A Western Doctor’s Happy Farming Life[1] 115

It was nothing strange to see that Old Zhu and Old Gao came here, but the queerest picture was that Xu Ziyu and Xiao Lin did come as followed after those two old men left.

No matter what, neither of them could be considered friends with them. Even if they did, that would just be a friendship of hostility. Well, it seemed that they did not come here to take any revenge but delivered their presents. But, how come?

However, no even a trace of hatred or grudge could be seen from Xiao Lin’s face but a delightful smile, he approached to Wu Dahu and whispered, “It’s all your husband’s credit, his idea was so effective. Ziyu will marry me soon, and he is now more tactful and lovable with no more capriciousness.”

Xu Ziyu puted as if he was pretending to be a more timid type man, and then he delivered the present to Wu Dahu, saying generously, “For the sake of Brother Xiao, we’re even now and I won’t blame you for the matter you have done! Here, take it!”

Song Qinghan looked at him amusingly, and then he took the initiative to take over the present as Wu Dahu didn’t intend to receive it, and then he gently replied, “You two are just match made in heaven, and I sincerely wish that you won’t leave the other party and enjoy the life of your two!”

Though his face assumed an expression of delight as he uttered, he still roared fiercely in his mind:  Please you two just stay together, or you might bother others again, just hurt each other yourself for god’s sake!

Well, of course such roar was something he should keep secretly in his mind, in fact he could still clearly see that both Xu Ziyu and Xiao Lin changed a lot since they established the love relationship, and they indeed matched each other! Probably it was the power of LOVE!

Xu Ziyi didn’t know what Song Qinghan really meant, while his smile got brighter on his face. And as he met Xiao Lin in the eyes, he lowered his head bashfully.

Song Qinghan welcomed and escorted them inside to the banquet with a smile. He was afraid that if he kept these two outside the gate, probably they would be somewhat a laughingstock for the others who were present.

Beside Doctor Shi stood another servant. And before Song Qinghan asked something, Doctor Shi took the initiative to speak, “I spoiled the former one too much, I didn’t lecture him that much and thought that it would be better for him. But I was so wrong, and instead, it festered his capriciousness. I got him another master now, and I will be stricter to this current disciple according to your method treating Wenxuan.”

Song Qinghan hurriedly waved his hand and humbly responded, “I’m not that big to bear such an honor, it just happens that Wenxuan is a well-behaved disciple for me. Doctor Shi, your knowledge and experience are much wider than mine and I will be just too small compared with you. This child should be so lucky to get your guidance.”

Dr. Shi smiled and shook his head, just as he was about to take a seat, he suddenly thought of something and said seriously, “The Emperor had already known the fact about the smallpox being cured in the Moshang Town, he sent someone to inquire me of the detailed event. I didn’t dare to lie, so I just confessed. I would say, probably someone or a group of people from the Imperial Palace will come to you, sooner or later.”

Song Qinghan was a bit stunned after being informed by that news, but soon he regained his attention, and stretched forth his arm leading Doctor Shi to the seat, and then whispered to him, “Doctor Shi, just one last question. Is it a good or bad thing?”

Doctor Shi chuckled as he was amused by the meticulous look of Song Qinghan, he reached out to pat Song Qinghan on the shoulder, and then consoled,”Don’t you worry about that! Saving people will never be a bad thing no matter what happens, but it’s just…”

Song Qinghan’s nerve strained, and then he hurried asked, “Just what?”

Dr. Shi hesitated for a moment, looking left and right meticulously, and whispered, “Be careful to those petty people around you, especially the ones with ‘Imperial’ in the formal name!” (Yu 御, officials or personnel hired directly by the emperor)

Though what Doctor Shi said was kind of obscure, it was still an obvious warning. Song Qinghan then walked back to the original place. Meeting the eyes with Wu Dahu, he shook his head to motion to Wu Dahu that he would talk about it later.

But keeping such a secret in mind was kind of a struggling thing for him, he stared at the presents lining in front of him and then lost in thought.

Apart from Imperial Doctors, there was no other way for him to think about other formal names with the word “Imperial”. Well, how was it possible for him to move the other imperial doctors’ cheese as he never intended to steal thunders or benefit from them. Even if they got arms in an unfathomable length, it was impossible for them to catch Song Qinghan by traversing thousand miles here.

Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your fence. Song Qinghan finally decided in his mind that he should beware some strangers in the future in case of being trapped again.

After the guests were all seated, the banquet finally began. Wu Dahu raised the cup in his hand and said cheerfully, “Today is my son, Wu Muhan’s hundreadth day banquet, thank you all for being here today! Let’s soak the happiness into the wine and we must drink until we are thoroughly drunk!”

Then, he raised his head pouring all the wine in the cup in his mouth, and drank it all.

Everyone at the scene echoed and drank the wine in their cups. How tasteful the pink wine was! Some of them referred to Wu Dahu for such a liquid’s information.

Wu Dahu smiled without a word, it was Song Qinghan coming over and answering proudly, “This is our ageing wine we have stored them for a long while, and we take them all out for the banquet today. If you guys want to know more about this wine, I would suggest you to visit the ‘Eccentric Shop’ in that alley not far away!”

Song Qinghan smiled secretly as he saw the majority of the guests commenced writing the shop’s name down on the invitation card. He felt that such a method of “advertising” was somehow the real advertisement compared to the one in his modern time.

