Chapter 52: Lend a Hand

  Chen Jiong's prescription uses a variety of medicines, and at first glance, it is clear that he truly understands medicine and is not just pretending.

  Everyone looked at him with a gaze of admiration and also a hint of doubt.

  When did he learn medicine?

  In this era, medicine was largely passed down through family and sectarian traditions.

  Chen's family was not a medical family, and Chen Jue did not have a teacher, so how did he learn?

  Li Dalang was entrusted by Li Erniang to have a conversation with Chen Xuan twice, and when it came to the topic of whether to study medicine or read books, Chen Xuan insisted on studying medicine both times.

  It turns out he really understood it.

  "There's nothing going on here, Laobai, you can leave first." Li Dalang said to Li Balang.

  Don't come, doctor. What's going on? Li Dalang wants to investigate slowly. He doesn't want to wrong his brother hastily either. Just now he scolded Li Balang, also because he was too anxious. After calming down, Li Dalang didn't scold again.

  Chen Jiong also stood up and said: "I have nothing to do here, I'll leave first. If Xuanxuan's illness recurs, you can send someone to call me."

  "Alright, you can go too." Li Dalang said with a smile.

  Chen Jie's sister-in-law was still in the room. She seemed to want to say something to Chen Jie, but in the end, she just smiled and said nothing.

  Chen Jiong followed Li Balang out of Li Juan's courtyard.

  The weather is fine, and the warm sunshine feels like a light feather brushing against my face.

  The courtyard is very quiet, and from time to time, maidservants are met on the road. Their footsteps are so light that they can hardly be heard, so the sound of the gentle breeze rustling through the branches is particularly clear.

  A serene courtyard, with faint fragrance wafting about.

  The twisted branches swayed back and forth, stirring up a halo of light, and the tree shadows underfoot also became lively.

  "......I'm in trouble!" Li Balang's footsteps were slow, each step heavy, as if weighed down by his gloomy mood. Since the Dragon Boat Festival match that day, he had been preoccupied with worries.

  "It's not your fault," said Chen Jiong, "You didn't do anything wrong."

  His voice was neither light nor heavy, like a ray of light cast on the ground, bright and yet with a hint of jumping.

  Li Balang sighed softly, he also felt that he had done nothing wrong.

  Nothing's wrong, but trouble has been stirred up, Li Balang knows!

  "Du is too despicable." Li Balang said again. When he said this, there was no gnashing of teeth with resentment, but rather a sense of helplessness and sorrow.

  Despicability requires strength. Apparently, Li Balang has realized this point.

  "It's just human nature." Chen Jing said, "Others have lost money and have the ability to kill you, why let you off?"

  Li Balang's eyebrows slightly moved, and he turned his head to glance at Chen Jing.

  Chen Jie's eyes were very still, so still that they seemed almost cold. The dark pupils reflected the fragmented sunlight, making them seem unfathomable.

  "You're really knowledgeable!" Li Balang praised Chen Jing, "You know medicine, horse riding, and ball skills are not bad, and you also understand human relationships!"

  He was a bit suspicious of Chen Jiong.

  Chen Jiong smiled, his smile very calm and composed.

  His calmness fell into Li Balang's eyes and dispelled Li Balang's doubts.

  The two brothers continued walking outwards.

  Li Balang's eyebrows were tightly locked.

  Chen Jing went on and on, saying: "...... The Du family could have simply bullied you guys, but they didn't. Now it seems that they might have heard the rumors about the Li and Cai families' alliance and are uncertain whether the rumors are true or false."

  Your family invited the doctor, but it was just this morning's affair. Du Shi's quick action is enough to show that they were already well-prepared and waiting to take over your family. This is just a probe. If you want Du Shi to back off, you still need to go ask Cai Er Ge for help.

  Li Balang's eyebrows were knitted even deeper, and he didn't respond.

  Chen Jiong said, he knew all about it.

  However, he did not want to go ask Cai Shu-Yuan.

  Money, he is impossible to return to Du's family. Not to mention that he has already divided it out, even if he didn't divide it, he won't return it. This is what he has won, fair and square!

  Go ask Cai Shuyuan, he will definitely make Cai Shuyuan spend money. A real man, before marrying a girl from another family, relies on his wife's family, it's a bit shameful to be supported by his in-laws.

  But apart from the Cai family, no one else had the ability to contend with the Du family.

  Du's family relies on their power and influence to bully others, what can he do?

