Chapter 3, The First Encounter with Young Master Pei

Zhang's response was, "To actually deceive so many, truly a heart of darkness!"

Without expecting it, the remaining fourteen taels and seven qians of silver were given to the Zhang family. The bundle given by Zheng Liansheng was brought to the uncle, and the account of the pearl was recounted in detail. Upon hearing this, the Zhang family could only gasp in astonishment, "Spring Jie has such insight. If we had directly approached Zheng Liansheng, wouldn’t we have wasted twelve taels!"

Qi has always been quite talkative, and offending him may lead to trouble. After some consideration, it was decided, "Why not invite him to take a look? The consultation fee will be paid, and Uncle's leg must be treated. It will also be easier to explain to Aunt Qi. Once he leaves, Aunt can tell her that we are a humble household and cannot afford to associate with him, suggesting that he seek another suitable match."

One should take advantage of the refreshing breeze to move the frame purchased yesterday to the shade of the trees in the yard, tighten the satin embroidery base, regulate one's breathing, and begin to outline the embroidery.

Without expecting it, Wu Wangdao stepped out and saw De Pei spreading a straw mat in front of the cool pavilion, sitting on it and staring intently at the cow. Wu Wangdao asked, "What new trouble is this?"

Wu Wang and De Pei were driving a bullock cart back to Mantou Village, with rice flour, two hens, and two large bundles on the cart. De Pei held a sugar figurine in his left hand and cracked a whip with his right, exuding an air of leisure and contentment. Wu Wang sat on the cart with her knees hugged, occasionally pulling out embroidery thread to admire, filled with joy. She had just passed by an embroidery shop where she bought various colored threads and two embroidery frames. It is worth mentioning that her embroidery skills were taught by her aunt. Zhang was originally skilled in women's needlework, adept at depicting birds and beasts, flowers and fish, mountains and rivers, with no subject beyond her reach. However, due to the upheavals of the past few years, she had lost her touch. Now, as she picked it up again, she could create items that could be sold. Wu Wang had inquired thoroughly; that embroidery workshop also accepted customers' embroidery. If the work was good, a contract would be signed, and for the next batch of materials, no money would be required—just take them and deliver the finished embroidery. After deducting the cost of materials, it would be a no-risk business, which was certainly a hundred times better than having no income at all.

Pei Zhen took up paper and pen, wrote down the prescription for the bone-setting soup, and mentioned the precautions to be taken in the coming days. He then clasped his hands in farewell. Zhang sent him to the courtyard exit to pay the consultation fee, but Pei Zhen declined several times, eventually asking the young servant to accept it. He then mounted his horse and rode away, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

Liu Hongdao said, "Have you ever thanked Mr. Zheng for me? His family is not well-off, yet he still thinks of helping me." He sighed again, "In the days of wealth and honor, friends were everywhere, little did I know that friends made in poverty and hardship are the ones who truly care for you"

Zhang was also sweating profusely, exclaiming, "There is no such reasoning; as soon as the matchmaker spoke, she hurried over. I must ask the Qi family, what is she trying to do to our family, what is her intention!" He was about to go out to confront them.

She did not wish to sit in the room, worrying about her uncle's injury. Moreover, due to the special status of the person treating him, it was inappropriate to wait nearby. Feeling anxious and restless, she suddenly heard Liu Hong let out a painful cry, which startled her to the point of losing her senses, like a headless fly buzzing chaotically around the room. Liu Hong cried out for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, and after that, she could no longer hear anything. Only then did she slump down, touching her face, which was drenched in sweat.

De Pei exclaimed, "Of course I bought them!" He cheerfully unloaded the items from the cart, tied the ox under the shade, and organized some reeds to enclose the two chickens. He fed them, also made a nest from dry grass, and was just waiting for tomorrow morning to collect the eggs

Wu Wang was taken aback, suddenly recalling Wen Jun's face, which was both simple and not so simple, refined yet not entirely refined, and her mind buzzed with thoughts. She patted her chest and scolded, "What are you, a boy, talking about family matters! Take care of your cattle, and in a couple of days, buy a pair of geese to bring back; if there are any strangers, they will honk!"

Liu Hong said with a bitter smile, "Nowadays, I have grown accustomed to the pain, so what is there to fear."

The Qi family member beside her nudged Zhang with her elbow and said, "How about my husband's nephew? His appearance and character are beyond reproach, aren't they?"

Liu Hong shook his head, and Zhang said to Wu Wang with a sense of helplessness, "After a day of hard work and effort, you must be tired. You should go back and rest; I will talk to him again."

Liu Hong weighed the situation and agreed. Zhang went out to attract attention, while Wu Wang followed closely behind. Once they crossed the threshold, he turned back to his own room and did not show himself again

As for this cow, Wu Wang couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, having spent a hefty five taels. The doctors in the county were quite arrogant, only seeing patients in their offices and refusing to make house calls, claiming it was a long journey of several dozen miles, shaking their heads like a rattle drum. With no other options, Wu Wang began to agonize over whether to buy a cow or a mule. Mules were cheaper while cows were expensive; mules could run fast while cows were slow; mules could pull a mill while cows could plow the fields. Moreover, mule meat was cheaper while cow meat was more valuable. He also recalled the piece of barren land behind his house. Gritting his teeth, Wu Wang finally decided to buy the cow, which was a new one just over two years old, and it didn't turn out to be too much of a loss.

