Chapter 44
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Celeste S.] [Azurixa] [Robert K.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[K.Rom]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Camille] [Linds] [Esther D.]
The success of the surgery gave Second Owner so much encouragement that he decided to talk with Gu Jiao about her next treatment job.
Of course, because it was of great importance, some details that had nothing to do with the patient's condition had been left untold for the time being, for example, if they couldn’t cure the patient, they might be beheaded and so on...
Who knew before he could say the identity of the other party, Gu Jiao would reject him first.
"Why?" Second Owner had a shocked expression on his face.
Gu Jiao replied without taking time to think, "It's too far. I don't do house visits. Tell him to come to the Rejuvenation Hall himself if he wants me to cure his illness."
"I..." Second Owner was dumbfounded. Even the Imperial Physicians would come if invited to their mansion. How could the other party deign to come to a medical hall in a small town?
Second Owner laughed awkwardly, "Not far, not far. It’s in the Hot Spring Villa near Qingquan Town.
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow, "Still have to go out of town. Isn’t that what you call far?"
"..." Second Owner was speechless.
Second Owner often thought that Gu Jiao was so capable that she didn’t look like a mere village woman. However, at this moment, her disliking to go to the Hot Spring Villa, which was twenty li away, seemingly showed that her strength was indeed that of a village woman who had never been far away.
Second Owner looked at Gu Jiao, somewhat aggrieved, and then said, "We agreed that you will treat a patient once a month."
Gu Jiao replied, "That’s true, but it’s not treating patients at home."
Second Owner: “...”
…...
"If Gu girl doesn’t agree, then so be it. At least she saved several lives in our Rejuvenation Hall." Shopkeeper Wang breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that Gu Jiao refused.
Second Owner said helplessly, "What do you know? I already sent them my post..."
Shopkeeper Wang was so surprised that he jumped up in place, "Owner! What are you talking about?"
Second Owner coughed and said, "Isn't it because I believe she can cure Young Gentleman Xiao? So I... I sent a post with my name in advance."
The whole State of Zhao knew about the illness of the Marquis Ding’an Estate’s young master. Even if treating him could lead to grave consequences, a large sum of money attracted no less brave men. There were still many physicians queuing up to check the young master’s condition.
If he just sent the post now, by the time they were waiting in line, the young master might be dead already.
Shopkeeper Wang simply didn’t know what to say about Second Owner!
Gu Jiao knew nothing about the conversation between Second Owner and Shopkeeper Wang. She went to the lobby to buy medicinal herbs. In order not to let people see that the herbs she was buying were for treating leprosy, she added several other kinds of herbs, which coincidentally appeared to be the usual Jinchuang medicine powder[1] at home.
Feng Lin returned to the academy, while Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang returned to the village in Second Uncle Luo's oxcart.
Although the pain was already gone, Xiao Liulang’s right leg had yet to regain its strength, so he couldn't get rid of his crutch for the time being.
He walked back with Gu Jiao on his crutch and saw a carriage parked in front of their house from a distance. The emblem on the carriage was a bit familiar.
The carriage seemed to have also just arrived. The coachman lifted the curtain of the carriage and helped a middle-aged man of an impressive bearing alight.
"May I ask if this is Xiao Liulang's home?" The middle-aged man asked politely from outside the door.
"That’s me." Xiao Liulang said indifferently.
The middle-aged man turned around and saw Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao. He then said with a gentle smile, "I'm the steward of Tianxiang Academy. My surname is Liu. The Dean and my Lord asked me to deliver some things."
If the Gu Family was here, they would recognize him as the man who sent Gu Xiaoshun the admission documents.
He took out a letter from his bundle and handed it to Xiao Liulang, "This is from the Dean." Then he presented a brocade box to Gu Jiao, saying, "This is something my Lord wants to give to Young Gentleman Gu."
As soon as they heard that Gu Xiaoshun was also involved, they immediately guessed who the Lord in his mouth was.
Xiao Liulang took the letter and Gu Jiao took the brocade box.
Gu Jiao said, "Steward Liu, why don’t you come in and have a seat."
