Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 351: Chapter 226: The Gentleman Who Bared His Belly Chapter 351: Chapter 226: The Gentleman Who Bared His Belly “Alright!” Under Dong Lei’s anxious persuasion, Gu Changsheng nonchalantly uttered a word, his lips curling into a smirk as he looked at Huo Shuixian, “What should you do if I were to persuade Mr. Ban Shan to come out of retirement?”

“Tsch!” Huo Shuixian scoffed, her face brimming with dismissive confidence, “Dream on!”

Huo Shuixian firmly believed Gu Changsheng could never win. Who was Mr. Ban Shan? He had disregarded numerous summonses from the Court, so why would he serve such a lowlife?

This was simply impossible!

Gu Changsheng shrugged indifferently, his long fingers pointing at Huo Shuixian, his Phoenix Eyes slightly squinting, “If I were able to persuade Mr. Ban Shan to come out of retreat, Miss, would you kindly roll out of my sight and stop polluting the air I breathe, alright?”

As Gu Changsheng spoke, his fingers shook disdainfully.

“You!” Huo Shuixian’s complexion suddenly became flushed with anger, her teeth clenched and her fingers tightly gripped.

The two stood–one at the doorway, the other inside the hall–in an atmosphere tense as drawn swords, smoky as if the next moment would transform the place into a blood-splattered battlefield.

“What are you doing?” The Little Pageboy Scholar Yan Tai, returning to the front courtyard, sensed the sinister and dangerous atmosphere and furrowed his brow.

“Nothing!” Gu Changsheng shrugged innocently; indeed, she had done nothing, but the Beauty across from her seemed desperate to tear her apart.

Scholar Yan Tai looked incredulously around at both of them and then at Huo Shuixian in the room, spoke assertively, “Miss Huo, my master requests your presence.”

The previously tense Huo Shuixian suddenly smiled radiantly upon hearing this, casting a disdainful and triumphant glance at Gu Changsheng, lifting her chin proudly.

“Did you hear that? Mr. Ban Shan requests us! Gu Changsheng, I told you, with your vulgar incompetence, ignorant of literature and basics, Uncle Zhou doesn’t even deign to meet you! Not to mention anyone else!”

Gu Changsheng’s eyebrows quirked slightly, and he took a deep breath.

The faint medicinal fragrance on the Little Pageboy felt so familiar…

“Hmph! Like maid, like master!” Scholar Yan Tai glanced idiotically at Huo Shuixian; during their stay, he had grown quite displeased with them, and seeing her rudeness now, he scoffed all the more.

Under Huo Shuixian’s shocked gaze, Scholar Yan Tai turned toward Gu Changsheng and slightly bowed, “Scholar Yan Tai greets Lady Changsheng, my master requests your presence.”

This impudent little pageboy, so arrogant towards her, was bowing to Gu Changsheng!

She was the Legitimate Young Miss of the Grand Tutor’s Mansion! And yet, there was a day she was treated differently!

Why?

“My master is in the backyard, please follow me,” said Scholar Yan Tai, and then gestured invitingly to Gu Changsheng, “Lady Changsheng, this way, please.”

Seeing this, Huo Shuixian walked out indignantly, casting a hostile glance at Gu Changsheng, and spoke bitterly, “What tricks have you used now?”

“None, really. This is all happening right under your eyes, and I haven’t even said much. What tricks could I possibly have played?” Gu Changsheng spread her hands innocently, “Miss, you’re really overthinking this, and that can lead to premature graying, you know…”

“Hmph!” Huo Shuixian huffed disdainfully and hurried towards Scholar Yan Tai.

Gu Changsheng raised her eyebrows slightly, smiled ambiguously, and also headed towards the backyard.

This small courtyard looked unassuming from the outside, and the front courtyard was quite ordinary too, but upon reaching the backyard, one felt invigorated, for it was filled with the fragrance of ink and books, richly aromatic.

But as soon as Gu Changsheng turned her head, her lips suddenly twitched violently.

There, on a rockery in the backyard, lay an elder in disheveled clothes, basking in the sun, and occasionally patting his exposed belly!

“Yikes!” Huo Shuixian exclaimed at the front, quickly covering her eyes and turning around.

Gu Changsheng’s eyes gleamed as she stared at the shiny belly, glaringly bright under the sun…

“Dressed inappropriately, losing decorum, and as a woman, you still stare unabashedly!” Huo Shuixian turned her back, casting a contemptuous glance at Gu Changsheng, who was engrossed in her observation.

She had heard that Mr. Ban Shan was unrestrained by nature, but who would have thought he’d be this unbridled, lying disheveled in the yard even knowing female guests were present!

This was simply, simply disrespectful to his age!

“Pfft!” Gu Changsheng intently watched the old man, seemingly sleeping blissfully, and tried hard not to laugh, but eventually, she couldn’t help bursting out laughing.

“Hey! You mustn’t laugh!” Scholar Yan Tai immediately turned his head, giving Gu Changsheng a warning look.

“Sorry, sorry.” Gu Changsheng hurriedly stifled her laughter, her face still amused as she explained, “I had only heard that ancient people had the custom of sun-curing books, never expected to see a real-life version today.”

There were haughty literary scholars who adhered to the belief “their belly held poetry and books”, demonstrating their talent and unique taste by baring their bellies, for which Gu Changsheng internally gave Mr. Ban Shan thirty-two thumbs up for his eccentricity.

Bold indeed! To bare his chest in front of female guests and still remain as composed as ever!

“In the autumn evening with books in the sun, washing the medicinal stone in fragrant springs, Mr. presents such refined tastes, your old neck ailment must have improved greatly,” Gu Changsheng took a step forward and bowed deeply in greeting.

