Chapter 21: Seeking Medical Advice, The Old Gu Family’s Suspicion

Gu Yi and her siblings were unaware that someone had been following them the entire time. They only felt a subtle chill on their backs, an uncomfortable sensation that lingered.

They arrived at the blacksmith’s shop.

Luo the Blacksmith, full of pride, said, “The iron pot is almost done. Come and pick it up in three days, and I’ll make sure you’re satisfied with it!”

The two of them were delighted. With the new iron pot, even the simplest ingredients could be made into a variety of dishes. For the Gu family of five, who had always enjoyed eating and shifted from luxury to simplicity, this was a huge.

They had caught plenty of fish, but there were also many fish and shrimp they couldn’t sell. Gu Yi was considering making other products, such as various seafood sauces, which would also require the pot.

She asked about the silver needles, and Luo the Blacksmith thought for a moment. “Although the amount of silver used isn’t much, these needles are harder to make than pots. I’ve never made such fine needles before. I’m afraid I don’t have the skill, but I’ll give it a try. When you come to pick up the pot, I’ll give you an answer.”

Luo was the best blacksmith in the county, so if he couldn’t do it, there was probably no one else who could.

“Alright, we’ll come back in three days,” Gu Yi said.

They also bought some grains and other supplies, and each of the five family members bought a new piece of clothing. The fabric was more comfortable than the last, though it was a bit more expensive. They had been hesitant at first, but after buying paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones, they realized the clothing wasn’t actually that expensive—the real money was spent on writing materials.

They packed up their goods and boarded the boat to head home.

They shared some snacks with their younger siblings, and Gu Yi lay down to rest for a while.

She fell into a deep sleep, the kind that only those who have worked hard all day can achieve—she was exhausted from the trip.

The boat rocked along, and her stomach felt uneasy, as her body still hadn’t fully adjusted. By the time they reached the county, her legs were sore, and she even felt nauseous from all the walking.

The same situation applied to Dalang, who lay there snoring. The moment before falling asleep, he had been thinking about how his older sister could walk so much. Every time they went to the county, it seemed like she had unlocked some hidden talent for walking long distances.

Soon, Gu Yi was woken up by her mother.

“Lazybones, wake up! Lin’s wife is here to see the doctor!”

Still half-asleep, Gu Yi stretched and asked her mother to fetch water so she could wash her face. Once she felt a little more awake, she stepped out of the room.

When Lin’s wife saw Gu Yi, she immediately stood up, smiling and greeting her, though there was a trace of awkwardness in her expression.

Gu Yi furrowed her brow. This woman seemed familiar.

“Little doctor Gu.”

Gu Yi studied her for a moment, and some memories flashed in her mind. This woman had often been by Lin Shi’s side, likely one of the people Lin Shi befriended when she visited here.

“I’d like the little doctor to check my health. I’ve had one child, but it’s been eight years and we haven’t had another. Is there something wrong with my body?”

Gu Yi hesitated for a moment, then looked at her mother and raised an eyebrow. “Mother, perhaps you’d prefer to wait outside?”

Wang Yulan glanced at her, an amused look in her eyes. “What harm would it do for Mother to stay?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Of course, there’s no problem.”

If she wanted to stay, then let her.

Gu Yi gestured for Lin’s wife to stretch out her hand, then carefully took her pulse while asking a few questions—discreet ones, like the frequency of intimate relations, how long they lasted, and when the last time was.

These intimate questions caused Lin’s wife’s face to flush as though she had drunk a barrel of bad wine.

Meanwhile, Wang Yulan had already quietly slipped away, her own face redder than Lin’s wife’s.

She couldn’t believe that her daughter would ask such personal and shameful questions. Where on earth had she learned to be so bold? As far as Wang Yulan knew, even the older physicians didn’t ask such detailed questions.

But perhaps it was because her daughter’s medical skills were still so rudimentary that she had to ask such detailed questions, to avoid misdiagnosis and trouble for herself.

Once Lin’s wife left, Wang Yulan planned to interrogate Gu Yi about what she truly knew about matters between men and women, and when she had learned about them.

Gu Yi, still unaware of her mother’s shock and growing list of questions, finished the consultation and gave her diagnosis.

“Lin’s wife has a cold constitution. Compared to others, it’s harder for her to conceive, but it’s not impossible. The reason she hasn’t become pregnant in eight years may be that the timing just hasn’t been right. You can also try to improve her health and regulate her constitution a little.”

Listening to the little doctor’s words, Lin’s wife felt confused, her emotions swinging up and down, until everything turned into a blur.

“What do you mean?”

So, all these eight years without pregnancy weren’t her fault, but rather the ‘timing’ hadn’t been right? Lin’s wife was stunned and unwilling to believe it. When would the right timing come?

What if there was no such thing as the right timing at all?

Her gaze toward Gu Yi shifted, and now she seemed suspicious. The little doctor had previously treated He Hu’s wife and saved the leg of a man from the Cao family. From the looks of it, she didn’t seem to be a quack. But was she truly good at treating women’s reproductive issues?

