago?

We are all human beings, it's so unfair.

In short, Daxia is in urgent need of female doctors and clinics specifically serving women.

If women don’t stand up to help women, who will?

On the way back to the Du residence, Du Qingju mentioned the selection of medical assistants: "There are still more than 200 vacancies left. However, there were only a few female doctors who applied in the first two rounds, only about 100 or 200 people in total. I hope that more female doctors will be able to participate in the selection at the end of the month."

Liang Chuxia leaned against the carriage, swinging her legs leisurely: "I think there are actually quite a few women who have studied medicine, but many people are just waiting and watching."

Du Qingju sighed helplessly: "No matter what women do, they will always be discriminated against. They don't even trust the court."

Liang Chuxia remained silent. Her master was a prime example. She herself had suffered a lot while studying medicine and had been looked down upon by many. "Who made it so that, except for my uncle and you, all the people in the court are men?"

Men cannot empathize with women. They only think that it is not good for women to show up in public, and that it is against the three obediences and four virtues for women to go into politics or study medicine. They will only criticize and suppress them.

Over time, women's living space is shrinking, and they would rather walk alone than trust others.

"Time reveals a person's true character. We can only take it one step at a time." Du Qingju touched her chin, thoughtfully, "Perhaps next month I can apply to Lord Lan to organize a free clinic outside the palace."

Liang Chuxia clapped her hands and said, "This is a good idea, but we need to think about it carefully to avoid unnecessary trouble."

Especially those pedantic officials, they might even unite to impeach them.

Du Qingju agreed, but was secretly calculating in her heart.

......

"Sister Ahua! Sister Ahua!"

A Ting pushed open the door and came in like a gust of wind.

Ah Hua held the mortar and pounded the medicine, her expression indifferent: "What are you doing?"

A Ting sat next to her and said excitedly, "Sister A Hua, the Women's Medical Bureau has opened registration again today. Are you sure you don't want to go and have a look?"

Ah Hua said without hesitation: "No."

Ah Ting pursed her lips, holding her face and muttering, "But there are so many female doctors who have signed up. The mayor of Deyang Township personally examines them, and those who pass are given medical robes on the spot. The indigo color is so beautiful, you will definitely look great in it, Ah Hua."

Ah Hua glanced at her and said firmly, "You went into the city."

A Ting's eyes were weak, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "I went to the city to sell vegetables and took a look on the way."

Ah Hua snorted softly, "I won't go. I advise you to give up on this idea as soon as possible."

Although it is the Women's Medical Bureau, it is affiliated with the Imperial Medical Bureau.

The head of the Imperial Medical Service was a man, and the person sitting on the dragon throne was also a man.

Who knows if that person was just in a good mood and one day lost interest, and with just one word, the Women's Medical Bureau would no longer exist.

Rather than being overjoyed in the end, it is better to stay away from it from the beginning.

Anyway, she didn't believe that the court would really promote female doctors.

They would just follow her master and senior brothers in believing that women cannot study medicine and are not qualified to practice medicine.

Such a condescending attitude, it's really disgusting.

Ah Ting was furious. She turned around and walked out. Before leaving, she didn't forget to swear fiercely: "There are so many female doctors in the Women's Medical Bureau. I thought you would definitely gain something if you went there, but Ah Hua, you didn't appreciate it. My kindness was wasted. I'm really angry. I don't want to talk to you anymore!"

Ah Hua didn't take it seriously. That girl was like a sticky dumpling, and no matter how hard she tried to shake her, she wouldn't get rid of her. She would appear at her doorstep on time again tomorrow.

However, the next day, until the sun set, A Ting did not come to find A Hua.

Ahua didn't care, maybe A Ting had something to do today.

But on the third day, the fourth day... until the seventh day, apart from the villagers from the surrounding villages who came to see the doctor, there were no more "outsiders" who pushed open the door of Ahua's house and chattered in her ears.

They gossip about everything from the neighbors on the street to the nearby ones, and can even talk for a long time about a small flower at the doorstep. Although it is noisy, it is not annoying.

Ah Hua glanced at the wall on the right. That was Ah Ting's house.

She clearly heard A Ting's voice.

Ah Hua lowered her head and realized she had grabbed the wrong herb. She took a deep breath, picked it out, and muttered, "It's better not to come. I'm not interested in dealing with children."

The child is the most troublesome, so it’s best to stay away from her.

That night, Ah Hua tossed and turned on the kang and could not sleep all night.

The next morning, at dawn, Ah Hua carried a bamboo basket on her back and went into town to sell medicinal herbs.

