Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Win Over

Luo Jia’s face suddenly changed, and he looked at Shang Jingwang with displeasure and disapproval. He sternly said, “Lord Shang, how serious is the epidemic? Are you treating it so frivolously?”

Shang Jingwang was somewhat confused, how was he being frivolous?

He was taking this very seriously. He had mobilized all the medical resources available in Huainan Prefecture, and all the people that could be mobilized were brought in. He even supplemented this season’s salary himself.

Of course, compared to the silver taels donated by Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin, his salary was insignificant.

Apart from these, he was also working on the front lines, diligently handling various affairs.

Upon learning that the Imperial Physician had arrived, he went to greet him three miles out and remained respectful towards him.

But Luo Jia outranked him and was sent by the Emperor, so he mumbled, “Dean Luo, why do you say this?”

Luo Jia, full of righteous indignation, snorted, “Lord Shang, stop trying any underhanded tricks. I was sent by the Emperor to treat the epidemic, and you send a little girl here, what are you up to?”

Xia Wenjin: “…”

Shang Jingwang: “…”

Did this Dean Luo think he deliberately sent a little girl over, and such a beautiful little girl at that, with ulterior motives, to try to win him over?

What on earth? Did he need to win him over? Well, he needed to. After all, there still needed to be a doctor here, a competent one after Doctor Xia left.

And the Imperial Physician, in terms of medical skills and various aspects, would ensure nothing major happened in the isolation zone.

But did he need to use a little girl to win him over?

Could he dare use this little girl to win him over?

Who was this little girl in front of him? She was his savior, his Bodhisattva, the girl Young Master Jing had his eyes on. He wasn’t blind; he could see the way Young Master Jing looked at Xia Wenjin.

Moreover, who would try to win someone over so openly?

There were three Imperial Physicians behind Luo Jia.

Yu Shikui and Kong Tixin were also there, although they seemed like spectators, being a Prefectural Governor and a County Magistrate, respectively.

Had this Luo Jia mishandled too many patients to become foolish?

This was a massive misunderstanding.

Shang Jingwang hurriedly said, “Mr. Luo, you may not know, this Miss Xia, despite her young age, possesses remarkable medical skills. She learned from a famous teacher and has the heart of a benevolent doctor. The epidemic in Wangshan Town was discovered by Miss Xia. If not for her keen insight and advanced medical skills, Wangshan Town wouldn’t be what it is now.”

Xia Wenjin sighed and said, “It’s said there are two kinds of people in this world: those who become more corrupt the higher their rank, and those who grow increasingly self-satisfied. Yet, this Mr. Luo doesn’t have a high rank, and he sure has a wild imagination! Is he raising fish in there?”

Luo Jia became angry. Regardless, he was an elder, old enough to be the grandfather of this little girl.

Even if he misunderstood Shang Jingwang, it was up to Shang Jingwang, the prefect, to explain it to him. How could this little girl be so disrespectful? What did she mean by having a wild imagination? Raising fish? Wasn’t it blatantly saying he had water in his brain?

Clearly, he misunderstood and got the wrong idea, but now he wouldn’t admit his mistake. Especially after being publicly challenged by a little girl, who showed no manners at all.

What training with a famous teacher? Just some countryside quack doctor; where in this world are there so many famous teachers?

Discover the epidemic?

It was just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat; any doctor, if present, could have discovered it.

The heart of a benevolent doctor? Is a few days of guarding enough to count as a benevolent doctor? Looking at her tender and delicate appearance, she seemed like someone who never did household chores, quite possibly a relative of Shang Jingwang.

Remarkable medical skills? Claiming her medical skills were remarkable before these Imperial Physicians?

What a joke!

He glared coldly at Xia Wenjin, “Impertinent! Who are you? Do you know we all have official ranks? How dare you be so rude?”

Shang Jingwang: “…”

What kind of authority play was this?

But what could he say? He could only try to mediate, so he smiled apologetically at Luo Jia and said, “Dean Luo, to be honest, Doctor Xia has made significant contributions to our epidemic here in Wangshan Town. The coordination of doctors in the isolation zone and the treatment of patients is all managed by Doctor Xia. If not for her professional and rational coordination, who knows what might have happened with the epidemic. After all, this is contagious!”

He felt a bit helpless. Huangfu Jinxuan, upon hearing they were leaving, had dragged Young Master Jing to drink early in the morning, so he wasn’t here. If he were here, would these Imperial Physicians dare treat Miss Xia this way?

While Luo Jia was pleased with Shang Jingwang’s deferential attitude, he was irked by his words, scrutinizing Xia Wenjin with increasing suspicion, feeling that Shang Jingwang was lying.

Were there no people left in Wangshan Town? Hadn’t Shang Jingwang mentioned there were currently thirteen doctors capable of prescribing independently and twenty-one medical apprentices in this isolation zone?

Let’s not even mention the apprentices, but were there no doctors among the thirteen? Did it really need a little girl to coordinate and manage? Wasn’t it likely because of her looks, being young and able to act coyly, that she claimed others’ achievements for her own?

Could she truly coordinate? Could she manage effectively?

Could this little girl have an unusual status? A relative of some high-ranking official? Otherwise, why would Shang Jingwang hold her in such high regard?

Luo Jia grew even more irritated. Medical techniques and prescriptions could not be faked. If it was because this little girl came from a good family with an official-relative that she was allowed to run amok, then not only was Shang Jingwang being frivolous, he was disregarding the people’s lives!

This was utter nonsense.

He spoke even more sharply, “No wonder the epidemic hasn’t improved; such a large town, with thousands of lives, and yet you let a little girl coordinate and manage—this is madness!”

Shang Jingwang: “…”

What did he mean by not improving? The epidemic had been detected early, with full resources devoted, and now within less than two months, a cure had been discovered. Compared to other places where plagues have claimed hundreds or thousands of lives, wasn’t this achievement impressive enough?

Xia Wenjin was growing impatient. She had dealt with this Luo Jia in her past life; he was pedantic and stubborn, the hardest person to reason with. Once he had made up his mind, no one’s explanation made any difference.

She looked at Luo Jia, who was blowing his beard and glaring, and said, “If it has any effect, go outside and check. Aren’t you all Imperial Physicians? Aren’t your medical skills superior? Just now, a few mild cases were delivered that haven’t been treated yet. Why not treat them first, then we’ll hand over?”

The words themselves weren’t much, but Xia Wenjin’s tone and look were irksome, mixed with a sense of impatience.

Seeing this, Luo Jia became more convinced of his suspicions; see, this little girl was young and yet already hot-tempered. Could such a temperament possibly be good for patients? Could such a temperament qualify her as a doctor?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep