A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

Village Chief Zhao looked at Old Qian pleadingly.

Old Qian understood and said to Gu Xixi, "My dear niece, Village Chief Zhao came here mainly for two things. First, he wanted to thank you in person for giving them a rat extermination method without asking for a penny."

“Yes,” Village Chief Zhao echoed with a smile, “You are so kind, young lady. Thanks to the oleander water and rat bait you taught us to make, the situation is much better than before after just two days.”

Gu Xixi said, "Village Chief Zhao, there's no need to thank me. Shitou Village and Huachidu are neighbors; if one falls, the other will be in danger. If you kill more rats over there, it will also benefit our village."

"Yesterday we developed a new drug that is even more effective at poisoning rats. We tested it today and it works perfectly. We will share the recipe with you immediately."

Village Chief Zhao was overjoyed, "Even stronger? That's wonderful! Thank you so much!! You didn't see that rat in our village..."

For some reason, he suddenly stopped talking and looked at Lao Qian with a distressed expression.

Old Qian also looked troubled. He was usually a straightforward person, but this time he hesitated and seemed to have difficulty speaking.

Gu Xixi said helplessly, "Uncle Qian, Village Chief Zhao, just tell me what the second thing is."

Old Qian seemed to have made up his mind. He tugged at Village Chief Zhao and said, "You tell me! Just tell the truth! As the village chief, how can you save your village without this kind of courage?"

Village Chief Zhao first looked at Lao Qian, then at Gu Xixi.

After a moment, he sighed heavily, "Two people in our village had fevers and coughs yesterday."

"Weren't several villages to the west almost completely wiped out by rats? I heard that the rats ate everything and left the villages, but some villagers have started coughing and having fevers."

"Even worse, some coughed up blood."

"This has only happened in the last two days, and the government hasn't sent a doctor yet, so there's no conclusion. But I've heard some rumors that these symptoms might..."

Village Chief Zhao paused, then lowered his voice as much as possible, "Perhaps it's an epidemic."

Gu Xixi's expression changed slightly. "You mean the plague?"

Village Chief Zhao nodded solemnly.

He suddenly knelt down, and before Gu Xixi could react, she saw him quickly kowtow.

When Village Chief Zhao looked up again, his forehead was red and swollen.

"I dare not deceive you, young lady, I have come here to invite a doctor."

"Whether it's the plague or not, if we can reach a conclusion as soon as possible and start prevention and control measures early, maybe Stone Village can still be saved!"

Village Chief Zhao spoke with such emotion that tears streamed down his face without him even realizing it.

"Please, young lady, help me persuade your uncle to return to Stone Village and save everyone's lives!"

Gu Xixi looked at Village Chief Zhao but didn't say anything immediately.

Seeing this, Old Qian mustered all his strength and pulled Village Chief Zhao up. "Alright, alright, if this kneeling, crying, and making a scene causes rumors and panic in our village, I'll hold you accountable!"

Gu Xixi then said, "No one in your village has ever believed that my uncle is a doctor."

"Even if he risks going back this time, he won't be of much help. You should find someone more capable elsewhere."

Why did Village Chief Zhao seek medical treatment from Gu Xixi first when he came to Huachidu Village?

Knowing he was in the wrong, he feared being refused if he went directly to the old doctor.

In the past, no one in Stone Village respected the old doctor.

Some people call him the old blind man, while others call him the old madman.

Even Village Chief Zhao had never paid attention to this old man who had moved here from somewhere else at some unknown time.

Two days ago, when Lao Qian delivered a rat extermination prescription to Shitou Village, Village Chief Zhao learned the source of the prescription and was even more surprised to find out that the so-called old doctor was the missing widowed old man from their village.

Old Qian casually mentioned how the old doctor treated patients, describing his miraculous healing skills.

Village Chief Zhao was almost speechless with astonishment.

At this moment, Village Chief Zhao was heartbroken after being rejected by Gu Xixi, but he still refused to give up.

“I know that your uncle used to live in our village. Not only did he not receive any help, but he also suffered a lot of cold words and insults. Our Stone Village has let him down!”

"But this is a matter of life and death. Please, young lady, help us pass on a message to the old man."

"If he doesn't agree, I'll leave immediately. I will never force him!"

Gu Xixi remained silent for a moment before finally agreeing, "Okay."

The west room of the small courtyard was already bathed in the setting sun, nearing dusk.

As soon as Gu Xixi finished recounting her meeting with Village Chief Zhao, the old doctor stood up and said, "Xixi, bring me my medicine box."

"Master," Gu Xixi said anxiously, "please reconsider."

Mu Nanzhao said, "That Village Chief Zhao is probably hiding something."

“The rat infestation in Stone Village started several days earlier than here, but they only started using our rat extermination method the day before yesterday.”

"Perhaps the situation in Stone Village is more serious than we imagine."

The old doctor's expression was as calm as an ancient well. "I only know that when a patient seeks medical help, I have to go."

"Moreover, as a doctor, if I know there may be an epidemic but do not seek to verify and contain it, am I just going to wait for bloodshed and corpses to litter the fields?"

Gu Xixi and Mu Nanzhao both fell silent.

Gu Xixi took out the old doctor's medicine box and carried it on her shoulder.

"Master, let's go."

Before the words were finished, two men spoke in unison.

Mu Nanzhao: "What are you going to do?"

The old doctor said, "You are not allowed to go!"

Gu Xixi replied matter-of-factly, "When Master goes out to make house calls, his apprentices always accompany him so that he can learn from them."

The old doctor glared with lifeless eyes and scolded, "You don't even know how to treat illnesses and save lives, what are you meddling in?"

"The old blind man is just going home; he knows the way well. You don't need to follow him!"

Gu Xixi took the old doctor's arm with one hand and said as they walked out, "Then I can learn how to prepare medicine."

"In case something really happens, you won't be able to handle the whole process of grinding, preparing, and decocting the medicine by yourself. You'll definitely need a helper!"

"Oh dear! Saving lives is urgent, so please stop dawdling!"

As she left, Gu Xixi turned back, winked at Mu Nanzhao, and waved.

Mu Nanzhao could only watch the two leave.

He knew very well that no one could stop Gu Xixi from doing anything she was determined to do.

And he had no right to stop her.

As dusk fell, Aunt Zhang noticed that no lamp was lit in the west room, so she took the oil lamp and went over.

"Xiao Chen, Xi Xi and the others went out to treat patients and said they won't be back for dinner."

"I got two pancakes, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Mu Nanzhao emerged from the dark doorway.

“Auntie, I have to go out for a while. If I’m not back by tomorrow morning, go find the village chief and ask him to find a way to settle the children at the school.”

Aunt Zhang watched his figure disappear through the door, shook her head in confusion, and walked back.

"What's wrong with these two? Running around at night."

In Stone Village, when Village Chief Zhao passed by the bonfire burning rats at the village entrance, he specifically asked for a torch.

He led the way, with Gu Xixi and the old doctor following behind.

Gu Xixi heard the sound of mice running past her feet, their squeaking and screaming so densely that it made her scalp tingle.

The old doctor overheard this too, "There are already so many rats in the village?"