For the Spirit Beast Egg reward in March of Maple Tea (4.28)
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Storytellers from Yangcheng have been quite unhappy lately.
Just as the Linglong Plan masterminded by the Linglong People had started and was talked about for just a couple of days, at what should have been the height of its popularity, the audiences in the teahouses and taverns had dwindled by half.
This was because many outsiders had come to town, who, although they were not storytellers, were still taking their business.
These people were the Runan People, and they were at the very heart of the story they told about Miss Jun who, frail and ill, had set out with the old and disabled on a journey back to Runan.
What was even more unexpected was that Miss Jun had an even more sensational story in Runan.
In recent days, people from Runan and its vicinity had been coming to seek medical care.
Those who could traverse such distances to see a doctor must have substantial family wealth to ensure that the patient is comfortable on the road and not so fatigued or overworked that the illness worsens.
Moreover, those able to travel long distances must not be gravely ill and on the verge of death; otherwise, they would not have survived the journey to Yangcheng.
So, knowing that Miss Jun was not in Yangcheng, although Fang Chengyu provided food and lodging, many still left, including those who were not short of money and those who had the time to seek other renowned doctors instead of waiting here.
But there were some who stayed, either because they were too weak to continue and needed to rest, or because they had run out of money.
It was these remaining people, idle and with nothing to do, especially after realizing that the people of Yangcheng had no idea about Jiuling Hall's prowess, who were filled with righteous indignation and a bragging spirit. They would enthusiastically tell the citizens of Yangcheng all about the various deeds of Jiuling Hall outside the residence provided by the Fang Family or on the streets.
Miss Jun returned to her old home, and Master Yan pushed down walls.
Miss Jun stood her ground without retreating, reopening Jiuling Hall amid the ruins and rubble.
A promise worth its weight in gold, doing good deeds and building a reputation.
A disabled person awaited death with his whole family, but with three doses of medicine and a couple of needles, Dali returned to health.
Old Madam Yan teaching her son, Jiuling Hall rebuilt.
Meeting an old acquaintance in the street, Miss Jun forcibly detained the man of fate.
"Stop, stop, this can't be told,"
the man who was speaking boldly exclaimed when he uttered the previous story, and was immediately rebuked and chided by his Runan fellows.
The man then realized his slip of the tongue and coughed with embarrassment.
"We won't talk about this," he said.
The people of Yangcheng who were listening intently with bright eyes and pricked ears immediately jeered.
"Talk, talk, tell us about that part," they clamored.
"There is no such part, no such part," the people from Runan promptly denied in unison, displaying an imposing stance that they would not be humbled by wealth nor corrupted by riches.
Miss Jun was theirs, a Runan People, and no matter what, the act of embracing and detaining a young man on the street was never something to be proud of; it was okay if they knew about their own children's mischief, but in front of outsiders, they still had to maintain their reputation.
"How much money did the Fang Family pay you to come here, distinguishing between what can and cannot be told? Did you not rehearse your story beforehand?"
Of course, amidst the commotion, there was no shortage of sarcasm and ridicule.
In fact, such doubts and mockery had been continuous from the time the Runan People seeking medical help had started arriving incrementally.
This was also inevitable because the idea of Miss Jun being a divine doctor came about too abruptly.
Every time there were questions and mockery, the Runan People would be incomprehensible and enraged, and disputes and arguments would ensue between the two sides.
But as the Runan People learned about the various incidents related to the Fang Family from the mouths of Yangcheng, they also became calmer.
"Actually, it's not strange that you think this way,"
one of the Runan People said, stopping his companions from arguing further and speaking with a gentle demeanor to those who looked scornful on the other side.
"When Miss Jun first arrived in Runan with Young Master Fang, no one believed she would really open a medical hall," he said. "No one thought she would be able to stand her ground in Runan, which is why Hu Gui dared to sell the house and why Master Yan dared to push it down. Because she was a lone girl, young in age, orphaned, and with no clan relatives, believing she had the ability to confront and defy humiliation was hard—it was the so-called judging by appearance."
His words gradually quieted down the laughing and noisy crowd.
"Aren't your speculations about the Fang Family similar?" he continued.
