The Unyielding Physician of Yifang Hall

At noon, Xu Niantang was fed a little lean meat porridge by the bad guy with a small spoon. She then shook her head, indicating she could eat no more.

Ye Di carried back the bowl, still more than half full. He gazed at the little girl’s pale, bloodless face, a thought stirring within him: ‘Something truly isn’t right.’

This was the same glutton who, on any other day, could devour five braised pork meatballs as an appetizer. Now, she couldn’t even finish a small bowl of porridge.

Rice grains still clung to Xu Niantang’s lips, yet her small hand impatiently reached out from under the covers, inching closer to Ye Di.

He immediately understood, gently enclosing her hand in his. Xu Niantang’s expression instantly relaxed into one of comfort.

While she was usually clingy, like a persistent plaster, her illness seemed to have amplified her need for closeness even further.

Ye Di observed her eyes, which seemed to hold unspoken worries. He hesitated for a long moment, unsure how to begin asking.

Placing the bowl on the table, he pulled up a corner of Xu Niantang’s blanket for her, then gently felt her forehead to check her temperature. It was still burning hot to the touch.

Ye Di said, “Xu Niantang, this afternoon I’ll take you to the best physician in the city. How about we ask him to examine you? I hear he’s a highly recommended expert, praised by Lei Ling, the Master of the Lei Clan Martial Arts School, who is said to be ‘unrivaled throughout Quzhou’.”

Xu Niantang blinked, her weak voice surprisingly soft and sweet. “But you’re much more formidable than that Master Lei…”

Ye Di scoffed. “Xu Niantang, do you truly believe you’re complimenting me? For someone of my caliber, how could a mere Quzhou possibly compare? If I wished to cut my way through the entire city of Quzhou, it would be a trivial matter.”

Xu Niantang nodded obediently, her gesture conveying that the bad guy was always right.

Seeing that the ailing Xu Niantang no longer even had the energy to bicker with him, Ye Di fell silent. Finally, he managed a faint smile. “Get some good rest; I’ll take you to see him soon.”

****

The sun shone brightly as Ye Di carried the little girl on his back, walking along the bustling street.

Xu Niantang rested her head on his shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Any more force, and she might have choked him.

They navigated through a labyrinth of turns, following the directions Lei Ling had provided. Finally, at the end of a small alley in East Street, they spotted a signboard.

A weathered wooden sign hung precariously outside the door, swaying crookedly in the wind. On it, several neatly carved clerical script characters read: `[Yifang Hall]`.

The pharmacy appeared unassuming, yet to their surprise, the entrance was completely impassable. People were packed shoulder to shoulder, their clamor rivaling the din of a bustling market.

When Ye Di had sought out Lei Ling at noon to ask for the address, Lei Ling had pounded his chest and boasted that the proprietor of `[Yifang Hall]` was named Luo Yifang.

As his name implied, he claimed to cure illnesses with just a single prescription. No matter how intractable the ailment, his medicine was said to be unfailingly effective.

Ye Di had initially been skeptical, wondering if it was mere exaggeration. However, witnessing the sheer crowd, so dense it could “make one pregnant,” he instantly believed in the true value of this “Luo Yifang.”

Ye Di carried Xu Niantang through the throng, only to see two individuals, dressed as servants, turning away the common folk who had come seeking medical help. “Go on, go on! Doctor Luo has said he won’t see patients these few days, so hurry up and leave! Don’t crowd the entrance!”

At these words, the crowd immediately erupted in lamentations. “My whole family is burning with fever, and if Doctor Luo doesn’t see us soon, there’ll be no one left to work…”

“Doctor Luo, please have mercy and save us common folk…”

“Are you perhaps displeased with the consultation fee? My family still has two plowing cows; they could probably fetch a few taels of silver…”

Ye Di pondered, ‘This Luo Yifang claims to cure a hundred ailments with a single prescription, yet why is he refusing to see patients?’

He carried Xu Niantang to the doorway. The two servants immediately noticed them and waved their hands, blocking their path. “Stop! Doctor Luo has already stated he won’t see any patients these few days!”

Ye Di replied, “I heard that Doctor Luo’s reputation as a physician is renowned throughout the medical community, and that his medical skills are the highest in the great city of Quzhou. It is precisely for this reason that I have brought my younger sister here to seek his treatment.”

One of the servants snorted, nostrils flaring, and exhaled two rough breaths. “It’s no use, absolutely no use! Many persistent patients came this morning, some with money, some with precious jewels, but all were turned away. If you have such a talent for flattery, you’d be better off going home early to prepare a coffin and arrange for the afterlife.”

Ye Di’s brow furrowed. However, it was inconvenient to act under the gaze of so many onlookers, as it could easily incite a disturbance. He maintained a calm tone. “I was introduced by Master Lei of the Lei Clan Martial Arts School. Even if Doctor Luo is not seeing patients, would it be too much trouble for you two gentlemen to inform him of my presence?”

For the first time, the two servants looked at him with genuine attention. They exchanged a glance, and one of them nodded, then turned and walked into the shop.

