Chapter 609 - 225: No Coincidence, No Story
Chapter 609: Chapter 225: No Coincidence, No Story
"Don’t blame yourself. Blame me. I should have paid more attention..."
As she spoke, Yao’an quieted down. Xu Shiling quickly took a medicine bottle out of his pouch and asked for a bowl of hot water. He dissolved a pill in the water and, joining forces with Chen Song to hold Yao’an down, managed to feed him the bowl of medicine.
This medicine was made by a renowned physician and would take effect quickly. However, until it did, the family remained anxious and stayed together to watch over the boy.
After guarding him for quite a while, they heard footsteps outside. Xu Shiling’s trusted attendant brought a man to the door.
"Sir, the post house manager said the nearest village to the station is over ten miles away. There is a doctor there, but his medical skills are mediocre. Only those waiting for death would invite him to their homes."
Usually, if he was invited over, the patient wouldn’t survive past three days before passing away. Calling him a doctor was a stretch; he was practically a Yama of Death.
The nearest doctor with decent skills was in the county town, at least twenty miles away. By the time someone made a round trip, it would be far too late.
"Fortunately, there are a few scholars staying here recently on their way to the capital for the imperial examinations. One of the scholars knows some Qihuang Skill. Perhaps having him take a look would help."
Hearing this from inside the room, Xu Shiling quickly urged, "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and invite him in."
The person was invited in, and Zhao Jing, Chen Song, Xu Su Ying, and De’an were all dumbfounded.
Not only did they freeze in place, but even the young man who entered the room looked stunned upon seeing their family.
Xu Shiling looked to the left and then to the right. "What, do you know each other?"
"You could say that. We’ll talk about it later," Xu Su Ying brushed her brother off.
It truly was a small world. None of them had ever expected to cross paths again.
Meng Jintang recovered his wits at this moment. He cupped his hands in greeting to everyone. Dispensing with any unnecessary pleasantries, he simply looked at the bed and asked, "Does Yao’an have a fever?"
De’an said in a muffled voice, "It’s Yao’an. When did you learn the Qihuang Skill? How come I didn’t know?"
Meng Jintang smiled good-naturedly. "I was slashed a few times by water bandits a while back and barely survived. My wife and her grandfather were poor and didn’t have the funds to hire a doctor for me every day, so I borrowed medical books from the doctor’s house to read."
Back then, he had been in a daze, not even knowing his own name, but the will to live was instinctual. He wanted to grasp that sliver of hope and carve out a way to survive.
Fortunately, the old doctor was compassionate and kind-hearted. Seeing Meng Jintang’s fair skin and delicate features, which clearly marked him as a young master from a wealthy family, the doctor wanted to form a good karmic connection.
Later, the wound on his head healed, but his memory was slow to return. With nowhere to go and no identity documents, he simply stayed there.
When the old man who saved him fell ill and was bedridden, Meng Jintang wanted to repay his debt of gratitude and did everything in his power to treat him. Unfortunately, his abilities were limited, and in the end, he couldn’t save the grandfather.
Entrusted by the old man’s dying wish, he married the granddaughter. Then, one day by chance, he fell off a roof, hit his head, and suddenly regained his memory...
But that was a long story. Suffice it to say, thanks to his hard studies during those years, he really did understand some Qihuang Skill. He didn’t dare treat major illnesses, but he had some reliable methods for fevers and coughs.
Meng Jintang gestured for De’an to unbutton Yao’an’s clothes. Seeing this, Zhao Jing ordered the attendants outside to bring in a brazier.
Hearing this, Xu Su Ying nodded repeatedly. "Look at me, I forgot all about that."
When the brazier was brought in, Meng Jintang rubbed his hands together until they were warm. Right in front of everyone, he began to give Yao’an a massage.
First the back, then the soles of the feet. He massaged Yao’an until the flush on the boy’s face gradually faded and he broke into a full-body sweat. Meng Jintang didn’t stop until he himself was dripping with sweat, looking as if he had just been fished out of the water.
Whether it was the effect of Meng Jintang’s massage or the pill Xu Shiling had fed him, Yao’an’s fever quickly broke, and he woke up.
Opening his eyes, he saw a stranger sitting beside him and felt a bit dazed. It wasn’t until he saw Chen Song and the others nearby that his tense nerves relaxed.
"Dad, Mom, what happened to me?"
Xu Su Ying hurried over. "Oh, my child, you scared me to death! Why didn’t you say something earlier if you weren’t feeling well? If that fever had turned you into a fool, your father and I would have been heartbroken."
Chen Song and De’an also quickly gathered around. Meng Jintang tactfully stood up, gave a slight nod to Zhao Jing and Xu Shiling, and stepped out of the room.
Seeing this, Xu Shiling hurriedly instructed his attendant, "This scholar’s clothes are all wet. If he walks out like this, the cold air will inevitably seep into his bones. Go to my room and fetch a cloak for him."
Meng Jintang hastily declined. "There’s no need to go to any trouble. It’s just a few steps back to my room."