Chapter 245: Paid Too Much

This transaction was now concluded, and Zhang Ping'an had once again witnessed the terrifying foundations of the remnants of the old imperial era.

To them, these thousand taels of gold were mere pocket change; Zhang Ping'an felt ashamed that he had been so smug about earning a few dozen Big Yellow Fish earlier.

"Sigh, my perspective was still too narrow."

The gold ingots given by Jin Ye were not merely valuable for the gold itself, but were antiques—antiques from the previous dynasty weighing over thirty grams per tael.

Setting aside other assets, these thirty gold ingots alone would be enough for Zhang Ping'an to keep as heirlooms in the future.

It was 1:00 AM again, and the unit price for all transactions between Zhang Ping'an and Tong Siye had increased by another five mao; after the transaction was completed, Tong Siye dragged him to Jin Ye's home again.

"What's wrong, Fourth Brother?"

"Ahem, it seems the medicinal effect of the Decoction brewed by Divine Doctor Li isn't as good as the one you brew, so..."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Ping'an nodded without objection; he used Space Water to brew the medicine, never expecting that old geezer Jin Ye would actually be able to taste the difference.

In Jin Ye's residence, Divine Doctor Li was full of confusion; he had completely replicated Zhang Ping'an's brewing method and did not understand where the difference Jin Ye spoke of lay.

"In short, although the medicine you brew is also good, it lacks that feeling of a 'shuddering tiger's body'."

As Zhang Ping'an and his companion entered, Divine Doctor Li asked about his confusion.

"Mr. Chang'an, I wonder why medicine brewed with the same method has such a large gap as described by Jin Ye?"

"Perhaps it is because my technique is seasoned, or perhaps because I am young; this matter was an oversight on my part."

"Young?"

"That's right. Sometimes brewing medicine also absorbs a portion of the brewer's Innate Essence; Divine Doctor Li must be nearing the age of seventy, right? Your vital energy is too heavy with the gloom of twilight, while I am in the prime of my life."

"Is there such a theory?" Divine Doctor Li was particularly confident in his own technique; once he learned something, he never forgot it.

Moreover, he was also very confident in his own health regimen; those who didn't know him thought he was in his fifties, but he was indeed nearly seventy. Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly astonishing when it comes to health preservation.

Zhang Ping'an took Jin Ye's pulse again and administered two more needles.

"The impact is minor. I will continue to brew the medicine from now on, and I'll administer acupuncture while I'm at it, but..."

"But what?"

"It will cost extra."

"That's easy to handle."

After Zhang Ping'an finished brewing the medicine, Jin Ye drank it while it was still hot, and immediately felt a warmth in his lower back.

"Yes, that's the feeling. So comfortable." Jin Ye squinted his eyes in pure comfort.

"..."

"Jin Ye, your Innate Essence has been almost completely exhausted. This medicine is primarily for nourishing and strengthening the kidneys. As you recover slowly, you might experience the effect of 'raising the flag' in the morning, but you must not engage in sexual intercourse, otherwise, all previous efforts will be wasted."

"Understood, understood." He understood the logic of being full for one meal versus being full for every meal.

"Alright, then I'll come back tomorrow."

"Good, good. Old Four, see the Divine Doctor out."

Tong Siye escorted Zhang Ping'an out of the residence and took out another gold ingot to hand to him.

"Ahem, Brother Chang'an, this is the payment. Can you strengthen my... you know?" Tong Siye was not yet fifty this year, and he didn't want to weep in vain in his old age.

Having witnessed Zhang Ping'an pull his master back from the brink of death, he was moved; these people had almost no self-restraint and relied entirely on medicine to nourish their bodies.

"Hmm~" Zhang Ping'an weighed the gold ingot in his hand, wondering whether he should save them, but Tong Siye misunderstood him directly.

"Understood, understood. It costs extra, I know."

"Alright then, come over tomorrow and I'll take a look for you."

Misunderstandings were fine; he would knock them for a sum before they fled. Although he would strengthen their kidney function, given their lack of restraint, they would at most enjoy themselves for three to five more years. Of course, if they knew how to maintain their health, they would surely become long-lived elders.

