Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 113: Chapter 62: The Butcher Recovers and Takes a Break from Business

Rumors about Prince Mu’s broken sleeve spread quickly, soon sweeping through the entire Liuzhou Region. Eunuch Yuan Bao, in tears, had no choice but to report the truth.

Some said Prince Mu fancied Gu Changsheng’s husband, even going so far as to coerce a decent man into debauchery, forcefully taking him away, and out of a sense of righteousness, he did not hesitate to issue a king’s decree on behalf of Gu Changsheng. Others claimed Prince Mu’s love for Gu Changsheng’s husband was stronger than gold. While it was no secret that the nobility and high officials kept catamites, his blatant acknowledgment made him the first of his kind, truly worthy of being a Great General. Some speculated about the various outcomes of this forbidden love, and others said Gu Changsheng was actually a pitiful…

Some also said…

In any case, there were many versions, and the public’s gossip thrived vigorously, carrying a strong sense of autonomy.

Whenever Xiao Cui and Dong Lei went out to buy vegetables and grains, they always brought back various rumors, which they then narrated to their own lady like telling a story.

Seeing the look of longing on their lady’s face each time after listening, Xiao Cui deeply felt that rumors were but clouds, and their lady loved the ever-changing clouds!

...

In the blink of an eye, the seven-day free clinic session ended. Uncle Song had also found a courtyard house under Baili Mountain, with a rental fee of ten taels of patterned silver for three months.

Gu Changsheng felt the price was fair and gladly accepted it.

Butcher Wang’s wounds had also nearly healed. Early that day, Gu Changsheng instructed Xiao Cui and others to pack their luggage and hire a horse cart.

“Butcher Wang, your life is saved. Seeing as our house is about to be renovated, I won’t keep you any longer. The consultation fee is ten thousand taels, not a penny less. If you can’t repay it in your lifetime, then your son and grandson can continue. After all, repaying debt is only natural. You won’t deny that, right?” Gu Changsheng earnestly watched Butcher Wang being helped up by Wang’s wife.

“It was my foolish parents who caused trouble for Lady Changsheng because of their greed.” Butcher Wang gasped for air and continued, “I acknowledge the debt for saving my life again, and Lady Changsheng, don’t worry, Butcher Wang is not an ungrateful man. Ten thousand taels of silver is the debt my family owes you; I assure you not a penny will be missing.”

Seeing Wang’s wife nodding her head in gratitude too, this way of dealing somewhat embarrassed the robbing Gu Changsheng, who was good at dealing softly rather than harshly, and sheepishly touched her nose, “As long as you remember, that’s enough. I won’t come knocking for the debt. A tael a month will do, right? Your descendants will certainly carry on, so let’s agree on that.”

Butcher Wang and his wife exchanged a look, and immediately, Wang’s wife knelt down on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, “Lady is supremely kind. My Wang family will remember your lifesaving grace forever.”

Butcher Wang earned his living by slaughtering pigs, a job neither good nor bad but necessary for the people and generally profitable. With daily earnings of about eight or ten taels of silver, paying back one tael per month was virtually negligible.

Butcher Wang clearly understood this was Gu Changsheng’s kindness. Despite his rugged face still showing signs of illness, his gratitude was evident, “Lady Changsheng, your great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by me. My whole family still depends on me to provide, and I won’t hold back in niceties. I’ll pay you back three taels of silver a month, and all the pork needed by your family in the future is on me.”

“Exactly, all freshly slaughtered pork will be delivered to Lady first,” added Wang’s wife.

Gu Changsheng touched her nose feeling embarrassed; it seems they wouldn’t have to pay for meat in the future, which was truly great!

“Actually, I really don’t need your bit of silver, but rules are rules. The ten thousand taels lifesaving silver, I still have to collect it. However, the terms can be flexible,” she never made exceptions, not even for the Chancellor’s Family—how could she treat Butcher Wang differently?

Watching the endless supply of high-quality construction materials being delivered to the Gu family, Butcher Wang realized, Lady Changsheng truly didn’t lack money!

“Go back and recover for a month. In the meantime, Elder Xu and Chief Hu will come regularly to change your bandages. After a month, go back to your butchering,” Gu Changsheng waved her hand, signaling them to leave.

Butcher Wang and his wife, grateful beyond words, took their leave.

At the entrance of Gu Family Medical Hall, a crowd had already gathered early. The news of Butcher Wang returning home had spread far and wide. Neighbors and doctors from all over Liuzhou City gathered at the entrance of Gu Family Medical Hall to see the outcome for themselves.

“He’s out! He’s out!” someone sharp-eyed shouted first.

“He walked out!”

“He’s alive! Really didn’t die!”

Exclamations rose sporadically as the crowd watched in amazement as Butcher Wang, supported by Wang’s wife, slowly walked out of the medical hall.

“Oh my son, you finally came out…” Old Lady Wang cried out, pushing through the crowd, ready to rush forward, but she paused just as she was about to step into the medical hall.

She really dared not enter Gu Family Medical Hall on her own anymore.

“Son…” Old Lady Wang stopped outside the threshold, calling out with deep affection.

Butcher Wang glanced at her, sighed, and remained silent.

“Butcher Wang, are you alright? What about the cut on your stomach?” a neighbor spoke up, pointing at Butcher Wang’s stomach, “I carried you in, let me see the cut on your stomach.”

