"Cough, cough, cough..."
Li Jin let out a fit of rapid coughing, his face turning entirely red.
Yingniang hurriedly reached out to pat her father's back.
A flash of confusion passed through Duoduo's eyes.
"Master Li, how can a grown man like you choke on your own saliva?"
Master Zhang stroked his beard, a smile appearing on his face.
"The Princess is right. It seems Master Li's health is lacking!"
Li Jin glared at Master Zhang.
You know exactly why I'm coughing!
Master Zhang looked away, feeling quite amused.
Duoduo was a little worried. Although Li Jin had stopped coughing, his complexion didn't look too good.
"Master, how about I check your pulse?"
Li Jin hurriedly waved his hand. "No need, you should continue looking outside."
"Master Li, are you sure you are alright? Why don't you have a sip of tea."
"Alright." Li Jin nodded and picked up the teacup beside him.
Only then did Duoduo feel relieved enough to look out the window again.
With one teaching and the other learning, it was quite interesting.
When the carriage came to a halt, Duoduo still felt like she hadn't had enough.
The group stepped out of the carriage, and Master Zhang bowed to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Your Highness, I will take the Princess elsewhere. Please let me know what time you plan to return to the estate, and I will bring her back by then."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang hesitated for a moment.
She was not at ease letting Duoduo go off alone with Master Zhang.
Master Zhang was getting on in years; if anything were to happen, he wouldn't be able to protect Duoduo at all.
However, having Master Zhang follow them around while they shopped was also inappropriate.
Li Jin bowed to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"I will accompany the Princess. Yingniang, you stay with your mother."
Reluctantly, Yingniang let go of Duoduo's hand and walked over to Xu Jinxin's side.
With Li Jin there, the Princess Consort of Pingyang finally felt at ease.
"Let's meet back here in two hours."
Xu Jinxin waved at Duoduo.
Duoduo watched the Princess Consort of Pingyang and the others leave with a bit of reluctance.
Master Zhang stroked his beard. "Princess, why don't we go for a stroll as well?"
Duoduo's eyes lit up.
"Master, can we?"
Master Zhang nodded. "Of course we can."
Duoduo jumped up happily.
However, Master Zhang led her in a completely different direction.
It was only when Master Zhang arrived at their destination that Duoduo realized he had brought her to a medical clinic.
"Master, what did you bring me here for?"
"Are you here to get medicine? Is someone unwell?"
Master Zhang shook his head.
"Not at all. I brought you here because I want you to observe the patients."
Hearing the word "patients," Duoduo's expression became focused.
"Do you want me to observe the complexions of these patients, Master?"
Master Zhang nodded.
"If you want to learn about more illnesses, the medical clinic is naturally the best place."
"Princess, you may begin!"
Duoduo gathered her thoughts and began observing the first patient.
"Pale complexion, unsteady footsteps, and dark circles under the eyes. This person has a deficiency syndrome."
Duoduo's childish, milky voice caught the attention of passersby.
"Master Zhang, shouldn't we move to another place? Or perhaps you could use a different method?"
Li Jin spoke up to stop the two of them.
Peers in the same trade are natural enemies.
Although Master Zhang wouldn't steal the clinic's business.
Standing so blatantly outside someone else's clinic and commenting on their patients was bound to cause conflict.
Master Zhang nodded and pointed to a tea stall not far away.
"Let's go sit over there."
The three of them sat down at the tea stall and ordered three bowls of coarse tea.
Duoduo continued to observe the people entering and leaving the clinic; she was already completely engrossed.
Business at the tea stall was slow, and the shopkeeper was feeling bored.
Hearing Duoduo speak so logically about everyone going in and out of the clinic, he came over out of interest.
"Little girl, do you know medicine?"
Duoduo looked at the shopkeeper and shook her head. "I don't know it yet."
The shopkeeper was surprised. "Then was everything you just said nonsense?"
Duoduo shook her head again. "No."
"Please don't disturb me, okay? I've already missed someone!"
Duoduo's rejection made the shopkeeper feel a bit embarrassed, and he stepped aside.
Duoduo continued to observe the patients, and whenever she said something incorrect, Master Zhang would correct her.
Just as Duoduo was watching with great enthusiasm, a woman holding a child was pushed out of the clinic's entrance.
"Go, go, go! Why are you here to see a doctor if you don't have money?"
"This is a medical clinic, not a charity house!"
The clinic's assistant waved his hand impatiently at the woman.
The woman dropped to her knees with a thud.
"I beg you, please be kind and save my child!"
"I'll kowtow to you, I beg you!" Holding her child, the woman began to kowtow heavily, her forehead thumping against the ground.
The clinic assistant had seen this many times before, so his heart did not soften.
"No. The shopkeeper said that once you pay the medical bills you owe, the doctor will naturally treat your child."
"I will definitely pay it back later, please ask the shopkeeper to save my child!"
"Hurry up and leave! Lest you suffer the consequences later!"
After the assistant finished speaking, he turned to leave, but the woman grabbed hold of his leg.
"Noble sir, I beg you, save my child!"
The assistant grew angry, kicked the woman away, and walked inside.
The woman held her child and began to cry at the doorway.
The other patients watched the scene unfold with numbness, and no one stepped forward to say a word.
Duoduo had stopped observing long ago.
The look in her eyes as she gazed at the woman was full of sympathy.
Duoduo looked back at Master Zhang. "Master, why won't the people at the clinic save her child?"
Master Zhang shook his head and sighed.
The tea stall shopkeeper nearby leaned in.
"Little girl, you wouldn't know about this, would you?"
"This woman's husband died, and her mother-in-law is chronically ill and constantly needs medicine."
"She supports her mother-in-law and child by washing clothes for the people around here."
"But her mother-in-law cannot go without medicine all year round. How could the money she earns possibly be enough?"
"So, she owes this clinic a lot of money for medicine."
"To be honest, this clinic is actually quite conscientious."
"When they encounter patients who are tight on money, they still offer medicine on credit. At other clinics, if you don't have money, there's no way you're getting any medicine!"
"It seems this woman's child has contracted some serious illness and needs expensive medicinal herbs, which is why the clinic doesn't dare to give her credit."
"Sigh, it's truly pitiful!"
"This child is her husband's only child. If the child is gone, this woman's life will definitely be even harder!"
The shopkeeper shook his head as he spoke.
Duoduo thought of the purse the Prince of Pingyang had given her; there was a full ten thousand taels inside!
She turned around to look at Li Jin.
"Master Li, did you bring any silver with you?"
Hearing Duoduo ask this, Li Jin immediately understood what she was thinking.
Li Jin shook his head.
"Princess, you must not do this!"
Duoduo looked entirely displeased.
"Why not? I'll borrow it from you and pay you back later!"
Seeing the shopkeeper looking at him with a gossipy expression, Li Jin waved his hand to signal the shopkeeper to step away.
Only when the shopkeeper walked away did Li Jin look at Duoduo.
"Princess, are you thinking of lending silver to that woman?"