Ahua walked along the dirt road for an hour and was already sweating profusely and her breathing was a little disordered when she arrived outside Xiajing City.

She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead and followed the crowd into the city.

Xiajing City was bustling with activity, but Ah Hua had no interest in appreciating it. She carried a bamboo basket and headed straight for Huichun Hall.

Huichuntang is the only clinic in the city run by a female doctor. It is extremely small, hidden deep in a long alley, and little known to the public.

Every time Ah Hua dug herbs in the mountains, she would keep some for herself and send the rest to Huichuntang.

After entering the clinic, Ah Hua took down the bamboo basket and said, "Doctor Zhang, these are all the herbs you requested."

Doctor Zhang is the female doctor.

Because she was a woman practicing medicine, Dr. Zhang had no husband or children and was completely alone.

She is old and has white hair, but her eyes are as clear and calm as spring water.

Doctor Zhang came over to check the herbs and chatted with Ah Hua casually, "The imperial court has established a female medical bureau. Any woman who has studied medicine can apply to participate. Those who pass the examination can join the female medical bureau and receive unified training. Ah Hua, do you want to try it?"

Ah Hua was confused as to why everyone was asking her to go to the Women's Medical Bureau. She leaned against the corner of the table and shook her head, "No, I won't go."

Doctor Zhang was puzzled by her resolute attitude. "Why don't you go? The village head of Deyang is a skilled doctor, and there are many female doctors from all over the country. You would definitely benefit greatly from going. If I were 20 or 30 years younger, I would have signed up. Unfortunately, I'm too old to handle the hassle."

Ah Hua didn't say anything, and Doctor Zhang didn't do anything to force her. He just gave her a few words of advice and then stopped. He quickly counted the herbs and gave Ah Hua two silver ingots.

"Next time you have medicinal herbs, just send them over. I want them all."

Ah Hua nodded, stuffed the silver ingot into her purse, put the purse close to her body, and left with the bamboo basket on her back.

After leaving the long alley, two men in round-collar robes came towards us.

"It's one thing for a group of women to show up in broad daylight, but they're actually trying to sign up for a female doctor competition. That's truly outrageous."

"Even if the Lord of Deyang Township had developed a cure for the plague, he shouldn't have summoned her to the Imperial Hospital, much less opened a female medical clinic. A group of women hanging out with the doctors in the Imperial Hospital all day, and what about chastity..."

The man who was speaking felt an inexplicable chill coming towards him. He looked over and met Ah Hua's cold eyes.

Ah Hua said expressionlessly, "Don't worry, they have joined the Women's Medical Bureau and have a bright future. Even if they get married, they won't be interested in you."

Several men: “…”

It was not until Ah Hua walked away leisurely that they realized what was going on.

"Is she scolding us?"

"It should be."

"It's true that only women and villains are difficult to raise!"

After selling the herbs, Ah Hua walked aimlessly on the street.

Suddenly, she heard a conversation amid the noise.

"Is this where you sign up for the Women's Medical Bureau?"

"There's a sign at the door. This is it."

Ah Hua's eyes moved slightly, and she turned her head to see two women walking into a two-story courtyard together.

The gate to the courtyard was wide open, and on the wall next to it hung a wooden sign with six large characters written in elegant handwriting: "Female Medical Bureau Registration Office."

Ah Hua never thought that she would end up here by accident. She frowned and planned to leave.

"Are you here to sign up?"

Ah Hua paused and looked in the direction of the sound. A beautiful girl was looking at her with a smile.

Ah Hua flatly denied it: "No."

Du Qingju kept smiling, seemingly unconcerned with the other party's cold attitude. "I smelled the medicinal fragrance on you, so I assumed you were here to sign up for the election."

Ah Hua has been dealing with medicinal herbs for years, and has almost absorbed the flavors of them. Sometimes she can even smell the medicinal scent on her body. She wasn't surprised to hear this: "You too."

Du Qingju hummed softly, "I started studying medicine when I was fourteen, and it's been more than ten years now."

Ah Hua looked at Du Qingju steadily and said firmly, "You are the mayor of Deyang Township."

Du Qingju raised her eyebrows, neither admitting nor denying: "What do you mean?"

Ah Hua: "I guessed."

Du Qingju: “…”

Du Qingju was a little speechless and simply changed the subject: "Would you like to come in and take a look?"

Ah Hua sternly refused: "I don't..."

Before he could finish his words, Du Qingju took his arm and led him into the yard.

