Chapter 18 - 15: I’m Truly a Bastard
Yanhe City, Xuanhu Clinic.
Bai Xin sat at the front of the hall, with a long line of people in front of her, roughly counting, there were at least twenty to thirty people.
And this queue kept growing longer as time went by.
This is the reputation of Doctor Bai Xin.
Yanhe City is not without other clinics.
But speaking of medical skills, Bai Xin’s medical expertise is among the best in Yanhe City.
This is also why the owner of Xuanhu Clinic wanted his precious daughter Kong Yi to follow Bai Xin to learn medicine.
This is also why Bai Xin could become an honored guest of the Yanhe Government Office.
She is not only highly skilled in medicine but also renowned for her medical ethics across Yanhe.
No matter if you are a high official or a poor commoner, she treats everyone equally, not charging extra silver just because you have money.
Furthermore, when she encounters truly destitute people, Bai Xin refuses to accept consultation fees and even pays for their medicine out of her own pocket.
Even the usually unsmiling Bai Xin shows a gentle smile during her consultations, making people feel as if they are basked in spring breezes.
Liou Yuan, who was in charge of handling the medicine at Xuanhu Clinic, marveled at the sight.
He was dragged by Kong Yi to help at Xuanhu Clinic.
Because her father, Mr. Kong, the owner of the clinic, fell ill and is still recuperating, leaving the clinic short-handed.
Handling and decocting medicine require several people to assist.
Although Liou Yuan only learned the basics of Bai Xin’s medical skills, it was more than sufficient for such occasions.
So during his time outside of training, Liou Yuan almost always stayed at the clinic.
After all, he couldn’t just eat and drink for free, especially after he accidentally burned down his house, and Bai Xin never mentioned setting up a new household.
He couldn’t just sleep out in the streets and drink the northwest wind.
"Alas, I was too impulsive." Liou Yuan regretted for the first time burning down his own house.
But soon he didn’t have time to think about that anymore.
Kong Yi’s bright, energetic voice rang out from the front of the hall.
"Liou Yuan, two qian of Rehmannia, one qian of Cornus, five qian of Yam... pack it up and take it away."
"Got it, keep it down, you are a girl after all!" Liou Yuan responded irritably, but though he complained, his hands were swift and accurate.
He turned around skillfully, opening the drawers on the wall behind him containing the medicinal herbs, precisely extracting the quantities Kong Yi needed.
He wrapped them neatly in oil paper, then handed them over to the patient, completing the process smoothly and efficiently.
Thanks to the training of the "Five Mansions Star Gazing Breathing Skill," Liou Yuan was now quick-eyed and deft, capable of doing the work of two people by himself.
Kong Yi’s burden was greatly reduced.
After being busy until the You hour, when the sun was setting, Bai Xin confirmed that there were no critically ill patients left, and Xuanhu Clinic officially closed.
Kong Yi primarily worked with several attendants at the clinic to decoct medicinal soups.
By the end of the day, her body was saturated with the smell of medicine.
She had gotten used to the smell and didn’t mind it at all, leaning half against the medicine wall where Liou Yuan was, giving him a thumbs up for his effort.
"You know, Liou Yuan, I think pulling you over here to help was quite the smart decision."
"If I had known, I would’ve brought you over earlier."
"I thank you, and I hope that when good things happen in the future, you’ll remember me too," Liou Yuan replied with feigned irritation, glancing at Kong Yi.
As they were about to start their usual bickering session,
Liou Yuan suddenly changed the subject.
"What about Mr. Kong? It’s almost been a month, and he’s still not better?"
"Not yet, when I visited my father this morning, he didn’t even respond to me. If it weren’t for his steady breathing, I would’ve thought he was on the verge of death."
𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Kong Yi expressed no fear of her father.
This Mr. Kong was known far and wide as a notorious miser; otherwise, he wouldn’t treat his daughter like a workhorse.
Still, he was her biological father, and mentioning him made Kong Yi’s pretty face, darkened by the soot, turn troubled.
"I don’t know how long it will take for him to recover, even the teacher is at a loss."
Bai Xin, just entering the hall, appeared fatigued from a day of consultations.
She shook her head in response: "Your father isn’t sick, fed with tonics every day, his pulse is even healthier than a young man’s."
"How can you treat someone who’s not ill?"
"Could my father be faking it?" The more Kong Yi thought about it, the more it seemed wrong, her eyes turning skeptical.
Her father had faked illness more than once or twice to shirk his responsibilities.
"How can anyone fake an illness for a whole month?" Liou Yuan chuckled, knowing the pain of convalescence.
Staying in bed for one or two days was fine, but any longer was more exhausting than working.
Bai Xin looked at the two young people in front of her, pondering.
She seemed on the verge of saying something but hesitated.
After all, one of them was her son, the other her apprentice, so she had nothing to hide. After a brief pause, she said, "If he’s not up in three days, I’ll go to the Yanhe Government Office."
Bai Xin’s words carried deep meaning.
Kong Yi couldn’t grasp the implied message.
But Liou Yuan was not like Kong Yi; his expression immediately turned serious upon hearing it.
When there’s a sick person at home, seeking medical treatment is the norm, what’s the point of going to the government office?
Unless...
"Mother suspects that Mr. Kong’s illness isn’t simple! It might involve the Star Evil?"
Having dealt with the Star Evil before, Liou Yuan understood its peril.
Fortunately, Bai Xin’s words were mere suspicion.
"Scaring yourself with unconfirmed matters isn’t a good habit."
Liou Yuan pondered quietly.
Despite his thoughts, he was already more vigilant.
Bai Xin merely touched on the subject and didn’t dwell on it further.
She didn’t let Kong Yi ask more, instead took the initiative to change the subject, "Has the cook prepared the meal?"
Kong Yi, easily diverted from the topic, immediately redirected her attention upon Bai Xin’s question, replying in a soft voice, "It’s ready, the food is kept warm in the pot, I’ll bring it out now."
She was spirited and energetic, making a quick departure to the rear kitchen.
"I’m going to bathe, you clean your hands and prepare for dinner." Bai Xin glanced at Liou Yuan and followed Kong Yi to the back hall.
"Alright." Liou Yuan responded with a smile.
Bai Xin’s demeanor was as steadfast as ever.
Yet Liou Yuan’s respect for his mother deepened significantly.
The reason being, witnessing Bai Xin’s medical practice over the days had left him feeling unworthy as her son.
He admitted he couldn’t achieve Bai Xin’s level of commitment, but that did not impede his respect for such individuals.
More so, considering she was his mother.
Additionally, Bai Xin prepared the medicinal ingredients required for his training.
Today, he especially asked Kong Yi for the names of those herbs, all of which were precious high-quality materials, not cheap at all.
One set of medicine cost over ten taels of silver.
Even with Bai Xin’s substantial income, it was unsustainable to prepare them daily.
In the past month, nearly three hundred taels had been spent.
What concept is three hundred taels? Thirty taels would already buy a decent property in Yanhe City.
"I reckon the savings over the years have almost been spent."
"No wonder Mother won’t even talk about setting up a new property... I actually burned down our home, I’m such a brute..."
Liou Yuan wished he could slap himself across his face.
Thus, Liou Yuan secretly decided, he couldn’t keep spending Bai Xin’s money.
"I need to earn money!"
Liou Yuan resolutely determined.