"Sister, what are you looking at?" Qin Xiaoyu followed Qin Junyao's gaze but saw nothing.
"We're almost at the Northwest City," Qin Junyao's voice held a hint of excitement.
"Tsk!"
Qin Xiaoyu didn't believe her. Every time she asked when they would reach the Northwest City, she was told it was soon, but it had been three days and they still hadn't arrived.
Qin Junyao pursed her lips and smiled. This time, she wasn't lying.
For the past twenty days, Zhao Liangcai had provided and arranged their food and lodging. All she had to do was feed the donkeys and horses.
During her abundant free time, Qin Junyao researched the bamboo slips and planted grains in her space.
Through experimentation, she discovered that she could gain a brief "clairvoyance" and "clairaudience" simply by thinking about the contents of the bamboo slips.
While it might sound exaggerated, the effect had been strengthening as Qin Junyao used it more frequently.
Such a magical ability naturally had its limitations.
Currently, she could only use it twice a day. Any more would result in dizziness or even fainting. Fortunately, ever since she could sit steadily in the carriage, she often leaned against the luggage to "sleep," and no one noticed these anomalies.
The carriage traveled for a while longer, and everyone in the carriage could see the city walls at the end of the road.
The young boy in the first carriage excitedly shouted.
Doctor Sheng stroked his beard and smiled at Qin Sen, a young man he enjoyed conversing with, "Good horses do run fast. In previous years, we used to take a month to travel this distance."
Qin Sen also took a liking to the horses pulling the carriage. "Doctor Sheng, do you bring Huaijin and the others out every year?"
"More or less. I've long since given the medical clinic to my eldest son and second son, who transport medicinal herbs to earn a living. It gives me peace of mind knowing the brothers look out for each other."
"When I have nothing else to do, I just take care of my grandchildren."
"Ah, this is the last year," Doctor Sheng's tone held a hint of reluctance.
"What do you mean?" Qin Sen didn't understand why it was the last year.
"Hahaha," Doctor Sheng laughed, stroking his beard. "My grandchildren are growing up and need to get married. My grandsons are fine, but my granddaughters can't come out anymore. I'm secretly bringing them out this year."
After laughing, Doctor Sheng turned to Qin Sen and said, "You should tidy yourself up and find a wife to settle down with."
Qin Sen smiled and remained silent. If he could, he wouldn't want to get married in his entire life.
The city gates were in sight. Grandma Qin and the Hou Jing's wife in the carriage had their household registration books ready. Without a travel permit, they needed their household registration books to enter the city.
When they reached the city gate, the carriage stopped. As Grandma Qin waited for registration, she saw the soldiers guarding the gate suddenly stand in a line and salute Zhao Liangcai on horseback.
Zhao Liangcai dismounted and stated that the four carriages behind him belonged to his people. The city guards immediately let them pass without checking their belongings or identities.
"Dengzitui, go find an inn."
Sheng Yining jumped off the carriage and stopped Dengzitui, who was about to leave. "General Zhao, please come to my home. My home is very large. Grandpa?"
Doctor Sheng also alighted and invited Zhao Liangcai, along with the Qin and Hou families, to rest at his home for the night, expressing gratitude for the care during the journey. If there hadn't been Zhao Liangcai's carriages, the three of them would have wasted another month getting back.
Grandma Qin was naturally willing. Who wouldn't agree to be offered food and lodging? Zhao Liangcai intended to have the Qin and Hou families stay on his territory for now, making it easier to persuade them later.
"Then we will trouble Doctor Sheng. If there is any inconvenience, Doctor Sheng, please speak frankly," Zhao Liangcai said courteously, cupping his hands.
"There is no inconvenience. I have a small medical clinic at home, and many patients come and go."
"Please ask the driver to head directly to 'Qubingtang'," Doctor Sheng stated his medical clinic's name.