Ah Hua: “…”

Ah Hua was a little unhappy, but she didn't want to hit someone who smiled at her. Du Qingju was smiling with her eyebrows curved, and she looked like someone who was easy to bully, so it was hard to give her the cold shoulder.

Du Qingju let go of Ah Hua and said with a smile, "This is the third selection, and there are more female doctors who have signed up than the previous two times."

Ah Hua looked ahead and saw twenty or thirty women of different ages lined up in two teams in the yard. The one in the front was reporting her hometown, and the woman sitting behind the table, wearing an indigo medical gown, was taking notes.

"Basically, there are dozens of people signing up every day. Some of them are from Xiajing, and some have traveled all the way here from other places."

Du Qingju's eyes were bright, and she said excitedly: "According to this trend, the 300 medical staff positions in the Female Medical Bureau will soon be filled..."

Seeing her full of longing, Ah Hua couldn't help but pour cold water on her: "Have you ever considered that perhaps tomorrow the imperial court will order the closure of the Women's Medical Bureau, and all your efforts over the past few months will be in vain?"

Du Qingju was stunned for a moment, and her smile gradually faded: "To be honest, I can't guarantee that the female doctor will always be there."

Now it was Ah Hua's turn to be stunned. Fortunately, she quickly recovered and said sharply, "If that's the case, you gave them hope and then shattered it. What's the point of doing all this?"

Du Qingtang shook his head, disapproving. "Why worry about the unknown outcome? I'm more focused on the present than the future."

"These female doctors, after joining the Women's Medical Bureau, can learn pulse diagnosis, herbal medicine, and suturing techniques in a more systematic way. They can also study medical books that they didn't have access to before, and they can also exchange ideas and experiences with each other."

"These are all very valuable gains that will help them grow and improve their medical skills."

"Even if one day the imperial court abolishes the Female Medical Bureau, they will return to their respective positions and still be able to use what they have learned to save lives and help those in need."

Du Qingju curled her eyes and said, "That's enough."

Ah Hua opened her mouth and lowered her eyes. "Have you ever considered that when they practice medicine outside, they will be questioned, suffer many injustices, or even be framed?"

She raised her hand, and the scars on her fingers were frightening: "I used to be a doctor in a clinic. My senior brothers were jealous of me and crippled my hand..."

Before she could finish her words, she felt a soft warmth on the back of her hand. It was Du Qingju who gently held her hand.

Du Qingju's eyes were filled with heartache and anger: "That's too much, sister, have you ever retaliated?"

Ah Hua shook her head: "Master sided with the brothers. I didn't pursue the matter. It was like repaying the kindness of his teachings."

"Sister, do you want to sign up for the selection for the Female Doctor Bureau?"

Ah Hua was about to shake her head when Du Qingju suddenly grabbed her arm again: "Don't they look down on female doctors? Let's carry forward the Women's Medical Bureau and give them a good slap in the face, so they know what regret is!"

Ah Hua struggled but couldn't get free: "...Don't be so familiar."

Du Qingju smiled brightly: "Sister and I hit it off right away, and I couldn't help but want to get closer."

Ah Hua: “…”

Ahua broke free from Du Qingju's hand and left without looking back.

After returning home, Ah Hua sat in the yard and sorted the herbs.

She was a little absent-minded, until she heard a bird chirping, and then she realized that she had mixed the dead leaves with the herbs she had sorted yesterday.

Ah Hua: “…”

Ah Hua went to tidy up the vegetable garden again.

She found a wild flower in the corner, its color was tender and its buds were not yet open.

Ah Hua walked around the flower and continued to pull weeds, but her thoughts drifted away.

She thought back to the ten years she spent in the clinic.

I remember the pain I felt when my hands were crippled.

I remember the words of the Deyang Township Lord.

Ah Hua's eyes flickered, and she touched the bud with her scarred fingers: "If you bloom tomorrow, I will..."

That night, Ah Hua had a dream.

After returning to the village from the clinic, she often had dreams.

I dreamed of being tripped up by my senior brothers, dreamed of my hands being crippled, dreamed of the master’s cold eyes and the smug behavior of my senior brothers.

This time is no exception.

But the ending was changed.

It wasn't that she was expelled from the clinic and returned to the village in disgrace, but that she crippled her senior brothers' hands in the same way and became a famous female doctor in Daxia.

The next day, at dawn, Ah Hua opened her eyes and lay on the kang without moving, recalling the joy of her dream.

After a while, she walked into the yard and found that the flower in the vegetable garden had bloomed.

