Chapter 41: Chapter Fifteen [Repaying Kindness] (Middle)

Yuan Shiqing invited Hu Xiaotian, Murong Feiyan, and Zhan Peng to sit together in a third‑floor private room at Swallow Cloud Pavilion; as for Hu Xiaotian's eight attendants, they were not qualified to sit at the same table as him, so Yuan Shiqing had them seated on the first floor, where they were likewise served fine wine and dishes.

Easy Origin Hall and Swallow Cloud Pavilion are neighbors, and the two have long been familiar with each other. Yuan Shiqing often came here to eat. Hu Xiaotian discovered that the status of doctors in ancient times was also quite high, even more respected than in modern society. Wherever they went, whenever Yuan Shiqing met an acquaintance, that person would promptly rise, salute, and bow, their eyes full of gratitude and respect; the doctor‑patient relationship was very harmonious. Recalling his previous life as a doctor, patients were mostly in awe of doctors, rarely showing this sincere respect, and sometimes even regarded doctors as enemies. Yet he did not know how the doctor‑patient relationship, after thousands of years of development, could have deteriorated to the point of being irreconcilable. How could there be so many misunderstandings between savior and saved? Is it society that changed people, or is human nature itself like this? Hu Xiaotian silently sighed; it seems that the progress of civilization and good human nature are not a perfectly proportional relationship.

However, many things remain the same, such as treating guests and giving gifts. I just don't know whether the custom of giving red envelopes exists nowadays. Even in the past, Hu Xiaotian looked down on accepting red envelopes, but he thought that treating guests and giving gifts were trivial matters. Especially after helping someone relieve their illness, having a drink or a bite, or even taking something small, is no disgrace—provided the other party sincerely thanks you.

Yuan Shiqing handed the two giant geese sent by Zhan Peng to Boss Song of Swallow Cloud Pavilion. As neighbors, Easy Origin Hall has long looked after Swallow Cloud Pavilion's business. As the saying goes, "Live off the mountains, live off the water." More than half of Swallow Cloud Pavilion's trade comes from Easy Origin Hall, so in this regard Easy Origin Hall is practically their provider of food and clothing; thus Boss Song treats Yuan Shiqing with great respect and courtesy.

As Boss Song carried the geese away, Murong Feiyan also fixed her gaze on the feathered arrow in the geese's necks for a longer look; she was an expert in martial arts, and an ordinary hunter probably could not pull off a double‑eagle shot with one arrow.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Hero Zhan!"

Zhan Peng replied, "Benefactor, I don't deserve to be called a hero; just call me by my name."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Shooting down two geese with a single arrow—what else could that be if not heroic?"

Only then did Zhan Peng understand why he had been called a hero. He laughed, "Just a fluke! I aimed at one of the geese, never expecting the arrow to hit both. I've been hunting since I was thirteen, and it's been twelve years now—this is the first time I've ever bagged two geese with one shot." Zhan Peng is only twenty‑five, but his weathered appearance makes him seem older; Hu Xiaotian could easily believe he was thirty‑five.

Murong Feiyan said, "I've practiced archery for over ten years, yet I've never encountered such a thing." Implicitly she did not believe Zhan Peng's claim of mere luck; if it were luck, why had she never experienced it?

Hu Xiaotian said, "Skills have their specialties, knowledge has its sequence—luck cannot fall on everyone's head, and it also has something to do with one's character."

Murong Feiyan naturally could hear that this fellow was secretly mocking her character; angry, she quietly lifted her foot and, while no one was looking, stomped hard on Hu Xiaotian's left foot. Hu Xiaotian sucked in a breath of cold air from the pain: "Eh!"

Everyone was startled by his reaction, and following his gaze they saw the door open as Boss Song led in a father and daughter. The man was over fifty, short and frail, smiling gently and kindly, holding the girl's hand. Though the girl wore plain clothes and a simple hairpin, her features were quite delicate; only her beautiful eyes, though large, were dull and lifeless.

Hu Xiaotian judged from the girl's gaze that she was blind.

Boss Song smiled and said, "Honored guests, I'll have this father‑daughter pair sing a song to liven things up." While the dishes were being served, he let the guests sip tea and listen to the music—a privilege reserved for honored guests.

