Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Someone’s Life is at Stake
280 A Life Is Lost
Ding Chenguang said with a smile, "Not at all. I’m just a poor scholar, hardly comparable to you two talented individuals."
He turned to Qiao Muchen and said, "I heard that Young Master Qiao, you topped the list in the Elementary Scholar examination for three consecutive terms. Meeting you today, I see you are truly talented and extraordinary."
Qiao Muchen gave a dry smile. "Not at all, not at all. I’m not as great as you, Master Ding..."
Watching them exchange compliments, Zhao Zhitong was speechless.
Finally, her gaze fell on the painting, and she hurriedly changed the subject. "Ah, Master Ding, is this your painting?"
Ding Chenguang looked at the painting on the table and smiled. "Yes, I earned a few copper coins writing letters for people and bought some Xuan paper with it. I painted a few pieces myself; I hope they’re not an eyesore."
Zhao Zhitong admired the ink painting and said, "Master Ding, you are being too modest."
The artwork was a Cold Plum Painting. A poem immediately came to Zhao Zhitong’s mind, and she recited, "Standing firm at the edge of the world, leaning towards the brilliance of life, the cold plum is most hateful, forever reminiscent of last year’s flowers."
Ding Chenguang’s eyes lit up. He exclaimed "Wonderful!" twice, his voice filled with excitement. "This poem perfectly captures the mood I had when painting!"
As he spoke, his admiration for Zhao Zhitong deepened, and his excited expression was like that of someone who had found a kindred spirit.
"I never expected Miss Zhao, at such a young age, to possess such literary talent. I am truly impressed."
Zhao Zhitong quickly waved her hands. "No, that poem isn’t mine. It was written by a friend. When I saw your painting just now, this poem simply came to mind."
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue frowned simultaneously. "A friend? Which friend?" They didn’t know any such friend.
Zhao Zhitong pursed her lips. She had found this poem on Grandpa Bai’s bookshelf; it was by a poet named Li Shangyin. Grandpa Bai had said that Li Shangyin was not from their space. Those books contained many other great works by renowned literary figures like Li Bai, Du Fu, and Su Shi. Every piece was a masterpiece. She loved them dearly and often recited them. But she couldn’t tell the truth now. She could only say, "He’s a friend I know named Li Shangyin. You wouldn’t know him."
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue looked at Zhao Zhitong with suspicion. They were often together, so why had they never heard her mention a friend named Li Shangyin?
They wanted to press further, but Zhao Zhitong managed to deflect their questions.
Consequently, Ding Chenguang became firmly convinced that Zhao Zhitong herself had composed the poem and was merely being modest about her talent.
Ding Chenguang said, "Miss Zhao, my painting is nearly complete; it just needs an inscription. I truly love the poem you just recited. May I inscribe it beside the painting? Rest assured, I will credit it to your name."
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Of course, you may. However, please don’t use my name. Attribute it to Li Shangyin."
Ding Chenguang admired Zhao Zhitong’s character all the more. She was talented yet unassuming, not seeking empty fame.
So, he picked up his brush and elegantly inscribed the poem Zhao Zhitong had recited onto the painting, adding "Li Shangyin" beneath it. Finally, he stamped his personal seal.
Qiao Muchen was still wondering who this Li Shangyin could be. Zhao Zhitong often attended school and played with them; when could she have met Li Shangyin? Could it have been when she went out to treat patients? He couldn’t help but feel a secret had formed between him and Zhao Zhitong. They used to be such close friends, sharing everything without reservation. At this thought, a pang of jealousy struck Qiao Muchen, and his heart grew heavy.
Zhao Yue, in contrast, seemed unaffected. He even asked Zhao Zhitong when she could introduce them to Li Shangyin and inquired, "Is this Li Shangyin a fellow scholar of our year?"
Zhao Zhitong could only offer a vague response, hoping to brush the matter aside.
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted in the street.
"Murder! Murder!"
"A quack doctor’s misdiagnosis killed someone!"
The noise grew louder and nearer. The group’s attention was instantly drawn to the commotion. Looking towards the sound, they saw people carrying a corpse in their direction, wailing as they walked, "A quack doctor’s misdiagnosis killed someone!"
It was obvious their target was the medical clinic.
True enough, they carried the corpse straight into De Ren Tang and placed it in the center of the main hall. A man then rushed towards Sun Kang, yelling furiously, "Quack! You killed my wife! Give me back my wife’s life!"
As he shouted, the group surged forward to drag Sun Kang out, intending to force him down beside the corpse.
Sun Youli and Sun Daqing were terrified by this sudden development. They stood dumbfounded for a moment before rushing out to prevent them from harming Sun Kang.
"What are you doing? My father is not a quack! He’s not!" Sun Youli yelled, desperately trying to protect Sun Kang.
San Lengzi wailed, tears and snot streaming down his face, "Still say he’s not a quack? My wife just had a bit of a sore throat! She came to your clinic, took the medicine you prescribed, and then she died! If that’s not a quack, what is? Heavens, a quack’s misdiagnosis has killed someone!"
The patients inside the medical clinic started murmuring amongst themselves. A crowd of onlookers had also gathered outside.
"Could it be? Did Doctor Sun really misdiagnose and kill someone?"
"That can’t be right. Doctor Sun from De Ren Tang is highly skilled. He cured my chronic illness that troubled me for years. How could he be a quack?"
"Exactly! Even Doctor Sun’s young apprentice is a Little Divine Doctor who has saved so many lives! Everyone on our street knows that."
Sun Kang was kind-hearted and always upheld the principle of a doctor’s benevolence, prioritizing his patients’ well-being. Consequently, almost no one on the entire North Street ever spoke ill of De Ren Tang.
Indeed, the surrounding crowd found the accusation hard to believe.
Someone recognized the man causing trouble and asked, "I say, San Lengzi, are you mistaken? Doctor Sun is no quack."
San Lengzi yelled, "He is a quack! It wasn’t your family member who died, so it’s easy for you to talk!"
The person, angered by San Lengzi’s retort, snapped, "Hey! You, how can you say such things!"
At this point, someone suggested, "Report it to the authorities! Call the County Magistrate!"
San Lengzi, seemingly convinced that Sun Kang had caused the death, showed no fear. He immediately ordered, "Tie Dan, go report this to the officials! Get the magistrate!"
Tie Dan froze, not daring to move.
San Lengzi urged again, "Zhu Zi, you go with your elder brother and report to the officials!"
Zhu Zi nodded at once, grabbed Tie Dan, and they both ran outside.
Zhao Zhitong and the other three squeezed into the medical clinic.
She glanced at the corpse on the stretcher and walked over to examine it, her face showing no trace of fear.
After all, this was the kind of person who would go to the Mass Grave Hill in the middle of the night to dig up corpses. Yet, she showed no sign of panic whatsoever.
At this moment, everyone else in the Sun Family was panicking. They had never encountered such a situation. Common folk were inherently afraid of officials. They had heard that reporting to the officials often meant getting flogged.
Now, seeing Zhao Zhitong enter, Sun Daqing and the others felt as if they had found their pillar of support.
Even Uncle Sun Youli and Aunt felt somewhat less afraid after Zhao Zhitong returned.