(28)
Mr. Li's ability to "praise everything when it's high and criticize everything when it's low" was vividly demonstrated in this moment of anger and laughter. Although the noble people he wanted to flatter, except Zhao Kuo, always treated him with a straight face, as if they were unmoved by Mr. Li's compliments and the hypocritical smile that he thought was extremely bright and kind.
Even though anyone with a discerning eye can see this, the parents of Xiahe Town still "go their own way", as if they are born that way. He took the lead first, walked to the humble room, and wiped the dust on the cushion with his sleeves. Then with a lovely smile, he respectfully invited his nobles to take their seats.
Four people from different directions gathered in front of this low table in Zhangjia Pharmacy in Xiahe Town that night. Adhering to different principles of conduct, they began to engage in a unique war of words over the same matter.
The person who was escorting them was waiting outside a simple screen between the side hall and the door curtain of the back hall, blocking the only way in and out of the back hall. As a retainer of the Zhao family, he held a sword in his arms and faced off against another group of heavily armed regular troops alone.
Perhaps because the soldiers had heard a little about the young man's deeds and the interesting things that happened at the banquet that night, they did not use their power to bully others. Instead, they pointed at the young man in the pharmacy outside the door, and even talked and laughed.
"Looking at the posture of this young swordsman, could he be the one rumored to be carrying the sword 'Dragon's Cry'?"
"Hey! Look who else in the world can have such a unique scabbard for his sword! It must be that young hero!"
"Listen to my brother who serves under General Murong An, maybe he is our new uncle..."
Suffering from the failure to treat the guests accordingly, the parents were racking their brains to find ways to remedy the situation, just to make themselves valued by the big shots around the two emperors.
Therefore, whether it is pouring tea or water, or other trivial matters, Mr. Li strives to be one step ahead of everyone else, and wants to show his "loyalty as a landlord" in front of the nobles. This made the two junior sisters who came in and out of the medicine door extremely distressed. In the end, they had no choice but to follow E Binghuan's order and pretend to go to the back hall to invite Miss E Wu out...
It's a pity that those noble people don't seem to appreciate it at all, maybe because they are accustomed to these compliments. Anyway, only Zhao Kuo was willing to smile back at Mr. Li out of courtesy. After drinking a cup of tea, E Bing even said sarcastically: "Master Ruoli is really doing everything personally. Why has the plague issue not been resolved to this day?"
Faced with such accusations, the parents were speechless for a moment: "This... this... the lower official... also sent his subordinates to help control the plague..."
"Haha..." E Bing also replied: "The people under Mr. Li are treating the plague. How come the disease has been cured on Mr. Sima's head?"
"Master E, we can discuss this matter later..." The Taoist next to him leaned his head against a window and took a few glances outside. Then he continued: "Nowadays, the land is barren and the people are tired. This is why It’s caused by natural disasters, so who can definitely defeat them?”
"Sigh... All in all, Mr. Li's crime of dereliction of duty is probably hard to escape..." The young master sitting next to his parents said in peace. The parents' smiles disappeared immediately, "However, Mr. Li doesn't have to be so panicked." Well! My lord, you promptly evacuated the people who were not sick, and also set up checkpoints at the entrance and exit of Xiahe Town to disperse the people who came to the town, so that the plague did not spread to other places. This can be regarded as making up for it, right?"
After hearing this, the parents' expressions of sadness faded slightly, and then they looked at E Binghuan and Sima Tu miserably, but they were too ashamed to say a word.
E Bing also saw that the young master was kind-hearted, so he asked: "How many glasses of wine has this young master ever had in my 'Feng Lai Building'?"
"Lord Hubei is laughing. This junior's surname is Zhao Mingkuo, and he is a merchant from Beizhen." After speaking, Zhao Kuo pointed to the swordsman outside the screen and said: "Well, the protagonist of the 'thorned helmet in front of the hall' that night is... He is a personal bodyguard hired by me."
"Ah! So that's it..." E Bing said suddenly: "What's the purpose of those two coming to Xiahe Town? There is neither gold, silver nor treasure here, let alone a wealthy family. "
"Um..." Zhao Kuo thought for a moment and then said: "Actually, I came here to buy medicinal materials... As you know, Beizhen is located in a grassland desert. There are many rare and exotic herbs in the Central Plains that are not found there. . If I can buy some and go back... Not to mention how much I can make a small profit, at least I can help patients in need... Unexpectedly, this place has encountered so many natural disasters, which is really tragic. Therefore, I can guess that—— If we stay, we can take the opportunity to help, and after the plague is over, we can also take this opportunity to buy good medicinal materials at a lower price."
