I Crossed Over with My Enemy, Only to Find Him Running the Empire - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Having an Illness

Following his instructions, Wu Duofu used the very last bit of timber to begrudgingly make a simple long bench for each branch of the family. They weren’t particularly high quality, but they were finally something to sit on, which served to shut everyone’s mouths.

After all this commotion, by the time the sun began to slant toward the west, the scene in the fourth room had completely transformed.

There were doors and windows that could be bolted from the inside, a storage chest with a lock to guard against rats, a table that was coarse but level, and two sturdy long benches.

Though it was still humble, compared to the previous bleak scene of four bare walls, it was as different as heaven and earth.

Li Qiaoqiao looked over the inside and outside, and her heart finally felt much more settled.

She looked at Wu Ya, who was wiping away sweat, and they shared a smile. Life, at last, had a bit of hope to look forward to.

…

Lechuan Town.

Inside an inn that wasn’t very spacious but was reasonably clean, Divine Physician Gong and his young apprentice were feasting greedily on a table full of rich food.

There were meat and vegetable dishes with plenty of oil, far better than the “hundred-family meals” they ate while begging in the villages.

Divine Physician Gong took a sip of coarse tea and smacked his lips with satisfaction.

Stroking those few sparse strands of his goatee, he squinted and said, “Apprentice, do you see? This is the way life should be lived. With your master’s divine skills, where wouldn’t I be welcomed with fine food and drink?”

The apprentice’s mouth was stuffed with braised pork as he responded indistinctly, “Mmh… Master is right! Especially that trip to Wanfu Village, it was truly miraculous! That Wu family idiot boy, one of your ‘Stretch-the-Leg-Stare-the-Eye’ pills went down, and hey, his mind cleared up instantly! Now, in all these surrounding villages, who doesn’t know your venerable name?”

At the mention of Wu Tieniu, a flicker of doubt flashed in the depths of Divine Physician Gong’s eyes.

That matter was indeed strange. He knew better than anyone what the ingredients of that pill were; it wouldn’t kill anyone, but it certainly wouldn’t cure a chronic affliction like idiocy.

How did that kid suddenly get better? Could it really have been a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat, a lucky guess?

But the thought only flashed by.

Having traveled the rivers and lakes for many years, he relied on having a thick skin and a silver tongue; how could he possibly undermine his own reputation?

He immediately straightened his back, putting on a profound and inscrutable air, and said, “Hmph, naturally! Your master’s ancestral miraculous medicine contains the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, specializing in treating all sorts of difficult and complicated diseases! A mere case of idiocy, what of it? That Wu boy has his ancestors’ virtue to thank for encountering this old man; it was simply meant to be that his life shouldn’t end yet!”

The more he spoke, the more he felt his contribution was immense, as if he truly were a miracle worker who had brought the boy back from the brink.

When a swindler tells enough lies, he starts to believe them himself!

…

After the master and apprentice happily finished their breakfast, they set up a table in the center of the guest room, spreading out a cloth banner that read “Miraculous Hands Bring Back Spring.”

Divine Physician Gong sat upright in a dignified manner, while the apprentice stood by his side, waiting for patients to come seeking him out by reputation and offering consultation fees with both hands.

However, from the time the sun was high in the sky until it slanted toward the west, not a single person even poked their head in the door.

The guest room was so quiet that only the sound of Divine Physician Gong’s own snoring as he feigned sleep and the pa-pa sound of the apprentice boredly swatting flies remained.

“Strange…” Divine Physician Gong’s back and waist ached from sitting, and he couldn’t help but mutter, “Could it be that the people of Lechuan Town are all made of iron and never get sick?”

The apprentice was also so hungry his stomach was sticking to his back. He said cautiously, “Master, how about… I go to the door and hold the flag for a bit?”

Divine Physician Gong waved his hand impatiently.

The apprentice had no choice but to pick up that small “Divine Physician Gong” flag and walk dejectedly to the inn entrance. He hovered there listlessly, squeezing out a smile for everyone who passed and asking, “Uncle, Auntie, do you have an illness? The Divine Physician is seeing patients; the medicine will cure the disease…”

Most of the passing townspeople gave him a look, shook their heads, and walked away quickly; occasionally, a few sneers could be heard.

