Chapter 74

Ever since the Bao family became a respectable and wealthy family in the county, no one has dared to cause trouble wantonly.

The boy guarding the door stamped his feet angrily. Why was it his turn to do this?

But he was guarding the door today and could not leave. If this man really went to the government to make trouble, the masters of the fourth room of the Bao family would definitely skin him. The money was hot to the touch, and the boy didn't dare to keep it anymore. He

stuffed it back at the door and called the young man in green robe who was going to sue the government: "Just wait for me, I will go and report it right away."

After saying that, he ran away, fearing that the people behind him would catch up with him.

Xu Yi raised his eyebrows.

He put the money back into his sleeve pocket and returned to Mrs. He.

Madam He was also frightened by his words. She covered her chest and asked hurriedly: "Brother Yi, do we really want to report to the official?"

People have always been afraid of officials, and few people put it in their mouths to report to the official. .

Xu Yi shook his head at her.

The purpose of calling the waiter "reporter" is to let the other party know that they are not soft persimmons who can be manipulated by others.

A little doorman can't make the decision. Whether they can enter Bao's house today depends on what Bao's family plans for the fourth room. And... what happened to He Qiulin at Bao's house, why didn't he go home, and why didn't he let them see anyone.

After he explained to Madam He, Madam He understood and nodded solemnly: "Yes, the top priority is to see Brother Qiu."

This was the purpose of their coming to Bao's house.

Soon, not only the boy came back this time, but also the second housekeeper who had just been to the He family not long ago.

When the second housekeeper saw Madam He, he asked with a smile: "Brother Qiu, why are you here? Didn't I tell you that Mr. Qiu has something to do on errands and can't go home today?"

"Since he is on errands, then you can Let him come out and see me, and I will leave when he sees someone." Madam He looked up at him without flinching.

The corner of the second housekeeper's mouth twitched and said: "Young man Qiu is on duty. You said you can see me whenever you want. Don't you, a woman, think that Bao's Mansion is a small street where you can go anywhere?"

Madam He hesitated at what he said. Just looking at Xu Yi's eyes made him a little firmer.

"Since he is on duty, he can always see people when he gets off work." Mrs. He said, "We will wait here for him to come out. If we don't see anyone today, then we will go to the Yamen tomorrow and let the Yamen comment. Comment."

The second housekeeper raised his hand and pointed at Madam He: "You..."

Before he could curse, Xu Yi took a step forward and stood in front of Madam He.

"Are you the steward of the fourth room of the Bao family?" Xu Yi asked him.

The second steward frowned: "Who are you?"

Xu Yi: "I am Brother Qiu's neighbor, a doctor. This time I am accompanying Madam He to see someone."

The second steward: "..." This person is Who?

"This matter has nothing to do with you. Don't cause trouble here." He drove people away impatiently.

Having Mrs. He was already a headache for him, and it would be even more difficult to deal with a doctor.

After driving away the people, he planned to comfort Mrs. He first and threaten her a few times. How dare this woman have the courage to cause trouble in front of Bao's house?

"Ms. He, since you want to see Mr. Qiu, then come in with me, and you will see him soon." He looked at the person with a half-smile, making an invitation gesture.

Mrs. He hesitated. She looked at Xu Yi and gritted her teeth and said, "I won't go in unless brother Yi comes with me."

The smile on the second housekeeper's face faltered.

He said angrily: "I'm raising you up. Now I'm actively asking you to come into the house. Don't disobey me. You just want to make trouble. Don't think that the fourth room of the Bao family will be afraid if you clamor to report to the official." You are such shameless people. Don't say anything when the time comes, and you have to kowtow and beg for mercy."

Madam He stared at him and pointed at him and shouted: "Did you really do this to Brother Qiu? What?!"

"What can we do? If we work honestly, it's not too late for the husband to be hurt." The second housekeeper said this with no blushes and no guilt.

"Really?" Xu Yi looked at him calmly.

The second housekeeper snorted and cursed: "Who do you think you are, do you have the right to speak here?"

