After staying in the mountain village for another three days, Ye Moxun gave Ma Shaohua acupuncture nine times, which was three times a day. During this time, he also left behind a prescription.
By the way, Ma Shaohua is literate. Although he almost died from his illness, and it was very difficult for Aunt Ma to raise him, she was an ambitious and indomitable person. She always believed that her son would get better one day.
Although he is physically weaker than the average person and cannot do farm work or any other heavy labor, he can still read and write. After he recovers, he can go to the city to work as an accountant, or at the very least, he can make a living by writing letters and couplets for others.
Even if life is tough, at least I have a skill to rely on, so I won't starve.
Ma Shaohua's studies were also fraught with difficulties, as no one was willing to teach him because he couldn't afford the tuition.
Well, actually, there's only one village chief in the village who knows a few words, and an old scholar who's an outsider. He came here ten years ago as a refugee and makes a living by helping people write letters and teaching them to read.
Therefore, if you can't afford to pay the tuition, the old scholar won't teach your child to read. Aunt Ma gritted her teeth and went to beg her brothers from her own family. She managed to give the old scholar a pheasant and a pound of wild boar meat.
In short, every step was difficult. Fortunately, she had the help of her three brothers from her maternal family. Otherwise, how could Ma Shaohua have had the opportunity to study and learn to read?
Now, Ma Shaohua was very talented in reading. He wasn't the diligent type, but the genius type. Although he couldn't compare to Ye Moxun's photographic memory, he could remember a book after reading it three or four times. Moreover, he was quite good at writing essays and poems. It was just a pity that in this chaotic world, he didn't have the opportunity to take the exam.
Of course, even if scientific expeditions resume, given his physical condition, he would collapse within half a day, and he probably wouldn't even be able to last through the first test.
At this moment, Ye Moxun and Song Tantan had no idea that the sickly young man in front of them was very talented, and that a few years later he would become the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination.
Of course, even if they knew, they wouldn't care too much. They saved him not because of his talent, but because his experience was similar to Ye Moxun's. Naturally, it was more due to fate, and Ma Shaohua was lucky to meet the two of them.
Ye Moxun acted out of momentary soft-heartedness, while Song Tantan felt that if you're going to save someone, you should go all the way. You can't just save someone halfway and then leave them to die. Besides, it's not that difficult to treat. A-Xun can definitely save him with his help, so let's save him.
"I've written down the daily dosage on this prescription, and I've also written down in detail how to combine the herbs. Just follow the instructions on it. This medicine should last at least a year. After six months, reduce the dosage by half. After that, you should consult another doctor, and the dosage will be reduced accordingly."
Ye Moxun handed the prescription to Ma Shaohua and then fell silent.
"Take these three rabbits and one pheasant with you on your journey. Shao Hua and I have received such a great favor from you, yet we have nothing to repay you with. It's truly..."
Aunt Ma couldn't help but shed tears. The important person was leaving, and she was truly reluctant to part with him.
"Really, there's no need. Aunt Ma, you and your son can keep these little things for yourselves. We have money, so we won't have to worry about food and drink on the road. Don't be so polite with us." Song Tantan was helpless; this back-and-forth was really exhausting.
"There's still half a basket of mushrooms left, enough to last a long time. You should take the meat with you." Aunt Ma was anxious; she couldn't let them leave empty-handed.
"No, these rabbits and pheasants have lost a lot of weight. They're not fat anymore. I don't like them so thin. Goodbye, until we meet again."
Song Tantan pushed him away with a look of disgust, and then she and Ye Moxun quickly mounted their horses and disappeared on the path leading away from the mountain village.
"My benefactor, come visit us again sometime! Where are you headed?" They had completely forgotten to ask that question. How stupid of them! Aunt Ma and her son were heartbroken and helped each other chase after the horse for a long time until they could no longer hear the sound of hooves.
The mother and son knelt down and kowtowed in the direction the two had gone, saying, "Thank you for saving us, our benefactors."
After the mother and son returned home, they found five taels of silver on the stove. Knowing that it must have been left by Miss Song, the mother and son were once again filled with gratitude.
"Son, we must keep this prescription safe. Young Master Ye taught you to identify herbs. Once those herbs are dried, sort them and prepare them properly. We'll pack them up one by one. This prescription must not be leaked. What if those with bad intentions steal it and sell it? We can't let anyone know that we have this prescription."
"Don't tell anyone in the village about this benefactor, not even your uncles. If you ever get better and become successful, and we have the chance to see our benefactor again, we will definitely repay his kindness." Aunt Ma went on and on, giving a long list of instructions.
After Song Tantan and Ye Moxun left Shangou Village, they hurried towards Changye City. Xia He gave Song Tantan a jade pig and also gave her something to do. Since she had accepted the gift, she naturally had to follow the law of cause and effect.
This small jade stone was left to her son by the woman. Song Tantan decided that after finding the woman's son, she would buy it from him, and once the money was exchanged, she could take the jade stone with a clear conscience.
"You should be prepared that you might not be able to find anyone in Long Night City. You won't know their name, or even if they look round or flat. It's no wonder you can't find them."
Ye Moxun couldn't bear to discourage her, but he couldn't leave her unreminded, lest she become stubborn.
“I’m not stupid. I thought of this a long time ago. Since we’re going to travel and see along the way anyway, let’s go to Long Night City and try our luck. We’ll stay there for a few days. If we don’t find anything, we can just leave and see what fate brings.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at the gates of Changye City. They had traveled for five days from Shangou Village to get here, passing through a small town and a small county along the way, but only staying overnight, in order to get here as soon as possible.
The security in Changye City was much better than in the previous small county town. The yamen runners at the gate did not charge any fees. They checked the travel permits and documents and then let people into the city. The city was very lively, with vendors shouting their wares everywhere. People were walking back and forth on the streets, creating a peaceful and stable scene.
Song Tantan and his companion entered a teahouse, hoping to gather some local news. Going to a crowded place was always a good idea, and there were storytellers in the teahouse, so they could hear a lot of information from the storyteller.
The storytellers' tales were mostly about major events that occurred during the dynasty. They were first adapted by writers and then told by storytellers with great emotion and expression, which the people loved to hear.
"Please come in, sirs. What would you like to order?" The waiter greeted them warmly and led them to an empty seat in the reception room, asking as he diligently wiped away imaginary dust from the table.
Song Tantan tossed a piece of silver to the waiter, saying, "Here's a reward for you. Bring us a pot of tea and two plates of pastries, that'll do."
Having received the tip, the waiter's smile instantly became more genuine, and his attitude became even more enthusiastic. "Alright, please wait a moment, sir, I'll go and bring the food up right away."
At this moment, the storyteller was recounting an event that had recently occurred in Qingshan County: "The imperial envoy and the newly appointed magistrate arrived in Qingshan County on imperial orders, intending to arrest the current magistrate and punish him. However, for some unknown reason, the magistrate of Qingshan County suddenly went mad..."
Song Tantan and Ye Moxun exchanged a glance. This Qingshan County was the same small county they had visited before, and the county magistrate had been poisoned into a madness by Ye Moxun.
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