"Ah Di, I really, really have to thank you this time. Without you, I truly wouldn't have known what to do just now."
A thirty-year-old man, eyes reddened, was wiping away tears.
If not for Liang Qu stepping forward to cover his autumn tax, he would've surely been taken to Azure Prefecture to dig the Grand Canal, a task of near-certain death.
Even if he miraculously survived, who knew how long it would take to come back.
By then, only his elderly father and wife would be left to take care of two young children.
How could they not fall apart?
Chen Qingjiang pulled the little Shun over and pressed his head down, "Shunzi, quick, kneel and kowtow to your Water Brother!"
"Hey, hey, Uncle Chen, there's no need, really no need."
Liang Qu was startled, hurriedly pulling Shunzi back with a bitter smile.
"I helped Uncle Chen, so Shunzi needs to kowtow to me? Then last time when Uncle Chen helped me, should I also be kowtowing to Uncle Chen? Is Uncle Chen indirectly reminding me that my effort wasn't enough?"
"Ah, well…"
Chen Qingjiang wiped his tears again and fell silent, no longer insisting on the kneeling.
Seeing this, Liang Qu felt more at ease, only lamenting how harsh the world was, where the poor could never catch a break.
Like the fishermen in Righteous Prosperity City, they work diligently all their lives just to have enough to eat, drink, and pay taxes to support their family.
Even if luck is on their side and they catch a Treasure Fish, it hardly changes their predicament.
At best, they could enjoy a few rounds of drinks, yet still, a simple cold could claim their lives.
They can't even afford to educate their children, let alone train in martial arts.
Perhaps joining the military is an option, but that's gambling with one's life.
More often, lives are lost while others enjoy the wealth.
"Ah Di is really righteous. He just gave up a stone's worth of grain without a second thought. He's training in martial arts. He can't be that well-off, can he? He probably poured all he had into it."
"Like something out of a storybook."
"Chen Qingjiang is really lucky to know Ah Di."
Onlookers, having returned from paying taxes, either spreading stories or witnessing firsthand, voiced their amazement.
Liang Qu remained silent; he had no intention to stand out.
In these times, being discreet and amassing wealth quietly was wiser.
"Brother Li, please carry Shunzi back home and inform his sister. Uncle Chen and I will take Grandpa Chen to the clinic first; that whip wasn't gentle."
Shunzi, only six years old, was worn out from the shock and had cried himself to sleep.
Liang Qu, holding his hand earlier, noted how Shunzi's head bumped against his leg several times.
If he didn't rest properly, he might fall seriously ill, further straining his already struggling family.
"Alright."
Li Libo agreed, looking at Liang Qu with a complicated expression.
Though they barely knew each other before, their relationship deepened somewhat after a certain Scabby-head Zhang conflict, evolving into what barely passed for drinking buddies—mutual invitations for meals and lending each other fishing nets.
But now, Li Libo realized he didn't understand Liang Qu at all.
A stone of grain, nearly a tael of silver, while Liang Qu was training in martial arts—where did he find that kind of money? It seemed he'd be going without meals for some time.
What was he aiming for?
Li Libo couldn't comprehend, but he felt Liang Qu was extraordinary, like one of those "characters" from a storyteller's tale.
"Thank you, Brother Li."
"No problem, it's not like I'd part with a stone of grain, but I can manage with some manual labor."
Hoisting Shunzi, Li Libo simply said "Let's go" and walked on without further words, determinedly moving forward.
"Thank you, too, Ah Di."
"Uncle Chen, let's skip the silly talk and hurry to the clinic. If we delay any longer, the wound could get infected and that'd be trouble."
The officer's whip was harsh and merciless, leaving a bloody wound on Chen Renxing, who, being of advanced age, couldn't withstand it and passed out.
Immediate treatment was necessary.
"Infection, what's that?"
"It's when a wound causes illness, any wound that draws blood is prone to infection and festering."
"Oh, oh, then we better hurry."
With that, they carried Chen Renxing swiftly to a small clinic within Righteous Prosperity City, allowing the doctor to treat his external injuries.
Uncovering the clothes revealed a wound so bloody, it made one's heart ache.
Liang Qu observed the doctor's techniques thoroughly—a rinse with cooled, boiled water, an application of medicinal powder, and bandaging with steamed white cloth.
While this world lacks the terminology for infection, the concept evidently exists.
"Your father is of age; such a serious injury requires proper care. Fortunately, the wound isn't severe. I'll write a prescription; follow it and administer the medicine daily."
"Alright, thank you, doctor."
"Xiao Zhang, take these gentlemen to fetch the medicine."
"This way, please."
After collecting the medicine, Liang Qu frowned, pointing to some block-like substances: "Doctor Zhang, could you replace these few medicines with ones having sharper edges?"
Startled, the attendant, surnamed Zhang, somewhat awkwardly nodded and replaced the medicines without a word.
Although confused, Chen Qingjiang refrained from questioning openly.
"Including medical fees, it totals eight qian and seven fen."
That's quite expensive, thought Liang Qu, alarmed.
Such a simple external injury nearing a tael of silver in cost.
Chen Qingjiang asked, "Can I write an IOU?"
"Yes, you can."
Familiar with the process, the attendant swiftly prepared the IOU, clearly accustomed to it.
Exiting the clinic with his father on his back, Chen Qingjiang asked Liang Qu, "Why did you have him change the medicine?"
"Those herbs had no edges. Usually, herbs without edges are old stock, either reused after drying again or salvaged after molding. The former merely offers reduced efficacy and financial strain, while the latter poses health risks. Of course, my assessment might not be spot on; it’s just to play it safe."
Shocked, Chen Qingjiang asked, "Where did you learn about these things?"
Having watched Ah Di grow up, he knew he never attended school, yet in the last two months, Ah Di seemed to transform into someone else entirely.
Chen Qingjiang had already heard from his family that Ah Di not only trained in martial arts but also improved vastly at fishing.
Now he seemed to understand various advanced knowledge.
Liang Qu scratched his head, but before explaining, Chen Qingjiang came to his conclusion, "Ah Di, you've had an epiphany, haven't you? Amazing!"
Liang Qu smiled awkwardly.
Indeed, he had an epiphany! A unique interpretation secured just for Chinese kids—suddenly excelling in academics or making unimaginable breakthroughs translates to having had an epiphany.
Suddenly excelling in academics is an epiphany.
A previously awkward individual suddenly becoming a romance expert is an epiphany.
A failing fisherman suddenly becoming a fishing master, that too is an epiphany.
Perfect, no need for more excuses.
"Such a pity, if only Brother Liang could see what you've become now," lamented Chen Qingjiang briefly before falling silent.
After a long pause, he added, "I’ll find a way to repay that stone of grain as soon as possible."
Liang Qu initially thought to refuse but noticed Chen Qingjiang's earnest demeanor, figuring it would do no good to argue: "I'm not in any hurry, you should focus on repaying the clinic bill first. The weather's going to get colder soon, you can't let Shunzi and Xiao Kui go hungry. Getting sick from repaying debts would only make things worse."
Chen Qingjiang nodded in agreement.
In silence, the two men continued to walk back home.
(End of Chapter)