The pink and white petals trembled in the wind, and a butterfly stood on the tender yellow stamens.

Ah Hua: “…”

Two hours later, Ah Hua appeared at the door of the registration office of the Women's Medical Bureau.

She took a deep breath and walked in: "I'm here to sign up."

......

Back in the village, Ahua met A Ting.

When A Ting saw her, she turned and left.

"A Ting!"

A Ting hesitated for a moment and slowed down.

Ah Hua coughed lightly and said awkwardly, "I'm going to sign up."

A Ting's eyes widened and the corners of her mouth turned up.

......

In June, with the approval of Dean Lan, Du Qingju led 108 doctors from the Women's Medical Bureau, divided into groups of six, to carry out free medical consultations in the city.

Du Qingju, Liang Chuxia, Gu Bitong, Su Ahua and two other doctors formed a team to provide free medical treatment to the people in the south of the city.

In early June, the sun was slightly dry.

Ah Hua twisted the silver needle with her scarred fingers, and said in a flat tone: "Remember to call me after one stick of incense."

The woman sat against the wall, her arms full of silver needles, nodding her head rapidly.

After Ah Hua returned to the long table, she was about to call the next person when suddenly a woman came over, knelt in front of her without saying a word, and kowtowed three times.

The woman's tone was filled with tears: "Thank you, Doctor Su, for saving my life. If it weren't for you, I would have died of pain. You are a miracle doctor!"

"No need to thank me, this is the job of a doctor."

Ah Hua helped the woman up, and suddenly felt several strong gazes falling on her.

He looked over as if realizing something, and met a pair of eyes filled with shock and annoyance.

It’s the old doctor.

Next to the old doctor were her former senior brothers.

They clenched their cheeks, and the jealousy in their eyes almost solidified.

I guess she didn't expect that not only would she come out of that remote and backward village, but she would also become a "miracle doctor" in the eyes of the people.

For no apparent reason, most of the depression that had accumulated in Ah Hua's heart for many years dissipated.

She looked away expressionlessly and continued to provide free medical treatment to the next woman.

The Female Doctor Bureau...wasn't bad.

-

It is said that Du Qingtang left Shaoqing Prefecture on May 18th, traveled day and night, and arrived in Xiajing in late June.

The group was stopped at the city gate by the guards and was allowed to pass after undergoing strict inspection.

The rumble of the carriage drove into the city.

Du Qingtang lifted the curtain of the car. The streets and alleys in Xiajing City were paved with cement roads. They were wide and clean, and there were public toilets and garbage stations on the streets.

I think Emperor Qingyuan adopted Yan Tiande's proposal.

"Go to the south of the city first." Du Qingtang ordered.

"yes."

Du Qingtang lowered the car curtain and planned to go to the Ministry of Personnel to submit his performance report tomorrow.

It is also unknown what vacancies there are in the court at present, and which department Emperor Qingyuan plans to assign her to.

The carriage drove for a while and then suddenly stopped.

Du Qingtang leaned sideways, and then someone knocked on the carriage: "Master."

Judging from the voice, it should be Du Jiu.

Du Qingtang lifted the car curtain and it was really him: "What's wrong?"

Du Jiu pointed to a spot not far away and said, "Miss Eighth has run into some trouble. The man is dressed richly, and Miss Eighth has signaled her subordinates not to intervene. I saw you arrive in the capital, so I came to report this."

Du Qingtang looked over and his face suddenly turned gloomy.

"Give me the whip."

......

Early that morning, Du Qingju took Liang Chuxia to the old place for free medical treatment as usual.

After a while, Liang Chuxia reminded him, "Master, there's a man with a rat-like face wandering around here. He doesn't look like a good person."

Seeing that the man was dressed in rich clothes, Du Qingju deduced that he was probably from an extraordinary family. Not wanting to cause trouble for her youngest brother who was about to return to Beijing to report on his work, she just asked Du Jiu and Du Shi to keep an eye on him while continuing with the free medical consultation.

More than half an hour passed like this, and Du Qingju had already forgotten about that man. As a result, while she was giving him acupuncture, the man had already arrived in front of her.

The man was about 20 years old, with greasy hair and powdered face, a vulgar look in his eyes, and frivolous words. He smiled and asked Du Qingju to take his pulse.

Du Qingju said frankly that they only provided free medical treatment to women, but the man refused to give in and refused to leave.

Du Qingju patiently tried to deal with him, but the man suddenly said, "I passed by here yesterday and fell in love with you at first sight. If you follow me, I will make sure you have delicious food and endless wealth every day."

