Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 53: Chapter 29: What Constitutes a Great Doctor of the Masses

When Gu Changsheng arrived at the main hall of the medical hall, it was already bustling with people standing everywhere, and a familiar scent of Chinese herbs filled the hall.

It made the hall, which had long been untouched by the fragrance of medicine, look much more pleasing to the eye.

Gu Changsheng glanced around for a week and saw all sorts of people. There were also no less than twenty to thirty, it seemed like almost all the notable doctors from Liuzhou had gathered.

Hu Yihai, being the Chief of the Liuzhou Medical Guild, certainly had impressive skills in summoning people.

Gu Changsheng nodded with satisfaction, and with Xiao Cui and Han Qiu in tow, he walked in.

This time, Uncle Song followed right behind them.

Stopping in front of the crowd, Gu Changsheng bowed slightly and offered a salute, “Thank you all for coming, Changsheng has paid his respects.”

Gone was the arrogance and unbridled attitude that he had shown towards Hu Yihai the night before.

His reaction surprisingly caught Hu Yihai off guard.

Gu Changsheng didn’t look at him. After completing the formalities, he didn’t engage in any pleasantries with the others, and confidently walked to the only consulting table and sat down.

Above the hall, long benches had already been prepared. Originally for patients awaiting consultations to rest their feet on, now they were taken by the sitting doctors.

Gu Changsheng accepted a teacup from Xiao Cui, gracefully took a sip, and then said, “Today, I’ve troubled everyone to come here, and I believe Doctor Hu has already informed you. Changsheng, despite his incompetence, only seeks the truth.”

The crowd looked at one another, then all turned their eyes toward Hu Yihai, who was seated at the head of the hall.

After a long while, a young man in his thirties stood up, cupped his hands, and said, “My lady, to be honest, Chief Hu did indeed say that we came here to attest that Elder Gu, while he was still alive, did indeed say that the medical book he authored was meant to benefit the thousands of doctors.”

Gu Changsheng raised his eyebrows with interest, this young man seemed quite amusing; the last few words he uttered seemed to carry extra emphasis.

“That’s Doctor Liang from Liang County. Although young, he is quite skilled at bone-setting,” Uncle Song moved closer to Gu Changsheng and whispered a hint.

No wonder, bone-setting is just one skill, and he must certainly place great value on prescriptions and the like.

Gu Changsheng looked back at the crowd with various expressions and then asked, “In that case, can all of you testify that my grandfather indeed gave away the medical book he wrote to those practicing medicine?”

The crowd exchanged glances, and most of them nodded almost imperceptibly.

That was indeed true.

A grey-haired, elderly doctor stood up, looked solemnly at Gu Changsheng, and said, “Old Brother Gu indeed said this to the public, and I, Xu, while not particularly talented, can bear witness to that.”

When he heard him speak, Gu Changsheng looked up to see him continue, “However, Elder Gu has ascended to immortality, and as the Gu family has practiced medicine for generations, it’s only natural that their medical skills should not be neglected.”

“That’s Doctor Xu Ying from the Xu family medical hall on Donglin Street. He used to get along quite well with your grandfather,” Uncle Song explained.

Gu Changsheng looked gratefully at Doctor Xu.

He was openly challenging Hu Yihai and also declaring his stance; he was on Gu Changsheng’s side.

“Elder Xu, are your words not misleading Changsheng’s mother to disrespect Elder Gu?” Hu Yihai glared hatefully at Xu Ying. This meddling old fool, he knew he would cause trouble!

“Why must Chief Hu put such a big hat on this old man? I ask myself, having practiced medicine all my life, I don’t have the magnanimity to impart my family’s skills to others. I wonder, does anyone here have such courage?” Xu Ying adjusted his beard, looked around, and stood firm, “If none of you has such courage, why use a casual remark made by Old Brother Gu during his lifetime to pressure this mother and son, making a spectacle of yourselves, truly ridiculous!”

Xu Ying’s face was cold, and he swept a contemptuous look over everyone.

His words were a slap in the face, and instantly the faces of those present became rather awkward.

The truth was he spoke the plain truth; however, the Gu family had unique and attractive medical expertise for generations.

So, even though they felt what they were doing was somewhat unseemly, they still thickened their skins and came.

“Why must Elder Xu shame us like this? Elder Gu’s medical virtues are indeed beyond all of us here. But since he said so himself, as his descendants, we naturally should fulfill his words to show filial piety,” Hu Yihai said with a darkened face, an unkind gaze fixed on Xu Ying, cursing the old man thoroughly in his heart.

His statement silenced the room instantly, and all eyes turned to Gu Changsheng, who was seated in the place of honor.

Gu Changsheng rarely offered Hu Yihai a look of agreement, if she refused to hand over the medical book, it would count as unfilial!

The Zhou Dynasty esteemed literature and filial piety, and a person labeled as unfilial could hardly stand before others.