Chapter 2: Chapter 2

The father was originally greeting other customers, not expecting them to stop, let alone Xu Qi asking questions. But he hesitated when he saw the person she pointed to.

Xu Zhi interpreted this as looking down on them and immediately spoke up to support her sister with a strong voice, “You’re being asked a question, why hesitate? Are you looking down on us? We have plenty of money, what are you afraid of!”

Compared to Xu Qi, Xu Zhi was even more fierce, which intimidated the father instantly. He hurriedly said, “I’m sorry, it’s not that I look down on you two. It’s just that this slave is severely ill. If you take him back, he might not last long. If you insist, I’ll give him to you for ten coins.”

Ten coins were not even enough to buy a pound of pork, which was expensive for Xu Qi.

Xu Qi looked down at the person lying on the ground. His clothes were disheveled, with blood stains on them, but he still looked handsome despite the illness that made people hesitate.

She didn’t hesitate for long and took out the money, “Here’s ten coins for you. Whether he lives or dies in the future, it’s none of your concern.”

That shocked the father, who quickly took the money. Xu Zhi was anxious, “Why did you do that? Ten coins could buy a good slave!”

Normally, ten coins could last for several months, so how could they spend it on a slave who might die anytime?

“Hey, Miss, don’t say that. This slave is just seriously injured. With a good doctor, there’s still hope. Besides, he was originally a young slave from a wealthy family, with tender skin and flesh. It’ll be a different experience to use him. This is his sale contract. Take it, Miss.”

The father changed his tune upon seeing the money.

Originally, seeing their attire, he thought they wouldn’t bother to call a doctor for the slave. Plus, since the slave couldn’t be sold, he thought they might take advantage. But he didn’t expect them to be so generous.

Ten coins were enough to buy a well-preserved person with charm. Taking away a broken one would still be profitable.

“It’s fine, go quickly and find a carriage for me. Later, go to Chen’s clinic on the street to find me.”

Saying so, Xu Qi squatted down and put her hand on the person’s forehead, confirming that he had a high fever.

As the early autumn weather was slightly cool, combined with his thin clothes, it was expected for him to have a fever.

“Can you still walk?”

In a daze, Ye Lan heard someone ask him like this.

His soul was torn apart by pain, how could it be possible? No one would speak to him so gently.

He felt as if he was walking on clouds, in extreme pain all over his body. But he felt lighter as if he was being embraced by something soft, so he couldn’t help but move closer to it.

Xu Qi couldn’t help but look at him strangely.

Xu Zhi, with a dissatisfied tone, brought her back to reality.

“Why should I go find a carriage? Just use your donkey carriage to take him back. He’s just a man, not so delicate.”

Xu Zhi was somewhat displeased with Xu Qi’s extravagant spending.

But Xu Qi didn’t think so. She felt the faint breath in her arms, knowing that he couldn’t bear the shaking. Besides, in this society, aren’t men supposed to be delicate?

“If I ask you to go, you go. I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”

“Hmph, forget it. I’ll help you this time.”

Seeing that Xu Qi couldn’t be persuaded, Xu Zhi reluctantly agreed. But she felt a bit unhappy towards the man who had caught her sister’s attention the first time they met.

The two parted ways at the entrance of the slave market, heading in different directions. Xu Qi seemed more anxious than Xu Zhi, who remained calm.

When they arrived at Chen’s clinic with the man, half of their clothes were soaked with sweat.

Even if a person is light, there is still some weight to carry, especially since Chen’s clinic is not nearby, which exhausted Xu Qi.

“Doctor, please help take a look at him,” Xu Qi urged.

Doctor Chen from Chen’s clinic was quite skilled in this area, but his fees were also high.

After finishing with one patient, the doctor walked over to take a look, furrowing his brows at just one glance. He then said after a long pause, “Come with me!”

Xu Qi quickly followed, placing Ye Lan on a small bed as requested by Doctor Chen.

Ye Lan seemed a bit uneasy, struggling slightly when leaving the soft embrace. Xu Qi grabbed his thin wrist, calming him down.

Doctor Chen first checked Ye Lan’s pulse, then examined his injuries. His expression turned even more serious, “You might as well have killed him directly. Why bother bringing him here?”

Xu Qi grasped onto the word “death” in confusion and tremblingly asked Doctor Chen, “Is he really going to die?”

