Male Lead, Please Don’t Covet the Mob Character Cannon Fodder (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 6

Gu Jiuli frowned deeply and issued a soul-searching question: “Young Master Zhu, does he also have a disease in his brain?”

“Pfft,” Song Qingshi was amused by him. “Perhaps he does, though it is quite different from yours.”

In the evening, when Song Qingyu returned home from school, he began shouting as soon as he entered the door: “Brother! Brother! I heard someone came to our house today to deliver betrothal gifts?”

Song Qingshi asked: “Where did you hear that?”

“I heard a bit from the villagers on my way back,” Song Qingyu rubbed his head with a silly smile. “I heard it was a wealthy family from town. Which young lady has fallen for you?”

Song Qingshi let out a chuckle and teased him: “Yes, though the person is a young master.”

“Huh?” Song Qingyu’s young mind could not wrap itself around that for a moment. “A young master? Which of his nerves is crossed? Is he alright?!”

Song Qingyu lunged toward Song Qingshi’s feet, grabbed his thigh, and cried out heart-wrenchingly: “Brother! My dear brother! You did not agree, did you? If you go with him, what will I do? You cannot leave me behind! I only have you!”

“Let go,” Song Qingshi gave a light laugh and nudged Song Qingyu slightly with his foot. “Rest assured, I did not agree.”

“That is good.” Hearing this, Song Qingyu immediately stopped his fake crying and stood up. “But coming back to the point, which short-sighted fool came to propose marriage?”

Song Qingshi said: “I heard it was the second son of the Zhu family in Qingshi Town. I have never even heard of him.”

Song Qingyu thought for a moment. “I have never heard of him either.”

“Young Master Song Qingshi, the bath is ready.” Gu Jiuli emerged to interrupt the conversation between the brothers.

“Alright, coming.”

The weather was very pleasant, with sunlight that was warm but not scorching. Song Qingshi was practicing his calligraphy in the courtyard while Gu Jiuli sat nearby, watching quietly.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” The gate of the Song residence was struck with great force.

As soon as Gu Jiuli opened the gate, an elderly woman pushed past him and barged in. “Physician Song! Is Physician Song here?!” Gu Jiuli was knocked off balance. As he stabilized himself, he saw two young men standing outside the gate carrying a wooden board.

Hearing this, Song Qingshi set down his brush and walked over. “Elderly ma’am, I am he. How can I help you?”

“Physician Song,” the elderly woman stepped forward and grasped Song Qingshi’s hands. As she spoke, she began to sink to her knees. “I am from the neighboring Xiaoqiao Village. I heard the physician has superb medical skills. I beg you to save my son!”

“Please, rise,” Song Qingshi supported the woman to prevent her from kneeling. “Where is your son? Let me take a look first.”

“Alas,” the elderly woman shouted toward the gate. “You two fools, hurry up and bring your younger brother in!”

Song Qingshi heard the sound of the wooden board touching the ground and a thin coughing sound. He paced over, knelt down, and reached out to touch the person lying on the board. First, he felt the pulse.

Hmm? This pulse?

“How old is he? Has he always had a cough? Does he cough up blood?” Song Qingshi asked.

“This is my third son. He is fifteen,” the elderly woman recalled. “Ever since he fell into the water five years ago, he has had a constant cough. At first, it was just coughing, but later he became weaker and weaker. In the past year, he started coughing up blood.”

“Physician Song, do you think my son can still be saved?”

As expected, it was tuberculosis.

After listening to the woman’s description, Song Qingshi felt a bit of a headache. Tuberculosis was not a major illness in the 23rd century, but here it was equivalent to a terminal disease. Even if he wanted to save the boy, he was powerless.

“I am sorry, your son’s condition, I am powerless to help,” Song Qingshi struggled to state the conclusion. “What he suffers from is Chongzhu, which is the ancient name for tuberculosis. There is no cure.”

“Oh, no!” The elderly woman sat on the ground and wailed loudly, as if trying to cry out all the grievances she had held for years. “My poor third son! How pitiful!”

“Mother.”

“Mother, do not be too sad. You still have us.”

Song Qingshi wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Elderly ma’am, I will prepare some medicine to benefit his lungs and alleviate the cough.”

“Then thank you very much, Physician Song.” A male voice responded to Song Qingshi.

Song Qingshi nodded and went back to his room to write a prescription. He prepared two sets of medicinal herbs to benefit the lungs and strengthen the spleen. He also took some mugwort, intending to give it all to them together.

