Chapter 543
Chapter 543
The whole of Jingzhou celebrated recapturing Fancheng and obtaining Nanyang. Because of this, even Xiangyang City became busier.
An elegant noble strolled the streets with his servants. This man was Huang Chen, the younger sibling of the Huang Family.
“How boring!” The Huang Chen frowned. In the past few days, all the influential families in Jingzhou busied themselves trying to obtain or expand their share of the large cake that is Nanyang. The merchants also busied themselves with Nanyang. As a result, there were less entertainment in Xiangyang.
His brother who was supposed to accompany him also ended up having discussions for the sake of the Huang Family. Huang Chen who was bored to death ended up taking a few servants out for a stroll with him.
“Fresh fruits! Fresh fruits!” A stallkeeper shouted.
“Is the fruit sweet?” Huang Chen asked.
“It’s sweet! If it’s not sweet it’s free! How many fruits do you want?” The stallkeeper replied passionately.
“Is that so?” Huang Chen said as he picked up a fruit.
“Sir. These fruits have already been washed.” The stallkeeper said.
Hearing this, Huang Chen bit into the ripe fruit. He then nodded his head in satisfaction.
“Sir! Isn’t it sweet? How many do you want?” The stallkeeper saw that Huang Chen was pleased and hoped that Huang Chen could buy out his entire stock.
“The rest of you, take a fruit and taste it as well.” Huang Chen said to his subordinates.
“Yes!”
The stallkeeper felt regret at losing a few more fruits but he would still profit if Huang Chen bought more.
“Come. Help me pack several catties of this, this and this.” Huang Chen said as he pointed at the fruits.
“Yes!” The stallkeeper grinned from ear to ear. If he could sell all his fruits, he would be able to go home early. He quickly got to work and packed up all the fruits.
“Altogether it would be…”
“Let’s go!” Seeing the bag in his servants hands, Huang Chen nodded and started to leave before he even hear the price of the fruits.
“Sir!” The stallkeeper quickly blocked Huang Chen’s way. “What are you doing?”
“What’s wrong?” Huang Chen asked despite being perfectly aware of his misdeeds.
“Sir! You haven’t paid me!” The stallkeeper could only say it out loud since Huang Chen did not seem to respond.
“Didn’t you say it earlier? If it’s not sweet it’s free!”
“What do you mean?” The stallkeeper stared blankly. Before he could react, one of Huang Chen’s subordinate pushed him aside impatiently.
“Get lost!”
“This…!” The stallkeeper finally understood. These people bought an entire bag of fruits with no intentions of paying.
“Sir! You can’t do this!” The stallkeeper rushed towards Huang Chen in tears.
“How dare you block our Young Master’s way? You must want to die!” Huang Chen’s servant immediately pushed the stallkeeper aside again.
“Sir! This is just a small business! Please don’t do this!”
“Do you not know who our Young Master is? If you continue to stand in our Young Master’s way, all of your fruits will be gone as well!” The servant said maliciously.
“Who are you that you cannot even pay me money?” The stallkeeper refused to let Huang Chen leave.
“This shameless bastard! Brothers! Beat him up!” The servant immediately called his other companions to beat up the stallkeeper.
“Who is this thug? How could he be so ruthless?” The other citizens also began to ask.
“Lower your voice. That’s the Huang Family’s second son! If he hears you, you are finished!”
“The Huang Family? Even if he is the Huang Family, he cannot act this way? Is there no law in this land?”
“Law? There is law when Lord Kuai Liang is around. But now that Lord Kuai Liang is not around, the government office won’t dare to do anything. Here, the Huang Family is the law!”
“Alright, alright. Don’t beat him up until he dies.” Huang Chen said to his servants. This is because he felt uncomfortable being watched and he did not want to visit the judges.
“Understood!” The servant nodded and then spat at the stallkeeper. “If it was not because the Young Master spared you, I would have already beaten you to death!” Incidentally, the stallkeeper’s stall was also overturned and his fruits were all over the place.
Huan Chen and his servants then left the area as the stallkeeper wailed.
“Oh right. Bian Nan. Do we still have that medicine?” Huang Chen asked his servant as he bit into another fruit.
“Medicine? Oh that medicine.” Bian Nan laughed evilly. The medicine they were talking about was aphrodisiac.
