175: Chapter 175 Divine Doctor 175: Chapter 175 Divine Doctor “`

Looking at Wang Laozhu and Wang Yongping’s relaxed expression, Wang Yongzhu felt that she had to be the bad guy; after all, she was the charming antagonist, wasn’t she?

She had grown accustomed to it.

“Second brother, what about the prescription?

Are the herbs on it easy to buy?” Wang Yongzhu actually wanted to ask bluntly if the medicine would be expensive.

Considering it was from an Imperial Physician who treats the Emperor and his concubines, he might be used to prescribing precious herbs.

In remote places like Qilidun Stone Bridge Town, she feared even having silver might not be enough to buy them.

What was even more pathetic was that she feared their family didn’t even have that much silver to begin with.

Wang Yongan was startled for a moment before responding, “I specifically told the Divine Doctor that our family is of modest means and can’t afford those expensive herbs.

The Divine Doctor has always been benevolent to the people, upholding kindness above all, so he prescribed common medicines that are also cheap.

Little sister, you don’t have to worry about spending all your dowry!

Wang Yongzhu was stunned, as she had thought the Divine Doctor only cared for wealth.

She was unexpectedly sympathetic toward the common folk, which took her by surprise.

However, Wang Yongan’s veiled jest irritated her, and she feigned annoyance, “As a Scholar Master, how can you accuse me falsely?

I’m worried about our eldest brother, afraid that our family can’t afford the medicine.

By the way, second brother, you said the Divine Doctor is from the Capital City and treats the Emperor and the noble ladies.

Can I meet the Divine Doctor and ask what the Emperor looks like?

Are all the ladies in the palace as beautiful as fairies?” She exhibited some typical girlish competitiveness and curiosity.

Wang Yongan’s eyes turned friendlier, and he laughed toward Wang Laozhu, “It seems our little sister still has the heart of a child!

Upon meeting the Divine Doctor, she doesn’t ask about anything else, but actually wants to know if the palace ladies are beautiful.

Well, you won’t be able to see the Divine Doctor.

He is an idiosyncratic person, who only came to treat our eldest brother because he owed me a favor.

Now that he’s consulted and prescribed the medicine, we can’t keep him here, he’s already gone!

Too bad you came back late, or you might have met him if you hadn’t missed us!”

Wang Yongzhu pretended to be disappointed, but deep down, there was a hint of suspicion and caution.

Seeing that she couldn’t get anything more out of Wang Yongan, she stopped asking and went inside the house.

Interestingly, Wang Yongan walked over with a keen interest to peek into the basket Wang Yongzhu was carrying, “What did you go out to buy, little sister?”

Wang Yongzhu deliberately turned around, keeping her back to Wang Yongan and mumbled vaguely, “Didn’t buy much, just some sewing stuff for girls—.” As she said this, she bolted into the house with a guilty expression.

Wang Yongan didn’t get angry watching Wang Yongzhu’s reaction; instead, he seemed relieved and laughed with Wang Laozhu about something, amusing Wang Laozhu to the point that his eyes squinted with joy.

Wang Yongzhu took the items out of her basket, neatly put them away, and then went to the backyard to look for Old Granny Zhang.

Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Old Granny Zhang and Lady Jiang with half a basket of vegetables walking toward her.

Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, Old Granny Zhang handed the basket to Lady Jiang and quickly approached, “When did you get back?

Are you tired?”

Wang Yongzhu shook her head, hesitating to speak.

With a sweep of her gaze, Old Granny Zhang sent Lady Jiang off with the basket to the front yard.

“Mother, I heard from second brother that they found a Divine Doctor for eldest brother, is that true?

Has eldest brother really improved?” Wang Yongzhu spoke the truth; she didn’t quite believe it.

But since she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she had no choice but to ask Old Granny Zhang.

Old Granny Zhang scoffed, “Who knows what second brother is thinking, suddenly bringing some so-called Divine Doctor from nowhere, claiming he has treated the Emperor and palace ladies.

A Divine Doctor who has treated such nobles, why would he treat people like us?

I think your second brother might have found some charlatan from the streets, trying to scam our family’s money!”

“But second brother said that the Divine Doctor gave eldest brother a few needles and he felt much better, more energetic.

Doctor Ma mentioned that when the Divine Doctor gave eldest brother a pill, he became spirited again—” She left her concern unspoken; such quickly effective medicine might have side effects, right?

“I don’t care about them anymore; let them do as they please!

As long as mother doesn’t have to spend money, they can invite celestial beings from the heavens to treat your eldest brother for all I care!” Old Granny Zhang no longer had the energy to worry about it.

It was then that Wang Yongzhu quietly spoke about Doctor Ma refunding the medicine fee.

“`

Old Granny Zhang nodded and patted the dirt off her clothes, whispering a reminder, “Mother understands, keep the money for now, and if anyone asks, say you gave it to me.”

It meant she was planning to save some private money.

Wang Yongzhu smiled bitterly and nodded her head.

It was getting late, and because Wang Yongan had greatly contributed this time by bringing back a Divine Doctor for the Eldest Brother, Wang Laozhu repeatedly asked Jindou to fetch wine and ordered Old Granny Zhang to cook two additional dishes for dinner.

Everyone had assumed the Eldest Brother was beyond help, so this sudden glimpse of hope filled them with joy and excitement.

Old Granny Zhang pursed her lips, took the cured meat out of the cellar, cut a piece, and, with great reluctance, killed a hen that had stopped laying eggs to start preparing dinner.

The dinner was lavish.

A big half basin of stir-fried cured meat with green peppers, a stew of old hen with Chinese yam soup; when the lid of the clay pot was lifted, the fragrance filled the entire house.

Since Wang Yongfu could only lie in bed, he was served a bowl of chicken soup first.

It contained small pieces of chopped chicken leg meat and some Chinese yam.

Wang Yongfu had been sustaining himself on just a bit of rice soup each day for many days, but now, with the aroma of chicken soup and the Divine Doctor’s acupuncture and miracle medicine, he felt a great appetite.

With Jindou’s help, he finished a big bowl of chicken soup and Chinese yam, eating the pieces of chicken meticulously and still felt his stomach was not full.

This startled Jindou, who remembered Doctor Ma’s warning that food should be reintroduced slowly and not to eat or drink excessively.

But then, the Divine Doctor hadn’t given such instructions, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Still, he didn’t let Wang Yongfu eat any more, took away the bowl and chopsticks, and went to the main room.

Everyone had taken their seats.

The men were drinking, with Jinhoo pouring the wine.

The dinner included the rare steamed buns, along with several small stir-fried vegetable dishes, which was already quite special.

Even Wang Yongan, who had grown accustomed to dismissing peasants’ meals, couldn’t resist drinking a bowl of chicken soup and having a bun.

It had been a long time since the family had enjoyed such a meal, so everyone ate heartily, filling their bellies to roundness.

After a satisfying meal and drinks, by all accounts, everyone should tidy up and get ready for bed.

But this evening, after finishing the meal and with the oil lamp lit in the room, Wang Yongan suddenly slapped his forehead, “Look at my memory.

This time, I didn’t just bring back a Divine Doctor for my big brother, but I also brought something for the family.”

With that, he opened a chest that had been placed in the corner of the main room.

He laid out the items on the freshly cleared table, one by one.

There was cloth for the elders, two delicate silver hairpins for Wang Yongzhu, and two silk flowers for Jinhua.

Not to mention various small trinkets for the other boys.

Even Lady Jiang received a packet of pastries.