Chapter 33
Soon, Xiao Wu came over with braised beef and radish leaves. The hot aroma drifted into his nose. Shen Ah Heng had to go out for a medical consultation in the afternoon, so he ate his meal quickly with rice wine.
After the meal, Shen Ah Heng took out some silver and put it on the table. Just as she was about to get up, Xiao Wu hurried over and frantically pushed the silver into her hands: "Young Master Shen, what are you doing! It's just these two dishes, why would you need so much? You don't have much money on you, and you usually treat us for free. Besides, you saved my mother's life. Take this money back, we can't take it!"
"Take it." Shen Ah Heng stuffed the silver coins back into his palm and said firmly: "How can a businessman not accept money? If you don't want it, I won't dare to eat here again next time."
Xiao Wu clutched the money, his face full of embarrassment, but seeing Shen Aheng's eyes that did not allow for refusal, he had to sigh and accept it: "Then...then I'll accept it! Next time you eat, I'll ask the kitchen to stew an extra bowl of chicken soup for you to replenish your body. You're always running around, it's too hard."
Shen Ah Heng smiled and nodded in response, then stood up and went back to the guest room on the second floor.
The setting sun outside the window gradually sank, and the room was filled with twilight. The sun outside the window gradually set in the west, and through the wooden window, it cast mottled spots on the room.
Shen Ah Heng poured a basin of warm water and simply wiped his face, then took off his coat, loosened his collar, and then leaned against the edge of the bed to rest.
After days of running around, I felt sleepy very quickly after dinner and fell asleep with my eyes closed in a short while.
The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, she was woken up by the crowing of roosters outside the yard.
Shen Ah Heng rubbed his eyes and stood up. After a simple wash, he fastened his chest again, sorted out his men's clothes, stood up, walked to the table, and opened the medicine box.
There are still some medicinal herbs left. I have to go to the pharmacy in the west of the city to replenish some as soon as possible, so that there will be enough for today's consultation.
His fingertips touched the Western silver ornament at the bottom of the medicine box. He paused, then picked up the medicine box and tiptoed downstairs.
The lobby downstairs was still closed. Only Xiao Wu was bending over to tidy up the tables and chairs. He heard footsteps and looked up. Seeing her, he paused with the towel in his hand and said in surprise, "Young Master Shen? It's only dawn now. Why are you out so early?"
Shen Ah Heng nodded and replied: "Old man Zhang's cough and asthma outside the city need to be re-examined. His home is far away, so we have to leave early and arrive before he goes to the fields."
After saying that, she walked towards the door. Xiaowu hurried forward to help her push the door half open. Watching her figure disappear in the morning mist, he couldn't help but sigh.
Doctor Shen is really kind-hearted. He has excellent medical skills and can make a lot of money by treating wealthy families in the city, but he chooses not to do that. He even goes to the countryside specifically, often without charging any money, and has to travel early himself.
It is a blessing for the common people to have such a good doctor in our area.
Outside the city, Zhangjia Village.
Old man Zhang’s house.
Shen Ah Heng put his hand on the old man's wrist to check his pulse, and then carefully looked at his tongue coating, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Old man, your pulse is much more stable, and your cough and asthma are lighter. Take two more doses of medicine to consolidate it. Be careful not to catch a cold in the future, and you will be basically fine."
After saying that, she opened the medicine box, took out some medicinal herbs, divided them into two packets according to the dosage, and handed them over.
Old Man Zhang held the medicine bag in his hand, a look of fear in his eyes. "Doctor Shen, I can't take this medicine anymore! You don't ask for money, and it's troublesome enough that you treat me for free. How can I ask you to pay for the herbs? I can't do this, I can't do this!"
As he was about to push the medicine bag back, Shen Ah Heng quickly held his hand, smiled and pushed the medicine bag back: "Old man, don't be polite, these herbs are not worth much, I still have a lot in my medicine box, if you don't take them, the disease is not cured, I will have to make a few more trips back, you are not making me more trouble."
After hearing what she said, Old Man Zhang finally stopped refusing and suddenly called out to the inner room, "Goudan! Take out the dried persimmons that have just been dried on the stove and give them to Doctor Shen!"
There was a response from inside, and soon a half-grown boy came running out holding a cloth bag. Inside were round persimmon cakes coated with icing sugar, which still had the aroma of freshly dried persimmons.
Old man Zhang took the cloth bag and stuffed it into Shen Aheng's hand, saying, "Doctor Shen, this persimmon cake is made by my family. It doesn't cost any money. If you keep pushing it, it means you think our peasants' things are not pleasing to the eye!"
Shen Ah Heng looked at the shiny persimmon cake in the bag, and saw the sincere eyes of Old Man Zhang. He knew that if he refused again, he would hurt the old man's heart, so he had to take it and put it in his arms, smiling and said, "Then I won't be polite. Thank you and Goudan. This persimmon cake looks sweet. I have free time on weekdays, so it's just right as a snack."
Shen Ah Heng carefully put the persimmon cake into his arms, looked up at the window, the sun was already setting, and if he dawdled any longer he would not be able to get back to town in time, so he hurriedly picked up the medicine box and said, "Uncle, it's getting late, I have to get back to town before dark, otherwise it will be unsafe on the road."
Old man Zhang wanted to persuade him to stay: "Please sit for a while. I'm already kneading the dough. The pancakes will be ready soon. Eat first and then leave. I'll ask my dog to drive the donkey cart to take you there!"
