Chen Liejiu rushed the feverishly unconscious Xu Huaqian straight to the best medical clinic in the prefectural city.
It was still Ji'an Medical Clinic.
Their medicine was expensive, but ever since Xu Huaqian started taking it, his improvement had been visibly noticeable. Other clinics didn't have their reputation, and Chen Liejiu didn't trust them.
Upon arrival, he carried Xu Huaqian from the carriage into the clinic and demanded, "Get your best physician here."
The physicians in the clinic, seeing a man effortlessly carrying a full-grown man inside, speaking and acting with clear purpose, knew he wasn't someone to be trifled with. They quickly pushed forward Physician Miao, the most skilled physician in the clinic.
Physician Miao appeared very old. He sat by the bedside to take Xu Huaqian's pulse. Seeing the unconscious patient still subconsciously coughing up blood, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Well?" Chen Liejiu wiped the blood Xu Huaqian was unconsciously spitting with a handkerchief and asked anxiously.
"Ah!" Physician Miao sighed, withdrew his hand, and shook his head. "He was already physically weak, and now his constitution is severely depleted. He's caught a cold. There's no cure."
Even if there were a possibility of treatment, it would be extremely difficult and risky—certainly not something people in a small prefectural city like theirs could afford. Judging by Chen Liejiu's group's clothing, they weren't from a wealthy or noble family, so he didn't bother mentioning the latter part.
"You're lying!" Chen Liejiu's eyes were sharp enough to seem to see through a person's heart. He glared fiercely at Physician Miao. "He's a living person! He's sick, not dead! How can there be no cure?"
"Does your clinic simply dismiss hard-to-treat illnesses as 'incurable'?"
"It seems your Ji'an Medical Clinic is just an empty reputation, unworthy of being called the best clinic in Changnan!"
The threat was palpable.
Such a domineering man! Under the piercing gaze of Chen Liejiu's eyes, Physician Miao felt as if a knife were held to his neck. Today, he would have to treat this patient whether he could or not—otherwise, this man would absolutely not let their clinic off easily!
"...Alright."
Those who are ruthless fear those who are reckless, and those who are reckless fear those who fear nothing. The one with nothing to lose isn't afraid of those who have everything to lose. If he ruined Ji'an Medical Clinic's reputation, the owner behind it would never forgive him.
After only a moment's hesitation, Physician Miao nodded and agreed to treat him, though he didn't make any absolute promises: "But I must be blunt from the start. His condition can be treated, but the cost will absolutely not be a small sum. And also..."
He paused here. Chen Liejiu was extremely impatient: "And also what? Speak!"
Physician Miao said helplessly: "And even if he recovers, I can only guarantee him ten years of life. During these ten years, he must not get cold, must not get hot, and must not suffer any exposure or chill whatsoever."
If Xu Huaqian's body previously had some vitality sustaining it, and daily nourishment with medicine could manage it, now he was critically ill, little more than an empty shell. Even if saved, he would likely have to endure constant suffering from illness. Only someone with immense perseverance could possibly endure it.
"Only ten years of life?!" Wang Wanwan, hearing this in the room, was so heartbroken she began to cry. What immense suffering had reduced a person to this state?
Even Chen Xiaomei, who had no real concept of life and lifespan, knew ten years was short—so short that Second Brother would only live until she was eighteen, not even long enough to see her get married! Thinking this, her tears fell uncontrollably like pearls, unable to be stopped.
Seeing them like this, Physician Miao's eyes also dimmed. This was why he had initially said it was incurable. Even if cured, if the patient couldn't bear the torment of the illness, he might wish for death himself.
"What are you crying for?!" Chen Liejiu was different from all of them. He didn't believe that just because the physician said ten years, Xu Huaqian was limited to ten years. He wasn't the King of Hell—why should his word be final? "The man isn't dead yet, and you're already mourning him? There is a treatment, isn't there?"
Then he looked at Physician Miao: "We will treat him! No matter the cost, we will treat him!"
Seeing his stubbornness, Physician Miao had to say: "Then please go to the counter and get a hundred-year-old ginseng root."
