Chapter 86: Doctor Zhang 1/3

Most of the folks living outside the city haven’t heard about Magistrate Gou’s story, and they don’t feel much about Zhang Chuqian’s arrest. At most, they’re just happy that the price of fertilizer has dropped.

But it’s different for the folks living inside the city.

There are many literate people in the county town, and many of them are willing to tell stories. So basically, everyone has heard Magistrate Gou’s story.

Furthermore, even if they haven’t been oppressed by Zhang Chuqian’s people before, they fear the henchmen from all walks of life under Zhang Chuqian.

Magistrate Gou eradicated Zhang Chuqian, and they were all especially happy!

If anyone dares to speak ill of Magistrate Gou in front of them now, they’ll definitely get beaten up.

Magistrate Zhang has an accent that clearly marks him as an outsider. 

In front of him, people would only speak well of Magistrate Gou.

The old lady who serves noodles happily said, “This sir, we’re in luck to have encountered Magistrate Gou.”

Before coming to Chongcheng County, Magistrate Zhang thought that the people of Chongcheng County would complain about Magistrate Gou.

But the result… Everyone’s praising him?

Glancing at his chess friend, Magistrate Zhang asked again, “I heard Magistrate Gou is building a new dock?”

The people in the noodle shop started chattering, “Yes, our county is going to build a new dock!”

“I’ve always felt that the old dock was too small and crowded. It’s good to have a new dock!”

“The county magistrate is really considering us!”

…

Magistrate Zhang was puzzled. Wasn’t it said that Magistrate Gou was wasting resources and labor by conscripting a large group of laborers to build the dock? Why do these people not only show no resistance to this matter but also seem very happy about it?

After some thought, Magistrate Zhang came up with a possibility.

Most of the conscripted laborers were poor people from the countryside, completely different from the people in the county town who could afford to eat in noodle shops. So these people couldn’t empathize with the conscripted laborers.

Anyway, he had to go and see the situation at the dock himself.

With this in mind, Magistrate Zhang asked his chess friend, “Bohan, where did you learn about Magistrate Gou’s dock construction?”

Magistrate Zhang’s chess friend, also a good friend of Sun Junren, was surnamed Wang, with the courtesy name Bohan.

Wang Bohan was also a Juren (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and had once gone to the capital for the imperial examination after passing the Jinshi examination. However, he failed to pass the examination twice and gave up on further attempts. He spent his days playing chess and listening to music, living a leisurely life.

The Wang family had quite a few businesses in Hexing Prefecture, enough to support him.

He and Sun Juren were once schoolmates, and their relationship was good. Sun Juren had mentioned the affairs of Chongcheng County to him.

Although he knew that Sun Juren’s intention for him to speak ill of Magistrate Gou in front of Magistrate Zhang was not good… But Sun Juren was his good friend, and he had to mention it.

However, he didn’t intend to offend Magistrate Zhang for Sun Juren’s sake.

Wang Bohan said, “Sir, Sun Juren and I were schoolmates in Chongcheng County. He mentioned this matter in a letter to me, so I mentioned it to you. I don’t know the specific situation.”

“I see… Let’s go and take a look outside the city,” Magistrate Zhang said.

After finishing the noodles, Magistrate Zhang had the boatman who brought them here row the boat to the place outside the city where the dock was being built.

Chongcheng County had about a hundred thousand people, and this time, thousands of laborers were conscripted.

In addition to this, after some merchants in the city learned about the plan to build the dock, they bought the surrounding land to build shops and houses here.

This area has now gathered tens of thousands of people!

With so many people needing food, shelter, and various building materials to be transported… The dock here hasn’t been built yet, but there are already quite a few boats coming and going.

Magistrate Zhang and Wang Bohan arrived here and saw the bustling scene.

Seeing so many people working from afar, Magistrate Zhang frowned slightly—did Magistrate Gou really conscript so many laborers?

The small boat stopped by the riverbank, and as Magistrate Zhang got off the boat, a Yiguan (a county official) came up and asked, “Are you Doctor Zhang?”

Magistrate Zhang was stunned for a moment before saying, “I am a doctor. Is there a problem?”

Magistrate Zhang had been exiled to the northern region and worked alongside the common people every day. In the north, there was hardly anything available, and when the common people fell ill, they had nowhere to seek medical treatment and could only endure it… Out of pity, Magistrate Zhang began to study medicine.

He had already read some medical books and found a teacher. Coupled with the fact that there were many patients in the place of exile for him to practice on, he had developed quite a decent medical skill.

“No, but I guessed you’d be coming soon, so I’ve been waiting here,” the Yiguan said.

There were two medical clinics in their county town, and in the past few days, both of these clinics had people coming for free consultations.

But these days, the doctor from Huichun Hall is marrying off his daughter, so he didn’t come over, but yesterday someone from Huichun Hall came and told them that the doctor’s senior brother, surnamed Zhang, who lives in the provincial capital, knows about the free clinic and wants to help.

The senior brother of the doctor from Huichun Hall, surnamed Zhang, lives in the provincial capital. He should have arrived by now, since he came from there. This official is waiting here by the dock. It is said that Doctor Zhang has white hair and is around sixty years old… As soon as Magistrate Zhang appeared, he came over.

Magistrate Zhang knew that this official had mistaken him for someone else, but upon hearing that someone was looking for a doctor, he became somewhat worried and anxious to see the patient.

Moreover, this was actually an opportunity to inquire about the situation inside… Magistrate Zhang said, “Quickly take me to see the patient.”

“It’s over there.” The official immediately led Magistrate Zhang forward.

As Magistrate Zhang followed the official, he pondered over the patient’s condition. Most likely, accidents occurred during work here…

Thinking so, Magistrate Zhang saw the official standing in front of a grass shed with a sign saying “Huichun Hall Free Clinic” and said to Magistrate Zhang, “Doctor Zhang, your junior brother’s things are all here, feel free to use them.”

Magistrate Zhang looked inside the shed and saw some simple medicinal herbs, paper, and a pen for writing prescriptions. Basically, everything needed was there.

So… did this official mistake him for the doctor who came for the free clinic?

The doctor from Huichun Hall was quite considerate to actually come to the free clinic.

Just as he was thinking this, someone came in: “Doctor, Doctor, I sprained my waist just now; please take a look.”

Magistrate Zhang looked up and saw a tall and sturdy young man with a ruddy complexion entering from outside.

After working for half a month at the Jinliushu, digging mud no longer made his whole body ache.

But he still didn’t want to work… Hearing that people diagnosed by the doctor as unwell could go back to rest, Jin Liushu seized the opportunity and came over.

If the doctor asked him to rest, that would be best. If not, it didn’t matter; he would go back to work, anyway, stealing a moment of laziness when he could.

Upon hearing Jin Liushu’s words,Magistrate Zhang immediately said, “Lie down on the bed; I’ll examine you.”

Jin Liushu quickly complied and laid down on the bed.

Seeing this, Magistrate Zhang went up to Jinliushu and started examining his waist.

Wang Bohan and Magistrate Zhang’s attendants followed along. The attendants were fine, but Wang Bohan couldn’t help but speak up, “Zhang… Magistrate Zhang, you’ve been tired from the journey, should you rest a bit before attending to this laborer?”