Chapter 9, An Attempt to Treat Smallpox (Part 1)

Li Su was taken aback for a moment; he did not quite understand the reason for the Taoist's anger. Was it because the monk had deceived the villagers, or... was it because the monk had taken away his business?

Li Su was becoming a bit impatient; what is wrong with these people? Their ears automatically filter out keywords they do not wish to hear. How can everyone communicate like this?

... ...

The main entrance is not accessible, so one has to use the side door, which is more convenient. The cattle pen of a wealthy family is generally located in the backyard

Li Su suddenly understood that the Taoist was not humming at him, but at the monk. Buddhism and Taoism have always been archrivals, and both engage in the same craft of deceiving people to collect incense money. Since they belong to the same profession, it is only natural that they are in competition. There are only so many fools in the world; if you deceive one, it means one less in my pot. How can there not be enmity between rivals?

Can you perform wall-passing techniques

The Taoist priest before me had quite a good appearance, with kind brows and benevolent eyes, a head full of silver hair. Although his face was lined with wrinkles, he still had a rosy complexion, clearly well-maintained. At this moment, the Taoist was filled with anger, his eyes glaring at the three monks in the courtyard who were dispelling disasters and pouring fragrant ash water for the villagers. It was evident that his anger was not directed at Li Su.

Can it fly

Li Su ignored him and continued to walk forward with her two brothers

Wang Zhuang immediately became clever after being kicked, and blurted out: "The Hu family! The Hu family has a sick cow, I wonder if it has contracted cowpox..."

The old Taoist priest: "... ..."

Li Su's complexion has turned somewhat unpleasant. Having lived to this age, has the old Taoist not reflected on the value of his own existence? In the stillness of the night, does he not feel emptiness, does he not feel cold?

Li Su sighed and said, "What I mean is 'possibly'; I cannot make any promises about this matter, but it should be worth a try"

The old Taoist hurried over to Li Su in a few steps and said, "Little child, do not deceive people. Can you really cure smallpox?"

As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat; one cannot help but wonder how the old Taoist has managed to live to this age

The old Taoist was very magnanimous; seeing Li Su's indifference, he did not get angry. With a slight smile, he stroked his flowing white beard beneath his chin and followed leisurely behind Li Su and the other two.

Boom

Knocking on the door, after a long while no one answered, and from inside came the dissatisfied shouts of Butler Hu: "What time is it, still running around outside? The Hu family does not welcome guests, do not bring the outside air in, get lost, get lost!"

Li Su pondered for a moment, speaking at a very slow pace, as if each word she uttered was a promise, delivered with great effort

"The third brother has passed away, please accept my condolences. Regardless of the circumstances, life must go on."

A group of people walked towards the east end of the village for the duration of an incense stick. Li Su suddenly stopped and said, "Do you know which family has cows? Female cows."

Where to go

Let's go to the Hu family

The old Taoist was so enraged that his whole body trembled. Although Li Su said nothing, the final look he cast at him clearly resembled that of someone looking at a useless person, and an old useless person at that

Li Su could not blame them for their ignorance. If she were to put herself in their shoes, having grown up in this closed-off village without any education or schooling, listening to the older generation speak of strange legends or experiences all day, she would likely display even greater piety than they did when worshipping the Bodhisattva, and would consume the incense ash more thoroughly than they did.

Li Su kicked him in anger: "Am I going to talk to you about eating beef at a time like this? A cow! I want a cow that is currently suffering from cowpox! If we can't find this cow, there is no way to treat cowpox!"

Li Su stepped forward and patted them on the shoulder, the Wang brothers looked at him, their eyes reddening once again

"Are you free now? Come with me for a trip," Li Su continued.

