Chapter 98: Ancestral Secret Recipe
Qiao Yu’an seemed to think of something too, his gaze toward Lu Chengjing gaining two parts eagerness as he awaited the answer.
Lu Chengjing did not answer but instead asked, “Is someone from the Qiao family ill?”
“It’s my eldest cousin.” A trace of worry appeared in Qiao Yu’an’s brows and eyes. “He invited friends to go horseback riding outside the city and accidentally fell off the horse, getting his right leg trampled and broken by the horse’s hoof. If it can’t be cured, he might become lame in the future.”
Qiao Yu’an’s eldest cousin had a straightforward personality and many friends. Lu Chengjing had been dragged by Qiao Yu’an to dine with this eldest cousin a few times, and his impression of him was decent.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Chengjing said, “My injuries have always been treated by Doctor Yuan from the village, with healing medicine used in addition to drinking decoctions.”
Given Qiao Yu’an’s understanding of his friend, he naturally heard that the key was the healing medicine.
The village doctor had another name: Barefoot Doctor.
It wasn’t that Barefoot Doctors had poor medical skill; rather, doctors with superb medical skill could spread their fame even if hidden deep in the mountains.
Elm Tree Village was neither far nor near from the county town. If this Doctor Yuan truly had outstanding medical skill, it was impossible for there to be no news at all.
He didn’t beat around the bush with Lu Chengjing and directly asked, “Where did this healing medicine come from?”
Lu Chengjing glanced at Shang Wan.
Qiao Yu’an then suspiciously looked at Shang Wan too. “You bought it?”
Shang Wan: “I made it.”
“Oh, you made…” Qiao Yu’an paused, his eyes widening hugely. “You’re a doctor?!”
It wasn’t surprising that he was shocked; Shang Wan didn’t look like a doctor no matter how you looked at her.
“Not a doctor.” Shang Wan began to bluff. “It’s my family’s ancestral secret recipe, passed down to daughters but not sons, and quite effective for treating trauma and bruises.”
Qiao Yu’an didn’t believe Shang Wan and sought confirmation from his friend. “Cheng Jing, is it really the ancestral secret recipe of Shang… uh, your younger brother’s wife?”
Shang Wan secretly raised an eyebrow. He changed his words pretty quickly.
Lu Chengjing nodded. “Niangzi took it out to treat my wounds, and that’s how I learned of it.”
“So that’s how it is.” Qiao Yu’an touched his nose, somewhat regretting his previous poor attitude toward Shang Wan.
Just as he was pondering how to ask Shang Wan to sell him some ointment, Xiao Huan finished hanging the clothes and came over carrying a bamboo basket. “Sis, it’s about time to cook. When are we going into the mountains?”
“Right now.” Shang Wan pinched off a piece of pastry and fed it to Xiao Huan, then said to Lu Chengjing and the other two, “You all chat. Xiao Huan and I are going into the mountains.”
Xiao Huan knew many wild vegetables and could distinguish poisonous mushrooms from edible ones. Shang Wan planned to take Xiao Huan into the mountains to gather some and use mountain delicacies and wild game to entertain the guests.
Qiao Yu’an watched Shang Wan and the other leave with his own eyes, his brows and eyes drooping dejectedly.
A Le heard that Shi Tou was farming and immediately abandoned his own young master, happily running off to catch up with Shi Tou.
Qiao Yu’an brought over a bench and sat down beside the wheelchair. “Let me ask you, does your younger brother’s wife have any more ancestral ointment?”
Lu Chengjing: “Yes.”
“Sell me a box.” Qiao Yu’an found it much easier to ask Lu Chengjing, grinning as he said, “I’ll take it back for my eldest cousin to try.”
Lu Chengjing shook his head. “No.”
“Lu Chengjing!” Qiao Yu’an glared. “You won’t even part with one box of ointment? Are we still brothers?”
Lu Chengjing sighed. “After all, it’s Niangzi’s ancestral secret recipe, and the ointment is in Niangzi’s hands. I can’t arbitrarily decide to sell it to you.”
“You you you…” Qiao Yu’an “you”ed for a long time without follow-up, unfolding his folding fan and fanning vigorously, fanning Lu Chengjing until he couldn’t help but sneeze.
Seeing this, he quickly folded up the folding fan and stopped fanning.
