Chapter 291 The Way of Chess is Perfected! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Actually, Chen Yi really likes rainy weather.
Especially in autumn.
A cool breeze, carrying a light, chilly rain, gently brushed against my cheeks, leaving a refreshing feeling far more comfortable than the heat and stuffiness of a sunny day.
But sometimes he doesn't really like rain.
The hem of the silk robe is very low, and if you're not careful, you'll get splashed with mud and water.
Mud splattered all over his shoes and legs.
They won't be arranged neatly like embroidery; they'll be as chaotic as the golden carp that have met Xiao Wuge.
The big ones are big, and the small ones are small.
Chen Yi will therefore be very careful.
Even within the relatively flat Marquis's residence, he walked unhurriedly, taking each step steadily.
Fortunately, although the Xiao family compound was large, it was far from the luxurious and opulent place described as having "a building every five steps, a pavilion every ten steps, winding corridors, and soaring eaves."
In no time at all.
Chen Yi then crossed the middle courtyard and arrived behind the screen wall in the front courtyard.
Wang Lixing, Liu Si'er, and the others were not there; only two armored soldiers who looked somewhat familiar were guarding the place.
Outside the gatehouse not far away, an elderly man with a hunched back was sweeping fallen leaves from the ground.
"Mr. Qingzhou."
The armored soldiers greeted him, and Chen Yi smiled and nodded. His eyes caught sight of the White Tiger Guard's Iron Flag Officer—the hunched old man—so he also greeted him.
"Uncle Gui."
As usual, Uncle Gui only glanced at him coldly before lowering his head to continue cleaning.
Chen Yi didn't mind, and walked out of the Marquis's residence with his umbrella, heading towards the East Market.
The two armored soldiers watched him walk away, their hearts filled with emotion.
"When the second son-in-law first came to our household, who could have imagined that he would achieve what he has today?"
"Yeah, back then, let alone the Second Miss, which of us brothers didn't want to beat him to death?"
"The person who most wanted to beat him up was that kid Yan Hong, haha, but he'll never have that chance again."
"The second son-in-law is now the renowned Mr. Qingzhou, whose calligraphy alone is enough to kill Yan Hong three times over."
"I heard that there are a lot of visitors coming to Guiyun Academy now, all looking to buy the son-in-law's calligraphy, which is worth a hundred gold coins per character."
"Especially the original manuscript of that poem 'Prelude to Water Melody: Mid-Autumn Festival,' it's priceless, it's a pity my son-in-law lost it..."
Hearing their conversation, Uncle Gui tidied up his broom and other belongings, and slowly followed them out of the Marquis's residence.
The rain was continuous, and the travelers were in a hurry, so his figure was quickly lost in the rain.
In contrast, Chen Yi stood out like a crane among chickens as he walked down the south street of the town.
He was naturally tall and slender.
His body became even more robust after practicing martial arts.
It's just that he usually wears a loose-fitting long robe, and with the concealment of the Xuanwu Breath Concealment Technique, he looks a bit weak.
Among the passersby, he was the most otherworldly.
This attracted the attention of many women.
"That young master looks unfamiliar. May I ask which family he belongs to?"
"Sister Chun'er, do you look unfamiliar? I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
"oh?"
"It seems, it seems..."
Before the woman in the pale yellow cotton dress could even think of anything, several scholars nearby spoke up:
“That’s Mr. Qingzhou, not some young master from any family.”
"Mr. Qingzhou? Ah, he's Mr. Qingzhou?"
"Is it Mr. Qingzhou, the one who wrote 'May we all live long and share the beauty of the moon, though separated by a thousand miles'?"
"If it's him, then wouldn't he be... wouldn't he be... General Jinghong's husband?"
The unmarried women looked regretful, but they didn't say anything sarcastic.
Besides the fact that Chen Yi's current status as a live-in son-in-law is not respectable, they also dare not compare themselves to Xiao Jinghong.
Putting aside whether their family backgrounds and appearances are comparable, Xiao Jinghong's ability to command the Dingyuan Army through martial arts alone is enough to overshadow them.
Chen Yi heard the discussions but remained calm, ignoring the pointing fingers and whispers around him.
As his fame has spread.
Not only in the Xiao family and Guiyun Academy, but many people in Shuzhou City are already familiar with him.
Occasionally, when walking on the street, people would come up to greet me.
Fortunately, most of the people there were scholars, and they all spoke words of admiration and respect; otherwise, Chen Yi probably wouldn't have dared to go out so easily.
He walked and stopped frequently, taking about half an hour to reach the East Market.
I remember the last time he came was because of Master Bai.
When he met the legendary figure, he wasn't excited; instead, he felt a sense of "keeping his distance."
Aside from their fear of Bai Daxian's fortune-telling, there were also his eyes that seemed to see through everything.
Even with Chen Yi's Xuanwu Concealing Breath Technique, which allowed him to deceive Xiao Jinghong and the others, he would likely have nowhere to hide in Bai Daxian's eyes.
