News that Mrs. Bai brought a fish into the Chen family's home spread like wildfire, and the entire street where Chen Jiusi lived was buzzing with gossip.
One must understand Mrs. Bai's status in Xiantao Village; it was lofty, revered by the common folk, not only because of Doctor Bai who could cure illnesses but also because of the influential Fishery Manager, Wu Zhong.
With such status, not just in Xiantao Village but even across the whole of Xiantao Town, who would dare to disrespect the Bai family?
Even Yu Biao from Yu's Treasure House had to be polite to the Bai family.
At the very least, he had to appear polite on the surface.
And now, Mrs. Bai had visited a notorious gambler, which made the village's gossips immediately start speculating.
"Hey, did I see that right? It was Mrs. Bai, right? What was she doing at Chen Jiusi's home?"
"Yes, could someone in Chen Jiusi's family be sick?"
"Nonsense, even if someone were sick, they would call for Doctor Bai, not Mrs. Bai; she isn't even a doctor."
"Exactly, and don't forget, Doctor Bai and Chen Yongwang are enemies; how come their families are visiting each other now?"
"Yes, it's really strange."
As everyone was buzzing with various theories, someone said,
"I know what happened!"
Everyone looked at him, and he continued, "Yesterday, I saw Chen Jiusi carrying Doctor Bai back to his house. It seemed that Doctor Bai had sprained his ankle while gathering herbs in the mountains and ran into Chen Jiusi…"
Hearing this, everyone else looked envious.
Chen Jiusi's luck was just too good.
Saving Doctor Bai meant owing a favor to the Bai family; if they treated him differently because of it, his status in Xiantao Village would skyrocket.
Such incredible luck!
Why wasn't it them who had saved Doctor Bai!
How wonderful it would have been if such good fortune had befallen them.
Suddenly, countless people started to envy Chen Jie, seeking a good relationship with the Bai family—an aspiration shared by many. Not to mention Doctor Bai's son-in-law, Wu Zhong.
He was the Fishery Manager, practically an emperor on the Mianshui River; the common people needed his permission to fish in the river, and they had to pay taxes to him.
And the fishery was a place everyone in Xiantao Town wanted to enter. Not only was the work easy, but the perks were substantial as well. Most importantly, if one performed well, there was even a chance to join the Fishing Guild.
Joining the Fishing Guild meant truly turning into someone important.
Thus, numerous common folks tried using connections and owed favors to enter the fishery, though few succeeded.
Neighbours looked on with envy, turning green as they felt that Chen Jiusi was incredibly lucky, having all the good fortune land on his head.
Others felt so envious that they stomped their feet in frustration, like Chen Sanliu, who found it unbearable to see Chen Jiusi faring better than him!
…
In the countryside, when something worth talking about happened, it spread rapidly and attracted even more onlookers.
At that moment, as the door opened, Mrs. Bai was sent off, and Chen Jie, with Su Yunjin by his side, said at the doorway, "Aunt Bai, I'll come over after lunch."
Mrs. Bai replied, "Hmm, no rush, there's nothing much going on today; you can come tomorrow as well."
Chen Jie responded, "Aunt Xie is so caring, but I'm free this afternoon anyway. I'll come over and see if there's anything I can help with."
Mrs. Bai, very pleased with Chen Jie's attitude, said, "Alright then, we'll leave it at that. I'll be on my way now."
After she finished speaking, she left, watching Aunt Bai walk away. Chen Erba then came over with Xiao Hu.
"Uncle Erba."
Chen Jie greeted him, and Chen Erba looked at him and said, "Jiu Si, what did Aunt Bai want? She didn't give you any trouble, did she?"
Seeing Uncle Erba's worried look, Chen Jie smiled and said, "Hehe, uncle, don't worry, it's good news. Yesterday, I met Doctor Bai on the mountain... It happens that Doctor Bai needed an apprentice and found me..."
Chen Jie explained the situation.
"What, Doctor Bai wants to take you as an apprentice!"
