The music ended, and the study returned to silence.
The plump shopkeeper tapped Zhan Feiyu’s forehead twice. “Don’t tell me you didn’t understand my hint. Why did you get involved?”
Although Zhan Feiyu had a talent for reading, she had only been studying for less than half a year and came from a poor background. Zhang Tianhao, on the other hand, was the only son of Scholar Zhang from Hongyuan Private School.
Scholar Zhang not only had influence with the government and the county school but also maintained close relationships with wealthy merchants. If Zhan Feiyu wanted to take the imperial examinations in the future, Scholar Zhang could cause trouble for her.
“It wasn’t Meitongsheng who tore up the book. I was just telling the truth,” Zhan Feiyu said with a grin, revealing her small white teeth, looking innocent and guileless.
The plump shopkeeper glared at her, making a move as if to hit her.
Zhan Feiyu giggled and took two steps forward, pulling out silver from her purse and placing it on the counter. “Be a little cheaper with the paper today, and I’ll satisfy your curiosity!”
The plump shopkeeper had been running Wenxing Bookstore for many years. He just hadn’t remembered earlier, but now he understood. He smiled and pointed at Zhan Feiyu. “Master Lin has found a good disciple.”
Although it was an old grievance, the plump shopkeeper remembered that Scholar Zhang had forced Master Lin out of the county years ago, preventing him from opening a private school.
Some things are understood but cannot be spoken. Zhan Feiyu smiled silently. She had originally planned to read in the bookstore. Her gaze swept past the entrance, and she saw a ragged old woman huddled outside the bookstore door. At first glance, she looked like a beggar.
“Grandpa Shopkeeper, I won’t be reading today. I’m going to buy some silk flowers and snacks,” Zhan Feiyu said playfully, making the plump shopkeeper shake his head and laugh.
The goods on South Street were of good quality and low price. Small stalls lined both sides of the bluestone street, selling food and daily necessities. The vendors called out enthusiastically, and the crowds bustled, making it lively.
Zhan Feiyu carried a stack of yellow hemp paper out of the bookstore. The old woman immediately straightened up, squinted, and sized her up. Then, leaning on her cane, she staggered forward a few steps.
“Hey, watch where you’re going!” A passerby, almost knocked over by the old woman, spoke indignantly. But seeing her dirty appearance, he stepped aside, considering himself unlucky.
“Little girl,” the old woman said, raising her head. Her face was weathered, and her voice was hoarse. “Please, help me.”
As she spoke, the old woman leaned towards Zhan Feiyu, and her left cane fell to the ground. Her withered, bark-like hands fumbled towards Zhan Feiyu, as if trying to steady herself.
“Your cane, old lady.” Zhan Feiyu suddenly squatted down, avoiding the old woman’s grasping hands, picked up the cane, and blocked her path. The handle of the cane struck the old woman’s Tanzhong acupoint heavily.
The Tanzhong acupoint is located on the anterior midline of the body, between the breasts. A forceful blow to this point can cause palpitations and confusion.
“Grandmother, what’s wrong?” Zhan Feiyu quickly supported the old woman, who was groaning in pain, but her small frame could not support an adult.
The moment the old woman fell, Zhan Feiyu caught her head, making it seem as if she was preventing the old woman’s head from hitting the bluestone slab.
Her dark eyes were calm, even indifferent. Zhan Feiyu struck again, quickly hitting the old woman’s Shenting acupoint, causing her to faint immediately.
“Ah, someone’s dead!”
“Quick, go to the yamen!”
The plump shopkeeper heard the commotion outside and quickly walked out.
Seeing the old woman collapsed beside Zhan Feiyu, the plump shopkeeper frowned. “You’re a young girl, get out of the way. Someone strong, please help carry the person to the clinic. I’ll pay for the consultation.”
Although the old woman’s clothes were tattered and she smelled foul, she looked no different from a beggar.
But saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. As the plump shopkeeper called out, two men immediately stepped forward to help carry the old woman to the clinic.
The old doctor at Huichuntang was also familiar with the plump shopkeeper. He had initially worried that the old woman had a serious illness, but after taking her pulse, he found nothing seriously wrong. “Extreme fatigue and hunger have led to physical weakness. It’s nothing serious.”
“That’s good. She fainted at my doorstep just now,” the plump shopkeeper said, relieved. He smiled at the somewhat stunned Zhan Feiyu. “You were scared, weren’t you?”
“Doctor, it’s thanks to the little girl’s kindness in supporting her. Otherwise, she would have hit her head on the ground,” a helper interjected. The old woman smelled bad, and passersby avoided her. If she had hit her head on the stone slab, she would have been bleeding profusely.
The old doctor found Zhan Feiyu somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall that she was the young girl who had come to the clinic for swelling and bruise-reducing liniment a few days ago. He said to the young medicine boy, “Xiao Zhu, go and brew the medicine.”
“Yes, Master,” the young medicine boy hurried to the backyard.
The old doctor waved his hand at the plump shopkeeper, who was about to give him money. “It’s just a few doses of cheap herbal medicine. Her body is too depleted; she only has a year or two left.”
In essence, her body had been worn out. If she were from a wealthy family and received good tonics, she might have lived for another ten or twenty years. But looking at the old woman’s emaciated appearance, the old doctor could only prescribe a few symptomatic treatments.
“Your clinic isn’t like my bookstore; you still have to support a young medicine boy. Take this,” the plump shopkeeper forced an ounce of silver into his hand.
The medicine prescribed by the old doctor was cheap. For poor families, he not only waived consultation fees but also provided herbs. He used to manage Huichuntang alone, but now that he was older and had bought a young medicine boy, his expenses had increased.