Zhang originally thought that he would not accept the consultation fee for his niece, but he did not expect him to be so straightforward. He secretly let out a sigh of relief and felt a sense of ease. However, he then wondered if it was because he was not interested. How could he show no signs of attachment? His niece was so beautiful, yet that young man was so blind to it, which infuriated her!

Upon hearing this, Zhang's earlier anger was instantly transformed into fear. He found himself in a truly difficult position, and could only stammer, "I fear it may not be possible, my head of the household is unwilling."

Zhang said dismissively, "Indeed, a graceful young gentleman from the turbulent world. My sister Chun is just a country girl, and she is probably not worthy of such a distinguished groom."

Do not expect to see him troubled, and hurriedly comforted him, saying, "Today I inquired about a doctor who served in the Imperial Medical Institute before retiring from military service. His medical skills are quite high, and perhaps he has other methods to treat my uncle. In any case, we must give it a try."

Qi understood about seventy to eighty percent of the situation upon seeing him. He lifted his leg and entered the courtyard, calling out loudly, "Sister Chun is embroidering!"

Pei Zhen first deeply bowed to Liu Hong and said, "Sir, please forgive my presumptuousness. I have come here not for any other reason, but to visit a fellow who has fallen ill. On my way, I brought some items for my aunt, and I heard from her that you are seriously injured. As I happen to have some knowledge of medicine, I thought to offer my humble assistance. Firstly, it would help me improve my medical skills, and secondly, a physician should have the heart of a parent; even for those I do not know, I feel compelled to lend a hand." His words were firm, and his demeanor was neither servile nor arrogant. Upon hearing this, Liu Hong and Zhang Shi showed a hint of a smile on their faces, and thus regarded him merely as an ordinary doctor. They proceeded to discuss the symptoms that had persisted for over a month. Pei Zhen took the pulse and then lifted the quilt to take a closer look. Liu Hong's leg was swollen like a barrel, and the flesh at the damaged area was somewhat rotten, a truly distressing sight. Qi Shi, upon seeing this, was so frightened that she took a few steps back, exclaiming, "What a calamity, what a calamity!"

Depay raised his eyes and chuckled, "I will sleep here tonight, fearing that someone might steal the cattle! Tomorrow, I will ask Brother Zhang from the Zhang family to help me build a proper cattle shed, one that has a door and a lock, so that I can rest assured"

In the distance, the village can already be seen, with curling smoke rising from the chimneys and the sound of barking dogs, creating a scene of comforting and pleasant pastoral poetry

Feeling both ashamed and angry, and unable to express it outwardly, he responded and went into the house to look for Zhang. Liu Hong shot a fierce glare at Zhang and scolded, "Look at the good deed you have done! Now someone has come looking for me! Hurry and send him away, saying that I do not need him to look after me!"

Do not expect a nod of agreement, seeing Liu Hong's spirit still lacking, I felt very worried and softly said, "Uncle, you should go to the city tomorrow. It is essential to heal your leg as soon as possible. Dragging this on will only prolong the issue!"

De Pei Dao, "I saved it. By the way, the day before yesterday, Brother Wen Jia asked if you had promised someone, and the next day I heard Mother Wen and Mother Qi arguing fiercely, all because the dog from the Qi family bit the chicks from the Wen family. Mother Wen scolded with sharp words, and later I vaguely heard Mother Qi say something about Jun Ge'er, a toad wanting to eat swan meat..."

Pei Zhen smiled and said, "Aren't you afraid of your grandmother tearing your mouth apart now?"

Depay was overjoyed to have a cow, gently stroking its head and patting its hindquarters, he clapped his hands and laughed, "Finally, I have my own cow; I wonder how much effort I will save now!" He also secured a guarantee to take on the tasks of herding and mowing grass, and only then did he harness the cart to help Wu Wang get on, hurrying home in the glow of the setting sun

Qi said with a smile, "Do not be so modest; the appearance and demeanor of Sister Chun are likely unmatched even by the daughters of wealthy families. Did you not see how that nephew was staring at her!" Seeing Zhang remain silent, he continued, "Are you unhappy about the consultation fee? Pei Zhen is a person with a crystal heart and a glass temperament. He does not wish to use favors to put you at a disadvantage, yet it seems you have misunderstood. Do you really think he is after your three coins of silver?"

Pei Zhen smiled slightly, revealing a row of neat teeth, and said with certainty, "Amputation is a last resort; I have encountered the same condition before, and it was this method that helped me."

Without expecting it, Wenyan hurriedly stood up and said, "Aunt Qi is here!" However, she saw two people following her. One was dressed like a servant, carrying a medicine box on his shoulder, and the other was elegant and handsome, with clear features, seemingly a doctor invited by the Qi family. Little did she know that a single sentence thrown by Qi would leave her in a daze—"This is the young master of the Pei family, named Pei Zhen, whom I mentioned to your aunt earlier. Young Master Pei is a physician, and hearing that your uncle is seriously injured, he has come to treat him. Quickly call your aunt out."