Thinking about all this, Chen Yi glanced at the thriving Xinglinzhai pharmacy and went straight to Jishi Pharmacy.
Compared to the previous commotion, there were noticeably fewer people outside the pharmacy this time.
Only two patients came to get their medication.
Even the wandering craftsmen who usually come here to chat are nowhere to be seen.
Liu Quan was busy calculating with his abacus when he saw him come in, and he quickly got up to greet him.
"Shopkeeper, you've arrived."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, surveyed the situation inside the pharmacy, and casually asked, "Has business been affected?"
Liu Quan looked distressed and began to complain, "Shopkeeper, you saw it too."
"Now that a renowned physician is in charge of Xinglinzhai, his diagnoses are almost always accurate, and the medicines are inexpensive, who would still come here?"
"If it weren't for the tea drinks we still had in the pharmacy, we would probably be in debt this month."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, smiled and offered a few words of comfort, then called Ma Liangcai and they walked inside together.
Ma Liangcai bowed respectfully, "Shopkeeper."
Chen Yi glanced at him and said, "Sit down and talk."
"yes."
Ma Liangcai has changed quite a bit during this period.
Originally, his medical skills were not proficient, and he mostly relied on prescriptions he had found from who-knows-where to pretend to know what he was doing.
Now he can be considered to have entered the realm of medicine, and he has thoroughly mastered Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Four Diagnostic Methods, and the Eight Principles.
When he can reach the minor mastery level and earn the title of "Medical Master" depends on his comprehension.
Of course, Chen Yi didn't come to him to offer medical advice.
"You must have heard about the young lady's plan to build a medical academy."
Ma Liangcai's heart skipped a beat. "You...you want me to..."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded, "You should be aware of the benefits of the Medical Academy after its completion, not only for the Xiao family, but also for physicians like you."
Ma Liangcai looked excited and stammered, "I...I know perfectly well, but I'm afraid my medical skills are inadequate and I might mislead students..."
Chen Yi waved his hand and said, "Imperfect medical skills are only relative. Your medical theory is not bad now. The only difference between you and other doctors is your experience."
"Once you fully understand and master it, it will only be a matter of time before you become an expert in medicine."
"Of course, you're not going to be the dean of the academy yet."
Upon hearing this, Ma Liangcai immediately knelt on the ground, saying, "You're joking, sir."
"I am already incredibly fortunate to have entered the Medical Academy. How dare I dream of becoming the dean?"
Chen Yi gestured for him to stand up and speak, and after his expression softened, he continued:
"I'm sending you to the Medical Academy not only because you're the most suitable candidate, but also because there are some things I need you to do."
"Please give your orders, sir."
“Now, the medical academy is no longer solely controlled by the eldest young lady; there is also a daughter of the Cui family from Qinghe.”
"I need you to act as my informant. If you notice anything unusual in the academy, remember to send me a message."
Ma Liangcai understood. "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely handle this matter well for you."
Chen Yi nodded and then started chatting with him.
Although Xiao Wan'er's agreement to let Cui Qingwu enter the Medical Academy was largely due to his efforts, "one should always be wary of others."
It's hard to guarantee that after witnessing the influence of the Medical Academy, Cui Qingwu or the Cui family won't have some ulterior motives.
Just like Xinglinzhai not far away—even people belonging to the Liu family can have disputes.
What about the Xiao family and the Cui family?
Another one.
Chen Yi arranged for Ma Liangcai to enter the Medical Academy, partly with the intention of having him do some things on his behalf.
Such as the compilation of medical classics.
It's not appropriate for him to do it himself, so it's suitable for Ma Liangcai to do it in his place.
He would eventually have to find a way to ensure that Xiao Wan'er succeeded in establishing the Medical Academy.
As the hour of Si (9-11 AM) approached, Chen Yi got up and went to the entrance of the pharmacy, looking towards the entrance of the East Market not far away.
Not long after.
He then saw a ragged figure pushing a cart to the entrance.
That must have been a young girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, and extremely thin.
Not only was he very thin, but his face was also extremely gaunt.
After struggling to steady the cart, she took a wooden sign from it, held it in front of her, and silently knelt on the ground.
The sign had only three sentences.
"I sell myself to bury my father, begging for a kind-hearted person, willing to be a slave or maid for life."
Most passersby who saw this scene gathered around, while some indifferent people walked away on their own.
Through pointing and gesturing, the situation was roughly understood.
"This kid is from Lianhua Alley in the east of the city, and he's a pitiful person."
"When her father was healthy, he could carry three hundred sacks a day at the dock. He was strong enough to support her and her family."
“But last month, heavy rains caused the boat ropes at the dock to break, seriously injuring her father.”
"Originally, this was nothing serious; it would have gotten better with rest. But misfortunes never come singly."
"Because of the rising prices of food and medicine in recent days, she can't even afford to eat, let alone get medicine."
"They emptied their savings, but in the end, they still couldn't save her father..."