Yantai was shocked by the woman before him, not expecting such insight from a mere medicine lady.

“With months of medicinal paste application, it’d be difficult for this old man not to recover, Lady Changsheng, it’s been months since we last met, how have you fared?” Seeing that his book basking was interrupted, Mr. Ban Shan sighed, lifted his hem, and sat up cross-legged from the rockery.

Seeing his face, Gu Changsheng smiled wryly, her guess had been correct, this Mr. Ban Shan, with his white face and long beard, despite his age, had an undeniably scholarly demeanor, was the same elder who had come to the medical hall for the grand opening charity service months ago.

At the time, he had been treated for an old neck ailment, Gu Changsheng had specifically concocted Musk Wind-Chasing Paste for him, which had a strong volatility. If one stayed close for a long time, even the Scholar Yan Tai would smell of its medicinal fragrance.

“To have alleviated Mr. Ban Shan’s pain is a fortunate deed for Changsheng, but to disturb your book sunning is truly my fault,” Gu Changsheng, unusually observant of formalities, once again bowed deeply.

Huo Shuixian turned her head in disbelief, seeing the two conversing joyfully, she felt a touch of annoyance, but she did not dare to lose her temper in front of Mr. Ban Shan.

A man of Mr. Ban Shan’s prestige, whose single commendation could elevate one to the clouds, while his denunciation could disgrace one utterly, even Huo Shuixian wouldn’t risk misbehaving in front of him.

“Huo Shuixian has seen Uncle Zhou.” Timidly turning her head to see Mr. Ban Shan had arranged his clothes, Huo Shuixian quickly straightened herself and slightly bowed in greeting.

Only then did Mr. Ban Shan look her way, casually stroking his beard, and spoke unchangingly, “Huo family’s old man’s granddaughter? Well, you turned out not so bad…”

Upon hearing this, Huo Shuixian cheerfully bowed again, “Thank you, Mr. Ban Shan, grandfather often mentions Uncle Zhou, always with high praise, saying Uncle Zhou is a rare literary scholar of this era, with vast knowledge and extraordinary talent that is truly admirable…”

Mr. Ban Shan waved his hand dismissively to interrupt, “Less flattery, haven’t you already left? Why come back now?”

“Huo Shuixian has specially prepared a modest gift to thank Uncle Zhou for your hospitality a few days ago.” At these words, Huo Shuixian quickly signaled a servant with her eyes.

Two house servants understood immediately and stepped forward with two gift boxes.

“Huo Shuixian is fortunate to have acquired a Duan Inkstone from Zhaoqing, which seems quite aged, but I am unsure of its exact era; I humbly request Uncle Zhou’s appraisal.” Huo Shuixian took a gift box and handed it to Scholar Yan Tai, a refined smile on her face, “I heard Uncle Zhou enjoys tea, this is some crude tea I brought from the Capital City, I hope Uncle Zhou won’t find it too meager.”

Scholar Yan Tai took the gift box, opened it, and handed it to Mr. Ban Shan.

Mr. Ban Shan glanced down at it and nodded in satisfaction, “Good, a superior Duan Inkstone from the previous dynasty, you’re thoughtful.”

“Thank Uncle Zhou for your kind praise,” Huo Shuixian bowed again, casting a mocking glance at Gu Changsheng.

“Lady Changsheng, what gift have you brought for your visit to this old man?” Mr. Ban Shan only glanced at the inkstone before turning his head to Gu Changsheng, his wise eyes gleaming continuously.

Gu Changsheng looked at the two young boys following her, and awkwardly touched her nose.

She had originally planned to prepare the Four Treasures of the Study as a gift, but then thought it seemed too contrived, so she opted for the more common teacher-appreciation gift instead.

Now, with Huo Shuixian’s elaborate gifts set before her, it felt somewhat difficult to present hers.

But as Mr. Ban Shan continued to look at her eagerly, avoiding was clearly not an option, so Gu Changsheng cleared her throat and loudly responded, “Ten strips of cured meat and one of each type of chicken, duck, fish, and pork shank!”

“Cough!” The scholar who managed the inkstone covered his mouth and chuckled softly.

“Tsk!” Huo Shuixian couldn’t help but snicker loudly.

“Oh? Bring them here and let me see,” Mr. Ban Shan waved at the pageboy.

“Yes!” The Little Pageboy Yan Tai stifled his laughter, responded affirmatively, turned around, took Gu Changsheng’s gift, and presented it afore.

“It is said that it’s the thought that counts rather than the gift; I originally wanted to bring goose feathers, but I feared that would offend you, sir, so I prepared this adequate gift instead, I hope you won’t mind,” Gu Changsheng hurriedly explained as the gift was presented.

Poor thing, when she had been pondering over the gift, she had become so frantic that she genuinely considered just giving a goose feather, but her family vehemently opposed it, so she dropped the idea.

Giving gifts is indeed a technique; both too lavish and too modest gifts can miss the mark, Gu Changsheng finally chose the most practical one, reasoning that even if Mr. Ban Shan didn’t accept it, at least it could still be eaten when taken home!

But then there was the matter of her bet with Zhou Zongbao, which made Gu Changsheng a bit nervous…

It seemed Mr. Ban Shan had to accept the gift whether he liked it or not, because Gu Changsheng didn’t plan to give him the chance to decline!

“Yes, a gift that’s appealing in look, scent, and taste; indeed a good ceremonial gift, but the implication of this gift, however, puzzles this old man,” Mr. Ban Shan first nodded in satisfaction, then shook his head.