Chapter 82: No Worries, My Intentions Aren't Pure Either
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**Chapter 82: No Worries, My Intentions Aren't Pure Either**
“You said you’re willing to serve as a slave, so let me see how sincere you are.” The man pointed forward, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I’m heading home now; if you want to follow, you must kowtow loudly every three steps. If you manage to make it back with me, then I’ll prescribe the medicine for your mother.”
The boy, briefly stunned, felt a spark of hope in his eyes and hurriedly bowed, “Thank you, Physician Guo, thank you!”
“This is…”
“This is clearly deliberate torment!”
an electric blanket to get through.
“Isn’t this excessive…”
“He’s the one who said he’d serve me as a slave! How I treat my own slave is none of your business,” the man retorted harshly. “Money doesn’t just fall from the sky. If I want to spend my silver on entertainment, what’s wrong with that? Compared to those who only talk, I am already showing immense kindness!”
A scholar couldn’t stand it and shook his head angrily. “You, as a healer…”
Someone else said to the boy, “Little brother, don’t listen to him. He doesn’t seem sincere; he’s probably just mocking you…”
“Thank you all for your kindness!” The boy hurriedly bowed to the crowd, saying, “But I am willing! Please don’t criticize Physician Guo further!”
Clearly, he saw this as his last lifeline, fearing he might lose his only chance.
With a cold snort, Physician Guo flicked his sleeves and walked away.
The boy quickly followed, stopping every three steps to kneel and kowtow. He was small and thin, yet each kowtow echoed loudly, resonating in the hearts of the onlookers.
Physician Guo strolled at a slow pace, hands behind his back, not looking back, seemingly reveling in the attention, a smug glint in his eyes.
The crowd following grew larger, and voices of outrage became louder.
Chang Sui’an saw the boy’s forehead had started to bleed from repeated kowtowing and furrowed his brows, intending to step forward, but Chang Suining held him back. “Brother, don’t rush.”
Chang Sui’an protested angrily, “Physicians are supposed to be compassionate! How can he watch a child hurt himself and remain so complacent?”
Chang Suining sighed, nodding in agreement, “He doesn’t act like a healer.”
The boy, dizzy and barely able to stand after another kowtow, was helped up by a bystander who advised him, “Little brother, don’t keep doing this! You’ll collapse at this rate!”
“I believe he’s just toying with you! Even if it’s a test, this is too much!”
“Exactly! This shames the name of medicine!”
Physician Guo held his head high and retorted, “This is between us! Mind your own business!”
“As long as it can save my mother, I’m willing to do anything!” Tears filled the boy’s eyes. Just as he prepared to kneel again, a burly man stopped him.
“Little brother, you can’t keep going!” The man looked at Physician Guo with disgust and spat, “The capital doesn’t have only one physician! You don’t have to rely on him!”
With that, he pressed a few copper coins into the boy’s hands. “... It’s not much, but take it for now!”
He added, “I may be rough, but I know a little about hardship. No one deserves to be bullied like this!”
“Exactly!” The scholar from earlier finally stepped forward. “This isn’t how things should be… We can’t let someone like this corrupt society!”
Saying this, he took a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to the boy. “Take this and pawn it. You can use it to buy medicine for your mother.”
The crowd became animated.
“I have some silver here too…”
“Take it and get a reputable physician to treat her with good medicine. Don’t let her condition worsen!” a woman added, glaring at Physician Guo, emphasizing the words “reputable doctor.”
The crowd looked at Physician Guo with disdain, emboldened by their donations.
Physician Guo’s face turned a mix of red and white, left speechless and thoroughly humiliated in the eyes of the crowd.
Deeply moved, Chang Sui’an also took the pouch from his squire and approached the boy, stuffing it into his hands. “Take it. Use it to cure your mother! If you face difficulties later, come find me at the Chang residence in Xingning Alley!”
Cradling the weighty pouch in his robes, the boy was stunned, and tears began streaming down his face as he knelt before Chang Sui’an and the others, choking with emotion. “I will never forget the kindness of all of you. If I have the chance, I will repay it a hundredfold, even if it means becoming an ox or a horse!”
He bowed deeply, touching his forehead to the ground.
This scene brought tears to many onlookers’ eyes.
“Stand up now, no more kneeling…”
“A man kneels to Heaven, Earth, parents, and sages. Prove yourself worthy, for Heaven leaves no one forsaken…”
“With such filial piety, gratitude, and resilience, this boy is bound to achieve great things in the future!”
People in the crowd murmured in agreement.
Chang Suining nodded approvingly.
The way things unfolded made everyone feel that the money was indeed well-spent—showing genuine compassion through small details.
She glanced at Physician Guo, who, thoroughly embarrassed, had slipped away with a sullen face.
Before long, after expressing his thanks several times, the boy finally went to find a physician for his sick mother amid the crowd’s encouragement.
Emotions, sighs, and sentiments lingered in the air.
Returning to her side, Chang Sui’an noticed his sister lost in thought and asked softly, “Ning Ning, do you think I did something wrong?”
Though he hadn’t sensed any issues himself, he was aware of his impulsive nature and often only realized problems afterward, so he was self-conscious about it.
“Your kindness was well-placed, brother. It’s those who take advantage of such kindness who are at fault,” Chang Suining replied.
