Chapter 3: A Brief Display of Skill

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  Unconsciously, it's already the middle of the month, and the prison cell is still as dim as ever.

  Shi Wei's dinner consisted of only two steamed buns and a dish of salted vegetables. Although it was difficult to swallow, he still forced himself to gulp them down to fill his stomach.

  Outside the prison cell, Chen Pi, the night watchman, was drinking wine and eating crab while humming a tune, feeling extremely pleased and delighted.

  Only half an hour later, the pleasant melody was suddenly replaced by a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

  The stone wisteria leaning against the railing with a slanted posture, a triumphant cold smile reappeared on its face.

  They have been waiting for this moment.

  In the midst of a chaotic footsteps, Chen Pi's pale and twisted face stumbled in, complaining to Shi Wei: "You little brat, it's all because of your cursed mouth, I... cough, cough..."

  Before he finished speaking, Chen Pi fell down outside the fence and started vomiting violently. After vomiting for a while, he actually vomited blood.

  "Master Chen, what's wrong with you?" Shi Wei feigned surprise.

  Chen Pi saw blood and was greatly frightened, hastily saying: "Quickly, quickly let me see the doctor, how could I suddenly vomit blood?"

  "Mr. Chen, don't be impatient, just stretch out your hand and let me take your pulse first?"

  Chen Pi stretched his hand over the railing, Shi Wei's fingers pressed against his pulse, and he closed his eyes to observe quietly.

  Actually, he had already counted his money, but in front of this prison guard, he still had to pretend a bit.

  When feeling the pulse, Chen Pi vomited several mouthfuls of blood again, and his spirit became even more dizzy and weak.

  "After feeling the pulse, Shi Wei asked: 'Mr. Chen, what did you eat just now?'"

  Chen Pi panted and said, "What else can there be? Just white crab, mutton, and red tomato."

  "White crab! You actually ate white crab!"

  Shi Wei Fangcai had long smelled the crab aroma in the air, but now he pretended not to know.

  "What's wrong with the white crab?" Chen Pi asked in a daze.

  Shi Wei sighed and said, "Crabs and persimmons are both cold in nature. Medical books say that eating persimmons with crabs will cause stomach pain and diarrhea, as both are cold. Master Chen, how could you be so careless?"

  Shi Wei's words were not meant to intimidate him, as he was well-versed in medicine and the "Ben Cao Gang Mu" had records of this symptom, so he was naturally very clear about it.

  Just now it was because he smelled the crab fragrance and caught a glimpse of the red persimmon in the basket that he deliberately let Chen Pi have that basket of fruit, so as to make Chen Pi suffer from gluttony and ask for his help.

  Chen Pi didn't know he had fallen into Shi Wei's trap earlier. After listening to his explanation, he couldn't help but feel even more terrified. He hastily grasped Shi Wei's hand and begged: "Shi Langzhong, you must save me, save me!"

  Seeing his behavior, Shi Wei secretly laughed in her heart and comforted him with a smile: "Don't worry, Master Chen. Your illness looks serious, but it can be cured with just one application of moxa cake. Please hurry up and let someone fetch the medicine."

  "Moh Xiang Bing Zi, Moh Xiang Bing Zi..."

  Chen Pi coughed up blood, muttering this prescription repeatedly in his mouth, and rolled out of the prison cell.

  "Idiot!"

  Watching the prison head hurry away, Shi Wei cursed in a low voice. If he hadn't been under his roof, such a selfish official like him, Shi Wei wouldn't have bothered to save him at all.

  Now that this Chen fellow has met with such a calamity, it can be said that he has been repaid for the evil words he previously spoke to himself, and Shi Wei's heart felt much more relieved.

  Life in prison is indeed hard to bear, especially for a death row inmate. However, after experiencing the two things that happened last night, Shi Wei's mood has become much calmer than before.

  After leaving Ba Jie Tian's place, there had been no news, Shi Wei thought that he was already a dead man, even if the bear gang leader came to his aid, it would likely take some time to get him out of this situation, now getting anxious wouldn't help, all he could do was wait patiently.

  After calming down, Shi Wei finally had the mind to carefully sort out the era he was in.