Huang Chen was famous in Xiangyang for committing all kinds of misdeeds. Him grabbing women were a common occurrence. If the woman would not follow him, he would first entice her with money. If that did not work, he would threaten the family. If that still failed, he would drug the woman with an aphrodisiac. The best aphrodisiac was the brothel’s expensive Zui Xian Yu. Each drop of it costs several gold. Even though Huang Chen was rich, he would rather not waste it on the common women so he bought common aphrodisiac from a pharmacy.
“Young Master. We do not have much of that medicine left. We could maybe use it one or two more times at most.” Bian Nan replied.
“Not much left?” Huang Chen frowned. What is he to do when it runs out?
“Do not worry, Young Master. This Bian Nan will procure a few more bottles for you at Cirentang!” Bian Nan said like a true henchman.
Cirentang was the most famous pharmacy in Jingzhou. Not only can you buy medicine there, they also have several doctors, including famous ones from Yangcheng. If a noble falls sick, they would summon doctors from Cirentang first. In the end, it is a business. Bian Nan and the others bought their aphrodisiac from one of the avaricious doctors from Cirentang.
“No need.” Huang Chen waved his hand.
“Young Master, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Today, I will follow you to Cirentang!” Huang Chen said magnanimously.
“Ooh! Looks like Cirentang would be blessed with your noble presence today!” Bian Nan flattered.
“Let’s go. Lead the way!”
“Yes, Young Master!” Bian Nan replied and quickly led Huang Chen to Cirentang.
Cirentang was the largest property in Xiangyang. It was equivalent to a hospital. They do not only treat the nobles but also the common citizens. As a result, it was crowded every day. Along with Cirentang were establishments like restaurants. This caused the entire street to be bustling with activity.
“Young Master. That building over there is Cirentang.” Bian Nan pointed.
Huang Chen nodded, noticing that Cirentang was bigger about the same size as the Huang Family’s residence. He did not want to think about the difference in the number of occupants at all.
“Let’s go.” As Huang Chen had never visited Cirentang, he looked around with interest as Bian Nan introduced the surrounding places. Huang Chen nodded to Bian Nan’s explanations, his boredom relieved.
Just as Huang Chen was about to enter Cirentang, he bumped into someone.
“Young Master! Be careful!” Bian Nan warned but he was too late. As Huang Chen grew up drinking, he wasn’t strong. He easily staggered and fell down.
“Are you blind?” Huang Chen shouted.
“I’m sorry!” A feminine voice replied. The woman who was carrying medicine apologized after realizing she had bumped into someone. However, she did not stop moving and continued moving towards the exit.
“If apologies were useful, why would we need the authorities? Bian Nan! Grab her!” Huang Chen shouted.
“Oh!” Bian Nan was slow to react to the command. Before he even moved, the woman was already on the streets.
“What are you still standing there for? Go after her!” Huang Chen shouted. He was bumped into so hard he felt like his bones were going to break.
“Yes!” Bian Nan finally acted and started to go after the woman. “Stop right there!”
Unfortunately, Bian Nan had started going after her too late. After chasing her through a few alleys, he lost sight of her.
“Brother Bian! She went that way!” One servant said to Bian Nan as he pointed to the backdoor of a home.
“Let’s chase her!” Another servant shouted but he was stopped by Bian Nan.
“Where is she?” Huang Chen shouted as he caught up with the group. His body was bruised and he was angry. Once he find that woman, he wants to make her unable to live or die.
“Young Master! She went through that courtyard!” One person replied.
“Then why have you not chased after her?”
“Young Master! Wait! We cannot go in there!” Bian Nan stopped Huang Chen.
“Why not?”
“We cannot offend them!” Bian Nan smiled bitterly in reply.
“You stupid dog! Other than the Liu, Cai and Kuai Familes, there are no one that I cannot offend!” Huang Chen said angrily.
“Young Master. This place belongs to the Cai Family.” Bian Nan warned. Before he served as Huang Chen’s servant, he managed to learn about who not to offend. He was certain that this residence had been bought by the Cai Family as a guest house for friends that visited Xiangyang.
“This place is for the Cai Family’s guests?” Huang Chen’s expression changed after hearing this. He may be the second son but he did not have Huang She’s confidence. After all, Huang She was the heir. He was just a member. He definitely could not afford to offend the Cai Family.
