Chapter 157: Coming To The Door
Zhou Wangshu rubbed his sore ear, his gaze full of resentment and quite aggrieved.
His eyes were like those of a puppy, staring straight at the other person; anyone with a soft heart would have already cursed themselves dozens of times inwardly.
“Alright, my fault, don’t be angry anymore.” Su Yaoguang grabbed his arm and shook it. “Once this busy period is over, I’ll make pastries for you, ones you definitely haven’t tasted before.”
Zhou Wangshu let out an “oh” and considered the matter dropped.
“Boss Su, Magistrate Chen has come up the mountain with another lord. Go take a look quickly.” Aunt Wang ran over panting, finally finding the young couple.
Su Yaoguang thought of what Jiang Ziqian had said and pulled Zhou Wangshu toward the temple’s main hall.
They had just run toward the temple’s main hall when they saw many officers guarding the area. The officers saw them appear and stopped them.
“Lord Chen…” Su Yaoguang shouted toward Magistrate Chen.
Magistrate Chen turned around and saw Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu. He said something to the lord beside him. That person waved his hand, and only then did the officers let them pass.
“Lord, why have you come up the mountain?” Su Yaoguang pretended to know nothing.
“This is Lord Wang.” Magistrate Chen said, “Lord Wang is the magistrate of the neighboring city. He heard that Doctor Jiang has superb medical skills and unique insights into the epidemic, so he wants to invite Doctor Jiang to their side to treat the patients. Of course, it won’t work with just Doctor Jiang alone, so we still need your cooperation. Boss Su, can you take your family to the neighboring city? Taking care of patients here is still taking care of them; sending the patients from the neighboring city here would consume manpower and resources. It’s better to treat them right there in their neighboring city.”
“Lord Chen, a word in private.” Su Yaoguang hinted toward the side.
Magistrate Chen nodded and said to Magistrate Wang, “Excuse me for a moment.”
That Magistrate Wang had eyes on top of his head and hadn’t given Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu a proper glance. Now seeing Su Yaoguang wanting to speak to Magistrate Chen alone, there was clear displeasure between his eyebrows.
Su Yaoguang led Magistrate Chen to a corner and said, “I heard that an imperial envoy is traveling incognito. That Lord Wang clearly knows this news and wants to steal your merit.”
Magistrate Chen said, “I know. But merit isn’t important; human lives are. If he takes the initiative to save the people’s lives, that’s already good fortune for the people.”
“But you are the good official who pleads for the people. What qualification does someone like him, who is cowardly and afraid of death, have to steal this merit? I’m just not convinced; it’s not fair.”
“Boss Su, no need to be angry. This official truly doesn’t care about these things.” Magistrate Chen said mildly. “If we’re talking about thinking of the people, it should be Boss Su. Without a hot-hearted person like Boss Su and the cooperation of other merchants, what use would this official be, with no supplies, no silver, and no medicinal herbs? Although inviting you to the neighboring city to treat illnesses will record the political achievement on his head, the common people know you are the ones saving them. As long as the common people remember you, that’s enough.”
“Lord Chen, you’re too accommodating.”
“Boss Su, can you make the trip?”
“Alright, for your sake, and since the people need us, we’ll certainly help to the end.”
Magistrate Chen brought Su Yaoguang back and said to Magistrate Wang, “Boss Su has agreed. Lord Wang, this official entrusts Boss Su and the others to your care. Please treat them well. They have exerted effort and money for the people and are benefactors in the hearts of the people. If anything happens to them, the people here would a hundred times over not agree.”
Magistrate Wang smiled insincerely: “Listen to Lord Chen; as if this official would mistreat them. After the matter is accomplished, this official will surely reward them heavily.”
Merchants, aren’t they just greedy for profit? They say pretty words about risking life and death for the common people, but in the end, it’s all for benefits. As long as his benefits are sufficient, they’ll speak for him in the end.
“The patients here haven’t recovered yet. What about them?”
“Since they are patients from our county town, of course we’ll take them back to treat.”
“But they previously used medicinal herbs from our county town. Although those medicinal herbs were provided by the medicinal herb boss, our lord has to pay for them. Shouldn’t this sum of money come from the county office on your side, Lord Wang?”
“How much?”
“Preliminary estimate is about one thousand taels!” Su Yaoguang said. “We definitely can’t go by original price, but the medicinal herb boss gave cost price.”
“Alright, our county office will cover this sum.”
Magistrate Chen felt somewhat ashamed; he truly hadn’t paid any silver, only promised to apply for tax exemptions upward for the bosses. Whoever contributed the most effort would get the longest tax exemption. Strictly speaking, this money came from the imperial court.
Su Yaoguang gave him a look, and he held steady without speaking.
Once this money reached the county office, it would enter the public accounts. Their county office was already quite poor; this one thousand taels of silver could do many things for the common people.
Su Yaoguang gathered everyone, explained the situation, then formally bid farewell to the monks.
“Masters, thank you truly for your full assistance during this time. The Buddha is merciful, sending down you masters to save all beings. Once this calamity passes, the temple’s incense will surely flourish.”
“Female benefactor, this is what we should do. We seek only peace throughout the world and smooth lives for the people.” The abbot said. “If we’re talking about accumulating merit and good fortune, it has to be the female benefactor. Female benefactor, your fate has been rewritten; this time you will have your wishes fulfilled and all things go smoothly.”
“What does the master mean? Do you understand?” Zhang Zhaodi asked Zhou Wangshu beside her.
Zhou Wangshu thought of that dream and roughly guessed what it was.
The master’s gaze at Zhou Wangshu was also full of deep meaning.
“Your killing aura is too heavy; by the original trajectory, you had the look of early death. But the female benefactor chose you, and this good fortune helped you pass through the death tribulation, leading to your current life. You must learn to let go; once you let go, it is new birth.”
“I don’t quite understand what Master said.” Zhou Wangshu laughed, “But there’s one thing I know clearly, that is, I was born because of Yaoguang. As long as Yaoguang protects me, I’ll be perfectly fine.”
Magistrate Wang took everyone away.
Zhou Wangshu remembered there was still one person, and while everyone was packing things, he handed the medicinal herbs to the young monk nearby and gave him a few low-voiced instructions.
“That patient is from our county town. Because of her bad character, I’m worried she’ll cause trouble when she comes out, so I’ve locked her in the bamboo hut. You send her medicine and a bit of food every day, but don’t talk to her. Release her once her illness is cured.”
The young monk had always respected Su Yaoguang, and upon hearing it was someone who had bullied Su Yaoguang, he immediately agreed.
“I know her; she’s that detestable bad woman.” the young monk said, “Benefactor Zhou, rest assured. I’ll do as you say, and I won’t tell anyone about this.”
