Chapter 473: Chapter 460: Doing a Good Deed

Upon hearing Zhuang Qingning’s words, Shi Bao’s expression suddenly became serious, and he lowered his voice to reply, “I’m aware of the case, and Master Ding ordered us not to make it public.”

“Since you knew about the case, it’s good. An innocent doctor has been implicated in this case, with the surname Zhuang. He stays in the County Government Office these days to lull the culprits into a false sense of security. This Doctor Zhuang happens to be a brother in my family. Thus, I came here to see him.”

Zhuang Qingning explained.

“So that’s what’s going on.” Shi Bao burst into laughter, “Doctor Zhuang has been in the county office for these few days, Miss Zhuang, you can follow me.”

“Thank you, Big Brother Shi.” Zhuang Qingning replied warmly with a smile.

“Miss Zhuang, don’t be so formal with me. Being able to help you is an honor.” Shi Bao raised his head and laughed.

He wasn’t joking.

Zhuang Qingning had previously alone delayed Jiang Yu and his bandits long enough to capture them, and her heroic deed was known to everyone in the county office. Moreover, now having helped start a workshop for Miao Village, people admired Zhuang Qingning even more.

In addition to the respect Ding Gaochang and Xu Zhengping had for Zhuang Qingning, her status in their hearts then naturally rose much higher.

Being able to help Zhuang Qingning was something Shi Bao could boast about for days.

“Miss Zhuang, follow me. Doctor Zhuang is in the county office.” Shi Bao led the way ahead, and said, scratching his head, “However, Doctor Zhuang might be a bit busy…”

Busy?

Zhuang Qingning was puzzled, but she didn’t ask any further questions.

However, when she entered the county office and saw Zhuang Wencheng, she immediately understood the meaning of “a bit busy” that Shi Bao had mentioned.

A case table was set up in the yard of the Government Office. Zhuang Wencheng was behind the table, taking people’s pulses and diagnosing their conditions, while in front of the table lined up five or six individuals, all of whom were seeking Doctor Zhuang’s medical advice.

“Master Ding originally ordered that, due to the case, Doctor Zhuang would need to stay in the county office for a few days, and we were to take good care of him. As long as we didn’t let Doctor Zhuang leave the county office and didn’t let anyone outside know that Doctor Zhuang was okay, nothing else mattered. Doctor Zhuang would be free to wander around and do whatever he wanted as long as it didn’t interfere with anyone’s work here.”

Shi Bao explained, “But then Doctor Zhuang found it too boring here, and said why not let him take everyone’s pulses and give them a check-up. If anyone was feeling unwell, they could come to him, and even if they felt fine, they could still come for a check-up.”

“We, who work here in the county office, might look a bit superior on the surface, but we don’t earn much every month. Usually, if you have a small sickness, you just bear with it and it’ll pass. Even if you’re seriously unwell, you still wouldn’t want to go see a doctor. You would just go to the pharmacy and get a cheap prescription written by a medicine apprentice.”

“Now that Doctor Zhuang is here offering check-ups, all those who feel unwell came looking for him. And honestly, Doctor Zhuang’s medical skills are quite impressive. He always prescribes cost-effective remedies and they work well too. After taking his medicine, people come back to thank him and his reputation in the county office has soared. Even those who don’t feel unwell come to see him now, thinking that there may be undetected illnesses that can only be identified by checking their pulses.”

“And so, Doctor Zhuang has been busier and busier…”

“That’s good too. Being busy he wouldn’t feel so bored and restless. It not only helps kill time but also allows him to do something good.” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile, then she walked up to Zhuang Wencheng to greet him, “Brother Wencheng.”

“Little Sister Ning is here.” Upon seeing Zhuang Qingning, Zhuang Wencheng’s face lit up with a smile, “Could you wait a moment for me? I’ll come over as soon as I finish with these people.”

“No problem, Brother Wencheng, take your time with your work.” Zhuang Qingning laughed.

Zhuang Wencheng then spoke to those waiting in line, “I will only see these few people this morning. If anyone else needs a consultation, you can come back again in the afternoon. I will be here in the next few days.”

Some people saw that a visitor had come to see Doctor Zhuang, and they, merely seeking a regular check-up, decided to leave, leaving only those who were really unwell behind.

After a while, only two people were left.

One was suffering from a continuous cough, the other had been afflicted by diarrhea all morning and couldn’t stand straight.

Doctor Zhuang checked their pulses, inquired about their symptoms and food intake in the past few days, and then prescribed them medications based on their specific conditions, instructing them to get the medicine as per the prescription.

After finishing his work, he quickly turned to Zhuang Qingning, “Little Sister Ning, what brings you here?”

“I came to treat Manager Cheng, and then I stopped by to see how you were doing in the county office.” Zhuang Qingning handed over a few packages wrapped in oil paper, “I bought some cakes from the pastry shop in the county town. I don’t know if Brother Wencheng likes them.”

“I love them.” Zhuang Wencheng received the packages with joy.

No matter what Zhuang Qingning bought for him, he would always love it because she treated him like her own brother.

“I learned from Fang Hou that some clues about the case had already been found, and Shi Bao just told me that Master Ding has already set out to investigate. The case should be solved soon, so Brother Wencheng need not worry too much.”

Zhuang Qingning continued, “At home, I’ve also informed the pharmacy that you’ve been kept busy in the county town for a few days and can’t come back. I’ve also informed Brother Sifu and Aunt Wang about it, stating that you’re here to study medical skills and will be back in a few days, so Brother Wencheng doesn’t need to worry”

“Thank you, Little Sister Ning.”

She had thought things through thoroughly and had even taken care of all the arrangements for him.

“You’re too kind, Brother Wencheng. You’ve taken care of me in the past, and now I’m just doing what a sister should do in return.” Zhuang Qingning smiled brightly.

Having already clarified their relationship, Zhuang Wencheng no longer felt the heartache he used to feel when he heard words like ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. Added to that was a deep feeling of gratitude towards Zhuang Qingning, to whom he kept expressing his thanks, “I really can’t thank you enough, Little Sister Ning. Without you, I’d have been at a loss what to do.”

“I just wonder when you learned medical skills, we had no idea…”

And looking at it, it seemed she had highly skilled medical skills. If that was the case, they might need to learn a thing or two from Zhuang Qingning in the future.

“Where did I learn any medical skills?” Zhuang Qingning gave a wry smile, “That day, things happened suddenly, I just blurted it out to distract them and cover for you, Brother Wencheng. As for curing Manager Cheng’s poison, it was pure luck that the poison was the same as one my father’s old friend had encountered. My father had a prescription for it, so I just compounded the medicine according to that prescription.”

“Brother Wencheng, you must not tell anyone that I have medical skills. This time it was just a coincidence. In the future, if people ask me to diagnose them, I wouldn’t know what to do. They might think I’m purposely avoiding it, which might easily lead to misunderstanding.”