Male Lead, Please Don’t Covet the Mob Character Cannon Fodder (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 5

On the way back, Qingshi realized that he had overestimated his endurance. He had barely covered half the distance before his right foot began to throb with pain. Ultimately, Gu Jiuli had to carry him home on his back.

The Male Lead acted like a hardworking ox, carrying both the heavy supplies and a person.

“Physician Song! You are finally back!” A loud voice rang out from a distance while the two were still quite far from the gate.

Qingshi patted Gu Jiuli on the shoulder and said, “Da Hei, put me down quickly.”

Gu Jiuli obediently set him down as the person with the loud voice reached them. “Oh, Physician Song, please come quickly and look at my old man! He fell off the ridge while planting rice seedlings today, and it looks like he broke a bone!”

“What?! Auntie Wang, where is Uncle Wang? How long ago did he fall?” Qingshi asked worriedly.

Auntie Wang panted for breath. “Not long, perhaps an hour or so. Qingyu helped me bring him into the courtyard. I have been out here waiting for you.”

“Alright, let us head back quickly then.” As he spoke, Qingshi started walking with his bamboo staff, ignoring his aching ankle.

“Brother, you are back!”

Upon entering the gate, Qingshi heard Song Qingyu calling out to him. He nodded in response and headed straight toward Uncle Wang, who was groaning continuously in the courtyard.

“Uncle Wang, which leg is injured?” Qingshi crouched down and reached out to feel Uncle Wang’s legs.

“The… the right leg…”

Qingshi first touched the skin of the right leg, then carefully felt the leg bone. The feedback he received under his hands made him breathe a sigh of relief.

“Fortunately,” Qingshi said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood up.

“Physician Song, how is my old man’s condition?” Auntie Wang asked anxiously.

Qingshi replied, “It is nothing serious. The bone is not broken. It is likely that the impact jarred the bone when he fell. He just needs to rest for a few days and he will be fine.”

The tension Auntie Wang had been holding finally dissipated. “That is good, that is good.”

Qingshi entered his room and gathered two sets of medicinal herbs from the cabinet.

“I have prepared a prescription of Bone-Knitting Jade Salve for Uncle Wang. Brew the medicine for internal consumption and use the dregs as a topical poultice,” Qingshi instructed Auntie Wang in detail as he handed over the items. “These two sets are enough for seven days. Once the medicine is finished, come see me again so I can check his progress. Do not let Uncle Wang lift anything heavy for the next few days.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.” Auntie Wang took the prescription and the medicine packets, feeling immensely grateful. “I have noted it all down. As for the medical fee?”

“Just give me ten copper coins. The herbs are from the mountains and are not worth much,” Qingshi said.

Auntie Wang pulled a small handkerchief from her mud-stained pocket and opened it carefully. Inside were copper coins polished until they shone. She patiently counted out ten coins and handed them to Qingshi.

Qingshi took the coins and instructed Gu Jiuli, who was standing nearby, “Da Hei, please help me see Uncle Wang home.”

“Alright.” Gu Jiuli supported Uncle Wang and followed Auntie Wang out the door.

On the road.

“Young man, are you a distant relative who recently came to seek refuge with Physician Song?” Auntie Wang asked as she looked at the tall Gu Jiuli. “I have not seen you in the village before.”

“Mhm,” Gu Jiuli grunted a vague response.

“That is for the best. Ever since Physician Song’s father died, there has been no capable person in that house. One brother is still young, and the other cannot see,” Auntie Wang prattled on. “Physician Song is already twenty this year, yet he has not even managed to find a wife. It is truly pitiful.”

“It is good that you are here. You can help him look for a match.”

“Even though Physician Song has an eye ailment, he has a good personality, a professional skill, and he is not bad-looking. Many girls in the village are interested in him.”

“You should help him pick someone early to settle things so he can carry on the Song family line.”

For some reason, the thought of the young man possibly marrying a woman made Gu Jiuli feel uncomfortable. He attributed this to not wanting the young man to bring misfortune to others; after all, did the young man not admire him?

Early the next morning, there was a knock at the gate. At that moment, Gu Jiuli was in the kitchen preparing breakfast, so Qingshi went to open the door.

“Oh my, you must be Physician Song! You truly are handsome!”

The shrill female voice made Qingshi’s eardrums ache. He stepped back slightly and asked, “I am. May I ask who you are?”

