Chapter 007 Reasons for Saving or Not Saving

The situation appeared calm and peaceful. However, Sima Kao was very clear that if Zhao Jiaran had not saved anyone, his words would truly be of no use. Sima Kao could not help but sigh, saying: "Brother Zhao, you really... did not need to do this."

"Brother Sima, you are up quite early," greeted Zhao Jiarun, who was already dressed neatly.

The Zhao brothers are indeed bold and skilled. Sima Kao gathered his memories, providing an excuse for Zhao Jiaran, while also seeking a reason that could convince himself

"No one here practices sorcery." Sima Kao, struggling to stand, walked over to the official and said loudly

This discovery caused the official to jump up from the ground, retreating two steps. He steadied himself slightly and grabbed the blacksmith, demanding, "What kind of sorcery are you practicing?"

Zhao Jiaran could not help but smile. This is how student life is: drowsy in spring, fatigued in autumn, dozing off in summer, and unable to wake up during the three months of winter. Every day, getting out of bed is a torment. When the holidays finally arrive, one tends to wake up at the same time as during school days.

How can one feel happy? This was my own decision to take action, and if I fail to save anyone, even with Brother Sima's mediation, I will likely have to stay in prison.

The blacksmith quickly stood up and positioned himself in front of Zhao Jiaran, explaining: "This esteemed officer, there has been no murder here; it was this gentleman who saved my master just now"

Even when recalling these memories, Sima Kao felt as if they were shrouded in a thin mist. He could remember, yet it felt like someone else's memories. Sima Kao hurriedly asked his friend beside him, "What is wrong with me?"

What is meant by abiding by the law is probably akin to the saying, "A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall." Zhao Jiaran's actions are explicitly opposed in the family teachings of the Sima clan. As long as one does not personally inflict harm, it is of no concern how many may die.

Upon hearing such serious words, Sima Kao no longer felt any joy. When he woke up yesterday, he found himself leaning against a friend. Just as he was confused and searching around, trying to understand what had happened, he saw a sturdy man kneeling in front of Zhao Jiaran, crying and pleading.

In conjunction with what the apprentice blacksmith said, the iron smelting furnace exploded. His master was overcome by the heat and subsequently lost his breath. The officials had no choice but to believe that the young Zhao Jiaran was a doctor with 'extraordinary methods.' This explanation was not surprising; most officials in the Song Dynasty would learn a bit about medicine. Furthermore, with officials publishing books and literati promoting it, it was 'a certain norm' for high-ranking officials to be knowledgeable in medicine.

However, this thought was in sharp conflict with Sima Qiao's moral principles, leading to a sense of guilt for not saving those in peril. Sima Qiao could not accept the idea of being able to extend a helping hand yet choosing not to save others for his own sake

"That being said, I must hurry to escape. If I move slowly, I might really end up with someone carrying the deceased to me," Zhao Jiaran said with a smile, delivering what seemed to be a joke.

During the conversation, Zhao Jiarun learned that this blacksmith, Zhou, was originally from Suzhou. Due to a fire at his master's blacksmith shop, which resulted in his master's death, he had no choice but to leave his hometown and come to Lin'an

With a determined heart, Zhao Jiaran took out several sheets of pre-drawn designs and handed them to Zhou Tiejian, instructing him to forge them. Zhou Tiejian, however, did not ask further questions; he knelt down and bowed his head to Zhao Jiaran before hurriedly departing

Zhao Jiaran did not respond immediately; he bit his lip and finally said slowly, "I truly cannot bear to watch others die right in front of me. Although I am in a difficult position, I can only hope that if I have to save someone next time, my luck will be a little better."

"Saving a person?" The official was skeptical. His doubtful gaze swept across Zhao Jiaran's face, then he looked around for any corpses. The injured were all sitting on the ground, and the official's gaze fell upon one who was lying horizontally on the ground. Noticing a thin bamboo stick inserted into his neck, the official was greatly alarmed. With a wave of his hand, the bailiffs on both sides restrained the blacksmith. The official approached to examine the person on the ground and saw that the 'deceased' had a rising chest, but his lips and face were swollen and hot. Upon closer inspection, he heard a strange sound coming from the thin tube. Upon further discernment, it turned out that the person on the ground was actually breathing through the thin tube in his neck.

Seeing that Zhao Jiaran had not given up on treating this unfamiliar blacksmith, Sima Kao felt quite moved. After observing the extraordinary methods Zhao Jiaran employed yesterday, Sima Kao understood the severity of the old blacksmith's injuries. Even if he did not know, the words of the renowned physician from Huimin Pharmacy made Sima Kao grasp the essence of the physician's message, which could be summarized in six words: 'Prepare for the aftermath.' Yet Zhao Jiaran did not give up and proposed further treatment methods. Just this alone made Sima Kao feel a warmth in his heart.