Xu Yi thought about it in his mind, and said without changing his expression: "I'm not a showy person, but I know Pan County Lieutenant. I wonder if County Captain Pan has the right to ask. "

This...Xu Yi is naturally trying to scare people.

"Who are you, Pan County Lieutenant?" The second housekeeper's legs shook slightly and he was frightened.

Xu Yi looked at him with a smile and said nothing.

Now, the second housekeeper didn't dare to be as arrogant as before. But he

still said stiffly: "There is no evidence, no one in this county knows Pan County Captain."

Xu Yi said: "If you don't believe it, just go to Pan's house and ask, you will recognize a man named Dr. Xu."

This was not entirely false. When he and Uncle Pang returned to the county town, Uncle Pang told him about the search for him.

Xu Yi was not afraid that his lies would be exposed. He told a housekeeper so much and the other person answered wrongly. Obviously, he had no control over the matter.

If this is the case, there is no point in delaying it any longer.

"Butler Bao, I won't embarrass you. When you go back to your husband or your wife, someone will be able to make the decision." Xu Yi looked at his pale face and knew that he had made the right bet.

"Go and ask the people who can make the decision. Either meet us, or we can invite Pan County Lieutenant. I think Pan County Lieutenant will be on the side of the law."

...

In the fourth room, Mrs. Tao was taking off her hairpins for a lunch break when she saw her mother. He came in to talk and said something happened outside the door.

Upon hearing this, I found out that the second housekeeper was not doing things well. Qiu Xiaozi's mother noticed the clues and called Xuan to come to Bao's house to ask for someone. She didn't need to nag her about this matter, especially if it was a servant's matter. But in the end, there was someone who could back her up and make the decision, so the second housekeeper didn't know what to do.

Mrs. Tao's eyes were filled with sternness: "..."

I'm afraid this will not go well.

But she is a respectable woman, how can she be seen casually by a foreigner.

This matter can only be left to her mother. Mrs. Tao told her mother not to make this matter a big deal.

Even if you lose some money, you still have to coax people.

After hearing this, Mrs. Zhang leaned out of the house and called a girl to come forward to speak, asking her to prepare two cups of hot tea and send them to the small side hall.

Not long after, Xu Yi and Madam He were invited to the small side hall.

A woman in her forties came in, claiming her surname was Zhang, and she was the dowry mother of the fourth wife.

Xu Yi looked at her and said, "I want to ask Mother Zhang where Brother Qiu is."

Mrs. Zhang stared at him sharply and said with a smile, "This young man is a little impatient. It's not that I don't want you to see him." It's true that Mr. Qiu made a mistake these past two days. I didn't want to say it, but you are so impatient, so I'll let you know."

She sat on the chair opposite and asked the girl to bring tea. He continued unhurriedly: "From the two days after the fight, he started to act inappropriately and hesitantly wanted to go to the second house as an errand. Unfortunately, the second house didn't like him, and he didn't know how to anger the husband of the second house, so he was beaten and scolded. After a while."

Seeing Mrs. He nervously wanting to stand up and speak, she smiled and asked her to calm down.

"My wife was kind enough to let him lie down in the room to rest. She also asked the doctor to prescribe medicinal soup, and asked the second housekeeper to give him the compensation."

She stared at Madam He and asked, "You have received the money, right? That money is for my wife to see. Mr. Qiu is so pitiful."

Mrs. He's face turned pale and she shook a little in her chair.

Xu Yi called her from the side: "Mrs. He."

Mrs. He calmed down, took a deep breath and looked at the old lady Zhang and said, "I don't want any money, I want to see Brother Qiu."

"No, he can't get up now . I'm afraid I won't be able to leave," Mrs. Zhang said.

Madam He's eyes turned red instantly, and all she could think of was "Brother Qiu can't get up." How serious was the beating?

Xu Yi couldn't stand the logic of this man's words, so he said, "I am a doctor. I can treat him."

Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "We in the Bao family are not short of doctors."

