Chapter 107

Su Guangju and his neighbors have known for years about his son's violent temper, so he nodded and said: "Don't worry, I'll say whatever you want me to say."

Hu Xiaotian arrived at the front hall and said with a smile: "How is Mr. Liu doing?"

Liu Dangui hurriedly stood up and bowed: "Thank you, Young Master Hu, for your concern. I'm fine now."

Hu Xiaotian knew he had sprained his ankle, so he told him to sit down quickly. Hu Xiaotian's concern for Liu Dangui's injury was feigned; his real purpose was to learn about the Wan family's affairs.

Su Guangju poured him a cup of tea. Hu Xiaotian took the opportunity to sit down beside him, sipped his tea, and said: "Why are the Wan family so unreasonable? Is there still heavenly justice and law?"

This sentence stirred Liu Dangui's sorrowful memories. He sighed and said: "Don't blame others; blame me. I lack the ability, so I shouldn't have gone to visit and diagnose."

Hu Xiaotian feigned surprise: "Is someone in the Wan family sick?"

Liu Dangui nodded: "The Second Young Master of the Wan family, Wan Ting Sheng."

Hu Xiaotian actually knew full well: last night he had given Wan Ting Sheng a heavy blow with a club, fearing complications, so he put all his strength into it. That blow was not light, and by the time he escaped the Wan mansion, that fellow still hadn't woken up. Originally, Hu Xiaotian worried he had struck too hard and killed Wan Ting Sheng with one blow, but now it seems Wan Ting Sheng is still alive.

Liu Dangui said: "Wan Ting Sheng has external injuries. According to his family, he fell from a tree last night and has been unconscious ever since."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed: "Fell from a tree? Ridiculous! It seems the Wan family is also afraid of scandal being exposed, so they made up this lie." He gently set down his teacup and said: "I see the Wan family has a grand mansion and many servants; they must be very wealthy!"

Su Guangju said: "What Master Hu said is correct. The Wan family is the wealthiest in Qingyun Xian. The Wan patriarch is called Wan Berping. In the past, the Wan family always did business with Nan Yue State, which is how they became rich. It is said his wealth ranks among the top three in Xichuan. These years, bandits have plagued the surroundings of Qingyun Xian, robbing countless merchants, yet the Wan family's caravans have suffered no major losses."

Hu Xiaotian sensed there was more in Su Guangju's words, as if hinting that the Wan family colludes with bandits.

Su Guangju did not continue further, lowering his voice: "Later he donated to become a Yuanwai. Even the magistrate of Qingyun must yield three parts when seeing him."

Hu Xiaotian smirked: "Just a country gentry—how could he possibly surpass the local official?"

Liu Dangui said: "Master Hu, you don't know: this Wan Yuanwai has a sister married to Yang Dao Quan, the governor of Xiezhou. Since Qingyun belongs to Xiezhou's jurisdiction, Wan Yuanwai naturally does not take the local officials here seriously."

Hu Xiaotian let out an oh, realizing this Wan Yuanwai truly holds power over one region, and in Qingyun Xian he could indeed be called a true Local Emperor. However, this man's character is hardly commendable. Yesterday, Hu Xiaotian personally saw the Wan family's three elders taking turns harassing the young daughter-in-law Le Yao. If saying his two sons are shameless and vulgar is still tolerable, this Wan Berping, as a father-in-law, actually dares to molest his daughter-in-law—behavior even pigs and dogs would not stoop to.

Hu Xiaotian said: "It seems the Wan family has more than one son?"

Su Guangju said: "The Wan family has three sons in total, but the third is a fool and also a tuberculosis ghost. In January this year, Wan Yuanwai married off his third son, Wan Tingguang, to a bride in hopes of dispelling misfortune. But on the day the bride entered the door, his third son died, never even getting to enter the bridal chamber."

Hu Xiaotian thought of Le Yao and felt increasingly pity for her fate. If this is true, Wan Tingguang never even entered the bridal chamber, so Le Yao is still an unmarried maiden? Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but show joy on his face. Speaking of which, even he himself doesn't know why he's happy. Even if Le Yao is an unmarried maiden and has something to do with him, it seems irrelevant.

Liu Dangui said: "The practice of dispelling misfortune has never had any basis—medicine cures illness. Who has ever heard of dispelling misfortune curing illness? When Wan Tingguang died, I also went to see him. When he drank the exchanged cups, he kept coughing nonstop, possibly from overexcitement, and he died before being carried back to the room."

Su Guangju sighed: "Poor Le Xiu Cai's precious daughter."

Liu Dangui said: "If we speak of the Le family's young lady, she is also an ominous person—her parents died because of her. Unable to afford burying her parents, she sold herself into marriage with the Wan family. Just after entering the door, her husband died. Now the Wan family's Second Young Master has encountered this again."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Mr. Liu just said he doesn't believe in dispelling misfortune—does Mr. Liu really believe someone is born a jinx?"

Liu Dangui was about to answer when suddenly a loud voice came from outside: "Father, how are you?"

A towering, sturdy man over ten feet tall walked in from outside. He is in his teens, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, wearing a white patched jacket and deep blue balloon pants, revealing arms with knotted muscles. He came running all the way into the inn, his steps heavy, making the floor boom boom boom. The visitor is none other than Liu Dangui's son, Liu Kuohai.

Liu Dangui said: "It's nothing serious—just twisted my ankle by accident..."

