After a night, the snow on the roadway, even if it had melted a little, was still four fingers thick, and the road surface was basically invisible when you stepped on it.
It's just the first snow, but the snow is so fierce. It seems that this winter will be difficult.
Standing at the door, Bai Gu looked at the snow on the road, feeling full of sorrow.
The quilt at home was difficult to cope with last year, and probably won’t be able to bear it this year. As for cotton-padded clothes, Ah Yue will be nestled on the bed, and the free cotton-padded clothes can be used by Xiaoxiao, so that should be fine. If that doesn't work, just two people lying on the bed together, covered with quilts and cotton-padded clothes, can make do.
After tightening the shabby thin cotton coat that had been sewn and mended over and over again, Bai Gu silently calculated in his heart that if this winter wouldn't be too cold, and he was in good health, he should be able to get through it with just one resistance.
If you really can't bear it anymore, go door to door and ask if there are any extra cotton clothes, borrow them to cope with the situation, and return them when the weather warms up.
If that still doesn't work, go to the city and ask the old beggar if there is anything you can do, or go look for some cotton-padded clothes that other people don't want, pick them up and change them, and you should be able to cope with it.
After thinking about it, the quilt problem is still difficult to solve.
Forget it, let’s take it one step at a time. Maybe it won’t be so cold this winter!
Bai Gu turned his head and faced Bai Xiaoxiao, who was awake but still lying on the bed wrapped in a quilt, and said, "I'll go to the city to see if I can find Dr. Wu to treat Ah Yue." Sick. If you are hungry, boil some boiling water and break some sesame cakes to make do. Remember to put some water on Ah Yue's lips. If Ah Yue wakes up, feed her some warm water first and then ask her how she is doing. I want to eat something. If anything happens, go find Old Liu Tou. Remember?"
Bai Gu only ate one of the sesame cakes last night, and kept the remaining two for Bai Xiaoxiao, just in case he couldn't find anything to eat today and made Xiao Nizi hungry.
Bai Xiaoxiao, with sleepy eyes, responded feebly.
"Repeat it." Bai Gu was really not worried about this little girl.
Bai Xiaoxiao turned over, vaguely repeated Bai Gu's words, and then pulled the quilt.
a little cold.
Bai Gu nodded and then went out with confidence.
——————
The scenes in the city and on the alleys are still very different.
There is also snow, Lingding Alley is a vast expanse of white, and the streets in the city are almost invisible, only a few handfuls and piles are left.
Because there are street sweepers in the city, most of the snow has been swept away, making it easier for pedestrians in the city to walk.
As for Lingding Alley, just see how many people are walking and whether the snow can be trampled away.
But generally, no.
Bai Gu was walking on the busy street, heading towards Oriole Road, while keeping an eye out for any opportunities to get some food.
Although he is used to being hungry, it is not impossible to go without food for a day. But I had to listen to what Old Liu Tou said, and he still had to pay attention to his body.
The main reason is that the feeling of being empty in the stomach is really uncomfortable.
Bai Gu planned to go to Oriole Road to find the old beggar and ask him to lead the way. After all, I am only familiar with him in this city.
Besides, the old beggar had been in the city for a long time and was familiar with the roads, so it was best to find him.
After walking casually for more than half an hour, Bai Gu's footsteps slowly stopped. He stood on the roadside, squinting his eyes and looking at the tavern called Yaojiu Pavilion opposite.
To be precise, it was a huddle on the corridor in front of the tavern.
That... seems to be a person?
The one squatting next to you...hey, the old beggar!
Bai Gu ran over and kicked the old beggar on the butt without thinking, "I found you, old guy!"
"You bastard, you're going to die!" The old beggar stumbled and fell to the ground. He immediately jumped up again and quickly touched his face to make sure everything was okay. The old beggar pointed at Bai Gu's nose and cursed: "You stinky boy, you want to kick me to death as soon as we meet! My handsome face is almost disfigured." Do you understand!? You are in a hurry to reincarnate!"
"It's not that I have anything to do with you. I'm in a hurry." Bai Gu grinned.
"Is this your attitude when asking for help?" When the old beggar heard that Bai Gu had a request, he immediately acted like an uncle.
"Ang, that's it, can you help?"
