Eternal madness

Chapter 65 This business can't be done.
Yao Deshan wanted to eat.

In the past, when he was sick, he wouldn't eat or drink anything, but now that he wants to eat, it proves that he's recovered.

The butler quickly ordered the meal to be prepared, and the servants' busy work eased the tense atmosphere.

Governor Yao smiled and thanked Li Yunsheng, saying, "Dr. Li is truly a miracle doctor."

"You flatter me, I was just..." Li Yunsheng wanted to explain a few more words, but Magistrate Yao instructed the steward to prepare a banquet to entertain the three distinguished guests.

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhaocai shook his head repeatedly: "Old magistrate, you flatter me. I didn't do much. It was all thanks to these two friends. With the divine doctor here, I'm superfluous. I'll take my leave now."

When the Taoist priest was about to leave, Magistrate Yao did not try to persuade him to stay. Indeed, he had not contributed much to the treatment.

Li Yunsheng felt that Huang Zhaocai had something he couldn't say, and wanted to find an opportunity to say something to him: "Old Magistrate, Brother Huang and I hit it off immediately. Please allow me to see him off."

Zhang Laifu and Li Yunsheng escorted Huang Zhaocai to the door. Li Yunsheng thanked them first, saying, "The situation was tense just now, but thanks to Brother Huang, we were able to get out of trouble."

Zhang Laifu slapped Yao Deshan three times. If Huang Zhaocai hadn't explained things to Zhang Laifu, the two would have started fighting on the spot.

"It's true that a spirit possessed you at the time, but I was just telling the truth. You don't need to worry about it." Huang Zhaocai hurriedly left, not even wanting to linger at Magistrate Yao's door.

Li Yunsheng caught up with him and asked in a low voice, "Brother Huang, is there something you're not comfortable saying?"

Huang Zhaocai stopped and hesitated for a moment before looking up at Li Yunsheng: "My sect is also my Taoist sect. Zhang Tianshi is the ancestral master of my Zhengyi sect. Disciples of the Zhengyi sect should obey the will of Heaven and pass on the Heavenly Law. This is the instruction of our ancestral master. Therefore, there are some businesses I cannot do."

After saying this, Huang Zhaocai left without looking back.

What kinds of businesses are off-limits?

Li Yunsheng looked back at the Yao family mansion and felt increasingly oppressed.

Zhang Laifu said to Li Yunsheng, "Now that we've treated the illness and gotten the money, let's go."

Li Yunsheng shook his head slightly: "I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

"How is it not easy?"

Just as Zhang Laifu was feeling surprised, the butler came over and said, "The banquet is ready, and our master is waiting for you two."

The two followed the steward to the Yimen Courtyard, where there was a pond with a bridge over it. A restaurant was built on the bridge, offering views of the pond on one side and the artificial hill in the courtyard on the other.

This is called the Waterside Dining Hall. Because of its exquisite craftsmanship, the dining hall seems to be suspended on the water. It is a place where the Yao family specially entertains distinguished guests.

The hall was furnished with huanghuali armchairs and a large chicken-wing wood table. As night fell, servants lit horn lamps, and the soft golden light illuminated the snow, lake, and mountain scenery outside the window, creating a very pleasing sight.

After the guests and hosts were seated, the butler ordered the dishes to be served. The first course consisted of four cold dishes: braised duck, foie gras, sea cucumber in chili oil, and crab roe fish jelly.

Yao Zhixian first offered the first toast, once again expressing his gratitude to Li Yunsheng.

After eating some porridge, Yao Deshan had recovered considerably and was able to sit at the table. He offered a second toast with tea instead of wine, and made a special apology to Li Yunsheng: "Divine Doctor, when I have an attack, I talk nonsense and don't know what I've said. If I say anything inappropriate, please don't take offense."

Li Yunsheng also returned the courtesy by toasting the Prefect and the Young Master.

Governor Yao and Yao Deshan wanted to toast Zhang Laifu, but Zhang Laifu didn't give them the chance. He just kept eating with his chopsticks and spoon, and never stopped.

