Chapter 267: Chapter 267: The Examination is Coming
Chapter 267: Exam Time
Niu Baishun froze, then became a little angry. "What do you mean by that? Am I supposed to be happy about having diarrhea?"
"I’m starting to suspect there’s a problem with the medicine your pharmacy prescribed. Although I don’t know much about medicine, I know people who do. They say the medicine you gave me contains Da Huang, and taking Da Huang should cause diarrhea, right?"
"Let me tell you, if my stomach gets ruined by this, you’re going to have to compensate me!"
Sun Kang calmly responded, "Hey, you can’t talk like that. Da Huang is used to clear heat, purge fire, cool the blood, and detoxify; it’s specifically for treating fire-toxin sores. So, if you have diarrhea after taking this medicine, it’s a good thing!"
"This means the toxins in your body are being expelled. Once all the toxins are gone, your sores will be completely cured. If they’re not completely expelled, it might relapse."
Upon hearing that it might relapse, Niu Baishun was convinced and his anger subsided.
Sun Kang continued, "Haven’t you noticed that your diarrhea isn’t as severe as it was on the first day? This indicates that the toxins in your vital organs are diminishing as they are expelled."
Unexpectedly, Sun Kang, who was usually so serious, could also bluff.
Niu Baishun recalled that on the first day, he had almost been unable to leave the toilet.
Afterward, it hadn’t been so severe, so he believed Sun Kang’s explanation and asked, "So, should I keep taking this medicine?"
At this moment, Zhao Zhitong, having just finished a cupping therapy session for another patient, walked over and said, "Of course, you must continue taking it. Otherwise, how will the toxins be expelled from your body?"
Hearing this, Niu Baishun looked troubled. "But I really can’t stand it anymore. I’m so tired of this diarrhea; I don’t even dare to eat much now."
As he spoke, he clutched his stomach. "OUCH, OUCH! Oh no, I think I need to go to the toilet again."
Zhao Zhitong suppressed a laugh. "Alright then, I’ll give you a gentler prescription."
Niu Baishun nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! Thank you so much. Just as long as it stops me from having such severe diarrhea."
How ironic; he was thanking the very people who had tricked him.
Zhao Zhitong, suppressing her laughter, sat down and wrote another prescription. After the medicine was prepared, Niu Baishun took it and returned home.
These two treatments had cost Niu Baishun twice the money and subjected him to quite an ordeal. For Zhao Zhitong and De Ren Tang, it was a small way to vent their frustration.
Although Niu Baishun had driven away some other pharmacies, there were still physicians in the county town. So why hadn’t those physicians been able to stop the pain in his hand sooner? The reason, well, let’s just say it’s best not to offend a physician.
After this incident, Niu Baishun stopped harassing De Ren Tang, and De Ren Tang and Xiangfu Medicine Hall coexisted peacefully.
Perhaps after this illness, Niu Baishun had a realization: he might get sick again in the future and would need a good physician. So, for now, De Ren Tang was spared.
In any case, he had found a way to make big money now, and the paltry sum he could earn in a small place like Anyang County was nothing compared to his vast amounts of silver.
「’In the early March winds, clouds gather in the empty mountains.’」
It was early March, the beginning of spring, yet the winter’s cold lingered, its chill not entirely gone.
Chilly rain poured down, and willow trees and grass had quietly sprouted new buds. Early in the morning at the Zhao Family home, Zhao Zhitong was quickly gobbling down the rice in her bowl as if someone might snatch her food away.
Sun Mei sighed helplessly, "Tongtong, eat slowly. Look at your older brother and sister; do they eat like you?"
Zhao Zhitong didn’t slow down. Lifting her head, she mumbled with her mouth full, "Mom, I have to go see Qiao Jiaojiao and Zhao Yue off in a little while. They have their final Elementary Scholar exam tomorrow, and I can’t let them wait for me."
Hearing this, Zhao Dong, who was also eating, casually remarked, "The third Elementary Scholar exam is held in Xuzhou, right?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Mm, yes. The first and second exams took place in the county town and the prefecture city, respectively, and the third one is in Xuzhou."
"I’m done eating!" Zhao Zhitong shoveled the last bite of rice into her mouth, placed her bowl on the table, and stood up. "Mom, I’m going to see Qiao Jiaojiao and Zhao Yue off now."
Sun Mei also stood up and called out, "Wait for me a moment."
She went into a room and soon came out holding two pairs of knee protectors. "Although spring has begun, it’s still quite cold. Those two children will have to sleep in the examination hall tonight; we can’t have them catching a cold. I made a pair of knee protectors for each of them."
Zhao Zhitong blinked and said with a playful pout, "Mom, you already gave them two pairs for the previous exams. I’m sure those aren’t worn out yet! That lovely rabbit fur Uncle Wu hunted would be better used to make hand warmers for me."
Sun Mei reached out, playfully tapped Zhao Zhitong’s little nose, and said with a smile, "You silly girl! Old ones are never as warm as new ones. They need to be well-equipped for the exam to achieve good results."
"Besides, don’t you have plenty of hand warmers already? Alright, take these."
Sun Mei handed the neatly wrapped knee protectors to Zhao Zhitong and said with a gentle laugh, "Don’t forget to give these to them."
Zhao Zhitong cradled the knee protectors. "Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be sure to pass them on along with your kind thoughts."
With that, she trotted towards the door. Zhao Yu, who had also just finished eating, quickly stood up and shouted, "Sister! Wait for me! I’ll go with you!"
Since Zhao Yu, Qiao Muchen, and Zhao Yue often practiced martial arts together, the three of them had a good relationship and were good buddies.
Since his friends were going to take an exam, he naturally wanted to see them off too.
Zhao Yu caught up with Zhao Zhitong in a few steps, took her small hand, and the two of them ran out together.
Meanwhile, the Qiao Clan’s home and Zhao Yue’s home were bustling with activity.
At Zhao Yue’s home, the family had never produced a scholar, so everyone was extremely nervous. Butcher Zhao and his wife, Mrs. Yang, didn’t quite know what they should be preparing.
Zhao Yue, packing his clothes, said nonchalantly, "Mom, Dad, don’t be so nervous. It’s not like I’m going to the Capital City to take the imperial examination for the top scholar title."
"Besides, you should be mentally prepared. I only did well in the first two exams because I was lucky; the topics happened to be ones I’m good at. So, please don’t get your hopes up too high."
Mrs. Yang chided, "What nonsense are you talking about? Every exam must be taken seriously! Since you were lucky the first two times, your luck will surely hold for this one too."
"I’ll stay home, burn incense, and pray for you. You just focus on doing well. Once you pass this exam, you can go to that... that Fu... what Yi... place to study."
Zhao Yue corrected, "Taiyi Academy."
Mrs. Yang chuckled. "Ah, yes, yes! Taiyi Academy. Your mother never studied, so I don’t know these things."
Butcher Zhao was also incredibly nervous, but unlike Mrs. Yang, he didn’t show it as openly. He simply sat, watched his son, and instructed, "Just do your best, like you did before."
Zhao Yue, however, didn’t seem as tense. "Alright, alright, I know. Mom, I don’t think I need quite so many thick clothes."
Mrs. Yang paid him no mind and continued packing the clothes. "What do you mean you don’t need them? Didn’t you say last time that the examination hall was very cold? You mustn’t catch a cold; it will affect your performance."
Zhao Yue sighed, letting Mrs. Yang finish packing his clothes and other necessities.
At this moment, Zhao Zhitong’s voice rang from outside, "Zhao Yue! Zhao Yue!"