Chapter 473: First Volume, Chapter 473: The People

First Volume, Chapter 473: The People's Heart and the Physician's Heart

Medical care in Beixi County is of paramount importance; on a small scale, it concerns the physical health of the people, on a grand scale, it determines whether Beixi County prospers or declines.

How could Qin Feng possibly entrust such a vital matter to a few people whose backgrounds he doesn't know?

Qin Feng gave a slight nod, and the messenger began reading aloud in public.

"Chen Bingtian, ancestral home Qi County, Northern Border; at thirteen he became an apprentice in a pharmacy, studied medicine for three years, but was expelled from his master's school after being caught stealing valuables from the Inner Courtyard."

"Starting at sixteen, Chen Bingtian opened a pharmacy, colluded with local gentry, inflated medicine prices, and bled the people dry—each consultation cost one liang of silver."

"Even the most common herbs, exploiting the people's illiteracy and ignorance of pharmacology, were sold at exorbitant prices: Manduoluo, commonly known as the big trumpet flower, grows wild everywhere, yet sold to the people at fifty wen per qian; He Shou Wu, seventy wen per qian; Qunma, one hundred wen per qian."

"Through this cruel, heartless merchant behavior, he amassed great wealth in just three years, yet remained utterly uncharitable; within ten years, twenty-seven pharmaceutical accidents occurred, all hushed up by bribing the Qicheng Yamen."

"Two civilian laborers, who went to the pharmacy to protest, were beaten by hired thugs hired by Chen Bingtian, left disabled, and died in bitter resentment."

"Two years ago, Di Raiding Cavalry ambushed the Northern Border; Chen Bingtian's pharmacy was plundered, and afterward, the County Magistrate of Qicheng, guilty of corruption and abuse of power, was sent to Zhou Fu for trial, forcing Chen Bingtian to shut down his business."

As Chen Bingtian's crimes were all read aloud, the entire street fell silent.

The people who had just supported Chen Bingtian turned red-faced, glaring at him in fury.

Chen Bingtian's face turned pale in waves, his back gradually soaked in cold sweat—he never imagined Qin Feng could uncover his identity so thoroughly in a single night.

As if sensing Chen Bingtian's thoughts, Lin Quqi sneered: "Chen Yishi, do you think Beixi County is some backwater? Still treating it like Qicheng, where you can exploit and scheme at will?"

"This is the premier county of the Northern Border, a strategic gateway; advance to resist the Beidi Invasion, retreat to coordinate the three armies of the Northern Border. The Qin Qianhu standing before you has outwitted the Di King, Chen Si, and the Night Owl for years, constantly gaining the upper hand through strategic maneuvering—this is why we've achieved our recent great victory on the Northern Border."

"How dare you play petty tricks before Qin Qianhu? It's laughable!"

Facing Lin Quqi's mockery, Chen Bingtian's eyes flickered in panic, his mouth opening and closing but no words coming out.

Qin Feng ignored Chen Bingtian entirely, gesturing for the messenger to continue.

"Qi Feng, physician, from Tianhe County, Northern Border; began medical training at eight… seven years ago, he accepted twenty taels of silver from a local gentry to lure a pregnant servant girl, whom the gentry had raped, outside the city and abort her child! Some Tianhe County civilians secretly witnessed Qi Feng using hooks to tear the girl's limbs apart, piece by piece—an act of unspeakable cruelty!"

Aborting a child—that is, induced abortion—was among the most detested, shameful acts in Shedynasty, which prided itself as the Rong Yi Zhi Bang.

Especially forcing an abortion upon a servant girl—it was an act that enraged heaven and angered the people.

The crowd could no longer bear to listen; they pointed at Qi Feng and shouted curses.

"You son of a thousand curses!"

"Kill him!"

The people grabbed whatever they could and hurled it at Qi Feng.

In panic, Qi Feng fled into the Yiyuan.

The messenger continued reading.

"Zhao Chengzhen, from Tanghe County… though he has no murder on his hands, he repeatedly sabotaged patients in secret; even minor illnesses treatable with a few herbs were deliberately under-treated or substituted with inferior herbs, prolonging treatment to profit. One civilian laborer from Tanghe County caught only a cold, yet took three months to recover—and spent seven hundred wen, equaling half a year's expenses for a family of three."

The three so-called physicians, hailed as benevolent healers, had been stripped bare by the Brocade Uniform Guards.

The crowd erupted in fury, surrounding the Yiyuan completely, determined to punish these three quacks.

At that moment, Qin Feng walked to the entrance of the Yiyuan, raised his hand, and signaled the people to calm down.

The chaotic scene gradually quieted.

Qin Feng took a deep breath and spoke solemnly: "I, Qin Feng, have no grand ambitions, nor can I care for every soul under Heaven—I only wish for the people of Beixi County to live in prosperity. That is all. As for clothing, food, shelter, and travel, naturally, I've ensured those. But seeking medical care is equally vital."

"Now that you have silver in your hands, you should improve your lives and nurture the next generation—only then will Beixi County grow ever stronger. If every bit of silver you earn is stolen by these deceitful quacks, then I, Qin Feng, have failed you."

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The people who had supported Chen Bingtian now felt profound shame; they wept and wailed, tears and snot streaming.

"Qin Qianhu, I was blind! I was deceived by that quack Chen Bingtian!"

"Qin Qianhu is truly the master of Beixi County! Everyone, open your eyes—don't let those with ill intent manipulate you!"

Seeing his fate sealed, Chen Bingtian tried to slip away, but noticed several soldiers standing among the crowd with hostile eyes—he immediately abandoned any thought of escape.

He recalled his wager with Qin Feng.

Chen Bingtian gritted his teeth, resolved to go all in, and roared at Qin Feng: "Even if we've committed heinous crimes, so what? Qin Qianhu, you're no cleaner than we are—your own hand ruined the Former General! No matter how you spin it, that fact cannot be changed!"

"As quacks, we admit defeat!"

Just as Chen Bingtian resolved to destroy Qin Feng at any cost, a roar erupted from inside the Yiyuan.

"What's all this noise?!"

In an instant, every eye turned toward the Yiyuan.

There, the Former General leaned against the doorframe, staggering out—his face still pale, but his eyes restored to their former fierce authority.

"Since this started, you've been screaming like demons! You're driving me mad! Where the hell are we? Where's the Main General? Any movement from the Di army?"

The Former General's cold gaze swept over the crowd outside—his presence alone commanded awe.

Faced with the hardened brutality of a veteran battlefield commander, the surrounding civilians involuntarily stepped back.

Sun He rushed forward three steps at once, examined him closely, then gasped: "Former General—you're fully recovered!"

Silence. Dead silence.

Every eye held disbelief.

Qin Feng… had actually cured the Former General!

Chen Bingtian's face was utterly white, his eyes glazed in shock.

Just moments ago, the Former General was unconscious—how could he now walk on his own?

"No! This is impossible!"

"Qin Feng isn't even a qualified physician—how could he cure the most difficult arrow wound?!"

Chen Bingtian voiced the question burning in every heart.

Could it be… that Qin Feng's medical skill is just as profound as his military talent and Way of Commerce?!