Chapter 23: Throwing Out an Olive Branch

Huang Yuanchang has always taken the Huang family precepts as his rule, always remembering his duty as a physician. Thus for a long time he has not shied away from hardship, even treating disaster‑stricken sufferers for free, bearing the risk of infection, and refusing to abandon the patients of Denggu Alley.

Many people in the medicine hall called him foolish, not understanding why, and even more mocked him as a fool behind his back… He never took it seriously and simply smiled it off.

Yet the bitterness in his heart was known by no one.

Now hearing of Grandfather's plight, his heart grew even more despondent.

The Huang family has been saving and treating people for years in Xiangcheng; how many have they rescued, and what was the result? What did they receive? When refugees raided their home, none of those they had saved stepped forward, leading to the tragic deaths of his grandmother and mother.

Now Grandfather also narrowly escaped disaster outside the city… those people remain coldly indifferent.

Little does he know how angry, indignant, and hateful he felt when he first learned of it, and in an instant a doubt arose: was the principle he had always upheld truly correct?

The Huang family, generation after generation, has always been kind to others without counting profit or loss—what have they gained in return?

Though he understands that what they do is right and what a physician should do… but the world is vast and desolate; who can truly comprehend them?

Yet now, hearing the woman's words before him, it feels like a hammer striking his soul!

It makes his whole body tremble with involuntary excitement.

The young girl before him is only about sixteen, yet she possesses eyes that can see through a person's heart.

Huang Yuanchang gasped in his heart, suddenly feeling a faint, mutual respect for her.

"Miss, your words truly make me, Yuanchang, feel ashamed."

He bowed deeply.

Shen Qingquan lightly lifted him, "No need for that; I merely spoke from the heart. I admire what both of you have done, only because I cannot be as uncalculating as you are."

Old Huang was surprised, having not expected her to suddenly change tone.

"Old Huang, are you surprised?" she asked with a smiling gaze.

Old Huang hurriedly replied, "I have caused you embarrassment, miss."

Surely no one would claim they act without weighing profit and loss, right?

After all, people like to paint a rosy picture of peace.

"In this world of countless fleeting lives, now war rages and the people cannot make a living; how much can one person save? There are too many pitiable souls in this world to be rescued all."

A smile curled at her lips, yet every word she uttered pierced the heart.

"Saving one person is the physician's duty. Saving the world is the minister's role. Unfortunately, I am but a small woman; my sole wish in this life is only to protect my family."

"But in this chaotic era, how easy is it to keep one's family safe?"

Old Huang thought of his tragically dead wife and daughter‑in‑law, and sorrow flashed across his face.

As he finished speaking, the woman in the light and shadow smiled gently.

"You're right. Then… I must become a sharp blade, forcing the world to yield before me."

She spoke as if in jest, yet as if offhand,

causing Old Huang to pause slightly in surprise.

He looked at the girl before him in astonishment; she stood casually, light and shadow falling on her, a faintly indifferent, disdainful smile curling at her lips.

Though her posture seemed careless, the sharp aura that blossomed in that instant shocked him!

Until she left, Old Huang hadn't come to his senses.

He didn't regain his senses until she left.

Then his grandson's voice came, "…Grandfather? Grandfather?"

He snapped back to awareness, meeting Huang Yuanchang's concerned gaze, "What's wrong with you?"

He said softly, then took a deep breath, "Chang Er, what do you think of Miss Shen's family?"

He said softly, then took a deep breath, "Chang Er, what do you think of Miss Shen's family?"

Huang Yuanchang paused, then replied, "They are a very kind family."

"You're right, but also… not entirely. Did you catch the deeper meaning in Miss Shen's words just now?"

"Grandfather, what do you mean?"

"You fool, she's teasing me."

Old Huang looked at his grandson's bewildered expression and shook his head helplessly.

That Miss Shen was only fifteen or sixteen, while his own grandson was nearly twenty, yet still understood nothing; could it truly be because of family background?

In his view,

it's not entirely so.

The girl's cleverness is something he has rarely seen in his life!

"She frankly says she is not someone who acts without weighing profit and loss; that is, she doesn't help people on a whim, yet she saved me."

"Grandfather's meaning…?"

"She is extending an olive branch to me."

Old Huang stroked his long beard and smiled toward the courtyard.

"Huh?" Huang Yuanchang was a bit startled, "But… why? We are merely physicians; what could we scheme for?"

"You fool, she has far better insight than you do."

Seeing he didn't get it, he tapped his head irritably.

This grandson is fine in other respects, but is too dull in social finesse.

Today, the things Shen's family intentionally revealed—whether the fine grains, the mysterious peculiar pills, or the edge she just displayed—were all deliberately offered to him.

Given her caution, she would never casually expose these to outsiders.

Yet now she shows them without hesitation, which can only mean one thing: it's intentional.

Coupled with her earlier words, he now has a conjecture about her purpose.

She has cast the bait; whether they bite is up to them.

【61】 Understanding this, Old Huang was instantly both laughing and sighing in disbelief.

Indeed, you truly are a person with a delicate mind in all seven orifices.

I truly don't know what kind of family could have produced such a person.

Glancing again at his dumbfounded grandson, Huang Lao couldn't help but press his hand to his forehead.

Enough, enough—my foolish grandson, no matter how stupid, cannot be remade in the furnace again.

"Chang Er, these times are getting tougher; for the future, Grandfather may need to seriously consider his plans…"

"Grandfather, whatever decision you make, I, your grandson, will support you."

Huang Yuanchang, though he didn't fully grasp the meaning of Grandfather's earlier words, had trusted his Grandfather above all else for many years.

He had never doubted.

Huang Lao looked at his earnest, steadfast grandson, gratefully patted his shoulder; his Chang Er, though taciturn and slow, still retained the true nature of a Huang family son.

He had always felt pride for him in his heart.

"Alright, whatever the future holds, the three of us descendants will walk forward together."

Huang Yuanchang nodded heavily, "Grandfather, it's windy outside; may I help you back to the courtyard to rest?"

The two descendants finished their conversation and immediately turned to go back.

At that moment, a silver bell rang, carried on the gentle breeze.

It was a clear, ethereal sound, like that of a bell and chime.

Instinctively, Huang Lao turned toward the sound and saw, not far away in a side alley, an inconspicuous, pitch‑black carriage.

Two copper bells hung on the carriage, and the sound came from them.

A coachman wearing a felt hat sat at the front of the carriage, though his features were indistinct.

He seemed robust and towering, exuding a hint of fierce aura.

The carriage had been parked there for an unknown length of time; perhaps a wall blocked it, so they never noticed.

Inside the carriage sat an unknown passenger, the interior entirely concealed by heavy black drapes, not even a wisp of wind could penetrate.? This book was first published on 17K Novel Network; read the official version promptly!