“I am Madam Zhang, the most famous matchmaker in the villages around Saji Village.”

“A matchmaker?” Qingshi was confused. “Madam Zhang, may I ask what business you have here?”

“Good news, wonderful news!” Madam Zhang flashed a meaningful smile at the blindfolded young man. After a moment, she remembered that he could not see her gestures, so she awkwardly covered her mouth with a handkerchief. “Physician Song, will you not invite me in for a cup of tea? I came here so early to bring you this joy that I have not even had time for breakfast.”

“Please, come in.” Qingshi stepped aside to let her in, offered her a seat, and poured a cup of tea.

“Madam Zhang, what is this good news you mentioned?” Qingshi asked, puzzled. He truly could not imagine what kind of good news a matchmaker would have for him.

Madam Zhang took a sip of tea to moisten her throat before saying, “I am here today to propose a marriage on behalf of the Second Young Master of the Zhu family, the largest cloth merchants in Qingshi Town. You know the Zhu family, right? All the clothing and fabric shops in Qingshi Town belong to them. They are very wealthy.”

“But,” Qingshi was at a loss. “Madam Zhang, have you come to the wrong place? Our family has no girls who could marry the Second Young Master Zhu.”

“Pah!” Madam Zhang flicked her handkerchief, wishing she could call the young man a fool. “Who told you that Second Young Master Zhu is looking for a girl!”

Madam Zhang stood up and swayed her hips over to Qingshi’s side. “The person he is seeking is you, Physician Song!”

“Pardon?” Qingshi momentarily suspected his hearing was failing; otherwise, how could he hear such a ridiculous statement? “This… but Second Young Master Zhu and I are both men, are we not?”

“What does that matter? There are records from the previous dynasty of men joining together as sworn brothers. While such unions are rare in our Great Qi Dynasty, they are not unheard of,” Madam Zhang continued. “Physician Song, though you are handsome, who would dare marry their daughter to someone with an eye ailment? It would be better to become a sworn brother to Second Young Master Zhu. Entering the Zhu Estate means you would enjoy endless wealth and glory for the rest of your life.”

“Furthermore, Second Young Master Zhu is quite talented and handsome, a perfect match for you. He even said that if you agree, he will marry you with the formal rites of a primary wife. This is a treatment many women in Qingshi Town could only dream of.”

“Enough, please stop,” Qingshi said, pressing his throbbing temples. He was shocked by how open-minded this ancient world could be. “I apologize, Madam Zhang, but I have never even met this Second Young Master Zhu. I cannot agree to this.”

“You silly,” Madam Zhang wanted to continue, but she was interrupted by Gu Jiuli, who had emerged from the kitchen.

“Young Master Qingshi, it is time to eat.”

Qingshi was saved. He stood up to distance himself from Madam Zhang. His expression was grim as he bowed in her direction. “Please tell Second Young Master Zhu that Qingshi cannot accept his request.”

He then turned to Gu Jiuli and said, “Da Hei, see the guest out.”

Gu Jiuli stood tall in front of Madam Zhang. “Madam, please.”

“Oh, Physician Song, you!” Madam Zhang felt intimidated by Gu Jiuli’s terrifying aura. She stomped her foot and swayed her hips out of the Song residence.

Qingshi sat back down at the table and sighed. Gu Jiuli then said, “Young Master Qingshi, I heard everything just now. Did you refuse Second Young Master Zhu because you do not like men?”

Qingshi shook his head. “That is not it.”

In the 23rd century, same-sex relationships were already legal and normal. Qingshi had once imagined whether his future partner would be male or female. However, they pursued free love, not this kind of ancient arranged marriage. He had never even met that Second Young Master Zhu. Moreover, he was currently on a mission; this was not his actual world.

System 886: “Actually, the company does not oppose employees falling in love during missions, as long as it does not interfere with the task. Some agents even date one or several people in a single world.”

886, do not add to the chaos.

“Second Young Master Zhu and I are merely strangers,” Qingshi said.

Gu Jiuli thought to himself, “I see. We are familiar with each other, so he likes me.”

Seven days later, Auntie Wang brought Uncle Wang to see Qingshi.

“Physician Song, there is nothing else good at home, but you must accept these eggs.” Auntie Wang thrust a basket of eggs into Qingshi’s hands.

