Chapter 17: Medical Dispute Severing the Family Line

Hui Ci? Lin Xihe immediately pricked up her ears.

But the more attentively she listened, the lower the surrounding discussions became, eventually fading into vague sighs.

Instead, clear conversations drifted over from another side.

“Have you heard? The eldest daughter of the Lin family sent Second Master Wen a whole cartload of deer penises!”

“Really? What a pity. Such a fine young master actually… can’t perform?”

“The Wen Country Duke Manor’s family line might be in jeopardy.”

“Mother, are deer penises tasty? I want some too.”

“Hush, child! Don’t speak nonsense!”

Lin Xihe took a big bite of the softest part of her steamed bun. The aroma of meat mixed with broth flooded her mouth, and she couldn’t help but inwardly complain: What kind of luxurious life does Wen Zhixu usually lead!

Qingwu had eaten four buns, though slower than usual: “Miss, I can’t eat any more buns. How can you still manage?”

“This is called converting grief into appetite,” Lin Xihe declared righteously. “Why should I take my anger out on a bun? Besides, while that Wen fellow might not be good for much else, the pastry chef in his manor is clearly superior to ours! Try this one—it has fresh bamboo shoots and mushrooms inside!”

Qingwu held the fifth bun in her hands: “…”

The mistress and maid maintained “low profiles”—though in reality, they paraded through the streets munching on buns, eating their way from the street entrance to the alley’s end, heading straight for Baohe Pharmacy.

This Baohe Pharmacy was a famous medical clinic in Shengjing, with Doctor Qian being its golden sign.

The young apprentice she’d seen last time was squatting on the ground sorting herbs. Seeing servants approach, he imitated his senior’s stern expression: “Shoo, shoo, go away! My master isn’t seeing patients today.”

Lin Xihe was taken aback. That couldn’t be right—it was only noon. Was the pharmacy closing already?

Qingwu stepped forward and scolded: “How dare you! This is the Lin family’s young—” miss.

The apprentice squinted at their coarse linen clothing and grew even more impatient: “I don’t care if you’re from the big Lin family or small Lin family. My master is busy.”

Judging people by appearances at such a young age? Lin Xihe didn’t give him a friendly look either, slapping the prescription onto the table and pointing at the worm-like signature at the bottom: “Get Qian Mazi out here! His useless medicine didn’t work at all!”

Well now, a medical dispute had begun.

The apprentice retorted angrily: “You—what nonsense are you speaking? My master isn’t called that!”

Qingwu quickly corrected in a low voice: “Miss, Physician Qian is named Qian Lianxue.”

Doctors’ cursive handwriting transcended time periods—not being able to read it didn’t make Lin Xihe illiterate. Unembarrassed, she went straight to the point: “I don’t care if he’s Qian Mazi or Zhang Mazi! He took ten taels for the consultation but only prescribed some qi-tonifying and complexion-enhancing formula to get by.”

Neighbors who overheard exchanged glances, until someone finally blurted out: “Your family has been cheated! When has Physician Qian ever charged ten taels for a consultation?”

The people of Shengjing generally lived comfortably, with indigestion being their most common ailment. Business was tough for medical clinics, so consultation fees weren’t high.

Lin Xihe didn’t mind—she considered it like paying extra for a specialist appointment for exotic pets, which she could understand. But this prescription was completely useless for Bu Bu’s injury.

She had asked her somewhat medically knowledgeable cheap father about it. Lin Zhaoheng’s expression tightened, instantly pulled back into some memory. After a long pause, he finally said hoarsely: “Your mother often used this prescription for nutritional supplements in the past. It helps with complexion.”

Lin Xihe gazed at Lin Zhaoheng’s collapsed nasal bridge, then touched her own delicate, upturned nose as if in trepidation, suddenly asking, “Where’s my mother?”

Her cheap father had gone to court in tears.

…

Lin Xihe overheard a neighbor complaining about difficulty with bowel movements. Noting the man’s decent attire that suggested wealth, she immediately understood: this was a rich man’s ailment—constipation caused by indigestion.

Too bad there was no glycerin suppository in ancient times. She casually suggested, “Drink several cups of lightly salted water on an empty stomach in the morning. If that doesn’t work, apply some vegetable oil back there.”