Because Zhang Laifu had a big appetite, the first cold dishes were served quickly. The butler then ordered the second course to be served: braised deer tendon, braised bear paw, steamed river catfish, abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw, stewed soft-shelled turtle, lion's head meatballs, roasted whole lamb, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

The second course was the main course, which emphasized being expensive, fresh, and complete. During the meal, people toasted each other and exchanged polite words, but none of this mattered to Zhang Laifu, who simply kept his head down and ate.

Having fought two fierce battles, he hadn't eaten much and was now truly hungry. After the second course of food, the butler ordered soup and dessert. The soup was red bean paste, and the dessert was rose pastry.

Zhang Laifu was already full and didn't touch the dessert much.

Governor Yao politely replied, "It's just simple food and drinks; please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."

Zhang Laifu nodded: "It's pretty good, much better than the wontons on Zhuzi Street."

Governor Yao was somewhat embarrassed, but Zhang Laifu felt that his words were very considerate.

The wontons on Zhuzi Street hold a special place in Zhang Laifu's heart. He has only ever eaten one bowl, and that memory still lingers on his taste buds.

Li Yunsheng had said too many polite words, and now he didn't want to be polite anymore; it was time to talk about money: "Old Magistrate, now that your son has fully recovered, we should take our leave. As for the payment for this trip..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yao Deshan stood up and said, "My two great doctors, I have official business to attend to, so please excuse me."

Yao Deshan left first.

The butler stepped forward and whispered a few words to Governor Yao. Yao Renhuai stood up and said, "Please enjoy your meal, both of you doctors. I have some trivial matters to attend to at home, so please excuse me."

Governor Yao also left.

What do these mean?
They all left when it was time to pay?

Zhang Laifu was angry and was about to call out to Magistrate Yao when the steward, Lao Luo, stepped forward with a smile and said, "Gentlemen, after you've eaten and drunk your fill, let's go to the guest rooms to rest. All your living necessities have been prepared for you, please come in."

"What are you going to the guest room for? Who said we wanted to stay here? Hurry up and pay us, we have other business to do." Zhang Laifu didn't want to waste time arguing with the housekeeper.

The butler glanced at Zhang Laifu, then at Li Yunsheng: "Dr. Li, your friend seems a bit naive, but I don't think you're new to practicing medicine. There are some things I shouldn't need to teach you. You should know what kind of person our master is, and what kind of place the Yao family is."

Do you think you're the first doctor to treat our young master? Let me tell you, five doctors have come before. Three of them were able to cure our young master, but the illness always relapsed. Do you think we can pay for this consultation?
"To cure an illness, you must get to the root of it. If you can't get to the root, then it's not a cure. You two can stay here for a while. If our young master's illness doesn't relapse, you can take all five hundred silver dollars with you."

Li Yunsheng asked, "How many days is 'staying'? I can't possibly treat your young master's illness once and then have to guarantee his lifelong safety, can I?"

The butler waved his hand and said, "What kind of talk is this? You two can stay at the manor for ten days. If our young master does not relapse within ten days, the illness will be considered cured, and we will pay you immediately."

But if it relapses within ten days, then I'm sorry, we won't pay the consultation fee. If anything happens to our young master, you'll have to bear the blame of a quack doctor who killed someone.

"Is this fair, gentlemen?"

Zhang Laifu glanced at Li Yunsheng; doctors from other states don't follow these rules.

Li Yunsheng was unsure, but he still agreed. He nodded slightly to the butler: "Okay, we'll wait ten days."

After instructing the servants on the task, the steward turned to leave, when Zhang Laifu suddenly asked, "How old is your master?"

"Why are you asking this? It's not like I'm asking you to treat our master's illness."

Zhang Laifu then asked, "How old is your young master? This is for his medical treatment!"

"Ask the young master about this, I can't remember." The butler walked away quickly, not wanting to talk to Zhang Laifu anymore.

Zhang Laifu caught up with them: "Your house might be haunted. Aren't you planning to move?"

Butler Luo did not respond; it seemed they had never considered moving.

(End of this chapter)