  Is it necessary to reason with him?

  This world has never been reasonable.

  Li Balang was in a dilemma, he couldn't get over this hurdle in his heart and was extremely annoyed. He also felt powerless. Growing up like this, for the first time, he felt that men must have power and money, otherwise they would be trampled by others.

  What fairness and justice?

  "...A real man can bend and stretch. Ask for help once, and repay ten times in the future, it's not a waste of a true hero." Chen Jiong continued, "Take advantage of the Du family just testing the waters with small things, you go ask Cai Erguo, Cai Erguo will spend less money and effort to resolve this matter. When things get big, you'll still have to ask for help, by then Cai Erguo's expenses will be even more."

  Li Balang's footsteps slightly paused.

  He pursed his lips tightly, his thick eyebrows furrowed together.

  Chen Jing couldn't see his emotions clearly.

  "It's not shameful to ask for help and use the resources available. If you want to climb up, you have to use all the resources you can get. Being too proud won't get you far. Besides, asking for help doesn't mean losing face, who hasn't asked for help in their lifetime?"

  Li Balang raised his head and glanced at Chen Jing.

  Chen Jiong's words finally moved him.

  He hesitated for a moment, then lifted his foot and walked out. He said to Chen Jing: "You go play by yourself. If my brother comes looking for me, tell him I went to the Cai's house."

  Chen Jing stood still, gazing at Li Yongrong's receding back, motionless for a long time.

  That figure has a slightly thin back and walks with some difficulty. However, he finally took this step, which shows his growth.

  Chen Jing remembered what Li Yongrong said on the Dragon Boat Festival: "Taking an imperial examination and bringing honor to one's family is secondary, first and foremost is being able to be one's own master..."

  At that moment, he must have realized a lot.

  Chen Jing also remembered what his great-grandfather in Jingzhong Alley had said before, "Like a doctor, although he can save people's lives, but everything is not under his control..."

  This means it's probably similar to what Li Yong Rong suddenly realized.

  Chen Jing walked slowly towards the outer courtyard's wing room with his hands behind his back.

  For some reason, he also felt a few more parts of loneliness in his heart.

  Luckily he is here today. If he wasn't, what would Li Juan do? In the vast city of Yaojiang County, the wealthy Li family couldn't even invite a doctor!

  Chen Jiong returned to his temporary living quarters.

  Li Qianqian was changing clothes and taking medicine, Chen Jing felt that having an outsider present was inconvenient. Moreover, with those prescriptions and medicinal baths, Li Qianqian's illness would soon be cured, and Chen Jing had no worries in her heart.

  He sat down and picked up a book to browse through it casually. After reading a few pages, he started to feel drowsy due to the warmth and comfort.

  Unknowingly, he fell asleep on his desk.

  Vaguely, he caught a whiff of a sweet and thick fragrance, seemingly the scent of osmanthus. In front of his grandfather's study in his past life, there was an old osmanthus tree.

  Every time it's autumn, those golden yellow petals fall on the windowsill and desk with the wind, and the fragrance fills the whole courtyard amidst the interplay of light and shadow.

  A tender voice, sitting on the windowsill reading a book: "...husband Chen as a doctor, cannot rely on his own strengths, focus on managing finances...whenever treating illnesses, must calm the mind and settle the will, develop great compassion and sympathy, vow to universally save all sentient beings from suffering, without desires or demands..."

  Suddenly Chen Xuan woke up with a start.

  Late spring season, there is no osmanthus fragrans at all.

  There was no serious figure beside his desk either.

  That tender voice, however, fell into his heart and couldn't be shaken off.

  That was his younger self.

  He recited Chen's family motto, adapted from Sun Simiao's "Great Physician's Mindfulness". Before studying medicine, he first memorized the family motto and remembered the first intention and inheritance.

  Chen Jiong was eighteen years old when he left his master, and hung up his medical box in the capital. From that moment on, his heart became restless, never achieving a state of desirelessness, and even forgot the family teachings.

  At that time, he pursued a sense of achievement and sought recognition.

  Even after rebirth, he still can't meet his grandfather's requirements for medical ethics.

  For some reason, I suddenly dreamed of my grandfather and my younger self today.

  It's Li Yongrong's business, what makes him touch his heartstrings? In his previous life, he also had a similar inner journey as Li Yongrong. Those experiences ruined the way of being and doing things that his grandfather had taught him. Deep down inside, he was very self-reproachful.

