The crowd on the streets surged in one direction.
"What's happened?"
"Doctor Feng's letting the doctor from Jiuling Hall treat the illness."
"The doctor from Jiuling Hall wronged Doctor Feng by saying he could cure it, so the patient beat up Doctor Feng."
As the questions and answers spread, more and more people followed in the street until they arrived in front of a residence.
The high-gated household, informed of the situation, put the doorman on alert to keep the following crowd out of the alley, but the people did not disperse; instead, they gathered in greater numbers outside the alley, discussing animatedly and pointing fingers.
Compared to the outside commotion, it was quite quiet within the household, although this tranquility carried a tension.
Several men glared at Doctor Feng.
"You old bugger, how dare you make a fuss?" the middle-aged man at the forefront said with resentment, "What's wrong with us smashing your shop? Look at what you've done to my wife; she can't even walk now."
Doctor Feng trembled with anger.
"A broken leg, and you expect to be up and running in such a short time? That's something only immortals could manage. You shouldn't be looking for a doctor; you should be searching for an immortal," he yelled.
He had practiced medicine in the capital for generations, and whether poor or humble, the people there were always earnest and kind. There had never been any bad words against a doctor, let alone the wicked act of smashing a store. It was all because of Miss Jun's meddling that these nonsenses had stirred everyone into impatience and suspicion.
"How long has it been, 'such a short time?'"
"Feng Siliu, if it weren't for your long-standing reputation, we would have smashed your shop a long time ago."
As it looked like an argument was about to start, Miss Jun stepped forward.
"Let's take a look at the patient first," she said.
"Miss Jun, you are also at fault," the middle-aged man said with displeasure, looking at Miss Jun, "To consult means you should examine; how can you say someone else could cure without even listening to the patient?"
"Yes," Miss Jun replied without arguing, her expression amiable, "Let me first see the patient."
The middle-aged man snorted and strode ahead, with Miss Jun following; Doctor Feng tagged along with a face full of rage.
The injured party was a middle-aged maidservant who lay in bed looking haggard. Although she had no other ailments, the torment of being unable to walk made her life feel worse than death. Upon seeing Doctor Feng, she grabbed a teacup from the bedside and hurled it at him.
"You've cursed me to this," she scolded.
If Doctor Feng wasn't intent on seeing how Miss Jun would cure this woman, he surely would have turned and left.
"Madam, you are mistaken," Miss Jun said amiably as she stepped over the shattered teacup, "Your leg injury wasn't caused by Doctor Feng's actions."
Doctor Feng sneered inwardly at her pretense.
"And as for you, if you could heal, why didn't you? Is it all about money?" the wife looked at her coldly, "Bring her money, one thousand taels, two thousand taels, give her however much she wants."
The maidservants on either side wore awkward expressions and lowered their heads, while the middle-aged man said nothing and merely sneered.
"This kind of bone injury tends to make people irritable. Being able to express anger is good; it shows that her spirit is strong." Miss Jun spoke, smiling as she approached, "Let me see the madam's leg."
The madam snorted, then suddenly began to cry; a maidservant hurriedly offered a handkerchief, and she wiped her tears, turning her head away.
The maidservant understood the signal and lifted the madam's skirt to reveal her calf.
The calf was bound in splints and wrapped in thick medicine paste.
"As for the injury at the time..." The maidservant began to explain the process of injury, but before she could finish, Miss Jun stepped back without looking anymore. It was over after just a glance? The maidservant stood stunned, her subsequent words trailing off.
"Help madam down for a walk so I can see," Miss Jun suggested.
"She can't walk at all," said the maidservant, glancing at Doctor Feng, "Doctor Feng has repeatedly warned us against walking."
Doctor Feng grunted.
"Why listen to me now?" he replied irritably.
"If she can't walk, standing will do," Miss Jun said, unfazed.
The middle-aged man coughed lightly, and the maidservants hurried to carefully help the lady to her feet. As she rose, she moaned continuously, and Miss Jun carefully observed her expressions and movements.
