Chapter 37: 【Preparing for the Rain】(Lower)

Because Hu Xiaotian had been a fool from birth to age sixteen, his parents had exhausted themselves trying to cure his condition, almost summoning every famous doctor in Dakang. Li Yifeng had visited the Hu residence six years ago to treat Hu Xiaotian and had already declared the boy incurable, beyond help, and doomed to lifelong idiocy. When half a year ago rumors spread that Hu Xiaotian had suddenly regained his senses, Li Yifeng refused to believe it, still confident in his own medical skill. Turning a fool into a smart person is far more absurd than a mute suddenly learning to speak, yet both miracles occurred simultaneously in Hu Xiaotian.

Although Li Yifeng had heard the rumors and dismissed them as mere gossip, seeing the restored Hu Xiaotian in person and witnessing this sixteen‑year‑old idiot now wielding a miraculous medical skill left him shaken beyond words.

Hu Xiaotian had his eight attendants wait outside the Hall of Easy Origin, for the hall was crowded with patients; bringing eight attendants inside would be ostentatious, take up space, and cause unnecessary panic, as patients might mistake them for troublemakers.

Yuan Shiqing was busy seeing patients and could not rise to greet him, merely nodding from afar as a greeting; these doctors were innately aloof, though they forced smiles before officials and nobles, they generally looked down on such people—but Hu Xiaotian was different; his displayed medical talent had quietly earned the respect and recognition of these renowned physicians.

Someone specially led Hu Xiaotian into the Rehmannia Pavilion; the treatment rooms of the Hall of Easy Origin were all named after medicinal herbs, their signs very clear.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian arrive, Li Yifeng hurriedly rose from his master's chair, smiling: "Master Hu, your gracious presence honors my humble abode; I failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me." His courtesy was not due to Hu Xiaotian's background but to his medical skill, hoping to earn the doctors' genuine admiration and respect, which required real ability.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and returned the bow: "Master Li, you are too kind."

Li Yifeng invited Hu Xiaotian to sit beside the long table and had his servants bring tea. Hu Xiaotian asked, "Has Constable Murong not arrived yet?" It was already noon, past the agreed time.

Li Yifeng replied, "It seems Constable Murong is delayed." He gestured for Hu Xiaotian to take tea.

Hu Xiaotian lifted the teacup and gulped a mouthful; the tea in the Hall of Easy Origin carried a strong herbal taste he was unaccustomed to, causing him to frown involuntarily.

At that moment a middle‑aged man entered—the head of the Hall of Easy Origin's warehouse. After bowing to Li Yifeng, he placed a rectangular wooden box on the table, then bowed respectfully to Hu Xiaotian, retreated three steps, and only then turned to leave at the doorway. The warehouse head's deferential attitude toward Li Yifeng showed the latter's unquestioned authority in the hall.

Li Yifeng shook out his long sleeves, exposing his arms; these ancient robes were cumbersome—though they looked flowing and ethereal with wide sleeves, they were ultimately burdensome. Hu Xiaotian disliked such attire and had specially ordered several sets of warrior's garb with tight sleeves for himself.

Li Yifeng opened the wooden box before Hu Xiaotian, revealing a set of exquisitely crafted surgical instruments. Hu Xiaotian's eyes lit up: "Damn, why didn't you produce these earlier? You've been hoarding them, old man."

Li Yifeng said, "Master Hu, these tools were commissioned from the capital's most renowned workshop, Heavenly Craft Workshop, made according to the diagrams you drew that day."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize they had been specially fabricated after the fact: scalpels, handles, needle holders, surgical needles, hemostatic forceps—everything was present. He picked up the forceps, gave them a trial grip, and found them perfect—functionally flawless and even more beautiful in detail than the forceps he had used before, with exquisite carvings on the handles that, while perhaps a bit superfluous, still added visual appeal.

Hu Xiaotian alternately picked up and set down each instrument, utterly enamored with the set; truly, each age produces talent, and I never imagined Dakang's artisans could be so skillful, crafting such exquisite tools from my mere sketches.

Li Yifeng said, "This set of tools is a gift I prepared especially for you, Master Hu."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian's mind turned: there's no free lunch in the world; I have little connection with you, Li Yifeng—why would you go to the trouble of giving me such a fine set? Don't tell me it's admiration for my medical skill, or that you're conquered by my superb medicine and noble ethics—I don't believe that. Hu Xiaotian smiled: "No reward without merit, Master Li; I appreciate your intention, but I cannot accept this gift." He closed the box and slowly pushed it back to Li Yifeng.

Li Yifeng said, "A fine sword for a warrior, rouge for a beauty; in the world there is none more worthy of these tools than Master Hu."

Hu Xiaotian loved hearing that, and agreed: looking across the world, in the field of surgery, I doubt anyone surpasses me.

Li Yifeng said, "Master Hu, please do not reject my humble intention."

Hu Xiaotian thought, this gift isn't anything extraordinary; since you insist on giving it to me despite my reluctance, I'll accept it grudgingly. He smiled: "Since you mean well, Master Li, I can only accept."

Seeing Hu Xiaotian finally accept the gift, Li Yifeng's face broke into a grin; he coughed and said, "Master Hu, I have a matter I've long wished to discuss with you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, thinking, "As the saying goes, a gift brings a request; having taken your favor, the request naturally follows."

Li Yifeng said, "When you treated Constable Murong's injury, your technique was smooth and skillful; I wonder whose school you belong to? Such a wound‑healing method I have never seen before—what school does it derive from?"

This question was indeed hard to answer. If Hu Xiaotian said he learned it in medical school, Li Yifeng would not believe him; yet if he stayed silent, Li Yifeng might speculate wildly, and rumors could spread—something undesirable, for fame brings trouble, and if his name spread far, everyone would throng his doorstep, making it hard to refuse nobles and officials. In this era, being a doctor is no easy profession; treating common folk is fine, but treating royalty risks losing one's head if the cure fails. Hu Xiaotian had only thought of saving people, not the possible repercussions; now he regretted it a little. He probed indirectly: "Master Li, do you have something on your mind?" He sensed Li Yifeng's inquiry into his teacher was not simple.

Li Yifeng was frank: "To be frank, Prince Jin fell from his horse and broke his left arm three months ago; the wound still has not healed, so I would like to ask Master Hu to take a look."

Hu Xiaotian cursed inwardly: sure enough, no good deed goes unpunished. Leaving aside whether Prince Jin's condition is serious, a bone fracture untreated for three months shows you've delayed treatment; you can't fix it, so you want me to clean up your mess. Your "request" is a pretense; you're really trying to trap me. If I too am powerless, Prince Jin might vent his anger on me. You old fox, thinking you've got a clever scheme, taking me for a fool—my past life already grew weary of being a doctor; having been reborn with difficulty, I want to start anew, not get dragged into thankless troubles. Let you find whoever you like for this; I'm not wading into this muddy water.

If Li Yifeng were speaking of an ordinary commoner, Hu Xiaotian would perhaps have agreed without hesitation; hearing it was Prince Jin, he immediately raised objections. This boy is sly, knows the importance of self‑preservation, especially now that the Hu family is unstable; better to avoid trouble than invite it.

If Li Yifeng had merely been an ordinary commoner, Hu Xiaotian might have agreed without hesitation; but upon hearing he was the Prince Jin, he immediately got cold feet—this kid is very crafty, knows the importance of preserving oneself, especially with the Hu family lately in turmoil; better to have fewer troubles than more, and cause the family less hassle.

(No line 【31】 in the provided text; the last line is 【30】.)