"Whether we are short or not has nothing to do with me. Let's come in ." Just to see Brother Qiu." Xu Yi didn't back down, "You said it was Brother Qiu who was at fault for not being pragmatic, but your Bao family beats and scolds the servants, and your wife asked you to come forward because she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it. "

After being exposed, Mrs. Zhang was not as direct as the second housekeeper. She was calm, knowing that this person was not easy to talk to, so she did not dare to make decisions without authorization, so she went to the house to ask Mrs. Tao for instructions.

Mrs. Tao frowned and worried, who is this "Doctor Xu"?

"Go and let him see him. Just say, when you see someone, invite them out, seal their mouths, and stop them from talking outside."

Mrs. Tao felt uneasy. After the arrangements were made, she no longer wanted to take a lunch break. .

She lingered in the room for a while, called the eldest girl in, and ordered her to deliver a letter to the Tao Mansion, asking the Tao Mansion to investigate a person named "Doctor Xu".

Here, the girl from the fourth room had just left Bao's house. On the other side, Mrs. Zhang led Xu Yi and the others to the lower courtyard to meet He Qiulin.

The courtyard where He Qiulin lives is in the backyard of the Bao family, separated by a courtyard wall. After entering a small door, you can see a series of low-rise houses.

It is more scrawled than the thatched house on South Street, short and small, and has insufficient light.

He Qiulin was not born in the family, so he was arranged to live in Datongpu, with ten people sleeping in one room.

He was in the back room, and the light was even worse. It was broad daylight, and he actually needed to light a bean lantern to see his surroundings clearly.

After Mrs. He came in, she looked at the environment and saw Brother Qiu lying on the bed, tears falling uncontrollably.

"Qiu... Brother Qiu."

She burst into tears, waking up the groggy He Qiulin.

He Qiulin turned his face and saw the person, a little unbelievable: "Mother? Is it really mother?"

After shouting, he was afraid to ask, "Mother, why are you here? Is someone looking for you?"

"No, no. , I'm here to find you." Madam He lay beside his bed, touching his cheek with trembling hands, her heart ached as she looked at Brother Qiu's bloodless face.

"Thanks to brother Yi, he helped me so that I could see you." Madam He did not forget to follow him, and then turned to look at Xu Yi.

Xu Yi's face looked very ugly. The room was damp and dull, and the smell of blood lingered around him. It was obvious that He Qiulin's injuries had not been properly treated.

We can't let him stay here to recuperate.

Xu Yi looked at him and asked: "Brother Qiu, do you want to go home?"

He Qiulin's eyes were moved, he looked at Xu Yi, nodded heavily, and said in a choked voice: "Yes, I want to go back with you."

He said After all, my nose hurt, my eyes hurt, they became blurry, and I felt like something was falling.

Then I realized that he was crying.

Xu Yi took the handkerchief to Mrs. He, and Mrs. He wiped the tears of Brother Qiu with tears in her eyes.

The mother and son cried and hugged each other. Speaking of which, Brother Qiu was still a child who was not yet fifteen years old but sixteen years old.

Xu Yi wanted to take the person away, but Mrs. Zhang did not agree at first. The lady didn't ask Qiu Xiaozi to leave, so she couldn't agree.

At this point, it was no longer easy for Xu Yi to maintain a calm attitude when talking to the Bao family. Seeing that she didn't agree, he made up his mind and went to the Yamen to report to the official.

When he was like this, Mrs. Zhang began to be afraid.

She quickly asked them to wait while she asked the lady what she wanted.

Xu Yi asked Mrs. He to take advantage of this moment to put away Brother Qiu's clothes so that they could leave later.

The eldest girl who was married to the fourth wife went to Tao's house with her wife's letter, asked about Dr. Xu's identity, and rushed back without stopping.

When she told Mrs. Tao about Doctor Xu, Mrs. Tao became uneasy.

This man was good friends with the husband of their eldest son, the Tao family, and even had close contacts with the husbands of the Xin and Xing families. The "doctor" her family once talked about was Dr. Xu.

Now, if you don't want to let people go, you have to let them go.