In the yard still shrouded in thick smoke, amidst the crowd of people coming and going, Sima Kao suddenly recalled what he had sent earlier. He had come to the blacksmith's shop with friends to retrieve a sword and unexpectedly encountered Zhao Jiaran. The blacksmith's shop was on fire, and Zhao Jiaran was directing the firefighting efforts. After emerging from the chaos, he came across a deceased individual, to whom Zhao Jiaran inserted a sharpened pen into the throat... The deceased came back to life...

These two thoughts intertwined, causing Sima Kao's state of mind to deteriorate significantly. His family had also produced a successful candidate in the imperial examination. There are family teachings regarding holding official positions. Among these teachings, there are many sayings that do not emphasize integrity, but rather focus more on the importance of abiding by the law

Fortunately, the pharmacist at the Huimin Pharmacy is not entirely ignorant. After the examination, the local doctor spoke with a trembling voice. Upon his inspection, it appeared that the blacksmith's tongue and oral cavity had been severely burned, and his mouth was so swollen that he could hardly breathe. The entire person was completely reliant on a thin tube inserted into his throat for breathing

... ...

Zhao Jiaran helped him up, while the blacksmith spoke with a face full of worry. His master had already regained consciousness, but his mouth was so swollen that he could hardly breathe, let alone eat. Breathing was maintained through a tube inserted by Zhao Jiaran, but drinking water and eating were impossible. Seeing that his master had not had a drop of water for most of the day and was in a state of lethargy, the blacksmith's brows were furrowed in distress. The doctors in Suzhou were at a loss, and the blacksmith could only seek help from Zhao Jiaran. Seeing that his master had not had a drop of water for most of the day and was in a state of lethargy, the blacksmith's brows were furrowed in distress. The doctors in Suzhou were at a loss, and the blacksmith could only seek help from Zhao Jiaran.

Burns are inherently difficult to treat, not to mention in this era. However, seeing this acquaintance who has aged over twenty years, Zhao Jiaran could not bear to refuse. In the past, when Zhao Jiaran sought money from Jia Sidao but to no avail, he could only look for a blacksmith in Lin'an to help forge cannons. Zhao Jiaran had no money, and after the collapse of the currency, he could not produce anything of value. There were hardly any blacksmiths willing to help without payment, and among those who came to assist, only this Zhou blacksmith remained with decent skills. Zhao Jiaran had no money, and after the collapse of the currency, he could not produce anything of value. There were hardly any blacksmiths willing to help without payment, and among those who came to assist, only this Zhou blacksmith remained with decent skills.

The official turned his head to take a look and quickly changed to a smiling face: "This... isn't this Sir Sima? Do you know about this matter?"

With the local figure Sima Kao intervening, the officials also believed in the life-saving capabilities of Zhao Jiaran, who was also a newly appointed scholar. However, the notion that inserting a tube into the neck could save a life was too bizarre. They brought the injured person along and 'invited' Sima Kao and Zhao Jiaran to the Huimin Pharmacy in Suzhou.

The gentleman, who appeared to be around forty years old, laughed and said: "You have been suffocated by the heat in the courtyard for quite a while. After coming out, you were struck by the cool breeze and fell over."

At the time of the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty and the surrender of Lin'an, the scholars and officials either fled or submitted, with very few willing to stand up for the greater good of the country. Zhao Jiaran did not want to showcase his medical skills and attract trouble for himself, but upon seeing the utterly sorrowful expression of Zhou the blacksmith, he found it impossible to refuse.

Not long after Zhao Jiaran got up, Sima Kao came to visit the inn where Zhao Jiaran was staying. At this time, the sky had just begun to brighten

In deep thought, someone knocked on the door. Zhao Yong went to open the door and saw the blacksmith from yesterday entering. Upon entering, he knelt down before Zhao Jiaran and bowed his head in gratitude

Seeing Zhao Jiarun blocked at the door by the deceased, Sima Kao couldn't help but laugh a few times. However, upon raising his head, he saw Zhao Jiarun sitting by the bed with a serious expression, and Sima Kao could no longer find it funny. He asked in confusion, "Brother Zhao, you seem to be quite unhappy."

The sound of knocking interrupted Sima Kao's thoughts, "Is Brother Zhao there?" A voice from outside the door belonged to the young man who had accompanied Sima Kao yesterday.

"Every day during my studies, it was always at this time," Sima Kao said with a smile

After Sima Kao sat down on the stool with excitement, he immediately said: "Brother Zhao, your medical skills in treating that person yesterday were truly remarkable. After I returned home, my family received two pieces of news in succession. One said that someone was murdered in the street, and the other said that someone was actually able to bring the dead back to life. In a few days, your treatment of that person will spread throughout Gusu."

So it is. Sima Kao still felt a lack of understanding. He looked up and scanned the surroundings, only to see a group of officials pushing through the crowd noisily. The leader of the group shouted: "Where is the murderer who killed in broad daylight?"

Sima Kao did not respond. From a personal perspective, Zhao Jiaran's assistance in extinguishing the fire was already a display of utmost kindness and righteousness. It is indeed unjust to suffer an unwarranted disaster for the sake of rescuing someone one has never met before. Even if Zhao Jiaran chose not to help in the face of death, no one would be able to criticize him for it