The old Taoist was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head

The old Taoist followed Li Su at a distance of three zhang, unhurried and calm as if strolling in a leisurely garden, indicating that he was quite curious about Li Su

It is quite unfriendly, but understandable; during a disaster, everyone is vulnerable

In this day and age, the two characters "respect for the elderly" are still held in high regard. Those who dare to show disrespect towards the elderly will automatically be categorized by those around them as "degenerates," and it will be very difficult for them to redeem themselves

At the same time, Li Su also hoped that the Hu family could understand him, as he still intended to enter the Hu family, even if the means of doing so were not entirely aboveboard

"Get lost, you coward!" The old Taoist rushed forward, pushing Li Su aside with one hand, then raised his leg and kicked fiercely at the side door of the Hu family

Li Su cast a sidelong glance at the old Taoist priest, and said nothing further. She broke a stalk of grass by the roadside, inserted it into the keyhole, and began to pick the lock

The monks' work to dispel disasters has reached its conclusion, and many villagers have received a small handful of incense ash, which they carry home with utmost reverence, as if holding the ancestral tablets. Their faces are all beaming with joyful smiles, as if the calamity of smallpox could be resolved in the blink of an eye

Eh?

Li Su cast a sidelong glance at the old Taoist priest, performed a purely junior's greeting to him, and then led the Wang brothers onward, choosing to ignore the old priest's question.

The old Taoist priest fiercely flicked his robe sleeves and proclaimed with pride: "I, the impoverished Taoist, Sun Simiao!"

Li Su harbors an extraordinary sense of vigilance towards strangers

Thus, Li Suyuan respectfully bowed to the old Taoist from a distance, as a form of greeting, and then quietly returned to the courtyard

Li Su felt troubled and instinctively glanced at the old Taoist priest who had been following them.

A crowd gathered around the side door of the Hu family, where a cold, auspicious iron lock was firmly fastened to the door knocker.

Li Suchao glanced to the side, and there was that old Taoist again. It was evident that he had just heard what was said, his kind eyes filled with surprise and doubt as they fixed on Li Suchao

... ...

Li Su, my third child has died, and the fourth is also on the verge of death. Can you really cure smallpox? Can you really cure it? Can you really cure it? Wang Zhuang kept asking along the way, his tone very urgent and tinged with a cry, repeatedly asking this one question, as if he had been afflicted by a strange poison called "repeater".

The side door was kicked open, lying there on one side, barely alive

Perhaps... I mean, "perhaps," I have a way to deal with smallpox. Do not trust the monk; the incense ash he provides will only give you diarrhea and is essentially ineffective for anything else.

The Wang brothers were taken aback, remaining silent for a long time. Wang Zhuang's expression turned somewhat grim: "Brothers, do not make a fuss, what time is it now... Moreover, with such a large cow, if we secretly slaughter it, the authorities will hold us accountable. After some time when the plague has passed, we can steal a dog for you to slaughter and eat..."

The Wang brothers spoke in unison, having grown up together; their trust in each other was completely unconditional

Li Su did not respond, but made a gesture towards the two brothers, who silently followed her.

Li Su, are you serious? Can it really cure smallpox?" Wang Zhuang suddenly grabbed Li Su's arm tightly from behind, pulling with great force, causing Li Su's arm to feel a sharp pain. He raised his eyes in anger to glare at Wang Zhuang, only to see that the faces of the two brothers were unexpectedly covered in tears.

The three of them walked around the haystack by the edge of the field, with Li Sujing walking freely in front, asking as they walked: "Do you believe me?"

The Hu family's main gate is tightly shut, and the two stone lions at the entrance appear increasingly listless, as if they have caught a fever.

The crowd dispersed in twos and threes, while the two brothers, Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi, remained standing in the square, their eyes revealing a confusion and sadness that should not be present in young men.

"Does this Taoist elder know how to pick locks?" Li Su bowed and smiled politely

Can you draw a broken door talisman

The Wang brothers have yet to express their stance, and a voice of surprise and suspicion came from beside the haystack

... ...

Who? Who broke my door, do you want to face a lawsuit

It turns out to be a Taoist priest

The enormous noise startled the Hu family, and Butler Hu rushed over in a state of panic upon hearing it

Regarding religion, Li Su has always maintained a respectful distance; such individuals are not to be trifled with, whether it be Buddhism or Daoism.

The old Taoist was too lazy to even shake his head, his old face slightly flushed, uncertain whether it was out of shame or brewing anger

Li Su is feeling a bit annoyed, but cannot act out.

The Wang brothers nodded in silence