E Bing nodded and applauded, and Sima Tu beside him couldn't help but said: "Although Mr. Zhao is a businessman, he still has a chivalrous heart. It is really eye-opening."
"If everyone in the world could uphold justice like Mr. Zhao, there would be no wars every year, rampant bandits, and a situation where everyone is in danger." E Binghuan said immediately.
After hearing this, Mr. Li also said hello repeatedly, but no one seemed willing to pay attention to him.
"Sigh...I'm afraid that some people, with a righteous face, do despicable and dirty things in private..." Zhao Kuo deliberately kept his eyes on the Taoist for a moment, then moved his eyes to the direction of the back hall, and continued. : "Fortunately, our Doctor Zhang is not like this. Now the method of treating the plague has gradually emerged. As long as a few more days pass, the epidemic will be completely suppressed! Doctor Zhang originally planned to write a letter and send someone to inform Mr. Hubei of this news. Unexpectedly, you, the messenger was killed and killed by gangsters on the way, and his body was left in the wilderness, so that Mr. E could condescend to this today with one day left before the deadline..."
"Such a murderous crime actually happened? Alas, it is difficult to disobey the emperor's order. If the plague is not effectively controlled, we can only adopt those 'means to never prevent future troubles'. By then, I am afraid that I will bear a lifetime of infamy. Who would have thought that Hubei There is no other way to do this. Now the two countries are at war one after another. If the plague breaks out, it will not only bring many people who die from the disease, but a complete disaster!"
E Bing was just sighing, and Sima Tu took up the topic and continued to speak in a calm tone: "In the final analysis, even if the plague is cured, it cannot save the exhausted people... Only true unification can Bringing long-term well-being. The 'Taiping Dao' was born in this world at the right time and to fulfill people's wishes. We connect all the poor people in the world, so that everyone can share the blessings and share the hardships. But I don't know why there is such a thing. It is really shocking that bad people spread such rumors about the 'Taiping Road' in the public."
Faced with Sima Tu's righteous response, Zhao Kuo felt dumbfounded in his heart: To be able to talk about profiteering and favoritism in such a high-sounding way is indeed not an ordinary role.
"By the way, why hasn't Ying'er come out to see me for so long?" E Bing also looked towards the back hall, and then suddenly said angrily: "That kid Zhang Yi, if you dare to have any evil thoughts about my daughter? , I will definitely not be able to spare him!" After saying this, he stood up and left his seat to go to the back hall to find out.
Zhao Kuo was unable to stop him, so he asked Sima Tu to stare at his body and not dare to move rashly, in case any flaws were exposed. The young swordsman who was standing in front of the door curtain saw that the person coming was E Binghuan, who respected him very much. He also took the opportunity to put on airs and said that the back hall was an important area of the pharmacy and no one was allowed to trespass.
E Bing also saw that this guy was so loyal to his master and remained calm in the face of high-ranking officials and heavy soldiers, so he naturally admired him more and more, so he replied: "E is a relative of the Zhang family, but he has never been an 'idler'!"
"Qiang!" The young man immediately used his thumb to pull out a little of the long sword in his arms, then leaned against the door frame and glared at the other party with hostility. The look in his eyes seemed to say: "If you dare to take a step forward, you will either die or be injured!" Obing was so frightened that he even took half a step back.
When the soldiers behind E Binghui saw this battle, they immediately drew their swords and prepared to rush forward to capture the young swordsman. It was only at the next moment that the door curtain was opened from the inside, preventing a farce from happening.
It was probably because the sound of weapons striking was too harsh in this place where patients were treated and saved. Zhang Yi, who had been staying in the back hall for the past few days, preparing medicine and boiling medicine, couldn't bear the obstruction and finally walked out. His face was gloomy, his eyes were dark and dry, his beard and hair were disheveled, and he looked extremely unkempt.
When Zhang saw that his uncle, whom he had not seen for many years, was so frightened that his face was green and his ears were white, he went up to express his condolences. Unexpectedly, E Bing was not only not angry, but also praised the young swordsman and said: "Zhang Yi! How come you are so lucky? You can make my daughter like it and you have made so many friends. ?”
"Uncle E, please stop joking..." Zhang Yi came out this time not to chat about family matters, "Uncle E, please, please intercede for us in front of the emperor and allow us to have a few more days to treat the plague! Zhang Yi is here, kneeling down for you!"
Upon seeing this, E Bing invited him up again and again, saying that he knew that doctors like them were parents at heart, so he agreed to write a letter in person and have his closest confidants send it to the Holy Master. After speaking, E Binghuan hurriedly ran into the back hall to find his daughter.
