Shopkeeper Wang ca in and saw Wang Youheng leaning against the bed, and both Lian Manman and Xiao Qi were crying so much that their faces were covered in tears; his anger subsided a bit.
"You’ve cried yourself into a cat’s face again." Wang Youheng said with a smile as he looked at Lian Manman’s face and then turned to instruct Shopkeeper Wang, "Just put the tea over there, and have soone fetch a basin of water for Manman and Xiao Qi to wash their faces."
"No, there’s no need." Lian Manman quickly interjected, "Brother Youheng, is Imperial Physician Shi in town now?"
"You’re looking for Imperial Physician Shi? Unfortunately, he’s gone back to the Prefecture City these past few days and hasn’t returned yet. Do you need him for sothing?" Wang Youheng asked hastily, "I was careless, thinking your mother was already fine. Is it possible that she’s... again?"
Imperial Physician Shi indeed had not returned yet.
"No, it’s not that." Lian Manman gestured with her hand, "My mother is doing well, and once she can get out of bed, she still wants to co to town to thank you, Brother Youheng."
"There’s no need for that; haven’t you already co?" Wang Youheng replied.
"Brother Youheng, I need to tell you sothing." As Lian Manman spoke, she glanced at Shopkeeper Wang.
Wang Youheng understood Lian Manman’s intent—that she had sothing private to tell him—so he waved his hand at Shopkeeper Wang, who then retreated from the room.
"What is it, Manman? You can speak."
"The thing is," Lian Manman recounted to Wang Youheng, once again, the ordeal of Lian Huahua scalding her leg and not wanting to be left with a scar, and how Lian Shouren wanted them to co together to request Imperial Physician Shi’s help. "I reckon my uncle and father will be coming here soon."
"Oh, was it a scald with boiling water?" Wang Youheng inquired about Lian Huahua’s injury.
"Yes, the local Doctor Li has already looked at it and prescribed so pain-relieving dicine, but my aunt insists it must not leave a scar. Doctor Li said he couldn’t guarantee that, so he suggested coming to town to try the ointnt from your shop."
"With that kind of injury, it’s unlikely to be scar-free," Wang Youheng mused.
Lian Manman nodded.
"... Unable to find Imperial Physician Shi, they will certainly co here and might even expect you, Brother Youheng, to attend personally. Brother Youheng, it would be best if you could send a doctor over, but you mustn’t go yourself, no matter what my uncle or my father says. You can’t go."
"Oh?" Wang Youheng looked at Lian Manman with so bewildernt.
Lian Manman pursed her lips. Although the saying went that one should not air one’s dirty laundry in public, to her, Wang Youheng was closer and more dependable than Lian Huahua. He was the one she would rather protect.
Yet there were so things she could say in front of Wang Youheng that she did not want others to know about, which was why she didn’t speak earlier when Shopkeeper Wang was present.
"We all think that for such a scald to heal without a scar, it would probably take the immortals descending. Unable to find Imperial Physician Shi, they’ll pin their hopes on you, Brother Youheng. But, Brother Youheng, are you skilled at treating burns?"
"Manman, I’m just managing this shop; my dical skills are still being honed. You mustn’t spill my secrets to the outside world," Wang Youheng deliberately said. He saw that Lian Manman had been crying for a long ti and was now trying to keep a straight face, so he wanted to cheer her up.
Lian Manman was indeed coaxed into a smile.
"Brother Youheng, you have a good heart and are intelligent; one day, you’ll surely beco the greatest doctor, no, a divine physician."
"Alright, Manman, I enjoy hearing that. Even for that statent alone, I will definitely work hard."
"Brother Youheng, I understand Sister Huahua’s temperant better than you do. If they go and the scar indeed fades, all is well. But if it stays, Sister Huahua will bla that person, and from then on, she’ll hate him. Brother Youheng, I don’t want you to do a good deed only to be resented for it," Lian Manman candidly told Wang Youheng.
Wang Youheng leaned against his pillow, his face showing a thoughtful expression.
"Manman, has Lian Huahua... been good to you these days?"
"Why would you ask that, Brother Youheng?" Lian Manman was a bit puzzled, "Oh, right, you are probably not aware of so things yet."
"What things?"
"This ti my mother fell ill, it was my aunt who purposefully pushed her. She did it because Sister Huahua instigated her behind our backs."
Lian Manman gave Wang Youheng a general run-down of the situation. Xiao Qi also interjected, and in a short while, Wang Youheng was apprised of the whole affair.
"Is that so? I’ve only been back from the county for a few days; with such news, even if the staff knew about it, they wouldn’t tell ."
"Yes, Brother Youheng, we’ve moved out on our own now," Lian Manman said.
"That might be better," Wang Youheng replied, "Given Lian Huahua’s temperant, it’s better for you to stay away from her."
Lian Manman and Xiao Qi both nodded emphatically in agreent.
"Young Owner," Shopkeeper Wang ca from the store again, standing at the doorway and reporting to Wang Youheng that Scholar Lian from Thirty Mile Camp had arrived with his son Lian Jizu and the father of the third young lady, who were waiting outside, asking to see the Young Owner.
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