Chapter 170 City Streets 70

Chapter 170: City Life in the Prefecture 70

“It’s Chen Sanxi’s voice!”

Qin Banban instantly snapped to attention, her head whipping towards the sound. Sure enough, a man in dark grey stood at the clinic entrance.

He was travel-worn, wearing a rain-blocking bamboo hat and a half-length straw raincoat. His clothes were somewhat soiled and old, the hem splattered with mud, likely from riding through the rain. Even his face was streaked with half-dried mud and rainwater. He seemed to have lost some weight, yet his eyes remained bright and full of spirit.

Qin Banban was overjoyed. Disregarding his grimy state, she rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck.

“Chen Sanxi! You’re alright?! You’re back?!”

Chen Sanxi was caught in a full embrace, his mind still processing, but his hands instinctively reached out to steady Qin Banban’s waist, preventing her from swaying and potentially falling. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, and the faint, medicinal scent from her flowing sleeves made Chen Sanxi’s ears flush.

It took him a moment to fully recover. Gently pushing Qin Banban back, he took a step away and whispered, “Stay away from me.”

Afraid she might misunderstand, he quickly added, “I’m soaked with rainwater, and my clothes are muddy. I don’t want to get your dress dirty.”

Besides… he had been rushing so hard that he hadn’t bathed properly in two days. He wondered if Banban could smell the sweat on him.

At this thought, Chen Sanxi’s ears turned even redder. He took another step back, only to misstep off the doorstep and nearly tumble over backward.

He quickly steadied himself and surreptitiously sniffed his clothes. Relieved not to detect any foul odor, he relaxed slightly.

Qin Banban didn’t mind being pushed away. She took half a step closer and asked with concern, “Why are you only back now? You’re about ten days later than expected! I thought…”

She trailed off, then quickly changed the subject.

“It’s good that you’re back! It’s good that you’re back! Was the journey smooth? In Lanzhou…”

She still remembered the flood in Lanzhou. It had worried her so much that she lost her appetite, couldn’t sleep, and was plagued by nightmares of Chen Sanxi being swept away by the floodwaters. She would wake up startled, drenched in cold sweat, her clothes clinging to her back.

Chen Sanxi explained, “We were lucky. There were days of heavy rain, so we delayed traveling by boat to avoid risks. Little did we know the river embankment would soon collapse. After that, we didn’t dare take the water route again—the winds and waves were too strong, and none of us were skilled boatmen. The river was too dangerous, which is why our journey was delayed.”

Qin Banban nodded. Nearby, Fang Liuyin added, “It’s good you’re back! Our Banban was terribly worried after hearing about the flood in Lanzhou.”

Qin Banban glanced back at Fang Liuyin sheepishly, too embarrassed to look at Chen Sanxi, and murmured softly, “Teacher!”

Chen Sanxi subtly glanced at Qin Banban’s back before turning to Fang Liuyin. Without dwelling on the topic, he said, “Doctor Fang, one of my sworn brothers is sick. He’s been running a recurring fever for the past couple of days. Could you take a look?”

Chen Sanxi hadn’t come specifically to see Qin Banban. He had arrived with several of his brothers.

Fang Liuyin quickly stood up and said to Chen Sanxi, “Bring him in right away.”

Chen Sanxi nodded and waved outside. Soon, two burly men helped a flushed, weak-looking escort into the clinic.

The escort was burning with fever, his face red, but he was still conscious. He managed a weak smile at Doctor Fang and said, “Apologies for the trouble again, Doctor Fang.”

Back when Fang Liuyin’s parents and husband were still alive, the escorts of the He Family Escort Agency were accustomed to seeking treatment at Huichun Clinic. Even after Fang Liuyin’s parents and husband passed away one after another, leaving her as the sole physician, the escorts’ habit remained unchanged.

As the two tall, sturdy men helped their equally robust companion inside, passersby outside the clinic stopped to curiously peer in. Some who had come for medical treatment also followed them inside.

Fang Liuyin first had the two men help the patient lie down on a simple wooden bed. She then stepped forward to take his pulse and ask about his symptoms.

“You have a fever? Any other discomfort?”

The patient replied weakly, “I’ve had diarrhea and vomiting, and my stomach feels like it’s burning… I’m also dizzy and have no energy. It’s been going on for about half a month. I’m a strong laborer and have never stopped practicing martial arts—it’s only because of my good constitution that I’ve lasted this long. Anyone else would’ve collapsed long ago.”

He spoke haltingly, pausing frequently as he collected his thoughts.

Diarrhea? Vomiting? And a fever?

“Oh no! I heard that Changping County in neighboring Gongzhou has an outbreak of dysentery! It also causes vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever! That illness is contagious—I heard people have been dying from it over there!”

“Could… could he have caught it outside and brought it back?!”

Someone’s remark caused the patients waiting in line inside the clinic to flee in a panic, only daring to peek inside from the doorway.

Others added, “Doctor Fang! If it really is dysentery, we can’t let him stay in Jiangning Prefecture! It could endanger the entire city!”

“Yes! Yes! We don’t want to get sick! We have elders and children at home!”

…

Hearing this, Chen Sanxi was also startled.

As the saying goes, different trades are separated by mountains. Chen Sanxi had been a part-time hunter in his youth before leaving his village for the prefecture city to learn martial arts from He Kuan and become an escort. He knew a thing or two about external injuries, but he was no physician and knew nothing about infectious diseases. It had never occurred to him that his sworn brother might have caught one.

If he had known, he would never have dared to bring him back to the prefecture city, much less to Huichun Clinic!