  Because he had been studying traditional Chinese medicine since childhood, and many of the ancient medical books were written in classical Chinese, this connection made him also roughly familiar with history. Adding to that the memories of "Ben Zun", he managed to untangle the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

  The current year is the fourth year of Kaibao in the Northern Song Dynasty, which is approximately 971 AD.

  At this time, it had been ten years since the founding emperor of Song, Taizu of Song, Chenqiao mutiny and ascended to the throne. In more than a decade, this powerful and wise ruler had successively eliminated several countries that remained from the Five Dynasties period, including Later Shu, Southern Ping, and Southern Han.

  Now only the Northern Han of Liu Chong in the Taihang Mountains remains, relying on the protection of the Liao State to barely survive. Several small countries in Jiangnan have already surrendered to the Song court. As for the Southern Tang where Shi Wei is located, although it claims to be the largest country in the south, after losing 14 states north of the Yangtze River, it has long since become a second-rate small country.

  With a snap of his fingers, Shi Wei calculated that the Southern Tang Dynasty wouldn't last much longer. However, this had little to do with him; as a commoner, he believed that having money to spend and having women were the greatest pleasures in life. Whether he was a subject of Li Yu or a citizen under Zhao Kuangyin made no difference to him.

  At present, what he needs to worry about most is how to keep his own life safe.

  At the time of his reverie, he unknowingly spent two days, and Shi Wei finally saw Chen Pi again.

  At this time, although the prison head's face was still slightly pale, it was a world of difference from the critically ill and dying state that night.

  "Shi Langzhong, this is the white cut chicken freshly out of the pot from Nan Shi Zui Xian Lou, hurry up and try some while it's hot."

  Chen Pi smiled and handed a large bowl of chicken from the gap in the fence, his attitude now was vastly different from before.

  "Master Chen, what's going on here..." Shi Wei's heart was as clear as a mirror, but his face pretended to be surprised and delighted.

  Chen Pi sighed and said, "Last time if it wasn't for Shi Langzhong saving you, my old life would have been gone. This little bit of money is considered as me thanking you for saving my life."

  Chen Pi's attitude became much more polite, this guy although being harsh, also knew how to repay kindness, which made Shi Wei's disgust towards him decrease a bit.

  "In that case, I won't be polite."

  Shi Wei was imprisoned for several days, every day was steamed buns and salted vegetables. Seeing meat, his appetite had been stirred up long ago. At this time, he ate the big bowl of poached chicken like a whirlwind, leaving no bones or residue behind.

  "Slow down and eat, don't rush." Chen Pi even poured a small cup of wine for Shi Wei, "Brother Shi, I see that your medical skills are indeed impressive. Can you really cure Old Ba's strange illness?"

  Chen Pi started calling "Shi Langzhong" as "Shi Brothers", and the relationship between them quickly became closer.

  Shi Wei sucked on the yellow wine, smacking his lips and said: "Ba brother's illness is nothing out of the ordinary, it's just that all the doctors in Dangcheng are mediocre, no one can cure him."

  If Shi Wei had spoken so boldly earlier, Chen Pi would have thought that this unknown young man's mind was starting to become abnormal, but after being slightly pointed out and saved by Shi Wei last night, Chen Pi couldn't help but look at the young man in front of him with new eyes.

  Although Chen Pi's official position was low, he was a smooth operator. He thought to himself that if this young man's medical skills were truly exceptional and could cure Ba Jitian, then he would be indebted to the surname Ba.

  Although this kid will be executed in a few days, if I treat him well in his last few days, it's also considered giving Ba Jitian a bit of face, why not do it.

  With a resolute mind, Chen Pi said with a smile: "Brother Shi, you are a doctor with a kind heart. I, Old Chen, admire you deeply. Don't worry, from now on, I'll be your umbrella, and I guarantee that you will live comfortably in this place."

  Just as Shi Wei had expected, his efforts in saving Chen's life last night had indeed yielded a return.

  Shi Wei smiled complacently in his heart, but on the surface he was humble and courteous, cupping one hand in the other and saying: "Master Chen is overpraising me, I'm ashamed to accept it, however, there is indeed something that I would like to ask a favor of Master Chen."

  "Whatever it is, just say it, no need to be polite with your own brother." Chen Pi said, patting his chest.

  Shi Wei pointed to his own buttocks and laughed: "Little one's buttocks are injured, Master Chen also knows. I was thinking, can Master Chen go to our Ping An Hall and bring me some golden wound ointment from my master's wife?"

