Chapter 61

Village Chief Zhao looked pleadingly at Lao Qian.

Lao Qian understood, then said to Gu Xixi, "My dear niece, Village Chief Zhao came this time mainly for two things: first, to thank you in person for proactively giving them the rat‑extermination prescription and refusing any payment."

"Yes," Village Chief Zhao said with an apologetic smile, "Miss, your righteousness is great; thanks to the oleander water and the rat‑extermination honey bait you taught us to make, the situation improved markedly in just two days."

Gu Xixi said, "Village Chief Zhao, there's no need to thank me. Shitou Village and Flower Pool Ford are neighbors—when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold. The more rats you eliminate over there, the better it is for our village as well."

"Yesterday we made a new medicine; its rat‑killing effect is stronger. We've tested it today without error, and we will immediately share the method with you."

Village Chief Zhao was overjoyed, "Stronger? That's wonderful! Thank you so much!! You haven't seen the rats in our village..."

For some reason, he suddenly stopped talking, his face grim as he glanced at Lao Qian.

Lao Qian also looked troubled; normally a straightforward person, this time he hemmed and hawed, finding it hard to speak.

Gu Xixi said helplessly, "Uncle Qian, Village Chief Zhao, what's the second matter? Just speak plainly."

Lao Qian seemed to have made up his mind, grabbing Village Chief Zhao by the arm, "You say it yourself! Just speak the truth! As a village chief, if you want to save your village, how can you lack this resolve?"

Village Chief Zhao first looked at Lao Qian, then turned his gaze to Gu Xixi.

After a moment, he sighed heavily, "In our village yesterday two people came down with fever and cough."

"Aren't several villages to the west almost completely overrun by rat swarms? I heard the rats eat everything clean and then leave the village, yet here people keep starting to cough and run fevers."

"Worse still, they're coughing up fresh blood."

"This has only been going on for the past couple of days; the government office hasn't sent a doctor down yet, so there's no official diagnosis. But I've heard some rumors saying these symptoms might..."

Village Chief Zhao paused, then lowered his voice as much as he could, "Perhaps it's an epidemic."

Gu Xixi's expression shifted slightly, "Are you saying it's the plague?"

Village Chief Zhao nodded heavily.

He suddenly dropped to his knees, stiff and straight, and before Gu Xixi could react, she saw him kowtow rapidly.

When Village Chief Zhao lifted his head again, his forehead was already red and swollen.

"I dare not deceive you, Miss; I have come this time to request a doctor."

"Whether it's the plague or not, if we can get a diagnosis quickly and begin prevention and treatment early, perhaps Shitou Village can still be saved!"

Village Chief Zhao spoke with such emotion that tears unknowingly streamed down his face.

"Please also help me persuade your great-uncle to return to Shitou Village and save everyone's lives!"

Gu Xixi gazed at Village Chief Zhao, not saying anything right away.

Seeing this, Lao Qian mustered his strength and forcibly pulled Village Chief Zhao up, "All right, all right, you're kneeling, weeping, and making a scene—if this causes rumors and panic in our village, I'll hold you accountable!"

Only then did Gu Xixi say, "No one in your village has ever believed my great-uncle is a doctor."

"Even if he ventured back this time, he wouldn't be of much help; you'd be better off seeking a more capable doctor elsewhere."

Why did Village Chief Zhao come to Flower Pool Ford Village to seek a doctor and first look for Gu Xixi?

Because he knew he was in the wrong and feared that going straight to Lao Langzhong would result in rejection.

In the past, nobody in Shitou Village thought highly of Lao Langzhong.

Some called him Old Blind Man, others cursed him as Old Madman.

Even Village Chief Zhao had never paid attention to this old man who had migrated from elsewhere sometime ago.

But a few days ago Lao Qian delivered the rat‑extermination prescription to Shitou Village; Village Chief Zhao learned where the prescription came from and was further surprised to discover that the so‑called Lao Langzhong was actually their village's missing solitary elder.

Lao Qian also casually mentioned how Lao Langzhong treats patients, how his hands bring back spring and his skill borders on the divine.

Village Chief Zhao nearly had his jaw drop.

At this moment, Village Chief Zhao felt his heart sink halfway after being rejected by Gu Xixi, yet he still refused to give up.

"I know, your great‑uncle received neither any kindness nor any respect in our village; instead he endured many cold remarks—it's we of Shitou Village who owe him an apology!"

"But this time it's truly a matter of life and death; please, Miss, help us deliver a message to him."

"If he refuses, I'll leave immediately and certainly won't force him."

Gu Xixi fell silent for a moment, then finally said, "All right."

The west room of the small courtyard was already close to dusk.

Gu Xixi had just finished recounting her meeting with Village Chief Zhao when Lao Langzhong rose and said, "Xixi, bring my medicine box over."

"'Master,' Gu Xixi said anxiously, 'please reconsider.'"

Mu Nan Zhao said, "That Village Chief Zhao is probably still hiding something."

"The rat problem in Shitou Village started several days earlier than here, yet they only began using our rat‑extermination method the day before yesterday."

"Perhaps the situation in Shitou Village now is more severe than we can imagine."

Lao Langzhong's expression was calm as an ancient well, "All I know is that when a patient seeks medical help, I must go."

"Furthermore, as a healer, if I know there might be an epidemic yet do nothing to investigate or stop it, should I wait for blood to flow a thousand miles and corpses to litter the fields?"

Both Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao fell silent.

Gu Xixi took Lao Langzhong's medicine box and slung it onto her shoulder.

"'Master, let's go.'"

Before his words had finished, two men spoke in unison.

Mu Nan Zhao: "What are you going to do?"

Lao Langzhong: "You are not allowed to go!"

Gu Xixi said matter‑of‑factly, "When the master goes out to see patients, the apprentice always follows so as to learn from the side."

Lao Langzhong stared with his blank eyes and rebuked, "You don't study healing and saving people, yet you meddle aimlessly."

"'Old Blind Man is just returning home, familiar with the way—there's no need for you to follow!'"

Gu Xixi took Lao Langzhong's arm with one hand, and as they walked out she said, "Then I can at least learn to prepare medicine."

"'If anything should happen, you alone pounding, preparing, and decocting medicine would be overwhelmed—you'll surely need an assistant!'"

Oh dear! Saving a life is like putting out a fire—don't dilly‑dally!

As they left, Gu Xixi glanced back at Mu Nan Zhao, winked, and waved.

Mu Nan Zhao could only watch as the two departed.

He knew full well that once Gu Xixi set her mind on something, no one could ever stop her.

And he had no standing to stop her.

At dusk, Zhang Shen noticed the west room was unlit, so she picked up an oil lamp and went over.

"Little Chen, Gu Xixi and the others have gone out to see a patient; they said they won't be back for dinner."

"I snagged two flatbreads, you…"

He hadn't finished speaking when Mu Nan Zhao darted out from the dark doorway.

"Aunt, I have to go out on an errand; if I'm not back by tomorrow morning, go find the Village Chief and ask him to arrange lodging for those schoolchildren."

Zhang Shen watched his figure vanish at the door, shook her head in puzzlement, and headed back.

"What's gotten into those two, running out at this hour of night?"

In Shitou Village, as Village Chief Zhao passed the rat‑burning fire at the village entrance, he deliberately grabbed a torch.

He took the lead, letting Gu Xixi and Old Doctor Lao follow behind.

Gu Xixi heard the patter of rats running past her feet, their shrill squeaks—numerous and dense—making her scalp prickle.

Old Doctor Lao also heard it, "The village already has this many rats?"