Lu Chengjing looked at him. “What did you want to tell me back at the county yamen?”
“Oh, it’s that your younger brother’s wife is red…” Qiao Yu’an tapped his mouth with the folding fan. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?
Seeing Lu Chengjing still staring at him, he hesitated for a moment, looked around, and lowered his voice. “I once accidentally saw your younger brother’s wife pulling and tugging with a strange man in an alley, and even… even hugging and embracing.”
Lu Chengjing’s expression darkened.
“I hesitated for a long time about whether to tell you.” Qiao Yu’an observed his friend’s expression and comforted, “There might be some misunderstanding. Find a chance to ask your younger brother’s wife.”
After all, he hadn’t caught them in bed. What if he had seen wrong?
“No need to ask.” Lu Chengjing said, “I already know about this.”
“Pfft—” Qiao Yu’an sprayed out a mouthful of medicinal tea, choking him into a coughing fit.
“Cough cough, you… cough, cough, when did you find out?”
Lu Chengjing said, “Before you.”
Qiao Yu’an fell silent for a moment, stealing a glance at his friend’s head, feeling like he saw a sheen of green light.
Lu Chengjing could tell what Qiao Yu’an was thinking with one glance and said slowly, “This matter is complicated, not what you think. Niangzi is great. I respect and trust her. You shouldn’t overthink it in the future either.”
Qiao Yu’an once again suspected that Shang Wan had fed Lu Chengjing some kind of love potion. His friend clearly wasn’t like this before!
He said, “This is a family matter. As long as you know in your heart, that’s fine.”
Lu Chengjing nodded and asked about the matter he had entrusted to Qiao Yu’an at the county yamen last time.
“I’ve been having people keep an eye on the Ge family the whole time.”
Qiao Yu’an took a sip of medicinal tea. It had a refreshing mint flavor and was quite palatable, so he couldn’t help taking two more sips.
Lu Chengjing didn’t urge him, flipping through the books Qiao Yu’an had brought, all of which he didn’t have yet.
Qiao Yu’an set down the tea bowl and said, “As you expected, something did happen in the Ge family.”
“Who?”
“Ge Shunliang’s madam.”
Lu Chengjing frowned. “What happened to his madam?”
Qiao Yu’an spat out two words: “Died for love.”
Lu Chengjing: “…”
“Isn’t it surprising?” Qiao Yu’an sighed. “This madam was also a devoted person. It’s said that after bringing back Ge Shunliang’s corpse, she stopped eating and drinking, and hanged herself in the room in the middle of the night. By the time the maid discovered her, the body was already stiff.”
Lu Chengjing asked, “What about the others in the mansion?”
“Naturally, they buried the two together.” Qiao Yu’an said, “That old steward is an honest man who protects the young masters and misses in the mansion. Perhaps afraid they would be sad staying in the mansion, he sent them to the separate courtyard outside the city, with guards so numerous it’s like watching treasures.”
Lu Chengjing sneered inwardly. Weren’t they just treasures?
Qiao Yu’an asked curiously, “Hasn’t the matter with Ge Shunliang been settled? Why are you still having me watch the Ge family?”
“The matter with Ge Shunliang has indeed been settled.”
Qiao Yu’an waited for the rest, but Lu Chengjing seemed to be pondering something and suddenly stopped talking, leaving him anxious and frustrated.
Fortunately, Lu Chengjing didn’t take long before continuing, “This matter has some relation to the Lu family.”
“Didn’t you say you’re not going back to the Lu family?” Qiao Yu’an tapped the tea bowl. “Why bother caring about the Lu family’s affairs?”
“It’s not caring.” Lu Chengjing lowered his eyes to stare at the table. “I just have doubts about some things and want to get to the bottom of it.”
“Selling suspense again.” Qiao Yu’an didn’t need to think to know his friend wasn’t planning to tell him everything, but he didn’t intend to press for details either.
Who doesn’t have a few family matters that can’t be shared with outsiders?
He asked, “Should we continue watching the Ge family’s movements?”
Lu Chengjing nodded. “Thanks for the trouble.”
“It’s just a matter of a few words, no need for me to watch personally.” Qiao Yu’an’s eyes turned, and he smiled. “If you really want to thank me, help me settle the bill, and put in a good word for me with your younger brother’s wife.”