Not only must he be released, but he must also be prevented from venting his anger on her fourth room.

He could be so fearless because he was afraid that he would know her identity earlier.

Mrs. Tao sat on the brocade stool frustrated, holding her forehead and feeling full of sorrow.

"Madam, what should we do?" Mrs. Zhang asked nervously.

Her wife still has to rely on her parents' family. She was born in a side house, and her biological parents also have to rely on the Tao family's main house to live.

If you offend the husband of the first house, life will definitely be difficult in the future.

Mrs. Tao made up her mind and said: "You come forward for me and give a gift to Dr. Xu. Light two pairs of high-quality candles, a piece of brocade, and send four silver beads worth two ounces as an apology. Then. Prepare a donkey cart to take them out of the house."

After that, she told Mrs. Zhang that the other houses should not know about this.

...

The attitude of the fourth wife of the Bao family changed, but Xu Yi didn't know about it. When he saw the gift from Mrs. Zhang, he raised his eyebrows.

Fortunately, the other party prepared a donkey cart for them. Seeing that Mrs. He was eager to go back, Xu Yi agreed to accept the gift.

Seeing that he was willing to accept it, Mrs. Zhang immediately confessed apologetically: "I didn't know before that Dr. Xu and Tao Langjun were acquainted. It was me who was rude and offended. I hope Dr. Xu won't blame my wife. It's all our fault." If you want to scold me for my confusion, then scold me."

Xu Yi: "..."

So this is the problem.

Thinking about the identity of the fourth wife of the Bao family, Xu Yi sighed. It didn't matter whether he was entangled or not. The question was what He Qiulin thought.

Instead of staying at Bao's house, Xu Yi and Mrs. He took Brother Qiu to the donkey cart.

They were speechless all the way and just wanted to get home soon.

Mrs. He's eyes were swollen from crying. She had never cried like this in her life.

After arriving home, Mrs. He couldn't bear to look away when she saw the bloody stick marks on Brother Qiu's back.

Xu Yi asked in a deep voice: "It's been two days since this wound was made, and you haven't been given any medicine for it?"

He Qiulin shook his head and said, "I was asked to drink medicinal soup. I don't know what it was."

Xu Yi said, "Ms. He, you Go out for a while, and I'll take care of Brother Qiu's wound."

"Yes." Madam He twisted her handkerchief and walked out of the house weakly.

She ignored her crying and went to the kitchen to cook rice porridge for Brother Qiu.

In the room, Xu Yi was ungluing He Qiulin's blood-stained inner clothes. The clothes had not been changed after he was beaten, and the smell on them was overwhelming.

Xu Yi untied it without changing his expression and told He Qiulin to be patient.

Before applying the medicine, he needed to clean the blood from the wound.

The attacker did not kill the person, but the injury still looked serious. After Xu Yi checked, he found that his ribs and spine were not injured, and He Qiulin breathed a sigh of relief.

A Xu came in with a basin and said softly: "Lang Jun, the medicinal soup is ready."

"Put it down." Xu Yi said, dipped a clean handkerchief in the medicinal soup, and scrubbed the wounds little by little. of blood stain.

He Qiulin hissed in pain.

Xu Yi asked him: "How did you get beaten?"

He Qiulin's attention was attracted by his question, and he forgot the pain and whispered: "That day, I was cleaning stones in the backyard of Bao's house, and I met the husband of the second room..."

Speaking of which, these words are completely different from what Granny Zhang said.

He Qiulin was busy cleaning stones and did not notice the gentleman, so he stopped him and asked him to get a small object for fun. It turned out that this thing was broken, so it was blamed on He Qiulin and took it out on him.

He Qiulin was from the fourth room, so he ran away because he didn't want to vent his anger. As a result, he offended the people from the second room, and the man from the second room went to the fourth room to ask for someone.

Mrs. Tao was unwilling to give it, so he was the one who suffered. When He Qiulin wasn't paying attention, she took him and beat him severely.

However, what spread was that He Qiulin was very ambitious and wanted to climb the branches of the second house.