“Dahei, please help me hand these over to them.” The elderly woman was crying so loudly that Song Qingshi could not even tell where everyone was.

Gu Jiuli handed the items to the eldest son.

“Thank you, Physician Song.” The eldest son took the items and thanked Song Qingshi again.

“You are welcome,” Song Qingshi shook his head and instructed him. “Simmer this medicine for two hours, then take the extract. It can alleviate your younger brother’s cough and the coughing up of blood. These two sets of medicine will last for seven days. After that, you can take the prescription to the pharmacy in town to continue getting the medicine.”

“Does anyone else in the house have symptoms of a cough?” Song Qingshi asked.

“No.” The eldest son was somewhat puzzled as to why Song Qingshi asked this, but he answered honestly.

“That is good,” Song Qingshi sighed. “After you return, you can use this mugwort to boil water and sprinkle some in the room where your brother stays. Chongzhu has a chance of spreading to family members.”

“Oh, I see,” the eldest son was surprised. “Alright, I will do that, Physician Song. How much is the consultation fee?”

Song Qingshi: “Ten copper coins will be fine.”

The eldest son paid the money and went over to find the elderly woman with the items. “Mother, let us take our brother home.”

The elderly woman was likely tired from crying, as her wailing grew quieter. “Let us go, let us go.”

The three men carried the patient back the way they came.

Listening to the heavy footsteps fading away, Song Qingshi felt a deep sense of emotion. Illness hurts people; it is a hardship for both the patient and the family.

Gu Jiuli noticed Song Qingshi’s low mood and approached. “Young Master Song Qingshi, your handwriting is truly beautiful. Can you teach me?”

“Ha,” Song Qingshi was stunned for a moment and then smiled. “It is rare that you have a desire to learn. Of course I can.”

Song Qingshi cleaned his hands with fresh water and picked up a fine brush. “Come, Dahei, give me your hand.”

Gu Jiuli followed his lead and cleaned his hands, then handed over his right hand.

Song Qingshi took Gu Jiuli’s hand and placed the brush in his palm. He then positioned each of his fingers into the proper grip. Following that, he guided his hand across the rice paper to write two words: “Dahei.”

After finishing, Song Qingshi released his hand and stepped aside to reveal the paper. He smiled and said: “Look, this is Dahei, your name.”

Gu Jiuli stared at Song Qingshi’s smiling face, momentarily dazed. Hearing his words, he looked at the characters as if to hide his reaction. He had discovered long ago that he was literate before his amnesia; he even knew how to write. His handwriting should have been bold and unconstrained, unlike Song Qingshi’s elegant style.

“It is written very well. Young Master, can you write your own name on it as well?” As he spoke, he took a step forward, completely enveloping Song Qingshi in his shadow in a possessive stance.

“Of course.” Song Qingshi readily agreed. He held Gu Jiuli’s hand again and wrote his full name: “Song Qingshi.” “Alright, you can practice according to this.”

Haha, teaching the male lead how to write, how impressive!

Feeling a secret sense of satisfaction, Song Qingshi turned sideways, intending to let Gu Jiuli have the desk. However, he bumped into the man’s chest muscles. Only then did he realize he was so close to the male lead. The scent of another person invaded his nose. “Uh, Dahei, you, will you practice by yourself for a while?”

With an emotionless “Mhm,” Gu Jiuli’s oppressive presence left the space behind Song Qingshi.

Song Qingshi hurriedly moved away from the desk and sat down on the rocking chair on the other side. He recalled the male lead’s actions, and the more he thought about it, the more something felt off.

Song Qingshi asked: “886, is the male lead Gu Jiuli’s sexual orientation toward men or women?”

886: “Eh? I do not know either. Wait, I will go ask.”

Song Qingshi: “Who are you going to ask?”

886: “The World Consciousness, of course. Rest assured, I have already become friends with it. Asking questions that do not affect the plot is perfectly okay.”

Good heavens, it seemed 886 had not been idle while he was doing his mission. He had even made friends with the World Consciousness.

The World Consciousness existed in every world. They were the world managers responsible for maintaining the world’s operation.

The missions released by the Galaxy Company were formed by applications submitted by the World Consciousness of various worlds. In short, this was his client.

886: “Song Qingshi, I am back! I found out. The World Consciousness says the male lead’s orientation is unknown, but his future official partner’s gender is male. The two will follow a love-hate path.”

