I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 156: Chapter 67: Celestial Pillar (Part 2)

...

These joyous sounds, along with the morning sunlight, burst in through the window.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family smiled. ”Compared to that so-called master of Medical Skill, our Brother Rui isn’t so bad himself!”

”That’s right!”

Third Lady’s eyes curved into crescents. Her limpid autumn eyes, gazing at Fang Rui, were filled with an adoration that threatened to spill over. ”In the future, Brother Rui will definitely become a master of Medical Skill, too.”

”But speaking of which, that unknown master of Medical Skill has performed a truly immeasurable service this time, curing so many people in our city! With other families recovering, our family is much safer too.” She understood the situation clearly.

Fang Rui listened from the side with a knowing smile, saying nothing. He ladled two bowls of medicinal soup and handed one to each of the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan.

”Thank you, big brother!”

”Thank you, Brother Ah Rui!”

The two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, weren’t like the fussy children from Fang Rui’s past life. Even when faced with such an incredibly bitter medicinal soup, they needed no coaxing. Furrowing their brows, they gulped it down—GULP GULP GULP—racing each other to finish it in one go. They were remarkably decisive.

”Such good girls!”

Fang Rui patted the two little girls on the head.

Not far in front of him, dappled patches of brilliant golden light floated and danced, weaving together with the rising and falling cheers from outside to create a bright and joyous atmosphere.

Infected by this mood, the five of them—Fang Rui, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan—all wore lighthearted smiles. They spoke in low voices, finally feeling a long-overdue sense of relief after several oppressive days.

...

「Sweet Water Well Alley.」

In the Jiang Family’s home, in a remote side room,

”COUGH COUGH!”

Jiang Ping’an clutched a silk cloth to his mouth, coughing violently. After the fit passed, he unfolded the cloth. On it was a startling, crimson-red bloody phlegm.

That’s right, he had contracted the plague.

After all, Fang Rui’s masks and Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches weren’t foolproof, and Jiang Ping’an just so happened to...

To avoid infecting his wife and children, he had locked himself in his room, self-isolating.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Suddenly, a knock sounded from outside.

Jiang Ping’an knew it was his wife, here to bring him a meal.

He rose unsteadily to his feet. He didn’t open the door, but went to the window instead, where he saw his wife. Just as he had instructed, she was fully geared up with a mask and gloves.

”Old Jiang, you...”

Seeing Jiang Ping’an’s pale, sallow face, Sister-in-law Jiang felt a sting in her nose and tears began to fall. ”How did you end up like this?!”

”I told you not to be so dedicated, not to always be the first to rush into everything, but you just wouldn’t listen! Look at you now... When Niu Dun and Xiaodouya ask about you, I don’t even dare to tell them the truth... Tell me, if the worst should happen, what are a widow and her orphans supposed to do?!” she rambled on, her voice choked with sobs.

”I...”

Faced with his wife’s words, Jiang Ping’an opened his mouth, but in the end, all that came out was a sigh. ”Alas, it’s too late to say anything now.”

At that moment, his feelings were a complicated, indescribable mess.

Back when the Government Office was in charge of Changshan City, the world was a chaotic mess. He had simply muddled through, blending in with the crowd.

But after the Taiping Army arrived and implemented a series of benevolent policies in the city, he—who could tell right from wrong—chose to work himself to the bone to see them through.

He did it because he realized he had deep feelings for Changshan City—this place where he was born, where he grew up, and where he would one day be buried. He wanted to see it become a better place.

Besides, if he had the choice, he wanted to be a good man.

And so, when the plague broke out, Jiang Ping’an’s drive to give his all continued out of habit. Adding to that, he had gotten the masks and Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches from Fang Rui.

Two governmental officers beside him got infected, but he was fine. This led him to overestimate the effectiveness of the masks and pouches, so he didn’t slack off or try to weasel out of his duties like the others...

And then, he got infected.

It came back to the same point: Fang Rui’s masks and Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches were merely preventative items, not a cure-all.

If you were to ask whether Jiang Ping’an regretted his actions...

The answer would be a resounding yes.

He was just an ordinary man. Of course he had regrets. After all, if forced to choose between strangers and his own family, he would choose his family without a moment’s hesitation.

But where in this world could you find a medicine for regret?!

Jiang Ping’an gave a bitter smile and began to speak slowly. ”If the worst happens to me, you can’t rely on anyone else. You’ve seen it yourself. The moment I fell ill, all my so-called connections—my fellow constables, my subordinate governmental officers, my fair-weather friends... they all kept their distance, avoiding me like the plague.”

”They weren’t even willing to pass on a single message for me... It truly shows you how fickle people can be.”

A bitter smile touched the corners of his mouth, and it was unclear if he was mocking his ’network’ of contacts or himself. ”If the plague situation in the city eases up even a little and you can go out, take the children to the Fang Family. Find Brother Fang. He’s the only one who can protect you!”

”It’s just a shame... I never repaid my previous debt to Brother Fang, and now I’m about to owe him even more. Tell Brother Fang that in my next life, I’ll be his brother again...”

As he reached the end, his emotions got the better of him and he began to cough violently again, covering his mouth with his hand and bringing up a fistful of bloody phlegm.

This was almost like him giving his last words.

Hearing this, Sister-in-law Jiang was already sobbing uncontrollably. ”Old Jiang! Old Jiang! Don’t say such disheartening things! You’ll get better...”

Just as this sorrowful atmosphere began to thicken—

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The sound of a gong suddenly rang out from outside, accompanied by the Night Watchman’s cry: ”The Rebel Army has found the master of Medical Skill! He’s developed a formula to cure the plague for everyone... Every household, stay inside! The Rebel Army will come to your door to distribute the medicinal soup for free!”

”Did you hear that? Old Jiang, there’s hope! You just wait, I’m going right now, I’ll go get the medicinal soup for you!” Sister-in-law Jiang sniffled, quickly turned, and ran out.