The Xie family watched as Chang Yuncheng and his party departed before turning back.
Great Aunt looked gratified as she hurried to see her grandson, though she felt somewhat dissatisfied thinking about him.
“Old Madam is really something, not even meeting with Yueniang in such circumstances, let alone saying a few kind words.” She grumbled in a low voice, her gaze turning toward Old Madam’s courtyard in the distance, where maids stood quietly as usual. “The couple is harmonious and loving, yet what are those mother and daughter thinking… Even if they look down on others, for the sake of our Hao-ge’er they should swallow their pride. If they just showed even a fraction of the attitude they give Old Physician An, I’d be satisfied. But she’s actually good at this – not only ungrateful, but slapping faces outright. What does our Hao-ge’er count as in her eyes…”
“Mother, please don’t say anymore. Grandmother has her own considerations…” Zhao-ge’s wife quickly said in a low voice. Regarding Old Madam Xie, she didn’t share Great Aunt’s resentment, but rather felt the old lady was somewhat… pitiable…
The feeling of being helped by someone you despise must be most unbearable.
“This time I won’t care about her considerations. I only think of my Hao-ge’er now. I must thank that Yueniang with great fanfare. Once these few days pass and Hao-ge’er is stable, I’ll properly arrange my thoughts. With such a relative who’s a physician, what does that Physician An count for?” Great Aunt snorted, remembering the grievances suffered at Physician An’s house, hatred burning in her heart. “Also, have all those physicians been given proper consultation fees? Our family doesn’t lack money – they should all be given generously, and appearances must be maintained. We want the world to know that the Xie family knows how to repay kindness with humility and courtesy…”
Rather than giving face to those physicians, her heart truly wanted to make the An family look bad.
Zhao-ge’s wife didn’t yet understand her mother-in-law’s intentions, and couldn’t help but smile and lower her head in agreement.
Great Master entered Old Madam Xie’s room. Old Madam Xie lay on the daybed as if asleep. Great Master glanced at the maid beside her, who quickly signaled that she wasn’t sleeping.
“Gone?” Old Madam Xie asked with closed eyes.
Great Master quickly confirmed, hesitating for a moment.
“Mother, about this matter of thank-you gifts…” he asked in a low voice.
Old Madam Xie opened her eyes and sat up, smiling.
“Your wife is gossiping about me behind my back again, isn’t she?” she said.
“This woman is terribly rude. Mother, rest assured, I will definitely discipline her properly…” Great Master said embarrassedly while bowing.
“Forget it, I’m too lazy to deal with her.” Old Madam Xie sighed, silent for a moment. “I won’t send her thank-you gifts.”
Great Master was startled.
“Our Hao-ge’er wasn’t cured by her anyway.” Old Madam Xie said.
Great Master couldn’t help but lift his head, his expression awkward.
“Didn’t she say so herself? It was those physicians’ merit. If we’re talking about her contribution, it was just saying some words to appease those physicians.” Old Madam Xie said slowly.
Great Master was slightly losing composure. This… this…
“Yes.” He lowered his head in acknowledgment.
Under Great Aunt’s deliberate arrangements, those physicians all received generous consultation fees, and the Xie manor’s steward personally visited to express gratitude. This drew much attention. Although the participating physicians maintained their dignity and wouldn’t deliberately publicize their own achievements, they couldn’t control their disciples.
The disciples’ arrogance was truly a headache…
Soon word spread that these physicians had cured someone even Old Physician An couldn’t heal.
Gradually, stories about these physicians multiplied, eventually reaching tales that these physicians had encountered immortals on the road and gained certain divine skills. They usually kept their abilities hidden, being masters who didn’t reveal their true forms. Otherwise, how could they dare to treat and successfully cure a child that Physician An dared not and could not save…
The stories spread wider and wider, until even patients who had previously been treated at these clinics began boasting, as if being treated by these physicians was a blessing earned over lifetimes, and having been treated there was like receiving immortal essence.
“You don’t know… back then…” In the teahouse, an old man spoke with flying spittle, surrounded by a group of idle listeners hanging on his every word. “I was coughing so badly I nearly died… couldn’t even stand steadily against the wall. Went to see Physician An, but no matter how he treated me, I couldn’t get better. Later, having no choice, I came to Physician Xu, and with just one dose of medicine, I was cured. Truly a divine physician…”
People around nodded with admiration.
“Indeed a divine physician…”
Several people at a nearby table couldn’t listen anymore and slammed the table.
“This shameless old fool… where was he nearly dying from coughing? He just injured his throat from drinking too much wine. He wasn’t even seeking treatment at our shop – too stingy to pay, just loitering at the counter pestering the medicine clerks to give him some cough medicine. Who would dare prescribe for him? Finally he went to that Physician Xu and spent less than a coin on some herbs. Even without medicine, he would have recovered in a few days. This is considered divine skill now?” A young disciple said angrily.
Another reached out to restrain him.
“Forget it, calm down, don’t cause trouble. Let’s go back.” The older disciple said.
The group looked again at the crowd still chatting enthusiastically, then left with dark faces.
Such incidents multiplied, becoming more exaggerated with each telling, and those physicians’ reputations rapidly rose.
“We don’t care whether they become famous or not. The key is, they’re building their reputation by stepping on our heads…” Young Physician An said with an iron-blue face. “Father, haven’t you heard what’s being said on the streets? Every time they praise those people, they must step on us once. This is absolutely intolerable!”
Old Physician An sat steadily at his desk, flipping through a book in his hands, his expression calm.
“Skill isn’t built by praise, and likewise, can’t be trampled down. No need to pay attention.” He said.
“Father, this time it’s all deliberate by that young madam from Marquis Dingxi’s manor.” Young Physician An was silent for a moment, then spoke again. “She publicly promoted these physicians, claiming they cured the Xie family’s child, severely slapping our faces. Since ancient times, treating illness is just treating illness – how could she so incite physicians to turn against each other? This is absolutely excessive!”
Old Physician An put down his book.
“Oh?” He showed some curiosity. “That Young Madam Qi really said such things?”
“Father, don’t get angry. Such a petty person…” Young Physician An became anxious again. His father’s health hadn’t been good, and suffering this unprovoked disaster might upset him, making him deeply unfilial…
Old Physician An said nothing, pondering briefly.
“This matter can’t be settled like this. Not taking patients isn’t a crime – why should they humiliate us so? Isn’t she just relying on Marquis Dingxi’s status? Can she bully people at will? If she can rely on power, can’t we rely on power too? I’ll write a letter to Judge Gong at the Imperial Medical Academy…” Young Physician An said angrily.
Before Old Physician An could respond, a servant reported from outside.
“Old Madam Xie from Longchang Street requests an audience.”
Old Madam Xie has come? Young Physician An looked surprised, then his face darkened.
What now? Isn’t the outside publicity enough – now she’s here to slap faces in person?
Will this never end? Even if you’re from an official family, you can’t bully people like this.