Song Qingshi: “886, I feel like the male lead is a bit strange.”

886: “What is strange? He looks quite normal.”

Song Qingshi: “Can the male lead develop feelings for someone other than the official partner?”

886: “Emm, it is possible. After all, the World Consciousness can only control the general direction of the plot. It is normal for accidents to happen. But, the official partner will certainly have the greatest attraction, so this situation is very rare.”

Song Qingshi: “…”

886: “Song Qingshi, what are you thinking? You do not think the male lead has fallen for you, do you? It is impossible. Even if he has a good impression of you now, once his memory returns later and he remembers that you treated a grand general like him like a beast of burden, he will definitely hate you!”

Song Qingshi: “You have a point. I am just being overanxious.”

A few days later, during the daytime.

Gu Jiuli happened to be out. Song Qingshi was processing herbs in the courtyard when he heard the gate being struck with great force again. He could not help but support his forehead. This gate was truly plagued with misfortune, being pounded every day as if someone were demanding a life.

He only thought it was another person seeking medical help, but after he opened the gate, the person spoke very harshly: “Are you Physician Song Qingshi?”

After receiving his affirmative answer, two hard objects crossed in front of his neck. Based on the sensation, Song Qingshi guessed they were two sword hilts.

“Physician Song, we are officers from the Qingshi Town Magistrate’s Office. Someone has accused you of causing a death through medical malpractice. Come with us!”

“What? I caused a death?” Song Qingshi was completely stunned. He had no idea he had caused a death.

“Save your words for the Magistrate.” The two officers flanked Song Qingshi, gripping him to take him away.

Song Qingshi attempted to negotiate. “Officers, may I leave a message for my family so they do not worry?”

“Wait until you have a life to come back before leaving a message. Let us go. The Magistrate is waiting for you!” The officers were not at all accommodating and pressured him to move.

Song Qingshi sighed and could only follow them.

He hoped Song Qingyu and Dahei would not be too panicked when they returned and found him gone.

The officers led Song Qingshi all the way to the Qingshi Town Magistrate’s Office. After entering the hall, he heard a very familiar crying sound, though he could not recall where he had heard it for a moment.

“Kneel!” The officers pressed on Song Qingshi’s shoulders to make him kneel.

Song Qingshi knelt upright in the hall like a green bamboo. His face appeared fairly calm, but internally he was very flustered. He had never expected that while doing a mission, he would see the day he entered a government office. It was too intense.

“Order in the court!”

“Who is below? State your name!” A majestic male voice came from above.

“Great Magistrate, this humble woman is Madam Liu from Xiaoqiao Village. You must seek justice for me! My poor son!”

Song Qingshi finally remembered whose voice it was, the mother of the tuberculosis patient.

Something happened to her son?

“This commoner is Song Qingshi of Shajia Village,” Song Qingshi performed a salute. “May I ask the Magistrate, what offense has Song Qingshi committed?”

Magistrate Zhang Qibing disliked handsome, frail-looking men. Looking at the innocent-looking Song Qingshi, he let out a cold snort. “Madam Liu, you tell him what offense he has committed!”

“Physician Song, five days ago I brought my son to see you for his illness. You prescribed medicine for him. As a result, as a result, my perfectly fine son, after taking your medicine, his condition became even more severe. In just a few short days, he stopped breathing.” Madam Liu pointed and accused him while crying. “You quack, give me back my son’s life!”

Song Qingshi’s mind was filled with question marks. He did not prescribe arsenic, did he?

“Song Qingshi, Madam Liu accuses you of causing her son’s death. Do you have anything to say?” Zhang Qibing asked as per the routine.

Of course, Song Qingshi had something to say; he could not bear such a large accusation. “Magistrate, this commoner only prescribed a recipe to benefit the lungs and strengthen the spleen for her son. The situation she described could not possibly have occurred.”

“How is it impossible? Then how did my son die? He only took the medicine you prescribed. You must have prescribed the wrong medicine. You heartless wretch, give me back my son’s life!” Madam Liu was hysterical.

“Silence!” Zhang Qibing struck the gavel to tell Madam Liu to restrain herself. Startled, Madam Liu covered her mouth and began to hiccup.

Song Qingshi did not have an emotional reaction to Madam Liu’s accusations. He asked: “Magistrate, are there any remaining medicine packets prescribed by this commoner for Madam Liu’s son? This commoner would like to see if the wrong medicine was truly prescribed.”

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