“That woman is the Cai Family’s guest?” Huang Chen asked again. He was still feeling unhappy for getting knocked over.
“Young Master. If it is the Cai Family’s guest, you can still go and argue with them!” Bian Nan said. As Huang Chen was the victim in this case, it was within reason to seek justice.
“But that woman…”
“Why are you stammering?” Huang Chen was already in a bad mood. Bian Nan’s stammering only worsened his mood.
“Young Master. If I am not wrong, that woman is Miss Xiao Cui!”
“Miss Xiao Cui?” Huang Chen did not recognize the name.
“Young Master, have you forgotten? Miss Xiao Cui is Lady Cai’s servant. You have seen her before when attending Liu Jingzhou’s birthday feast.” Bian Nan reminded. The reason Bian Nan noticed Xiao Cui was because he admired her and her relationship with Lady Cai. Xiao Cui may be a servant but she wore silk clothes. She can even speak to nobles. Bian Nan wanted to become such a servant.
“Lady Cai?” Huang Chen started to recall the person that stood behind Lady Cai.
“Of course, I may not have seen things clearly.” Bian Nan added.
“Forget it!” Huang Chen harrumphed, not wanting to enter the Cai Family’s courtyard. The uproar over taking the Huang Family’s funds had only just quieted down. He did not want to start another commotion.
“Let’s go to Cirentang. At the same time, I can get a checkup!” Huang Chen suggested. His body still ached.
The group then returned to Cirentang.
“Young Master, walk slowly.” Bian Nan supported Huang Chen into the Cirentang. He then shouted for a doctor. “Are there any doctors here?”
“Coming!” One man approached Bian Nan and Huang Chen. He then asked. “Are the two of you here to buy medicine or to see a doctor?”
“Are you blind? Can’t you see that our Young Master is injured? We want to see a doctor first and then buy medicine!”
“In that case, go over there and pay the money. Then take the wooden slip and line up.” The man replied with a polite smile. This was his job as part of the service industry.
“Line up?” Bian Nan looked at the long queue. There were chairs but how long were they supposed to wait?
“Quick! Tell your doctor to come and see my Young Master!” Bian Nan shouted again.
“Sir. I know you are anxious but so are the others. They are all patients.”
“That’s right!” The common citizens yelled at Bian Nan. All of them were here to get treated. Why should they let others go first?
“Do you know who is our Young Master? Can you take responsibility if something happens to our Young Master?” Bian Nan refused to back down.
“I…” The man attending to them was an apprentice doctor so he had some medical knowledge. “How about I take your pulse first?”
“Nonsense! What do you know? Tell your Cirentang’s Chen Quan! Tell Doctor Chen to come out!”
“Master Chen is busy.” The apprentice replied.
“Busy? Busy with what?”
“Master Chen is seeing a patient.” The apprentice replied. Chen Quan was one of the doctors at Cirentang. Doctors were supposed to treat everyone but Chen Quan was one of those that only treated the rich. This meant that his patient was a noble.
“Tell him to come out! Say that our Young Master is here!” Bian Nan said impatiently.
The apprentice was dumbfounded. How could tell Chen Quan this when Chen Quan had a high status even in Cirentang.
Fortunately, Chen Quan came out from one of the room. He was smiling at a few youths and an old man. The old man was the patient.
“Lord Wu, walk slowly.” Chen Quan said with a smile.
“Doctor Chen. My grandchildren is enough, you do not have to accompany me.” The old man waved at Chen Quan.
“It’s alright.” Chen Quan said politely as the old man was generous with his money. He had visited Cirentang several times and had paid a total of at least ten gold to Chen Quan. Chen Quan needed to take good care of such a good customer.
“Chen Quan!” Bian Nan shouted the moment he saw Chen Quan.
“Brother Bian? Did you come to take the medicine? You all can really do it!” Chen Quan greeted back cordially. Bian Nan was also one of his good customers but he still needed to send the old man off.
“Doctor Chen. If you have other patients, you do not need to see us off.” The old man’s grandson said.
“There is no hurry!” Chen Quan replied. Since Bian Nan is usually here just to take medicine, all Chen Quan needed to do was give the medicine.