After dinner, it could be seen that Song Qinghan still remained his soberness while Wu Dahu had already been drunk as his face was full of redness.

Well, Song Qinghan didn’t stop Wu Dahu drinking having a blast because he knew Wu Dahu was rather excited today. But he had underestimated the tolerance for alcohol of those people from the Martial Club. These group of  “beasts” seemed have drunk Wu Dahu as Wu Dahu now was quite hammered.

Fortunately, Hualian was here helping Song Qinghan to handled the messing scene, which allowed Song Qinghan to support Wu Dahu inside the room.

Though Wu Dahu’s mind was still in disorder after lying down on the bed, he subconsciously pulled Song Qinghan’s hand, muttering, “Han, don’t go, I am really happy today…”

Song Qinghan looked at him with a smile and sat by the bed. He couldn’t help teasing him, “What are you happy about?”

Wu Dahu tried his best to open his eyes and laughed foolishly, “About everything happened to me, I really… really never expected that I could get a life like this….”

Feeling the hand of Wu Dahu which was completely callosity-laden, Song Qinghan felt much sore in his heart.

Even he did not expect to live such a life when he first came here.

Who would have thought that just in a few short months, the two of them had experienced so many things together, and even their child had been a-hundred-day old.

After Little Shitou’s hundredth day banquet, the tournament came as followed.

The preliminary competitions were held in provincial capital of every province. Each province had to select one final top competitor and the final top competitor should go for the state capital for the final competition.

However, the participants who were originally in the state capital city did not need to go through this preliminary competition as a filter to enter the final one. That was totally a preferential treatment for them.

It was impossible to say that there was no pressure to fight for an achievement. Even Wu Dahu, who usually performed the best, fell into a nervous silence.

Song Qinghan got no idea about how to help Wu Dahu relieve his stress. The one who didn’t experience in the same situation would never put himself in the other party’s shoes, after all. In that case, he could do nothing but just  prepare everything for him while accompanying with him to watch the game.

After watching several rounds of match, Song Qinghan could not help but let out a sigh of relief. Wu Dahu shrugged while heaving a sigh of relief either.

Well, they weren’t the ones who were being nervous in the whole course, every candidate seemed to be anxious too as all of them performed worse than they practiced. What’s the funniest scene was that one of the competitors screamed already and jumped off the arena before he took any action.

Probably it was quite an amusing scene for the rubberneckers, but the judges commenced frowning.

After all, the winner of the preliminary competition wasn’t just someone’s unique honor, he represented the whole provincial capital. If such a winner got no profound base of the martial skills, it was the shame of the whole provincial capital.

What a coincidence, Wu Dahu’s rival was actually Xiao Ling. Though Xiao Ling wasn’t better than Wu Dahu in martial skills, he was still a big competitor. Especially in such a tag match, if he consumed most of his strength in the first round, probably in the later rounds he would be of tiredness which might be a good chance for the others to take advantages.

Just as everyone thought that the fiercest WAR was about to be triggered at any moment, Xiao Ling suddenly turned to those judges while making a bow with hands folded in front, saying, “I admit the defeat!”

The whole scene was in an uproar all of a sudden while Wu Dahu also frowned tightly there.

Though he was eager to win, he didn’t want to win in such a shameful way. In addition, he had always thought that it was such a disrespect admit defeat to the rival without even a single move.

Xiao Lin seemed to have seen through everyone’s doubts. He smiled and said in a certain direction below the stage, “My wedding ceremony is upcoming, SO, I would prefer to keep my face clean without any black and blue!”

After that, he jumped off the stage firmly, left unrestrainedly under the gathering gaze from the audiences.

Song Qinghan looked at the intimate figures of Xiao Lin and Xu Ziyu while being quite wry. Xu Ziyu was such a guy of queerness with various queer actions, yet Xiao Ling seemed to be the mimic. It was rather ridiculous that a man among men chose to indulge and immerse into love and gave up his career behind his back. But yet, it was individual alternative and it shouldn’t be judged by the others, it was just a great pity for people to see such a personnel giving up something which was rather promising to him.

Without the first round of fight, Wu Dahu seemed to gain more energy as if he had stored all his strength towards the next several rounds. He defeated three more competitors in a breeze. That was to say, as long as he could defeat two more competitors, he could get the chance for the final tournament.

As soon as the last but one person got onto the stage, Wu Dahu’s expression assumed an expression of disgust and wrath while clenching fists tightly.

It was no one else BUT the head of the bulky ruffians he had met when they first arrived in the provincial capital.

The registration of the tournament was not as strict as the civil service entrance examination. In other words, it allowed all manners of people to participate such a game, even the most atrocious criminal in the world had the right to take part in as long as he got five hundred silver coins.

The ruffian seemed have recognized Wu Dahu as well, he even took a malicious glance at Song Qinghan who stood right among the audiences, and then grin hideously, “It is good to see such a family union here, but I don’t think someone is going to get a good luck today!”

As soon as he finished the last bit of his words, he clenched tightly his fists as he squatted slightly, and then pounced on Wu Dahu suddenly.

Wu Dahu’s eyes were burning with fire as he heard such words of defiance and threat. He showed no more mercy now and attack fiercely at the fatal part of that ruffian.

Out of Wu Dahu’s expectation, the ruffian took out a queer weapon from nowhere suddenly. And the game ended in a tie. But every audience in the scene had faith in Wu Dahu, and knew that Wu Dahu would finally defeat that monstrous beast if the countdown was adequate enough.