"Are you so crazy? Why do you have such an attitude when asking for help? Do you understand?" The old beggar was confused. This kid didn't act according to common sense!
Bai Gu kicked the old beggar again, "Why are you pretending to be a big-tailed wolf with me here? If it weren't for me, you would have been out cold on the lamplight path. How can you still force me here?"
The old beggar choked at Bai Gu's words.
If you want to put it this way, the old beggar does owe Bai Gu a big favor.
Although……
But the old beggar was too lazy to say anything to Bai Guduo, "What do you want?"
"Have you ever heard of a doctor named Wu who lives in this city? Some people have met him on Liuxu Street on Oriole Road. Do you recognize him?"
"Wu?" The old beggar raised his hands and thought for a moment, "There are more than one doctors in this city with the surname Wu. Do you know what they look like?"
Of course this Bai Gu knew.
For this purpose in the morning, he went to the head of the West Alley and woke up Old Liu Tou, who was still sleeping soundly, by banging on the door. After asking, he set off.
"White hair, always smiling, wearing purple clothes." Bai Gu thought for a while and added: "She must be quite old, probably about the same age as you, or older than you."
The corner of the old beggar's mouth twitched, "Good boy, this is a direct sentence to offend two people."
As expected of you!
But he still thought for a moment, and a person came to his mind, "Go to Cheung Chau Pharmacy? There is a person there who is similar to what you said."
"Very old?"
"Watch your words!"
"Oh." Bai Gu paused, "I'm not younger than you anyway."
"..." The old beggar didn't want to talk anymore.
"By the way, where is Changzhou Pharmacy? Do you know the way?" Bai Gu thought of a very important point.
"Just walk to the end of Catkin Street. How long have I been in this city? How can I not know the road?" The old beggar rolled his eyes, indicating that Bai Gu's doubts were unnecessary.
"Then let's go and lead the way. I don't know the way."
Although Bai Gu often comes to the city, he only visits a few streets near Lingding Lane. He has only heard of Liuxu Street until now. What if he goes there alone and gets lost.
It's easy to get lost when you're hungry, but Xiaoxiao will be anxious at home! This is a big deal!
The old beggar hesitated for a moment, "Why don't you wait a moment?"
"What are you doing?" Bai Gu glanced at the group lying on the ground, "You don't want to wait for this guy to wake up, right? Who is this?"
"You just have to know that he's a great guy."
Bai Gu looked the old beggar up and down, and then looked at the group, "Just you? Do you know any powerful people? As for this guy, he must be a good drinker! He is an alcoholic!"
The smell of alcohol was so pungent that Bai Gu couldn't stand it even after being in several positions.
This is how much you drank!
Sensing the contempt in Bai Gu's eyes, the old beggar's face turned red, "What are you talking about! What do you mean I can know some powerful people? I think back then I was considered very handsome and free and easy! The work of the Sword Immortal Sage My friend, the goddess and fairy is a beauty! I have drank so much wine and traveled across the country so many times! And..."
"Then you are still acting like this? Are you a beggar?" Bai Gu stabbed him coldly.
The old beggar was like a duck being strangled by the neck, and he was immediately speechless. It took a long time to hold back a sentence: "You brat! It's rude to interrupt someone else's speech!"
Bai Gu just glanced at the old beggar, "Tiejiang Zhang recently..."
"Okay, you win, I was careless!" The old beggar didn't want to argue too much with Bai Gu on matters like Zhang Liuqi.
Besides, this guy doesn't play by common sense at all! The old beggar thought he couldn't defeat him.
He glanced at the ball on the ground again and said, "You really don't want to wait anymore? He will probably wake up later." The old beggar was still hesitant.
"What's wrong? Are you attracted to him?"
"Go away! This guy invited me to drink last night. I can't just leave him here. It's immoral." The old beggar shook his head. "Besides, I expect this guy to buy me drinks more times."
What comes after is the point.
Rolling his eyes, Bai Gu flew up and said, "Should we leave or not? If not, I'll find Blacksmith Zhang directly."
"Let's go!" The old beggar had no choice but to squat down and pat the drunkard on the ground on the shoulder, "Brother, I'm sorry, I'll pay you a drink next time we meet."
After saying that, he stood up and kicked the drunkard on the butt.
The force was so strong that even Bai Gu heard some wind.