  Chen Pi waved his hand and said, "I thought it was something big, brother, don't worry, I'll take care of this right away."

  Chen Pi promised to go get medicine for Shi Yue at the same time, and also immediately changed him to a cell with a bed, ordered his men to clean up the cell, and even removed the shackles that bound Shi Yue's feet.

  Apart from this, Chen Pi also ordered that in the following days, a small stove should be set up for Shi Wei to ensure he has meat and wine every meal, so that he can eat his fill, drink to his heart's content, and then depart comfortably.

  Chen Pi's actions were clearly unaware that Shi Wei had already reached a private agreement with Ba Ji Tian, thinking he would still be unable to escape death.

  Shi Wei didn't reveal even half a hint of what was going on and instead just enjoyed these special treatments.

  When Shi Wei was in prison eating and drinking well, waiting for Ba Jitian to persuade the bear gang leader to rescue himself, Ba Jitian did not fulfill his promise that night and did not go to find the bear gang leader that night.

  Bajitian's personality is indeed rough, but his thoughts also have a meticulous side.

  That night he left the prison, after calming down and thinking carefully, he felt that something was wrong.

  That Mr. Shi is actually a nobody, although he spoke a lot of nonsense in the prison, but he himself is an outsider after all, whether it's true or false, can't be discerned at all.

  What if that kid was just trying to deceive himself to help him escape, and deliberately fabricated nonsense?

  When the time came, he begged the gang leader to rescue him from prison. However, that kid took advantage of the situation and escaped from Dangtu County. Not only did his illness not get cured, but he also got accused of deceiving the gang leader. With the gang leader's violent temper, it would be normal for him to kill himself in a fit of rage.

  After some deliberation, Ba Jie Tian decided to put off going to ask for Master Xiong's help for the time being and first try out the prescription that Shi Wei had given him to see if it was effective or not before making further plans.

  Having made up his mind, Ba Jie Tian returned home and for several days afterwards, he had his men follow the prescription on Shi Wei's note to gather herbs.

  After taking it for five days, the pain that had been torturing me to death gradually weakened, and by the sixth day, all my symptoms had completely disappeared.

  "That Shi Langzhong is indeed capable!"

  That morning, Bajitian, who had not fallen ill for a night, was overjoyed and couldn't help but greatly praise Shiwei's medical skills.

  His wife, Mrs. Fan, also happily said: "You've been troubled by this illness for so long, it's finally better now, thank you to that Mr. Shi Langzhong."

  "Alright, I'll go see Master Xiong right away and tell him that Miss's illness can be cured. Please hurry up and rescue Shi Langzhong."

  Ba Jitian firmly believed that Shi Wei did not deceive him, put on his shirt, and was about to go out. As soon as he stood up, he was pulled back by Fan Shi.

  "You'd better not be impatient, I think we can't take this matter lightly." said Mrs. Fan with a frown.

  "What do you mean?"

  Fan approached him and whispered: "You know the temper of our Bear Gang leader. Last year, when Ruan Tangzhong submitted his annual dues, he was short by only ten taels of silver. When this was discovered, the gang leader cut off both his hands! I'm thinking that if Stone Langzhong can't cure Miss's illness, do you think the leader will let him off?"

  Fan's words made Ba Jie Tian feel a chill from the soles of his feet, which was exactly what he had been worried about earlier.

  "But Shi Langzhong said that my illness is only temporarily suppressed and must be treated with his family's traditional acupuncture to be completely cured. If not, it will relapse sooner or later. If I don't ask Xiong Bangzhu to rescue him, my life will be in danger sooner or later." Ba Jitian said helplessly.

  Fan's wife stroked her husband's solid chest and smiled: "Look at you now, your body is even more robust than before. Does it look like the disease hasn't been cured? In my opinion, that Stone kid's words about 'must use acupuncture to cure' are probably nonsense, trying to scare you."

  Bajitian touched his own body and felt strong as usual, without feeling any discomfort at all. Upon reflection, it seemed that his wife's words were quite reasonable.

  "Should I save him or not..."

  Bajietian muttered to himself, and at this time, he fell into a state of indecision.

  "Yan" is an author "Xie Wang Tang Yan" wrote a book, latest.

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