He Qiulin said nothing to Xu Yi, and said sadly and angrily: "Brother Yi, I don't want to go back. It's a cannibalistic place. If I go back, I don't know what the future will be like.

" Without stopping, Yi cleaned the blood, opened the golden sore medicine, and sprinkled the powder on the wound.

He Qiulin hissed and heard Xu Yi asking him: "What are your plans in the future?"

He thought and said: "I will heal my injury and go to business. When I make money, I will become Members of the richest party don't have to be bullied like this by others. "

Although the Song Dynasty still implemented a policy of emphasizing agriculture and despising business, the control over business was loosened a lot. Not only businessmen were allowed to enter the officialdom, but also officials and businessmen. Concurrently engaged in business, etc. Some businessmen even marry officials to enhance their status. For example, the Xing family, Tao family, and Xin family all marry the children of officials to consolidate their status. [Note 1]

This is also the reason why they can have a place in the upper class society in Yanting County.

However, it is not easy for merchants to reach such a state. Many of them have accumulated connections and resources for generations and have gradually achieved their current status.

It's not surprising that He Qiulin had this idea, and Xu Yi didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

At present, there are not many paths to choose from. In addition to doing business, you must either have a craft or obtain fame.

He Qiulin didn't have the former, and neither his talent nor financial resources were enough to support him in taking the scientific examination.

After Xu Yi took the medicine, he told him not to think so much for the time being and wait until the injury healed before deciding what to do next.

He Qiulin nodded and looked at him with tears in his eyes: "Brother Yi, if it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would never be able to go home again."

"Don't cry," Xu Yi said.

He Qiulin nodded while crying: "Well, don't cry."

Xu Yi sighed softly and comforted him: "A blessing in disguise is a blessing in disguise. Maybe this will be a new beginning."

He Qiulin was still crying.

After hearing this, I didn't know whether to continue crying.

*

the next day.

Xu Yi selected a pair of candles and a pair of silver beads from the gifts given by the Bao family and gave them to the He family.

Mrs. He refused to accept it, so Xu Yi said: "There are a lot of places to spend money later, Mrs. He might as well accept it. These are all brought by the Bao family. I ran an errand, so I don't feel bad giving away the free things. Don't break up with me politely."

"I haven't thanked you yet, so I can't justify taking your things again." Mrs. He was confused, "Yesterday I was only taking care of Brother Qiu, and I forgot to get the medical fee for you. Xu Yi smiled and said, "

As for the five cents, Mrs. He can just take it after she remembers it."

Mrs. He's swollen eyes turned red, tears were rolling in her eyes, and she looked very haggard.

Xu Yi advised her to pay attention to her health.

Later, Xu Yi still left the gift from the Bao family at the He family and did not get it back.

He went to the medical clinic and grabbed the medicinal materials for making a muscle-promoting ointment. When he came back, he carried the medicine box and went out to Pang Mansion.

When Xu Yi arrived at Pang Mansion, Pang Boyi was just waking up from a comfortable sleep. Hearing Xu Yi's arrival, he immediately called him to the front hall.

He was having breakfast in the front hall. When he saw Xu Yi, he asked, "Doctor Xu, do you want to have breakfast together?"

Xu Yi looked at the table with clear and watery cabbage and bean porridge with beans. He shook his head hesitantly.

"Why don't you cook the chicken?" he asked.

Pang Game:?

Although I don't know why Xu Yi asked this, I think that it is not easy for the people in the countryside to eat a chicken, and they will only eat it when they are sick. If he didn't eat, it might be unusual in Xu Yi's opinion.

Pang Boyi said: "I ate yesterday, so I won't eat today."

Xu Yi said: "Chickens are divided into egg white and egg yolk. The egg white in it is helpful for your migraine, but you can only eat the egg white and not the egg yolk. Do not exceed two in a day."

Pang Boyi asked him: "Can this chicken be used to treat diseases?"

