"To recognize one's mistakes and be able to correct them is a great virtue." Du recalled Zhao Xiu, not with resentment, but with a sense of relief. "He was originally a promising young man, but was forced by circumstances to take a wrong turn. Now he has the opportunity to return to the right path. I only hope he will not disappoint his teacher and the sage."
If the current emperor had not ruled the world with benevolence, no matter how hard Zhao Xiu tried to atone for his sins, he would never have been able to return to the imperial examinations.
Xu Jiang asked, "He harmed you, so you don't hate him?"
Du Hui shook his head and sighed, "I thought it was my destiny. And if I hadn't come to Fuzhou, how could I have awakened from the splendor of the capital and realized that there were so many uncivilized people in this barbaric land of the southwest?"
"I heard that you wrote a letter to the emperor requesting that you be transferred back to the capital after your three-year term in Fuzhou is over."
"It is indeed true. Now that we are here, we should make the best of it. The Academy and the counties have just finalized regulations for agriculture and water conservancy. If I leave, someone else will come and they will have to adopt a new set of governance methods. This back-and-forth will not only unsettle the government officials, but also make the people anxious. It would be better for me to stay and use these three years to solidify the established regulations and achieve some results. Even if a new person takes office, he will have to act according to the regulations and performance assessments. If he works according to the regulations, he will have a much easier time, and the people can live in peace."
Xu Jiang was filled with admiration for his character. "Sir, you always put the people first in everything you do. You deserve the title of a fatherly official. It is a blessing for the people of Fuzhou to have you."
"This is just fulfilling my duty." Du Hui thought that compared to when he was in the capital, his mood was more simple and open-minded. "I eat the emperor's salary and serve the emperor loyally. I am supported by the people and should work for their welfare. I hope to live a life with a clear conscience and live up to the teachings of the sages."
Lou Yunchun couldn't help but bow to him, "If all the civil and military officials in the court were like you, the world would be peaceful."
Du Hui looked at him and said, "He used to be like a piece of wood, but now he's become smart, saying nice things and flattering others." He then glanced at Xu Jiang and said, "Is it true that those who keep company with vermilion become red, or those who keep company with ink become black?"
Lou Yunchun continued seriously, "I have been taught by you gentlemen since I was young, so it is natural that those who are close to you will be more respected."
Xu Jiang couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud.
Du Hui glared at everyone, but he couldn't say anything back, otherwise he would be in trouble.
At this moment, Liu Mei, Shan Bo, and Wu Zhi came back one after another. When they saw Du Hui, they all hurriedly saluted.
Wu Zhi stepped forward and asked, "How has Lord Du been doing lately?"
"Thank goodness, he's doing well now." Du Hui saw her carrying a medicine box and Liu Mei bringing gauze and other things, and knew she was going to treat the injuries of the two troubled ones. He then instructed, "These two are our young men. Doctor Wu, please take good care of them."
Wu Zhi was much more polite to Du Hui than to the others. "Don't worry, sir. I will do my best." Then he turned to Lou Yunchun and said, "You go first."
Lou Yunchun glanced at Xu Jiang and said, "A Jiang, please step aside first."
Xu Jiang shook her head. "No, I'll just watch from here." Then she added, "You have to watch while I treat you."
Only by facing each other's wounds and feeling each other's pain can we cherish ourselves and each other in the future, stop taking risks with ourselves and each other, and stop worrying each other.
And don’t let your loved ones worry.
Du Hui also said, "Go ahead and treat him. I'll watch him too." Then he could tell Lou Jing about the situation and give him a good beating.
Lou Yunchun looked at Xu Jiang deeply and nodded in agreement, but still did not remove the screen.
Wu Zhi first used a flat-bladed knife to remove the scabs and dead skin from Lou Yunchun's shoulder scar. Then, he quickly cut open the wound with a scalpel to find the area of putrefaction. Then, he used a three-edged needle to pierce the wound, allowing the blood to flow out. After squeezing out the blood, he found that there was still blood and rot inside. He then took a moon-bladed knife and inserted it into the wound to remove the blood and rot.
In the room, apart from the sounds of Wu Zhi operating the surgery, Lou Yunchun's heavy breathing and occasional cries of pain, everyone held their breath and dared not make a sound.
Xu Jiang and Liu Mei were separated by a screen. Just by listening to the sound of their flesh being cut and stirred, and Lou Yunchun's painful groans, they broke out in a layer of cold sweat and Xu Jiang couldn't help shivering.
Liu Mei leaned close to her, let her lean on her, and held her hand.
In a short while, Liu Mei's clothes were soaked by Xu Jiang's sweat and tears, and her face was also wet.
On the other side of the screen, Shan Bo and Du Hui couldn't help but feel their waists and legs going weak when faced with such a scene.
Lou Yunchun's face was distorted with pain and sweat covered his forehead. Shan Bo wiped his sweat again and again until his eyes were filled with tears.
What a sin this is!
Du Hui was also worried. He felt so upset that he didn't know what to do. He kept stroking his beard and almost made it bald.
"It's done." After Wu Zhi confirmed that all the blood clots and rot had been removed, he used distilled water soaked in silver to clean the wound, and then sutured it with white mulberry bark that had been split into thin threads and softened with boiling water.
After the suture, they applied ointment and powder to promote tissue growth and stop bleeding, and finally brought out boiled and dried gauze and asked Shan Bo to help bandage it.
After bandaging the wound, Lou Yunchun felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and even his fingers were unable to move.
"Next is the legs." Seeing that he was halfway gone, Wu Zhi took out two medicine bottles from the medicine box, poured a pill from each, and asked Shan Bo to feed him.
"These are Heart Protection Pills and Xuanhu Pills. Taking them can save your life and relieve pain."
"Since you have the medicine, why don't you give it to him first?" Du Hui looked at Lou Yunchun who was in so much pain that he was almost dazed, and felt a little distressed.
After all, it's the child I watched grow up.
Wu Zhi said frankly, "I forgot. I didn't expect the injury to be more serious than I thought."
She is not a god, there will always be omissions.
Everyone was stunned and speechless.
Xu Jiang picked up the teapot and poured water into Lou Yunchun's cup. Her hands were shaking so badly that the water spilled all over the table.
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