Perhaps unnoticed by the others, Doctor Feng was aware, and he knew she was conducting a visual examination.
She was a woman, and so was the patient. What need was there for visual consultation? Internal household women everywhere touted her abilities, claiming it was because she, being a woman, found it more convenient to observe, smell, inquire, and diagnose, especially since this was a matter of bone injury, where bone injuries required the touch of hands for examination and setting.
Although there were differences between men and women, when treating patients, he could not avoid physical contact, and as a woman, it would be more convenient for her. Yet, she didn't even stretch out a hand and simply stood there watching.
```
It must have been a deliberate display of mystifying behavior.
```
Doctor Feng sneered. He saw no difference between this and the antics of charlatans and monks, and turned his head away, no longer caring to watch.
```
Miss Jun watched as the lady's expression grew increasingly pained, clearly unable to walk any further, and stopped urging her. She asked her to lie back down.
```
"Miss Jun, how is it?" the maidservant, unable to restrain herself, asked again, "Won't you check if the bone wasn't set right?"
```
For a leg broken due to a fall and not deliberately inflicted by someone, was it possible that he, with half a lifetime of medical practice, couldn't set a bone? Doctor Feng glared furiously upon hearing this.
```
Living half a lifetime, yet because of a baffling statement from a young girl, he was questioned as if he were a greenhorn doctor—this was beyond his wildest dreams.
```
Miss Jun smiled and shook her head.
```
"Of course it was set correctly," she said. "Doctor Feng did an excellent job, and the leg injury healed very well."
```
What did she mean by that? Everyone present was taken aback.
```
"What I mean is Doctor Feng can treat this ailment, and he does it very well," Miss Jun continued. "No need for me to treat it."
```
Upon hearing this, the lady in the bed broke into tears.
```
Doctor Feng sneered too.
```
"You don't have to speak well of me, nor do you need to praise me. I'll tell you myself—I can't cure this leg injury," he said. "You cure it, go ahead and cure it."
```
Miss Jun pondered for a moment.
```
"Let's do this, may I trouble Doctor Feng to demonstrate once more how he set the bone? I'd like to see if it's the same as my technique," she said. "It will help me determine whether I should treat it or not."
```
Was she asking him to expose his secret technique?
```
Doctor Feng huffed.
```
"Very well," he said. "I shall make a fool of myself with my blade."
```
With that, he stepped forward as the maidservant lifted the lady's skirt again to reveal her calf. Doctor Feng's hand hovered above the splint and plaster-wrapped injury.
```
"First, we push..." he began to explain as he moved.
```
But Miss Jun interrupted him after only a few words.
```
"It's not clear this way. Better remove the splint and plaster and demonstrate on the leg itself," she suggested.
```
How troublesome. Doctor Feng sneered again but said nothing and indeed removed the splint, unwrapping the thick cloth soaked with ointment, revealing the blackened leg covered in the ointment.
```
"One probe, two push," he placed his hand on the lady's calf, making a slight, almost effortless motion.
```
This was the Feng Family's secret bone-setting technique, but he was not afraid of Miss Jun stealing it.
```
Such secrets could not be acquired by merely observing a few times.
```
Miss Jun watched intently and nodded.
```
"If I were doing it, I would do the same," she said, as she pointed to a spot on the calf, "Is the next step to massage this spot?"
```
With a stern face, Doctor Feng moved his hand to where she pointed.
```
"No, there's no need to massage here; instead, you press..." he said.
```
Miss Jun's hand also reached over, placed on top of his, seemingly curious, and suddenly pressed down.
```
"Is this how you press?" she asked.
```
The sudden pressure made the lady scream in pain, startling everyone in the room, including Doctor Feng.
```
"You..." he began, but before he could finish, he suddenly froze, his expression turning to utter disbelief, while sweat broke out profusely on his forehead.
```
What's going on?
```
Why is the bone still broken?
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