“Brother Hu, Magistrate Sun has urgently summoned you to his quarters!”
Chen Hu had only just sent Wang Quan away. He was sitting with one leg crossed before a low table, putting on airs as he prepared to take a sip of tea, when one of his men rushed in to deliver the message.
Hearing the urgency in the summons, he asked, “Did he say what it was about?”
“I asked the constable who brought the message, but he couldn’t explain it either. The magistrate is pressing for you to come at once, though. He said you must hurry.”
Chen Hu drained the tea from his cup in one gulp and rose to leave. He cursed aloud about how there were more troubles every day than there were hairs on an ox, but in truth, his feet were moving swiftly and his heart was brimming with pride.
He had only just put on his official uniform and hung his patrol inspector’s token from his belt. He had been longing for some official to send him out on an important assignment so he could make a show of himself.
Once he was ready, he brought Biaozi, Hanzi, and Zhang Wang along. Perhaps they would help distribute medicine, or perhaps serve as guards. Either way, they would get to bask in his glory.
Zhang Wang flattered him all the way. When they reached the camp built specifically to deal with the epidemic, they found it heavily guarded. Any idler who ventured even a little too close was driven away. Chen Hu, however, merely thrust out his hip and flashed the token at his waist. Holding his head high, he strode straight into the camp without hindrance.
Zhang Wang had never before received such preferential treatment from the authorities. He followed timidly at Chen Hu’s side, unable to stop his eyes from darting about.
“Brother Hu, you really are something. If I hadn’t chosen to follow you, when would I ever have had the chance to swagger into an official camp like this?”
Chen Hu was pleased to hear it. “You do have some discernment, boy. You know how to choose a good tree to perch on. Naturally, I won’t treat you unfairly. Follow me from now on and broaden your horizons.”
“Yes, yes!”
The words had barely left his mouth when several constables suddenly rushed out and shoved Chen Hu to the ground. The incident happened so abruptly that Zhang Wang was badly startled, while Biaozi and Hanzi instinctively reached for their knives.
Chen Hu stopped them with a gesture and raised his head slightly. “Constables, what is the meaning of this? There must be some misunderstanding. I’m the patrol inspector appointed by Magistrate Kong. My token is right here!”
“You’re exactly the one we’ve come to arrest!”
Before Chen Hu could argue further, the constables clapped him in irons and marched him inside. Biaozi, Hanzi, and Zhang Wang were detained outside.
Zhang Wang was so frightened by the sudden turn of events that he nearly lost his wits. With an official blade pressed against his neck, he did not dare move and could only glance at Biaozi and Hanzi from the corners of his eyes.
“What’s going on?! We came here perfectly normally, so why are they greeting us with all this?” he asked. “Was it the same when you two came earlier?”
Biaozi and Hanzi glared at Zhang Wang.
“Shut up!” one of the constables barked. “All of you, keep still!”
Zhang Wang shuddered violently and did not dare say another word.
Meanwhile, Chen Hu was dragged to a tent. Even a fool could tell that something had gone wrong. Once inside, he saw Kong Youhua pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back, fury filling his eyes.
Another man was kneeling in the tent with his head lowered, not daring to speak. Chen Hu took a closer look and realized that it was none other than Old Daoist Hu, who had come with him yesterday to present the prescription.
“You scoundrels!” Kong Youhua thundered. “You colluded with this old Daoist to present a poisonous prescription and curry favor, endangering people’s lives! Even if I had you beaten to death here and now, it would not be excessive!”
Chen Hu’s heart lurched at the accusation. He turned toward Old Daoist Hu, who was trembling like a sieve.
“What is this about?”
Only after seeing Chen Hu arrive did Old Daoist Hu dare to speak.
“It’s a false accusation! Yesterday, Your Excellency clearly saw that the people who took the medicine had their fevers go down. We tested it on three people in succession, and every one of them improved. That was why we distributed the medicine throughout the village. How can Your Excellency suddenly call it a fake prescription today? I truly have been wronged!”
“You still dare to make excuses?” Kong Youhua roared. “Among the first batch of patients treated last night, three died after taking the medicine. Two more deaths have just been reported! The village is already in chaos, and you still have the audacity to make a mockery of the government’s authority!”
Chen Hu’s whole body went rigid. He knew that he had caused a terrible disaster.