Yuan Shiqing laughed, "Good!" This father‑daughter pair bears the surname Fang; the father is Fang Zhitang and the daughter Fang Fang. They usually make a living singing and performing at a nearby tavern, and they happen to have some connection with Yuan Shiqing. Earlier, this pair were not locals; they came from Xichuan. Fang Fang was not blind as a child, but at twelve her vision suddenly blurred. Her family sought medical help everywhere, spending countless sums on medicine and trying every folk remedy, to no avail—in fact her eyesight grew worse. Two years ago, even when someone stood a foot away in front of her, she could no longer see clearly. Unwilling to accept his daughter's blindness, Fang Zhitang sold his property and brought her to the capital, believing that the capital's renowned physicians and eminent masters might find an expert who could cure her eyesight.

Alas, fate was cruel; on their way to the capital they ran into bandits. Though they managed to keep their lives, their travel funds were completely looted, and the father and daughter earned their way to the capital by singing along the road. They first went to Green Ox Hall, which after examination declared Fang Fang's eyes incurable. Hoping for a miracle, they then came to Easy Origin Hall. Yuan Shiqing, being benevolent, not only waived their consultation fee but also personally diagnosed them; after trying several prescriptions, there was still no improvement, and Yuan Shiqing had no further recourse. Among the capital's three great medical halls, only Xuantian Guan had not been consulted by this father‑daughter pair. Yet Xuantian Guan's threshold is extremely high, its consultation fees exorbitant; to have its master personally treat Fang Fang would require five taels of gold—an astronomical sum for the Fang family.

In fact, Yuan Shiqing had already told them that even going to Xuantian Guan might not cure Fang Fang's eyes, but Fang Zhitang is extremely stubborn, harboring the notion that he won't give up until he reaches the Yellow River; so he stayed in the capital, earning a living by singing while saving up for the medical fee.

Feeling pity for the father and daughter's plight, Yuan Shiqing introduced them to perform at Swallow Cloud Pavilion; almost every time they came, patrons would request their performance. Because Fang Fang is handsome and well‑built with a lovely voice, she is popular with the guests. Boss Song also sympathizes with their situation, letting them perform in the tavern free of charge, taking no payment. Over the past year or so the pair have saved a considerable amount of silver, and their goal now lies within sight.

Yuan Shiqing said, "Let's hear 'One Spray of Plum Blossoms'!"

Hu Xiaotian startled at the words, thinking, "No way! Is 'One Spray of Plum Blossoms' already around? Its popularity is insane—could there really be a song that possesses the power to transcend time and space?"

Fang Fang performed a slight bow, then father and daughter took their seats. Fang Zhitang plucked the pipa, the melody winding and moving, and Fang Fang lightly opened her vermilion lips to sing: "Red lotus fragrance fades, the jade mat grows cool in autumn; lightly shedding her silk robe, she alone boards the orchid boat; who in the clouds sends a brocade letter? When the geese return, the moon is full over the western tower; flowers drift, water flows; a single longing brings two kinds of idle sorrow; this affection cannot be dispelled—though it first descends to the brow, it soon rises to the heart." Her voice was soft and plaintive, like weeping and lamenting, and for a moment everyone sat there, entranced.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at the blind girl, utterly absorbed; having just heard Yuan Shiqing relate the father and daughter's pitiful background, he naturally felt some sympathy, but upon hearing Fang Fang's voice he was moved—truly moved by her singing, an artistic touch to the soul. He had not expected this blind girl to sing with such vivid emotion, so deeply touching.

Hu Xiaotian's artistic cultivation has always been decent; he dare not say his taste is absolutely highbrow, but it has never been vulgar. What moves him often moves many others, and Murong Feiyan was also moved—but she did not think Hu Xiaotian's reaction was due to earnest attention while gazing at that fellow's dazed infatuation with Fang Fang; instead she immediately gave him a four‑character judgment: "lustful indulgence." She did not believe his eyes showed sincerity and focus; she thought his gaze was too blatant, lecherous, and human prejudice is hard to change. Murong Feiyan secretly thought, if this spoiled young master harbored any improper designs and dared to bully that pitiful blind girl, she would certainly not let him off.