As he said this, he was about to pull her into the house, his tone full of enthusiasm.
Shen Ah Heng didn't move his feet, and explained softly: "Really, there's no need. I have things to do when I return to town. If I come early for the next follow-up visit, I can try your pancakes again. Is that okay?"
She was afraid that Old Man Zhang would insist, so she added, "The most important thing for you now is to take your medicine on time. Once you're well, we'll talk again!"
Seeing her resolute attitude, Old Man Zhang had no choice but to give up. He sighed and said, "Okay, then take your time on the way! Next time, be sure to let me know in advance so I can have my wife prepare early!"
Shen Ah Heng responded and turned to walk towards the village entrance. After walking a long way, he still heard the old man shouting behind him: "If you don't have enough persimmon cakes, I'll give you more next time!"
Shen Ah Heng walked towards the town carrying a medicine box and persimmon cakes.
The late spring breeze was quite comfortable. As soon as I arrived at the city gate, I saw a group of old people gathered at the gate, all standing on tiptoe to look into the middle of the road. Some people were whispering, "Looking at this scene, I'm afraid that some important person is coming."
Shen Ah Heng also went over to take a look, and saw several carriages rumbling from a distance. The first one was an ebony carriage with shiny dark gold edges. The wheels pressed on the stone road, and the noise was so loud that it could drown out the voices of the crowd.
Beside the carriage followed many attendants riding tall horses and wearing exotic clothes. They all stood straight with expressionless faces. When passing by, they waved their swords to make the onlookers step back. They were so arrogant that people dared not approach.
"Who are these important people? It's such a grand ceremony! I've lived for most of my life, but I've never seen anything so grand!" An old man carrying a basket of vegetables stretched his neck and pointed at the carriages and horses coming from a distance, his eyes full of surprise.
A young man in shorts next to him curled his lips and said, "Haven't you heard what people say? It seems to be an envoy from the Western Regions, going to the capital to see our emperor! Look at that carriage, ebony inlaid with gold, and those attendants beside it, each one with a frown on their face, as if someone owes them money!"
Someone in the crowd couldn't wait to chime in, "I heard from my cousin the other day that the people in the Western Regions are so arrogant. Last time, a merchant caravan ran into them and not only was they beaten up, but their goods were also stolen! Look at this caravan, they're so eager to take up every inch of the road they're walking on. They really don't take us Central Plains people seriously!"
Another woman, holding her child, couldn't help but shrink back from the crowd. "That's right! Look at the knife on that servant's waist. It's so shiny. We'd better stay away from it and not get into trouble!"
A peddler carrying a load on his shoulder chimed in, "I just saw the curtain of the first carriage cracked. Inside, there seems to be a young man wearing dark purple clothes. The material looks expensive. Maybe he's the young master of the Yao Sect! With such a grand statue, I'm afraid a place like Duxi Town wouldn't be able to accommodate such a huge Buddha!"
…
Shen Ah Heng squeezed into the crowd, listening to these discussions, but his eyes were fixed on the first ebony carriage.
The gold-inlaid patterns glowed coldly, and the servants, expressionless, raised their swords to clear the way. Even the sound of horses' hooves was heavy, revealing an oppressive feeling that kept strangers away.
When the carriage finally arrived, her heart suddenly felt like it was pierced by a needle, and the pain was so severe that she almost held her breath.
The wind lifted a small gap in the carriage curtain, revealing a glimpse of the indigo-purple fabric inside. The pattern embroidered with gold thread on the collar was exactly the same as the one he was wearing when she found him in the mountains three years ago.
The scene from three years ago suddenly popped into my mind without any warning.
The elder blocked the dilapidated temple, holding a poisonous powder in his hand, and forced her to nod and "agree" to take him away, saying that as long as she agreed, he would spare his life.
She looked at the boy in her arms whose face was becoming paler and paler, and said "OK" in a hoarse voice. When she saw the light in his eyes extinguished instantly when he heard the answer.
Later, when he was dragged away, he looked back at her with disappointment as cold as ice, but she didn't even dare to reach out her hand because of her guilt.
The noise around suddenly disappeared. Shen Ahheng was still staring at the carriage until the dust kicked up by the wheels hit his face. He suddenly came back to his senses. His fingertips were clenched white, and the persimmon cake in his arms hurt his chest. There was only one thought turning over and over in his mind.
Could it be him?
Is he still... alive?
Shen Ahheng clenched the strap of the medicine box, and her feet involuntarily moved a few steps in the direction of the carriage. She made up her mind that no matter whether it was him or not, she had to confirm it clearly, even if it was just to take another look.
Shen Ah Heng quickly returned to Shixiang Inn with the medicine box on his back, put down the medicine box and persimmon cakes, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
If it really was him, I wonder if the poison in his body has healed.
Shen Ah Heng made up his mind, turned back, quickly opened the medicine box, rummaged through a pile of medicinal herbs and bottles and jars, and finally pinched out a small brown porcelain bottle.
It contains the detoxifying ointment she prepared a few days ago. She kept it when she was looking for the medicine, fearing that she would see him one day.
Shen Ah Heng clutched the porcelain bottle and put it in his arms, then he breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and walked out quickly, chasing in the direction where the carriage had just disappeared, with only one thought in his mind: he must find him.
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