The other servant remained leaning against the door, saying lazily, “Boy, if we find out you’ve been deceiving us, you’ll have a bad time coming…”

He hadn’t even finished speaking when the servant who had just gone inside rushed out again, looking flustered. He bowed deeply to Ye Di, his voice trembling. “Please, young master and young lady, come in and take a seat!”

Ye Di smiled. “Then I thank both of you.”

As he walked in, carrying Xu Niantang, the servant who had been guarding the door earlier had already turned pale, his forehead beaded with fine cold sweat. He nearly buckled at the knees.

Behind them, the clamor from the citizens still barred outside grew louder. “Why are only those two allowed in? Didn’t Doctor Luo say he wasn’t seeing patients?”

“Damn it, if you don’t let me in, I’ll smash this `[Yifang Hall]` to pieces!”

“Oh dear, my family has elders above and children below, all acting as if they’ve caught a hysteria. What are we to do now…”

****

The interior of `[Yifang Hall]` was simply furnished, exuding an antique charm.

Several pear blossom wood chairs were arranged in the hall, and on either side, bronze censers burned fragrant incense, filling the air with a scent like orchid and musk.

A lean figure, with temples already streaked with white, sat at the head of the main hall. Seeing Ye Di and Xu Niantang enter, he hunched his back and came down to greet them. “You two must be young Lei’s friends, correct?”

Ye Di cupped his hands in a salute. “Precisely. May I ask if the esteemed elder is indeed Doctor Luo Yifang?”

Luo Yifang stroked his beard. “That’s right, this old man is Luo Yifang. Since you two are young Lei’s friends, this old man shall naturally prepare a banquet to entertain you.”

Ye Di paused, sensing something amiss in his words. “Doctor Luo, I have come here to seek medical treatment, not to impose without reason.”

Luo Yifang immediately glanced up at him. “You’ve also come to seek medical treatment?”

Ye Di replied, “Yes. Recently, several similar symptoms seem to have appeared simultaneously within the city, and my younger sister has unfortunately fallen ill as well. I suspect this might be some intractable plague, and have specifically come here to seek a skilled physician.”

Luo Yifang sneered. “Ha, haha! It seems young Lei is also a muddle-headed fool with a poor memory. You two, have you ever heard the origin of this old man’s `[Yifang Hall]` name?”

Ye Di answered, “To heal the sick and save lives, a single prescription is all it takes for the medicine to be effective. Hence the name.”

Luo Yifang nodded. “It seems you two have done some research before coming to this old man’s establishment.”

Ye Di said, “You flatter us. Doctor Luo’s reputation is well-known throughout Quzhou City.”

Luo Yifang suddenly burst into laughter, his voice hoarse and aged. Towards the end, he even coughed repeatedly, struggling to catch his breath.

The servant from earlier hurriedly poked his head through the main hall’s doorway. “Doctor Luo, are you alright?”

Luo Yifang, still hunched, clutched his chest with one hand. With the other, he waved outward, signaling them not to interfere.

Only after recovering his breath did he slowly straighten his posture.

Ye Di, unsure of Luo Yifang’s intentions, could only wait and observe.

Luo Yifang patted down his robes, then lowered his gaze. “Since you two have heard of this old man’s `[Yifang Hall]` reputation, you should also know the reason why I’ve been refusing to see patients these past few days.”

Ye Di was startled by his words. After a moment of careful thought, he realized. “You mean to say…”

“Precisely,” Luo Yifang stated. “This old man is refusing to see patients precisely so that the reputation of `[Yifang Hall]` isn’t ruined, and to prevent this old man from losing his good name in his later years.”

Ye Di’s brows furrowed. “Is this plague truly so potent that even Doctor Luo is powerless against it?”

Luo Yifang spat. “Pah! What ‘plague’ are you talking about? There isn’t an illness under heaven that this old man cannot cure. But unfortunately, these symptoms do not fall within the ‘pathological’ category.”

Ye Di said, “What do you mean by that? Please, Doctor Luo, enlighten me.”

Luo Yifang replied, “You two are extracting information from this old man so easily, yet I gain not a single benefit. There’s no such business in this world.”

Ye Di understood that Luo Yifang was about to state his terms. He nodded. “Doctor Luo, whatever your command, I shall not refuse.”

Luo Yifang said, “Very well, this old man won’t ask you to do anything troublesome. You saw the large crowd of patients gathered at the entrance just now, didn’t you? They were shouting abuses and threatening violence.”

Ye Di responded, “They are simply desperate, acting out of utter helplessness.”

Luo Yifang sneered. “Ha! Desperate? One way or another, it’s just death. For their cheap lives, will living truly make their path smoother?”

Ye Di merely smiled, remaining silent, knowing there was no need to argue with others.

Luo Yifang continued, “If they truly become enraged and demand to tear down this old man’s shop, I would be powerless to stop them. Therefore, I ask you two to protect this shop for a period, to prevent them from smashing anything or causing damage. If you protect it thoroughly, this old man will explain the inner mysteries of this illness to you.”

Ye Di turned his head, just in time to see Xu Niantang quietly gazing at his profile.

Caught, she looked a little shy, a rare blush appearing on her pale face. She merely buried her reddened cheek into the crook of his neck, murmuring, “I’ll listen to you.”

Ye Di then turned back to Luo Yifang and said, “Then it shall be as you wish.”