Liu Kuohai plunged down on one knee with a thud, both hands gripping his father's legs: "Father, which leg is injured? Which leg hurts?" His anxiety was evident, showing how filial he is.

Liu Dangui smiled: "Nothing major—just slipped and fell by accident. Fortunately, I met Uncle Su and this Young Master Hu, who helped me back here."

Liu Kuohai hurriedly thanked both men. Since Su Guangju and Hu Xiaotian had testified from the side, Liu Kuohai had no suspicions, shouldered his father, and left the Fulai Inn.

Not long after the Liu father and son left the Fulai Inn, Hu Xiaotian left alone. After walking a few steps, he saw Murong Feiyan rushing over. He smiled: "How come? Don't you trust me?"

Murong Feiyan put on an air of nonchalance: "Afraid you'll go out and do bad things!"

Hu Xiaotian pointed ahead, but saw a crowd gathered. Being fond of excitement, he also walked over. He heard the sound of gongs inside, and someone shouted loudly: "Everyone listen—our Second Young Master has suddenly contracted a malignant illness and is unconscious. Whoever can cure our Young Master's illness, our father will reward handsomely—one hundred taels of gold!"

Clang! Another gong sounded.

Although Hu Xiaotian couldn't see the reward notice inside, hearing the offer of one hundred taels of gold, he knew such generosity in Qingyun City could only come from the Wan family.

The onlookers came quickly and left just as fast. Although the reward was tempting, no one had the ability to cure the Wan family's Second Young Master. It is said that from morning until now, they have summoned the best physicians in Qingyun Xian, but all were helpless. The Wan family has already sent people to various places in Xichuan to hire famous doctors, but Wan Ting Sheng's condition is so severe he may be at death's door. Even if a skilled doctor is found, by the time they arrive it might be too late. Seeking medical help through a reward notice in Qingyun City is thus a last resort.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at the reward notice, resting his chin in thought. Murong Feiyan finished reading the notice and looked at him from the side. Seeing Hu Xiaotian's eyes fixed on the one hundred taels of gold, she knew this fellow was again moved by money.

Hu Xiaotian usually doesn't care much for money, but recently, due to losing his luggage, he has indeed encountered some financial difficulties. Fortunately, Xiang Qin of Huan Cai Ge lent him fifty taels of silver for emergency, and at the time she even wrote an IOU for one thousand taels of silver. If he could obtain one hundred taels of gold, his financial situation would undoubtedly improve greatly, and the debt of one thousand taels of silver owed by Liang Da Zhuang would no longer be a problem.

Money is secondary. Since Hu Xiaotian escaped from the Wan mansion, he has been constantly thinking about Le Yao. Wan Ting Sheng is the one he injured with a club, then he left, leaving behind such a mess for this poor woman to clean up.

Hu Xiaotian pondered for a while, finally made up his mind. He stepped forward and tore down the reward notice.

Although Murong Feiyan didn't know what had happened or what exactly ailed the Wan family's Second Young Master, she deeply trusted Hu Xiaotian's medical skill. Since knowing him, she has witnessed countless times his miraculous healing. In her view, Hu Xiaotian's medical skill has overturned her understanding; in her memory, she has never seen anyone treat illness like Hu Xiaotian does—he has made it into a martial art. As the name suggests, skill of the hands.

Hu Xiaotian tore down the reward notice. Immediately, a Wan family servant rushed over and said: "Can you treat illness?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It depends on what illness. I must first see the patient before saying anything."

The servant said: "As long as you can cure our Second Young Master, the reward will definitely not be shorted."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let's talk about the reward later. First, take me to see the patient."

Murong Feiyan thought: Yesterday he said I was meddling, today he himself starts meddling. On the way to the Wan mansion with Hu Xiaotian, she did not forget to remind him: "Don't forget your main purpose for coming to Qingyun."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh. Murong Feiyan was worried he had confused priorities, reminding him he came to take office, not to be a doctor. He certainly wouldn't delay his future appointment, but some things still need to be resolved.

Hu Xiaotian had not passed by the Wan mansion for the first time, nor entered it for the first time. But yesterday he had stumbled and fallen by ill fortune, while today he entered the grand gate openly under the guidance of the Wan family's servants.

The Wan family mansion is magnificent. Entering the Wan mansion gate, one first sees a screen wall, on which is a relief of pine and crane symbolizing longevity. Going past the screen wall, one sees four large characters carved in the rear: "Accumulating Goodness Makes a Harmonious Family."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed: Can the Wan family still save face? They lack propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame—yet they dare to carve these four characters here with thick skin. They should change them to "Shameless and Vulgar."

The Wan family steward, Wan Changqing, accompanied by a family member, came forward to greet him. Hearing that Hu Xiaotian was the one who tore down the notice, he obviously found it hard to believe, glanced up and down at Hu Xiaotian, and said in a low voice: "What is your esteemed surname, sir?" After all, Hu Xiaotian is too young; at this age he should not yet have completed his training.

"My surname is Hu!" Hu Xiaotian clasped his hands behind his back, held his head high and chest out, appearing somewhat arrogant.

Wan Changqing said: "May I ask where Master Hu comes from and who is your teacher?"

Hu Xiaotian grew impatient: "Are you looking for a doctor to treat illness or to check household registration? If you trust me, bring me to see the patient; if not, I'm leaving now." Dealing with these servants cannot be done with soft words; the more polite you are, the more they like to push their noses onto their faces.

Chapter Six delivered, seeking guaranteed monthly ticket!