Chapter 87

87 Doctor Wen

Zhou Jia waited in the tea shop opposite the garrison office for an hour. When he saw Shen Wu escorting Doctor Wen back to the garrison office, he hurriedly went over and helped Doctor Wen out of the car.

Shen Wu smiled and asked Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou, is everything done?”

Zhou Jia cupped his hands and thanked him. “Thank you. Brother Shen’s name is very useful. I bought the land without any effort.”

Shen Wu laughed out loud. “There are many people who want that piece of land. If anyone is ignorant, feel free to use my name.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Brother Shen.” After Zhou Jia cupped his hands in thanks, Shen Wu bowed and said to Doctor Wen, “Doctor Wen, I’ll pick you up from Phoenix Village in five days.”

Doctor Wen nodded in agreement and held Zhou Jia’s hand. “Let’s go, Little Xi’er. Quickly bring me to see your wife.”

After Zhou Jia bade farewell to Shen Wu, he brought Doctor Wen to the mule cart. Doctor Wen smiled and asked Zhou Jia, “Xiao Xi, why are you here? Didn’t you go to the capital to participate in the countryside examination?”

Zhou Jia said to Doctor Wen in a low voice, “Sir, after you sent Grandfather away, Father brought Mother and me to the capital. They locked my mother in the temple hall right after I moved into the academy. They said that they wanted my mother to pray for Grandfather. I, I...”

Zhou Jia choked and could not speak as he recalled the past. Doctor Wen patted his back comfortingly. Zhou Jia took a deep breath and clenched his fists. He said hatefully, “In the first few days before the township examination, I returned to the Zhou family from the academy to prepare for the examination. Only then did I know that they had framed my mother for being unfaithful and having an affair with a servant. My mother died in order to prove her innocence. In order to preserve my mother’s innocence, I promised them to leave the Zhou family and live under the name of Third Uncle, who had died early. However, they were still worried and sent people to kill me a few times. Fortunately, Ruyi, Ji Xiang, and Zhao Cai protected me, so I escaped the pursuit. The last time I went to the mountain to pick herbs, I was chased again. It was my wife who saved me.”

When Doctor Wen heard this, he could not help but sigh. “It’s not convenient for me to comment on the feud between your grandfather and grandmother. I feel that since your grandfather and mother have left, you have nothing to worry about in that house. It’s right for you to leave that house. You don’t know how vicious the methods of the women in the inner residence are. I’ve seen it many times. Sigh! Let’s not talk about those troublesome things.” Doctor Wen changed the topic. “You said that your wife saved you. Looks like her martial arts skills are not weak?”

Zhou Jia smiled. “She’s good at martial arts and is very capable. You’ll like her when you see her. She’s countless times better than those delicate young ladies who only know how to scheme.”

Doctor Wen looked at Zhou Jia’s smile. “No wonder Little Xi’er gave himself to her.”

Zhou Jia looked at Doctor Wen and smiled. “You still like to joke. Xiaoyu is a little like you.”

Doctor Wen smiled until his face was full of wrinkles. “Really! It’s only interesting if you’re not rigid.”

The two of them received Zhao Cai. When Zhao Cai saw Doctor Wen, he went forward happily and knelt down with a thud. “Why are you here?”

Doctor Wen looked at Zhao Cai and curled his lips into a smile. “Hurry up and get up. I hate it when people kneel.”

Zhao Cai got up and looked at Doctor Wen with a smile. “You’re still the same. You mind it when people kneel upon seeing you.”

“Why are you still kneeling since you know it?” Doctor Wen smiled and said, “If General Shen hadn’t sent someone to invite me to take a look at his young master, I would have already gone to Qingzhou. Fortunately, I came and met you guys.”

Zhao Cai looked around. “Sir, why are you alone? Where’s the pageboy that was serving you?”

“He heard that his hometown was in trouble, so I let him go back to visit his parents,” Mr. Wen said freely.

The few of them arrived at the village entrance at noon the next day. Doctor Wen looked at the village that was still under construction and nodded in praise. “Not bad. It’s a good place.”

Zhou Jia took the opportunity to ask him to stay. “Then stay here and don’t leave.”

