The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 994 - 973: Seeing a Doctor Part One (Extra - for the reward from book friend ’HuaXuCanMengShang...’)

Chapter 994: Chapter 973: Seeing a Doctor Part One (Extra Chapter for the reward from book friend ’HuaXuCanMengShang...’)

Manbao rushed out of the second courtyard with a backpack, where Bai Shan was already sitting in the carriage waiting.

Manbao jumped onto the carriage, handing the backpack to Bai Shan who brought it inside. Out of breath, she sat down across from him and noticed a book in his hands, so she asked, "Are you not going back to get some things?"

"Like what?"

"Money or something."

"Daji has some on him. If you want to buy something, you can borrow from Daji first."

Manbao responded, "I brought money."

As they chatted, Daji had already driven the carriage away, taking along a clerk from Jishi Hall en route to the Hall.

Curious, Manbao lifted the carriage curtain and spoke to the clerk atop the carriage, "Is it really Yin Huo who came to see me for treatment?"

The clerk, already familiar with Manbao, turned slightly and replied, "Yes, our shopkeeper was quite startled. Right now, Young Master Yin is waiting in the back hall. When he saw Young Doctor Zhou wasn’t there, he wanted to leave, but the shopkeeper persuaded him to stay, then sent me to urgently fetch Young Doctor Zhou."

Manbao brightened, and Bai Shan asked, "Did he come alone, or with someone?"

"Only a servant with him," the clerk chuckled, adding, "That’s rare because Young Master Yin usually has a whole entourage with him when he goes out, afraid of being bullied. People outside tend to steer clear of him when they see his entourage."

Bai Shan and Manbao exchanged glances and didn’t inquire further.

Upon arriving at Jishi Hall, Manbao hopped off the carriage and darted inside, fearful that the rare patient she had found might slip away.

Bai Shan lagged behind, leisurely taking the backpack out of the carriage and putting the book he was holding into it before carrying everything into Jishi Hall.

Yin Huo, already somewhat restless, had drunk half a cup of tea. Realizing Manbao still hadn’t arrived, he stood intending to leave.

Shopkeeper Zheng hurriedly tried to detain him, but Yin Huo didn’t wish to stay any longer. Without speaking, he just nodded at Shopkeeper Zheng and proceeded toward the exit.

Manbao burst into the room just then and, seeing Yin Huo, her eyes brightened. Out of breath, she asked, "Are you here for a treatment?"

Yin Huo intended to say no, but Manbao swiftly intervened, "My clinic is outside, follow me."

With that, she turned and walked outside.

Yin Huo hesitated momentarily, then had to follow her.

While walking, Manbao explained, "Today is the first day of the month. I take two days off every ten days, the same as your Gouzi School. However, I’ve told the shopkeeper that you’re my patient. If you come, he should have someone call me since my home is particularly close..."

Yin Huo glanced at her, thinking she was as chatty as his sisters, yet felt a distinct difference.

Bai Shan was already inside the clinic with the backpack, sorting through items one by one. Seeing Yin Huo enter, he nodded in acknowledgment.

Yin Huo’s servant and Daji stood guard outside the clinic with both exchanging looks, neither appearing friendly.

Inside, however, the scene was different. Manbao had lit the stove to boil water and asked Yin Huo, "Do you drink tea?"

Before Yin Huo could respond, she continued, "I don’t really like tea, neither does Bai Shan. We both drink plain water; you’re unwell and need medication, so it’s best not to drink tea."

After stating this, Manbao still asked, "Do you want tea?"

Yin Huo raised his eyes and said, "Didn’t you just say I should avoid tea?"

"Yes, but what if you like it?"

Yin Huo tilted his head, inquiring, "Even if I like it, is it okay if it’s bad for my health?"

Manbao hesitated momentarily before replying, "It depends. Actually, some teas don’t significantly affect medication. If you really want to drink, I can make some for you."

Yin Huo then said, "Then, please make me a cup of tea."

Manbao agreed and went out to find tea leaves for him, leaving Bai Shan and Yin Huo sitting together.

Across the diagnosing table, Yin Huo and Manbao sat face to face, while Bai Shan pulled up a small stool to sit beside them. As soon as Manbao left, the two men looked up and met each other’s gaze.

Bai Shan said, "I thought you wouldn’t come."

Yin Huo lowered his eyes and did not speak.

Bai Shan went over to the stove, slowly pulled out some of the charcoal to brighten the fire, and Yin Huo’s gaze followed his actions, relaxing a bit as he watched him gently stirring the charcoal.

After tending to the fire in the stove, Bai Shan slightly turned his head back and asked, "Yin Huo, do you have friends?"

Yin Huo pursed his lips.

Bai Shan said, "Very few? I have few friends too, but there are one or two with whom I can share my innermost thoughts. Whenever there’s something bothering me, I go to them."

Yin Huo asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Bai Shan said, "At first, I had no ill intentions towards you. In my eyes, you were no different from the other classmates. It was only since the day before yesterday that I started to dislike you."

Yin Huo felt a tumult of emotions, and Bai Shan saw his chest heaving and his eyes beginning to redden, realizing that he was agitated, yet he remained unaware, his face still cold.

Bai Shan said, "Your sisters are too overbearing. I’ve seen overbearing people before, but it’s the first time I encountered someone who harbors resentment over such trivial matters. However, after talking to you in the carriage the day before yesterday, I realized it wasn’t your fault, so I ended up not disliking you after all."

"But I’ve noticed that many people in the academy seem to dislike you," Bai Shan continued, "Nobody knows you’re sick, nobody realizes that you don’t cry on purpose, it’s just that your illness doesn’t allow you too much emotion. Do you want to live your whole life burdened with these misunderstandings?"

Yin Huo suddenly raised his voice, "A lifetime is not that long."

Bai Shan looked down at him.

Yin Huo’s eyes reddened even more. After taking a couple of deep breaths and somewhat calming his emotions, he said, "Let them misunderstand, then. I don’t need friends."

"Then why are you here?"

Yin Huo’s already pale face turned even whiter. He got up abruptly and turned to leave, but at that moment, Manbao came in with a packet of tea, saying, "I found a type of tea. It smells good, quite mild, just right for you. Is the water boiling?"

The last sentence was directed at Bai Shan.

Bai Shan stretched out a hand to check and replied, "Almost there."

Pleased, Manbao, noticing Yin Huo standing with a pale face, handed the tea leaves to Bai Shan to make the tea, then looking worriedly at Yin Huo, she asked, "What’s wrong, are you feeling unwell?"

Yin Huo glanced at Bai Shan then said, "No, I’m leaving."

"But how can you leave? I haven’t taken your pulse yet."

"Didn’t you check it the day before yesterday?"

"But you didn’t answer my questions then, and a person’s pulse can change. Not just over a day, but even an hour can make a difference, so I need to take it again."

Yin Huo quietly looked at Manbao, then after a long moment asked, "How old are you this year?"

Caught off guard, Manbao replied, "Fifteen."

Bai Shan almost choked on his own saliva; he stared at Manbao, knowing she liked to round up her age and often added two years, but even for her, claiming almost fifteen when she wasn’t even thirteen yet was excessive.

Yin Huo looked at her skeptically, "You’re fifteen? Only a year younger than me?"

Brightened up, Manbao asked, "Is that your nominal age or your real age?"

"Real age."

Manbao then sized him up from head to toe, "It seems your health really isn’t good."

Being sixteen in real age, he looked about the same as Bai Shan, even appearing younger than him at times due to his frailty.