Good guy, this ass must be at least swollen, right?
But the drunkard on the ground didn't move at all, and even his breathing was still so steady, not affected by the kick at all.
Bai Gu even wondered if this guy was drunk to death.
Just that kick, I'm afraid no matter how deep you sleep, you have to jump up and cover your butt, right?
"Let's go!" The old beggar waved his hand in front of Bai Gu's eyes and shouted.
Bai Gu calmed down, looked at the old beggar, and then at the drunkard, "Isn't this guy dead? Is he still awake?"
"What nonsense are you talking about, brat! This guy is so powerful, he can't die so easily."
"Then what is he...?"
"I drank too much last night and I haven't sobered up yet. It will probably take a few more hours." The old beggar chewed his teeth and took out the shredded beef stuffed between his teeth last night. He finally felt comfortable.
"Oh, that's it, lead the way!"
The old beggar curled his lips and said, "It's boring!" Then he led Bai Gu towards the direction of Changzhou Pharmacy.
The drunkard left on the ground remained motionless.
——————
"Here we are." After walking through the streets for nearly two hours, the old beggar finally stopped and pointed to a three-story octagonal building across the road, "This is it."
Bai Gu glanced at it and said, "I don't know how to read, so don't fool me."
"It says it on the plaque."
"I told you I can't read!"
The old beggar twitched the corners of his mouth. How could someone be so righteous and confident even if he couldn't read?
"Why don't you ask passers-by?"
Bai Gu stopped a passerby and asked, and then he believed that the Octagon Building opposite was the Cheung Chau Pharmacy.
Cheung Chau Pharmacy can be said to be the largest medical clinic in the city. It has the largest scale, the most doctors, and the most complete range of medicinal materials. There is an endless stream of people coming and going every day, people seeking medical treatment, asking for medicine, seeking jobs, and all kinds of people. It can be regarded as one of the most densely populated places in the city.
Due to the huge amount of medicinal materials, the aroma of medicine wafting from Cheung Chau Pharmacy even covered the wonton shop next to it.
Bai Gu glanced at the wonton shop, swallowed, and then looked away.
I ate a sesame seed pancake last night and drank some water in the morning. Now my stomach is already empty.
He was afraid that if he took one more look, he would be too hungry to walk.
The old beggar on the side was not blind and could see all Bai Gu's little moves. He crossed his arms across his chest, and the old man said quietly: "You haven't had breakfast yet? Do you want a bowl of wontons?"
"I-I'm not hungry!"
"You're a liar." The old beggar didn't say much and led Bai Gu to the other side of the road. "Boss, two bowls of wontons!"
Bai Gu sat down opposite the old beggar, lowered his head, and without saying a word, he took out a few straws from his trouser pocket and started playing with them.
Bai Gu pulled it out on the way here in the morning.
This is what he has been playing since he was a child.
After a while, two bowls of wontons were served. The steam was steaming, and the scent of oil mixed with the aroma of chopped green onion floated into the nostrils of the two people and swept their empty stomachs.
The old beggar didn't mind the heat, so he grabbed a pair of chopsticks and started eating, "Boy, you can eat too, the wontons here are pretty good."
"I told you I won't eat, I'm not hungry." Bai Gu's voice was a bit muffled, but he didn't raise his head and continued to play with a few pieces of grass in his hand.
"Anyway, I'll just eat one bowl. If you don't eat this bowl, you'll have to throw it away later."
"Then ask the store if they can take it away."
"What for?" The old beggar was still chewing two wontons when he suddenly remembered something, "Give me a snack?"
The old beggar also knew Xiaoxiao, a little girl who was small and timid.
The name Xiaoxiao was given by the old beggar.
According to him, he lives up to his name.
Bai Gu said nothing and nodded.
"Eat yours. The small portion has to go back. Can you pack it up now? Can you still eat it when you go back? It's all lumpy, okay." The old beggar tapped Bai Gu with his chopsticks, "Eat quickly, it's cold. Unappetizing."
"I don't have the money to pay you back."
"Who wants your money?" The old beggar rolled his eyes, "I want you!"
"I won't ask you back."
"No need, you just need to eat it well. There is no need for you to invite me back."
"Then I can't eat these wontons."