  Chen Jiong supported his forehead with one hand, which was propped up on the desk, and remained motionless for a long time without lifting his head.

  ***

  Li Balang went out and didn't come back until curfew.

  After returning, he came to find Chen Xuan and said: "Cai Ergou promised to help." He was still in a good mood.

  "Not bad," Chen Jiong smiled and said, "He values you highly."

  Last time at the polo field, Chen Jing could see that Cai Shuyuan had a high opinion of Li Yongrong.

  Li Yongrong smiled slightly.

  Du's actions were swift, but Cai Shuyuan was even swifter.

  Because of Li Juan's illness, Chen Jing's sister-in-law planned to stay for another five days and wait until Juan's condition stabilized before leaving.

  The next day, Chen Jing and Li Jia's sons were having a meal in the flower hall when a young servant suddenly ran in and reported to Li Daren: "Sun Daifu has arrived..."

  Li Dalang furrowed his brow.

  Yesterday, he accompanied Old Lady Mo for lunch and refused to come and save his life. Li Dalang was extremely disappointed with Sun Dafu, adding a few points of chill in his heart, saying: "Please invite him to the central hall for tea." He didn't go to meet Sun Dafu immediately.

  In a moment, the servant came again to report: "Mr. Cui has arrived."

  Choi entered with his front foot, and Kang arrived with his back foot.

  These three were among those who refused to go out and make house calls yesterday.

  You came so early today, it can be seen that Cai Ergou's matter has been settled, and the Du family has withdrawn their troops.

  Li Balang secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  Li Dalang was still in a state of shock, unsure what had happened. After breakfast, he didn't go to meet the three doctors, but instead took Chen Jing to the inner courtyard to see Li Xiangxiang and give her another examination.

  Li Qianqian has recovered more than half.

  She still itches. Now as long as she itches, immediately apply the boiled medicine and it won't get much better.

  "How many hours did you sleep last night?" Li Dalang was very kind in front of his daughter.

  "It was so itchy that I woke up three times." Li Juanjuan smiled, "I woke up and applied the medicine, then fell asleep again. Dad, you don't need to worry about me, Second Uncle's medicine is very effective."

  "You should thank your second uncle properly." Li Dalang let out a sigh of relief.

  "Yes, thank you, Second Uncle!" Li Xiangxiang smiled and said.

  Chen Jiong also smiled: "Don't be polite."

  Li Dalang saw that his daughter's condition was improving, so he knew that Chen Jing's medicine was effective. What about Dr. Sun and Dr. Cui? They are no longer needed today.

  "....Take a good rest, I'll come back to see you later." Li Dalang still had something important to attend to and didn't want to linger, so he got up to leave after sitting for a while.

  Li Qianqian said yes.

  Chen Jie also wants to leave.

  Li Qianqian however detained him: "Second Uncle, you wait a bit before leaving, tell me about my illness, I want to hear."

  Chen Jing glanced at Li Dalang.

  "Tell her about it." Li Dalang said with a smile. Because Chen Xiang was young and the child of a relative, Li Dalang was not on guard against him.

  Besides, there are also a house full of maids and servants here with Li Juanjuan.

  Li Qianqian is sensible again.

  "Alright..." Chen Jiong replied.

  Li Dalang left Chen Jing behind and quickly went out himself. Those three doctors who refused to come out for a consultation yesterday, Li Dalang wanted to have a good talk with them.

  As soon as Li Dalang left, Li Juan immediately became mischievous and stuck out her tongue, rolling up half of her sleeve and extending her slender arm in front of Chen Jing: "What can be done? I've been dyed black by your medicine, take a look!"

  She mischievously swung her arm.

  Her slender arm had indeed been stained a tawny yellow by the medicine, and was no longer as lovely as it used to be.

  Chen Jiong lost his smile.

  His fingers lightly tapped on Li Qianqian's forehead: "This is to cure the disease, if it turns black then so be it, you little devil!"

  "Will it leave a scar?" Li Xuanxuan smiled and continued to swing her arm.

  At this time, Mrs. Li came.

  Li Dainai served her mother-in-law after breakfast and hurried over to see her daughter. As soon as she entered the door, she saw that her daughter had exposed more than half of her arm, stretching it out in front of Chen Jing.

  There were four or five maids and servant girls in the house, but surprisingly none of them stopped her.

  Mrs. Li's footsteps paused slightly.