Chapter Nineteen: Treating Illness
Xiao Lian had never seen the true face of Ren Zhong Hu. She only knew that he was the second brother of Xiu Lian's husband, and along with Ren Zhong Jie, they were famous for their exceptional medical skills. Unlike Ren Zhong Jie who traveled extensively, Ren Zhong Hu never left his Green Garden and never received guests. Even when patients offered large sums of money to be treated by him, he would only diagnose through his brother Ren Zhong Jie, then prescribe medicine which Ren Zhong Jie would deliver to the patient, often resulting in a cure. Some people said that Ren Zhong Hu was charming and handsome, while others claimed he was ugly and ashamed to show his face. However, no one had ever seen his true appearance. Today, for the sake of Jiufu's illness, he surprisingly agreed to come out, showing just how much influence Jiufu had and how good their relationship was. Although his face was still covered with a black veil, it was impressive that they could persuade the renowned doctor to come, making all Jiufu's efforts worthwhile. Xiao Lian felt endless admiration and curiosity as she stared at the legendary figure, thinking to herself, "Wow, I finally get to see him in person today." Ren Zhong Hu had a tall and majestic build, similar to that of Hu Shao, but whether his face was also as handsome under the black veil remained unknown. Jiufu called him Quasimodo, implying ugliness, but it was unclear if he truly was too ugly to show his face. With a mix of admiration and curiosity, Xiao Lian forgot her duty to take care of Jiufu.
"Xiao Lian, how long do you want to watch me? Hurry up and bring Hu Shao's medicine box!" Ren Ershao's voice was low and warm, kind and gentle, and full of magnetism. Even if he were really ugly as a yaksha, listening to this enchanting voice would make one's heart flutter with admiration. Xiao Lian blushed bright red and hastily replied, running out of the room to fetch the medicine box. Yingying was also smitten, quickly pulling over a chair to place beside Liu Qingqing's soft bed, inviting Ren Zhonghu to sit down. Ren Zhonghu shook his head, indicating for her to take it away.
Xiao Lian brought the medicine box, and Ren Zhong Hu began to administer injections. It seemed that he didn't examine carefully, but the needles in his hand were inserted into Liu Qingqing's body one by one. After all of them were inserted, a long flute appeared magically. The tune played was "Guifei Drunken Wine", the same one Liu Qingqing had played with her willow flute in the thatched cottage. When the song ended, it changed to "Rainbow Chasing the Moon", the same one Liu Qingqing had played outside the thatched cottage. Everyone at Hong Cuishan Villa heard the sound of the flute and felt it was loud and melodious, piercing their hearts, stirring their emotions, and evoking deep feelings.
Half a time later, Ren Zhong Hu stopped playing the flute and pulled out the silver needle. He helped Liu Qingqing sit up straight and lie down properly, instructing Xiaolian and Yingying to take good care of her, while he himself walked out of the recovery room and into the kitchen to personally brew medicine. An hour later, the medicine was ready, and he brought it over, holding Liu Qingqing's head, sitting up with his upper body, letting Liu Qingqing lean against him, ordering Yingying to feed her the medicine, while he himself used a handkerchief to wipe away the medicinal liquid that flowed from the corner of Liu Qingqing's mouth. It was truly a doctor's Bodhisattva heart, and everyone felt touched by Ren Ershao's actions, even Xiaolian and Yingying felt excluded, thinking that Ren Ershao didn't seem to be taking care of a patient, but rather his own loved one. As the husband, Hu Shao never appeared, which made Xiaolian and Yingying feel somewhat dissatisfied in their hearts. Ren Ershao, as Hu Shao's elder brother-in-law, seemed to have taken over the role, with a hint of usurping the nest. Nevertheless, Xiaolian and others still trusted Ren Ershao very much, but if they knew that his meticulous care would lead to an earth-shattering event, they would rather he hadn't been so diligent.
In the evening, after Liu Qingqing regained consciousness, the two maids' bad mood completely disappeared, and they looked at Ren Ershao with gratitude and almost worship. What excited Xiaolian was that Jiufuren seemed to have reacted to Ren Zhonghu's flute sound, because there were tears in the corner of Liu Qingqing's eyes. Her eyes could move now, and she seemed to be able to see things. When feeding medicine, she could open her mouth.
The next day.
Ren Zhonghu continued to administer the needle, instructing Liu Qingqing to open her mouth. Liu Qingqing complied and opened her mouth wide. Ren Erlao used his left hand to pull out the tip of her tongue and held a fine needle in his right hand, inserting it into the tongue tip towards the root of the tongue. Liu Qingqing let out an "ah" as Ren Zhonghu withdrew the needle. Then he continued to administer the needle according to yesterday's method.
