Chapter 70: Farewell

In the soft morning sunlight, Chen Ji was carried in a bamboo chair by Liang Cat Er and She Deng Ke to the main hall of the medical hall.

Old Yao Tou was diagnosing patients, while She Deng Ke and Liang Cat Er were dispensing medicine. Chen Ji just watched from the side, as if wanting to capture the sunlight streaming through the outer door, the bustling atmosphere of An Xi Street, and hold it all in his mind.

If he went to Jing Chao, it would be hard to return before reaching the seek-way realm in either his sword seed path or the mountain lord path.

Liu Qu Xing returned to the medical hall joyfully, carrying pork, mutton, fish, a basket of vegetables, and a jar of osmanthus rice brew from Xue family old wine shop.

Old Yao Tou was sitting behind the counter taking a pulse and saw him carrying a large pile of things. He said in confusion, "Have you lost your mind? Suddenly so rich."

Liu Qu Xing replied, "Master, what are you saying? Chen Ji gave me money to buy these things. He said he wants to cook a meal for everyone at noon."

Old Yao Tou was slightly startled and turned his head doubtfully to look at Chen Ji.

Liu Qu Xing carried the things to Chen Ji and listed the prices like pouring beans from a bamboo tube: "Today, pork is forty-one wen per jin, mutton is thirty-four wen per jin, and the fish is fifty-two wen per one."

After speaking, he took out a string of copper coins from his sleeve and said, "This is your change. I didn't pocket a single wen."

Chen Ji smiled and took the copper coins. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for helping me buy things."

Liu Qu Xing said happily, "I'll take all these to the kitchen and help wash the vegetables first."

She Deng Ke asked curiously, "Chen Ji, why do you suddenly want to treat everyone to a meal? Is there some good news?"

"No good news," Chen Ji replied with a smile. "I've been injured these past few days, and everyone has been taking care of me. It's been quite hard. You and Senior Brother Liu Qu Xing helped me change dressings, Big Brother Liang Cat Er carried me around everywhere, and Master diagnosed me and prescribed medicine. It's only right that I treat everyone to a meal."

Actually, if conditions allowed, Chen Ji even wanted to buy Liu Qu Xing a Li Ji's cherry tile hat, buy Yu Deng Ke a set of silk clothes, buy Liang Cat Er a box of Zheng Xin Zhai's pastries, and buy Old Yao Tou a new bamboo chair.

But he was leaving tomorrow evening for the distant Jing Chao; it was too late.

Chen Ji suddenly said, "Right, some of the tiles on our medical hall roof have grass growing out of them. There must be bird droppings that fell on the roof, and the grass seeds inside the droppings weren't fully digested, so willow tree saplings have grown."

"Willow tree saplings are very harmful to the roof. If they're not pulled out in time, the roof will probably leak rain later."

"The windows of our medical hall should also be repapered, otherwise, they'll definitely leak wind in the winter."

"The cotton quilts of the two Senior Brothers should also be beaten to fluff up the cotton, otherwise, they won't be warm."

Old Yao Tou said suspiciously, "Why are you chattering on like you're giving your last words, boy? Don't worry, that little injury of yours won't kill you."

Chen Ji smiled and said no more. He was afraid that saying anything else would reveal clues.

At this moment, Old Yao Tou picked up a medicine prescription and said, "One of you go to Guang Le Street and deliver these two doses of medicine to Wang Yuan Wai."

She Deng Ke raised his hand. "Master, I'll go. Guang Le Street is a bit far, and my legs are good."

"Okay, then you go."

Chen Ji slowly stood up, supporting himself on the armrest of the bamboo chair. He rolled his sleeves up to his forearms and slowly moved to the back kitchen to pick vegetables with Liu Qu Xing.

Liu Qu Xing laughed happily, "It's only right for Senior Brothers to take care of each other. It's not worth you spending so much. By the way, where did you get this money? Did your family give it to you?"

"The Princess gave it to me."

Liu Qu Xing smacked his lips. "The Princess is really good, unlike high officials and nobles."

"What are high officials and nobles supposed to look like?" Chen Ji asked.

"Just that kind of aloof look, like they're looking at an ant when they look at you," Liu Qu Xing sighed. "That year, my parents and I went to attend Liu old grandfather's birthday banquet. That day, officials and nobles gathered. Some people even rushed over from the capital, Jin Ling, and Hu Di."

