Chapter 23 Husband and Wife
Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang both got up early.
Xiao Liulang went to the village entrance to fetch water.
Gu Jiao first went to the small house to check on the old lady's condition. The red spots on her face had faded to the point of being almost invisible, and the skin damage on the back of her hands had also basically disappeared.
Although it's still too early to be completely cured, her infectivity has been stopped.
Gu Jiao stroked her chin with satisfaction, then turned and went to the kitchen to brew medicine for her.
Looking at the bitter medicine placed in front of her, the old lady rolled her eyes in disgust.
To help her take her medicine more easily, Gu Jiao asked Xiao Liulang to bring some candied fruit from town. The old lady loved candied fruit, but since she wasn't taking her medicine, she couldn't have any.
Gu Jiao placed a bowl of medicine and a small dish of candied fruit on the table at the same time.
"So few! Only three!" The old lady was seriously dissatisfied with the number of candied fruits.
"Candied fruit is expensive, so it's fine if you don't want it," Gu Jiao said, reaching out to grab the plate of candied fruit.
The old lady glared resentfully at Gu Jiao, snatched the candied fruit into her arms, and drank the bowl of medicine with a bitter expression.
Because Xiao Liulang is going to the clinic for treatment today, Gu Jiao has to go too, but she can't leave the old lady alone at home.
Gu Jiao had considered bringing the old lady along, but there were still checkpoints along the pipeline. If the officials recognized the old lady, all their efforts would be in vain.
Although she wasn't sure if the old woman was the leprosy patient they were arresting, it was always better to be safe than sorry.
After much deliberation, Gu Jiao called Gu Xiaoshun over.
"Sister! You finally let me in!" Gu Xiaoshun said excitedly.
Gu Jiao said, "I'm going to town with your brother-in-law today. You stay home and help me look after the old lady. Her illness is beyond saving, and I've disinfected the house."
Gu Xiaoshun didn't understand what disinfection meant, nor did he ask his sister how she knew the disease was already incurable. He agreed without any hesitation: "Okay! Don't worry, Sis! I'll keep an eye on her!"
"I've kept her lunch warm in the pot, just bring her a portion over," Gu Jiao continued to instruct.
Gu Xiaoshun patted his chest and said, "Sister, you can rest assured about my work!"
Thinking of something, Gu Jiao instructed, "If anyone asks, just say you are your brother-in-law's relative and have come to seek refuge with him."
Gu Xiaoshun obediently replied, "Okay!"
No sooner had Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang left than the gang of thugs who had been following Gu Xiaoshun came knocking on their door.
"Boss! I've finally seen you! I heard you went to school, and now you're pulling those Da Shun tricks again! Let's go! Let's do a couple of heists!"
"Get out! I have important business to attend to!" Gu Xiaoshun shooed the man away without a second thought.
Although he was itching to get his hands dirty after holding it in for so long, he had to do what his sister had asked him to do.
When Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang arrived at Huichuntang, Feng Lin had already been lingering at the entrance for quite some time. The time they had originally agreed upon with Huichuntang was 9:00 AM, but he was worried that too many people would come to see Doctor Zhang, so he arrived at 7:00 AM.
But after waiting there for almost half an hour, there was still no sign of people joining the queue.
Just as he was wondering, he saw Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao.
His face instantly darkened: "Why are you here?"
Gu Jiao smiled faintly and said, "I'm just taking a stroll."
Feng Lin was puzzled. Wasn't this wicked woman supposed to have taken a liking to someone else? Why has she been pestering Brother Xiao so much lately? She even followed him to his medical treatment!
Brother Xiao, really! Why bring trouble upon yourself when it's such an important matter as treating an illness? What if you mess it up?
Feng Lin said coldly, "I'm warning you, once we're inside the clinic, you're not allowed to say anything out of line or touch anything. Don't cause trouble for Brother Xiao and delay his leg treatment!"
"Oh," Gu Jiao replied, without any impatience or temper.
Xiao Liulang frowned, glanced at Feng Lin, and went inside, leaning on his cane.
They were received by Manager Wang.
Manager Wang had been waiting for a long time. He greeted them with a smile, glancing at Gu Jiao without making her notice, and then said to Feng Lin with a smile, "Young Master Feng has arrived. This must be Young Master Xiao, your friend. I am Manager Wang of Huichuntang."
Xiao Liulang nodded slightly.
Shopkeeper Wang was secretly amazed. This young master Xiao was far too handsome. Despite wearing shabby clothes, he was more refined and noble than any other young master he had ever seen.
"This is..." Manager Wang looked at Gu Jiao, as if he didn't recognize her at all.
Xiao Liulang paused for a moment: "My wife is Gu Shi."
Gu Jiao: My wife, Madam Gu, um, that's a very nice way to address her.
Shopkeeper Wang cupped his hands and smiled, "So you are Madam Xiao. My apologies for not recognizing you."
Gu Jiao: It doesn't sound so nice when you call out like that.
"Manager Wang, has Dr. Zhang really arrived? Why is there not a single patient in line here?" Feng Lin asked.
"Sigh, isn't it because Dr. Zhang's injuries haven't healed yet and he can't see a large number of patients? I didn't spread the word, I only informed a few patients who were really anxious. You were the only one this morning, the rest are in the afternoon!" Manager Wang knew that Feng Lin would ask questions, so he had already prepared his words in advance.
"I see." Feng Lin had no doubts.
Shopkeeper Wang smiled and said, "Young Master Feng, please rest in the lobby for a while. I will take Young Master Xiao inside to see Doctor Zhang."
"Can't I go in?" Feng Lin asked.
Shopkeeper Wang laughed and said, "That's probably against the rules."
Feng Lin thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright then, I'll entrust Brother Xiao to you. Manager Wang, you must make sure Doctor Zhang cures him!"
Shopkeeper Wang smiled broadly: "We will do our best."
After Xiao Liulang and Manager Wang entered the back room, Gu Jiao also stood up.
"What are you going to do?" Feng Lin asked warily.
"To the toilet," Gu Jiao said.
Feng Lin blushed deeply: "Go early and come back early, don't wander off!"
Gu Jiao carried her small basket to the back yard.
When she entered the room, Xiao Liulang was already asleep in a rattan chair.
Manager Wang and the second boss were both present.
"Miss Gu." The second master bowed slightly.
Gu Jiao's gaze swept over the incense burner on the table, landing on Xiao Liulang's sleeping handsome face, and she asked, "Is this incense alright?"
The second owner said amiably, "It's just calming incense, homemade by Huichuntang. It won't harm the body. Miss Gu, would you like to treat him now?"
"Hmm." Gu Jiao walked over and placed the small basket on the table. Inside was her medicine box, but she didn't intend to take it out in front of them.
The second boss really wanted to ask Gu Jiao, since Young Master Xiao was her husband, why didn't she just tell him directly? Or were they not really husband and wife?
However, the second boss was a smart man. When doing business, one must have more ears and less mouth.
Never ask what you shouldn't ask.
Jiaojiao: I'm surrounded by smart people!
Xiao Shun: That's right!
Jiaojiao: Um, let me correct something...
Xiao Shun: ←_←
(End of this chapter)
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