These days, Ning Caijun's life in Huichuntang has become increasingly worse.
Throughout Yongning County, everyone from the elderly to children knew that Dr. Liu's nephew was a weirdo.
The three words "Ning Caijun" have also become a topic of conversation among people after dinner, and have truly become "well-known and famous."
——
A bedroom.
An old man in gorgeous clothes and with white hair was lying on the bed, surrounded by five or six relatives and family members.
"Doctor Liu, this is the fifth course of treatment, but why isn't my arm healed yet?" The old man asked Liu Baolong in front of him with some confusion, feeling puzzled.
Liu Baolong stroked his beard, grinning and revealing two rows of yellow teeth. "Master Wang, a broken bone takes a hundred days to heal. Your condition is even more serious than that. A cure will take at least a year. Now I can calm your disease, so at least it won't get worse. You just need to be patient and wait for your recovery."
This statement was impeccable, and it won the approval of Mr. Wang and his relatives. The old lady standing nearby took out the medical fee and handed it to Liu Baolong, saying kindly: "Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Liu!"
Liu Baolong accepted it with a smile, sat on a chair, took a pen and wrote a prescription: "I will prescribe three doses of medicine for Mr. Wang to strengthen the tendons and bones, and activate the blood circulation. Take it once every three days. I will send someone to deliver the herbs later. This is a gift and there is no extra charge."
Everyone hurriedly expressed their gratitude, and the atmosphere in the room became harmonious. Soon everyone started chatting with each other.
"Doctor Liu, I heard that your nephew often eats chicken without spitting out the bones. Is that true?" someone asked curiously.
Liu Baolong, who was writing a prescription, smiled slightly when he heard this, then shook his head. "My nephew is used to being poor and has never eaten any meat. His aunt is very worried about him, so she gives him chickens, ducks, and geese every day to nourish him. You know, how can someone from a poor village enjoy such things? Not to mention bones, even chicken toenails and beaks can be swallowed directly without spitting them out."
This statement caused laughter from the entire room, and everyone claimed that they had never seen such a strange person who ate chicken.
Another person said, "That's right, Dr. Liu, I heard you're teaching your nephew medical skills, but it seems like the progress isn't going very well!"
Liu Baolong calmly picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and continued writing the prescription on the paper. "This is also what frustrates me. I thought he was just a scholar, with a sharp mind and a quick learner, but he's as dumb as a donkey. He can't learn anything, and he can't eat anything. No wonder he failed the imperial examinations so many times."
"Divine Doctor Liu, I've heard from your servants that Ning Caijun, relying on his relationship with you and Ling Zheng, doesn't do any work and acts arrogantly, as if he's a young master. He's simply lazy and overbearing. Is this true?"
"But forget it. This matter is giving me a headache. My wife and I are both concerned about our relationship and are kindhearted. We don't want to make things too difficult for my nephew. After this year, let's wait until the beginning of next spring and send him back to the capital to take the imperial examinations!"
Liu Baolong sighed helplessly, then placed the written prescription on the table and stood up to pack his medicine box. "Perhaps my nephew heard the rumors in the city a few days ago, and in a fit of rage, he sneaked into the accounting office in the middle of the night to commit theft. He was discovered by the family guards. In the pitch-black silence, he couldn't see his face, so he was beaten severely. Finally, when we were about to report it to the police, we found out it was him. My wife and I discussed it and decided not to pursue the matter. After all, family disgrace should not be made public, especially when it comes to our own nephew."
Upon hearing this, everyone was surprised and said, "How could this person have such low character? Is he still our nephew? His own aunt and uncle treat him so well, yet he does such a shameful thing. He really doesn't know how to appreciate the blessings he has!"
Liu Longbao continued, "My nephew has another troubling problem. He doesn't like to bathe or clean himself. I never see him wash up, and he stinks. He's also wearing the same clothes and shoes he wore when he first came. My wife has bought him several new ones, but he refuses to change. It's like he's possessed."
After a few words, everyone was amazed. They didn't expect that the rumors about Ning Caijun were far more unbearable than those in the textile room.
As they were talking, one of them claimed he had something important to attend to. "Business at my restaurant has been booming lately, so I've invited a storyteller to entertain us. I'll take my leave now. Doctor Liu, please stop by my house and chat with the two elders before you leave. Lai Fu, make some tea!"
After saying that, the middle-aged man strode away, with a smile in his eyes that could not be hidden: Well, the storyteller has another interesting story to tell.
——
Dusk time, Yunlai Restaurant.
The two-story restaurant was packed with guests and bustling with people. Several waiters were busy running around carrying dishes around.
Someone shouted from here: Fruitwood roast duck is here!
A customer called out: "Waiter, why hasn't my wine come up yet?"
The waiter responded hurriedly: "Sir, please wait a moment, I'll be right there!"
The wine glasses made crisp sounds when they touched each other, and the chopsticks, bowls, and plates made short tapping sounds from time to time.
Looking up from the first floor, I saw a storyteller standing on the opening stage on the second floor. In front of him stood an octagonal table with a conspicuous "jingtang" board, a bowl of teacup, and a white fan on the table.
With a thud, the sound of a board hitting the table echoed throughout the restaurant. The surrounding noise dropped sharply, and the discussions became weaker and weaker, from dense to scattered. Finally, there was complete silence, with only a few whispers from time to time.
"Everyone, the story I want to tell you today is called: Why are you so soft-hearted and kind? You let the wolf into the house and it turns out to be a thief!"
The storyteller cleared his throat, picked up his folding fan, and unfolded it with a swish, then began to narrate: "There's a clinic in Yongning County called Huichuntang! The owner is the well-known Divine Doctor Liu and his wife, Mrs. Ning. It's said that a month ago, Mrs. Ning's nephew came from the countryside to find her..."
"This Ning Caijun came from a poor family and had no idea how to improve himself. He repeatedly failed the imperial examinations and relied on his relatives for support. He relied on his connections and acted arrogantly with a foolish mind. He was lazy, gluttonous, lustful, a thief, a liar, had no regard for personal appearance, and had a low moral character... Every bad deed you could think of in this world can be found in this book."
The diners pricked up their ears, listening intently to the storyteller's tale. When they heard the outrage, they all rolled up their sleeves, indignant: "Dr. Liu and Madam Ning are truly kind-hearted. They tolerate their nephew's absurd behavior and never abandon him. Having such relatives is the envy of others, but this scholar has wasted such a blessing!"
"That's right, that's right!"
Everyone nodded, looked around, and while toasting each other, they did not forget to curse the ungrateful Ning Caijun.
At this moment, a man wearing the uniform of a Huichuntang security guard walked into the restaurant and told the owner that he wanted to buy some good wine and food to take back, claiming that these were specially prepared by the owner for his nephew.
"Hey! Look everyone, isn't that Guardian Zhao from Huichun Hall?"
As soon as the words came out, everyone looked at him.
Someone on the second floor shouted, "Guardian Zhao, what are you going to do with all this delicious food?"
Zhao Liu raised his head and said with a smile, "Of course it's for the master's nephew to replenish his body."
Someone else asked, "Why don't you chase away this ungrateful bastard like you?"
"That's right, this Divine Doctor Liu is really too kind!" Several people shouted loudly, their mouths full of praise for Liu Baolong.
Guardian Zhao picked up the packed dishes and said before leaving, "He is my nephew after all. The master is kind and dotes on him!"
Soon, everyone in the restaurant was eating and drinking while criticizing and cursing Ning Caijun, but at the same time they did not forget to praise the benevolence of Huichuntang and the reputation of Doctor Liu and Madam Ning.
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