Lin’s wife’s eyes took on a strange look, which Gu Yi seemed to understand.

She chuckled lightly. “Has your husband been checked? Conceiving a child is a shared responsibility, so it might be better if you both come next time.”

Lin’s wife’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Are you suggesting it’s my husband’s problem? But he’s in perfect health!”

She had never heard of men being unable to father children.

Gu Yi propped up her chin. “I’m just speculating, much like you might suspect something is wrong with your body. We won’t know for sure until we examine both of you. It’s also possible that you two simply don’t have fate with children.”

Lin’s wife, still in shock, handed over the twenty-copper fee absentmindedly and left the little stone house.

Wang Yulan, seeing that the consultation had ended, escorted Lin’s wife out before heading into the room to find Gu Yi.

“Yi’er, where are you going?!”

Gu Yi, carrying a small basket, answered casually, “Mother, I will go to the mountain to gather some herbs!”

She wasn’t foolish. She knew her mother was probably looking for her to scold her again, so she decided to avoid it for now. She had enough time before it was time to prepare dinner.

She had just reached the door when her younger siblings rushed over. “I want to go too!” her younger brother called out.

“I want to pick some fruit!” Little Sister chimed in.

She had become like a little shadow, always following her mother and older sister to the seaside. Now that word of her medical skills had spread, most people in the village greeted their family warmly and respectfully.

Little Sister had also started talking more with strangers, her personality improving and her speech becoming more fluent.

This was an extra benefit brought by Gu Yi’s newfound medical skills.

“Everyone go! Everyone go!”

Dalang grabbed Little Sister with one hand and a reluctant Erlang with the other, trailing behind Gu Yi.

Gu Yi led the group of younger ones toward the direction opposite the sea.

——

On the other side.

Lin’s wife wandered home in a daze, only to find Lin Shi waiting for her in her courtyard.

“What… what are you doing here?”

Lin Shi, puzzled, responded, “What, you’ve been home doing chores or sticking by my side trying to please me. Where did you run off to just now?”

She had given Lin’s wife some face before because they were distant relatives and because she was the village head’s daughter-in-law, giving her a chance to stay close and try to please her.

“Where did you go? I couldn’t find you.”

Lin’s wife’s eyes shifted, and she stammered, “I wasn’t feeling well, so I went to see the doctor.”

Lin Shi narrowed her eyes. There was no reason to hide if she had just seen a doctor—unless it was some embarrassing condition.

Then, Lin Shi’s suspicions took a turn. “Who did you go to see? It wasn’t that little wench from Wang Yulan’s house, was it?”

Lin’s wife lowered her head even further. “They all say Gu Yi’s medical skills are good…”

So that’s the case!

Lin Shi sucked in a breath, incredulity in her voice. “You traitor! You knew I was enemies with Wang Yulan and that little wench, yet you went to ask her for help!”

Lin’s wife stepped forward, trying to appease her. “I didn’t ask her for help. I was just sick and saw the nearest doctor. I’m still on your side.”

Lin Shi snorted, shaking off her hand, and walked away from the village head’s house.

As she made her way home, her anger grew.

Once she returned to the Old Gu Family residence and saw Old Madam Gu and Third Brother and his wife, she immediately began discussing her conclusions.

“Mother, Gu Yi that little slut has become really impressive recently. Not only can she diagnose illnesses, but I’ve heard she even saved the leg of some foul-mouthed fisherman! Now everyone in the village is trying to please them. No one dares to make them unhappy anymore.”

Old Madam Gu, already in a bad mood, was further annoyed by this. She turned her head away.

Seeing this, Lin Shi’s eyes seemed to bleed with fury.

Third Brother didn’t hold back. “What are you talking about? She’s treating illnesses. Do you want to go suck up to them?!”

Lin Shi glared. “Of course, I wouldn’t suck up to them. I just think something’s off. Don’t you think Gu Yi is up to something?”

“What do you mean by something’s off?” Third Brother sneered, clearly disgusted by Lin Shi’s habit of making trouble.

“Does that little slut even know anything about medicine? Did she ever treat anyone while on her journey? How could someone suddenly learn medicine overnight?”

Everyone present was shaken, realizing there might be some truth to what she said. Most doctors learn medicine from a young age, training for years before they’re qualified to treat people. It didn’t make sense that Gu Yi had suddenly started diagnosing and prescribing medicine without any training.

“Lin Shi, what exactly are you trying to say?” Old Madam Gu demanded, her eyes fixed on her.

Lin Shi’s eyes widened in excitement as she whispered, “After she survived that jump into the sea, it’s like she’s become a completely different person. Not only is she more domineering now, but she’s also learned medicine, and she catches fish ruthlessly. I think when she jumped into the sea, she was taken over by someone, no, a ghost. She’s not the real Gu Yi anymore. She’s a water ghost!”

“Or maybe a male ghost! How else could she be so capable?”

The more Lin Shi thought about it, the more convinced she became. She was practically vibrating with excitement.

Everyone else fell silent, staring at her with blank faces.