Du Qingju refused sternly. The man was furious after being rejected and reached out to grab her: "Don't refuse my toast and then drink the forfeit wine. Do you know who I am...ah!"

The man felt a pain in his buttocks, and then he flew out and hit the wall heavily.

For a moment, he felt that all his internal organs were displaced and he lay on the ground, unable to move for a long time.

"Young Master!"

The accompanying servant's face changed drastically and he rushed forward to help the man up.

The man held his waist and cried out, "Who is this bastard who dared to kick me?"

The servant pointed and glared at the person in the green robe in front of the long table: "It's her!"

The man saw the other person's appearance clearly, his expression was stunned for a moment, and he showed a greedy look on his face: "I thought you were a stinky man, but you turned out to be a beautiful woman. Why don't you follow me, and I will not care about your offense just now."

Du Qingtang was trying to comfort Du Qingju when he suddenly heard the man uttering wild words. He laughed in anger and rushed forward.

The man raised his chin, quite pleased with himself: "So impatient...ah!"

After just a few steps, Du Qingtang had already remembered the man's identity.

Liang Yixing, the youngest son of the Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace, is a dandy boy who only knows how to fight cocks, run errands, and is greedy for women and women.

Liang Yixing had a bit of a fetish in bed, and countless women were tortured to death by him. In the end, he also died at the hands of a woman.

The woman was the sister of the peasant girl whom he abducted back to his house and tortured to death.

In order to avenge her sister, the woman became Liang Yixing's concubine. After one of their sexual intercourses, she knocked him unconscious and poked hundreds of holes in his body with scissors.

Along the way, Du Qingtang experienced several assassination attempts. Although he was not injured, he was extremely annoyed and had a lot of anger that he had no place to vent.

The Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace is Cao Yuan's lackey. Liang Yixing has run into her trap, so don't blame her for being rude.

Du Qingtang raised the whip and whipped Liang Yixing mercilessly.

Liang Yixing cried out in pain, his face full of disbelief: "How dare you hit me? You know I am..."

Before he could finish his words, the whips fell like raindrops.

Liang Yixing was drained of his body by alcohol and sex, and he had no way to escape. He was beaten by Du Qingtang until he crawled on the ground and screamed in pain.

The servant tried to stop him, but Du Qingtang kicked him away and continued to beat Liang Yixing, who was in so much pain that he couldn't get up.

Liang Yixing rolled on the ground, his brocade robe torn, and glaring blood seeping out from the cracks.

Du Qingtang said nothing, but just kept waving the whip like a top, and only stopped after he had whipped Liang Yixing fifty times.

At this time, Liang Yixing was lying on the ground motionless, breathing out more than breathing in.

Du Qingtang threw away the whip, grabbed Liang Yixing by the collar, lifted him up from the ground, and walked out of the crowd.

The onlookers spontaneously made way for him and tried to avoid him as if Du Qingtang was some kind of monster.

Du Qingtang stuffed Liang Yixing into the carriage and headed straight for the government office.

"You crazy woman, you actually dared to hit me! Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? When I find out where you come from, I will definitely skin you alive and tear out your tendons...Ah!"

Du Qingtang slapped him hard, saying, "Shut up."

Liang Yixing instantly became as quiet as a chicken, not daring to make a sound.

When they arrived at the government office, Du Qingtang carried Liang Yixing in.

The bailiff recognized Liang Yixing, the bully in Beijing, at a glance. His face changed slightly and he hurried to inform the prefect.

The prefect rushed over after hearing the news. Seeing Liang Yixing with a bruised face and blood all over his body, his eyelids twitched wildly for a moment.

When Liang Yixing saw the prefect, he felt like he had seen a savior: "Master Zhou, quickly arrest this crazy woman!"

Du Qingtang slapped Liang Yixing in the face, and he immediately became obedient.

Prefect: “…”

The prefect swallowed his saliva and said, "This... I wonder what Master Liang did that you treat him like this?"

Du Qingtang said coldly, "This man intended to rob a woman and even spoke rudely to me. I cannot tolerate any injustice, so I taught him a lesson."

"According to Daxia law, this man should be severely punished and put to death. I hope Lord Zhou will handle the matter impartially."

After saying that, Du Qingtang threw Liang Yixing to the ground and turned away.

The prefect looked at her thin back, and an incredible thought came to his mind: "May I ask who you are?"

Du Qingtang didn't even turn his head: "Du Qingtang."

The prefect's eyes went dark.

It’s over!

If you mess with the evil female star Wen Anbo, there will be no peace!