"In some miscellaneous diseases, there are folk remedies for treating colds by boiling chicken in wine, and grinding chicken shells into powder. "It's for treating rickets in children." Xu Yi looked at him and said, "Some of these prescriptions have unknown origins, and some are hearsay. They are true and false. Only patients who have used these remedies can come to a conclusion.

" Are there really so many people willing to be this experimental guinea pig?

Perhaps, if you set up a stall in the countryside and advertise it as a free clinic, many people who are sick and unwilling to pay for medical treatment will take notice.

Xu Yi has plans to go to the countryside for free medical treatment, but he has to wait a little longer.

Pang Boyi said with a strange expression: "Since it is just hearsay from others, then where did this 'miscellaneous disease theory' come from?"

Xu Yi said: "It is passed down from one person to another, and it is passed down from generation to generation. Over time, this kind of unpleasant theory has emerged. Reliable folk remedies. "

Of course, not all folk remedies are fake, there are still quite a few that are useful.

Pang Boyi raised his eyebrows: "What do you think?"

Xu Yi thought about it thoughtfully and simply summarized: "Practice brings out the truth."

Pang Gamei: "..." A good practice brings out the truth.

Therefore, he was the next person chosen by Xu Yi for practice.

After yesterday's acupuncture treatment and the combination of Sanbiao Decoction, Pang Game's headache was greatly improved.

When I felt better, I was in the mood to joke with Xu Yi.

This time he had his first experience with needle-burning. He opened his eyes and told Xu Yi about the "poison plan".

"Wen Ji has sent people to arrest the people selling poisonous prescriptions. The villagers who originally bought the prescriptions also collected the medicinal materials."

Xu Yi listened silently and suddenly asked: "Have you asked about other villages around? Pang Boyi also thought about this problem and said to him: "

I have asked Uncle Pang to tell Wenji that this man is cunning and will not sell prescriptions to villages. He may be from other villages. Let him use five miles as the scope." Conduct an investigation. "

As long as this person is still selling prescriptions, he has footprints, and if he has footprints, he can be caught.

Xu Yi was very satisfied to hear so much news in such a short period of time.

Lieutenant Pan acted faster than he thought.

This gave him a slightly better view of current official governance.

Xu Yi said: "Pan County Lieutenant is a good official for the people. He can distinguish right from wrong and has insight into the details, which makes people admire him."

Pang Boyi chuckled, moved his shoulders as if dissatisfied, and said, "There are good officials, but there are also treacherous ministers." "Little."

Xu Yi: "..." Is this something that can be discussed?

He blinked and didn't answer his words.

Pang Boyi only said this, and had no intention of continuing. He stood up, put on his clothes, and thanked Xu Yi with a smile.

This time, he reached out to check Xu Yi's pulse again and got good news.

His pulse condition was gentler than before, and Xu Yi changed the recipe for the medicinal soup he originally drank. In "Chuan Qiong", the dose is changed from ten qian to nine qian, and then four doses of medicinal decoction are taken to consolidate the effect, and then the medicine can be stopped.

Uncle Pang lamented: "In the past, when Da Lang suffered from head ailments, he would usually take medicine for thirty days before getting better. It was rare to see someone get better within a week and stop taking the medicine."

Xu Yi said, "If the remaining symptoms reoccur in the future, it is convenient to just take this medicine." "

Uncle Pang nodded: "Thank you, Doctor Xu. I have written down the prescription."

Pang Boyi looked at them talking, coughed twice to attract their attention, and asked slowly: "Last time, Doctor Xu asked me to move around more. , I wonder what kind of exercise is useful?"

Xu Yi didn't say directly, he just looked at him and said, "Pang Guan has cured his head disease. It's not too late to talk about fitness."

Pang Yi became more energetic: "So, Xu Yi said. How many days will the doctor visit again?"

Xu Yi smiled and said, "If Pang Guanren doesn't mind, I'll come again."

"Okay," he said with satisfaction, waving his sleeves. There is a joy like bathing in the spring breeze.

He knew that Xu Yi understood the meaning of his words.

The more he looked at this life, the more he liked it.