The old beggar laughed angrily, "Isn't it nice of you to take my copper plate yesterday?" Why is a bowl of wontons so awkward now?
"You don't have to pretend to be mature or mature, and you don't have to talk to me about worldliness. There's no need. Just eat what you're told. Why do you have so many bad habits? If you really feel sorry for me, just make up something for me and use it as payment. ”
"what would you like?"
"You said it's okay, you're so young, why did you do such a thing!" The old beggar took a mouthful of wontons and drank another mouthful of soup. Tsk, what a pleasure!
Bai Gu lowered his head again, and the movements of his hands were obviously much faster. Just when the old beggar was about to say something, Bai Gu threw a straw frog over, then grabbed the chopsticks and started to pull the wontons in front of him.
Before the old beggar could react, half of the wontons in Bai Gu's bowl had disappeared.
Good guy, you look like this, and you still say you’re not hungry?
The old beggar put down his chopsticks, picked up the straw frog, and looked at it carefully, "You toad, you are really good at weaving it."
Not to mention, it does have some charm, which is really good.
The more you look at it, the better it becomes.
"What a toad? This is a frog. The toad is too ugly, but the frog is beautiful."
"Why is the toad so ugly? It looks so good!" The old beggar was inexplicably anxious.
"Toads are black, swollen, and difficult to catch. Frogs are different, easy to catch, and the meat is delicious! Of course, frogs are good-looking!"
I'm sorry, do you judge which one tastes better and which one looks better?
The old beggar twitched the corner of his mouth, "That's true, frogs are good-looking..."
Bai Gu put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with his hands. There was only an empty bowl of wontons in front of him.
There's not even any soup left...
The old beggar took a look and saw that the lick was really clean...
Glancing again at Bai Gu, who was looking away from his bowl, the old beggar was a little helpless and turned his head, "Boss, another bowl of wontons!"
"I am full."
"You owe me another toad."
"good."
As long as you have something to eat, don't worry about frogs and toads, they're all the same anyway.
Bai Gu just sat there, waiting for the wontons.
When the owner of the wonton shop served a bowl of wontons with a smile, Bai Gu pushed the bowl forward towards the old beggar, picked up a new pair of chopsticks, and evenly distributed a few wontons in the bowl to the old beggar. I took the wonton bowl back and started to enjoy it.
"You kid." When the old beggar saw it, he didn't say anything to stop him. He just shook his head helplessly.
After a while, Bai Gu's bowl was empty again. The kind that doesn't even have any soup left.
"Young man, you have a great future." The old beggar was stunned for a moment. This kid doesn't have to chew, right? I still have half a bowl here, so you finish it?
How hungry you must be.
"Young man, this is how it is." The owner of the wonton shop said with a smile, "After all, you are growing, so it is normal to eat more, isn't it?"
"Give him another bowl." The old beggar didn't know why, but he looked like he didn't want to talk to the wonton shop owner.
The owner of the wonton shop didn't care about the old beggar's attitude and kept smiling.
Soon, another bowl of wontons was served.
Bai Gu thought about giving a few more to the old beggar, who immediately protected the bowl: "I've had enough, and I won't be able to eat any more! You can eat this bowl yourself."
"I'll give you three toads next time," the old beggar added.
"Okay." Bai Gu picked up the chopsticks again and ate happily.
When the old beggar finished the last wonton in the bowl, drank the last sip of soup, and raised his head, he found Bai Gu sitting opposite, bored in a daze.
There were three empty bowls lined up in front of them, all equally clean, with not a drop of soup left.
"Are you full?" The old beggar doubted that this boy could eat a few more bowls.
"full."
"Can I get you another bowl?"
"It still doesn't work. I'm so full that I can't bear to be hungry, and I have to go find an old man with a white beard."
Sure enough, I can still eat it...
"Then let's go." The old beggar took out a few coins from his arms and put them on the table. He stood up and took Bai Gu to the Changzhou Pharmacy next door.
The owner of the wonton shop ran over with a smile on his face, first put away the copper plate, counted it, and made sure that the number was correct before putting it in his arms. After collecting the coins, the table and empty bowls were cleared.
As soon as they arrived at the door, the strong aroma of medicine penetrated their nostrils.
Bai Gu was surprised and said: "It smells so fragrant!"
"It's okay. If there were fewer categories, it could be more fragrant. The smell is a bit mixed."