Steward Liu smilingly said, "No need to bother you, I still have something else to do. Well then, I'll take my leave first."
At this moment, grandaunt, who was inside, called Xiao Liulang over. Xiao Liulang walked into the house on his crutch.
Steward Liu took out a silk bag from his bosom and handed it to Gu Jiao, "This is a gift from my Lord."
"Why give it to me?" Gu Jiao asked.
Steward Liu only smiled without saying anything. He then turned around and got into the carriage.
Gu Jiao went to her room to check what that old man had sent. What he gave Gu Xiaoshun was a very exquisite-looking weasel hair writing brush, while she gave her a piece of suet warm jade which was fine and smooth to the touch.
With her cold constitution, wearing a warm jade on her body was practically like wearing a mini version of a hot pack.
Even if Gu Jiao wasn’t very knowledgeable about these things, she could nevertheless tell that it was a piece of precious jade, and its value was by no means below that of Gu Xiaoshun's writing brush.
Gu Jiao stroked her chin and murmured, "Well, I thought I had concealed it..."
As it turned out, that old grandpa knew it was her.
Gu Jiao was very satisfied with her New Year's gift. After that, she rushed to see what the Dean had sent to Xiao Liulang, only to see Xiao Liulang sitting in a chair with a dark face, eager to tear something to pieces.
"What's the matter?" Gu Jiao poked out her small head and asked.
Xiao Liulang wanted to destroy the evidence that shouldn't exist, but Gu Jiao came over and successfully snatched the document from his hand.
"What is this? It seems to have the official seal of the yamen." Gu Jiao pointed to a word on the document she had just learned and said, "Examination. Is there an exam?"
"... En, county exam."
That hateful Dean actually signed his name up for the county exam behind his back!
He never planned to take the county exam at all!!!
"You signed up for it?" Gu Jiao asked.
"The Dean did it." Xiao Liulang said through gritted teeth.
This made Gu Jiao surprised, "Did he sign up the whole class?"
"I don't think so." Xiao Liulang replied.
That’s right, Gu Xiaoshun didn't have it.
Xiao Liulang was a well-known bottom ranker of the class. From entering the academy up to the New Year holidays, there wasn’t a single exam where he had ever jumped out of the bottom three. With this kind of hopeless performance record, the Dean did not give up on him, and even personally signed up his name for the county exam. Such a teacher worthy of great admiration ah!
The image of the Dean in Gu Jiao's mind instantly became lofty!
"Husband, I think we should pay the Dean a visit and bring him some gifts!" Gu Jiao's eyes were sparkling. In her previous life, there was one time she thought of bribing her teacher, but first, no one would do the bribing for her, and second, her grades were so good that there was really no need to bribe anyone at all.
With her husband’s poor grades, shouldn’t she hasten to establish a good relationship with the Dean?
"No." Xiao Liulang refused. When he saw Gu Jiao looking at him in astonishment, he turned his head uncomfortably and said, "It's too far away."
"Where is it?" Gu Jiao asked.
Xiao Liulang pressed down his conscience that wanted to rebel and said honestly, "Near the Hot Spring Villa. It’s out of town."
For a second, Gu Jiao lost her memory about the matter back in the medical hall. She said, "Not far, not far! It's not far at all! You can just stay at home. Xiaoshun and I will go tomorrow!"
1. ↑ — Jinchuang medicine powder is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for external incised wounds.
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Also, please also have a look at our other translations!
Everyone But Me Is Reborn
Her father is a coward and senselessly filial. Her mother is weak and gullible. Her elder brother is a wastrel.
When she married into the Wangfu, she suffered and was coldly treated. And by the time she was in labour, she was fated to die with the unborn child in her belly.
This was supposed to be Ning Nuan's life.
However this time, everyone but her is reborn.
Ning Nuan is at a loss. She felt that her dad has suddenly become the pillar of the family, her mother’s temper became fierce, and even her elder brother, who would only walk the dogs and play with birds all day, has begun picking up books and reading them carefully.
There is also that juvenile that shows up at the wall of her courtyard everyday, calling her “Ah Nuan, Ah Nuan” with an honest face.