Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 45 Killing three birds with one stone

After reading the words on the handkerchief, Zari was speechless for a long time.

Tan Huaike didn't say anything. He asked Pei'er to clean up the firewood pile. He was thinking about new dishes for the restaurant and was frying chicken nuggets in full swing, leaving him sitting alone in the yard.

When she had fried the chicken and covered the pot to simmer, she suddenly heard a familiar scolding in her ear: "The chicken you bought is not good, it's too tender and can't withstand the simmering. The meat will fall apart as soon as it is simmered!"

Tan Huaike asked tentatively: "Uncle Zhali, are you okay?"

Zari took the big spoon beside him, scooped some seasonings into the pot, and covered it again.

He looked calm, but his voice was a little hoarse: "You're an adult, what could possibly happen? It's better to explain it clearly. It turns out it was just my wishful thinking."

Tan Huaike said regretfully, "Alas, a relationship that was meant to be together ended up like this. What a twist of fate. Uncle Zhali, do you blame her more, or do you miss her more?"

"What are you complaining about? What do you, a little girl, know?"

"I'm already a widow, how come I don't understand?"

"You're a widow... let's not talk about this," Zari said as he cooked. "I really like her, deeply. I've never met such a special girl in my life. But I also know that she wanted to seduce me to take her away from the beginning. I think she was sincere. I can't see through it, but I'm willing to take the risk for her. But if she fails, it will be my fault. If she wants to escape from there again, I will still find a way to take her away."

Tan Huaike nodded, it was exactly as Shan Yi had expected.

Zari loves passionately and hates openly. Even if he knows that he is being used, he only follows his own heart.

Tan Huaike said, "Shan Yi wants you to go get treatment for your injured leg. She said she's willing to use her savings to repay your debt of love."

Zha Li sneered, "It's a matter of mutual consent, so there's no debt involved. Let her not suffer for my leg in the future. Why don't you advance the cost of my consultation and medicine, and I'll work as a cook in your restaurant, and then use my wages to pay for it."

"Okay, that's great, Uncle Zhali, you finally let it go. I will accompany you to Rusheng Medical Clinic to see the best doctor, and let him treat you well." You can also try to persuade people to go to the pharmacy for consultation, killing two birds with one stone!
"Madam, you've taken so much trouble for my cause, I must accept this favor," Zhali said. "Even if I don't have time to deliver firewood in the future, that's fine. I already have a fellow tribesman who I chop wood with, but I insisted on running errands for the Yue Mansion... Anyway, he'll be the one delivering the firewood from now on, and he'll also take care of the firewood for the restaurant."

"That's perfect." Tan Huaike was so happy that he was almost beaming. Suddenly, he thought of something and said, "Oh, Uncle Zhali, I have one last thing for you."

"What's the matter?" Zari served the braised chicken and sprinkled it with specially prepared spices.

"Can you shave your beard? I want to see what you look like." Is he as handsome as Shan Yi said?

"..."
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Early the next morning, Zhali came to the side yard as promised and shaved his beard in front of the basin.

Tan Huaike and Pei'er folded their arms and watched from the side, which made him feel a little embarrassed: "What are you looking at?"

Pei'er covered her mouth and commented quietly: "He is indeed quite handsome."

Tan Huaike couldn't help laughing: "That's right, after all, he is the lover chosen by the musician Shan Yi."

After shaving the last few strands of beard, Zhali touched his smooth chin and said, "You're exposing my scars in front of me, aren't you? Madam, can you please be a decent person?"

"Didn't you let it go?"

"I've let it go, but won't it make me sad if you keep bringing it up?"

"It will heal over time. It will definitely heal easier than your leg."

We went to Rusheng Medical Clinic in such a noisy manner. We arrived relatively early, and there were about twenty patients in Dr. Qiu's team.

Zhali craned his neck to look at the other doctors and said, "My leg injury isn't a complicated one. There's no need to queue up for a miracle doctor. I think I'll be fine over there. It'll be quicker."

Tan Huaike held him back: "No, you have to line up here."

"Why? This is such a hassle!"

"Your leg has been broken for so long. There is no obvious problem on your face, but you walk with a limp. You still need to see an experienced doctor for a thorough diagnosis and treatment." Seeing that he wanted to argue again, Tan Huaike raised his hand and said, "Don't say anymore. I pay the medical fees and I have the final say." Zhali had no choice but to wait for most of the day. When it was his turn, it was almost noon.

Although Dr. Qiu’s hair is gray, he is in good spirits and full of energy.

He felt Zhari's injured leg up and down, repeatedly asking, "Does it hurt? Does it hurt here?"

Zhali shook his head and said confidently, "It doesn't hurt. It hasn't hurt for a long time. I'm strong and can withstand a lot of beatings. It's probably just some blocked tendons. I'll just take some medicine or apply some compresses."

Doctor Qiu sighed and said, "Are you the doctor or am I the doctor?"

Zhali didn't dare to say anything more: "You say, you say."

Doctor Qiu frowned and said, "If you ask me, you're late for this leg."

"What do you mean it's too late?" Tan Huaike was shocked. "Is it... incurable?"

"It's not that he can't be cured, but the problem is that his body is too strong and he grew up too fast," said Dr. Qiu. "The bones were not properly set at the beginning, so they grew together in a disorderly manner, which made things worse."

"How to treat it?" asked Tan Huaike.

"It's simple. Just break the injured part again, then reconnect the bone and let it grow back."

"...I still have to be beaten?" Zhali was dumbfounded. "Then there's no cure!"

"Is this the only way to treat it?" Tan Huaike also felt it was a bit cruel. "Can you suffer less?"

"It's a bit troublesome, but you can just leave it alone to save him some pain now. But only if you cure him with this method can he truly suffer less in his old age," said Doctor Qiu. "Otherwise, when he's old, he won't be able to stand or walk steadily, and it will be too late to regret it. You can make your own plans."

Zhali himself didn't want to be treated, but Tan Huaike persuaded him.

The restaurant is counting on him to be the chef, and he has to stand for a long time every day. Instead of letting the disease develop and ignoring it, it would be better to cure it early so that he can feel at ease.

Thinking of this, they decided to completely heal the injured leg.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to discuss the leg tapping and bone setting, Tan Huaike finally revealed his other purpose: "Doctor Qiu, I am the owner of the Baicao herbal medicine shop. I would like to ask if you would like to come to our shop to see patients?"

Doctor Qiu prescribed a prescription for Zhali, saying that he really needed to regulate his meridians before tapping his legs and setting his bones.

Hearing this, he didn't even raise his head: "No."

Tan Huaike persisted: "We sincerely invite you. You can name any consultation fee you want. As long as you are willing to come, we are willing to provide medicine to Rusheng Medical Clinic at the lowest price. The daily expenditure on medicinal materials for the clinic is not small, you see..."

After writing the prescription, Doctor Qiu looked up and said impatiently, "If I say I won't go, then I won't go. Treating a disease is not like doing business. I hate dealing with merchants the most in my life. Give up on this idea as soon as possible."

Having said that, Tan Huaike had no choice but to give up.

On the way back, Zari, holding the medicine bag, sneered: "Alas, poor me, I was once again used by the young lady. I was wondering why she insisted on asking me to see that famous doctor. It turns out she had this idea in mind."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Zari, I just wanted to give it a try..."

"It's too tragic. The old doctor really refused without any dignity. Madam, are you being disliked?"

Tan Huaike said dejectedly, "Uncle Zhali, please stop exposing my scars. Please be a human being."

I originally wanted to kill three birds with one stone, but unfortunately I missed the third one.
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　Next chapter: Uncle, let me chop you again.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)