"Are you sure the old man with the white beard is here?" Although Changzhou Pharmacy is very big, the city is not small either, so it is not easy to find someone.
Moreover, it has been several years since Old Liu Tou met that noble man. It is hard to say whether that noble man is still alive or not.
"...If your description is correct, it should be here." The old beggar thought for a moment, "Who asked you to come to Dr. Wu?"
"The old Liutou from our alley, the one who helped treat your leg before."
"Old Liu Tou..." the old beggar suddenly realized, "That should be right, it's here, but it's not certain whether the old man is here or not. He likes to run around. But try your luck, maybe today He's right here!"
After saying that, the old beggar thought of something again, "If we meet, pay attention to your wording! With your virtue, it will be good if they don't kill you. Remember?"
"Don't worry, I only talk like that to you, I don't know how to talk to others."
The old beggar was choked for a moment.
Your tone... I have to thank you for talking to me like that?
Who is it?
However, the old beggar quickly calmed down and said, "As long as you pay attention, don't get kicked out all together."
Cheung Chau Pharmacy looks big from the outside, but after entering, you realize it’s even bigger inside!
Bai Gu looked around. This pharmacy must be at least as big as half of Lingding Lane!
The old beggar took Bai Gu's hand, walked straight to the counter, and handed a locust wood sign to the lobby, "I'm looking for you, Dr. Wu."
The waiter didn't seem to recognize the wooden sign, but when he heard that the other party was looking for that person, he didn't hesitate. "Wait a moment, I'll inform you." After saying that, he went to find the shopkeeper.
The old beggar didn't pay attention, turned his head and said to Bai Gu: "Boy, isn't it big here?"
“It’s just smaller than Lingding Lane, it’s so spectacular!”
In the pharmacy, there are patients, doctors and pharmacists. Although it is morning and not many people are here, it seems sparse, but there are still a few hundred people.
If this place is full, there may be thousands of people!
There aren't even a thousand people in Lingding Lane, right?
It’s so big that a pharmacy can accommodate so many people!
Bai Gu secretly clicked his tongue.
"Can you be a bit promising? Don't compare Lingding Lane all day long. The pattern should be bigger! Otherwise, when you go out in the future, others will laugh at you for your lack of knowledge!"
Bai Gu curled his lips, but did not refute the old beggar.
No way, this really makes sense.
At this time, a slightly rich middle-aged man wearing a brown gown walked over, followed by the person who walked down the hall from just now.
"Is it Senior Wu that you two are looking for? I wonder if you two have informed Senior Wu in advance?" The shopkeeper couldn't help but murmur in his heart as he looked at the old man and young man.
An old beggar and a run-down young man, they don't look like they are coming to see Senior Wu.
The people who usually come there, not to mention being high-ranking officials and very lucky, at least look well-dressed.
But the two people in front of me...their clothes are really hard to describe.
However, the shopkeeper is still a bit discerning and has a smooth manner. Let's talk about these two people first. If they are really senior Wu's distinguished guests, of course they will treat each other with courtesy and smile.
If not, I would naturally ask the two of them to go out so as not to disturb other guests.
Mainly because of the locust wood sign, it was really hard for the shopkeeper to make a decision.
After all, few people do this. Senior Wu also said that card holders can go to him directly. Senior Wu also let the shopkeeper take note of the specific types of cards.
But, there is no sophora wood sign.
"No, but Old Man Wu said that I can go to him with this card." The old beggar put his hands up and smiled, showing a few big yellow teeth.
"This..." The shopkeeper was in trouble. You must know that Senior Wu is the best doctor in Cheung Chau Pharmacy. There are many people who want to see him, and people queue up from the east city end to the west city end every day. If you bring the wrong person to see Senior Wu, you will be in big trouble.
Besides, if Senior Wu loses his temper and leaves Cheung Chau Pharmacy because of this, it will be more of a loss than a gain.
Just as the shopkeeper was about to speak, he heard the old beggar's voice.
"Xiayi rises from Changzhou, and catkins fall at the street entrance. Just tell this to Old Man Wu, and you don't need to worry about the rest."
The shopkeeper responded and quickly went upstairs.
The old beggar himself spoke to help the shopkeeper solve the problem. It was too late for the shopkeeper to be happy, why didn't he hurry up and do the work?
