Hu Mazi was frightened now. Yesterday, he was beaten dozens of times in the Yamen. Although the injuries were not too serious, they were not painful. The marks of the sticks were still there, and some were soaked in blood. He thought about this in confusion, and held his hands involuntarily, raised them up, clasped the back of his head, buried his head in his chest, and squatted on the ground without saying a word.
The clerk scolded him and walked away.
Hu Mazi had mung bean eyes, trying to find a gap to get out of, but he looked carefully and found that although the house was low, it was very solid. Most of the walls were made of blue rough stones, and the tops were also slightly striped. The thin stone made him give up his attempt to escape. As he expected, all three prison meals were delivered on time, but the side dishes were too poor. They were all cabbage and radishes without starch seeds, sometimes mixed with a burnt smell. As a prisoner, picky eaters are not tolerated. As long as you can fill your stomach.
Hu Mazi was sentenced to one year in prison, which was not as "good" as he initially imagined. Being in jail was not just about sitting in jail. In fact, he was often kicked out by the warden to do hard labor, such as moving rocks, digging mountains, carrying river sand, and other dirty things. You have to do all the tiring work, and if you slack off, you will be whipped. Later, a prisoner couldn't stand the torture of the sunny and hot weather and fainted on the ground with a high fever. A prison doctor came to take his pulse and said he had heatstroke. He prescribed a prescription and took medicine, and he recovered quickly. But Hu Mazi found this unbelievable and felt that the prison doctor was very capable, so he approached him with excuses and said many flattering words such as Bian Que's reincarnation and Hua Tuo's rebirth to please the prison doctor. The prison doctor asked him if he was interested in treating diseases. Interested, he nodded. The prison doctor saw that he was so pious and attentive, so he taught him a few tricks. He started with Western medicine, but he studied seriously but did not make much progress. The prison doctor then taught him Chinese medicine and found that he had a good understanding of Chinese medicine. He accepted knowledge quickly, and the prison doctor was very happy and taught him some very practical folk remedies to treat burns and scalds. Later in prison, he performed a drill and healed several inmates who had burned their wrists from setting off firecrackers during the festival. The prison doctor said approvingly: You will not have to worry about food when you are released from prison.
A year later, the county magistrate asked about his sentence, and the jailer said it was full and he could be released. The county magistrate was well aware of his virtues and arranged for his servants to appease Hu Mazi: He will let you go back to your hometown this time, but please don't break the law again. But Hu Mazi said: I don’t want to leave and am willing to continue serving my sentence in prison. The officer said: Your sentence has expired and you can be released.
I didn't want to leave. I walked out of the prison door and might break the law again. It was suggested that I should be kept to continue serving my sentence.
The yamen servant didn't say much. He returned to the yamen and reported back to the county magistrate truthfully what Hu Mazi said. The county magistrate was very angry and said that since Hu Mazi was so ignorant, he would be sentenced to another 10 years.
As a result, Hu Mazi served another 10 years in prison. The original county magistrate was transferred to another place. When the new county magistrate came, he found that there were overdue sentences in the prison and immediately ordered the release of Hu Mazi. Hu Mazi learned to treat diseases in prison and cured many cases. He was famous not only in prison but also in society. While he was in prison, some patients in society came to him for treatment and were cured. In this way, his reputation in society was also very good. After being released from prison, many patients came to see him for treatment, and the treatment effects were indeed obvious.
At this moment, Hu Mazi, who was warming himself by the fire in the house, suddenly heard someone knocking on the door and asked who it was. The answer was me, from Lijia Village. My child's face was burned by the fire. Please diagnose and treat him.
It was a woman's voice. My wife put down the gavel for pounding medicine and went to open the door. What came in was a young woman with a child on her back and an umbrella filled with snow powder in her hand. She had already put it away. , put it against the wall, and the thick leaf-like thing fell down again. She put the child down, then bent down to put it away. Unexpectedly, the placed umbrella suddenly flicked and opened automatically, as big as an upside-down buckle. lotus leaf.
