It was not only Dolsok who was blinking his eyes at Kanghyokâs marvelous operation. The doctor crouching in the corner was also speechless and blinking his eyes. He just couldnât say anything to save his face.
Both of them were just looking at Kanghyokâs lips.
Kanghyok took out the appendix he incised and put it on gauze. It was originally as thick as a little finger, but it was now more than twice as thick as two little fingers together.
Kanghyok stared back at Dolsok and the doctor watching him silently.
âHow do I explain to them?â
As a young medical professor, he had lots of experience with teaching students. But he had no experience whatsoever when it came to laymen.
âI think I should adjust my explanation to their learning level.â
It was pretty discourteous to bundle together Dolsok, a servant, and the doctor of a noble family for his lecture.
Pointing at Oksokâs appendix, he asked, âWhat does it look like?â
âIt looks wicked.â As he answered, the appendix did indeed look wicked.
âOksok felt pain because of this. Let me show it to you fully.â
âUgh, what the heck is it, master?â Covering his nostrils, Dolsok asked.
Frowning badly, the doctor pinched his nose.
âThis is a tissue that protrudes slightly from the cecum, called the appendix, and it is assumed that its function is related to immunity. Once clogged, it doesnât heal so well that it causes inflammation. Itâs also called appendicitis. It is said to be mainly blocked by stools.â
After he thought of explaining like this, Kanghyok shook his head. Itâs just dumb to talk about anything so dull to them. So, he decided to give it a pass.
âItâs just called a bad guy. Very bad guy.â
âYeah, I agree. Very bad.â
And so, Oksokâs appendix tissue was called a bad guy.
Then, the doctor, who was making a blank face all along, changed his facial expression. He wanted to pretend he knew something.
âNow I know you drove a bad spirit out of Oksokâs body, master. I thought youâre just a playboy, but it looks like youâve got some mysterious skills.â
Did the doctor mention âbad spiritâ?
Hearing that, Kanghyok felt his head ache a little.
Stopping talking for a moment, he looked at the doctor. He wasnât sure whether to talk down to the doctor or not.
âGiven the way he spoke to me, he looks like a nobleman.â Not so sure, Kanghyok decided to speak as he liked.
âRight, you donât have to worry about Oksok from now on. Heâll be better.â
The doctor didnât express any displeasure. âGot it.â
âBy the way, I apologize for a while ago. Apologize to the doctor, Dolsok.â
âIâm sorry, sir.â
The doctor was more polite than expected. Waving his hand, he even smiled and said, âYouâre welcome. Never mind!â And then he left Kanghyokâs house in no time.
Of course, he didnât forget to say goodbye to Sungmun. He didnât even receive a bag of rice and paper bundle in return for his medical service.
âKanghyok did all the job, sir. You donât have to worry.â
âAre you sure? That bastard cured him?â
âYes, sir, I didnât do anything,â said the doctor, praising Kanghyok.
Though he was a quack, he was kind-hearted.
âI feel a bit sorry about him.â
Kanghyok then cast a glance at Oksok.
âHe needs to have antibiotic pills for at least three days.â
Oksokâs appendix was on the verge of rupturing.
High fever, cold sweat and fast pulse troubled him. There was a real possibility that an infection might have invaded his organs through his blood.
He opened the bag and took out the antibiotics. He took out four and gave them to Dolsok.
âGrind these two pills and then mix it in water before giving it to Oksok. Give the other two tomorrow morning.â
âYes, master.â As Dolsok never saw this before, he didnât know what else to say.
As he took care of the most urgent problem now, Kanghyok stood up.
âWhat happened to Oksok? Did you treat him as the doctor said?â asked Sungmun.
âYes, father. Heâll be alright.â
Sticking his head in, he looked inside Oksokâs room.
Oksok looked much more at ease than before.
âBy cracky! Youâre got great skills that I donât know.â
âOh, itâs nothing worth mentioning about.â
âNo, no, I thought Oksok might not survive. I feel relieved to see him sleeping like that. Take a break as you must be tired.â
Sungmun tapped Kanghyok on the shoulder and walked into the main living room, folding his hands.
Dolsok was absent-minded, taking care of Oksok these days.
âLet me find out where Iâm now. If my guess is right...â
Kanghyok frowned a lot.
If he really travelled to the past, this was the worst that could happen to him.
He might lose all the honor and prestige that he earned in the present world, let alone the money he made frugally.
He quickly moved toward his house. Fortunately, his house was big.
Initially, he didnât know anything as he was so preoccupied. Now, he realized that there were as many as twenty servants that he saw directly.
âLet me get out of the house and look around then.â
Kanghyok went out of the house right away. And for a while he remained standing where he was, not taking off a step.
Lots of people dressed in old and shabby clothes moved around busily. Most of them were putting on white clothes, and washed out ones stained with dirt. From this, Kanghyok could immediately figure it out: âThis is not the folk village that I used to know.â
As it became darker, he was convinced that this was the old Korea.
âDamn it. The stars are so bright here.â
It seemed there were many more stars in the sky than all the stars he saw during his life.
A bell rang when it got dark.
âMaster, letâs come in. The curfew bell just rang.â Dolsok was already beside him.
âReally?â
âYeah, if you run into a soldier on night-duty, you might get in trouble. Itâs cold outside. Letâs come in.â
When he came into the room, it felt warm, as if someone already heated it.
Rubbing both hands, Dolsok said, âGood night, master!â
âSure, you too.â
After he let Dolsok out, Kanghyok lay on the blanket. As the floor was hard on his back, he couldnât go to sleep easily.
âI clearly met the chairman and did something before I came here...â
He couldnât recall anything at all.
âLet me first focus on treating Oksok before thinking about how to get out.â