The wealthy man was momentarily speechless: “This…” How utterly crude!

The crowd shook their heads, dismissing her words as nonsense.

Qian Daifu grew anxious internally, fearing she might say something even more shocking. He decisively stepped forward to usher her into the clinic, hoping to avoid trouble.

No sooner had she sat down than Lin Xihe slapped the prescription in front of him.

Only then did Qian Daifu get a clear look at Lin Xihe’s face and began repeatedly apologizing for his neglect—Lin Xihe knew he wasn’t recognizing the Lin family’s young mistress, but the sucker willing to pay ten taels for a consultation.

He took the prescription and examined it carefully, his expression gradually darkening before he exploded, “This is absurd!”

Lin Xihe blinked. Was he denying it? What was the second step in a medical dispute anyway? She’d never had to protest in her previous life!

Just then, the curtain rustled as someone rushed out from the back room—another familiar face, the apprentice who had copied the prescription that day.

Qian Daifu berated his apprentice, the scolding lasting for a full incense stick’s worth of time.

Lin Xihe initially stood watching the spectacle, but eventually grew bored and sat down. Finding herself with nothing to do, she finally began pacing around the hall.

She understood now—the apprentice had missed copying one crucial ingredient: ophicalcite.

It was precisely this missing ingredient that turned the life-saving medicine for clotting blood and regenerating flesh into a mere blood-tonifying and beauty-enhancing supplement.

“Then why not prepare the proper medicine now?” Lin Xihe interrupted them.

Both Qian Daifu and his apprentice fell silent, neither daring to speak.

Silence spread through the clinic, broken only by the abrupt pounding of medicine from the back room.

The silence was ultimately shattered by the sound of approaching hoofbeats.

Soon, a young man lifted the curtain and entered, calling gently to Qian Daifu, “My mother needs these medicinal ingredients. Could you trouble yourself, Qian Daifu—”

Lin Xihe’s gaze swept over his features.

Just an hour ago, this person had given her some meat buns as alms; now, for some reason, he had abandoned his carriage and arrived riding a tall steed with moonlight-colored coat.

His face was flushed from the rapid ride, yet his spirit seemed even more unrestrained and vibrant.

Lin Xihe glanced at Wen Zhixu’s mount and inwardly scoffed: modern tycoons show off luxury cars, ancient young masters flaunt magnificent horses.

In her previous life, she’d only ridden stinky horses at tourist sites.

This majestic horse before her… riding it would probably be a unique experience.

She wanted to ride it.

With just one glance, Wen Zhixu recognized Lin Xihe dressed as a servant, asking mildly, “Finished eating those buns?”

Qian Daifu, who had been fearing Lin Xihe would cause trouble, forced a laugh and interjected, “Second Master Wen has sharp eyes! To recognize Miss Lin immediately despite her current appearance.”

All three people in his clinic with their six eyes had failed to identify Lin Xihe.

Whispers rose from the crowd gathered outside the clinic, people murmuring to each other.

“Is this Second Master Wen? Truly exceptional grace and bearing!”

“Is that really the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of the Censorate? To disguise herself like this.”

“Second Master Wen possesses such outstanding elegance, how could he possibly… be impotent?”

“Miss Lin is his future wife. How could what she says be false?”

For a moment, only one voice echoed through the crowd: No, no, Second Master Wen won’t do.

Amidst the boiling discussions around them, Wen Zhixu completely shed his gentle facade and spoke with sarcasm: “Such a short servant boy is quite peculiar indeed.”

Lin Xihe stood enveloped by his shadow. She tilted her head upward – so what if he’s tall!

Pointing at the servant shoes on her feet, she declared: “I’m 165 with shoes, 162 without! Among women, I’m already considered tall!”

In modern times she might be unremarkable, but in ancient times, her height made her stand out like a crane among chickens!

Wen Zhixu didn’t quite understand the strange numbers she mentioned. He lifted his gaze to assess her height. “If Miss Lin wishes to appear taller, perhaps you should put more effort into your shoe padding.”

Lin Xihe: “You want me to wear Inner Height Increase?!”

Wen Zhixu: “?”

Inner Height Increase? What strange talk was this now.

This woman’s speech seemed to form its own system, with logic completely beyond comprehension.