He quickly steadied himself and argued, “Your Excellency, please calm yourself. How could I ever treat human lives as a joke? Now that something unexpected has happened, perhaps those patients were already at death’s door and simply happened to die after taking the medicine. That does not mean the medicine killed them. Even if we are to be punished, we should first determine the cause of death—whether they died from the medicine’s poison or from the severity of their illness. Only then can a proper judgment be made!”
How could Kong Youhua not know that? He had already ordered the bodies examined and had physicians look into the matter. But with no experience dealing with an epidemic, the doctors could not explain anything with certainty.
That had given the two scoundrels an opportunity to argue, making it impossible to convict them.
Kong Youhua was furious for two reasons. First, the prescription had killed people. Second, if he stopped using it, what was he supposed to do about the epidemic?
Just as he was struggling to find a proper solution, someone came to report, “Your Excellency, two people have arrived outside claiming to have another prescription for the epidemic!”
Kong Youhua’s eyes suddenly brightened. Yet after suffering this setback with Chen Hu, he could not help but be suspicious of the newcomers. Still, he had no other choice.
“Bring them in!”
With that, Chen Hu and Old Daoist Hu were taken away and detained.
Song Fengsui had wrapped up his hair and covered his face, while Duan Yan had arranged a veiled hat for him. The two rode together to the supervising magistrate’s office.
On the way, they had exchanged everything they knew.
When Kong Youhua saw the two arrivals, his brow furrowed. Song Fengsui was wrapped so tightly that he could not tell who he was, but from his build, he could tell that he was a xiao ge’er.
Kong Youhua understood the inconveniences women and xiao ge’er faced, so he did not comment on it. But when he turned his gaze to Duan Yan…
Kong Youhua recognized Duan Yan. Rock Town was a small place, and as its magistrate, how could he not know which men were local gentry and which were the local thugs?
“Why have you come to meddle in this?” he asked. “Blacksmith, have you somehow studied medicine as well?”
Duan Yan coughed lightly. “There’s someone under me who understands medicine.”
Kong Youhua’s brow drew even tighter. A burly man had brought along a subordinate versed in medicine, and now they had appeared with a prescription. The whole affair seemed suspicious.
“I was not aware that there were so many physicians in the area around the town,” he said coldly. “If this man has such ability, why did he not answer my earlier summons when I called for those skilled in medicine to discuss ways to treat the epidemic?”
“I never received the message.”
Duan Yan answered with complete honesty, then added, “Besides, he’s a xiao ge’er. It wouldn’t be convenient for him.”
Kong Youhua shot him a sideways glance and said icily, “Speak. You’ve brought someone here to present a prescription. What benefit do you want from me?”
“The epidemic is raging. Once one person is infected, it spreads to every household nearby, leaving everyone terrified and uneasy. Your Excellency acted swiftly and decisively, sealing off the areas where the disease first appeared. That is the only reason we have been fortunate enough to avoid infection.
“But even if we have escaped it today, if the epidemic cannot be eliminated soon, who among us living in Rock Town can remain untouched? The epidemic is not solely the responsibility of Your Excellency and the government. It is the responsibility of every commoner who lives in Rock Town.
“Now that a prescription showing some effect has appeared, I hurried here to do my part. I truly have no intention of asking Your Excellency for any reward. To see the epidemic eradicated and peace restored to Rock Town—that would be the greatest reward of all.”
Beneath the veiled hat, Song Fengsui pressed his lips together.
This man really was skilled at buttering people up. He even understood how to advance by retreating.
Fortunately, he was not a dullard. Rather than stubbornly following what Song Fengsui had told him earlier and demanding a favor from the supervising magistrate in exchange for the prescription, he had simply adapted when questioned and given this answer instead.
If that really was the case, then even if the town magistrate agreed for the sake of the epidemic, he would certainly be displeased with him in his heart.
Sure enough, after hearing Duan Yan say this, Kong Youhua’s expression softened somewhat.
“You have such a sense of responsibility. It seems the government’s efforts to cultivate you have not been wasted. But good intentions alone are not enough. An epidemic is no child’s play; the slightest mistake could cost someone their life. We will first take your prescription for the physicians at the camp to examine. If they find no problems, we will conduct tests. Only after each stage has been verified may it be administered to the patients.”
After what had happened with Chen Hu, Kong Youhua was far more cautious about any prescriptions that were submitted.
