Feng Lin left in disappointment. Just as he was about to walk out of the hall, he heard a polite voice from ahead. “Is this young man here to see a doctor?”
“Huh?” Feng Lin was startled for a moment. He looked at the other party—it was a young man dressed in luxurious garments. His presence was strong, but his demeanor was gentle.
Feng Lin did not know him. “And you are…”
The staff recognized him and wanted to come and greet him, but they were stopped with a glance from the branch manager.
“Oh, I’m from Spring Rejuvenation Hall,” the branch manager said cordially. “Good sir, are you feeling unwell?”
Feng Lin shook his head. “No, I’m not sick. I’m asking on behalf of my classmate.”
“May I ask for your name?”
“My name is Feng Lin.” Feng Lin clasped his hands formally in greeting.
“My surname is Hu.” The second boss returned the gesture.
“So it’s Doctor Hu.” As the other party mentioned that he was from the medical hall, Feng Lin naturally treated him as a doctor here.
The branch manager did not correct him. He smiled and said, “May I inquire about your classmate’s condition?”
Feng Lin sighed and said, “His leg was injured half a year ago. He looked for many doctors, but none of them could cure it; I think only Doctor Zhang from the medical hall can manage it. But I heard that… Doctor Zhang will never come to the medical center again.”
“Whoever said he won’t?” The branch manager coughed lightly and added, “He’ll come, he’ll be here tomorrow!”
“The consultation fee…”
“A hundred coppers, no negotiation!”
All the staff in the hall choked.
Feng Lin also choked. “A-a hundred copper coins?”
“Is it too expensive?” The branch manager blinked and hurriedly added, “My mistake. Ten copper coins!”
No matter how stupid Feng Lin was, he knew that treatment was very expensive. Not to mention Doctor Zhang from Beijing, even a barefoot doctor from the countryside could not be consulted with a mere ten copper coins.
“Didn’t they say that Doctor Zhang’s consultation fee is ten taels?” he asked doubtfully.
The branch manager’s expression did not change. “A consultation’s cheaper than a house call.”
“Cheaper… by that much?”
“Our clinic has had people die before, and business is poor. So it’s the off-season price!”
Feng Lin was left speechless again.
The staff were also dumbfounded.
Feng Lin immediately went to the village and told Xiao Liulang about the consultation. “… The consultation fee is only ten copper coins, while the medicinal fees are separate. Their business is poor right now, so I think the medicinal fees won’t be too expensive either.”
The medical hall’s business had indeed been affected, but it was still unbelievable that it was so cheap all of a sudden.
Feng Lin said excitedly, “I asked Shopkeeper Wang afterwards, and Shopkeeper Wang also said the same thing, so it can’t be fake. I happen to be on break at the end of the month. We’ll go together!”
Even the appointment date had been set. It certainly seemed to be true.
Three days later, the exam results came out, and Gu Dashun had come in second.
The candidates this time were from all over the nation, with several hundreds of participants, including many from wealthy families. Many have had private tutors since they were young, and their learning conditions were much better than Gu Dashun’s. Even so, Gu Dashun was still able to secure second place, which was truly a great honor for the Gu family.
Particularly since the questions this time had been personally set by the dean. News spread in the academy that the master was probably going to break his seclusion and recruit a disciple to pass his skills down to from this batch of candidates.
Gu Dashun felt that he stood a very good chance.
“How did Liulang do?” Old Master Gu asked.
Gu Dashun smiled. “He got in too.”
He was also second place, but from the bottom.
A total of 100 people were admitted this time, and Xiao Liulang was ranked 99th.
Thinking that he had left Xiao Liulang so far behind, Gu Dashun could not help but feel a little smug, though he said, “He hasn’t been to a private school for half a year, and has been studying hard at home. It’s already very impressive that he can get such results.”
“He’s been studying hard for so long, but he almost didn’t get in; it’s obvious that studying requires talent. In this regard, you’re much better than Liulang.” It was rare for Old Master Gu to say so much. Originally, he did not dare to harbor too much expectation for Gu Dashun, but now that the results were out, he felt confident that Gu Dashun would definitely secure the next year’s autumn examinations.
Old Master Gu was overjoyed, and asked his second son to go to town to get two catties of pork belly.
Today, it was the second branch’s turn to cook. Madam Liu knew that most of the pork belly would go into Gu Dashun’s stomach, so she secretly hid two pieces in a jar.
“Mother, you’re hiding meat!”
Gu Xiaoshun had sneaked in.
Madam Liu stumbled in fear and almost knocked the jar over. She turned around and smacked Gu Xiaoshun. “Lower your voice! What are you shouting for?!”
Gu Xiaoshun raised an eyebrow. “I want to eat meat.”
“No!” Madam Liu turned around and clutched the jar tightly.
Gu Xiaoshun snorted. “If you don’t give me some, I’ll tell Grandpa and Grandma that you’re hiding meat!”
“You…” Madam Liu was so angry that she raised her fist. Other people gave birth to sons to enjoy their life, but her own sons gave her grief instead.
Madam Liu also knew that Gu Xiaoshun was really capable of doing such a thing. Regretfully, she opened the jar and cut a small piece for him.
Before Gu Xiaoshun could even make out the taste of it, it was gone. “Only half a mouthful? There are two big pieces in the jar!”
“That’s for Ershun!” Among her two sons, only Ershun was willing to study. Madam Liu hoped that Ershun would be successful in the future, so she could follow him and bask in his glory; she certainly could not count on Xiaoshun. It would already be a blessing if he did not ruin the household in the future.
Gu Xiaoshun wanted to bring some meat to his sister, but he could not really snatch his mother’s jar by force. However, seeing that his mother was not paying attention, he removed the lid from the pot and snatched a few white steamed buns before bolting off!
“Little b*stard!” Madam Liu was riled.
White flour steamed buns were also precious to come by; usually, only Gu Dashun had them while they all ate cornmeal buns instead.
Madam Liu was so angry that she picked up a stick and chased after him. However, Gu Xiaoshun was too fast and disappeared in an instant.
Gu Xiaoshun ran straight to his sister, his hands scalded red from the steamed buns.
“Sister!” He rushed into the kitchen, but he froze as a fragrance wafted to his nostrils.
He sniffed. “Smells good, Sister. What are you cooking?”
“I found them in the wild.”
She sold two of the three pheasants from last time, and raised the remaining one for a few days before slaughtering it today.
“What’s that in your hands?” Gu Jiao looked at him.
“Steamed buns.” Gu Xiaoshun’s head drooped. He had wanted to give her something delicious, but he never thought that his sister would actually have chicken meat. In an instant, his white steamed buns seemed a little unpresentable…
Gu Jiao brought a bowl to place the steamed buns. Then, she filled a basin with cold water. “Put your hands in.”
“Oh.” Gu Xiaoshun did not ask why and obediently did as he was told. Once his hand was soaked in water, it no longer hurt.
“How about you eat here?” Gu Jiao said to him.
“Huh?” Gu Xiaoshun was taken aback.
“I had reserved a portion for you and was just thinking about how to send it over. But now that you’re here, you saved me the trouble of making the trip,” Gu Jiao said, opening the cupboard to get a bowl of raw meat. She dropped them into the pot.
Gu Xiaoshun looked at the bowl of meat and knew that her sister was not just being polite because he was here. She had really left it for him.
There was a whole drumstick inside, and he saw it all.
Gu Xiaoshun suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
He came behind Gu Jiao and bent over, resting his forehead on her back. He rubbed against her and said, “Sister, why are you so good to me? Are you actually my real mother?”