“Why would you say that, Ning Ning?”
“Follow me, and you might understand.” Chang Suining walked ahead.
Chang Sui’an, puzzled, hurried to follow.
Passing a small street stall where an elderly man was selling sacks, Chang Suining pointed casually, “Sir, these bags are well-made and sturdy. We’ll take two.”
Xi'er was startled.
Ah Che immediately squatted down to pick out bags.
This level of obedience and responsiveness was disconcerting, making Xi'er feel a strong sense of crisis as she fumbled for her purse.
In a dim alley, two figures, one large and one small, approached from opposite ends.
“Why was I given so little… my head’s bruised, too; I also need to see a doctor!” the boy grumbled.
“Too little? I also hired two others to mingle in and cheer you on…it has to be divided. You should be grateful! Without me, even if you knelt on the street for three days and nights, you wouldn’t get three coins!”
“Fine…” The boy pocketed the money, then asked eagerly, “When can we do this again?”
“You’re dreaming! Luck like that isn’t something you get every time…” the man sighed, “and no one would fall for the same trick twice…if silver was so easy to earn, I’d be the richest man in Dasheng!”
“Well, whenever you come up with something new and need my help, remember to call me!” The boy spoke, looking behind the man with a change in expression.
The man, focused on stashing his money, missed the boy’s reaction in the dim alleyway. “Run along. If anyone follows, and we’re seen, we’ll get beaten up,” he warned.
The boy nodded sincerely, “You’re absolutely right!”
With that, he turned and bolted.
At that moment, the man paused, sensing someone watching. Turning around, he found a young man with a tall, robust build, glaring at him, “How dare you trick people together!”
“It’s a misunderstanding…” The man forced a smile and started backing away, but as he turned to escape, a figure dropped down in front of him.
The sword-bearing boy stood coldly, blocking his path.
Chang Suining approached with Adian and Ah Che. The man was quickly surrounded, his face stiffening in fear, shrinking into himself, “Please, let’s talk it out…I’m just trying to make a living. If I offended you, take this as my apology…”
As he spoke, he reached into his clothes for the silver, only to have his wrist seized by Suining, who forced him to slap himself with the hand holding the powder.
The man coughed violently, eyes and nose streaming uncontrollably as white powder covered his face.
The sword boy pressed his sword to the man’s chest, “Lime powder? You even planned to attack?”
The man, doubled over in coughs and unable to open his eyes, let out a pained wail as Chang Suining tore off his mustache.
“…It’s you!” Recognizing him as the “monk” who had sold him the duck eggs, Chang Sui’an was both shocked and furious.
On the same day, on the same street, he’d been tricked twice by the same person!
In addition to his anger, the young man felt both wronged and humiliated.
“I didn’t mean any harm… I was just capitalizing on your kindness…” The man, tears streaming down, begged, “I’ll return it all… along with everything else I’ve gained, just please, spare me this once!”
Chang Sui’an’s anger flared, “Who wants your ill-gotten gains!”
The man’s tears flowed.
To him, all money was good money; why the discrimination?
Despite his understanding of human nature, he still couldn’t fathom the way of the wealthy.
He cried, “If my silver isn’t to your liking, I’ll give you my eyes…they’re useless now, anyway, so take them as my apology!”
Chang Suining looked at him, “This experience has shattered my brother’s trust in others. A rare, pure soul has been tainted forever, and the impact is significant. How is one pair of eyes enough?”
Her voice sounded gentle and harmless, yet it was the same one that had forced the lime powder back onto him, and he shivered, “Miss…you mean…”
Her tone was cool, “If you’re blind, then you should be buried.”
The man’s eyes darted nervously—bury him?
Ah Che instinctively tapped his foot on the bricks beneath him; it wasn’t a good spot for digging.
Dine-in was not appropriate; Chang Suining opted for take-out: “Take him.”
Afraid of lingering too long, the sword boy struck the man unconscious.
Xi'er looked at the sack in her hands, her eyes trembling, and felt a rush of understanding.
It had all been predetermined—
The sack in her hand was just like the pit Ah Che had dug in the graveyard!
She…would never again question her lady’s seemingly whimsical commands.
…
Suining did not rush to bury the man but visited a property of Chang Kuo’s outside the city.
The elderly steward, missing one hand, was a veteran from the military.
He stayed close to Suining, attentive: “If there’s anything needing improvement, please say so. We’ll follow to the letter.”
Suining hesitated, unsure where to begin.
The place was large and scattered; organizing it was beyond her expertise.
In the hall, the man had regained consciousness, still dazed. The lime powder had been cleaned from his face, and though his eyes were swollen, he could still see.
Suining looked down at him, “From today, you’ll work as a servant here for a month. If you do well, we’ll call it even.”
The man looked up, and instinctively asked, “And if I don’t?”
Through his swollen eyes, he saw her faint smile.
He understood—burial.
Though he wanted to muster the courage to speak, she’d already turned away, “I’ll return in a month.”
The steward went to see her off.
The man slumped down, sizing up the hall. His mind raced.
Chang Sui’an had mentioned living in Xingning Lane, the Chang household…
“Xingning Lane, Chang household…” he murmured, then leapt to his feet.
– The Residence of the Cavalry General!
Finished…
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