Chapter 31: Ghost Talk in the Courtyard

Time passed by, and the number of people waiting to see the doctor finally decreased.

Su Yi rubbed his temples and glanced casually, only to see a servant holding a teapot, brewing a steaming cup of herbal tea for him.

"Sir, please have some water to moisten your throat," the servant said respectfully and humbly.

Hu Quan and the others on the side smiled as they watched the scene.

At this point, all the old staff members of the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall had been completely convinced by Su Yi's methods.

The profound impact on their hearts was beyond words.

"Only true strength can truly win people's heartfelt admiration."

Not far away, witnessing this change, Huang Qianjun's heart surged with emotions.

He vaguely understood why his father insisted on finding opportunities for him to interact more with Su Yi.

At first, these people from the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall were all arrogant and disrespectful.

But now, they all lowered their heads in admiration!

Did Su Yi overpower them with his influence?

No, it was his incredible medical skills, which silently convinced everyone in the room!

Su Yi picked up the cup of herbal tea and took a sip before saying, "From today onwards, I will reside in the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall."

Hu Quan immediately responded, "Sir, there is an unused courtyard behind the medical hall. I will have someone clean it up and prepare some daily necessities for you. Do you need servants to handle laundry, serve tea, or cook?"

Su Yi shook his head and said, "No need. Just clean up the courtyard and the house."

Hu Quan nodded and made a mental note.

As the manager of the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall, he was in charge of various trivial matters. Now, after being convinced by Su Yi, he willingly pledged his allegiance to Su Yi as the new shopkeeper.

"In the future, you will be in charge of everything in the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall. Everyone will do their respective tasks, and I will only be responsible for finances and accounts," Su Yi instructed. He had no intention of spending all his time and energy on the medical hall.

After thinking for a moment, Su Yi added, "Of course, if there are any difficult and incurable diseases, you can come to me. As for general illnesses, they can be handled by the physicians in the medical hall."

Just as he finished speaking, a burly man, like a tower of iron, walked into the medical hall.

Hu Quan and the others immediately recognized him. He had come before but left when he found out that Physician Wu Guangbin was not there, grumbling as he turned away.

And now, he had returned.

"Um... Sir Su, I was too rude before. Please forgive me," the man said, feeling somewhat embarrassed, as he clasped his fists and apologized to Su Yi.

"Have you ever been married?" Su Yi's gaze became somewhat peculiar.

The man nodded hurriedly, "Yes."

Su Yi picked up a pen and wrote two characters on a piece of paper, which he handed to the man. "You are not sick. Follow these two characters, '' (jiè nǒng), and within three months, you will completely recover."

The man took the paper and looked at it, feeling puzzled. "What... What does the second character mean?"

Hu Quan and the others couldn't help but be curious. They gathered around and took a look, bursting into laughter.

At this moment, Huang Qianjun finally understood and laughed heartily, "This guy looks so burly, yet he actually enjoys single-handed combat!"

Hu Quan and the others chuckled mischievously, their smiles full of suggestive meaning.

Men, they all understood.

With this little episode, the atmosphere in the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall suddenly became much more harmonious, filled with a joyful vibe.

Seeing that there were no more patients to attend to, Su Yi stood up and said, "Take me to the place where I will be staying."

Hu Quan quickly called two servants and led the way for Su Yi. They went through the back door of the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall and soon arrived at a peaceful courtyard in the rear.

...

Meanwhile, not far from the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall, in a tea house.

"Old Wu, look at this prescription. The medicinal ingredients and herbal references used are simply ingenious!" exclaimed a middle-aged man.

His name was Tan Feng, one of the physicians at the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall.

Beside him were an elderly man with white hair and a stern-looking man with dark skin.

The former was named Wu Guangbin, a renowned old physician in Guangling City.

The latter was Wei Tong, who, like Tan Feng, worked at the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall.

However, upon learning that Su Yi, this useless son-in-law, was going to take over the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall, the three physicians each found an excuse to hide in this tea house, waiting to see Su Yi being driven away.

But to their surprise, they had been waiting for a long time and had not witnessed such a scene.

Instead, they saw all the patients waiting in line outside the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall being treated one by one!

This surprised Wu Guangbin and the others, prompting them to invite some patients into the tea house and inquire in detail about their medical experiences.

The results startled them.

Su Yi, this insignificant son-in-law of the Wen family, was actually proficient in medicine!

"Old Wu, the method Su Yi used to treat the 'Echo Worm' has truly amazed me," Wei Tong exclaimed.

There was a patient who would hear repetitive sounds whenever they spoke, as if there was something evil lurking inside their body.

But Su Yi said that the patient had mistakenly ingested an "Echo Worm." He took out a medicinal book and asked the patient to read aloud the names of various herbs from the book.

Every time the patient read a herb's name, the sound in their abdomen would repeat.

However, when they reached the three characters "Lei Wan Cao" (Thunder Pill Herb), the sound in their abdomen suddenly ceased.

Su Yi immediately instructed the servants to fetch a Thunder Pill Herb and had the patient swallow it, resulting in a complete recovery as the patient vomited out a small worm the size of a fingernail, precisely the Echo Worm.

