Chapter 25: Zhou Xianming with a bruised face

Chapter 25: Zhou Xianming, with a Black Nose and Swollen Face

“I’m back.”

“You’re back? The hot water is all ready.”

An Jing felt a bit strange. Usually, whenever he returned from a house call, Zhao Qingmei would always greet him warmly, but today she only replied with a casual remark.

“Madam, I’m back.”

An Jing smiled and walked over to Zhao Qingmei. “It’s so late, and you’re still mending clothes. You must be tired.”

“These clothes are torn; it’s better to get new ones.”

“Then why is Madam still mending them?”

“The weather is getting cold soon, and many people in the beggar’s alley in the south of the city don’t have clothes to wear.”

“I see.”

An Jing nodded. He noticed that Zhao Qingmei seemed a little off.

“Madam, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

Zhao Qingmei put down the clothes, looked up, and smiled, “No, not at all. Husband, you should go take a bath quickly. You smell too strongly of rouge.”

Although she was still smiling, it made people feel a pang of sympathy.

An Jing gave two guilty laughs, then inwardly cursed himself for being foolish, having completely forgotten about that detail.

“Madam…”

“Go on.”

Zhao Qingmei continued to lower her head, mending clothes by the lamplight.

By the time An Jing had finished bathing and washing up, Zhao Qingmei was already lying in bed, her eyes gently closed, seemingly fast asleep.

An Jing carefully lay down beside her, afraid of waking her.

Soon, even breathing sounds gradually began to fill the room.

Zhao Qingmei gently opened her eyes, looking at the man lying in front of her.

Even if An Jing was dense, he could now feel that his wife was angry.

Although she still cooked medicinal porridge and dried herbs as usual, and spoke to An Jing with a gentle tone, this made An Jing quite troubled.

He guessed his wife had found out about the pleasure boat. How should he explain?

Should he say he didn't sneak a taste?

Would she believe it?

An Jing leaned against the door, his palm constantly stroking Xiao Heizi.

“Tan Yun, where did Madam go?”

“She left early this morning to donate clothes in the south of the city.”

“Tan Yun, where did I put my Poria?”

“Young Master, why are you looking for Poria?”

“Nothing, just asking.”

“Tan Yun…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“What is your Young Miss like when she’s angry?”

“I… I don’t know.”

Tan Yun seemed to remember something and shivered.

Time passed, and people came for medicine from time to time, keeping An Jing busy.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon.

“After you go back, remember not to eat spicy food. Your diet should be light. Decoction this medicine for one hour, once in the morning and once in the evening. After ten days, come back, and I’ll check on you.” An Jing packed the herbs in kraft paper and instructed.

“Thank you, Dr. An.”

The woman took the herbs, thanked him repeatedly, and then slowly left.

“It’s raining. Why hasn’t Madam returned yet?”

An Jing walked to the door, frowning.

At this moment, the fine rain was like silk, falling upon the earth, and the Yuzhou River was shrouded in a mist.

Zhao Qingmei had left early in the morning and had been out for almost two hours. She had never been out alone for so long without returning.

“I don’t know either.”

Tan Yun also poked her small head out, glancing outside a few times.

“You watch the pharmacy; I’ll go look for her.”

An Jing’s heart sank. He picked up the oil-paper umbrella from the shelf and walked outside.

“Where are you going?”

Just then, Zhao Qingmei, carrying a vegetable basket, walked in from a distance.

An Jing saw Zhao Qingmei and said, “I saw you had been out for over two hours and hadn’t returned…”

“Husband, don’t worry.”

Zhao Qingmei covered her mouth and chuckled, “Are you afraid something would happen to me? I’ll be fine.”

“Of course, I’m afraid.”

“Young Miss, you’re back.”

Tan Yun quickly walked forward and took the vegetable basket, then saw the white paper in Zhao Qingmei’s hand and asked, “What is that you’re holding?”

“It was distributed at the notice board. It seems like the Cao Gang’s master is going to challenge that mysterious swordsman.”

Zhao Qingmei picked up the white paper and handed it to Tan Yun, smiling, “I thought the drawing was very interesting, so I brought one back.”

“Young Miss, let me see.”

Tan Yun took the white paper and then also burst into laughter, “The people of the Cao Gang actually used this method to challenge that Peerless Swordsman.”

“Yes, it’s very interesting.”

“I think from now on, everyone won’t call this swordsman a Peerless Swordsman; they should call him a Pig-Headed Swordsman.”

“Hahahahaha.”

“What is it? Let me see too.”

An Jing watched the two of them chatting and laughing, and also leaned over and said.

“Tan Yun, let’s go cook.”

Zhao Qingmei saw An Jing approaching, handed the paper to An Jing, and then walked towards the kitchen.

“Yes.”

Tan Yun stuck out her tongue at An Jing and followed her.

An Jing picked up the white paper on the table and looked at it.

It turned out that the Cao Gang wanted to challenge him and were searching everywhere for his whereabouts, their words harsh and tinged with provocation.

Presumably, these papers had already spread throughout Yu Prefecture, and their purpose was to force him to appear.

“Too childish.”

An Jing looked at the white paper in his hand and shook his head. This kind of taunt only works on some inexperienced youngsters.

Saying that, he crumpled the paper in his hand and threw it into the wastebasket.

“Dr. An…”

Just then, a person wrapped up tightly, walked in stealthily.

An Jing looked at the person, puzzled, “You are…?”

“I… I’m Zhou Xianming.”

The person removed the bamboo hat wrapped around him, his voice tinged with a hint of a sob.

Looking at Zhou Xianming in front of him, An Jing was completely stunned.

He saw that his nose was black and his face was swollen, like a pig’s head. It was as if he had become a different person. Even if An Jing knew Zhou Xianming, he still couldn’t recognize him from this outline, which showed how severe the injuries were.

“You… what happened to you?” An Jing swallowed and asked.

“I… I don’t know either. When I came out early this morning, I was covered with a sack, and then punches rained down on my head like a storm, knocking me out. When I woke up, I was like this.”

Zhou Xianming said, tears in his eyes, “Dr. An, it hurts so much… Wuwuwu…”

Zhou Xianming didn’t need to say it; An Jing could tell from his appearance that it must have hurt a lot.

Who could be so deranged!?

It seemed like there was a significant grudge with Zhou Xianming.

“Dr. An, tell me, who have I offended recently…? Why is Heaven so unfair to me?”

The more Zhou Xianming spoke, the more bitter he felt. Thinking of his recent misfortunes, his crying grew louder.

“Don’t cry.”

An Jing patted Zhou Xianming’s shoulder, sighing helplessly.

Logically speaking, who would have a problem with a poor scholar like him?

This old fellow must have provoked someone. Could it be related to the Jianghu person from last night?

“Who is it!?”

Zhao Qingmei heard the crying and also came out from the backyard.