"You didn't see that scene. The horse carriages lined up for several li outside the Liu family's big courtyard gate."

Liu Qu Xing continued, "My father was just a small official in Meng Jin County. In Meng Jin County, he was still somewhat respected, but when we arrived at the Liu family's big courtyard, no one even looked at him properly. The Liu family arranged for us to sit at the servants' table."

"Sitting at the same table as the servants was one thing, but even those officials' servants didn't look at us with proper eyes."

"When you arrive at that place, you'll know that people really do have different grades."

"Didn't you ever think about taking the imperial examination? I see you study medicine very hard, so there's no reason you couldn't study the classics well."

Liu Qu Xing laughed. "That path of the imperial examination is not for small families with small doors."

"The teachers in those private schools also cater to people."

"If you only pay tuition silver, then you can only listen to the most basic knowledge in the private school."

"But if you often send up rice flour, money, and grain, he will let you attend a small class at his home and teach you the real things!"

Chen Ji was silent.

Liu Qu Xing smiled and shook his head. "Rather than give those people dozens of taels of silver, it's better to hug the master's thigh and become an imperial physician. Then, when I meet those private school teachers, I'll deliberately stab them with a few more needles during acupuncture!"

Chen Ji laughed.

He felt a bit reluctant to leave this place, perhaps precisely because of someone like Liu Qu Xing, who was a little worldly and a little lovable.

Chen Ji looked at Liu Qu Xing, who was bowing his head to pick vegetables, and said, "Senior Brother Liu, you will definitely become a good imperial physician in the future, and your days will be prosperous."

"I'll borrow your auspicious words," Liu Qu Xing said. "What dishes are you planning to make for noon?"

"Pork stewed noodles, steamed bass, scallion braised mutton, red braised eggplant, and then cook a pot of white rice. How does that sound?"

Liu Qu Xing sucked in a bit of saliva. "It sounds just delicious!"

At this moment, She Deng Ke ran back into the medical hall from outside, shouting loudly, "Master, Master, quickly save me! I was cut on the arm by a passing thief with a knife blade!"

The crowd looked and saw that She Deng Ke's sleeve had been cut open by a sharp weapon, all the way from his wrist to his elbow. His clothes were torn, and fresh blood flowed freely.

Old Yao Tou tore open the opening in his clothes and saw that the wound had split the skin and flesh. His face immediately darkened. "Which thief is so vicious? If you're going to steal things, just steal things, why injure someone like this!"

Just as he finished speaking, a carriage slowly stopped at the door. Yuan Shopkeeper jumped out of the carriage, smiling and carrying two bags of pastries, and walked into the medical hall.

Yuan Shopkeeper was wearing a set of bright red satin, and a golden beam crown on his head; he exuded an air of wealth.

He placed the pastries on the counter and cupped his hands with a smile. "Yao Imperial Physician, I've come to visit Chen Ji again. Is he doing better today?"

Yao Imperial Physician gave him a cold glance and said indifferently, "Chen Ji is in the courtyard. Go look for yourself."

Yuan Shopkeeper went straight to the backyard and lifted his robe to sit on the stool opposite Chen Ji.

Chen Ji, while peeling the outer layers of a large scallion, calmly asked, "She Deng Ke's injury, did you do it?"

Yuan Shopkeeper said with a smile, "I asked you to contact the one in the palace, but you didn't even leave the door yesterday, nor did you pass me a message."

"I said I would only give you one day. Since you want to challenge my patience, then I have to let you know the consequences of challenging it."

Chen Ji threw away the scallion in his hand and looked directly into Yuan Shopkeeper's eyes. "What if I still don't help you contact?"

Yuan Shopkeeper picked up the scallion Chen Ji had thrown away from the ground, peeled it layer by layer to the innermost layer, and then gently broke it. "Starting today, for every day you don't make contact, one person will die in this Tai Ping Medical Hall."

"If everyone dies and you still don't make contact, you will also have to die."

Chen Ji was silent.

Now Liang Dog Er was unwilling to oppose the Secret Bureau, and although Liang Cat Er was born with divine strength, he was unable to guard against secret plots by spies.

If Yuan Shopkeeper was truly determined to force him and let one person die in the Tai Ping Medical Hall every day, it was absolutely not an empty threat.

Moreover, once his opponent discovered that he had shown signs of defecting to the secret spy bureau and reporting, the three people responsible for monitoring the Tai Ping Medical Hall would immediately kill to silence him.