“Grandpa Shopkeeper, I’ll stay to keep an eye on her,” Zhan Feiyu said, seemingly worried about the old woman who had not yet regained consciousness.
The plump shopkeeper hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “Alright, you can stay.”
Xiao Yu had saved someone, accompanied her to the clinic, and now helped to look after her. This good reputation would spread, benefiting her in her studies, imperial examinations, and marriage.
It was noon.
“The shopkeeper of Wenxing Bookstore is truly a benevolent person. He paid for the consultation,” a passerby exclaimed loudly, praising the plump shopkeeper’s good deed.
“That little girl is also good. If she hadn’t supported the beggar, she would have fallen headfirst and surely been bleeding, perhaps even died on the spot.”
Passersby who didn’t know what had happened asked curiously, and everyone started talking again.
“The blind old woman is useless!” Zhan Lao Er, sitting at a tea stall, said with a dark expression. He downed half a cup of bitter, strong tea in one gulp.
Fortunately, he had made backup plans! Zhan Lao Er touched the paper packet he kept close to his chest, concealing the ferocity in his eyes. He then said to the auntie at the wonton stall next to him, “Sister Feng, please cook two bowls of wontons for me to take away.”
“Alright, it’ll be ready in a moment,” Aunt Feng began cooking the wontons efficiently.
Zhan Lao Er worked as a delivery man at the pier and often came to South Street to eat, so they were familiar with each other.
At Huichuntang, after the young medicine boy fed the brewed medicine to the old woman, he came out with an empty bowl. “Master, the medicine has been given. She’s still a bit disoriented. What are we having for lunch?”
“Always thinking about food,” the old doctor smiled and glanced at the gluttonous young medicine boy. Thinking of Zhan Feiyu still being there, he said, “Go and cook some plain noodles, and add three poached eggs.”
The old woman had just taken her medicine and could not eat for another half an hour.
“Understood, Master.” The young medicine boy darted into the kitchen in the backyard to cook the noodles. At the same time, Zhan Lao Er entered Huichuntang.
“Doctor, a young girl brought a fallen woman to the clinic earlier. Is she still here? That’s my niece.” Zhan Lao Er introduced himself. The wontons in the bamboo tube in his hand were steaming and emitting a rich aroma.
In the inner room, Zhan Feiyu saw Zhan Lao Er enter and quickly went to greet him. “Second Uncle, why are you here?”
“I went to Wenxing Bookstore to find you. The shopkeeper said you were here. Are you hungry? Second Uncle bought you wontons.” Zhan Lao Er glanced at the old woman on the bed who was groaning uncomfortably and placed the bamboo tube in his hand on the table. “Xiao Yu, go and borrow two sets of bowls and chopsticks.”
“Okay.” Zhan Feiyu took a step and headed outside.
Zhan Lao Er glanced at the entrance. After he couldn’t see Zhan Feiyu, he immediately took out the paper packet from his chest, poured the medicinal powder inside into one of the bamboo tubes, and then picked it up and shook it.
A moment later, Zhan Feiyu returned with bowls and chopsticks. Zhan Lao Er poured the wontons from the bamboo tube on his right into a bowl. “Xiao Yu, eat it quickly while it’s hot.”
“I’ll wait for Second Uncle,” Zhan Feiyu replied obediently, sitting down on a chair. After Zhan Lao Er poured his portion into a bowl, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Zhan Lao Er glanced at her subtly, a sinister smile curling his lips. Then he also began to eat heartily. The wontons were a bit mushy and didn’t taste as good as when freshly cooked at the stall.
After drinking the medicine, the old woman, whose mind was still somewhat hazy, heard the voices and smelled the food. She slowly woke up. Through her blurry vision, she saw Zhan Feiyu sitting at the table.
Thinking of her son, who was paralyzed and had no money for treatment, and her daughter, who was ill with a high fever from exhaustion, the old woman slowly reached for the dagger hidden in her chest. She hadn’t had time to take out the dagger on the street before she fainted.
Staggering forward, the old woman suddenly raised the dagger in her hand and stabbed it fiercely at Zhan Feiyu, who was standing with her back to her.
Blood splattered out. Her previously blurry eyes turned blood red. The old woman whispered hoarsely, “Don’t blame me. I’ll repay you in the next life as a cow or a horse.”
The young medicine boy, who had finished eating his noodles, came to clear the bowls and chopsticks. As he reached the doorway, he cried out, “Murder!”
The old woman, blinded by rage, her legs went weak, and she collapsed on the ground. Tears of guilt, unease, and pain rolled down her eyes, moistening her wrinkled, aged face.
“What a sin!” the old woman rasped. She then plunged the blood-stained dagger fiercely into her own chest, a life for a life!
Hurried footsteps approached. The old doctor, along with a young woman and her husband who were being treated for burns, also came over.
Seeing Zhan Lao Er slumped over the table with blood all over his back, and then the old woman on the ground with a dagger in her chest, the young woman screamed, “Murder, murder…”
Zhan Feiyu, running from the direction of the privy, stood stunned at the doorway. “Second Uncle?”
The young medicine boy’s face was pale, and his voice trembled. “Master, someone’s been murdered.”
“Xiao Zhu, come here quickly. The person isn’t dead yet!” The old doctor glanced at the old woman and knew there was no saving her. She had plunged the knife into her chest, leaving only the hilt exposed.
They thought Zhan Lao Er was certainly going to die, as his back was almost riddled with holes. But when the old doctor took his pulse, he felt a faint pulse. The man was still breathing.