Chapter 125: Delivering Medicine
The headmaster and the teachers covered their mouths and noses with cloth before entering the room.
They had already prepared themselves for the pungent stench, but upon entering, they found the room clean and tidy, with no odd smells; instead, the air carried a faint floral fragrance.
They looked toward the incense burner on the table. A teacher asked, “The patient is already ill; won’t lighting this incense affect his condition?”
“This isn’t ordinary incense; it’s medicinal incense,” Su Yaoguang said. “Our family doctor at home prepared it. This incense can dispel the sickly aura in the room.”
The headmaster and the teachers’ eyes lit up.
“You know, this incense really does refresh the mind and spirit. My head was feeling a bit heavy before, but now it’s much better,” the teacher said.
“I have some more here. If you teachers don’t mind, you can take some back to use,” Su Yaoguang said as she took several boxes of incense from the nearby drawer.
The headmaster and the teachers politely declined at first but eventually accepted since it was hard to refuse such kindness.
After receiving the spices, they looked at Zhou Wangshu even more eagerly. The teacher touched Zhou Wangshu’s forehead and said, “No one else has a fever; it looks like he’s improving.”
The others were vomiting and having diarrhea, making a mess of their rooms, and burning hot like little furnaces all over their bodies.
“Young lady Su, do you still have any of that medicine? We certainly won’t use it for free; we’ll keep a record of the account and have the sick people pay you the medicine money later,” the headmaster asked.
“We do have more medicine, but is it safe to administer it to them rashly? How about we have another doctor check them first? Or perhaps consult with the government office?” Su Yaoguang said. “The government office must be eager to figure out the cause of the illness too. If they agree to drug testing, I’ll bring out this medicine for everyone to try.”
Of course she was willing to provide the medicine to resolve everyone’s crisis. After all, if this illness spread further, the entire county town would become a tomb of the dead. Since she knew in advance that this would happen, she wouldn’t stand by and watch so many people die. However, she also didn’t want to take the blame. The medicine could be provided, but someone else had to make the final decision.
The headmaster and the teachers huddled together to discuss, and in the end, they all agreed to Su Yaoguang’s proposal.
They immediately went to consult the county magistrate about this matter. Once the county magistrate agreed, they would invite a few doctors to discuss the prescription together, and if there were no issues, they would try this medicine.
After the headmaster and the teachers left, Su Yaoguang returned to the room and checked Zhou Wangshu’s condition again.
No matter what the headmaster and the others decided, she had already given them a package of medicinal herbs. If they had any questions, they could also go to Jiang Jing; she had provided Jiang Jing’s information.
She had told them that Jiang Jing was the descendant of a famous doctor who had fallen on hard times and ended up wandering outside, becoming sworn sisters with her.
Jiang Jing was too young; if she couldn’t convince them, they might not let her participate in the rescue efforts. This medicine was made by her, so it couldn’t end up making others famous instead. Although her desire to save people was genuine, her habit of not wanting to suffer a loss was also real. She wanted to use this opportunity to make a name for Jiang Jing, which she deserved.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yanci was delirious from illness and vaguely heard someone crying. He struggled to open his eyes but only saw the messy room and no one there.
He pricked up his ears and listened intently, finally pinpointing the source of the sound. It came from outside the door. That robust voice belonged to no one other than Jiang Yihui. That crying sound was made by Jiang Yihuan. Her voice was soft and frail, like a little kitten; there was no one in the world who cried more beautifully than her.
“You’re still crying! Besides crying, what else can you do? I haven’t seen you visit me once even though your brother is sick. What are you doing guarding Mr. Xiao? And you have the nerve to cry?”
“Brother, Xiao Gege is very seriously ill; I can’t just ignore him,” Jiang Yihuan said aggrievedly. “Just let me stay and take care of him!”
“He’s so seriously ill, and you’re an unmarried young lady— who does he think he is to deserve your care?” Jiang Yihui cursed. “Go to my place right now, did you hear me?”
“But you don’t look sick at all!”
“That’s because my illness is mild, unlike that frail and weak good-for-nothing who can’t even handle this,” Jiang Yihui said with disgust. “Come with me right now, let’s go!”
“Let me say something to Xiao Gege first; he’ll worry if he wakes up and can’t find me. Bro… don’t pull me; I’ll go…”
Xiao Yanci got back up and used all his strength to reach the doorway, standing there and shouting at Jiang Yihui, “Let go of Huan’er, or I’ll tell the teacher where you went when you came back in the middle of the night not long ago.”
Jiang Yihui turned back and glared at the tottering Xiao Yanci. “You dare.”
“We’ll see if I dare… cough cough…” Xiao Yanci tilted his head back and glared at him angrily. “Huan’er wants to stay with me; you have no right to force her to go with you.”
Jiang Yihuan: “…”
Actually, she didn’t want to stay here that much either.
Xiao Yanci was so sick, yet he still had the strength to walk to the doorway? Really annoying.
Jiang Yihui released Jiang Yihuan and looked at her mockingly. “Fine, go ahead and follow this good-for-nothing then. The situation outside is getting worse; some people are starting to rot in the face. If you catch this illness, you can kiss that face goodbye.”
Jiang Yihuan touched her cheek, a flash of panic in her eyes.
“Xiao Gege, I’m not a doctor after all; staying here won’t help. I’ll go find a good doctor to treat you! As for my brother, he is my brother; if he’s sick, I should take care of him. I’ll look after him for a couple of days and then come back to keep you company.” Jiang Yihuan said as she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, looking as if she were being forced.
Xiao Yanci looked at Jiang Yihuan with heartache. “Huan’er, you don’t have to be afraid of him; if you don’t want to go with him, then don’t.”
Jiang Yihuan covered her face and ran out.
If she didn’t leave now, that fool wouldn’t let her go later.
She didn’t want her face to rot.
Her face was precious.
“Huan’er…” Xiao Yanci watched Jiang Yihuan’s figure, his eyes full of helpless anger. “Once I recover and pass the exam to get an official position, I’ll definitely make sure you live a good life; then your mother and brother won’t be able to bully you anymore.”
Jiang Yihuan ran far away and said to Jiang Yihui, “Bro, are you really sick?”
“How could I be?” Jiang Yihui rolled his eyes. “I’m not sick; I plan to go home. Haven’t you noticed how many empty spots there are today? It’s because more and more people are getting sick; everyone doesn’t want to stay here and risk it, so they’re clamoring to go home. I’m planning to go home too. You’re really not coming with me and intend to stay here to take care of that useless good-for-nothing?”
Jiang Yihuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Still, the play she needed to act had to continue.
“If I leave, what about Xiao Gege?”
“He hasn’t passed the exam to get an official position yet; no need to be so attentive to him. Oh wait, no one even knows if he’ll survive this. If he dies here, you’ll be the one at a big loss.” Jiang Yihui looked at her sarcastically. “Your reputation will be ruined by then, and it won’t be easy to marry into a good family.”