Tan Feng, who was present, also marveled, "And the technique of saving a patient by piercing the arm with a silver needle is equally enigmatic and unpredictable. I can't grasp the profoundness behind it."

Without uttering a word throughout, Wu Guangbin suddenly stood up and strode purposefully towards the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall.

"What are you planning to do, Old Wu?" Tan Feng and Wei Tong hastily got up and followed him.

...

In a courtyard situated at the rear of the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall.

Three houses with gray-tiled roofs were arranged in a shape, with vegetable plots and pergolas on one side. In the center of the courtyard stood a robust and sturdy locust tree. Next to it was a water well, its cover sealed with rusty chains.

Due to years of neglect, dust, weeds, and cobwebs were visible throughout the courtyard.

As it was nearing noon, the scorching sunlight permeated the area.

Hu Quan directed the two servants to clean the courtyard and arrange some items.

Su Yi stood beneath the locust tree, observing the courtyard with a slight furrow in his brow.

"Master, although this courtyard has been abandoned for several years, with a little tidying up, it can become a convenient and comfortable dwelling place," Hu Quan remarked with a smile.

Out of the blue, Su Yi inquired, "Has something unfortunate occurred here in the past?"

Hu Quan paused, furrowed his brow, and contemplated for a moment before responding, "Now that you mention it, I do recall something."

"Approximately nine years ago, one of our Apricot Yellow Medical Hall's physicians and two apprentice pharmacists resided in this courtyard. However, one night, they all unexpectedly passed away."

Hu Quan pointed towards the water well sealed by chains and continued, "The physician drowned in this well, and when his body was retrieved, the flesh had decomposed. The bodies of the two apprentices turned into desiccated husks, hanging from the branches of this locust tree."

As he spoke, he gestured towards the tree's branches overhead.

A glimmer flickered in Su Yi's eyes as he queried, "Did they transform into desiccated husks, devoid of blood, flesh, and organs, inexplicably?"

Hu Quan was taken aback. "Master, how did you know?"

Su Yi offered no explanation and stated, "So, ever since then, this courtyard has fallen into neglect?"

"Indeed, it is believed to be an ill-fated dwelling... um, Master, I never intended for you to stay here. It's just that this is the only available place for us at the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall," Hu Quan hastily clarified, appearing somewhat anxious.

Su Yi smiled and replied, "It's not a problem. In my opinion, it's rather pleasant here."

Huang Qianjun enthusiastically offered, "Su Ge, with such a spacious courtyard, it's inevitable to feel lonely living here alone. Shall I find some young and charming girls to serve you? Rest assured, their appearance and personality will surely satisfy you!"

Su Yi smiled faintly. "In your eyes, am I seen as that kind of extravagant and indulgent person?"

"Haha, Su Ge, please don't misunderstand. How could I dare to assume such a thing?" Huang Qianjun quickly responded.

Huang Qianjun's forehead broke out in a cold sweat as he quickly denied, realizing that he had gone overboard with his flattery and ended up overdoing it.

However, Su Yi paused for a moment and said, "Do me a favor. Go to the market and catch a sturdy rooster, the fiercer, the better. Also, prepare some fresh willow branches and a three-foot-long piece of ten-year-old green peach wood."

What could these things be for?

Although Huang Qianjun was extremely curious, the fact that Su Yi had instructed him to do something had already made him ecstatic. He immediately turned around and hurriedly left.

"Wait a moment, Su Ge, I'll be back in no time!"

His voice echoed, but he had already disappeared.

Hu Quan couldn't help but marvel. This Huang Qianjun, who was so arrogant and wicked, actually bowed down and obeyed Su Yi's orders. It truly opened his eyes!

"Master, what are you preparing these things for?" Hu Quan was also curious.

Rooster, peach wood, willow branches... These seemed to be items that itinerant Taoist priests used to ward off evil spirits. Could it be that Master suspected there were ghosts in this mansion?

At the thought, Hu Quan shivered.

Ghosts!

For the ordinary people of Guangling City, they were not unfamiliar. There were many reliable rumors stating that fierce ghosts appeared on the Ghost Mother Ridge outside the city!

"Just making some preparations, just in case," Su Yi explained briefly.

At that moment, three figures hurriedly walked into the courtyard.

The elderly white-haired man at the forefront bowed respectfully upon seeing Su Yi. "This old one is Wu Guangbin. I am deeply sorry and have come to apologize!"

Tan Feng and Wei Tong quickly followed suit, apologizing.

Su Yi glanced at them and immediately understood. "Ignorance is not a crime. Let this matter rest. The Apricot Yellow Medical Hall still needs the three of you to oversee it. Get up quickly. However, I hope there won't be a next time."

Wu Guangbin and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Hu Quan was also delighted and said, "I won't hide it from the three of you. Although Young Master is young, his medical skills are extraordinary. You haven't seen..."

He opened his mouth and enthusiastically recounted Su Yi's previous treatment methods, speaking with excitement.

There were many things that Wu Guangbin and the others were unaware of, but at this moment, they couldn't help but be captivated, feeling a deep longing in their hearts.

Until Hu Quan finished speaking, they all had a look of admiration when facing Su Yi.