Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 16: The Miracle Doctor and the Schemer Are Only One Step Away

After seeing Zhang Yin off, Zhang Luan's face was full of hesitation. It was obvious that Zhang Yin's previous words had touched his soft spot.

"Master, we won't really agree to his request, will we? I've never heard of the title of Jinyiwei Commander. I think he must be quite old. It would be so unfair for the child to marry him and become a concubine..."

Jin now stood firmly on her daughter's side, not wanting her to fall into the fire.

Zhang Luan looked up at his family, especially Zhang Yu who looked very nervous, and sighed, "Do you think I want to? Didn't the child's two aunts marry well? Who wouldn't be a concubine?"

Jin wiped her tears and said, "I just don't want the next generation to follow in the footsteps of the previous generation."

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, didn't we agree that we would move to Beijing as soon as we had money? Why do we have to consider Second Uncle's suggestion? He has no good intentions."

"What do you know, little kid?"

Zhang Luan first scolded his youngest son out of habit, then thought of the fact that all the glory he had gained recently was due to this precious child, and said with a little shame, "The reason why I am considering this matter is that the eunuch Liang and the eunuch Li in the court have a close relationship, and the eunuch Li is deeply trusted by His Majesty. If I can curry favor with the eunuch Liang, the local officials and gentry will give me face in the future, and I can hold my head high wherever I go."

Zhang Yanling said without thinking, "The glorious days of Li Zisheng are coming to an end. Father, please don't be confused... Besides, the person that Second Uncle asked us to marry my sister to is just a villain who sells his wife for fame. He has no direct relationship with Eunuch Liang Fang and Tongzhengshi Li Zisheng. Why do you think that selling my sister can gain political benefits?"

Zhang Luan was stunned by what he said, staring at his son with wide eyes: "Second brother, what are you talking about? How do you know the names of Eunuch Liang and Eunuch Li? You..."

Zhang Yanling couldn't help but shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Almost defeated by cheap dad.

Isn't it just that he wants to establish a good relationship with the eunuch Liang Fang, the head of the Imperial Stables, and then influence the Minister of Public Security Li Zisheng through Liang Fang?

Li Zisheng was a great figure during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. He was not born into a traditional scholar family. He became a close minister to the emperor by relying on Taoist techniques. He first became the director of the Imperial Observatory, and later became the Minister of Public Administration and the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Although he was only a Minister of Public Administration, Emperor Xianzong relied on him a lot in recruiting people in the court. Basically, without his recommendation, it was impossible for someone to get an official position.

The "Six Clay Ministers" and even the "Three Paper Ministers" are just decorations in front of Li Zisheng.

Of course, Li Zisheng's end was also miserable. After Hongzhi ascended the throne, even though he considered that the court could not withstand the turmoil, he still killed Li Zisheng. The main reason was that this man aroused public anger, and not killing him would not be enough to appease the public anger.

"Dad, just listen to me. The real thing is to find a way to get into the Imperial College... Aren't you going into the city these two days to prevent smallpox for the people? Just ignore this thankless job. When we get to Beijing, my sister will definitely marry into a good family." Zhang Yanling was stubborn.

Zhang Luan became more and more confused.

"Second brother, who is the boss at home?"

Zhang Luan suddenly felt that his authority as the head of the family was challenged, and he frowned, "Your recent performance has improved, but you can't get cocky! You don't need to tell your father what to do... It's not your turn to talk about your sister's marriage! Go inside, I have something to say to your mother."

……

……

Zhang Yanling was ordered to go to the side room and reflect on his actions facing the wall.

Zhang Yu followed him into the house. The look he showed towards his brother was not only touching but also a bit of attachment, which had never happened before.

"Yanling, where did you hear those things in the court?"

Zhang Yu asked in a soft voice.

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister, for your sake, I have been running around everywhere and finally found out everything... That Jinyiwei Commander surnamed Xu is definitely not a good person. He sold his wife and got a large sum of money from Uncle Wan Er to sell illegal salt in Jianghuai. He made a fortune by relying on the power of the Wan family. After he became rich, he returned to Beijing and sneaked into the Wan Mansion to meet his wife. Uncle Wan Er, who discovered the affair, was so angry that he died. He also used the Wan family's money to donate himself a position as a thousand households of Jinyiwei, and even worshipped eunuch Liang Fang as his adoptive father. That's how he is today."

"Oh."

Zhang Yu frowned, "This kind of person is so hateful."

Zhang Yanling leaned over and whispered, "Sister is a rare talent. She can become the mother of a country in the future. You must argue with father about marriage. Father is easily influenced. If we don't say anything, he will think that all his decisions are right. We must not let ourselves down!"

"But...I told you, but Dad didn't listen."

Zhang Yu pouted, his face full of helplessness, but his eyes looking at Zhang Yanling became brighter and brighter.

Zhang Yanling showed an innocent smile on her face: "Then just listen to me, sister. I will help you talk to her."

"Ah."

Zhang Yu nodded heavily and patted his younger brother's shoulder lovingly, "I can see that Dad listens to you very much. You must help me. I don't want to marry some uncle of the emperor or commander as a concubine."

"clear."

Zhang Yanling patted his chest and said, "Sister will be the Crown Princess, or even the Queen in the future. How can she bend to those ordinary people?"

As they were talking, Zhang Luan came out of the house opposite and prepared to leave.

Zhang Yanling hurried to the door of the ear room and asked loudly: "Dad, where are you going?"

Zhang Luan cursed: "Mind your own business... My father has to go to the city to treat a disease tomorrow. Where can I get the magic medicine if I don't go out for a walk? And my father also wants to see where there are new sick cows..."

