Chapter 78: First Knowing Portent

  The clinic is not very big and there are not many medicinal materials inside. It seems that Gong Sun Ce has just arrived in Tianchang County, and everything is not yet ready.

  Entering the medical hall, Gong Sun Ce put down the signboard and asked Hua Lang and others to sit down, saying: "What do you want to know?"

  Hualang smiled faintly, and this Gong Sun Ce was indeed not stupid, for he had heard his own purpose from his own words.

  "Why did Gong Sun brother have a feud with Wang Song?"

  Gongsun Ce gazed at Hua Lang for a long time, as if considering whether Hua Lang was trustworthy and whether he could tell him his own affairs.

  Hualang also let Gong Sunzhu measure him freely, because Hualang was very clear that in order for someone to believe in himself, he must show his sincerity.

  After a long while, Gong Sun Zhi asked: "Do you really want to know?"

  The young man nodded.

  Gongsun Zhi just smiled somewhat self-mockingly: "What if you know? Can knowing change what has already happened?"

  Hualang couldn't understand why Gong Sun Ce was so agitated, at this time, Hua Wannier spoke up and said: "Gong Sun young master should believe in my brother, there's nothing in this world that my brother can't accomplish."

  After hearing Hua Wanyi's words, Hua Lang felt embarrassed and quickly explained: "It's not that exaggerated, I can still help with general things."

  Not boasting too much was already a kind of sincerity for Gong Sun Ce.

  Gongsun Ce nodded and said, "Alright, I'll tell you. Wang Song and I were fellow students who came to the capital together to take the imperial examination. However, he took advantage of his father's connections in the court to switch my exam paper with his own, resulting in him becoming a successful candidate while I failed. I tried to report this to the authorities, but they all protected each other and refused to accept my case. Wang Song even frequently caused me trouble. Having no choice, I relied on my medical skills to open a clinic here."

  Although the words were brief, they were very detailed. After Gong Sun Ce finished speaking, Hua Lang understood everything, including the grudges between Gong Sun Ce and Wang Song, as well as why a rough person like Wang Song could pass the imperial examination to become a scholar-official.

  Gongsun Ce finished speaking and looked at Hualang, asking: "Do you have a way?"

  The words had a hint of disdain and contempt, which made Huā Láng feel uncomfortable. After a long time, Huā Láng finally spoke up: "From ancient times to the present, cheating in exams has been repeatedly prohibited, but cases of swapping exam papers are rare. That Wáng Sōng actually dared to do such a thing, it's really brazen and unscrupulous."

  No one spoke, Wang Song was bold and domineering, they had all seen it before, but saying a few words like that couldn't make him surrender to the law.

  After a long time, Hua Lang said: "Now those test papers have been sealed, and it's not easy to take them out for comparison. Therefore, the only way to bring down Wang Song is to make him lose face and let everyone know that he has no real talent or learning."

  After listening to Hua Lang's words, Gong Sun Ce had no excitement on his face. He sighed and said: "I have thought of this too, but everyone knows that Wang Song has no literary talent, yet no one believes that the scholar is not his own. The method you mentioned is useless."

  Think about it carefully, things are also right. Since he is already a jinshi, who will care whether Wang Song has real talent or not? Even if the poems and lyrics he wrote are bad, they can be said to be caused by abnormal expression. As long as he doesn't make mistakes in major court affairs, who can do anything to him?

  The young man shrugged helplessly, if this method didn't work, he also had no way out.

  After a long time, Gong Sun Ce cupped his hands and said to Hua Lang: "Thank you for your help today, Brother Hua. I didn't expect to bring down Wang Song after all. Now my only hope is that he won't come looking for trouble at my medical clinic. Although I have no chance of a career in officialdom, being a doctor to cure the people's illnesses is still possible."

  Gongsun Ce was naturally noble and his heart was even more distant. Hualang sincerely admired him, so he stood up and bowed to Gongsun Ce, saying: "Brother Gongsun, rest assured, with me, Hualang, in Tianchang County, Wang Song will not dare to trouble you again."

  Gongsun Ce didn't know about Hualang's abilities, he just thought Hualang was comforting him, so he didn't take it to heart. Although he didn't take it to heart, the necessary courtesy still had to be there.

  "Thanks, brother!"

  After the conversation, Hua Lang was about to bid farewell and leave when Hua Wannier suddenly stood up and said: "Gong Sun Gongzi, I've heard that your medical skills are exceptional. Can you take me as your apprentice?"

  Everyone was taken aback, Gong Sun Ce glanced at Hua Lang and then looked at Hua Yu'er and said: "Learning medicine is not a matter of one day or one night. I heard that you have opened a detective agency, the business must be busy, I'm afraid there is no time to learn medicine with me."

  Hua Wannier heard this and hastily said: "Don't worry, don't worry, I have time to learn, and I will study very seriously."

  Yin had no choice but to see Hua Rong'er's attitude towards Gong Sun Ce, and a sour feeling arose in his heart. However, he couldn't say anything at this time, and could only hope that Gong Sun Ce would reject Hua Rong'er's request.

  It turned out that Gongsun Zan agreed.

  "Since you insist on learning, I won't delay either. After all, one more doctor means one more person who can save lives and heal wounds in this world."

  When Gongsun Ce agreed to accept her as his apprentice, Hua Yu'er was overjoyed and even jumped up and down on the street.

  His own sister wanted to learn medicine, and Hua Lang naturally wouldn't object. After all, having another sister who knew medical skills would be very helpful to him in the future. He was just a bit worried that Gong Sun Zhi was so handsome, what if his sister fell for him?

  Liking Gong Sun Ce is no big deal, but what's important is how to deal with Yin Wu?

  Yin Wuchuang is a Jianghu person, he often thinks impulsively and acts rashly. If someone were to hurt him, it would be bad for everyone involved.

  Those grudges and affections on the rivers and lakes, Hua Lang didn't want to experience.

  On the way back, Wen Meng asked with some interest: "I think Wang Song is not easy to let go of Gong Sun Ce. Since you promised to help Gong Sun Ce, how do you plan to help him? You can't just stay in his clinic every day, right?"

  This is indeed a problem, let's not talk about Hua Lang being unable to stay in the hospital every day. Even if he could stay in the hospital every day, what could he do? Although his relationship with Bao Gong is good, after all, he is just a commoner, how can a commoner fight against an official?

  After some deliberation, Hua Lang finally said: "If Wang Song dares to look for trouble with Gong Sun Ce, we will report him to the county government office. Bao Zheng is fair and impartial, if Wang Song really did something wrong, even his father being the prefect won't be able to help him."

  This is indeed a good idea, and when everyone thinks this method is feasible, they are somewhat eager to hope that Wang Song can go to trouble Gong Sun Ce as soon as possible, so they can get rid of him as soon as possible. It's best to abolish his official position and let him leave Tianchang County forever.