“Chen Quan. Do not blame me for not telling you. Our Young Master is here!” Bian Nan felt indignant at being put aside so simply. His words became less polite.
“Your Young Master? Young Master Huang Chen is here?”
“Yes!”
“Lord Wu. It seems that I have work to do and cannot see Lord Wu off. Please forgive me.” Chen Quan immediately changed his attitude as the Huang Family had more influence than the Wu Family. The Wu Family was rich but in the end, they were just small nobles. On the other hand, the Huang Family would be able to make Chen Quan filthy rich.
“It’s alright. You are busy.” The Wu Family’s elder was a reasonable man.
“Where is your Young Master?” Chen Quan asked Bian Nan.
“Over there.” Bian Nan pointed at Huang Chen.
When the apprentice saw Chen Quan, he also greeted respectfully. “Master Chen Quan.”
Chen Quan nodded in reply. “Go. I will take care of things here.”
“Yes!” The apprentice nodded and left.
“Second Lord Huang.” Chen Quan cupped his fist and greeted.
“Doctor Chen.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Chen Quan asked. Although he was greedy, his ability was real. With a single glance, he could actually tell that Huang Chen was injured.
“Our Young Master was knocked down by someone. If you had not come out earlier, we would have already charged in to find you.” Bian Nan said in a bad mood.
“Quickly! Second Lord Huang, come in! I will diagnose you once you are inside.”
“Thank you for the trouble.” Huang Chen nodded and then followed Chen Quan into a room.
Huang Chen took off his clothes to show his wound. It was extremely painful. Contrary to his expectations, Chen Quan laughed.
“Old man Chen! You dare to laugh? My Young Master is so badly injured!” Ban Nian felt angry. As the accident happened at the entrance, Huang Chen fell onto a bad spot.
“No. I am laughing because even though the injury looked serious, it is just a bruise. The bruise is a good thing. It showed that the injury did not reach the bones.” Chen Quan explained.
“Did not reach the bones? Then quickly treat our Young Master!”
“Come. Bring my medical box and some peppermint.” Chen Quan said to his apprentice.
“Yes, Master.” The medicine were quickly delivered. Chen Quan wiped the peppermint on the affected area. It was cooling and helped remove the blood. After wiping off the blood, he opened up a silk cloth that contained acupuncture needles.
“Second Lord Huang. Endure a little.” Chen Quan said. Huang Chen was about to reply when he felt the needles pricking him. The needles were placed in the affected area and helped the blood circulate.
Although Huang Chen felt the stabbing pain from the needles, his wound did not feel as bad as before.
“Doctor Chen is brilliant!” Huang Chen praised generously. As everyone would fall sick, having good relations with a good doctor would only be beneficial.
“No. Second Lord’s injury is simply superficial. Once you go home, just use some peach kernels or something and it will be fine.” Chen Quan replied modestly.
The moment Huang Chen’s injury was mentioned, his expression turned black again.
“What’s wrong? Do you still feel unwell? Allow this doctor to take your pulse.” Chen Quan thought that Huang Chen was dissatisfied with something or had other problems. When he checked Huang Chen’s pulse, he could tell that Huang Chen was not particularly healthy. Huang Chen who was in his twenties was as fit as an old man in his fifties.
However, Chen Quan knew enough not to say it. Not only would it be useless advice, Chen Quan himself would be treated as a villain.
“It is not my body that is unwell but my emotions.” Huang Chen said coldly as he thought about Lady Cai’s servant Xiao Cui. He was full of anger.
“Right. Why did Xiao Cui come to Cirentang?” Huang Chen asked curiously. He was puzzled as to why Xiao Cui was such in a hurry.
“Who?” Chen Quan did not recognize the name at all.
“The servant that is usually by Lady Cai’s side.” Bian Nan replied.
“Lady Cai?” Chen Quan shook his head. “I do not know who that is. Doctor Zhang is in charge of treating the Cai Family.” Chen Quan said jealously. Chen Quan’s medical skills were around Zhang Zhong’s level though there were areas where he was slightly lacking and areas where he did better. However, Zhang Zhong was known as the best doctor because he had the patronage of the Cai Family.