Bai Gu looked at the old beggar, his eyes full of disbelief, "I didn't expect that I could hear such literate words coming from your mouth. It's really rare."
"Look what you are saying! After all, I walked around for a while when I was young, so I can still say such dirty things."
Seeing the pride and confidence that appeared on the old beggar's face for no apparent reason, Bai Gu frowned and said with a look of disgust, "Can you pull him down, just you? Let's forget it."
The old beggar pouted and said indifferently: "Believe it or not."
The old beggar was already used to Bai Gu's tone of disgust and disdain.
Although I still get a little angry every time I listen to it, after living for such a long time, I still have some self-restraint.
Besides, it's really not a crime to get angry with this little brat. If word spreads about it, the price will be somewhat reduced.
But why am I still a little angry?
A little, um, yes, just a little, not much.
Forget it, it's better to find a chance to beat this kid to relieve his anger, otherwise it will be bad if he gets sick.
After chatting nonsense with Bai Gu for a while, the shopkeeper Deng Deng ran down and said to the two of them with a smile on his face: "It turns out that we are senior friends of Senior Wu. I forgive Yuan for being clumsy and neglecting you two. Please come here."
With that said, he led the two old beggars up to the third floor.
Friends?
Although Bai Gu was confused, he still followed the old beggar.
No matter how much he does, let's see if we can cure Ah Yue first, and then talk about it. The rest is not important.
The third floor of the pharmacy is in stark contrast to the noisy first floor.
As soon as you reach the third floor, you can clearly feel a refreshing feeling, which can't help but calm down your troubled mind. What you see is a long corridor with rooms on both sides. The corridor is winding and extends outward in a circle, and the rooms are arranged along the corridor.
The arrangement on the third floor...is a bit like mosquito coils?
Coming up the stairs is the center point of the "mosquito incense".
The shopkeeper guided the two of them and stopped when they reached the third floor. "Senior Wu is in one of the seventy-two rooms. You two need to find it on your own. But there are only three chances. If you find it, you are destined. If you can't find it, you are destined." When you arrive, please come back."
Because the third floor was entirely occupied by Dr. Wu, he set a rule - anyone who comes to see him must find the room where he is among the seventy-two rooms. There are only three chances. Only when you find it can you seek medical advice. But if you can't find it, I'm sorry, you and I didn't have the opportunity this time, please come back next time.
Although the rules are strange, there is still an endless stream of people queuing up to see Dr. Wu every day.
I can't help it, I have such a good reputation.
What a weird old man.
Bai Gu secretly cursed this doctor Wu whom he had never met before.
After the shopkeeper was far away, Bai Gu touched the old beggar with his elbow and said, "What should I do? Why are there so many rooms and only three chances? What should I do if I can't find one?"
"No, I can find it."
"Can you guarantee that?"
"Yes." The old beggar looked confident.
Then he opened two rooms in a row, both of which were empty.
"Are you still drunk?"
"This...this is purely an accident! I will definitely find it this time!"
Bai Gu didn't say anything. He just kicked the old beggar and started looking for him.
It is better to rely on yourself than to rely on others.
Moreover, Bai Gu's sixth sense is very accurate.
He has always trusted his sixth sense.
When he reached a certain room, Bai Gu suddenly stopped. Looking up, I saw fifty-seven written on the door number.
He stretched out his hand to open the door, and the elegant fragrance of orchids greeted him.
Bai Gu stepped through the door and entered, followed by the old beggar.
The shopkeeper smiled softly at the door, closed the door, and went downstairs.
There are not very complicated furnishings in the room. One place is a set for drinking tea, and the other is a set for seeing a doctor. Two screens separate the two places, and in the middle is a set of common visitor seats.
The materials used are just unusual - they are all made of fine golden nanmu.
Although Bai Gu couldn't understand it, he knew it was worth a lot just by looking at the quality of the wood.
So rich...
The old beggar walked to the table unceremoniously, took an apple and started to eat it. Then the old beggar walked straight to a screen and poked his head behind it.
"Hey! Old man Wu, you are really here!"
Hearing this, Bai Guoling, who was still marveling at the wealth of Cheung Chau Pharmacy, came to his senses and quickly ran to the screen and saw Dr. Wu.
