Chapter 72 Visiting the Sick

  Seeing a doctor

  On that day, a mule cart came to the Qingdao Port. The driver was a small man, and inside sat a young woman with a somewhat haggard face, leaning against the backboard of the cart. A child with a sallow complexion was curled up in her arms, occasionally letting out a hoarse cough that seemed to come from deep within his chest.

  After paying the city gate tax, the mule cart creaked and drove into the Qingdao city, asked the merchants in the roadside shops, and then rushed to Yu Chun Business Hall.

  "What? Looking for Mr. Yao Dong? He's usually at the Yao family village outside the city during the day and only returns to the Yao mansion in the city at night, he doesn't normally come to the store." The clerk from Chun Shang Hao replied patiently.

  "Let's find a large inn to stay in first, and then go to the Yao residence at night," the young woman decided.

  At this time, Yao Fan was training troops in Yaocun Village.

  "Chest out! Knees back straight! Legs must be straight! Butt forward and up!"

  Good! Hold on!

  Keep your neck straight! Don't look up at the sky with your face, keep your head upright! Tuck your chin in!

  Don't stare with your eyes wide open! Keep your eyes naturally wide open! Everyone look straight ahead! Don't glance sideways! No looking around is allowed!

  Retract your belly and lift up your Qi! Keep your shoulders back and open! Don't collapse your chest!

  Waist straightened up, chest will naturally stick out!

  "Alright! Hold still, let's stand for half an hour! Let me see who stands the most standard..."

  Yao Fang, despite the scorching heat, persisted in personally drilling his troops. After several days of his personal supervision, Yao Fang's rural militia had a completely new look. In the words of others, they were so spirited that even when walking, they seemed to bring a breeze with them; each and every one of them was like a dignified gentleman, not at all like a group of rustic villagers, but rather like a group of nobles.

  A bicycle appeared in the distance on the cement playground, suddenly speeding up and rushing over. Wang Gui was riding on it, enjoying the fun of riding on the cement ground. After stopping beside Yao Fang, he immediately whispered: "Boss, someone came to the store to ask about your news, similar to what you said, there's a woman with a sickly child, about six or seven years old, now staying at the Traveler's Inn."

  Yao Feng's eyes lit up: "Li Jun, you come and conduct the training below. According to today's training task, complete it flawlessly!"

  "Yes! Master."

  "Manatee, come back with me!"

  Yao Feng was slightly worried and felt that bringing Li Haoniu, who had some skills, would be safer.

  After returning to the city, Yao Fan went home and called his third sister, bringing medicine with him and getting on a horse-drawn carriage together. Li Haoniu drove the carriage, and the three of them arrived at the Traveller's Lucky Inn.

  After inquiring about the room, Yao Feng called San Jie to knock on the door.

  "Which one?"

  "Excuse me, are you the sister who brought her child to be treated?" San Jie asked excitedly and nervously outside the door, following Yao Feng's previous instructions. This was her first encounter with Ma Fei.

  The window by the door was immediately opened, and three sisters and Yao Feng and Li Haoniu behind her saw that the door creaked open.

  Yao Fang hadn't even entered the door when he loudly said with a smile: "Sister-in-law came from Tai'an to see me, why didn't she go directly to my mansion? Staying in an inn instead makes people think that I, Yao Fang, am someone who has forgotten his humble beginnings after becoming wealthy."

  Because Yao Fangyan is a famous figure in Qingdao, the boss of Bian Shang Traveler's Inn smiled and accompanied him, saying: "So this is Yao Dongjia's sister-in-law! Hey! Why didn't you say so earlier? If I had known, I would have definitely asked my colleagues to clean up the upstairs room!"

  Yao Feng chuckled and said, "My sister-in-law is so delicate, how can she trouble Old Man Jiang? I'll take her home right away and have someone come to pay the rent."

  Mr. Chiang complained, "Is Mr. Yao scolding me? He hasn't even stayed for half a day and is asking for room fees. If there's anything that wasn't taken care of properly, please don't blame me."

  "Boss Jiang, why don't you go back to your counter? My family hasn't seen each other for a long time, so we naturally have a lot to talk about. It's not very convenient, haha."

  "Yes, yes, yes. Alas, I'm getting old and muddled too," said Mr. Chiang as he turned around and walked away.

  Yao Fang strode into the room, smiling and cupping his hands: "Elder sister-in-law, all is well?" Behind him, Li Haoniu and San Jie stood guard at the door, watching the movements inside and outside the house.

  As soon as Yao Fengcai stepped into the house, he saw the young woman kneel down in front of him with a thud, her hands stuck to the cold brick floor, and sobbed: "I am Bai Xi, wife of Bai Xiaoqi, begging Master Yao to save my son Bai Kang's life! As long as my son can live, I, Bai Shi, am willing to die to repay Master Yao's great kindness! In this life and the next ten lives, I will be a cow or a horse for Master Yao!"

  The little one beside her also knelt down in a hurry, knocking his head on the ground and said: "Please, Master Yao, save my young master! Please, Master Yao, have mercy!..."

  Yao Feng hastily stepped forward to help the two up, saying: "Elder sister's actions have made Yao Feng anxious. Saving people and treating illnesses are good deeds that embody the kindness of heaven and earth. Regardless of who it is, there is no reason not to save someone in distress. As for our past encounters on the road, they were just business transactions between you and me, so why must elder sister take them to heart?"