Chen Liejiu quickly took a hundred-tael silver note from his money pouch and handed it to Wang Wanwan: "Go get it!"
Before coming, afraid Xu Huaqian couldn't carry so much silver, he had exchanged it all for silver notes.
Seeing they truly had money, Physician Miao said no more. When Wang Wanwan brought the ginseng, he took a small knife from his medical box, cleaned it repeatedly, and prepared to slice the ginseng for Xu Huaqian to hold in his mouth.
Seeing him move so slowly, Chen Liejiu directly snatched the ginseng, broke off a section, pried open Xu Huaqian's mouth, placed it inside, and said to Physician Miao, "Please proceed."
Physician Miao glanced at the now halved ginseng root. While applying acupuncture needles to Xu Huaqian, he cursed inwardly.
What a waste of a natural treasure! What a waste!
Such extravagance!
Let's see what you'll use to treat the sickly man once you've spent all your money!
Although Physician Miao was somewhat stingy and petty, his medical skills were truly excellent. After a few needles, Xu Huaqian stopped coughing and bleeding unconsciously. With the ginseng slice in his mouth, he gradually fell into a deep sleep.
That evening, after removing the needles, Chen Liejiu took out the ginseng, administered medicine, and broke off another piece of ginseng for him to hold.
This was repeated for three days. By the time the entire hundred-year ginseng root was used up, Xu Huaqian finally woke up.
Just awakened, his vision was blurry; he couldn't see anything clearly, only able to determine he was in a room filled with the smell of medicine.
"...A-Jiu, cough, cough, cough." He dazedly uttered a syllable, which immediately irritated his injured throat, triggering violent coughs.
"I'm here, don't speak." Chen Liejiu grasped his hand almost the instant he heard the first sound.
The touch of his hand was so warm it almost felt hot, making Xu Huaqian instinctively want to withdraw. He tried to follow the sound to look at him, but could see nothing—only a blurry red shape. Hearing his voice and seeing this red blur, he confirmed it was Chen Liejiu and nodded weakly in relief.
"You just woke up; you're not fully recovered yet." Chen Liejiu held his hand and tucked it under the quilt. "Rest for two more days. You can talk after you've recovered a bit."
Xu Huaqian looked at him yearningly, trying hard to see his face, but the red shape before him was hazy. Apart from the color red, he couldn't even make out the outline of clothes—it was like having myopia of 2000 degrees.
Hearing Chen Liejiu's words, he assumed it was because he was still ill and let out a very soft "Mm," then simply closed his eyes.
The blurriness was making him nauseous.
Having burned with fever for two days in the exam hall, depleted his body, coughed up so much blood, and then lain unconscious for three days without food or drink, the man who had once had some semblance of health was now emaciated beyond recognition.
That once tall, graceful man now lay on the bed, shrunken and small, his face so thin it was only the size of a palm. The quilt seemed several times larger than him, like a child who could be easily picked up.
His once captivating phoenix eyes, which used to sparkle brightly and swallow people with their tenderness, were now completely devoid of color, misty and cloudy. It was clear he probably couldn't see anything now.
Tough as Chen Liejiu was—he had never shown vulnerability in front of anyone—this time, he couldn't help it. His nose stung with unshed tears.
Chen Liejiu would not let a single one of those supply officials in the examination hall get away! Not a single one!
He had found out that Xu Huaqian hadn't been stingy with money. He had paid one tael per cotton quilt and bought three—one to sleep on, two to cover himself—yet all three were stuffed with grass!
For meals, he paid one hundred coins per meal and pre-paid for three days, expecting hot meals, but what he received was cold water and cold steamed buns!
He spent five taels on ginseng slices, but what he got were all inferior, shoddy substitutes.
They were already making a huge profit, yet they still had to mistreat people like this. They were truly insatiably greedy, deserving of death without pity!
If only he had power and influence, he would surely make them lose everything, make them taste the feeling of being bullied and having no way out!
What Chen Liejiu was thinking, Xu Huaqian didn't know. With his eyes closed, he was thinking about his own exam.