“Your mother is the one with an illness! You lunatic!”

“Master, it’s no good,” the apprentice returned with a woeful face, “no one believes us at all. Did we come to the wrong place?”

Divine Physician Gong’s face darkened.

This situation wasn’t right. According to past experience, after they made such a big scene at the Wu family in Wanfu Village, the news should have spread long ago, and patients from nearby towns and villages should have come flocking upon hearing the news.

Why was it so deserted?

“Go, go out and ask around!” Divine Physician Gong commanded. “See exactly what is going on!”

The apprentice took the order and left, wandering around the town for a long while. He pulled aside a few kind-looking elderly people to ask indirect questions, and finally ran back with a face full of misfortune.

“Master! It’s bad!” The apprentice was panting, his face pale. “It’s Wu Tieniu from Wanfu Village! After his illness got better, he’s been telling people everywhere that he was already mostly recovered, and his mind clearing up was just a matter of these few days that it was the same whether he ate our pill or not!

He even said our pill tastes like ox dung, and aside from sticking to the throat, it’s useless as a fart! Now it’s spread all over the village and the town, saying we just got lucky and don’t actually have any real skill!”

“What?” Divine Physician Gong slammed the table, his goatee trembling with rage. “What a bridge-burning Wu family! To think this old man wasted effort saving their son!”

He understood everything now.

That Wu Tieniu who had suddenly gained his wits a few words from him had directly smashed Gong’s reputation to pieces!

“Damn it,” Divine Physician Gong cursed a low profanity, thoroughly recognizing reality. “We can’t stay in this place. A bunch of ignorant mud-legs! Tomorrow morning, pack our things and leave!”

The apprentice was stunned: “Ah? Master, we’re leaving just like that? The lodging money for this inn…”

“Hmph, if this place won’t keep me, there’s a place that will!” Divine Physician Gong was a veteran of the rivers and lakes and understood the routines of swindling perfectly; he would never waste time in a place with no value.

“The world is so big, are you afraid of not finding someone who recognizes quality? We’ll just change locations and start over! Hurry up and pack!”

…

Just as the master and apprentice were dejectedly preparing to pack their luggage, the room door was met with a “knock-knock.”

The voice of the inn waiter came through: “Divine Physician Gong, are you resting? There is a guest downstairs who says he came from Wanfu Village and wishes to see you for a consultation!”

Divine Physician Gong and the apprentice looked at each other, both seeing surprise and a flicker of hope in the other’s eyes.

Someone from Wanfu Village?

Could it be that someone didn’t believe Wu Tieniu’s words? Or perhaps the Wu family regretted it and came to invite him back?

Divine Physician Gong immediately sat back in his chair, straightened his collar, resumed his sanctimonious appearance, and gave a clear cough: “Mm, please show him in.”

The door creaked open.

The person who entered was not the expected old Wu couple or anyone from the fourth branch, but a dark-faced young man with a furrowed brow.

Divine Physician Gong recognized him; it was the second son of the Wu family, Wu Tiesheng.

After Wu Tiesheng entered the room, he didn’t quite know where to put his hands and feet. His eyes dodged about, not daring to look Divine Physician Gong in the eye, and he simply gave a dull bow: “Divine Physician Gong…”

Doubts rose in Divine Physician Gong’s heart. This second Wu son looked strong and healthy; he didn’t look sick.

Could the Wu family really have sent him to express gratitude?

He maintained his posture and asked slowly, “Oh? It’s the second Wu son. For what matter do you seek this old man? Is someone else in the family unwell? Has your fourth brother’s condition relapsed?”

He intentionally brought up Wu Tieniu to test the waters.

Wu Tiesheng waved his hands hurriedly, his face turning red, his voice sounding like the humming of a mosquito: “No… no… Tieniu is doing very well… It’s me… I want to ask the Divine Physician…”

“Oh?” Divine Physician Gong raised an eyebrow, signaling for him to continue.

Wu Tiesheng seemed to find it difficult to speak. After struggling for a long time, he lowered his voice and said, “Divine Physician… my wife has given birth to two little girls in a row… and seeing as the third one is almost due to be born… I wanted to ask you… you have great divine powers… Do you have the kind of medicine that can guarantee the birth of a son? I’ll pay any amount of money!”