Chapter 4: The Scholar's Livelihood (Part 1)

As the sky gradually darkened, the sound of slow footsteps emerged. After a while, the door opened, and Shen He appeared before him, smiling, holding two palm-sized crucian carp.

I would not be so abrupt. With a bitter smile, he said: "What I want to ask is about yesterday. After I was bitten by the snake, I fainted. As for how my father encountered your young lady and how he came here, I have no idea at all." He looked at her sincerely and asked: "Could you tell me about it?"

His weary smile resembled fragile blue-and-white porcelain, causing the maiden by the painting screen to feel a tremor in her heart, her cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment. She gently set down the bowl, and the mosquito hummed, "You may ask, but I cannot divulge anything too private."

The silent heart was in utter chaos, not even remembering when the little maid left or what she said before departing... The bowl of fragrant chicken soup was placed on the bedside, long since lost its warmth, a layer of clear floating oil forming on the surface of the bowl...

"It's not that serious." Shen Mo, who understands some medical principles, slightly shook his head and said, "I am at a stage of growth, with strong vitality and abundant blood. As long as I pay attention to nutrition, strengthen my exercise, and avoid cold and chill, I will recover quickly."

"What can I do?" he said with a gentle smile. "Both the young lady and the miss are my saviors; I am grateful beyond measure, how could I possibly distinguish between them?"

This is the chicken soup that my young lady specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare. While ladling the soup into an exquisite blue-and-white porcelain bowl, Huaping proudly boasted: "It contains ginseng, angelica, astragalus, and over a dozen other medicinal ingredients, very nourishing." She then took out two bundles of medicinal packets wrapped in oil paper, placing them aside and said: "One of these is for replenishing qi and blood, and the other is for treating injuries. One is for you, and the other is for Mr. Shen, so don't mix them up."

Fortunately, he is mentally mature, able to keep his emotions in check. Moreover, this young lady and her mistress have treated him with kindness rather than malice, so it is indeed inappropriate to vent his frustrations on them. He let out a long sigh and smiled at the anxious-looking painting screen, saying, "Please continue with your story."

The doctor said you have been suffering from malnutrition for many years, with severe deficiency of both qi and blood. The screen turned to face him, and with a serious expression, he said: "After being poisoned by snake venom, it has triggered a severe condition of yang deficiency. If not treated and nourished in a timely manner, the consequences would be unimaginable"

Silence knew that the matter was not as simple as it was portrayed in the *picture* book, after all, the shop belonged to someone else's family, and one cannot turn their elbow outward, right? Regardless of reason, they would certainly speak in favor of their own people. ... However, he could almost conclude that the abrasions and bruises on his father's face were most likely caused by the thugs from "Jiren Tang" beating him up

Living under someone else's roof, enduring disdain, all for him

The young lady had no choice but to agree, but she instructed the coachman to take her while she secretly followed behind to remember your residence. The painted screen revealed a look of compassion and said, "In the end, I saw your father wandering in an alley several times, and ultimately he turned back. We quickly hid, fortunately he was in a hurry and did not notice us"

In a moment of desperation, Shen He had no choice but to muster the courage to seek help from his family. He truly found himself at a loss, and with Shen He's scholarly disposition, he would never have uttered the word "seek" if there had been even the slightest glimmer of hope. Shen Mo could easily imagine how ashamed the old man felt at the moment he knocked on the door of the Shen family. Yet ultimately, in order to save him, the old man set aside all his pride.

It is not that he has a dark psychology or is making baseless assumptions, but rather that he understands human nature too well. If the two parties were merely acquaintances and Miss Yin from the *Tu* Book had waived his consultation fee and even provided him with some free medicine, that would have been more than generous. There was truly no need for her to send a personal maid the next day to check on him. Preparing chicken soup and delivering medicine, especially for injuries, is not something one does unless there is a sense of guilt involved

Alright. The silence was broken by her appearance, and he nodded, saying: "Please continue."

Shen Mo smiled faintly and said softly, "Miss Painting Screen, may I ask you a question?"

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"Last night, my great-uncle said the same thing, and he even ordered the quack who was on duty yesterday to pack up and leave immediately." Huaping said with admiration, "You are truly impressive!"

Shen Mo chuckled softly and said, "Thank you for the compliment, but why did you scare me just now?"

He then retraced his steps, returning to Yongchangfang, and stopped in front of the Shen family's gate, hesitating for quite a while before finally stepping forward to knock on the door

That is. "The screen painted a pout, and in a low voice said: 'But your father firmly disagrees and insists on going back by himself.'" Shen Mo knew that his father was a person who valued his reputation greatly and would certainly not want anyone to see him living in a thatched hut.

Whenever he thought of the old man lowering himself for him, having to endure the petty faces of others, and even being injured by someone, he felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, and his hands clenched tightly

You don't blame us, do you? After all, the painting screen is still young, and the next line gave it away.

Hmm. The doctor nodded and then said: "After examining you, your father will carry you away. My young lady has arranged for a carriage to take you both part of the way, and she has also sent someone to look after you."

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Shen Mo nodded silently and said softly, "Miss Yin is benevolent"

"That is true, my young lady is the best." The screen painter smiled proudly and continued, "When Mr. Shen could not produce the money, the doctor refused to treat you. As both parties became agitated, there was some pushing and shouting, which finally alarmed the young lady."

Shen Mo did not wish to discuss the matter any further and frowned slightly, saying, "Didn’t I get bitten by a snake? Why have so many nourishing medicines been prescribed?"

Although the depiction of the scene is not very detailed, the silence conveys subtle insights, allowing one to clearly sense the turmoil and pain in the father's heart at that moment. The doctor advised that he must not get wet, so he was unwilling to carry himself back to the small grass hut by the riverbank. Yet, in this vast world, with houses scattered like clouds, the father and son, without a penny to their name, found themselves without a place to stand.

That is good, that is good. Holding the screen with both hands in front of her chest, she said with a serious expression: "My young lady has stated that, regardless of the circumstances, the person belongs to our family, and we must take full responsibility for this matter." If Shen Mo were a naive and confused person, he would certainly not understand the meaning of these words.

Shen Mo said softly, "Miss Yin is a person of integrity." He added in his heart, "Indeed, she has the qualities to engage in big business."

As she spoke, Hua Ping glanced at Shen Mo with concern and, upon seeing his displeased expression, quietly explained: "Miss only took over Jiren Hall last month and was initially unaware of such a rule. It has now been abolished."

I see. The painter said with a hint of disappointment: "Alright..." and placed a handkerchief on the bench, sitting down opposite Silence. In a soft voice, he recalled: "Yesterday around noon, someone accompanied the young lady to my family's Jiren Hall to check the accounts. Hearing a commotion in the front hall, the young lady asked me to go check it out. When I went to the front and inquired, I learned that Mr. Shen had rushed into my family's Jiren Hall carrying you, asking the attending physician to save you. However, the rule at Jiren Hall is that patients must first pay a consultation fee of fifty wen before the doctor will treat them... I went to the front and inquired, and learned that Mr. Shen had rushed into my family's Jiren Hall carrying you, asking the attending physician to save you. However, the rule at Jiren Hall is that patients must first pay a consultation fee of fifty wen before the doctor will treat them..."

"You were just too serious in your speech," said the screen, waving its small hand, with eyes smiling like a crescent moon, "Just relax a little, will you"