Qingshi held the heavy basket and said, “Auntie Wang, you do not need to be so formal with me. It would be better to keep these eggs for Uncle Wang to nourish his body.”

“What formal? Just take them. I have definitely kept enough for your Uncle Wang to eat,” Auntie Wang said, glancing at Uncle Wang to prompt him to speak.

Uncle Wang added, “Yes, that is right. It is all thanks to you this time, Physician Song, otherwise my leg would not have healed so quickly. Please, accept them.”

“Alright then.” Qingshi handed the basket to Gu Jiuli. “Uncle Wang, please sit down. Let me examine your leg.”

“Does it hurt here?” “How about here?”

Qingshi carefully examined Uncle Wang’s injured leg and then took his pulse.

“Uncle Wang’s leg is basically fine now. However, your pulse indicates some fatigue and Qi deficiency. You must rest more, eat well, and do not overwork yourself.”

Qingshi was halfway through his instructions when he was interrupted by the sound of gongs and drums from outside. The noise stopped right in front of their gate, giving him an immediate sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it? Clanging gongs and drums so early in the morning? Do they think they are marrying a bride?” Auntie Wang grumbled as she went to open the gate.

“Is this the residence of Physician Song?”

“Yes, who are you looking for?” Auntie Wang was stunned to see a long line of people carrying boxes and wearing large red silk flowers. She asked cautiously.

“We are looking for Physician Song,” said the man at the front of the group, who was wearing a short, earthen-colored coat.

Qingshi also came to the gate. “What business do you have with me?”

“You must be Physician Song,” the man in the earthen coat said respectfully as he stepped forward. “We are servants of the Zhu family from Qingshi Town. We have been ordered by Second Young Master Zhu to deliver the betrothal gifts to Physician Song today.”

“Second Young Master Zhu has prepared gold, silver, jade, and fine silks.”

“Wait,” Qingshi raised his hand to stop him, his expression turning sour. “I recall clearly refusing Second Young Master Zhu last time. Can he not understand human speech?”

“Great Physician Song, it is your blessing that Second Young Master Zhu has taken an interest in you. Do not refuse the easy way only to be forced into the hard way,” the man threatened. “You must accept these betrothal gifts today, whether you want to or not!”

“Are you trying to force a marriage?!” Auntie Wang stood defiantly in front of Qingshi. “Is there no law anymore? What kind of crooked person is this Second Young Master Zhu to dare covet Physician Song!”

“Try and touch him today! We people of Saji Village are not easy to bully!” Auntie Wang stood with an aura as if she could hold back ten thousand men alone.

“That is right! Who do you think you are, coming to Saji Village to cause trouble!” A group of young and elderly men carrying hoes ran toward them. They were all fellow villagers who had come to help after hearing that someone was making things difficult for their village physician.

They surrounded the Zhu family servants, who began to tremble with fear.

“Do you know who we are?! We are from the Zhu family of Qingshi Town! You bunch of unruly peasants!”

“We do not care if you are from the Zhu family or the Li family! Take your scrap metal and get out!”

“You just wait!” The Zhu family servants scuttled away, carrying their boxes with them.

Hearing the sound of their departure, Qingshi breathed a sigh of relief. He never expected such a ridiculous plot to happen to him.

Qingshi bowed at the gate. “I thank my fellow villagers for today. Qingshi is deeply grateful.”

“Physician Song, do not be so polite with us. We are all from the same village. This is just a simple effort.”

“Father, it is called a simple effort.”

“Oh, right, right! A simple effort.”

“Exactly. After all, you are the physician of our Saji Village.”

Qingshi did not say more but bowed once again to the honest and kind villagers.

As the villagers left one by one, Qingshi and Auntie Wang went back inside.

“Physician Song, there is still work to be done in the fields, so your Uncle Wang and I will head back now. If anything happens, just give a shout and we will all come,” Auntie Wang said as she helped Uncle Wang leave.

“Alright, take care.” Since all necessary instructions had been given, Qingshi had nothing more to add.

After seeing Uncle Wang and Auntie Wang off, Gu Jiuli finally had a chance to speak. He had been in the kitchen earlier and had not seen what happened outside.

“Young Master Qingshi, what was that just now?”

“It was nothing,” Qingshi said with a shake of his head. “It was just that Second Young Master Zhu sent people to put on a show at our doorstep.”

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