Chapter 268 Chapter 268 He Gusheng
Xu Yunfan vowed, "Of course. I'll have negotiated with the owner by then, and maybe I can even take you over for a tour. What do you think? Do you want to cooperate? This is a great opportunity. I have a special relationship with the owner of the book factory. If I ask, he might give me some face and definitely take our order seriously. This is a great opportunity. If you miss this opportunity, you'll never get it again."
Since Xu Yunfan said so, Zheng Ke had no choice but to let Xu Yunfan take charge of this matter, and he would be responsible for the study building. The two of them would divide the work and cooperate closely, so maybe it could be done in a few years?
By then, completing this task successfully will be a great achievement, and it will be a political achievement.
Zheng Ke immediately agreed. "Okay, whatever you decide on how to build the library, I'll publicize it and discuss it with the deans of the various academies. You'll be in charge of the books. This is a good thing that benefits both the people and ourselves. Let's work hard together. Don't employ people you doubt, and trust those you employ. I trust you."
It was not until later that Zheng Ke discovered that Xu Yunfan, who had gained both fame and fortune, was really a shrewd thief. He had earned a large sum of money from the Dayan Dynasty in a fair and honest manner. He had to smile when the emperor allocated funds to him, while he himself made a fortune.
Xu Yunfan happily saw Zheng Ke off. Thinking about how he could make a fortune and achieve financial freedom in the future just by owning a book factory, Xu Yunfan couldn't help but smile with his hands on his hips and his head tilted back.
Fang Zixi, who was boiling water for tea in the kitchen, poked her head out and took a look, "Yunfan, what are you laughing at?" She looked like a madman, which was creepy.
"Brother Fang, we're going to make a fortune, so we have to have a good meal tonight to celebrate."
"What?" Fang Zixi chuckled and didn't ask any more questions. She had just finished chatting with Zheng Ke. How could he get rich? He must have been daydreaming, or maybe he just wanted to eat something but was too embarrassed to do so, so he made an excuse, "What do you want to eat? I'll buy it later."
Xu Yunfan walked to the kitchen door and listed a few dishes. "Is it too much trouble? I'm worried that you'll be tired, Brother Fang. How about we just keep it simple?"
Fang Zixi said with a smile, "Stop being so sweet, kid. Just wait, I'll go out and buy some food. I'll prepare the ingredients and let Runge'er cook tonight. I'll also invite your in-laws and your second uncle to come over for dinner."
"That's great, Brother Fang, why don't you call Uncle Fang and the others over too? We can have a meal together. We'll be going back to the village the day after tomorrow."
On the morning before returning to the village, the Qin family, the Fang family, and even Qin Qingfeng and the others came.
Fu Qingxu took turns holding Qin Mu, Qin An, and Xiaobao, feeling very reluctant to let them go. "Why don't you stay in the capital? It's too tiring to travel back and forth. Your father feels bad for you."
Xiaobao was surrounded by Fang's father and mother, and none of them seemed to want to let him go. However, Fang Zixi showed little sadness. She smiled and took Xiaobao from Fang's mother's hands, kissed him twice, and instructed him, "When you return to the village, listen to your father Qin and the others. Don't act naughty. Be a good boy, okay?"
"I know, Daddy, Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, you don't have to worry. Xiaobao is already a little man and sensible. You just wait at home. When Xiaobao comes back, I will bring you some delicious food."
"Okay, Daddy will be waiting for you in the capital." Fang Zixi put Xiaobao on the carriage and said to Qin Run embarrassedly, "Brother Run, I'm sorry to bother you with Xiaobao."
"No, Xiaobao is very obedient. Brother Fang, there's no need to be so formal." Qin Run picked up the soft and milky Xiaobao, wishing he could hold him tightly in his arms.
Qingling County.
"Sir, come on, Master Xu is back, let's go out to greet him." The county magistrate got the news of Xu Yunfan's return to the village earlier. He got the news before he even arrived in Qingling County.
County Magistrate Zhou was still busy with the work at hand, a little confused as he was trying to do two things at once. "Who did you say is back? The teacher?" Which teacher would be so arrogant that a county magistrate like him had to go and greet him in person?
"It's Master Xu!" Worried that his words were too general and vague, the county magistrate added more details: "It's Master Xu Yunfan from Qingfeng Academy who has returned."