There was a hint of sadness and eerie desolation in Doctor Chen’s eyes.

Doctor Chen frowned, “With the severity of the beating you gave him, even a woman couldn’t withstand it, let alone a weak man!”

Xu Qi gripped Ye Lan’s wrist even tighter. It was the first time she truly saw the tragic fate of men in this society, watching someone die right before her eyes…

Perhaps Xu Qi’s sorrowful appearance affected Doctor Chen. Doctor Chen scolded her with a stern face, “Why cry? If you delay any longer, he will really die!”@@novelbin@@

Xu Qi suddenly raised her head, a hint of joy in her eyes, “He can still be saved?”

Doctor Chen, feeling a bit awkward under her gaze, turned away, “Hmph, if you had brought him a moment later, not even the gods could save him.”

But Xu Qi was just relieved that she went to the market with Xu Zhi and managed to save someone.

Doctor Chen helped Ye Lan up and was about to remove his clothes, but found that he was only wearing one piece. This led to another round of scolding towards Xu Qi.

Xu Qi accepted it with good grace, helping Doctor Chen wipe his sweat and serving tea, finally calming down Doctor Chen’s anger a bit.

She carefully removed the needles from Ye Lan’s back, but for some reason, Ye Lan struggled fiercely. Xu Qi had to hold him tightly and comfort him softly.

After Doctor Chen removed the needles, he went to the medicine counter to prepare some fever-reducing medicine for Xu Qi. Coincidentally, Xu Zhi came over at this time, asking if Xu Qi could still treat him.

Xu Qi said yes, finally satisfying Xu Zhi a bit, feeling that the money was not wasted.

“You should take this medicine twice a day, morning and evening. Your husband is weak and seriously injured, so you may have to get up early to make the medicine for him in the next few days. Don’t slack off. He must take this medicine for five days, not missing a single dose! If you miss one dose and bring him back to me, I won’t treat him.”

Doctor Chen deliberately emphasized the consequences, as if missing a dose would lead to something serious.

Xu Qi nodded quickly. At this time, a well-dressed man walked in, asking what was going on.

This man was Doctor Chen’s husband.

Looking up, Xu Qi was surprised to recognize Doctor Chen’s husband!

“Uncle Chen,” she called out, completely drawing Doctor Chen’s husband’s attention. He looked at Xu Qi with joy and exclaimed, “Oh, Qi’er, what are you doing here? Did you sell out all the meat?”

This Uncle Chen was a regular customer who often bought meat from Xu Qi. They were somewhat acquainted with each other.

“Well, we sold out early today, so I closed the stall,” Xu Qi scratched the back of her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“What’s going on with you two? Do you know each other?” Doctor Chen finally couldn’t help but interrupt, looking at Xu Qi and Xu Zhi.

Uncle Chen immediately scolded her, “Who are you being so fierce to? It turns out to be Qi’er. Let me tell you, don’t make Qi’er angry, or she won’t sell you meat in the future.”

Then he turned to Xu Qi and said, “I woke up late today and didn’t get any meat. Tomorrow, I’ll definitely come early. You have to save a piece for me.”

“Uncle Chen, you’re too polite. Thanks to Aunt Chen’s help, please prescribe some medicine for me. Tomorrow, I’ll send over a piece of meat as a token of gratitude.”

“Oh, then I have to thank you in advance.”

Uncle Chen was plain-looking, but his eyes were extremely warm when he smiled.

“No need to thank me, I’ll take my leave now.”

With that, Xu Qi handed the medicine she grabbed to Xu Zhi and carried the man who was still unconscious out of the house.

She reluctantly asked Xu Zhi to drive the donkey cart back, while she stayed in the carriage to take care of the man they just bought.

Uncle Chen looked at the two of them leaving before asking Doctor Chen, “Who is that man? Why have I never seen him before?”

“Hmph, he’s the husband of that girl just now.” Doctor Chen was a bit displeased with how well they seemed to get along and how she couldn’t interrupt earlier, so her tone was not very friendly.

“Husband? That doesn’t seem right. I asked Qi’er before, and she’s not married yet. How could there suddenly be a husband? Moreover, judging from that man’s attire, he looks more like one of those slaves newly opened in the market today, the kind who serves by using their looks.” Uncle Chen was puzzled, pursing his lips.

Doctor Chen suddenly realized, “If he’s not her husband, then she’s audacious.”