Even Chen Sanxi looked alarmed, momentarily regretting bringing the man to the clinic. What if Banban got infected?

At this thought, he quickly retreated several steps, standing in a corner by the wall, far away from Qin Banban.

Even the patient himself turned pale with fear. Coughing a few times, he hurriedly pushed away the two men supporting him and said anxiously, “You… you should stay away from me too! What if…”

Before he could finish, Fang Liuyin interjected, “It’s not dysentery.”

She reassured everyone, then rolled up the patient’s sleeve, pointing to the red bumps and scratch marks on his arm. “How long have you had these?”

The patient was taken aback for a moment before replying, “They appeared right after I arrived in Lanzhou. Hah… it’s an old problem of mine. I always get like this when traveling far. My brothers even joke that I’m not cut out for escort work! But it’s usually just itching and rashes, nothing else.”

Fang Liuyin nodded and addressed the alarmed onlookers outside, “This isn’t dysentery. Dysentery doesn’t cause rashes.”

“It’s likely acclimatization sickness.”

“You’ve had this issue before—breaking out in rashes when traveling far—but it was never this severe. This time, you encountered heavy rain and saw the floods in Lanzhou. The climate and weather were poor, making it easier to fall ill. That’s why it’s much worse than before, with vomiting, diarrhea, and persistent fever.”

Hearing Fang Liuyin’s explanation, the patients outside seemed somewhat relieved and began murmuring among themselves.

“Oh, so it’s just acclimatization sickness.”

“That scared me! I really thought it was dysentery!”

“Yes, yes!”

…

Even so, they remained cautious and didn’t dare re-enter the clinic. Some who had been waiting in line opted to seek treatment at other clinics farther away.

Fang Liuyin paid them no mind and continued addressing the patient, “I’ll write you a prescription. Take it three times a day to regulate your spleen and stomach and reduce dampness. I’ll also give you an ointment for the rashes. You can also drink water boiled with scorched rice. Next time you travel, pay attention to your diet—eat light, avoid spicy and greasy foods, and try eating more local tofu.”

The patient propped himself up slightly and nodded, but then looked puzzled. “Tofu? That’s not medicine. Is there any particular reason for that?”

Qin Banban, who was preparing the medicine based on Fang Liuyin’s prescription, overheard and chimed in to explain:

“The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine states: ‘The five grains are suitable for nourishment, but lacking beans makes it deficient.’ Beans are nourishing for the body and help harmonize the spleen and stomach. They have a soft texture, good for both young and old, and are mild, non-irritating, and easily absorbed. Eating tofu made from locally grown beans and local water helps one adapt to the regional diet and is least harmful to the spleen and stomach.”

Fang Liuyin gave a satisfied nod and said, “Exactly.”

After speaking, she waved to Chen Sanxi and told him, “You all who were on this trip should come and check your pulses, just to set your minds at ease.”

Chen Sanxi was still shrunk in the corner. Even though Fang Liuyin had said it wasn't dysentery, he couldn't help but worry.

It was Qin Banban who went over and pulled him along, then called the other men to come in one by one for their pulse readings.

It turned out to be a false alarm—the men were all strong and healthy.

“Strong as oxen, you can rest assured.”

Fang Liuyin saw through Chen Sanxi's worries and patted him on the shoulder.

Chen Sanxi finally relaxed. Qin Banban also moved closer, circling around him a couple of times, looking left and right as if she couldn't get enough of the sight.

“Chen Sanxi, come to my house for dinner later today!”

Chen Sanxi’s ears, which had just cooled down, turned red and hot again under her gaze, but he still said, “Tomorrow. I just got back today, and it’s already late. I need to go back and let Master and Mistress know I’m safe.”

Besides, he was dirty and disheveled and felt too embarrassed to step into the Qin family’s courtyard.

Qin Banban, having finally seen Chen Sanxi, was too excited and only then realized how late it was. If she rashly brought him home and the family only had cold leftovers from lunch, it wouldn’t be proper for hosting a guest.

She also smiled and said, “That’s right, that’s right. You should go back first and let Uncle He and Aunt He know you’re safe!”

Chen Sanxi continued nodding, his ears burning red, unsure of what else to say.

“Sanxi! Time to go!”

It was his senior brother calling from outside. The other escorts had already left the clinic, and even the sick one was being helped out.

Chen Sanxi glanced at Qin Banban, who smiled at him, waved, and said, “Go on, go on. Come to my house for dinner tomorrow!”

Qin Banban smiled happily, her eyes round and bright like two shiny black grapes glistening with water.

Thinking of grapes, Chen Sanxi unconsciously touched the front of his robe, where it seemed something was still tucked away.

He didn't take it out but nodded to Qin Banban and left, looking back every few steps.

Outside the clinic, his close brothers jostled and teased him.

But Chen Sanxi was thick-skinned around everyone except Qin Banban. His face was cold and stern, like a large bluish stone, unmoved by their jokes and teasing.

Having seen Chen Sanxi today, a weight lifted from Qin Banban's heart. She stayed at the clinic to help, busy until the sky turned indigo blue, then closed up with Fang Liuyin and went home.

When she told her family about seeing Chen Sanxi that day, everyone was delighted. Before she could even bring up the dinner, Cui Lanfang and Liu Guyu spoke up first.

“Invite him over for dinner tomorrow!”

“Yes, the Dragon Boat Festival just ended. He’s probably been too busy to eat zongzi! We have some left—have him come over tomorrow to eat some!”

Even Qin Rongshi nodded slightly and said, “After such a scare, we should invite him for a meal.”

Qin Banban smiled and nodded, saying she had already invited him and that Chen Sanxi would come tomorrow.