Zhang Zhong then took this opportunity to visit the other influential officials. He was skilled and people start to know about him. His reputation surged. On top of that, working for the Cai Family meant that he was also rewarded well.
Although Chen Quan also treated nobles, these nobles weren’t as influential. The head of the Wu Family paid him ten gold. This generous amount was enough to make Chen Quan extremely happy. However, when Zhang Zhong was paid by the head of the Zhou Family, he was paid hundreds of gold.
How could Chen Quan not feel jealous? That is why Chen Quan now wanted to grab onto the Huang Family. If Huang Chen were to recommend him, his career would soar. Thinking this, he decided to answer all of Huang Chen’s questions to please him.
“Since you don’t know, forget it.” Huang Chen said in disappointment.
“If you are not too busy, I can find out what sickness Xiao Cui came here for.” Chen Quan said.
“Oh?” Huang Chen showed interest.
“You better not deceive our Young Master or your reputation will fall!” Bian Nan threatened. He did not have any deep relationship with Chen Quan. Their only relationship was the purchase of the aphrodisiac. This is mostly because other doctors considers selling aphrodisiac an outrageous act. Only Chen Quan was willing to sell it.
“Of course! I wouldn’t dare deceive your Young Master!” Chen Quan replied. He wanted to strike it big. Cirentan may be big but in the end he was still just a doctor. In that era, doctors were considered craftsmen. It was also a lowly post for lower class citizens. If Huang Chen wanted to go after Chen Quan, Chen Quan would not be able to escape.
“Meng Er. Go to the drug room and ask what medicine was given to the girl Xiao Cui.” Chen Quan said to his apprentice.
“Miss Xiao Cui?” The apprentice seem puzzled.
“Second Lord Huang. What did she look like today?”
Huang Chen and Bian Nan then described her appearance such as the color of her clothing, her hairstyle and any accessories she had worn. With this, there was enough information for Chen Quan’s apprentice to work with.
“Xiao Fengzi!” The apprentice Meng Er called out as he entered the drug room.
“Mengzi? Is there something you need? I am very busy here.”
“It is not me. My teacher has a question for you.”
“Teacher Chen?”
“Yes. Can you come over for a bit?”
“I can’t. I am extremely busy here. There are too many patients. I still need to give medicine to at least fifteen people.” Xiao Fengzi shook his head.
“Xiao Fengzi. Don’t you want to study under my teacher?” Mengzi enticed.
“Of course I do!” Xiao Fengzi nodded. Chen Quan had a high position at Cirentang. If he could become Chen Quan’s student, he could become a good doctor in the future. He would no longer need to just hand out medicine like a servant.
“Then come quickly!” Mengzi said.
“Alright. I am coming.” Xiao Fengzi followed Mengzi after asking the person beside him to help out with his tasks.
****
Chen Quan muttered to himself as he wrote the the names of the medicinal ingredients down. These were the ingredients used for Xiao Cui’s medicine.
“Doctor Chen Quan. What is this medicine?” Huang Chen could not understand. All the medicinal names flew over his head.
“Second Lord Huang. Most of these ingredients on its own is nothing. Put together they become what we doctors call the Thirteen Taibao.”
“Thirteen Taibao?”
“It is a medicine for women at least three months pregnant. It is for a calm pregnancy.”
“Pregnant women?” Was Xiao Cui pregnant? That cannot be. According to Chen Quan, the medicine was for women at least three months pregnant. If Xiao Cui was three months pregnant, she could not have been running around so wildly. It had to be for someone else.
“Second Lord Huang. The Thirteen Taibao is nothing special. The interesting part are the last few ingredients such as safflower, musk, peach kernel and others.”
“Are these not supposed to be part of the Thirteen Taibao?”
“Yes. What do these ingredients have in common?” Chen Quan could not help but ask.
“Peach kernels? Doesn’t it help blood circulation and remove blood stasis?”
“Yes. On its own, it helps blood circulate.
“Did someone in the Cai Family get bumped into as well?” Bian Nan asked impulsively only for Huang Chen to hit him in the head.
“It improves blood circulation but only when given to normal people.”
“Second Lord Huang. If a pregnant woman takes this, it would cause an abortion.” Chen Quan explained. The medicine would make the person’s veins relax. The unborn child will fall out and die.