Chen Ji said solemnly, "I said I received serious injuries and it's inconvenient for me to move. How am I supposed to contact the one in the palace?"

Yuan Shopkeeper lowered his voice and said seriously, "Do you know how many people in my Jing Chao border army died because of Ning Chao firearms? How many spies in my military intelligence bureau died one after another to get these drawings and formulas? We are just one step away; how can we be delayed because of one person like you?"

Chen Ji's heart suddenly understood. That day during the rainy night, Yuan Shopkeeper visited the medical hall and was interrupted by Jin Zhu.

The opponent could have killed him at that time, but the reason they didn't was not because they were benevolent, but because they worried that if he died, it would delay the second delivery of goods!

Once all the goods were delivered, Yuan Shopkeeper would definitely kill him.

Yuan Shopkeeper stared at Chen Ji, threw the scallion he had broken into two segments onto the ground, and said, "I've said everything that needs to be said. The sooner we get this batch of goods, the sooner my Jing Chao can research these Ning Chao firearms. The border army dies heroically at the border; you and I in Ning Chao should also sacrifice our lives."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment before answering, "I understand. I will contact the important figure in the palace as soon as possible and get the time and place for the second batch of goods by midnight tomorrow at the latest."

Yuan Shopkeeper laughed with satisfaction. He stood up and patted Chen Ji's shoulder. "That's right."

"Oh, I brought you some pastries from Zheng Xin Zhai and put them on the counter. Don't forget to eat them."

"Do this matter, and I will definitely promote you to the pigeon level. My dynasty won't treat meritorious ministers unfairly."

After saying that, he strutted out of the medical hall. Chen Ji was then left alone in the courtyard, sinking into endless silence.

Now, it was no longer a question of when or where to deliver the goods. Once he left, Yuan Shopkeeper would inevitably not spare the people around him.

Yuan Shopkeeper wouldn't spare them, and Jin Zhu wouldn't either. The intelligence agencies of the two dynasties had killed each other for countless years; their hearts had long become as hard as iron, and they fundamentally didn't care about the lives of ordinary people.

In their eyes, human life was as cheap as wild grass.

So, to go or not to go?

If he didn't go, everyone would die together.

Chen Ji stood up and followed the steps to make the dishes. When the dishes were served on the table, everyone praised them endlessly. Even Yu Deng Ke, who had just been injured, bandaged his wound and ate three bowls of white rice.

Amidst the joyful laughter, only Chen Ji was silent.

This meal, originally, should not have been eaten like this.

While eating, Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Master, She Deng Ke was cut by a thief. Are we just going to let it go like that?"

Old Yao Tou glanced at him. "The thieves in the market are all organized. If you take revenge on one, a group of people will come to take revenge on you. Will you still be able to live then?"

"Oh, oh."

Old Yao Tou meaningfully added, "You should go where you should go, and do what you should do. Don't let others influence you."

Chen Ji was slightly startled. He suddenly felt that his master had guessed something.

What did the opponent's words mean? Was he telling him to leave quickly?

She Deng Ke said happily, "Chen Ji, just don't worry about this matter. Don't hurt yourself because of my issue."

After finishing the meal, Chen Ji lay back on the bamboo chair.

He slowly closed his eyes, returned to that ancient battlefield, and picked up the long knife named 'Whale'.

At night, Chen Ji slowly opened his eyes and came to the courtyard.

Liang Dog Er still hadn't returned, the Crown Prince and Princess, and the little monk also hadn't climbed the wall to borrow the way. There wasn't even a proper farewell.

Chen Ji, guided by Uncle Crow, climbed over the wall into the backyard of the cloth shop. He saw that Wu Hong Biao had found a broom and a wooden bucket from somewhere and was washing and sweeping the ground in the courtyard.

He asked curiously, "With your injuries, why are you still sweeping the ground late at night?"

Wu Hong Biao said with a smile, "There were some mouse bones and bloodstains in the courtyard. If someone comes to see the shop and gets scared, it will probably cause some unnecessary trouble for the shop owner."

"You seem to be in a good mood," Chen Ji said.

Wu Hong Biao smiled and said, "I'll tell you some good news. I saw Si Cao today. He doesn't want to kill the two of us. Furthermore, he has arranged for other people to send us away. Tomorrow evening, the two of us can return to Jing Chao!"