The child recognized the birth and pulled Xu Li to call her mother. Seeing that he was a little nervous, Xu Li said don't be afraid, Doctor Hu will heal the pain on your face. Seeing her closing the umbrella, Hu Mazi stood up and said, forget it can't be closed well, it's okay, just leave it like that.
Hu Mazi glanced outside the door, seeing white snow and the shoal wind blowing in. He felt a bone-chilling chill and stepped forward to close the door.
It was indeed warm inside, and the red charcoal fire crackled and burned with a light blue flame, whose luster reflected on Xu Li's face like a touch of clouds.
Hu Mazi touched the child's head, looked at the burned area, and said it didn't matter, I would find a way to cure it. As he asked his wife to get the medicine, he asked Xu Li if she knew Li Fu? Xu Li was about to say that he was my husband, but she suddenly paused, swallowed back what she almost blurted out, and changed her words: Li Fu is from our village, how can we not recognize him?
He's a good guy. Hu Mazi said casually, then took another spoonful of medicine from his wife, dipped a chicken feather in the medicine and applied it carefully on Li Gui's purple and swollen face.
After hearing what Hu Mazi said, Xu Li was a little surprised and asked Li Fu what he could do. Hu Mazi smiled: It's hard to say. After applying the medicine to Li Gui, he looked at Xu Li and said, to be honest, I have to thank Li Fu for learning this medical skill.
Was it Li Fu who introduced you to study medicine? Xu Li asked abruptly.
It's like an introduction. Hu Mazi nodded and answered, and prescribed some anti-inflammatory medicine to the child.
When Xu Li paid, the relationship between him and Li Fu was brought up again. Hu Mazi smiled but did not answer, but his wife revealed the truth: This guy in my family was hungry when he was young and wanted to live in prison. Li Fu gave him an idea to live in prison. His wish came true and he was sentenced to more than ten years. While serving his sentence, a prison doctor taught him medical skills. He is a man who repays his kindness. He thinks that if Li Fu had not come up with the idea, he would not be able to make a living in prison. If he could not make a living in prison, of course he would not have the opportunity to learn medical skills. Now that he has mastered medical skills, he does it from the bottom of his heart. Thank you Li Fu.
Xu Li understood. It turned out that Li Fu's help to Hu Mazi was purely a "mistake." She felt secretly happy, so Li Fu was still Hu Mazi's benefactor. In this case, if Li Fu brought the child to treat the burn, he would definitely be more dedicated. When Xu Li was leaving with her child in her arms, Hu Mazi stepped forward to open the door and emphatically explained how to apply and take medicine to the child.
It was still windy and snowy outside, and although the night was dark, the snow light illuminated it, and one could tell the direction. Xu Li opened her umbrella and returned. After walking a few steps, Li Gui's grandfather, who had been waiting outside, followed him and asked me to hold his grandson. Xu Li handed Li Gui to him, and then said how grateful Hu Mazi was to Li Fu.
I know that when you two entered Hu Mazi's house, I was standing under the window outside his house, listening to you quietly. The old man sighed and said that I originally thought that Hu Mazi always hated my son, so I didn't dare to see him and would be embarrassed when I saw him. In addition, not long after you entered the house, Hu Mazi mentioned Li Fu's matter, and you fortunately concealed your relationship with Li Fu. I was worried that Hu Mazi hated your husband and failed to treat your children.
The father-in-law and his daughter-in-law walked all the way in the snow, and the snow powder was chirping. Unknowingly, they arrived in front of the house with the door closed in heavy snow.
Li Gui fell asleep in his grandfather's arms, and Xu Li took her over. Her husband opened the door and saw that the child was burned like this, and kept complaining to Xu Li. The old man came in and told how Hu Mazi was grateful to Li Fu. Li Fu's mood improved and he was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night.
