Chapter Thirteen: The Petty Old Man

Everyone in the Hall of Health was watching the young master in the center. They saw that the bleeding from his hand had gradually stopped, and his complexion was slowly returning to normal. Only then did the steward and the servants let go of Wei Renshi, rushing over to surround the young master, asking anxiously, “Young master, are you feeling better?”

The young master let out a long sigh, nodded, and said, “Much better. My head isn’t so dizzy anymore.”

As he nodded, the several layers of fat under his chin quivered with the motion, leaving Wei Renshi somewhat dumbfounded.

“Ah! I have seen this gentleman before. If not for his timely intervention just now, I fear the young master would have been in grave danger! I am ashamed—my medical skills are lacking. May I ask, what exactly is the illness that afflicts the young master? I hope you can enlighten me!” As he spoke, the resident physician actually stepped back and gave Wei Renshi a respectful bow.

Wei Renshi sidestepped, avoiding the bow, and replied, “You flatter me, sir. I am not a physician—just now, I merely recalled a conversation I once overheard between some reclusive hermits in the mountains about such a condition.”

The resident physician hesitated for a moment and pressed on, “Pardon my boldness, but could you share some details? I have never seen such a method before!”

“Why not? The hermit once said: if a person becomes too obese, his blood grows excessive and forceful, thick and sluggish. Should an attack occur, the blood within his body rushes like wild horses, charging straight to the heart and brain. If the vessels in the heart or brain are breached, death is instantaneous. The illness, as you described, builds up over time; but if an attack comes, one may try pricking the center of the palms or soles to let the blood escape, which might momentarily relieve the pressure on the heart and brain.” Wei Renshi continued, “But this is only a temporary measure, and it will not always be effective. In the end, it seems this young master’s fate was not yet sealed.”

The young master, having recovered somewhat, grew anxious again on hearing this. He glanced nervously at the steward.

The steward immediately understood, hastily stepped forward to bow deeply to Wei Renshi, then slapped himself twice across the face and cried, “This lowly servant actually offended our benefactor! My guilt is beyond redemption. Please, sir, do not take it to heart—have mercy and forgive me!”

“There’s no need for that,” Wei Renshi waved his hand. “You were only acting out of loyalty to your master.”

“Thank you, sir!” The steward bowed repeatedly.

“May I ask the name of my benefactor?” The young master, breathing easier, saw that Wei Renshi bore no grudge, and respectfully inquired.

“I dare not accept such a title. My surname is Wei, and I go by the courtesy name Renshi,” Wei Renshi replied with a polite gesture.

“So it is Brother Renshi!” the young master exclaimed. “I am the son of the Jiao family of Fortune Prosperity City, my given name is Hao, courtesy name Haiqing. Brother Renshi, you have saved my life—a debt I cannot hope to repay! Please, honor me by visiting my humble abode, so I may thank you properly!”

The Jiao family of Fortune Prosperity City was the leading gentry in the area. Wei Renshi had suspected as much when he heard the resident physician address the young man as “Young Master Jiao” and saw his size.

In these times, only the richest household in Fortune Prosperity could produce someone so corpulent.

“It’s not that I am unwilling, but I have already promised to dine with someone at noon and must keep my word,” Wei Renshi replied. “Besides, it was a small effort, not worth mentioning. Follow the prescribed treatment, and you will surely recover in time.”

“…Since brother Renshi already has arrangements, I shall not press further. But please, leave your address so I may visit another day to express my gratitude,” Jiao Haiqing said, bowing again.

Wei Renshi found his manner most agreeable and thought to himself that the son of the wealthiest family in Fortune Prosperity was surprisingly well-mannered—though far too indulgent, to have let himself become so overweight. Judging by his looks, he was no more than twenty, and already suffering from high blood pressure. If he did not take care, he would not live long.

This brought to mind his own experiences in the future: once, he had helped a student who injured himself while playing on the school stairs by taking him to the hospital. The child’s family, unreasonable and stubborn, accused him of corporal punishment and pushed the matter to the school authorities. Despite many witnesses, the backward village school had no surveillance, and the family insisted on their accusations, escalating it to the education bureau. Wanting to avoid trouble, the bureau issued a punishment without discernment, costing Wei Renshi a year’s salary—twenty thousand yuan. Frustrated and powerless, he drank himself into a stupor on the street, only to wake up and find himself absurdly transported to the Tang Dynasty.

Compared to Jiao Haiqing’s attitude today, Wei Renshi couldn’t help but feel a sense of goodwill.

So he added another word of advice: “The root of your illness, young master, lies in your obesity. Unless you address this, recovery will be difficult. I advise you to seek renowned physicians and restrain your appetite—otherwise, you will not live long.”

This warning startled Jiao Haiqing anew, leaving him speechless.

Wei Renshi felt he had done all he could, so he raised his hand in farewell, went to the medicine counter to collect his prepared herbs, and left the Hall of Health.

It was nearly noon, so Wei Renshi quickened his pace toward the shop selling foreign cakes, where he was to meet Magistrate Zheng.

When he arrived, Magistrate Zheng had not yet come. After waiting a while, the aroma of the cakes and the mutton boiling in the pot beside them became irresistible, so Wei Renshi decided to buy one for himself.

By now, a good number of people were waiting in line. Wei Renshi waited patiently until it was his turn.

“One, please,” Wei Renshi said, handing over his coins.

As he reached out for the cake, he suddenly realized that the old man handing it to him looked familiar.

The old man, too, paused, his face instantly turning cold. He quickly withdrew his hand, eyes flashing, and said, “So it’s you, boy! I won’t sell you this cake!”

At those words, Wei Renshi remembered why the man seemed familiar—wasn’t this the old fellow he had overheard boasting the other day? No wonder the man had chimed in after hearing him brag; it turned out he owned this cake shop.

Wei Renshi hadn’t expected the old man to be so petty, but he didn’t take it to heart. He chuckled, “I am just a youngster, and it was nothing more than idle boasting. Why take offense? You’re a businessman—it's not like I’m not paying you.”

“Hmph! I said I won’t sell you one, and I won’t!” the old man replied stubbornly, his face cold, refusing both the money and the cake.

Well! Wei Renshi grew somewhat annoyed and said with a sneer, “For someone your age to hold a child’s words against him—what a generous spirit you have!”

The old man turned away, “You’re right, I am petty. If I say I won’t sell you a cake, I won’t!”

“Fine, don’t sell, as if I really care!” Wei Renshi laughed. “Your cakes are decent, but the mutton you use is tough, dry, and has a strong, unpleasant smell. The truth is, I wasn’t just making things up the other day!”

“If you’ve got the skills, try running me out of business!” the old man shot back, unwilling to be outdone.

“What’s going on? Are you selling or not? Why the argument?” someone in the line behind called out impatiently, seeing the line stalled.

“Exactly! If you’re selling, hurry up. If not, move on and don’t waste our time—we’re busy!”

As soon as someone called out, several others joined in, stirring up the commotion.

“Father, why are you arguing? What happened?” Just then, a woman in coarse clothes, her hands covered in flour, approached from behind and asked.