Although the clinic was in chaos, the patient had been saved.
Wen Zhiyun did not linger and slowly turned to leave. But just then, the young doctor who had fainted earlier struggled up again with difficulty, staggered over to him, grabbed his sleeve, and said, "You helped me today, and I haven't thanked you yet."
Wen Zhiyun said sincerely, "My parents were doctors. I learned some from them since I was little. I just couldn't bear to see patients suffering."
After he spoke, he wanted to pull his sleeve out. But unexpectedly, the young doctor grabbed it even tighter and said, "You've also studied medicine? That's not right."
"The old guy said I'm gifted and became a good doctor at a young age. You're five or six years younger than me, but just as outstanding. Doesn't that mean you're even more talented than me?"
The young doctor's expression changed several times.
It was evident he went from jealousy, to struggling, then to frustration, and finally to magnanimity.
"Forget it, the old guy taught me medicine to save lives, not to kill off good seedlings." The young doctor waved his hand. "From now on, you'll follow me. In ten years, let's see who's more excellent, you or me."
Wen Zhiyun: "..."
He had gone out alone this time to find a way to make money and contribute to his family.
The only reason he dared to speak up was that his parents were doctors.
"Sir, I think there's a misunderstanding. I just happened to pass by," Wen Zhiyun humbly and politely shook his head.
The young doctor glanced at his dusty jacket and said, "Collecting medicine with me, I'll pay you five taels a month."
Wen Zhiyun: "..."
It wasn't that he was weak-kneed, but five taels of silver was too tempting.
"Ok," Wen Zhiyun agreed with just that one word, setting the course for his life.
The two returned to the clinic.
The mess had been mostly cleaned up, but the patient still felt unwell. After lying on the door plank for a while, he suddenly sat up and vomited a pool on the ground.
The young doctor's steps abruptly halted.
Wen Zhiyun bumped into him from behind and asked puzzledly, "Dr. Wu, what's wrong?"
The two had just exchanged names.
Wu Suowei's brows furrowed as his complexion turned ugly. "The patient vomiting up filth means his stomach is also ill. His bloated, arched abdomen clearly indicates abdominal distension too."
But earlier he had confidently diagnosed it as just intestinal obstruction and even mocked the two senior doctors.
In fact, none of the three doctors' diagnoses were wrong. It was just that none had diagnosed the full condition.
For Wu Suowei, this was a huge blow.
He had thought himself a genius, but in the end was no different from an average doctor.
"Master was right. Medicine is profound, and I was complacent thinking I could learn it all in a few years. Experience still trumps everything..."
Muttering, he entered the clinic.
Wen Zhiyun followed behind, deep in thought.
At the same time, the small courtyard was about to explode.
Jiang Sheng angrily pointed at her five brothers, sparing no criticism. "I just took a nap and when I woke up, Fourth Brother was gone. When asked, you said he just went for a walk. But he doesn't know the county city well. What if he gets lost? What then?"
Little Jiang Sheng's heart ached.
How could her whole family be so careless? Eldest Brother made her anxious, Second Brother pained her, Third Brother worried her, Fourth Brother made her apprehensive, and Fifth Brother...Fifth Brother was pretty reliable.
But Fourth Brother was unacceptable. He had always been frail. What if he met rogues? What if someone caught and bullied him?
Just thinking about Wen Zhiyun tearing up while retreating and screaming, "Don't come near me, don't..." made Jiang Sheng stamp her feet in agitation.
"Little Jiang Sheng, don't worry so much. The city is very safe without many bad guys," Zheng Ruqian tried to reassure her.
But that made Jiang Sheng even more incensed. "We offended the county magistrate!"
Alright, Zheng Ruqian shut up.
But staying so irritable wouldn't solve anything either. Xu Mo twirled the xuan paper in his hand and said gently, "Call the Pang brothers here. Let's go look for him first."
That was the only plan for now.
The five Pang brothers, plus the five Jiang siblings, for a total of ten people combed through the county city.
But the county was so big. How could ten people search every corner?
The sun set in the west.
Jiang Sheng stood at the intersection, hands on hips, panting. Turning around, she saw the slender figure of Wen Zhiyun.
He walked alone, backlit by the sunset. The lingering glow penetrated his bones, making his skin seem translucent like pearls and jade. If not for the dusty men’s jacket, people might have mistaken him for a girl.
"Fourth Brother," Jiang Sheng's impatience vanished upon seeing him. "As long as you're fine."
Wen Zhiyun's eyes also lit up. He rushed over to grab her hand, somewhat incoherently saying, "Jiang Sheng, I have five taels of silver. I earned money."
Now he finally had the confidence to say he could protect his sister.
By the time everyone scattered across the city returned, the sky had gone completely dark.
Xu Mo cooked a pan of chicken like the restaurant's. The flavor was rich without being greasy.
The eleven of them ate together.
No one reprimanded Wen Zhiyun for going out alone or mentioned spending half the afternoon searching for him around the county. On hearing he found a job collecting medicine for five taels a month, they even congratulated him.
Pang Dashan was extremely envious. "I only get one hundred wen in ten days."
Zheng Ruqian's actions stilled as he ate chicken butt.
Chang Yan whispered in his ear, "Raise it a bit."
Such is human nature. When one has nothing, even one hundred wen seems astronomical. But after some time, one hundred wen becomes tasteless and more is needed to satisfy desires.
If Zheng Ruqian didn't raise the pay, Pang Dashan would still work for him but with complaints. It'd be better to directly win him over with a raise.
Despite Chang Yan's young age, he understood this very well.
Zheng Ruqian also comprehended quickly. He immediately smiled and said, "Come to think of it, you've worked for me two months. Time to raise it. Next time I'll pay two hundred wen."
Pang Dashan's eyes predictably brightened.
Midway through the meal, he pushed around his rice and hesitantly said, "There's something not sure if I should mention."
"I'm on good terms with the county beggars. Today while looking for Fourth Brother, I heard from them that some scar-faced thugs with murderous auras have been going in and out the county government's backyard. Better not provoke them."
Beggars were the largest group in a city and best informed about secrets.
If this news was true, danger might follow.
The six siblings' eating slowed at the same time as alarm bells rang in their hearts.
"If the county magistrate wanted to kill us, he'd have already quietly done so. Why wait until now?" Zheng Ruqian was still doubtful.
Each time he went to Yunshui County, he would visit Magistrate Pang and their relationship gradually grew.
If the county magistrate here really killed them, Magistrate Pang definitely wouldn't just watch.
Plus there was the dismissed official present. If Zheng Ruqian was county magistrate, he would only try to legally defeat the siblings instead of using this sort of shady move that would eventually be exposed.
"Don't forget, he still has a wife."