Chen Erba's face bloomed with joy and he laughed, "Haha, good, good news indeed, being favored by Doctor Bai, and learning skills from him means that in the future, you can be respected like your uncle. Good, good, this also doesn't let your uncle's hopes down!"
"Haha, Jiu Si, congratulations."
Xiao Hu also grinned and said, and Chen Jie, hearing this, smiled and said, "Uncle Erba, we're stewing fish at home this noon. Call auntie and come over to eat, and we can celebrate a bit too."
"This…"
Uncle Erba hesitated, times were tough for every household these days.
In later ages, inviting someone home for a meal wasn't a big deal, but in this era, it was a significant favor!
Uncle Erba hesitated for a moment but finally nodded and said, "Alright, at noon, I'll definitely come."
Chen Jie smiled and nodded, then turned around and returned to the courtyard.
Chen Erba also walked back, leaving behind a bunch of onlookers, one of whom nudged Chen Sanliu and said, "Hey, San Liu, you're both uncles, how come he invites Erba to eat and not you?"
At that moment, Chen Sanliu's face turned livid, and with a dark expression, he said, "Who wants his meal, the ungrateful wretch."
"Hey, San Liu, you're being petty. Just because he didn't invite you to eat doesn't mean you should curse him."
"Hmph, did I curse wrongly? That Doctor Bai has a grudge against my uncle, and now taking Chen Jiu Si as an apprentice is clearly to humiliate my uncle. And he just agreed without considering my uncle's feelings. I always say, those outsiders, you can't rely on them… Sigh~"
Chen Sanliu sighed, walked home with his hands behind his back, looking quite resigned.
The people behind watched Chen Sanliu's demeanor and immediately spat in disgust. Chen Sanliu really was despicable. When he wanted to get his son into the fishery, he spent money on gifts for the Bai family; his grin was as wide as a lotus, calling Doctor Bai 'uncle' in a sycophantic way. Back then, he had forgotten about his uncle's dignity.
Talking such talk now, spit, what integrity.
At noon, Chen Jie stewed a big carp, a seven or eight pound carp, which was six or seven pounds even after the removal of internal organs, including edible parts like the swim bladder, the liver, and the roe.
He stewed a large pot of it and also steamed a pot of sorghum rice. At meal time, Chen Erba arrived, bringing along Chen Xiaohu and Aunt Erba.
But Chen Erba didn't come for free. He was carrying a jar of yellow wine, which judging by the earthy smell, seemed to have just been dug out from the ground. Uncle Erba said it was buried when Xiao Hu was born, a total of two jars.
Today, being a joyful occasion, he dug up one jar to drink. In terms of value, this jar of wine was far more valuable than the fish.
Chen Erba was not one to take advantage of others. The reason he brought his family to eat was also because he feared Chen Jie wouldn't accept the wine. This way, I bring my whole family to eat your fish, you drink my jar of wine, and no one can say anyone took advantage.
Chen Jie couldn't refuse and agreed to drink. During the meal, Chen Jie and Uncle Erba sat at the head of the table with Xiao Hu sitting quietly beside, while Su Yunjin and Aunt Erba were busy in the kitchen and refused to join the table.
Daisy, although eager, could only stand, but Chen Jie stood up and invited Aunt Erba and then Su Yunjin and Daisy to sit down. They were reluctant, but Chen Jie insisted firmly, so they had no choice but to sit.
During the feast, Chen Jie thanked them for the care Chen Erba's family had shown during his foolish days, especially their care for Yunjin.
Uncle Erba said, "Yunjin is a good girl, she has suffered a lot with you, you must treat her well…"
As he spoke, Su Yunjin's eyes were tearing up, and Aunt Erba quickly tried to smooth things over, while Xiao Hu and Daisy seemed to have met their match, wildly devouring the stewed carp.
Uncle Erba was indeed getting older, his tolerance for alcohol wasn't great, and he obviously got drunk towards the end, holding Chen Jie's hand and repeatedly enjoining him to learn medicine well from Doctor Bai and not let his uncle's skills die out.
Then he tearfully smiled and said, "Jiu Si, I'm truly happy you're learning well, truly!"