  Bai Xiaoqi was helped up by Yao Fang and stood there crying: "Master Yao's words are truly kind and compassionate, I Bai Xiaoqi am ashamed in my heart. Previously, I was blind and robbed Master Yao of his silver. Now the silver has all been taken to buy grain to relieve the villagers' suffering. I originally had no face to come see you empty-handed, today I'm thickening my skin to beg Master Yao, it's truly a hundred kinds of shame in my heart."

  As he spoke, Bai Xiaoqi suddenly pulled out a small knife from somewhere and placed it between his little finger and ring finger, saying: "Master Yao, people in the jianghu can give up their lives to repay a debt of gratitude, let alone a finger. What do you think?"

  She was just about to cut off her little finger!

  Yao Feng hastily stepped forward and grabbed the small knife, taking it away. In an instant, his own palm was also cut open, and blood flowed out immediately.

  Bai Xiaoqi was stunned.

  The third sister rushed in and complained urgently: "You're really stupid, my big brother came to help your child see a doctor, how did you cut my big brother's hand?"

  Li Haoniu pushed open the door and came in, saying: "You woman, if you have something to say, just say it, why provoke my master! My master is a hero of the world, how dare you suspect him! Since Master wants to save your son, he will naturally save him! If you continue to provoke him, aren't you going to harm my master's life!"

  Bai Xiaoqi saw that Yao Fan was injured and was so frightened that she became stupid. She wanted to tear her clothes to bandage Yao Fan's wound, and also wanted to kneel down to apologize. Yao Fan quickly asked Li Haoniu to hold her up and comforted her in a warm and gentle voice:

  "Sister-in-law, don't be rash. I know you're a passionate person who can die for those you care about. But I'm risking my life to save your son, not to harm you. If you think that way, then you've underestimated me, Yao Feng, and the heroes of this world!"

  Bai Xiaoqi heard this, tears gushing out like a spring, and with one push, he opened Li Haichao, and with a thud, he knelt down and kowtowed, saying: "Mr. Yao is truly a hero! He took on the burden of saving me, a Jianghu bandit's child, from a sea of blood! Today, after hearing Mr. Yao's words, I, Bai Xiaoqi, am willing to dig out my heart and liver for Mr. Yao to see! From now on, the White Horse Society's thousands of members will listen to Mr. Yao's arrangements regarding their lives and property!"

  Yao Feng hastily helped her up and said, "Elder sister is a heroine among women, famous throughout the land, your name is not in vain. I am willing to be close friends with elder sister from now on! I hope that from now on, elder sister will no longer have any suspicions."

  After that, Yao Fan asked about the condition of Bai Xiaogui's son, Bai Kang, in a pretentious manner. He wasn't a doctor after all, but he had the advantage of being aware beforehand, so his questions were all related to tuberculosis and they all hit the nail on the head!

  Then he took out the medicine from San Jie's bundle and explained the usage and dosage to Bai Xiaoqi one by one after opening it.

  Bai Xiaoqi looked at these medicines with strange shapes and colors, which he had never seen before. Each glass bottle and capsule was exquisitely crafted, and there were even some strange words on the labels. He felt grateful in his heart, knowing that this must be the best medicine. He carefully put away the medicine and Yao Feng's prescription.

  Yao Fandao: "These medicines were made by my family's pharmaceutical factory in the West, they are special medicines for treating tuberculosis. They can't be bought outside. Last time I heard you mention it, I guessed that your son had tuberculosis. Because I haven't seen the child, I couldn't make a diagnosis, so I didn't dare to take it on myself."

  Your son's illness, in Western terms, is called pulmonary tuberculosis, caused by the invasion of pathogens into the lungs. It will take a year to fully recover with proper care and nursing. I advise you to stay at my family home in Yaogezhuang outside Qingdao and take good care of your son. On ordinary days, I can also visit the patient frequently and arrange for timely treatment. However, the conditions at Yaogezhuang are simple, and I'm afraid you might not be used to it.

  Bai Xiaoqi was overjoyed when he heard that Yao Fang was skilled in medicine and willing to often treat children's illnesses, saying: "I've been searching everywhere and couldn't find anyone, I don't mind the humble surroundings, Mr. Yao is willing to take my son as a patient, Xiaoqi is already extremely grateful, even if we have to live in the wilderness, as long as he can be cured."

  Yao Fan then instructed Bai Xiaoqi to disguise herself as a distant elder sister from Tai'an, where she had registered her household. Bai Xiaoqi agreed to do so.

  Yao Feng ordered Li Haoniu to take the three of them to Yaojiazhuang, find a wooden house to settle in, and send over all the necessary household items.

  Having arranged for Bai Xiaoqi and the other two, Yao Feng's mind was preoccupied. Now that the goods at the store had been mostly sold out, and he had also promised to help Ding Baozhen procure machinery, it seemed that he couldn't stay for long.

  The next day, Hengli Qianzhuang sent a message saying that the gold had arrived and was ready in the store. Yao Feng brought his partners to pick up the gold and delivered it directly to Yaojiazhuang. That night, Yao Feng made a blood sacrifice and crossed over, bringing the gold back to the warehouse rented in 2011.