County Magistrate Zhou was startled and stood up suddenly, "What are you waiting for? Go quickly!"
County Magistrate Zhou was so excited that he walked out first. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned around and said to the people following closely behind him, "Hurry up and tell the others to get ready. This is the Wenquxing of Qingling County. We have to get it done. Go quickly."
Before reaching Qingling County, Xu Yunfan lifted the curtain of his carriage and saw from afar that there seemed to be a lot of people standing at the county gate. "Run'er, look, aren't there a lot of people up ahead?"
Qin Run looked over and was shocked. "Yes, I think I saw County Magistrate Zhou."
As the carriage moved forward, Xu Yunfan discovered that the plaques held by the officials following County Magistrate Zhou were hung with red ribbons, and even County Magistrate Zhou was holding a big red flower in his hand.
Seeing the eye-catching big red flower, Xu Yunfan's mouth twitched and he grabbed Qin Run, "Are they trying to mess with me?"
"No, Yunfan, this is how it is here. After all, you are the top scholar, so naturally we have to celebrate with a parade."
Xu Yunfan's mouth twitched a few times, "But I don't really want to."
Qin Run laughed, "You are not happy about what others are eager for."
"It's other people's business whether they are happy or not. I'm not very happy about it anyway. Riding a horse for half a day is actually a bit tiring." Xu Yunfan had a depressed look on his face until the carriage approached. He got off the carriage with a look of despair and exchanged a few polite words with County Magistrate Zhou.
County Magistrate Zhou patted Xu Yunfan on the shoulder, feeling so relieved. Even though this kid usually went to see him for no good reason, since he had won first place in the teacher competition, all the previous problems were no longer a problem. "Here, this is the red flower I prepared for you long ago. Oh, our top-ranked teacher looks so handsome today."
The masters beside him echoed, "Of course not. Our Master Xu is the God of Literature who has descended to earth. He is not comparable to ordinary people."
County Magistrate Zhou personally put the big red flower on Xu Yunfan, and arranged for others to find a place to settle the Qin family army that escorted Xu Yunfan back to his hometown. Anyway, Xu Yunfan would definitely not be able to go back today, so he had to wander around the streets for half a day first.
Looking at the crowds of people gathered at the city gate, and then looking at the people invited by County Magistrate Zhou, beating drums and gongs, it is estimated that they have already announced that he had ranked first in the exam.
Xu Yunfan wiped his face with a look of despair, and at the urging of County Magistrate Zhou, who was smiling so much that his eyebrows were not visible, he climbed onto the horse and said, "Uncle Zhou, you have to settle my husband and children. I leave them to you."
"Don't worry, kid, how can I neglect them?" County Magistrate Zhou said happily, thinking to himself that Xu Yunfan must be tired after returning from the capital. If he refused, he would not be able to do anything to him. After all, this guy had long been in the emperor's eyes and could not be easily offended.
County Magistrate Zhou was clear-minded. He knew that no matter how reluctant Xu Yunfan was, he would not refuse him since he had asked. Firstly, he was Qi Xiu Ze's uncle, and secondly, Xu Yunfan was a man who knew how to repay his gratitude.
Xu Yunfan is indeed a grateful person. In the village, he was able to buy a mountain and have everything go smoothly just by relying on his identity as a teacher. This was inseparable from the convenience given to him by this group of people in private.
When the others heard Xu Yunfan call him "Uncle Zhou", their eyes changed when they looked at County Magistrate Zhou.
The people gathered here today are not only from Qingling County, but also some people from the neighboring county. As for why they came, everyone knew it well. Xu Yunfan's call of "Uncle Zhou" was a great honor to County Magistrate Zhou.
Look, County Magistrate Zhou is holding his head high and chest out, looking like a villain who has gained power.
As soon as he got on the horse, Xu Yunfan's bitter face changed and he put on a business-like smile. As soon as he entered the city, he began to interact with the people on both sides of the street by clasping his fists from time to time.
Everything was going smoothly. When Xu Yunfan reached the end of the street, his smiling face almost froze. For some reason, a few curses suddenly came from the crowd on the right. Xu Yunfan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man with disheveled hair and patched gray clothes. He looked very gray and was not much different from a beggar. The only difference was that he was holding a child in his arms.