Behind a wooden desk sat an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a purple robe. Although he is over seventy years old, his eyes are sparkling and his white hair is neatly tied up with a hosta. He does not look old.
Hearing the old beggar's voice, the old man put down the book in his hand and said helplessly: "I knew it was you, old guy."
"No, why do you look so disappointed? Why, are you disappointed when you see me? Or, who do you think is here?"
"Anyone will do, as long as it's not you."
"..."
"By the way, who is this little brother?" The old man noticed Bai Gu beside him and asked.
"Oh yes, it's not me who has trouble with you today, it's this kid. I just brought him to find you. His name is Bai Gu."
"It turns out to be Xiaoyou Bai, what's the matter?" The old man's voice was honest and gentle, with a strong sense of intimacy.
"Are you Dr. Wu?" Bai Gu hesitated for a moment and then asked.
It's better to ask clearly, otherwise it will be bad if you enter the wrong door and meet the wrong person.
The old man was obviously stunned. He didn't expect Bai Gu to ask such a question. However, he still nodded and said harmoniously: "It's me, you can call me Mr. Wu."
"Mr. Wu, I would like to ask you to help me see a doctor."
"Oh?" The old man smiled softly, stroking the book with one hand, and holding the other hand into a fist against his mouth. He looked at Bai Gu with interest, looking up and down at the run-down young man in front of him.
"What do you want to ask about?"
"Mr. Wu, I haven't finished what I said." Bai Gu took two steps forward, "I want to ask you to help a sister of mine see a doctor."
"Sister?" The old man's expression paused.
"Are you suffering from a minor illness?" The old beggar paused in his movements. "You can't even cure Old Liu's head?"
Although Bai Gu's mouth is not that lovable, he has a pretty good personality. Xiaoxiao was picked up by him, so naturally he followed his personality.
Moreover, Xiaoxiao is very well-behaved and cute. The old beggar still likes this little guy very much.
"It's not Xiaoxiao, she's my neighbor's daughter. Her mother passed away not long ago, and she was the only one left. I saw how pitiful she was, so I took her over to live with her."
"So that's it." The old beggar suddenly realized.
No wonder this kid has been going to the city every day to find food recently. It turns out that he has an extra oil bottle at home.
The old beggar took a bite of the apple and thought for a moment, "Old man Wu, see if you can help me?"
The old man's face was calm as usual and he didn't say anything.
Bai Gu was a little anxious and quickly looked at the old beggar. The latter had no choice but to walk over, lowered his body, put a hand on the old man's shoulder, and whispered in the old man's ear.
"Really?" The old man didn't believe it.
"It's up to you." The old beggar shrugged, looking indifferent. It's none of my business anyway, believe it or not.
Now the old man fell into thinking.
Seeing this, Bai Gu suddenly remembered someone: "Grandpa Liu asked me to come here to find you. He said that you should have a way to cure Ah Yue."
"Grandpa Liu?" The old man was confused.
"That's the doctor in their alley, the guy who cured my leg before." The old beggar reminded me.
"He said that you gave him a few medical books before he started practicing medicine. He also said that you met on the catkin street of Oriole Road a few years ago." Bai Gu added something.
"It's him." The old man suddenly realized and narrowed his eyes. Then he took out a pen and paper, "Describe your sister's symptoms."
Is this a promise?
Bai Gu was ecstatic in his heart and began to speak hurriedly.
The old man listened and wrote, and soon came to the conclusion: "I was born with a genetic lung disease. I was tired of treatment before, and now I am terminally ill."
Bai Gu took out another piece of paper, which was written by Lao Liutou about Ah Yue's illness.
"Excessive liver fire, thin and cold spleen and stomach, spots caused by body heat, lack of Qi, blood deficiency, night sweats, and pulse like an onion."
The old man just glanced at it and sighed.
Bai Gu's heart was so anxious that it almost reached his throat. The old man's sigh almost made him anxious to death, "How are you, Mr. Wu? A Yue, can she be saved? Can she be cured?"
"You can be saved and you can be cured, it just depends on how sincere you are."
Bai Gu hesitated for a moment and said, "Mr. Wu, I don't have any money now, but please be sure to cure Ah Yue. I can work for you, be it a cow or a horse. I, I don't need money, I can do it for you." A lifetime’s work.”