"Dad, I will go into the city with you tomorrow." Zhang Yanling said.

"Stay home and don't go anywhere! How much trouble have you caused for our family recently? Humph, it's just right that your father can't see you, so he can have some peace and quiet."

Zhang Luan cursed as he walked out of the door.

This Jin also entered the ear room.

Zhang Yu quickly looked at his mother for help.

Jin smiled at her daughter and said, "Don't worry, child. I have already made an agreement with your father. He has already promised not to consider the matter given by the master family. We will never use your marriage to seek a career for the local officials... There is no official in our family."

"Thank you, Mom." Zhang Yu could only pretend to be a good child in front of his old mother.

Jin looked at Zhang Yanling kindly and said, "This matter is thanks to your brother Yanling, who knows the details of those officials in the capital very well, so that our family did not get deceived, otherwise we would have suffered a great loss. Yanling, don't listen to your father's nonsense, he will go into the city tomorrow, you go with him to help him."

"Oh."

Only then did Zhang Yanling realize that his father said one thing and thought another.

Even though she clearly didn't have the confidence to handle the situation, she still tried to act tough in front of him.

Jin said, "Oh, right, we need to find a place to hide the silver... After this, everyone knows that our family is rich, and we are afraid that thieves will covet it. I will also tell the villagers to be careful and notify them in time if they see anyone acting suspiciously... Alas, our family has not had so much silver for a long time."

Then the whole family worked together to find a place to dig a hole to bury the silver. They also scattered the silver to different places in the house to prevent thieves from taking it all at once.

……

……

In Xingji City.

At the Huizhou Trading Company, Manager Qin was talking to Wang Ji about the meeting with Zhang Luan.

Wang Ji frowned and said, "I have seen that Mr. Zhang, he does not seem to be proficient in the art of medicine. His so-called method of curing diseases may just be nonsense, and it is successful by chance. It cannot be taken as a reliable method."

Wang Ji was a man of rich experience, and had seen many so-called famous doctors and even miracle doctors, whose qualifications varied greatly. After all, he was a graduate of a "professional school" and had a family background in medicine. He was very well versed in medical theory and pharmacology. When faced with a person who had only a superficial understanding of the basic theories of Chinese medicine, he would never associate the other person with a master of medicine who could cure smallpox.

Anyone who can do what others cannot do and dares to treat smallpox is either a miracle doctor or a charlatan.

Shopkeeper Qin asked curiously, "Are you saying that Mr. Zhang is just relying on his academic achievements to deceive the world with his fabricated medical skills?"

"Ah."

Wang Ji nodded, but didn't finish his words. "Not sure, but it's probably the case. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to tell the basic pathology."

"What if he's trying to hide it and not say it clearly?"

Shopkeeper Qin obviously didn't want to give up.

Wang Ji said, "I think he just doesn't understand. The so-called method of pricking the skin to deliver medicine can only treat superficial external diseases, and he treats internal diseases externally, which is clearly fooling the patient. Such people are common in the market, but they travel around and dare not stay in one place for too long. It is rare for someone like him who was born as a student to dare to cheat in his hometown."

"Ugh!"

Shopkeeper Qin had high expectations for this matter, but upon hearing this, he couldn't help but sigh, "I thought I had met a famous doctor who could revitalize Huizhou medicine, but I never thought he was just a show-off. It's true, when I first met him, he spoke wildly and did unexpected things repeatedly. He really didn't look like a serious Confucian scholar. On the contrary, the children around him were extremely intelligent and said many surprising things, but I don't know why."

"Who?"

Wang Ji was also very curious.

The person you asked me to meet today is the student Zhang Luan, so why are you bringing up a child prodigy?
Shopkeeper Qin was having trouble explaining.

Because she herself couldn't describe how she felt when she first met Zhang Yanling and heard what Zhang Yanling said.

"Miss."

At this time, the maid came into the room.

Shopkeeper Qin said sternly, "Can't you see I'm meeting a guest?"

The maid bowed and said, "Miss, someone from the Sun Mansion came and said that they want to cut off our business and return the grain that was previously transported. They will no longer do this business."

"The price of grain is rising now. If we were not tabooed and could not sell it ourselves, why would we give them silver for free? Why should we stop such a mutually beneficial thing?"

Shopkeeper Qin was already in a bad mood as he was delayed for many days by a charlatan, and now the Sun family added fuel to the fire. He became so angry that his pretty face turned red.

"I don't know the reason yet, but you may need to go meet that Master Sun in person."

The maid's face was full of confusion.

"Then I... won't bother you any more. Bye." Wang Ji stood up and said.

Shopkeeper Qin asked, "Mr. Wang, are you going back to Huizhou? I heard that the local government wants to invite Mr. Sun to the city to treat smallpox. Would you like to see it with your own eyes?"

"No need."

Wang Ji was still very confident in his judgment, saying it was nine out of ten times correct. In fact, he had already been certain in his heart that Zhang Luan was a liar.

Shopkeeper Qin sighed, "I have disturbed Mr. Wang's peace for no reason. I will go to his house to apologize later. Hurry up and give him the small gift I prepared for him, so that he will have more money when he returns."

"How can this be so embarrassing?"

Wang Ji said polite words, but in fact he accepted everyone who came.

After all, he was a doctor, and even if he came to visit because he heard about the strange incident, he was invited after all. The inviter had to pay for his travel expenses and compensate for his mental loss.

"Get your carriage ready. I will go to the Sun Mansion to find out what is going on. Merchants in Huizhou are very disciplined. How can we allow others to easily break the contract? We cannot let this matter go!"

Shopkeeper Qin was furious and was about to go to the Sun family to argue with Sun You.

(End of this chapter)