On the third day, as before. As he said this, it was already evening. Liu Qingqing's face gradually had some color, and her breathing also became stronger. Because Xiaolian applied the Nine Flower Jade Cream to the affected area, Liu Qingqing's face and arm were smooth and clean again. She was moved from the soft couch to the bed. Ren Zhong said: "Tonight at midnight she will be fully awake, you can rest assured. I have finally fulfilled my duty, pulling her back from the gates of hell. This is also a way to explain things to Hu Shao." He stood up, bid farewell to Xiaolian with a smile, and left with a laugh, as if he were a god descending upon the earth, and then mysteriously disappeared.
Childhood.
Xiao Lian and Yingying didn't dare to blink for half the night, clasped their hands together, and continuously prayed to the Bodhisattva, hoping that Liu Qingqing would wake up.
It's just as Ren Zhonghu said, at midnight, Liu Qingqing woke up on time and smiled at the two people, "What are you staring at me for? Go to sleep quickly! It's so late." Xiaolian and Yingying both admired Ren Zhonghu's exceptional skills, and this time they put their minds at ease, only feeling extremely sleepy and exhausted. They drifted off to sleep slowly.
The next morning
Xiao Lian and Yingying got up, happily helped Liu Qingqing wash up and change into new clothes. They were as happy as two little birds, only missing flying in the sky, but at this time they noticed something strange about Liu Qingqing, that is, Liu Qingqing seemed to not recognize them.
This discovery made both of them extremely frightened, they stared at each other in dismay, and finally decided that Yingying would keep an eye on Liu Qingqing while Xiaolian went to find Hu Zhongren to report the news.
Hú Zhōngrén was having breakfast in the Fèng Qī Lóu when Xiǎo Lián rushed into the room, panting. "Hú Shǎo, Hú Shǎo, something terrible has happened!"
Hu Zhong's face sank like water, "What are you panicking about? Making such a big fuss, what does it look like?"
Xiao Lian said, if you heard this news, you would also make a big fuss.
"Madam Nine"
"She woke up, what's the big deal? Zhong Jie said it himself, didn't he? She'd wake up in three to seven days at most. Besides, Ren Zhong and Hu came themselves, it would be weird if she didn't wake up!" Hu Zhongren said slowly while eating his breakfast.
"Xǐng shì xǐng le, jiù shì - tā - hǎo xiàng - bù rèn shí - wǒmen le." Xiǎo lián qī qī ài ài de shuō. Hú zhòng rén de kuài zi pā de yī shēng diào dì shàng, zhàn qǐ shēn xíng, "cǐ huà dàng zhēn?"
"Absolutely no falsehood." Xiaolian nodded vigorously. Who dares to make fun of this?! Hu Zhongren walked down the stairs with a quivering leg, which seemed even more labored than before. It's simply a bolt from the blue! A bolt from the blue!
He and Xiaolian ran to the front of Yangsheng Hall, saw Liu Qingqing sitting at the table eating, nothing unusual. As usual, all the food in front of Liu Qingqing entered her rubber belly, she was a good eater, Hu Zhongren had seen it long ago. Watching her finish her meal calmly, Hu Zhongren walked towards Liu Qingqing, Liu Qingqing smiled and said: "This handsome guy, you're so cool! Unfortunately, you're crippled, what a waste of such a good face!"
"Don't spout nonsense! Mind your own identity!" Hu Zhongren brushed away his hand that was pinching his cheek.
"What's your name?" Hu Zhongren grasped her chin with his reverse hand.
"My name is Liu Qingqing." Liu Qingqing brushed off her hand "Let go, it hurts."
"What are your parents' names?" Hu Zhongren changed his grip on her hand.
"My father's name is Liu Fengchun, and my mother's name is Bai Hua." Liu Qingqing opened his hands again.
"Who is your husband?"
"I, I don't have a husband, I came here to find one, that is, my lover. Lover, you understand? I'm from Earth. We're not from the same era as you, our era is the future of your era, do you understand? My grandmother said my lover was in ancient times, ancient times, that is, your era, do you understand?"
Hu Zhongren threw away his hat in frustration and shouted: "Hu Zhong, go find the Ren brothers for me! What kind of quack doctors are they? They've turned my man into this state! Tell them to come here immediately!"
