Ruan Lizhi understood everything. He raised his large palm and was about to strike Ruan Ziji on the head.
A person who valued romance over their uncle!
Ruan Lizhi endured the pain in his body and looked at Xie Jiang, who was standing in the shade of the tree, his expression somewhat uncertain.
He had been too impatient.
He had completely offended that little bastard surnamed Xie.
It wasn't just impatience; if it had been Xu Hengyan, he wouldn't have acted this way.
In the end, it was because he had underestimated Xie Jiang.
He hadn't taken a young man who had crossed the ocean to Da Yu, with no one to rely on, seriously.
"If I had gone to his door politely and asked to see the weapon politely, would Xie小子 have agreed to show me?" Ruan Lizhi asked Ruan Ziji in a low voice.
If Ruan Ziji had given him a definite answer, he felt he might have died on the spot.
Ruan Ziji said, "If Young Master Xie was willing to show it to people, and you went to ask politely, perhaps Young Master Xie would have agreed if he was in a good mood. But if Young Master Xie was unwilling to show it to people, even if you knelt until you died at his door, he would still complain that you had stunk up his doorstep."
Ruan Lizhi's mood was a little complicated. He didn't have to die on the spot, but he had made a wasted trip...
"Uncle, please stop thinking about the weapon. You definitely won't see it today, so can you just give up on that idea for now?"
Ruan Ziji wanted to pour a bucket of cold water over his uncle's head to help him calm down. "Young Master Xie is still in our Da Yu, you might see it sometime in the future, right?"
Was the principle of 'there's always tomorrow' so hard to understand?
Ruan Ziji turned and pointed behind him, "Uncle, look, Cao Mian is almost dead."
Ruan Lizhi looked back. Cao Mian was covered in blood and looked like he had lost half his life.
Ruan Lizhi didn't mind his own injuries. He knew his own condition. Apart from the fractured left arm, which was troublesome, his other wounds were not serious.
But Cao Mian was his closest subordinate, and he couldn't not care about Cao Mian's injuries.
Looking at Xie Jiang, who was being obstinate in the shade of the tree, Ruan Lizhi bared his teeth for a long time before finally choosing to retreat.
As Ruan Ziji helped Ruan Lizhi up, Ruan Lizhi told Ruan Ziji to help Cao Mian, as Cao Mian had a broken leg and couldn't walk.
His personal guards were completely silent, likely subdued when Xie Jiang attacked them.
Just then, they heard Xie Jiang speak, "Actually, you don't need to leave so quickly."
Ruan Lizhi said irritably, "Are you inviting us for lunch? Or have you changed your mind?"
Xie Jiang smiled and said, "I mean that since you have fractures, moving carelessly will cause secondary damage. I have a very good doctor at my home. You won't find anyone in Ninghe with better medical skills than my doctor. My doctor can treat your injuries."
Ruan Lizhi was suspicious, "Are you really that kind?"
He beat them up and then wanted to treat them?
His intuition told him there was a trap waiting for them!
Xie Jiang said, "Treating illness and saving lives is the doctor's duty. As long as you pay, why wouldn't my doctor treat you?"
Ruan Lizhi was still contemplating the potential trap when he heard his nephew suggest, "Young Master Xie is renowned for his mastery of both medicine and poison. Why don't we stay at the Xie residence and get our injuries treated first?"
It would be best to receive the best treatment immediately, but Ruan Lizhi remained wary of Xie Jiang.
"Are you really that kind-hearted?"
Xie Jiang said, "As long as you can afford the medical fees, I guarantee your arms and legs will recover as normal, with no lingering effects."
What did he mean by 'as long as they can afford the medical fees'? Could they not afford medical fees? How much medical fee would be too much for them to afford?
Was this kid trying to extort them?
He had heard long ago that this kid was incredibly skilled at extorting money.
"How much will it cost to heal our injuries?" Ruan Lizhi felt it was best to ask clearly first. If Xie Jiang made an outrageous demand, he would turn and leave, refusing to be an easy mark.
Xu Hengyan, who was walking towards Xie Jiang, also sensed Xie Jiang's intention.
Even though he believed he understood Xie Jiang well, he hadn't expected this last-minute stroke of genius.
Xie Jiang said, "It's not much, one thousand taels of silver per person."
After speaking, he looked innocently at Xu Hengyan. Lou Yi'an was one of their own, wasn't it right to bring him some business? It was better to keep the profits within the family.
Xu Hengyan was speechless.
Meanwhile, Ruan Lizhi shouted, "One thousand taels of silver per person! Have you been possessed by the bandits of Huanglan Mountain!"
Xie Jiang said, "I cured Madam Xu, and Second Master Xu gave me a house on Yuqiao Street, as well as two chests of antique calligraphy and paintings."
Ruan Lizhi muttered a curse, secretly cursing the wealthy Second Master Xu. "You saved Madam Xu's life, and it's only right that the Duke of Wei and Second Master Xu, being filial, gifted you a house. We just have fractures! You're not saving our lives!"
Xie Jiang said, "That's why I'm not asking you for a house. It's one thousand taels per person, take it or leave it."
Ruan Lizhi snorted with his nostrils in the air and limped towards the gate.
He was determined not to give the little bastard Xie a chance to make ill-gotten gains!
Luo Tie chased after him and blocked his path, extending his hand to Ruan Lizhi. "Second Master Ruan, shouldn't you return the dagger to my young master?"
Ruan Lizhi didn't want to return it.
Luo Tie said, "Then the poison on your body might not be cured for another hundred years."
Ruan Lizhi looked at the lovely little dagger. "Then if we return it to your young master, when will the poison on us be cured?"
Luo Tie said, "In about three to five hours."
Ruan Lizhi hesitated for a long time before slapping the dagger into Luo Tie's hand!
He had hidden it so well, and he had left quickly enough!
Hmph!
~
As soon as they left, Lou Yi'an came from the back courtyard, looking at the bloodstains on the ground. "Didn't you find me two practice cases? Where are they?"
Xie Jiang said, "They left because they thought your fee was too high."
Lou Yi'an said to her with a cold face, "I have requirements for taking patients. Don't send me minor injuries like fractures. I'm only interested in difficult and complicated illnesses."
Xie Jiang said, "Why wouldn't you earn money if you have the chance? Are you stupid?"
Lou Yi'an said, "Your money is enough. I'm spending your money, I don't need to earn any."
Xie Jiang pointed at him, filled with disappointment, "You're so proud of being a kept man!"
Although he knew that Xie Jiang and Lou Yi'an weren't in that kind of relationship, hearing the phrase "kept man" still made Xu Hengyan feel a little uncomfortable.
Lou Yi'an looked at Xu Hengyan. "It's been a while since I've seen Young Master Xu. Do you need me to check your pulse?"
Xie Jiang said, "Do it!"
Xu Hengyan knew his own body, but since Doctor Lou had offered, it would be good to put her mind at ease. He nodded to Lou Yi'an, "Then I'll trouble Doctor Lou."
The two of them sat down by the small table under the shade of the tree.
After a while, Lou Yi'an said, "It was recovering well initially, but it relapsed some days ago."
Seeing Xie Jiang frown, Xu Hengyan explained, "I was too busy during that period, but it has been much better these past few days."
Lou Yi'an nodded, "There's no major issue. Just take care of yourself."
Xu Hengyan said, "Thank you."