Chen Yi stood outside the crowd, silently listening to the discussions over there, his eyes reflecting the little girl named Yuan Liuer.
Although the rise in grain prices in Shuzhou was orchestrated by the Jizhou merchants, the prices would have skyrocketed even without their interference.
However, he did indeed play a disgraceful role in it.
What's this?
Did I not kill Bo Ren, yet Bo Ren died because of me?
Chen Yi looked at Yuan Liuer kneeling on the ground and gave a bitter smile to himself.
The unexpected turn of events left him feeling somewhat uneasy.
I watched quietly for a moment.
Chen Yi let out a breath, thought for a moment, and then summoned Liu Quan and Ma Liangcai.
"The shopkeeper?"
Chen Yi pointed at Yuan Liuer and instructed, "Go to the account and withdraw some silver to find someone to give her a proper burial."
Liu Quan was stunned, "This..."
"Shopkeeper, you...you want to buy that little girl?"
Chen Yi shook his head. "It wasn't me, no, it wasn't the purchase."
He didn't explain further, but turned to Ma Liangcai and said in an unquestionable tone:
“That girl has a good talent for medicine. You should take her on as an apprentice and teach her well.”
Without hesitation, Ma Liangcai bowed and agreed, then walked over there.
Seeing this, Liu Quan disregarded everything else, hurriedly returned to the pharmacy to fetch some silver, and chased after them.
The rest followed naturally.
Amidst Yuan Liuer's gratitude, Liu Quan dispersed the crowd and paid funeral service workers to bury her father.
She originally wanted to sell herself into slavery, but Ma Liangcai refused and instead took her in as an apprentice, allowing her to stay at the Jishi Pharmacy.
"Thank you so much, my benefactor, thank you so much, my benefactor..."
Although Ma Liangcai doubted her medical talent, he dared not and would not question what Chen Yi had instructed him to do.
"The person who saved you wasn't me, but..."
Ma Liangcai paused, turned to look at Chen Yi, and seeing him shake his head slightly, he said knowingly:
"It's yourself."
With tears streaming down her dirty face, Yuan Liuer asked, "Me?"
“Your talent in medicine is not bad. You can become my apprentice from now on.”
"If you work hard enough, you can learn a skill to survive at Jishi Pharmacy in the future."
A look of confusion crossed Yuan Liuer's face. "Medicine, a pharmacy? An apprentice?"
She clearly didn't know she had any medical talent, but she did know she had indeed met a good person.
She knelt on the ground, almost crying her eyes out.
The surrounding crowd, who had not yet dispersed, witnessed this scene. Some sighed at the girl's good fortune, some admired Ma Liangcai's discerning eye, and some said that she was indeed worthy of being from the Xiao family's pharmacy.
However, few people mention Chen Yi.
Even though he was standing not far away below the pharmacy, he still watched calmly, like an outsider.
My thoughts are inexplicable.
"People only know that Heaven and Earth are ruthless and treat all things like straw dogs, but few people say that the sage is ruthless and treats the people like straw dogs."
"Alas, I am not a saint, but I may also harm the innocent to achieve a certain goal."
Chen Yi knew all this, but he couldn't change it.
All he could do was try his best to salvage the situation and end things as soon as possible.
Therefore, as he stood there quietly watching the scene before him, the chessboard in his mind began to move again.
The entire situation within Shuzhou City formed a giant chessboard.
All the white and black stones jumped around on it, changing into different positions—
Old Master Xiao is in better health now and should take on more responsibilities.
Liu Hong has already fallen into the trap. Regardless of whether he sends Asutai away or not, his defeat is only a matter of time.
With Liu Zhaoxue from the Liu family of Jingzhou and the Five Poisons Sect having people from the mountain tribes watching over them, they are unlikely to cause any trouble if they are careful.
The White Tiger Guard's schemes and plans are gradually becoming clearer, and their purpose of stirring up trouble in Shu Prefecture can be vaguely seen...
The people of Jizhou Merchant Guild are laughing now; it's time for them to cry!
Chen Yi, like a giant, looked down over the entire chessboard, arranging each matter using black and white pieces.
Based on the simulation results, adjustments were made, and... decisions were made regarding the life and death of certain individuals!
It felt like a moment had passed, yet also like countless years had gone by.
—The chess game is now complete.
[His chess skills improved dramatically; his mastery of the thousand-move chess manual reached perfection, allowing him to glimpse the ultimate meaning of the way of chess.]
[Chess Way: Mastery, progress +1000, reaching the Perfect Realm.]
A thunderous roar exploded in Chen Yi's mind.
Countless profound insights into the art of chess emerged, and countless chess scores were compiled.
As a result, the chessboard in his mind that covered the city of Shu Prefecture was further expanded.
Not only is it clearer than before, involving more and more detailed content, but it also extends to the entire Shu Prefecture, and even some areas of other prefectures.
Chen Yi was the only player on this chessboard.
—Like a true saint, overlooking this world!
(End of this chapter)
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