Chapter 22: A Little Demonstration of Skill

Chen Xin understood. The position of shiye (師爺) is neither insignificant nor trivial. It’s a term for aides employed by some high-ranking officials or nobles, commonly known as aide. They specialize in planning and strategy. For example, ^[1]“Di Renjie” – also known as “Judge Dee”, was a legendary figure in ancient China known for his skills in solving crimes and delivering justice during the Tang Dynasty. … Continue readingDi Renjie always consulted his capable assistant, saying, “^[2]“Yuan Fang” is a fictional character known for being the trusted assistant to Di Renjie, helping him solve cases and manage administrative tasks in Chinese literature and folklore.
Yuan Fang, what do you think?” and Yuan Fang always handled things properly.

Therefore, the larger the position behind one’s master and the more favored by the master, the fewer people dare to offend. It’s like they say, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner.

“Miss Chen, we’re here,” Mrs. Lu reminded as they arrived at one of the courtyards Chen Xin had just seen.

The two osmanthus trees in the courtyard were unusually tall. Even though the osmanthus flowers had withered, the air was still filled with their fragrance. Chen Xin sniffed and found the scent refreshing. Even the walls were covered with common flowers and grass, but they had slowly turned yellow, no longer the vibrant green they once were.

“Miss Chen, please come in,” Mrs. Lu gestured.

“Mm.” Chen Xin nodded and entered the room. Immediately, a strong medicinal smell assaulted her nostrils, making her cough.

She furrowed her brows and asked, “Why isn’t the window open?”

Thinking that Chen Xin was displeased with the smell in the room, Mrs. Lu frowned slightly, somewhat dissatisfied, “I’m afraid of my father catching a cold, so I didn’t open the window.”

Mrs. Lu wondered if she had misjudged Chen Xin.

Hearing her tone, Chen Xin knew she had misunderstood. The rumors were indeed true. She smiled faintly without saying anything, walked to the window, and pushed open the carved wooden windows. Instantly, most of the medicinal smell in the room dissipated, and even Mrs. Lu felt that her breathing was much smoother.

“Is it much better now?” Chen Xin asked.

“It’s much better.”

“Of course, you, a healthy woman, found it uncomfortable as soon as you entered. Just imagine, what would it be like for your father to be cooped up in this room all year round?”

Hearing this, Mrs. Lu’s face suddenly turned red. Chen Xin had made it so clear; how could Mrs. Lu not understand? It was precisely because she understood the meaning behind Chen Xin’s words that she was shocked! No wonder her father always complained of feeling stifled.

She thought it was because he had no one to talk to, so she often came to chat with him. But her father’s illness had worsened day by day, and now the pain tormented him to the point of wanting to die. If it weren’t for coincidentally meeting Chen Xin, she wouldn’t have known how much her father was suffering.

Mrs. Lu felt that her father had raised her single-handedly, earned money by embroidery to send her to school for a few years, and her mother had been cruelly beaten to death and abandoned at the doorstep by some evil people.

Since then, life at home has become even more difficult. Unable to bear seeing her father working day and night, she gave up the imperial examination and returned home to study the books left by her grandmother. It has been more than thirty years now. Mrs. Lu felt that she might not be inferior to her grandmother.

She also had a secret in her heart; she hoped to avenge her mother during her lifetime. As for who the culprit was, Mrs. Lu had been investigating for decades and had some clues, but they were not people she could deal with.

So she had been waiting for an opportunity, and Mrs. Lu believed that the opportunity had come today, with Chen Xin.

If her father could really be cured, she could assist Chen Xin wholeheartedly, whether in business or accounting. But deep down, Mrs. Lu believed that someone with Chen Xin’s demeanor should not be subordinate to anyone and would not like being subordinate. So she believed that the opportunity would come.

However, Mrs. Lu didn’t know that, at least for now, Chen Xin had only asked her to handle the accounts.

Breathing in the fresh air in the room, Chen Xin walked to the bed and saw the old man who had become emaciated, lying there with a slightly painful expression on his yellowed face, and asked Mrs. Lu, “Tell me about your father’s condition.”

Mrs. Lu immediately began, “In recent years, my father has been suffering from severe abdominal pain. At first, we thought it was just a stomach ache, but later it would often flare up in the same place. Many doctors were consulted, but none could figure out what was wrong.”

She had thought about seeking medical help from the valley, but without money, who would see a small commoner like her?

“Ren’er?”

Suddenly, a weak voice came from the bed. Chen Xin and Mrs. Lu looked over, only to see Mrs. Lu’s father awake, looking at them with confusion.

Mrs. Lu quickly squatted down beside the bed and asked, “Dad, are you in pain again?”

“A little bit.” Not wanting his daughter to worry, Mrs. Lu’s father didn’t dare to tell the truth. In fact, he had been awakened by the pain of cramps, and now he was just gritting his teeth.

But Mrs. Lu’s father didn’t know that the wrinkled expression of pain on his face, along with his protruding cheekbones and yellowish complexion, looked fierce and unbearable.

Seeing this, Chen Xin swiftly passed her sleeve over him, and a plum blossom silver needle was placed under the pain relief point on his body. Immediately, the pain on his face eased, and Chen Xin gently felt his pulse, pressed his left and right abdomen while observing his expression. Chen Xin quickly came to a conclusion, as expected.

She said to Mrs. Lu, “Your father has appendicitis. Prepare me a bowl of wine and a basin of water immediately. I need to perform surgery.”

Mrs. Lu nodded hurriedly, and Chen Xin’s serious expression also infected her. She didn’t dare to ask more questions and immediately went out to prepare.