Chapter 579: Chapter 202 The Regrettable Part 3
"Since you never considered me, what right do you have to demand that others consider you?"
Cui Min sighed lightly, "You have medical expertise, yet you don’t understand how to use it. ’Miao’s Prescriptions’ are worthless in your hands. Their true worth isn’t about benefiting the world; how much good can one person do for the world anyway? Their true value lies in the ability to trade them for wealth and a future, to discard those useless reputations, to elevate one’s status, and to live a good life."
"This is the true meaning of ’Miao’s Prescriptions’."
Miao Liangfang quietly watched him.
"So, have you lived a good life?"
Cui Min paused.
Over the years, he had become an Envoy, a position even higher than that of Miao Liangfang. He had taken a wife and had children, purchased a house, and his study room was more luxurious and spacious than the entire pharmacy where he had worked when he was younger.
He was surrounded by high officials and noble lords, and had almost forgotten where he came from, the hard days of his past. Until now—
The Grand Preceptor’s Mansion had discarded him as one would discard a dog.
Simply because the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion had found a better replacement.
He wasn’t completely without leverage; he knew of Qi Yutai’s madness. He could have used this as a threat, and the idea even crossed his mind, but it was quickly dismissed.
It was because the prison guard had "casually" mentioned something to him during a meal delivery.
He mentioned that his wife and children were now in prison with a cold.
Just one sentence, and all thoughts of resistance disappeared.
He could not threaten them because his family was still in their hands. As long as his wife and children could keep their lives, if he failed to recognize the situation, he couldn’t even save his own life.
With what was most important to him in the grip of others, he could only surrender.
Miao Liangfang asked him, "So now, have you become a person above others?"
A person above others.
Cui Min let out a bitter laugh.
In his relentless climb to the top, he was just a dog of the Qi family, to be called and dismissed at a whim, disposable at any time.
People like them were doomed to be servants.
"The value of human life, noble or lowly, is predestined from the womb," he said, resigning himself to his fate as his eyes lifted in a numb expression, "In this life, there’s no hope for me; in the next, I hope to be born into a better lot."
"Being lowly and poor is not a disgrace to a scholar," Miao Liangfang shook his head, "Ah Min, nobody can decide their own birth, and our birthright is not our fault."
At the words "Ah Min," Cui Min was taken aback for a moment.
He looked at Miao Liangfang.
Miao Liangfang sat in front of the prison, many years ago, they too sat on the ground in a winter storage room, holding medical books and quizzing each other, filled with expectations for the future.
Time swiftly passed. The young lads of those years now had white in their temples; he had ended up in prison, a prisoner beneath the steps, and Miao Liangfang also had a lame leg, with everything changed.
Cui Min lowered his head, "Your wrongful conviction has been cleared, and after such a roundabout journey, what do you plan to do now? Return to the Medical Officer Institute and take up your post as an Envoy?"
He laughed sarcastically, "It seems this position is destined to be yours, impossible for anyone else to snatch away."
"I’m not going back to the Medical Officer Institute."
"What?"
Miao Liangfang said, "I’m old, and my leg isn’t good anymore. Over the years, there have been many changes in the medical registry in Shengjing. The Medical Officer Institute is no longer what it used to be. Going back now, I wouldn’t be able to do much."
Cui Min’s gaze was odd, "I thought you did all this to reclaim your position as an Envoy."
"Actually, I’ve come to terms with the incident from those years ago," Miao Liangfang said, "Leaving the preparation of medicine and food was originally my fault. As for you taking ’Miao’s Medical Prescriptions,’ in the end, it has benefited the world’s medical workers and helped the people, so there’s no need to chase recognition. If not for Xiao Lu’s efforts, I wouldn’t have bothered with you at all."
"Lu Tong?"
Cui Min slightly frowned, his face wearing a peculiar expression. After a moment, he said, "So that’s how it is."
"What?"
"It turns out it wasn’t you who was pulling the strings behind the scenes, it was that girl. She stood up for you, but she chose to do it in such a way."
He laughed, his expression somewhat bizarre, "A biting dog doesn’t bark. I, this dog, am taken down, and as she, that dog, rises, she will take a chunk of flesh from the Qi Family."
Miao Liangfang frowned, "What are you talking about?"
But Cui Min closed his mouth and refused to say another word.
The prison guard outside came in, shaking a bronze bell to signal that visiting hours were over. Miao Liangfang stood up with the support of his cane.
Seeing him today, probably there would be no chance to see him again in the future. The feud of many decades was finally settling in dust.
He took two steps forward, then suddenly stopped without turning around, simply speaking to the back of the cell, "Ah Min, now that it has come to this, do you have any regrets?"
Silence followed.
He waited a moment, with no one responding, thus he sighed softly and left the prison, limping on his cane.
After he left, the empty cell was devoid of any human presence.
The person in the corner buried his hands in his palms, motionless.
After a long while, a soft sob came from within his palms.
...
Exiting the prison gate, the sun outside was at its peak.
The bright sunlight shining on him felt overwhelming coming from the dark, making Miao Liangfang squint slightly.
He hobbled along with the flow of people, leaning on his cane.
Over the years, he had borne a grudge for the injustice he carried, with every glance at his lame leg reminding him of the resentment, bitterness, and injustice of the past.
Now that his nemesis had been imprisoned and the truth had come to light, he felt no joy as he had imagined.
Instead, he felt empty.
Cui Min got what he deserved, and for this betrayer, Miao Liangfang should have felt elated. However, seeing how wretched the other party appeared in prison, Miao Liangfang felt no satisfaction, only lament.
After all, he was indeed the one who had led Cui Min to the imperial examination, thus altering the other’s life.
Repentance is the medicine to cure past wrongs, but the real value lies in reforming oneself.
He wondered if Cui Min had any regrets in the end?
Sadly, there would be no chance for rectification.
As if having completed a significant task he had sought for half his life, he now had no idea where to go or what the meaning of life was. Miao Liangfang felt lost and aimlessly found himself on West Street.
Under the plum tree by the door, the young employee was sweeping the fallen leaves with a broom. Seeing him return, he hurriedly called out, "Dr. Miao, you’re back just in time. Sister Yin Zheng has bought some grapes, chilled with well water, and they’re incredibly sweet, try some—"
"Taste what taste!"
Before Miao Liangfang could speak, Du Changqing emerged from behind a medicine cabinet, the boss fanning himself with shades of impatience, "Just received a batch of herbs that are piling up in the yard. Doctor Lu is out on a consultation, there isn’t a soul left in this clinic. Am I supposed to take care of this all by myself? Who’s the boss here?"
He muttered and complained: "Right from early morning, people disappear, but when it’s time to distribute the Month Allowance, everyone shows up on time. What, does my face look like it’s written with ’easy mark’? All day long I’m so busy I can’t touch the ground, with so many things piling up into a heap, and you’re still standing there? Get to work, no slacking off, only after the work is done can you eat! Really not a single one is worry-free..."
Yin Zheng gave him a look, signaling the boss was not in a good mood because of the heat. Standing there, for some reason, Miao Liangfang felt his previous dispiritedness and the emptiness in his chest fill up abruptly, finding unexpected solidity.
He stamped his cane on the ground, limping into the bustling pharmacy, responding:
"What’s all the noise, I’m coming—"