Liu Qingqing smiled and looked at Hu Zhongren, "What's wrong with you? Are you like me, unable to go back? You can't go home, right? Don't be afraid, I'll take you on a journey through the world! I'll sing a song for you!" Then she picked up a dry wooden stick from the ground and used it as a microphone, saying loudly: "Next, please welcome Liu Qingqing, the champion of Starlight Avenue, to bring us a wonderful song, 'Journey Through the World'!"
Singing and dancing, let's sing it up!
The moon still hangs in the vast wilderness
Your silhouette is being stretched longer and longer
Until the distant sound of horse hooves faded away
Your singing voice spreads far and wide
Raising one's head to gaze at the sky, only two rows of geese are seen.
Tears fell and washed away my makeup for me
Heartbroken, leaning on the railing, thinking of you and filling the walls with thoughts
Sleepless night, the road of love is too long
Your footsteps wander at the horizon
My thoughts follow you to distant lands
Whose tears have condensed into frost in the moonlight
It's you who makes me think of you until I'm heartbroken
Your footsteps wander at the horizon
My thoughts follow you to distant lands
If this life cannot be with you, then let's become a pair in the next life
In the next life, I will be a butterfly and depend on you for warmth
The broken strings of the zither are not enough to express the sorrow of parting
Gazing through the autumn waters, unable to see through the web of emotions.
Time cycles take away sorrow
The white snow is vast and cannot cover up the melancholy.
The fleeting time of withered glory
Time has left its mark on my temples, now frosted with age
But wish for a thousand miles to share the same moon with you
To the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea, I still cannot forget
Your footsteps wander at the horizon
My thoughts follow you to distant lands
Whose tears have condensed into frost in the moonlight
It's you who makes me think of you until I'm heartbroken
Your footsteps wander at the end of the sky
My thoughts follow you to distant lands
If this life cannot be with you, then let's become a pair in the next life
In the next life, I'll be a butterfly and depend on you by your side
Ren Zhongjie hastened to the Hong Cui Mountain Villa, and even he couldn't help but burst out laughing. Because Liu Qingqing had already moved her performance venue to the third floor of the Feng Qi Building, attracting over a hundred people to come and watch, including traveling merchants, medicine farmers delivering goods, and even slaves from the Hu family. Hu Zhongren's face was ashen, while Liu Qingqing beamed with joy, treating this place like a stage on Starlight Avenue, showcasing her talents to her heart's content, and even taking on the role of Old Bi, the host. The ancient common people had never seen such a spectacle before, all crowded under the Feng Qi Building, watching in awe. The situation was chaotic, and Hu Zhongren seemed to have no solution, having exhausted all his tricks. Everyone was lively and boisterous below the Feng Qi Building, while Hu Zhongren sat alone in the pavilion in front of it, drinking cup after cup to drown his sorrows, feeling depressed and angry.
Ren Zhongjie walked over and sat down opposite him: "Why is it like this?"
Hu Zhongren told the whole story from start to finish. Ren Zhongjie listened and fell into deep thought without saying a word.
Hu Zhongren finally lost his temper. He pounded the table and said, "You'd better speak up, what's going on with her? What disease has she contracted? Look at her frantic appearance, where does it look like a dignified lady or a virtuous woman?"
Ren Zhongjie didn't respond, turning his gaze away to watch Liu Qingqing perform on stage. With rapt attention, as if nothing else existed around him. Hu Zhongren also stopped talking, only refilling Ren Zhongjie's cup one by one. No one knew how to deal with this crazy girl, unless they tied her up, but tying her up might trigger other illnesses.
Finally, Liu Qingqing finished her performance and waved goodbye to everyone. With Xiaolian's support, she entered the Fengxiu Building. The audience was reluctant to leave, but after waiting for over 10 minutes without seeing Liu Qingqing come out again, they gradually dispersed. Hu Zhongren instructed his attendant: "Go into the Fengxiu Building and ask Xiaolian about Madame Ji's condition, then report back to me."
Not long after I left, he came back to report that the ninth lady was already calm and resting. Hu Zhongren looked at Ren Zhongjie with eyes full of longing, his eyes written all over with "what to do, what to do, save her, save her, I beg of you SOS".
At this time, Ren Zhongjie slowly said: "This disease should be the legendary foolishness syndrome."
"Hu Zhongren hastily asked: 'The patient with the disease of foolishness is yearning for a life in his heart, and under extreme madness, what is presented is the state of life imagined. It's living in one's own imagination.'"
Hu Zhongren said: "Is there a way to treat it?"
Ren Zhongjie nodded.