The old man raised his hand to stop Bai Gu, who was getting more and more excited as he spoke, "I have plenty of small jobs. Besides, how can you guarantee that you can do better than others, and how can I trust your words?"
"This..." Bai Gu instantly withered.
With no money, no power, and no ability, as a young boy with nothing, his words really have no credibility. Besides, he really doesn’t know how to do small jobs and needs to learn it from scratch. But how could someone want a small-time worker who knows nothing?
For the same product, most people will choose the one with better quality. Those defective products, when there are other options, normal people would not consider them, right?
But now, I am the defective product, and no one else wants it.
Can you blame anyone else?
cannot.
This is just human nature.
Two pies are placed in front of you and you are asked to choose one. Would you choose the meatless pie over the meaty one?
The answer is obviously no.
Seeing that Bai Gu didn't speak for a long time, the old man waved his hand to signal the two of them to leave.
"Old man Wu, you really can't think about it anymore?" The old beggar had to speak out to save the situation.
After all, he was the one who brought Bai Gu here. If he messed up, his old face would never be able to stand up in front of Bai Gu in the future.
"Old guy, it's not that I don't help, it's that this guy can't show sincerity that satisfies me. I really can't help you with this."
"Do you think it's okay to take my life in exchange for Ah Yue's?" Bai Gu suddenly spoke.
But one sentence shocked the two of them.
"Are you sure?" The old man's eyes narrowed slightly again.
"Sure."
"Don't regret it? She is just your neighbor's daughter and has no blood relationship with you."
"There is nothing to regret. Now that I have taken her over, she is my biological sister. It is normal for a biological brother to be kind to his biological sister."
"What if she's ungrateful in the future?"
"That's in the future, and it's her own business. I can't change her mind or what she will look like in the future, but at least now I can decide what I should do."
"Little friend Bai, you are quite interesting." The old man suddenly laughed.
"Ah?" Bai Gu was a little confused, but the old man's next words almost made him cheer: "I can help your sister treat her illness, and you don't have to trade your life for it. You just need to do one thing for me."
"Okay! Don't say just one piece, let me make ten or a hundred pieces!"
The old man did not respond to Bai Gu's words, and said to himself: "You should know the way to Gu Xuefeng outside the city, right? Just go there and pick an old ginseng for me."
"Gu Xuefeng? Yes. But what kind of old ginseng do you want? Can you give me a reference?" Let alone old ginseng, Bai Gu has never seen a normal ginseng.
"It looks like a normal old ginseng, but it's purple. It usually blooms purple flowers wherever it is. But you have to be careful. There are usually snakes around it, so be careful."
"Well... this old ginseng is quite special." This is the first time Bai Gu has heard of such a... strange ginseng. "So, where does this old ginseng usually grow?"
"At the roots of old trees, under big rocks, or in spacious and shady caves. And they usually grow on high ground, so don't consider those below the mountainside of Xuefeng."
"Okay." Bai Gu agreed quickly. It didn't sound like it was a difficult matter. It was just a matter of hands.
"I will prescribe some medicine first. You can take it back and let your sister drink it. It can relieve the pain. When you bring the old ginseng, I will officially treat your sister."
"Oh, by the way, your sister should be able to survive the illness for a few more months. You can make arrangements for Lao Ginseng on your own," the old man added.
Bai Gu nodded.
"Boy, please go out for a moment. I have something to say to Old Man Wu." The old beggar suddenly spoke.
But, this tone is a bit weird?
Bai Gu was confused, but he didn't say anything, so he walked out and closed the door.
After Bai Gu squatted at the door of Changzhou Pharmacy and made several frogs, and stayed there for an unknown amount of time, the old beggar finally came out.
The first words the old beggar said made Bai Gu feel confused.
"Boy, be careful when you go to Gu Xuefeng. The snakes there are very powerful."
"OK, got it."
"Let's go, go back and see if the drunkard is still there. It's somewhat immoral to leave him alone there."
"You just knew?"
"Hey! Aren't your kids in a hurry to come to the old man Wu? Why did you blame me?"
"I don't know him, how to deal with him is your business, it has nothing to do with me half dime."
"You brat..."
The two were so troubled, and walked back to the Jiu Pavilion of Snow Street again.
