CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 175 ABBOT PRESIDES OVER THE SITUATION

At dawn, Xie Liangchen and Xu Tingzhen packed up their medicine box and prepared to leave the village.

Chen Zigeng got up early to see off his sister. Yesterday, upon hearing that Sister was going to the city, he pleaded persistently for a while, but Sister still refused to take him, telling him to stay in the village to help Uncle and take care of Grandmother and Mr. Dongli.

Just reaching the Familiar Medicine Institute, Chen Zigeng saw Mr. Dongli.

Mr. Dongli was originally invited to spend the New Year. After the New Year, Old Mrs. Chen, Xie Liangchen, and Chen Yongsheng persuaded him several times to stay in Chen Family Village.

The village was lively, everyone looking out for each other, and Xie Liangchen knew Mr. Dongli was acquainted with Mr. Xu. Although neither of them had openly discussed it, Xie Liangchen could still sense something different between them.

"Even though you’re going to see patients, you should be careful not to fall ill yourselves," Mr. Dongli rarely spoke, but couldn’t help himself now. "The yard where I live is vacant now; you can rest there."

Mr. Xu’s yard was no longer rented out. If they needed a place in the city, Mr. Dongli’s would naturally be the best option.

Xie Liangchen took the key from the stone table, comforted Old Mrs. Chen, and then left the village with Xu Tingzhen.

Old Mrs. Chen watched her granddaughter’s figure as she went away, and couldn’t help sighing deeply. She wanted to keep Miss Chen close, but her granddaughter was the kind of person who couldn’t sit still.

Miss Chen was similar to her grandfather in this regard, unlike her mother. Her mother was also smart and clever but lacked that stubborn dedication.

Over the past few days, Old Mrs. Chen frequently thought of these things, knowing she shouldn’t.

Old Mrs. Chen walked past Chen Yongsheng with her hands behind her back, murmuring quietly, "This girl is too perceptive." Nothing could be hidden from her; sooner or later, she would find out.

Now Miss Chen was getting suspicious, saying she dreamt of her mother, deliberately probing for information, but she didn’t reveal it, and Miss Chen wouldn’t state it either.

She was just waiting for Old Mrs. Chen to speak up.

Chen Yongsheng guessed the meaning behind Old Mrs. Chen’s words: "You mean..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Old Mrs. Chen shaking her head, clearly not intending to discuss it at that moment.

As they were walking, they saw Hei Dan leading Gouzi out, with Gouzi carrying something.

"What are you two up to?" Chen Yongsheng asked, "Gouzi’s eyes don’t work well; why do you take him out?"

Hei Dan replied, "Sister instructed the village yesterday to regularly burn mugwort; Gouzi needs to help out too."

Gouzi’s injuries had mostly healed. Each foot had lost two toefingers to frostbite, and his hands were also frostbitten. Fortunately, applying badger oil every day saved his fingers.

He was still dark and skinny and needed some careful nurturing.

Gouzi nodded: "Uncle, just let me help!"

Seeing this, Chen Yongsheng nodded in agreement: "Just don’t let Gouzi get hurt."

Hei Dan puffed his chest: "Don’t worry, Father. As Sister is not in the village, and Zigeng is busy, I’m taking care of these tasks."

Hei Dan and the others could handle these daily chores, which put Chen Yongsheng’s mind at ease, freeing him to do other things.

At the village entrance, they burned mugwort, and Hei Dan led Gouzi away from it.

Concerned, Gouzi said: "It’s quite chaotic outside, isn’t it?"

"It’s alright," Hei Dan replied, "We have Sister and County Magistrate Qu." In Hei Dan’s mind, Sister always comes first, and everyone else follows.

Gouzi nodded, his thin hands reaching again into the bamboo basket for the mugwort leaves, ready to continue burning on the other side.

"You needn’t worry; just take care of yourself, eat more, and rest well," Hei Dan said.

Gouzi lowered his eyes: "I can’t see anything, can’t do anything, how will I repay..."

Hei Dan chuckled: "There are plenty of things you can do!"

Gouzi listened attentively.

Hei Dan said: "When it’s time to harvest medicine in autumn, you can sit on the wheelbarrow, I’ll push you and we’ll gather medicine together. Then we’ll report the weights, and you’ll keep track. When the village’s clan school starts, you’ll join us to learn, even if you can’t write, you’ll speak eloquently.

Besides, you have to memorize herbs and study pharmacology; Sister asked us to learn these things. How about I start teaching you tomorrow?"

Struck by his words, Gouzi stood there motionless.

Hei Dan said, "Why are you stunned? Forget the past; if you live well, Sister will treat you as her younger brother. Look at our village; even if you’re not a member of the Chen Family, you’ll be numbered among us in the future.

What’s the big deal about being blind? You still have hands and feet. I once thought I would starve to death, never imagined I’d be selling medicine, dealing with familiar medicine, even reading and writing. Earlier your second brother visited, renting a yard in Zhaozhou, taking apprentices for wind boxes.

People from villages around us all have experienced hunger; we’ve all made it through!"

Hei Dan then put his fur hat on Gouzi’s head, showing the demeanor of an elder brother: "Wear it, don’t catch cold."

Another pile of mugwort was ignited, and Gouzi inhaled the dense mugwort aroma, with Hei Dan’s words echoing in his ears.

Xie Liangchen, the Sister from Chen Family Village, is very busy, hardly seen from dawn till dusk, but when she appears, everything changes, with people forming around her.

Gouzi recalls Xie Liangchen testing Hei Dan and others on herbs and pharmacology, always gentle, yet commanding respect. She rarely rebukes or resorts to physical discipline, instead explaining causes and effects patiently, compelling others to believe.

Gouzi believes this Sister is somewhat like General Zhang, who often tells them everything will be alright, in whom they believe unwaveringly.

General Zhang also finds ways to protect them and talks about how things were during Prince Guangyang’s time.

Thick mugwort smoke stung Gouzi’s eyes. Though he couldn’t see, they still turned sore, a tear trickling down his cheek.

...

Two days later, Zhaozhou and Dingzhou gradually reported cases. Fortunately, thanks to Zhenzhou’s precautions, checkpoints and inspections began in other counties as well.

Song Xian rushed back from Zhaozhou and went straight to the yard where patients were housed. By this time, night had fallen, yet the yard remained brightly lit.

Jia Si brought medical workers from the Official Medicine Bureau and over a dozen doctors from the city, working busily in the yard.

Doctors treated patients in the yard, while Jia Si, wearing a veil and two extra long robes, stayed far from the yard, overseeing medicine preparation.

Upon hearing the government officials report, Jia Si hurried forward to greet Song Xian, intending to boast his achievements before even speaking, they heard a whip crack, followed by the veil on Jia Si’s head being flipped, leaving a scar on his forehead.

Jia Si cried out in pain, looking up to meet Song Xian’s deep eyes.

Song Xian said coldly, "Why are you here?"

Jia Si didn’t understand Song Xian’s intention.

Song Xian spoke again: "I ask you, why are you here?"

Finally understanding, Jia Si realized General Song was questioning why he hadn’t gone into the yard.

Jia Si couldn’t fathom General Song’s anger. He stretched out his hand, pointing to the yard: "I, I need to stay... stay and oversee the situation."