One was medicine for calm pregnancy and the other was for abortion. Questions would appear if the same person were to buy this two medicine.
“Calm pregnancy and abortion?” Huang Chen was confused and gave up thinking.
“Meng Er! Go and bring the medicine to improve blood circulation for Second Lord Huang. Also bring some of that medicine over!” Chen Quan ordered. Since Huang Chen was only here for the aphrodisiac, they would leave after obtaining it.
Fortunately, Chen Quan was fully prepared. Huang Chen was famous in Xiangyang for grabbing women. He was no inferior to Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. While Cao Cao and the others send off the women after having their way with her, Huang Chen would defile them thoroughly. Cao Cao and the others would compensate the family with money. Huang Chen would not only give them nothing. He would let his underlings have fun with the women as well. In the end, the women would choose to die as they were too ashamed to stay alive.
Chen Quan knew his actions offended public morals but he did not care. All he cared about was his career.
Chen Quan only gave a small amount each time. It was only enough for a few uses. This was so that Huang Chen would keep coming back to him. It is only by making Huang Chen remember him that he could be selected for promotion.
“In that case, Doctor Chen Quan. We will leave first.” Huang Chen said politely while leaving behind a few gold. This was rare for a person as stingy as Huang Chen.
“Allow me to send you off.” Chen Quan smiled.
After escorting Huang Chen to the entrance, Chen Quan opened his mouth. “Second Lord Huang. I have a request that I hope you are able to grant.” Chen Quan finally asked, not willing to waste this chance. He truly envied Zhang Zhong. He believed that Zhang Zhong must have gained another huge profit from Xiao Cui’s visit.
“Doctor Chen Quan, what is it?” Huang Chen gave Chen Quan face. This is because Chen Quan treated his injury and he was also their source for aphrodisiac.
“I just hope Second Lord Huang would help me become famous.” Chen Quan replied.
In other words, it was to help advertise Chen Quan and make other nobles go to Chen Quan for treatment as well. Asking Huang Chen meant doing this under the Huang Family’s banner. As many still gave face to the Huang Family, they would look after Chen Quan as well.
“This… Doctor Chen Quan is already a brilliant doctor. Do you even need the Huang Family’s publicity?” Huang Chen laughed. He was not willing to help Chen Quan. Although Chen Quan had treated him and provided him with aphrodisiac, it was something Huang Chen had to pay for. Helping Chen Quan gain publicity would be a thankless task.
Chen Quan gritted his teeth. “Second Lord. Right now, I am someone with no reputation. However, with my skill in medicine, I am able to earn a hundred gold a year. If Second Lord is willing, I will offer you thirty percent of my earnings.”
“Thirty percent of a hundred gold?” Before this, Huang Chen wouldn’t even bat an eye. Thirty gold wasn’t enough. However, he now only had a few gold left. That being said, he was from an influential family so he gave Chen Quan a meaningful glance.
Seeing that Huang Chen was not moved, Chen Quan raised his offer to fifty percent. It did not work.
“Sixty percent! Second Lord, this is the highest I can go. I still need money to eat!”
“Alright! Chen Quan is such a brilliant doctor. It is my responsibility to make sure more people is treated by you!” Huang Chen nodded. With sixty percent, he would get sixty gold for every hundred gold earned by Chen Quan. On top of that, that money would increase the more business Chen Quan receives.
“Thank you Second Lord!” Chen Quan was overjoyed. He was now supported by the Huang Family and would never lack money.
“No need for thanks. I will have Bian Nan take my share of the earnings and medicine in the future.” Huang Chen said to Chen Quan.
He then left towards his home. As he was injured by Xiao Cui, he no longer had the interest to play around.
“Second Master.” The gatekeeper greeted when he saw Huang Chen return.
“Second Master. Where did you go? The Young Master is looking everywhere for you!” A housekeeper ran over and said to Huang Chen. “He is waiting for you in the main hall!”
“Brother? Alright. I will go right away.” Huang Chen nodded and then turned towards Bian Nan. “Bian Nan. Take these things to the courtyard. I will return soon.”
“Yes.”
Huang Chen moved towards the main hall and saw his brother. Before he even reached the main hall, he shouted. “Brother. I saw something interesting today! Lady Cai’s servant Xiao Cui bought medicine for pregnancy!”