"Don't just stand there, come inside quickly!" the man greeted them with a smile. "My father is inside, let him examine the young lady first. I'll go prepare dinner..."
With that, the man lifted the cloth curtain of the door. "Please, come in!~"
Yun Daman frowned and didn't move. "What's your name?"
The man was slightly taken aback. He glanced up and down at Yun Daman, cursing inwardly. This brat was quite cautious, asking his name right away...
"My surname is Guo. Just call me Guo Laosi!~" Guo Laosi replied.
Shangguan Fang'er clutched Yun Sanman's clothes, her lips pouting high. "I don't like this place. Let's go home, home..."
The entire courtyard was filled with foul-smelling dung, and there wasn't even a privy. Could this really be a doctor's home?
Yun Sanman respected Fang'er's opinion. If she didn't want to be treated, Yun Sanman wouldn't force her.
"Alright, let's go. Big brother, pull the carriage out!~" Yun Sanman took Shangguan Fang'er's hand and turned around. "I heard that after leaving this village, it's another hour's journey to a county town. We'll stay there tonight..."
He didn't believe a doctor's home would be this filthy either.
Even a child could tell something was wrong here.
Moreover, the carriage was still loaded with the furs and dried goods they had collected along the way. If those villagers dared to steal them in the middle of the night, their entire trip would be in vain...
Seeing the three of them about to leave, Guo Laosi quickly stepped forward to stop them. "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Since you've come this far, at least let my father examine the young lady before you go. It's just feeling the pulse, what are you so nervous about?"
"Feeling the pulse can cure illnesses?" Yun Daman's brows furrowed tightly. "She has madness, not a common cold or fever!~"
Guo Laosi scratched his head upon hearing this. "Oh, I don't understand what you're saying, but after feeling the pulse, we can prescribe the right medicine, right?"
Yun Sanman heard this and leaned close to Shangguan Fang'er's ear, asking softly, "Fang'er, do you want to be treated?"
If she didn't, there was no need to waste time...
Shangguan Fang'er's expression was a little complicated. After hesitating for a long time, she listlessly nodded. "Then, okay. After the treatment, you'll buy me mung bean cakes!~"
Yun Sanman couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, I'll buy you a big bag!"
A moment later, the three of them finally followed Guo Laosi into the thatched hut.
The only thing in sight was a large heated brick bed. Beside the stove was the bowl rack. Cooking and sleeping were all done in one room...
An old man with a lecherous face sat on the bed. He was thin and dry, holding a pipe in his mouth. As if suffering from some illness, his hands trembled slightly and continuously.
The cotton quilts and mattresses on the bed were indescribably dirty. Touching them, the quilts were stiff and covered in sweat and grime...
"Dad, this young lady has madness. Please take a look at her. I'll go make tea!~" Guo Laosi said with a smile.
As he spoke, he walked to the bowl rack, picked up two large bowls, grabbed a handful of dark 'tea leaves' and threw them in, then picked up the kettle and poured hot water to brew.
The old man stared intently at Shangguan Fang'er, then suddenly curved his lips. "Hoo, such a spirited young lady has madness, it's truly a shame. Come, come, let me feel your pulse..."
He casually threw the pipe on the ground, then rubbed his hands and shuffled closer to the edge of the bed.
Shangguan Fang'er felt a bit resistant and hid behind Yun Sanman, refusing to come out.
"Oh, why is this young lady afraid of strangers? Haha!~" The old man laughed heartily and explained, "Don't worry, my medical skills, if not miraculous, can at least cure illnesses with medicine. Come, let me feel!"
Yun Daman: "..."
If you truly understood medicine, why were your hands shaking so badly?
He didn't believe the cliché that doctors couldn't cure themselves.
"Go ahead!~" Yun Daman patted Shangguan Fang'er's shoulder, then sat down next to Yun Daman.
Guo Laosi quickly handed over the two bowls of 'tea water', smiling. "We don't have any good tea at home, please make do with it to quench your thirst..."
Yun Daman and Yun Sanman were indeed thirsty. Without a thermos on the road, they had been drinking cold water.
The moment they saw the steaming hot tea, their throats felt dry. So, without thinking much, they gulped down the tea in a few sips.
"Why does this tea taste a bit strange?" Yun Sanman wiped his mouth.
Yun Daman also noticed it but didn't show it...
He secretly reached into his sleeve and felt a medicine bottle, which made him feel a bit more secure.
Taking advantage of Guo Laosi and the old man's inattention, Yun Daman quickly opened the medicine bottle, took out two white pills, ate one himself, and gave the other to Yun Sanman.
These were the antidote pills his sister had given him before they set off.
They could neutralize most sleeping and knockout drugs and were considered universal antidotes...
Yun Daman had realized something was wrong with this family early on, which was why he was being cautious and not letting them lead him around.
Yun Sanman chewed the pill and swallowed it, then turned to look at the 'old doctor'.
"This young lady's hands are so fair and clean, it's clear she doesn't do farm work!~" The old man held Shangguan Fang'er's hand and then felt the back of her hand.
Seeing this, Yun Sanman's temper flared instantly. "Hey, where are you touching? Has the pulse moved to the back of the hand?"
This fellow had touched Shangguan Fang'er's palms and the backs of her hands all over...
The old man, seeing that they had drunk the tea, spoke with more confidence. "I am a doctor, I can touch wherever I want!~"
"Is that what a human says?" Yun Sanman's anger surged, and he abruptly stood up.
Suddenly, his head spun, his vision blurred, and everything became hazy...
Yun Daman felt the same way. He wondered inwardly if the antidote his sister gave him wasn't working.
In reality, it wasn't that. It just took time for the human body to absorb the antidote; it wouldn't take effect immediately.
Yun Sanman angrily pointed at the old man, intending to pull Shangguan Fang'er back. However, as soon as he took a step forward, his vision went black, and he fell to the ground with a thud...
Yun Daman stood up, steadying himself against the edge of the bed, his eyes filled with burning rage. He cursed loudly, "You scoundrels! If you dare to touch Fang'er today, I, I..."
"What will you do?" Guo Laosi patted his face and said with a wicked grin. "You can't even walk, and you're thinking of fighting us? Heh heh, don't worry, my father and I will 'take good care' of this young lady!~"
"Beasts, animals, cough cough!~" Yun Daman's anger filled him, but he finally slumped softly onto the ground.
Seeing this, Shangguan Fang'er started to cry loudly. "Wuwu, Daman, Sanman, what happened to you, wuwu..."
The louder she cried, the more excited the father and son became.
Regardless of whether Shangguan Fang'er was willing or not, the father and son dragged her onto the bed and began to tear at her clothes...