8. Physical weakness due to long days of hard work

Chapter 8: Many Days of Toil Weaken the Physique

The next day, early morning.

The sky was streaked with fish-belly white, the heavy dew sinking, and the morning Qi rising.

“The weather is truly good.”

An Jing, as usual, opened the clinic door, then stretched contentedly.

“Husband, the medicinal porridge is ready.” Zhao Qingmei smiled as she walked out from the inner hall.

“Brother An!”

Just as An Jing was about to turn around, Han Wenxin rushed over from a distance.

“So this is the Young Miss.”

Han Wenxin looked at Zhao Qingmei beside An Jing, and his heart was instantly startled. So the Miss Zhao that An Jing married was so beautiful.

That shouldn't be. Logically speaking, he is a doctor in Yu Prefecture City, and I am a young and promising constable in Yu Prefecture City.

“This is my wife,” An Jing said with a smile.

Han Wenxin said sourly, “Brother An, you truly have good fortune. It seems you really saved Uncle Niu’s life. No, you definitely saved the Young Miss’s life.”

“Brother Han is joking,” Zhao Qingmei said with a charming smile.

An Jing saw Han Wenxin’s expression, and his heart was very happy. He said, “Brother Han, you came to find me so early in the morning, what is the matter?”

Han Wenxin then remembered why he had come and quickly said, “Wang He and Wang Zhiping are both dead, and their deaths were extremely cruel and terrifying. Even the coroner who has worked for decades in the county yamen shook his head repeatedly after seeing them.”

“Oh?”

An Jing showed a surprised expression, “Is that true?”

He already knew that Wang Zhiping had been killed, and at this moment, he was merely putting on a show.

“Absolutely true.”

Han Wenxin took a deep breath, then looked around and said seriously, “I’ll tell you an even scarier piece of news: not only are Wang He and Wang Zhiping dead, but their entire clan has been killed. Counting carefully, a total of three hundred and twenty-seven people died yesterday alone.”

“Do you know what this means? Exterminating an entire clan! They must have offended someone they shouldn’t have.”

“Is it that terrifying?” Zhao Qingmei showed a very frightened expression, leaning closer to An Jing.

It was the height of summer, but Han Wenxin felt a strong wind rushing into his sleeves, and a sound like something shattering echoed.

“Madam, don’t panic.”

An Jing gently patted Zhao Qingmei’s shoulder and said in a deep voice, “In that case, they must have provoked a very terrifying figure.”

“Indeed.”

Han Wenxin nodded, then sneered, “These two, Uncle and Nephew Wang, committed all sorts of evil deeds, arrogant and overbearing, thinking that with the Cao Gang backing them, they could rest easy. A small坛主 (altar master) is also a minor figure in the Cao Gang. To silently kill over two hundred people in a single day without leaving any traces, this sufficiently shows how terrifying the power behind it is. Will the Cao Gang offend this power for the sake of Wang He and Wang Zhiping?”

An Jing raised an eyebrow and said, “Brother Han, do you perhaps know who is behind this?”

“Brother An, you jest. How would I know who is behind this?”

Han Wenxin shook his head, confidently stating, “Early this morning, the Gold Character Constable of the Black Robe Guard even came. He is investigating the person who made the move behind this. I think since even the Gold Character Constable has been dispatched, results will be found very soon.”

The Black Robe Guard is divided into Gold, Silver, and Bronze Rank Constables. These constables are the most outstanding ones selected from across the Great Yan. The lowest cultivation for a Bronze Rank Constable requires Fifth Grade, while a Silver Character Constable is Third Grade, and a Gold Character Constable is Second Grade cultivation. These are the strengths on the surface. It is said that there are also Jade Character Constables and the Black Robe Guard’s Grand Governor.

An Jing wasn’t entirely clear on the specifics, but he estimated that a Jade Character Constable should be Second Grade cultivation, or even higher.

After all, that was the power of the imperial court, and Black Robe Guard experts were explicitly forbidden from being listed on the Jianghu rankings. Their specific strength was generally unknown to most people.

Han Wenxin rubbed his hands and said, “Since the Gold Character Constable has come this time, I must make good connections. Perhaps in a few years, I’ll have a chance to join the Black Robe Guard and become a Bronze Rank Constable.”

“Then I wish Brother Han a bright future,” An Jing said with a clasped-fist salute and a smile.

“Don’t just talk, Brother An. You need to provide some practical and useful help.”

“How can I help?”

“If Brother An encounters any demonic cultists, you must report it to me. Catching a single demonic cultist is a great meritorious deed!”

Han Wenxin licked his lips excitedly.

Next to Ji Shi Clinic was a teahouse, where news traveled fast and many people gathered. Han Wenxin wanted to befriend An Jing partly because he wanted to develop An Jing into his informant.

If he achieved a great meritorious deed, he would also marry a beautiful wife to cook for him, wash his clothes, warm his bed, and fold his quilts.