When the officers in front saw the man suddenly appear and kneel in front of them, they couldn't help but scold him and told them to make way quickly so as not to delay the parade of their "number one scholar".
Unexpectedly, the man kowtowed to Xu Yunfan and said, "Doctor Xu, please save my son's life, please..."
Just as the officer was about to open his mouth to scold and drive him away again, Xu Yunfan, who had already dismounted, raised his hand and the officer immediately shut up.
Xu Yunfan walked forward a few steps and knelt on one knee. "What happened to your son? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Not everyone can win Xu Yunfan's kindness. If it were someone else, Xu Yunfan might not pay attention, but when Xu Yunfan saw this person, he felt uncomfortable.
Even though he only took a quick glance, Xu Yunfan could still clearly see the man's thin face and weathered expression. The despair in his eyes gave way to a glimmer of hope when he looked into his eyes.
It was this glimmer of hope that made the man decide to take a risk and stop the "number one scholar" who was still parading in the streets.
He knew that if he displeased the "number one scholar", he would have plenty of ways to make him regret his actions.
But just as he pushed through the crowd and forced his way out, causing dissatisfaction, he saw Doctor Xu riding on his horse looking at him again.
The other person's eyes were so clear, and he didn't feel unhappy about it. It was those clear eyes that seemed to give him the courage to give it a try.
Xu Yunfan thought that this was a father worthy of admiration. He was just like Lin Erhu, an ordinary man, but a hero in his son's eyes.
He Gusheng took a breath, calmed down, glanced at the people watching on both sides, and then lifted the child's pants to let Xu Yunfan see, "Doctor Xu, take a look."
Xu Yunfan didn't look at it immediately, but waved a yamen runner over and said, "Be my witness. This elder brother asked me to watch it, not that I want to molest his child."
He Gusheng was anxious and at a loss. "Doctor Xu, please don't misunderstand me. I really didn't mean to plot against you. I just don't know what to say. They all say my son is possessed by a ghost."
Yes, he really didn't know how to explain the child's condition. After all, the doctor couldn't tell what the problem was. But He Gusheng didn't believe in the theory of ghost possession, and it was difficult for him to bring it up.
Just because the child had a tail, relatives and neighbors said that his child was a monster and an ominous person, and asked him to drown or abandon the child. Even the child's mother was afraid of the child. She tried to drown and strangle the child several times when he was not around, blaming him and saying that it was because of him that she suffered criticism from others.
He Gusheng was a scholar after all, and he thought that the idea of ghosts was pure absurdity. His child was so cute, and how could a child who called him "grandma" be a ghost?
Moreover, there was something on the child's butt when he was born, and it only grew to the length of his index finger later, which means that the tail did not grow after he grew up, but was there in his mother's womb.
If his son is a little ghost, then wouldn't his mother be a big ghost?
He Gusheng had read so many books that he knew people had six fingers and even had pieces of flesh missing from their lips. How could his son just have an extra tail be considered something that was against the will of heaven? Even his mother couldn't tolerate him.
This child is so pitiful. If he is abandoned and regarded as an ominous thing, this child will really have no way out.
He Gusheng was reluctant to leave. He had studied for ten years, not only to bring honor to his family, but also to broaden his horizons and learn more about things.
Everyone around him was advising He Gusheng to abandon the child, and some even looked at his child with strange eyes and avoided him like the plague.
But he knew that no child can choose his or her birth, so no matter whether their arrival is expected or anticipated by their parents, since they have given birth to the child, as parents they should treat the child well.
He Gusheng thought that others would treat him like a worn-out shoe, but as a father, he would treat him like a treasure and would not let him down by coming into this world.
Once, when He Gusheng found out that his wife was going to kill the child, he slapped her in anger. His wife had some background, and neither she nor the child's family could tolerate a child who was regarded as a monster.
Under the pressure of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, He Gusheng divorced his wife. He knew that the Yue family was a powerful family in the provincial capital, and they would never let him go if they divorced him. He had no choice but to make preparations in advance and sold 80% of the family property. The remaining 20% was just a few mountains. He took all the silver and land deeds with him, took his parents and children out of the provincial capital and returned to his hometown. After settling his parents, he began to look for doctors with his children. After several years of living beyond his means, he had spent all his money.