Doctor Wen shook his head. “After Shen Wu comes to pick me up, I’ll set off for Qingzhou.”

Zhou Jia remembered that he would be parting with Mr. Wen in a few days. He pulled him back reluctantly. “Can’t you stay here for a few days before leaving?”

Doctor Wen patted Zhou Jia. “Xiao Xi, we have a long way to go. I’ll visit you when I return from Qingzhou.”

Uncle Zhou, Ruyi, and the others surrounded Mr. Wen and greeted him. Doctor Wen looked at them and asked, “Where’s your wife? Quickly call her over to meet me.”

Zhou Jia looked at Uncle Zhou, who replied with a smile, “Sir, Miss Li went hunting in the mountains. She might not be back for a while.”

Doctor Wen clapped his hands and smiled. “Alright, looks like I’m in for a treat today.”

When the villagers living by the shed saw a thin and amiable old man coming to Zhou Jia’s house, they all came to greet him. Everyone learned that the amiable old man was a famous doctor. They stammered and asked Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou, can you ask Doctor Wen to take a look at us?”

Zhou Jia looked at Doctor Wen. The old man waved his hand and smiled. “Sure, I’m here to treat people.”

Ji Xiang hurriedly brought over a chair and Doctor Wen took out cushions from the medicine box. He checked the villagers’ pulses one by one. Some were malnourished, some had rheumatic bone pain, some children had roundworms, and some women had insufficient blood essence and were weak.

When Li Yu returned from the mountain and saw that her house was surrounded by people, she thought that something had happened and hurriedly ran back. Seeing that Li Yu had returned, Zhou Jia pointed at Mr. Wen and said to her, “Xiaoyu, come and meet Mr. Wen.”

Li Yu saw Zhou Jia following Doctor Wen excitedly. Zhou Jia waited for him to finish treating the village chief before holding Li Yu’s hand and walking to Doctor Wen. “Mr. Wen, look, this is Xiaoyu.”

Li Yu bowed. “Hello, Mr. Wen.”

“Good, good. You’re a good one.” Doctor Wen smiled and took out a jade pendant from his sleeve pocket. He handed it to Li Yu. “Take it. It’s a greeting gift from me.”

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia. Zhou Jia nodded and smiled. “Take what Sir gave you. Did you hunt anything good today?”

Li Yu pointed at the backpack behind her and said, “I picked up some pine antler and two monkey head mushrooms. I hunted a mule, a few pheasants, and wild ducks.”

Doctor Wen smiled at the contents of his backpack. “All good things. The old man is in for a treat.”

Li Yu looked at the old man’s happy expression and was very happy. “Mr. Wen, wait a moment. I’ll prepare them now.”

Li Yu and Auntie He prepared a sumptuous dinner. There was stewed chicken with pine mushrooms, roasted duck with taro, stir-fried mushrooms with cured meat, and braised meat with hazelnuts. After Doctor Wen ate, he said happily, “When I can’t walk anymore, I’ll come to your place to retire. You’re not allowed to despise me.”

Zhou Jia smiled happily and said, “Xiaoyu and I can’t wait for you to stay here now.”

Li Yu also liked this amiable old man. She smiled and said, “You can come whenever you want. I’ll go hunt wild animals for you.”

Doctor Wen nodded. “Don’t worry. The old man will definitely come.”

After dinner, Li Mei pulled Li Yu to the side and whispered shyly to her, “Yu’er, I want to ask the old divine doctor to take a look at me. I want to know if I can still have babies.”

Li Yu also felt that Li Mei should take a look. She nodded and smiled. “He’s so easy-going. Just come with me!”

After Li Yu brought Li Mei to Doctor Wen to take a look, Doctor Wen said to Li Mei, “There’s nothing wrong with you. You just have a little cold uterus and your qi and blood are a little insufficient. I’ll give you a prescription. You should be fine after eating for a few days. It’s best if you get your husband to let me take a look too.”

“Thank you, sir. Thank you.” Li Mei happily pushed Liu Changmin forward for Doctor Wen to take a look. Liu Changmin had some loss of essence blood and needed to recuperate so Doctor Wen prescribed a prescription for the couple. The couple thanked him repeatedly before leaving.