Hearing the name of the clinic, Dengzitui asked in surprise, "Qubingtang? You are Doctor Sheng of Qubingtang? That's not right, Doctor Sheng's age..." Dengzitui hesitated to mention that his age wasn't this advanced.
"My son is currently practicing medicine. I only see difficult and complicated cases now."
Zhao Liangcai's mind stirred, and he then instructed someone to drive the carriage towards 'Qubingtang'.
Sitting in the carriage, Qin Junyao looked at the street vendors, the open shops, the hanging banners, and the people shopping and strolling. It felt like stepping into a film studio.
The film studio was fake; this was real.
The carriage weaved through the city and stopped in front of a large medical clinic with four large doors. A huge plaque with the words "Qubingtang" carved on it hung above the entrance.
A long line of people waited at the entrance, and the young apprentices were wiping sweat as they attended to patients.
Qin Junyao looked up at the two-story clinic. Was this the "small medical clinic" Sheng Yining had mentioned?
She wondered who had a misunderstanding about a small medical clinic – her or Sheng Yining.
The young apprentice at the entrance was the first to notice the carriage stopping at the clinic's doorstep. Seeing Zhao Liangcai and the others, who looked like soldiers, his hands trembled slightly.
When he saw the familiar figure on the carriage, he suddenly ran to the carriage and knelt down. "Old Ancestor, you've returned! Shiye and Shifu have been taken away."
Doctor Sheng's expression sharpened. "Speak clearly. Who took your Shiye away?"
"They were taken by the army. The imperial court is conscripting soldiers, saying they are short of doctors and took everyone away. Shigu has also fallen ill, and the clinic can only dispense medicine according to old prescriptions now, Old Ancestor." The young apprentice's eyes reddened before he could finish speaking.
Doctor Sheng quickly alighted and walked up to the young apprentice. "Song Lan, when did they leave?"
"Three days ago, Old Ancestor. Please go and see Tai Shigu and Shigu first. They haven't eaten since Shiye and the others left."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Huaijin and Sheng Yining immediately ran towards the back of the house from the front entrance.
Doctor Sheng clenched his fists and faced Zhao Liangcai, unsure of what to say.
"Doctor Sheng, don't worry. I'll send someone to inquire about it right away. You first attend to your family matters. I'll send someone to inform you of any news later," Zhao Liangcai said, patting Xiao Fei and comforting Doctor Sheng.
"Thank you, General Zhao. If you ever need this old man's help in the future, just give the word."
"Doctor Sheng is too kind. I'll take my people and leave now."
Given the incident at the Sheng family's residence, no one could continue to be entertained. Nodding goodbye, they left by carriage.
Dengzitui went to find an inn first. Zhao Liangcai took out his waist token and had a subordinate go to the yamen to inquire about the imperial conscription. Sudan Fiction Network.
The carriage drove slowly through the streets. The adults from the Qin and Hou families in the carriage were no longer as cheerful as when they entered the city.
Conscription.
The imperial court conscripted soldiers every two years. This was not mandatory and could be waived with money. If they were taking all the doctors from the medical clinic now, would ordinary people also be forced to go to war in the future?
The children happily and curiously looked at the inn they were staying in, while the adults were all worried. Young men like Qin Er Niu, who were not yet married, were somewhat eager upon hearing about the conscription.
After arranging their rooms, everyone settled in.
There were quite a few people, and Zhao Liangcai was not an extravagantly wealthy man. The inn they found was of average condition.
The Qin and Hou families naturally didn't mind. It was much better than staying while traveling. The three members of the Qian family also said nothing.
Ever since that horse-riding incident, these three had suddenly stopped making any demands. Even Zhao Rui no longer complained about this and that, nor did she whine about hardship or fatigue.
Those who understood knew that these three were not harboring any good intentions. If they were released, they might be incredibly foul-smelling, but at least they had successfully reached the Northwest City. They would deal with whatever came their way later.
Neither Zhao Liangcai nor Grandma Qin paid much attention to the three of them.