Chen Ji said, "Reliable? He doesn't want to trick us out to kill us, does he?"

Wu Hong Biao leaned on the broom and thought for a moment. "It should be reliable. When he pulled me into the small alley today, I was already prepared to die, but he didn't make a move. If he wanted to kill the two of us, he didn't need to be so troublesome."

Saying that, Chen Ji leaned against the door frame and slowly sat on the threshold, speaking softly, "Do you miss your hometown?"

Wu Hong Biao leaned on the broom and stood in the courtyard. As he looked at the moon in the sky, he said yearningly, "I do miss it. I was pulled to the cold camp for hard training at the age of twelve and never had the opportunity to go back to my hometown and see my parents."

"This time when I go back, I should have the opportunity to go home."

"When I was little in the village, when autumn arrived, everyone would pick the pears from the fruit trees. The good ones were sold in the city, and the bad ones were left to be made into frozen pears."

"The kind of frozen pears we made were sour and astringent, my grandma called them 'choke dead dog,' but strangely enough, if you froze them outside the house, they were just right to eat. Isn't that strange?"

"When winter arrived, the adults would carry hard bows and bring four or five hunting dogs to the mountains to hunt blind bears. We would wait at home, hoping, waiting for them to drag the blind bears back. Grandma would peel off the fat meat from the blind bears' bodies and fry oil shuttle for us to eat."

"Many people say it's fishy, but I think it's very good to eat."

"When we go back to Jing Chao, I will definitely take you back to my hometown to see. At that time, I will treat you to frozen pears and oil shuttle."

"We can also go to the mountains to kill blind bears."

Chen Ji listened in silence. Perhaps Wu Hong Biao had suffered too much during this period, making him more sentimental, or perhaps he had always missed his northern homeland since coming to Ning Chao, and now that he was finally going back, he was particularly talkative tonight.

He had recently heard scattered words from traveling merchants and knew that Jing Chao seemed to have ten states, and Wu Hong Biao's hometown was located in what should be the northeasternmost state, "Shang Jing Dao."

Chen Ji sat on the threshold and looked at the moon with Wu Hong Biao. "Brother Biao Zi, why did you still run to inform me when you were seriously injured? What if I betrayed you?"

Wu Hong Biao said with a smile, "Actually, I was a bit scared on the way here. What if you boy really betrayed me? But if I didn't come, I was afraid I would regret it."

After that, the two people, one sitting and one standing, were silent at the same time.

Although their situations were different, both of them sincerely wanted to leave this place of trouble and no longer have to worry about their lives every day. However, when it came time to leave, their moods were complex.

Chen Ji suddenly said, "Brother Biao Zi, you go back, I'm not going."

"Huh?" Wu Hong Biao was startled. "You're not going? You'll die if you stay in Luo City!"

Chen Ji smiled. "Did you forget? My father is the Assistant Magistrate of Luo City. I have plenty of ways."

"Then I'll stay too!" Wu Hong Biao said firmly.

Chen Ji and Wu Hong Biao looked at each other. "What about your sister?"

Wu Hong Biao was startled.

Just now, Chen Ji really wanted to ask Wu Hong Biao to stay and help him kill Yuan Shopkeeper, but he couldn't do that.

He said with a smile, "You just go back. I'll move back to the Chen family home in Luo City tomorrow. I don't believe Yuan Shopkeeper would dare to sneak into the Assistant Magistrate's home to kill me. Do you think he would dare?"

Wu Hong Biao scratched his head. "Well, if he really dared to assassinate someone in the Assistant Magistrate's home, not to mention Luo City, the entire Ning Chao wouldn't tolerate him... So, are you really not going?"

"Yes, I'm staying to continue serving Jing Chao!" Chen Ji stood up and patted the dust off his butt. "I probably won't be able to send you off tomorrow. Go back to Jing Chao and live well this time. Don't come back to Ning Chao again."

Wu Hong Biao laughed heartily. "I also don't want to come back here and worry about my life. I'll wait for you in Jing Chao."

Saying that, he actually opened his arms.

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, but finally opened his arms and hugged Wu Hong Biao before climbing over the wall and leaving the cloth shop.

As he climbed out, the dark cloud just squatted on the wall of the next-door courtyard. It asked curiously, "Are we really not going?"

Chen Ji said with a smile, "No, I'm afraid I would regret it."

"Go and beat White Ban Ruo once. I have something to say to its master."