In the past few years, he sold 80% of his property and took his child from south to north, sleeping in the open and not having enough food, just to let his child grow up to be a normal person. Unfortunately, after seeing so many doctors, no one could tell what was wrong with the child.
It’s not that He Gusheng hasn’t thought about going to the capital, but most of the highly skilled doctors in the capital have been recruited by upper-class families. How can a person from the lower class like him meet them? He doesn’t even have a way to connect with them, let alone ask anyone for help.
Until he arrived in Yiping Prefecture, people in the county town were saying that Doctor Meng from Qingling County was a great doctor. When they learned that he had brought his son to seek medical treatment, they suggested that he come to Qingling County for a check-up.
On the way here, He Gusheng also met a team of imperial doctors who came to the countryside to treat worm disease for the children in the village for free. The villagers brought their children to line up.
Those imperial doctors were very nice and would even check for other problems for the child. He Gusheng went there with his son in his arms, feeling terrified.
It was not until his turn that He Gusheng knelt down, which attracted the attention of several imperial doctors. After learning about his son's condition, they discussed it for a long time and finally shook their heads to apologize to him.
"He Gusheng, your son has no other health problems except for being weak, too thin, and having this extra thing. We can't give you any guarantees about the child."
"Yes, if you ask us to perform a resection on the child, no one can guarantee... He's not an adult, and some children can't withstand the same amount of stress as adults. This matter is actually no different from a gamble."
Win and everyone is happy.
If he loses, He Gusheng will lose everything.
"Or, you can take the child to Qingling County." One of the imperial doctors suddenly spoke.
"Please, doctor, give me some advice." He Gusheng immediately begged. He didn't have the courage to gamble. He couldn't afford it. In this matter, he was a coward. He was too afraid of losing.
He could sell his property, endure the hardships and cold, and bear the strange looks and scolding of others, but he could not gamble with his child's life. As long as there was still hope, he would not give up no matter what.
Finally, the imperial physician asked him to come to Qingling County, saying that there was a doctor in Qingling County who had read books on some difficult and complicated diseases and might be able to see the child's problem.
What a coincidence, Doctor Meng was in Qingling County. This doctor recommended by even the imperial physician was also in Qingling County. He Gusheng rushed to Qingling County overnight that day.
On the way, he met a kind-hearted student. When the student learned that he was going to Qingling County to seek medical treatment, he let him ride on the ox cart without any disgust.
The two chatted a lot on the way. When he learned that he was looking for a certain Doctor Xu, the student actually asked him, "The Doctor Xu you are talking about, is he the Master Xu who works at Qingfeng Academy?"
"Yes, little brother, do you know him?" He Gusheng remembered that the imperial physician who asked him to come to Qingling County to look for someone was afraid that he didn't know who Doctor Xu was, so he specifically told him that Doctor Xu was not actually a doctor, but a teacher at Qingfeng Academy.
He Gusheng was shocked for a long time at that time. After thinking about it, he still came.
Xu Zhifeng smiled immediately, his eyes falling on the child in He Gusheng's arms who was looking timidly at himself. Even the imperial physician couldn't see the problem with the child. Xu Zhifeng didn't dare to make promises casually, "Don't look at Master Xu as a doctor, he is indeed somewhat capable. However, I can't guarantee that he will find a way to deal with your child's problem. After all, to be an imperial physician, he must be quite capable. But since you are here, it's not a waste of time to go see Master Xu. The Master Xu you mentioned once cured my muteness."
After hearing what Xu Zhifeng said, He Gusheng became more determined to ask Doctor Xu to check on his child, but Xu Zhifeng told him that Doctor Xu had gone to the capital and it was unknown when he would be back.
He was given hope and then dealt a heavy blow. He Gusheng almost fainted.
Later, he went to see Doctor Meng, and sure enough, Doctor Meng could not see the problem with the child. He Gusheng had no choice but to take the child and beg in Qingling County for a few days. When he was hesitating whether to go to the capital, he accidentally heard that Doctor Xu was coming back.
He Gusheng knew that Doctor Xu was no longer the same person he used to be. He was the one who had won the first place in the Master's Competition. How could he meet him whenever he wanted? If he couldn't get Doctor Xu to take action today, he would have no chance in the future. That was why he knelt today.
After learning the reason of the incident, Xu Yunfan glanced at He Gusheng and thought to himself, father's love is indeed like a mountain, silent but louder than words.
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