Liu Hong muttered, "What is there to see? It would be better to take an axe and chop it myself, saving on medical fees."

Zhang waited outside for a long time. When he saw the brother and sister returning with the ox cart, he let out a big sigh of relief, while also wondering, "Where did the ox come from?"

Qi did not rush, saying, "There is plenty of time ahead; it is not necessary to make a betrothal today. We can discuss it again once your leg is healed." With that, she left gracefully

A flush appeared on De Pei's face, and he responded in a muffled voice

Zhang said happily, "Is there no need to saw off the legs anymore?"

This child is indeed very thoughtful; she did not even consider the need to guard against thieves. Therefore, she praised, "My Peige has truly grown up! But it is quite cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill"

Do not expect blessings from the path, "Auntie speaks very rightly, but one cannot blame Mr. Zheng too much, for he is not the shopkeeper and cannot make decisions. What is truly detestable is that pawnbroker."

Pei Zhen's servant observed his master with a beaming expression and recalled the young lady he had just seen at the Liu residence. He speculated that good fortune was near for his young master and flattered, saying, "Miss Liu truly possesses a celestial beauty, surpassing even our lady by a third."

When Qi brought the young master of the Pei family, they happened to see that Chun Jie was painting a spring plum blossom picture. Qi turned back and said softly, "That must be Chun Jun"

Without any desire to return to the room and collapse onto the bed, she stared blankly at the stone blue canopy above. When she was eight years old, she was sent to this place with her uncle's family, and the first person she met was Wen Jun. Wen Jun's father was the local headman, and to settle down, one had to seek him out. At that time, Wen Jun was eleven years old, sitting in the courtyard after school, reciting poetry, such as "In leisure, there are no idle thoughts; in stillness, there are many circumstances," and "In the chaotic world, I do not wish to listen; I prefer to have my ears clear." His eyes, however, were always peering outside the door. Suddenly, upon seeing Wu Wang, he immediately threw down his book of sages and rushed over to chat with her. At that time, Wu Wang had just lost her parents and her home, and she had no mind to listen to his nonsense; she only felt the noise in her ears and bluntly said, "Do you know to help others in need, to save them from danger? Do not let the rich bully the poor! You go study; we are not here to find you, so do not pry into our affairs!" Little did she know, with just that one sentence, Wen Jun became entangled with her for four years, chasing after her every day after school. The root of it all was probably that the girls Wen Jun knew were mostly illiterate, and Wu Wang's eloquence greatly impressed him. More importantly, the phrase she spoke was something he did not even know the source of, making her seem even more remarkable than him. His father and teachers often taught him to make many good friends and mentors, so he eagerly sought her out, until he failed the county examination, and in a fit of anger, his father grounded him, bringing Wu Wang's world some peace for a year or two. ... Just now, when she suddenly heard De Pei mention him, it truly startled her. Why was this King of Hell inquiring about her? Was he not up to any good? ... After feeling troubled for a while, her eyelids began to droop, and she turned over, hugging the blanket and falling into a deep sleep.

Do not rush to say, "I will not eat, leave it for Pei Ge'er to eat"

Pei Zhen signaled the servant to open the medicine chest, and then instructed Zhang to light the oil lamp. He took out a silver needle and heated it over the fire, saying, "Today, let us treat one leg first, for I fear the patient may not withstand the pain. I will first use a triangular needle to directly pierce the hematoma to the periosteum, and since it has been a long time, we will need to apply cupping therapy. Once the stagnant blood flows out, we will proceed with the manipulation and fix it with a splint, observing for a few days. If there is improvement, we will then treat the other leg."

Pei Zhen's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Sir, is it very painful?"

The young servant shrank his neck and dared not speak, yet he heard Pei Zhen softly reciting: "When it blooms, it resembles snow; when it withers, it resembles snow. It is unparalleled among flowers. The fragrance is not in the petals, nor in the sepals, but permeates the very essence..."

Zhang smiled and lifted the curtain to enter the room

Young Master Pei nodded, and upon closer inspection, he saw her wearing a light green long-sleeved short garment, her head lowered, revealing a neck as delicate as a pink lotus. A long palace ribbon hung from her skirt, trailing on the ground, and her slender hands were adorned with red plum blossoms. In this splendid spring light, she was as beautiful as a painting, causing Pei Zhen to be momentarily entranced. Such a stunning beauty was rarely seen; if there were truly a destined connection, would it not be a blessing earned over several lifetimes? He was overwhelmed with joy.

On the second day, I woke up to find the sun already high in the sky. Without delay, I hurried to wash up and get ready to go out. Depei had already taken the cow out to graze. My aunt, with a beaming smile, presented a bowl of steamed egg custard and said upon seeing me, "Those two chickens are quite industrious; they indeed laid two eggs this morning. I steamed one for your uncle, and the other is on the stove. You can go and have it."