Xu Mo began preparing for the April prefectural exam.
Over the past few days, the small courtyard had transformed from tranquility to bustle, and then back to tranquility again. The siblings were having a hard time adjusting.
Zheng Ruqian was especially taken aback. "Had I known studying would bring so many benefits, I would've attended school with Eldest Brother too!"
Jiang Sheng shot him a look. "Recite a classical essay for me to hear."
"...Nevermind," Second Brother looked up at the sky.
Anyone could get an education, but not everyone was Xu Mo - shockingly brilliant, diligent, endowed with talent and a strong work ethic. Both were indispensable to him.
At least in little Jiang Sheng's heart, Eldest Brother was the smartest and most incredible.
Beside her, Zheng Ruqian pouted. He admitted Eldest Brother was amazing, but couldn't Little Jiang Sheng look at Second Brother too? Second Brother made money, he was amazing too!
"What about me, aren't I amazing either?" Fang Heng was even more disappointed. "I can take on five men alone."
Wen Zhiyun's lips moved again but he swallowed his words back down.
The rest, especially Chang Yan, watched this scene unfold with great interest, coughing now and then to remind them of Fifth Brother's presence.
Times like these gave Jiang Sheng a headache. Too many brothers was troublesome as well. Apart from mild-mannered Fourth Brother, her other brothers competed and quarreled over everything.
When Jiang Sheng was in a good mood, she would placate each of them, and harmony would return to the family.
But right now she was not in the mood to humor anyone. She planted her fists on her waist and stormed off in a huff.
Leaving Zheng Ruqian and Fang Heng staring at each other.
"You upset Little Sister."
"No, it was you."
"Nonsense. It was clearly you."
"Wanna fight it out?..."
The truth was, everyone in this family tried their best and contributed in their own way.
Eldest Brother excelled in academics, Second Brother made money, Third Brother was a fighter, and even Fifth Little Brother was so clever.
At first, Wen Zhiyun was also quite confident in his ability to make money treating illnesses in the village.
But now that they had moved, Xieyang County already had plenty of professional physicians, and a half-baked apprentice like him was naturally ignored.
So whenever Second and Third Brother bickered, Eldest and Fifth could chime in or watch the show.
Only Wen Zhiyun would hesitate to speak.
He felt too inferior compared to his brothers. To them, he was just a burden.
As the others chatted animatedly, Wen Zhiyun quietly got up and wandered aimlessly around the county streets.
He didn't know how else he could contribute to the family.
He was hopeless at academics, business, intelligence, and conversation. The only thing he had going for him was the smattering of folk remedies he had inherited from Father.
Medicine.
Wen Zhiyun halted his steps. He stood before the entrance to a medical hall.
Compared to the modest clinic Wen the Physician ran back in their village, this big medical hall in the county seat was far more impressive.
A plaque as large as a man that read "Bianrentang Medical Hall". A bright and tidy consultation counter. Rows and rows of medicine cabinets. Rare medicinal ingredients. And three doctors sitting in consultation.
At the moment though, they seemed stumped by something, pacing back and forth around a patient laid out on the floor.
Out of curiosity, Wen Zhiyun drew a couple steps closer.
Usually patients came to the medical hall on their own or supported by family. Those carried in like this one clearly had an emergency. This patient's lips and face were white, his abdomen severely distended. Currently unconscious with pain, his pants were darkened from loss of bowel control.
The three doctors were arguing over his diagnosis.
The eldest said, "Abdomen so distended must be trapped gas. We need to relieve it quickly, brew medicine to aid expulsion."
A middle-aged one frowned. "Never seen gas cause incontinence. More like stomach bloating, give digestives instead."
The youngest was silent, palpating the patient's abdomen repeatedly instead. He shook his head. "You're both wrong..."
He didn't get to finish before the other two admonished him.
"An ignorant whelp like you, what do you know? You've eaten less rice than I've eaten salt. This is a fatal condition. If life is lost due to your baseless drivel, who will take responsibility?"
"That's right, don't spout nonsense. You can't afford those consequences."
The two were united against the young physician over his dissent.
The young doctor huffed angrily. "Medical skill doesn't get better with age. Don't overestimate yourselves. He clearly has intestinal obstruction causing the bloating. Just needs laxatives."
This was tantamount to denying the older doctors' diagnoses.
Listening from outside, even Wen Zhiyun broke into a nervous sweat for him.
Sure enough, the old doctors immediately bristled. "Who do you think you are in Xieyang County, to lecture before us? How many medical credentials and cases have you treated, that you dare point fingers? I say it's abdominal bloating, so it's abdominal bloating!"
In medicine, age did not equal skill.
But more years did mean more experience. People placed greater trust in seasoned old hands than seemingly arrogant youths. Public opinion followed in condemnation.
The young doctor was nearly drowned in vitriol.
Seeing this, Wen Zhiyun couldn't help but step forward and venture softly, "I-I've seen this in my father's case records. He is right, it's intestinal obstruction..."
Too weak to be noticed.
Wen Zhiyun closed his eyes. Sheltered by his parents since youth, he had developed a timid personality.
Later, surrounded by caring elder brothers, even little Chang Yan was smarter and braver than him.
The more Wen Zhiyun thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. Finally mustering half the courage he possessed in life, he shouted, "The young physician is right! It's obstruction!"
Silence fell over the hall.
The disheveled young doctor lifted his head, eyes bright with tears, as if ready to kiss Wen Zhiyun in gratitude. "You see, you see! Someone believes me!"
The old doctor glanced back disdainfully. "A mere child spouting nonsense. Worse than us."
Indeed, Wen Zhiyun looked very young. The crowd eyed him dubiously.
But he grew more adamant. "Less talk, more action. Better than leaving the patient writhing in pain."
He had struck the crux of the issue.
Several patient relatives rushed over in tears. "He's suffering! He's dying! Give him medicine, any medicine, so he can be cured!"
The senior and middle-aged doctors exchanged a look. They weren't certain of the diagnosis either. Reckless treatment meant shouldering responsibility.
Years of experience made them wary of risk. "Then do as the young physician suggested."
Who diagnosed, who prescribed, who took liability.
The young doctor understood too, but the patient's life hung by a thread. However furious, saving him came first.
Not complex at all - just ground fava bean powder mixed in water.
The medicine boy quickly ground and brought it over. The patient's family carefully fed it to him.
In about the time it took to finish a cup of tea, a thunderous fart resounded.
The stench drove those nearby to cover their noses and mouths.
Then, as if a hornet's nest was stirred, farts came one after another, each layer of stench stronger than the last.
When it seemed the stench could grow no more intense, the thunder turned to quiet plops.
And even greater vileness swept forth.
The faint of heart instantly vomited or nearly swooned.
But before their eyes, the patient's abdomen gradually deflated. His consciousness also grew clearer.
The young physician pinched his nose, eyes streaming tears, still arguing his case as best he could while choking on the fumes. "I was...I was right...I was right..."
He didn't get to finish before crumpling to the ground.
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