Song Fengsui added, “Next, Magistrate, please select men, women, and xiao ge’er from among the young and strong, the elderly and infirm, and the children. Have them take a small amount of the medicine first. If their condition improves, the dosage can then be increased.”
He had spent many years studying medical texts and countless difficult case records. Though he could not claim to cure every illness with a single prescription or treat every disease under the sun, there was no chance whatsoever that he would produce a formula capable of killing or seriously harming people.
Otherwise, would he not be smashing the signboard of his maternal grandfather’s venerable medical establishment, renowned throughout Jiangnan?
The reason he had been so meticulous in asking Sun Youhua to inspect the prescription, despite having already confirmed that it was effective, was to prevent any unexpected complications from later being blamed on the medicine.
They certainly could not admit that they had already tested it on many people. Would that not amount to a confession, letting everyone know that they had repeatedly entered and left the sealed-off Liucun Village?
For the sake of caution, Song Fengsui had not only covered his face but had also taken medicine beforehand to numb his throat and alter his voice. He was terrified that his identity as an exiled convict might be exposed.
Sun Youhua fell silent for a moment after hearing Song Fengsui’s suggestion.
He had originally only intended to give the prescription a simple trial. Now, seeing how thorough the man was and how confidently he allowed the formula to be examined, he found himself placing even more faith in it.
Kong Youhua raised a hand and ordered his subordinates, “Go and make the arrangements.”
At this point, he recalled that when Chen Hu had brought in his prescription earlier, the physicians at the camp had been divided. Some had approved of it, while others had objected, saying that too many of the ingredients were excessively aggressive and might do more harm than good.
Old Daoist Hu had argued cleverly that an epidemic was a form of plague, and without strong medicine, how could it be brought under control? The fact that the physicians had treated patients for so long without seeing any results was precisely because they had been too conservative, hesitating at every turn.
After arguing it through together, the physicians at the camp had been left ashamed of themselves. Thus, they had allowed Old Daoist Hu to administer the medicine to a strong, healthy young man. The effect had indeed been astonishingly fast: within less than half an hour, the man’s fever had broken and his discomfort had stopped.
Seeing such miraculous results, the people who had been worn ragged by the epidemic after several days and nights of frantic work were overjoyed. Naturally, no one had thought to test the medicine separately on the old, the young, the weak, women, or xiao ge’er before treating it as a universal remedy.
Now, however, Kong Youhua understood the matter much more clearly. Had not all those reported dead been elderly or infirm? That Old Daoist Hu had probably known the prescription was too aggressive and had deliberately chosen a robust young man to test it on. With youth and strength on his side, the man’s body could endure even a harsh medicine.
Thinking of this, Kong Youhua was even more furious with Chen Hu and Old Daoist Hu. The two bastards had plainly come seeking benefits amid the chaos! And they had even dared to argue with him just now!
“My lord, although the ingredients in this prescription are somewhat aggressive, they are gentler than those in the previous formula. It may be worth trying.”
Kong Youhua was delighted and immediately ordered the medicine to be prepared for testing.
The only thing Song Fengsui was worried about was whether the government’s medicinal stores would contain wild anemone root. Fortunately, according to the clerk from the pharmacy, the stores did have some. Since it was a local mountain herb, they had gathered a considerable quantity. Unlike the medicine shops in the marketplace, the government stores would not sell off their stock simply because outside traders offered a high price.
Only then did Song Fengsui let out a breath of relief.
The testing process took a great deal of time. Duan Yan and Song Fengsui were somewhat anxious, but they knew they could not rush matters. If they wanted to earn the government’s trust, this was a necessary step.
After waiting for several hours, camp personnel brought them food and told Duan Yan and Song Fengsui to go eat first. The two followed the cooks, but as they reached the edge of the camp, they unexpectedly ran into Zhang Wang, Biaozi, and Hanzi.
The midday sun beat down mercilessly. The three men had their hands bound and were tied together in front of a wooden stake.
No one knew how long they had been left beneath the blazing sun. Beads of sweat as large as beans rolled down their foreheads and into their eyes, stinging painfully, yet they were not even allowed to raise a hand and wipe them away. It was a cruel ordeal.
“Big brother! Big brother!”
When Zhang Wang saw Duan Yan, he nearly leapt into the air. “Big brother, what are you doing here too? Please get me out of here, big brother! I know I was wrong!”