Zhao Qingmei looked at the excited Han Wenxin with a sweet smile, not speaking.

An Jing laughed heartily, patting Han Wenxin’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, if I ever know the whereabouts of those demonic cultists, I’ll be the first to report to Brother Han. When Brother Han becomes a Jade Character Constable, you must look after your brother a little.”

“Hahahahaha.”

Han Wenxin also started laughing, then suddenly felt a chill down his spine, “Brother An, why do I feel a bit cold?”

“Now that you mention it, it does feel a bit cold.”

“In this scorching summer, could I be ill?”

The following days were very peaceful.

Half a month passed in a blink of an eye.

Zhao Qingmei would prepare different dishes every day, and An Jing enjoyed various delicious meals daily.

An ordinary, common self; an ordinary, common wife.

Life was peaceful and happy.

Except for Xiao Ya, who would occasionally be listless and doze off on the medicine cabinet.

This afternoon, An Jing was rummaging through cabinets, looking for herbs.

“Husband, what are you looking for? You’ve been busy all morning.”

Zhao Qingmei walked out from the back hall, asking curiously.

“Oh, I’m looking for some herbs,” An Jing said casually.

“You don’t even remember where the herbs are kept, how muddled you are.” Zhao Qingmei poked An Jing’s forehead with her finger, playfully chiding, “Do you want me to help you look?”

“No, no, it’s just some herbs I haven’t used in a long time. I’ll find them myself.”

An Jing gave two dry laughs.

“Alright, then you go ahead and be busy.”

Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing suspiciously, always feeling something was strange.

Before long, An Jing carried a large wine jar and placed it on the counter, then successively poured the found herbs into the wine jar.

“This is a treasure.”

An Jing, having finished all this, showed a relieved smile, then carefully carried the wine jar and placed it on the table in the back hall.

“Are you making medicinal wine?” Zhao Qingmei walked out with a vegetable basket, asking.

“Hahahaha, just casually making some,” An Jing said guiltily.

“Little Dr. An, is Little Dr. An in?”

Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

“Someone’s here for a consultation, I’ll go see.”

An Jing, as if pardoned, quickly walked to the front hall.

The patient was none other than the storyteller, Mr. Zhou, but at this moment, his face was pale, weak, and he seemed to float when he walked.

“Mr. Zhou, what’s wrong with you?” An Jing asked, somewhat surprised.

“Lately, I always feel weak in my legs, my body is soft, and my head is buzzing,” Mr. Zhou sighed.

“Mr. Zhou, could it be that you’ve been to the pleasure houses too much and have depleted your body with wine and women?” An Jing asked with a sigh.

“Who is it?”

At this moment, Xiao Ya also rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out.

“No, I haven’t been to the pleasure houses much lately.”

Mr. Zhou sighed, “You don’t know, Little Dr. An, I have to teach people to write and read every night, it’s really too tiring.”

“Teaching writing and reading shouldn’t be that tiring, right?” An Jing stroked his chin, asking in surprise.

“Yes, that person is as stupid as a pig. I… I…”

Mr. Zhou seemed like a string that could no longer hold.

“Alas.”

An Jing sighed.

In his previous life, there were also parents who cried out of frustration from failing to teach their children. He didn’t expect to actually encounter it this time.

Neither of them saw Xiao Ya, standing in front of the medicine cabinet, her face dark, her fists clenched tightly, and her eyes seemingly flickering with fire.

“Then I’ll prescribe a few doses of calming medicine for you.”

“Thank you, Little Dr. An.”

An Jing was in the middle of grabbing herbs when Mr. Zhou leaned over, his face somewhat flushed, “Little Dr. An, why does your maidservant keep looking at me?”

Could it be that Little Dr. An’s beautiful maidservant has taken a liking to him?

Thinking this, Mr. Zhou’s heart trembled.

He was a poor scholar, already over thirty, and still hadn’t found a wife.

Although Tan Yun was Little Dr. An’s maidservant, she looked gentle and lovable, evoking pity.

An Jing glanced at Tan Yun, who was engrossed in reading, and shook his head, “This, this I wouldn’t know.”

Finally, An Jing prepared the herbs for Mr. Zhou. Mr. Zhou couldn’t help but glance at Tan Yun several times, then left reluctantly.

Night fell, and all was silent. Ji Shi Clinic also closed for the day.

An Jing rubbed his waist, then tiptoed towards the back hall.

“Brother~!”

Zhao Qingmei spotted An Jing immediately, quickly put down the book in her hand, and her face flushed.

“Qing Mei, you’re not asleep yet? Why is your face so red?”

An Jing asked, surprised, “Are you sick?”

Zhao Qingmei lightly stepped on An Jing’s foot, her fair, slender, beautiful legs exposed, making him unable to resist.

“No, I’ve learned some new tricks.”

“What tricks?”

“Dragon Seeking Gold Swallowing, Heaven and Earth Overturning… Brother, do you want to try?”