"Good, good, good. Don't worry, brother, the Yellow Fish will be prepared for you."

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an arrived at Jin Ye's residence again under the guidance of Tong Siye, but this time there were quite a few people in the main hall, and there was no shortage of martial arts experts in the courtyard.

Zhang Ping'an frowned slightly, but he wasn't afraid; if they dared to make a move, he could accept all their gifts with a clear conscience.

Although Zhang Ping'an couldn't be considered a good person, he couldn't bring himself to kill and loot, but if it were self-defense, they couldn't blame him.

"Don't worry, brother. These people all saw Jin Ye's condition and came to take a look; they are all your potential clients," Tong Siye whispered.

"..."

"Hmm."

"Divine Doctor, hurry up, I can't wait anymore."

"..."

Jin Ye had felt like he was back to being eighteen these past few days, and he could even be full of vigor in the morning. However, he still followed Zhang Ping'an's instructions and didn't act recklessly, though he was excited inside.

"Ahem."

They had no intention of introducing anyone, and Zhang Ping'an didn't greet them either, simply going through the daily routine.

After drinking the Decoction, Jin Ye was still in a state of intoxication. Zhang Ping'an ignored him and called Tong Siye over.

"Come here, let me take a look at you."

"Uh, why don't you take a look at the other gentlemen first? I'm not in a hurry." Tong Siye said this, but his hand reached out quite sensibly.

"Hmm... your condition is still alright."

Zhang Ping'an first scribbled down a prescription, then took various medicinal herbs from his satchel, weighed them in his hand, and went to the kitchen to brew the medicine.

Divine Doctor Li and three old men with goat-beards also took turns checking Tong Siye's pulse, thinking of suitable prescriptions in their hearts, and then picked up the prescription Zhang Ping'an had written, shocked.

"Tch, a bunch of pedantic heads." Zhang Ping'an naturally saw everything they did. These people certainly had real skills, but compared to him, they were naturally inferior.

Half an hour later, Zhang Ping'an brought over a bowl of Decoction emitting a medicinal fragrance. Tong Siye couldn't wait to take it and drink it in one gulp, and then, just like Jin Ye, he groaned with a face full of intoxication.

"Ahem, Old Four, what does it look like in public?"

"Uh, Jin Ye, I couldn't help myself." Tong Laosi's old face flushed red, feeling aggrieved; just a moment ago, your groaning was even more exaggerated than mine, but he didn't dare to say it.

"Alright, Divine Doctor, these few friends of mine also have some hidden ailments, could you take a look at them? Rest assured, they all understand the rules."

Jin Erye had been completely won over by Zhang Ping'an's medical skills; whenever he thought about the time he was near death, and then thought about how full of life he was now, he felt all the more fortunate that Tong Laosi had brought Zhang Ping'an over.

Zhang Ping'an could now be called his savior, and Tong Laosi would have to be treated with appropriately higher regard in the future.

"Very well, since I'm already here, I might as well take a look."

"Lao Guan, you go first."

"Right away." A thin, tall man, an old fellow in his early fifties, stepped out, and Zhang Ping'an took his pulse and wrote a prescription.

"Lao Fu."

"Lao Na."

"Lao Tong."

"......"

Zhang Ping'an finished diagnosing all eight people one by one and handed the prescriptions to them respectively.

"You just need to get the medicine according to the prescriptions."

"Um... Divine Doctor, could we trouble you to get the medicine and brew it yourself?"

These people all knew about the conversation between Zhang Ping'an and Li Shenyi, and combined with the intoxicated expressions the two had just shown, each of them felt as restless as if a cat were scratching at their hearts.

"That is a separate price."

"Divine Doctor, the price is negotiable." Jin Ye also wanted Zhang Ping'an to come over every day to give him two acupuncture treatments; every time he was needled, he felt his body become a few fractions lighter.

"Fine, for the next seven days, I will come over."

"Good, good, good. Lao Si, hurry and see the Divine Doctor out."

At the doorway, Tong Siye handed the consultation fee to Zhang Ping'an: one gold ingot and two Big Yellow Fish.

"Divine Doctor, from now on, you can just call me Lao Si."