Chapter 162: Clearing Up
As the patients in the neighboring city dwindled, Su Yaoguang and the others finally had some leisure time.
Su Yaoguang found people from the government office and explained to them that the epidemic here was under control; they just needed to take the medicine according to Jiang Jing’s prescription on time, and the remaining patients would fully recover.
Her meaning was that they were no longer needed here. Rather than having people from the outer city stay here to do good deeds, it would be better to arrange her own confidants here to do good deeds, so that when the imperial envoy saw it, he would more believe that he was a good official who loved the people like his own children.
The county magistrate listened to her words and was indeed moved, agreeing to let them go home.
As soon as the county magistrate agreed, Su Yaoguang and the others immediately packed their things and left the neighboring city without stopping, hurrying back to their home.
Zhaodi leaned against the carriage wall, pounding her arms and said, “I’m exhausted, exhausted. After we get back, I need a good rest, and the shop will close for a few days first!”
“Boss Su… Great Benefactor Su…”
“Granny Zhang…”
“Doctor Jiang, is Doctor Jiang inside?”
The horse-drawn carriage was blocked at the city gate.
Su Yaoguang lifted the curtain and looked at the crowd of men, women, elderly, and young outside, asking loudly, “What’s the matter?”
Driving the horse-drawn carriage were Zhou Wangshu and Wang Huanzhi. The people recognized these two faces, so when they saw them, they knew whose carriage it was and who was inside, thus blocking it.
“Boss Su, are you heading home?”
Su Yaoguang recognized these people as patients they had once cared for, with pockmark scars of varying depths still on their faces.
“Yes, we have to go home. Everyone, come visit us when you have time; meeting is fate, and next time we meet, we’ll be friends.” Su Yaoguang said with a smile, “Don’t mind the scars on your faces. My family runs a rouge shop, and we have a face cream specially for scars. If you come, I’ll recognize you old friends by the marks on your faces and charge you only the cost price.”
“Boss Su, Doctor Jiang, Granny Zhang, you living Bodhisattvas, we won’t forget your kindness. You saved our lives.”
“These are mutton buns made at my home; take them to eat on the road. I hope you don’t mind our crude craftsmanship.”
“These are vegetables grown at my home; take them too, to add a few dishes when you get home.”
“These are sheep raised at my home; take one back to eat mutton.”
……
Su Yaoguang saw the scene getting somewhat out of control, quickly thanked everyone for their kindness, and then said, “Everyone, we’ve received your kind intentions. You’ve just recovered from a serious illness and need to condition your bodies; take these things back for yourselves to eat. Once your health improves and your family business picks up, you’re welcome to come find me. Alright, we need to hurry, or it will get dark.”
Zhou Wangshu waved the whip and shouted loudly, “Make way, please make way quickly. This horse is startled; be careful it doesn’t kick you.”
The horse was of course not startled, but if Zhou Wangshu wanted it to be startled, it was startled. The people saw the horse kicking wildly, fearing it would hurt Su Yaoguang and the others, so they quickly made way, watching them leave in a cloud of dust.
After leaving the neighboring city, everyone looked at each other and smiled.
Jia Chunni leaned on Zhang Pandi’s lap and happily closed her eyes.
Life now is really good.
Lately, she rarely dreamed of the days when her father and grandma beat and scolded her.
Doing so much work, in the past not only did she have to do all kinds of chores and heavy labor, but she was also cursed as a money-loser, humiliated and whipped at the drop of a hat, as if she shouldn’t exist. She ate the worst in the family and never wore a good piece of clothing from childhood to now. But now it’s different; she still does a lot of work, but they call her living Bodhisattva, good girl, little fairy. She can eat her fill every day and eat lots of meat. She has new clothes to wear, instead of ill-fitting clothes and shoes, not even daring to lift her head.
“Wangshu, you and your uncle-in-law take turns driving. Rest when you’re tired.” Zhaodi shouted.
“Don’t worry, Mom, I know.” Zhou Wangshu said, “You all sleep for a bit; we’ll call you when we arrive.”
Wang Huanzhi was talking with Zhou Wangshu.
“After we get back, you’ll return to the academy, right?” Wang Huanzhi asked.
Zhou Wangshu said, “Yes, that’s what I’m thinking.”
“Will you take the imperial examination?”
“Yes.”
“Do you feel confident?”
Zhou Wangshu smiled, “With my bit of ink knowledge, I really don’t feel confident. Uncle-in-law, what about you? What do you think?”
“Not afraid of you laughing, I feel my health has improved a lot lately and plan to give it a try too.” Wang Huanzhi said, “My wife has suffered a lot with me; I also want to make a name for her.”
“I’ve long heard of your talent, Uncle-in-law. If not for your health holding you back, your name would surely be on the list of successful candidates.” Zhou Wangshu said, “Uncle-in-law will surely succeed.”
When the horse-drawn carriage arrived at the county town gate, it was already after curfew.
The gate-guarding officers stood on the city wall and, seeing a horse-drawn carriage appear, shouted loudly, “The city gate is closed for today; come back tomorrow to enter.”
“Got it; we’ll find a place to rest.” Zhou Wangshu said.
“Wait… this voice sounds like Brother Zhou’s?” Captain Qian asked, “Are you people from Peach Blossom Workshop?”
Zhou Wangshu said, “Qian Xiong, it’s us. You can’t even recognize my voice?”
“Open the gate, open the gate. They are from Peach Blossom Workshop. The lord said that people from Peach Blossom Workshop can return anytime and the gate must be opened for them.”
The city gate opened, and Captain Qian led several officers out to greet them.
“Brother Zhou, Boss Su, you’re back.”
Su Yaoguang lifted the curtain and smiled in response, “Indeed. No matter how good things are outside, nothing beats one’s own hometown. If we didn’t come back soon, I would’ve gotten sick from holding it in.”
“The lord has been thinking of you every day and even sent people to inquire about your news.” Captain Qian said, “No more talk; hurry back and rest. We’ll catch up another day.”
“Alright, see you later.”
Su Yaoguang and the others returned to Peach Blossom Workshop.
Now that the epidemic was over, the whole city had returned to its usual liveliness.
When their horse-drawn carriage drove into the home doorway, they happened to see the opposite Fenghua Pavilion bustling with customers.
“Pah, while we were away, they picked up a bargain.” Zhaodi said with a face full of unhappiness, “Tomorrow we’ll open the shop; we absolutely can’t let them steal our business.”
“Mom, didn’t you say you were tired and wanted to rest well for a few days this time?” Su Yaoguang laughed.
“I just can’t stand seeing Zhong Lanhua so smug.”
“She earns hers, we earn ours. Anyway, they can’t steal our customers. Besides, if we open the shop right after returning, others will think we’re too carefree! We went out to do good deeds, so of course we need to publicize it well. We can open tomorrow, but we’ll say publicly that we just got back and need to close for half a month, though advance orders are accepted.” Su Yaoguang said.
There was commotion at Peach Blossom Workshop, and the news reached the opposite Fenghua Pavilion.
Zhong Lanhua stood at the doorway, watching Peach Blossom Workshop’s horse-drawn carriage enter, spat, and said, “Why didn’t they die out there?”
