Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Stirring Up Trouble

Xia Wenjin replied casually, “What catastrophe!”

“You kid are really bold, talking about an epidemic like it’s nothing!”

“Who said I was speaking casually?”

“Hmph! Do you think I can’t tell, but you can? Luckily, this is a small place. If you dared to say such things elsewhere, the official would have thrown you in jail already!” Zhang Jiantang said gloatingly, “You’re an outsider, speaking so irresponsibly, is that really okay? Pretending to be some miracle doctor? Are you trying to swindle the Mayor’s money? Do you even realize where you are? The Mayor here is wise; he won’t be fooled by you. Now, the Mayor will definitely lock you up, and then you’ll cry for sure!”

Xia Wenjin looked at his sinister smile and treacherous appearance with a touch of disgust. Normally, she never had such subjective likes and dislikes towards people, but Zhang Jiantang truly annoyed her. Arrogant, conceited, unwilling to listen to others, viewing people with the greatest malice, judging noble intentions with a villain’s mind, deceitful and greedy!

She said coldly, “You’re right, I’m just an outsider. If there’s an epidemic, I can leave at any time. But as the only doctor in town, you’re stuck here! I’m sure by then, the Mayor will find you very useful!”

Zhang Jiantang snapped, “What epidemic? You’re still talking about an epidemic? Spreading rumors and causing trouble! If you don’t explain yourself today, even if the Mayor doesn’t punish you, I won’t let this go!”

If there really is an epidemic and he didn’t see it, while some kid from out of town did, where would his reputation go?

Moreover, if what this kid said is true, and he senses danger, he will surely flee. But how could he run?

Bah, there’s no epidemic! He’s just been scared by this kid.

He strode ahead angrily, with Xia Wenjin following leisurely behind.

His clinic was also in town, not far from the Town Mayor’s Mansion, and they reached it shortly.

Zhang Jiantang had been called away by the Mayor temporarily, and the clinic door was not locked. He had assistants and apprentices there.

But none of them could diagnose patients.

Zhang Jiantang was afraid to teach his apprentices too much, lest they outsmart him, so while he let them help with tasks like sorting herbs and filling prescriptions, he never taught them medical skills.

He had to diagnose patients himself to earn more money.

By then, several people were already waiting inside.

Zhang Jiantang walked in with his hands behind his back, and several patients immediately surrounded him, calling out, “Doctor Zhang, please check on my father, he can’t breathe!”

“Doctor Zhang, you’re finally here, help me find out what’s wrong with me.”

“Doctor Zhang, my foot hurts…”

…

Through the crowd, Zhang Jiantang saw the thin figure of the boy standing there, and he sneered again.

The townspeople trusted him and wouldn’t believe some outsider kid.

He classified the patients, setting aside those with symptoms of malaria poisoning, pointing to Xia Wenjin, “Kid, these people are your responsibility, check them carefully. If you can’t explain it later, don’t blame me for being rude!”

As for those with common ailments like colds and fevers, he planned to see them himself.

The patients weren’t happy about being told that a youth would be examining them. They thought this young man was Doctor Zhang’s apprentice but didn’t want to be used for practice. One person immediately objected, “Doctor Zhang, we paid for your diagnosis and medicine. How can you let someone else see us? My father is very ill and can’t wait!”

“Yes, we came for you, you can’t just brush us off!”

“Doctor Zhang, treat us yourself!”

…

The pleas of the patients made Zhang Jiantang even more smug. Did this reckless kid now understand his own high standing in town?

However, looking at the young man’s calm demeanor, a shadow of deviousness flashed in his eyes. Wasn’t this kid spouting nonsense about an epidemic, trying to show off to the Mayor?

He raised his hand and signaled the patients to listen to him.

Even though all these people knew Doctor Zhang wasn’t a good person, in times of sickness, they could only cling to this sole doctor as a lifeline, and they all stopped to look at him expectantly.

Doctor Zhang sighed lightly, stroked his beard, and put on a look of helplessness with his narrow eyes, “Everyone, it’s not that I don’t want to treat you, but your symptoms are signs of malaria poisoning. It’s neither too severe nor too gentle. However, if not treated in time, it can be fatal.”

Someone said, “Then Doctor Zhang, please start treating us!”

“Yes, yes, there’s no time to delay the illness. My father has already coughed blood several times.”

Doctor Zhang said, “It’s not that I’m refusing to treat you, it’s that this young man here insisted in front of the Mayor that you’re not suffering from malaria poisoning but from an epidemic. You know what an epidemic means, don’t you? It’s a plague!”

As soon as the word “plague” was uttered, everyone’s expressions changed, and Xia Wenjin wished she could seal Doctor Zhang’s mouth right then. The word “epidemic,” even in front of Mayor Wang, was something she initially broached gently and gradually without directly mentioning it, precisely to avoid panic.

Now, Mayor Wang asked him to investigate, but instead of investigating, he directly told the sick townspeople.

Not to mention that some aren’t afflicted by an epidemic, even if they all were, saying it like this would cause an uproar, wouldn’t it?

Of course, Zhang Jiantang wasn’t trying to cause chaos; he was trying to stir public anger, inciting these sick people against Xia Wenjin.

In fact, he succeeded quite well. People’s initial reaction to what they fear is to be afraid and then hope it’s not true. Moreover, with Doctor Zhang’s demeanor, it clearly wasn’t true, was it?

They looked at Xia Wenjin with fury, and a young man even rushed to Xia Wenjin, rolling up his sleeves and pointing at her, “Where did you come from, kid? What’s your purpose? Saying my dad has the plague, are you trying to kill our family?”

Others also glared angrily at Xia Wenjin, especially those who were sick. Having their own ailments already made them somewhat anxious; Doctor Zhang saying it was malaria poisoning had reassured them. Now calling it an epidemic, wasn’t this alarming?

If not for the fact that Xia Wenjin stood there, as clear as bamboo and with features like a painting, making them a little embarrassed to act, they might have already resorted to violence.

But even without laying hands, they surrounded Xia Wenjin with angry eyes, ready at any moment to take action.

Xia Wenjin was instantly engulfed in a tide of people, her petite figure almost disappearing from view.

Zhang Jiantang wore a triumphant, villainous grin.

This reckless kid, let’s see if you understand now that spouting nonsense comes with consequences!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep