Chapter 26 - 25: Evil Meets Its Match

Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Evil Meets Its Match

The career Xu Jing wanted to pursue had been decided on the very first day she arrived in this world: treating the sick and diagnosing illnesses.

However, treating the sick and diagnosing illnesses isn’t something you can do just by setting up a stall. No one is careless about their health, especially those with power and influence who usually have doctors they trust or are familiar with. Even when they need to call in an external doctor for a difficult or rare disease, they will certainly choose someone with a good reputation.

Being a doctor is a way to save lives, but it’s also a means of making a living. Although Xu Jing deeply respects doctors who dedicate themselves selflessly, her current situation doesn’t allow for such selflessness.

Since she decided to enter this field to establish herself in this world, her primary goal was to make money – and enough of it to secure her foothold here.

However, while her dreams were lofty, reality was harsh, and figuring out how to take the first step was a challenge in itself.

The next morning, Xu Jing set off for the county with Chunyang and Chunxiang.

Hutou Village is a village under the jurisdiction of Anping County. It takes more than half an hour by carriage to get from the village to the county.

Thankfully, Hutou Village was developed well enough that villagers who did business in the county regularly traveled back and forth with their own carriages or donkey carts. Those without donkeys or horses in the village would usually catch a ride with these villagers.

Previously, when Chunyang went to the county to sell embroidery, she rode with Mrs. Fang and her husband from the same village.

Mrs. Fang and her husband ran a pancake stall in the county, which did quite well, but because they had to accommodate the early morning business, and the donkey cart was slower than a horse-drawn one, they had to leave before dawn each day, often reaching the county just as it was getting light.

But when riding on someone else’s wagon, they couldn’t keep others waiting for them, so Xu Jing and the others arrived at Mrs. Fang’s doorstep promptly at dawn, surprising her when she opened the door to find them already there.

Mrs. Fang’s donkey cart was a very simple flatbed, with no roof or even sideboards, but for ordinary families, owning such a vehicle already counted as being somewhat well-off.

Along the way, the four women sat on the cart while Mrs. Fang’s husband, Song Dabao, drove.

Song Dabao looked like a very simple and honest man, smiling all the way, listening to the women’s chatter from behind, occasionally chiming in.

It was still quite chilly at dawn, so Mrs. Fang took out her water flask and several wooden bowls, pouring some hot tea into them and handing them to Xu Jing and the others, warmly encouraging them, "Drink some to warm yourselves up. Delicate young ladies can easily catch a chill."

Xu Jing, Chunyang, and Chunxiang thanked her with smiles and took the tea.

Mrs. Fang looked at Xu Jing with admiration and said, "Miss Xu really is as beautiful as they say, like a fairy. No wonder that Peng Shi... Ah, that bastard got what he deserved!

Folks in our village wouldn’t dare speak up, but actually, everyone despised that beast. Who knows how many young maidens suffered at his hands?

I was really worried when Chunyang came to me yesterday. As soon as you all left, I had my husband take me to the county immediately. Fortunately, I made it in time, right?"

Xu Jing knew she was referring to the note and replied with a small smile, "We made it in time. Thanks to you, we could clear our name with Vice Minister Xiao before it was too late. We should properly thank you."

At this point, Xu Jing felt a bit awkward because they had returned to the village quite late yesterday and didn’t want to disturb Mrs. Fang’s family. Today, they had come early to catch a ride again, without having the time to properly express their gratitude.

"There’s no need for thanks," Mrs. Fang said. "Didn’t you already mention it once when we met earlier? Our village folks help each other out; there’s no need for formality. Besides, I’m glad I could help! When I heard about Peng Shi trying to seize you that way, and felt utterly helpless, it was unbearable!"

Mrs. Fang sighed again, looking at Xu Jing lovingly, "You three young ladies are all so pretty, especially you.

I heard from Chunyang that you were once a lady from a wealthy family but ended up here due to family turmoil. Without the protection of your family as a girl, life can be difficult.

I have two daughters; the eldest was married off to Jiangzhou last year, thousands of miles away. The thought of my girl being alone over there, perhaps isolated or bullied, makes my heart ache.

Helping you all also reflects a selfish wish of mine: that should my daughter encounter any trouble in Jiangzhou, she may also receive help from others."

From the front, Song Dabao chuckled, "You do worry too much. The other day, Qian’er wrote to say that you’re always overthinking, and I should keep an eye on you."

Mrs. Fang blushed, gently tapped Song Dabao’s broad back, and muttered, "What do you know about a woman’s woes!"

Watching this ordinary but kind couple, Xu Jing couldn’t help but feel warmth, making her sense of being in a new yet realistic world even more acute.

She smiled gently and softly said, "Good people will have good returns. Your daughter in Jiangzhou will certainly be fine."

Even though these words didn’t bear factual support, who doesn’t love to hear good wishes? Mrs. Fang beamed, "That’s good, that’s good. As parents, what more do we wish for than our children’s well-being?

By the way, I haven’t asked yet — are you heading to the county so early because of something urgent?

If you have any difficulties, feel free to let us know. Though we are ordinary folk, we’ll surely help if we can."

Saying this, Mrs. Fang looked at Xu Jing with increasing tenderness.

She came to know Chunyang because Chunyang often went to the county to sell embroidery. The story of Miss Xu falling from grace to Hutou Village and owing Shen several months of rent had spread throughout the village.

Mrs. Fang understood that their life wasn’t easy, and surviving on only the money Chunyang made from selling embroidery seemed impossible for the three of them.

Yet, they were so eye-catching. One Peng Shi is gone, but who could promise that more like him won’t come lurking?

In this era, being such a beautiful woman without family protection wasn’t a good thing.

Mrs. Fang knew she might not be able to provide much help, but any assistance was worthwhile.

Xu Jing smiled, "Thank you, Mrs. Fang, but rest assured, now that Peng Shi is gone, we can manage for the time being.

The reason I’m heading to the county is because I have some matters to attend to.

I wonder if Mrs. Fang knows which clinics or renowned doctors there are in Anping County?"

Mrs. Fang hesitated, thinking Xu Jing might be unwell, and immediately responded with concern, "Are you looking for a doctor? Anping County isn’t too big or too small, but it’s quite bustling because it’s near the Western Capital, so there are still many good clinics.

The three most famous clinics are Guangming Hall in the east of the city, Huashou Hall in the west, and Tianyi Hall in the north. They’re also the largest clinics in Anping County, with reputable sitting doctors.

Guangming Hall is the oldest establishment, run by generations of the Lin Family’s doctors. It’s said they’ve opened branches in several places around Great Chu, including the Western Capital. The Lin Family members travel to the Western Capital periodically.

The shopkeeper at Huashou Hall is also notable; it’s said he was an Imperial Physician and opened Huashou Hall after retiring home. That’s why even prominent families from the Western Capital prefer Huashou Hall’s doctors for treatment.

However, there’s a commonality between Guangming Hall and Huashou Hall — their fees are high, beyond what common folk can afford. So, if you’re looking for a doctor, Tianyi Hall would be more appropriate.

The Zhou Family, running Tianyi Hall, has been in this business for generations. Though not as long as the Lin Family, they mainly serve the common folk, so their charges are relatively reasonable."