“You three…”
Duan Yan raised his eyes and looked over them one by one. “What are you doing tied up here?”
Zhang Wang hurriedly said, “I don’t know either! Brother Hu—no, Chen Hu—brought us to the camp, saying we were here on official business. Who would have thought we’d all be detained the moment we arrived? We don’t even know where they dragged him off to!”
Duan Yan gave a light chuckle. “Then wait patiently for him here. Once Magistrate Kong finishes his official duties, he will deal with him. Since the three of you came together, naturally you will all receive the same consideration.”
With that, Duan Yan and Song Fengsui avoided the sun and entered the tent.
“Big brother! Big brother! I know I was wrong…”
Zhang Wang wailed. The guard found the noise irritating and lashed him with a whip. Biaozi and Hanzi remained silent, but they were struck as well. Furious, they lifted their feet and kicked Zhang Wang.
Duan Yan and Song Fengsui remained at the camp until late afternoon. Neither of them had been involved much in the inspection of the prescription, likely because Kong Youhua had already suffered once at Chen Hu’s hands and did not dare be careless again.
The two men could not leave. After watching the patients who had taken the medicine for a while, they had no choice but to return to the tent.
The tent offered shade, but it was unbearably hot, more like a steamer. It was easy to see how hard Kong Youhua had been working at the camp these past few days to deal with the epidemic.
Duan Yan was still more comfortable, but Song Fengsui was wrapped up tightly and therefore felt even hotter.
He was stifling beneath the layers. With someone standing guard inside the tent, he could not remove his hat, so all he could do was endure it.
Duan Yan noticed his discomfort and asked one of the guards for a basin of cool water. He soaked a cloth in it and handed it to him.
Song Fengsui took it beneath his veiled hat and wiped his face and neck, relieving some of the heat. When he turned his head, he saw that Duan Yan had somehow obtained a palm fan and was fanning him with it.
It was not until the sun had nearly begun to set that Kong Youhua returned to the tent, beaming with delight.
“Excellent, excellent! Duan Yan, your prescription is remarkably effective! Every patient has shown improvement. Even the children can walk around now!
“The physicians checked their pulses one after another and found no other adverse symptoms. Having learned from the previous incident, we proceeded with extreme caution this time, and there have been no problems at all. Hahaha!”
Kong Youhua picked up a teacup and gulped down a cup of cool tea. Unable to conceal his satisfaction, he said, “This epidemic has finally allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief!”
Then he patted Duan Yan on the shoulder and said, “It is rare to find someone with such a strong sense of righteousness. You are better than many young men. You should assist me in maintaining the peace of Rock Town. Otherwise, your talents would truly be wasted.”
“From now on, you will serve as a patrol inspector and handle official business with me!”
Duan Yan clasped his hands in thanks. “Many thanks for your support, Magistrate Kong. These are merely things I ought to have done. Your Honor has shown me such favor—I am ashamed to accept it.”
“You have talent; it would be a waste to leave it buried. Why should you feel ashamed?”
Kong Youhua was in high spirits. “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
Duan Yan fell silent for a moment before saying, “...Is there a man named Chen Hu here with Your Honor?”
At the mention of the name, Kong Youhua’s brows drew together. “There is such a person. What of it? You know him?”
“To be honest, Chen Hu used to serve under me.”
“You’re trying to get him out?”
Kong Youhua’s expression changed abruptly, and he gave a cold snort. “That scoundrel conspired with an old Daoist to present me with a prescription for curing the epidemic. The medicine killed no fewer than five people! And yet he still had the shamelessness to come ask me for a position. If I don’t punish him properly this time, how could I answer to those dead civilians?”
“Your Honor has misunderstood. Chen Hu and that old Daoist knowingly broke the law, and their crimes warrant execution. If I had known earlier that he possessed a prescription for the epidemic, I would have kept him in check. I simply never imagined that, behind my back, the boy would bring the prescription here to curry favor with Your Honor.
“He has followed me for a long time, and there are some old grievances between us as well that must be settled. I ask Your Honor to show some leniency and hand him over to me for a little while.”
Kong Youhua hesitated for a moment before saying, “Very well. Since he is your man and you have accounts to settle with him, keeping him here would only provide him with protection. For now, I have no objection to handing him over to you.”