"Because they're merchants, the lowest in the hierarchy of scholar, farmer, craftsman, and merchant. Even with wealth, it's just that—wealth. How could they possibly possess an imperial decree and have so many officials bowing and obeying their orders?"
"But what exactly are you questioning?"
"Is the imperial decree not real? You all saw it, and the officials confirmed it—it's real."
"Just like back in Runan, when Miss Jun announced atop the collapsed house that Jiuling Hall was reopening, offering free consultations, free medicine, and promising miraculous cures, we didn't believe it either."
"She healed one person, then two, and we all thought she was just using the Fang Family's money to buy famous doctors' prescriptions."
"But she healed three people, four people, everyone she could heal, she healed, and everyone saw it. There were no tricks or evasions, it was all done by her alone."
"It's precisely because we saw it with our own eyes that we believed in her."
"The reason you don't believe is because you haven't seen with your own eyes the things she did in Runan. If you don't believe what we say, why not go to Runan and ask around?"
"Runan isn't far, and there are quite a few merchants coming and going, or you could also go and see for yourselves."
"Of course, the events are in the past now, and you still wouldn't believe it just by hearing it from others, but you've also seen it with your own eyes, haven't you?"
"Isn't the Fang Family's young master a living example?"
"When we saw Young Master Fang in Runan, we just thought he was lame, and it never occurred to us that he was actually a paralytic on the verge of death."
"But you know it, you saw him grow up. You know what Young Master Fang was like in the past better than anyone, and now what he looks like you've all seen with your own eyes."
"So what are you actually questioning? Just because you feel she couldn't do it, that means if she did, it's fake, it's a deception?"
"To believe something, must you find a reason of your own to be convinced? Is what you don't believe just false, just nonexistent?"
"But there really are many inconceivable things in this world that do exist."
"You shouldn't mock or question something just because you don't believe."
The street fell silent, those who had jeered and mocked now flushed and evasive in their demeanour.
Standing in the distance, Fang Chengyu smiled.
"Chengyu, did this person spend a lot of money?" Fang Yuxiu asked quietly from the side.
"Second sister." Fang Chengyu looked at her and said with a sense of grievance, "These people really aren't ones I've paid to come here, they're all here for Jiuling's achievements, everyone truly came for her."
Fang Yuxiu pressed her lips together and smiled.
"Yes, I know. Jiuling is amazing, Jiuling is omnipotent, she commands a crowd at her call," she said.
Fang Chengyu smiled again, his eyes brimming with pride.
"Indeed," he said.
Fang Yuxiu reached out and poked his forehead.
"Someone as impressive as her wouldn't need to call, that calling always seems to be your doing, right?" she said.
Fang Chengyu chuckled, neither admitting nor denying.
"They always question whether we're lying," he said, looking back at the crowd with a smile, "But they forget one thing, not everyone who wishes to deceive can do so, to deceive one must possess real skill. If Jiuling hadn't actually done these things, just relying on money, how could we have achieved such a response at a call?"
Fang Yuxiu also looked at the crowd and smiled.
Indeed, without real skill and real emotion, how could they be so deeply and genuinely devoted to her?
Trust is mutual.
As the siblings were talking, a burst of firecrackers suddenly erupted on the street.
What's happening?
The people on the street looked toward the noise, and some were already running towards the source.
"Hurry and see, someone has opened a new bodyguard business!"
A bodyguard business?
In Ze Prefecture there were many money businesses, and thus many bodyguard businesses too, but opening one was not easy. It required a renowned master and enough escorts to earn people's trust. It certainly wasn't something just anyone could do.
I wonder which famous martial master is starting his own business.
The crowd surged forward curiously, only to see in front of a slightly secluded and somewhat dilapidated storefront, smoke rising from the firecrackers. As the smoke cleared, a lean man was stepping on a ladder, hanging a signboard with one hand.
The signboard was somewhat old, just like the house; the characters on it had been freshly repainted.
Shanxi Yiyouxing Troop, the three characters shone brightly in the sunlight.
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Thanks to Tianyu/Tianyue for the reward of the Spirit Beast Egg.
Thanks to leelele for the reward of "Xian Pao Yuan".
Thanks to Yun Long Tian, Liao Gan Ji Mo, leelele, juanbaobu9, and beats for the reward of He's Bi.
What to say? Nothing much to say, then, let's continue~