Butcher Wang did not refuse, giving his wife a look to signal her to help him unbuckle his belt.

As one side of his shirt was opened, the onlookers anxiously covered their eyes.

The blood-soaked appearance of Butcher Wang’s wound was still vivid in their minds, and it was a bit hard for them to look.

“Is this healed?” The doctors were merely slightly better, and someone excitedly stepped forward two paces.

“How was this done? Are these stitches?” another person incredulously placed a hand over the scar left by the sutures.

“It’s really healed, truly healed. Where are Elder Xu, Chief Hu, Doctor Liu, and Doctor Liang? Quickly, find them and ask again how this was done!” the crowd looked up and around, but the doctors were nowhere to be seen.

Butcher Wang really did not die, that wound, and yet he did not die!

The crowd marveled incessantly, their breaths rising and falling in waves.

Butcher Wang tidied his clothes, glanced at the bruises on his elderly parents’ faces, waved away his wife’s support, and slowly walked out. His steps were slow, but each one declared that he was still alive, able to walk, truly alive!

As Butcher Wang emerged, the crowd at the door collectively stepped back, clearing the way for him.

Wang’s wife followed him worriedly, her hands slightly raised, ready to support him at any moment.

Three steps from the threshold of the medical hall, Butcher Wang stopped, turned to face the gates of Gu Family Medical Hall, bent both knees, and with a “thud”, knelt down.

“Slaughtering pigs…” Wang’s wife called out in a tense voice and also knelt down beside him.

“Divine Doctor Lady Changsheng, I, Butcher Wang, will never forget this in my lifetime, nor will my descendants from the Wang family, the ten thousand taels consultation fee as the price of my life. My family will repay the debt without shorting a single cent, I apologize on behalf of my parents to you!”

“Thud, thud, thud!”

Three loud bangs resounded, striking at the hearts of the onlookers.

Ten thousand taels of consultation fee can truly save lives! Lady Changsheng, indeed a Divine Doctor!

Uncle Song appeared at the entrance of the medical hall, greeted the crowd with a gesture, “My wife said, the seven-day period of free consultations has ended, the Gu Family Medical Hall is being renovated, and starting from today it will be closed. After the renovations, ten taels for a consultation, ten thousand taels will save a life, let Butcher Wang go home and recuperate.”

Supported by his wife, Butcher Wang bowed to Uncle Song, then withdrew to one side, where Old Lady Wang, with a face wet with old tears, leaned against him.

The crowd was shocked; a consultation would cost ten taels!

“Doesn’t that mean we can’t afford to seek treatment?” someone in humble clothing asked.

“My wife said, after the medical hall reopens, on the first and fifteenth of every month, free consultations will be offered. If you are strapped for cash, queue up early on those days,” Uncle Song stated calmly and assertively.

“Free consultations on the first and fifteenth?” someone else asked.

“My wife said, on free consultation days, no charges for the poor, but the wealthy are not treated,” Uncle Song added another bow and announced loudly, “Everyone, on the day the medical hall reopens, the County Prince’s Order will be made into a plaque and hung at the front of the medical hall. If anyone comes to make trouble without cause, their survival isn’t guaranteed. If genuinely seeking medical advice, Gu Family Medical Hall welcomes you.”

After Uncle Song finished speaking, he turned and went back to the inner courtyard without further ado.

“Son, Lady Changsheng has hit me, she won’t trouble me again, right?” Old Lady Wang, clutching at Butcher Wang’s sleeve, asked with trepidation.

The crowd glanced at the closed door panels of Gu Family Medical Hall then quickly turned their attention to Old Lady Wang’s words.

Butcher Wang glared at his mother and raised his voice, “Lady Changsheng is not that type of person. When I was at the medical hall, I was treated well with excellent medicine provided without charge. If you hadn’t been greedy and caused a scene, how would you have angered Lady Changsheng? She worked herself to exhaustion to save my life, yet you still act like this; who could endure that?”

“Ten thousand taels worth of debt to save a life, I feel it’s worth it!” declared Butcher Wang. With his wife’s support, he walked out, as Lady Changsheng had said, he should recuperate well within a month.

The crowd watched the family leave, exchanging glances.

“Actually, what Butcher Wang said makes sense.”

“But Lady Changsheng really is fierce.”

“Ever heard of ‘the skilled are bold’? Which famous doctor doesn’t have a bit of temper?”

“For an abandoned wife to rise to this stature is indeed rare…”

“Hasn’t she already remarried?”

“In that case, can Lady Changsheng keep it up? Have you seen a bridal sedan carry Lady Changsheng through the door?”

……

A secret room.

A Person in Black stared intently at the man before him, his voice laced with menace, “Xiao Chengwen, think it through. Zhou Mu is sent on an expedition to Southern Fujian this time, naval battles are different from land battles, he will assuredly not return this time. Liuzhou will sooner or later be in the Prince’s grip, if you don’t decide now, you may not even be able to share in the spoils.”

The man named Xiao Chengwen wore an expression of difficulty, hesitating.

“As the saying goes, seek wealth and danger. Besides, this has no risk whatsoever. Simply align yourself with the Prince; once the time is ripe, you will surely be ennobled and appointed as Chancellor, enjoying endless glory and wealth.”

A glint flashed across Xiao Chengwen’s face, and he finally nodded.