A chorus of curses erupted in the teahouse.
"These rich young masters, indulging in romance all day long, have actually done such absurd things."
"That's right, they probably thought they were acting in some kind of storybook. But this kind of disease can't be hidden... Sigh... In the end, it's both pitiful and hateful. Not a tenth of that family survived, and their family fortunes have completely collapsed!"
“I heard it from my sister too! Apparently, that woman was rather frail; she had a high fever for two days but kept it a secret for two days, and on the third day she was seriously ill. That young master Zheng…”
"What happened to him?! Tell us quickly!" the crowd urged impatiently.
"Living is worse than dying! His face is completely swollen and blackened, he's crippled, and his hands and feet are necrotic. Now he probably can't even commit suicide!"
Looking back now, Ah Mian feels that the handsome young master Zheng she saw that day was like a ghost with a painted mask.
Now, who still remembers that a woman, in unbearable pain, jumped into the icy lake on a moonlit night?
That was the first life he devoured.
After listening to the storyteller for a while, she strolled off to her old-fashioned little pharmacy.
Mo Man was not seen inside.
A-Mian was a little disappointed, so she started practicing a piece of martial arts she had learned before, "Eight Pieces of Brocade".
"Are you waiting here for Doctor Mo?" A cool male voice came from the corner.
She turned her head and saw Wen Qiao, who looked exhausted.
Amian quickly said, "Dr. Wen, thank you so much! We all know that your family donated a lot of medicine when the epidemic broke out in the city."
Wen Qiao smiled. "It was just a small contribution... well, it means I did my best. Your expression is so easy to understand. You must have realized that Doctor Mo won't be coming back. She... is different from us; she was born to achieve great things."
If his legs were healthy, I would follow him to the death, for there lies everything a healer has sought his entire life.
As an outsider, Ah Mian had little understanding of the intricacies involved and was quite regretful: "But I haven't finished learning 'martial arts' yet. The storyteller talked about those great heroes of the martial arts world..."
Wen Qiao couldn't understand what she was trying to say, so she simply said what she wanted to say: "She once told me that my leg could actually be cured, requiring surgery and rehabilitation, but there were no conditions available at the moment. If I had surgery rashly, I might not even be able to save my life. Originally, I was still considering it, but then this happened."
"Then... then she'll never come back? This is her home!"
Wen Qiao smiled wryly: "You probably don't know. She made great contributions in the fight against the epidemic, and even the current emperor summoned her to the palace, saying he wanted to see her." His family only found out by using their ancestral connections and asking around.
These important figures were far removed from A-Mian's life, and she listened to them with a dazed expression, as if she were listening to a storyteller.
"In my years of medical practice, I have often been lost in ancient books, sometimes feeling as if I am groping in the dark, but I can never find the answer."
"Or you could practice 'martial arts.' Aren't there always stories like that, where a great hero falls off a cliff, finds a secret manual, and after practicing for a while..."
Wen Qiao casually picked up a feather duster from the side and began to dust off the non-existent dust.
He was too lazy to explain his delicate and profound spiritual insights to this person!
Amian was equally confused, and ran away after exclaiming "Oh dear!" a few times.
After she left, Wen Qiao put down the feather duster, but scenes from the past gradually surfaced before her eyes.
From hearing that someone was impersonating a doctor and spreading rumors in the city, to later providing free medical consultations and exposing "witchcraft," and then going to the epidemic area without hesitation.
If his leg hadn't been injured.
Wen Qiao's gaze fell on her knees, and she suddenly smiled bitterly.
Even if nothing had happened, he would never have been able to keep her.
He gazed at the small courtyard, plum blossoms gently falling onto his shoulder from the branches.
A skilled warrior achieves victory without making a great feat.
In the future, it may be difficult to even find out any news about her.
*
After Song Liu Sao Fish Soup reopened, business was not as good as before.
Wangwang recovered from her illness. She was sent to an "isolation point" as soon as she fell ill, and because she was young, she didn't suffer any other aftereffects, but she still has a limp in her left leg and walks with a limp.
It doesn't affect her killing fish.
However, customers dared not come to eat at the shop as soon as they knew that someone in the shop had contracted the plague.
Amian was dumbfounded. Wangwang was not released immediately after recovering from her illness. She was observed by the doctor for another seven days to make sure that she would not infect others with the disease before she was released.
"If I go out and sell my wares, people will definitely come."
Seeing the gloomy atmosphere in the shop, she volunteered to go out and attract customers: "Sister-in-law Song's fish soup, delicious fish soup! Even high-ranking officials have praised it highly!"
However, customers still took the detour.
Finally, on the fifth day, Wangwang went to Song Dongjia and told him that he was quitting.
After a long silence, Song Dongjia sighed and took an extra month's salary from Wangwang.
After Wangwang left, Amian was called to the kitchen.
"Ah Mian, you've been here for a while now. We're short-staffed in the shop, so I thought it was time to teach you how to make fish soup." Master Song had heard too much bad news during this period, and he didn't share his hardships with outsiders.
However, as long as the shop is open, the owner must act like an owner and take good care of and settle the employees.
Ah Mian washed her hands, leaned in close to watch, and began to imitate the movements carefully.
"As you know, our fish soup only uses mandarin fish. The ingredients are these three: ham, shiitake mushrooms, and shredded bamboo shoots. One important thing to note is after steaming the fish..."
Mr. Song patiently taught her, "The broth is also our family's secret. It needs to be simmered for more than four hours with a hen, ham hock, and pork bones. When cooking it, you must never bring it to a boil over high heat. You can only simmer it slowly over low heat, just enough to make the soup simmer gently..."
"Seasoning is of utmost importance. A little salt, a touch of sugar, and finally, before taking it off the heat," Song Dongjia looked around, "be sure to drizzle this Sichuan peppercorn powder on top and pour a little Zhejiang vinegar along the edge of the bowl. This way, you won't ruin the taste, and the sourness will enhance the freshness and cut through the greasiness."
As Ah Mian was pondering exactly how much "a little" of the seasonings meant, she suddenly noticed several water droplets on the cutting board.
"Actually, when Wangwang took the initiative to say she wanted to leave, I felt... relieved. I know I shouldn't think like that... What will happen to Wangwang in the future? She's limping, how can we find her a good marriage? Amian..."
Song Dongjia hugged her, tears streaming down his face.
That day, the fish soup at Sister-in-law Song's house seemed unusually salty.
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