Chapter 120 - 76: Remnants of East Market

Chapter 120: Chapter 76: Remnants of East MarketRan Yan removed the mask and dampened a cotton cloth with alcohol to wipe a small patch of skin on Zi Xu’s forearm. She held her wrist and eyed the comparative thick needle, sighing inwardly. Administering a skin test with this... was going to be quite challenging! The needles used for skin tests are very fine so that they can be easily inserted into the skin without damaging muscles and blood vessels. The thicker the needle, the greater the chance of failure. For a moment, both Hong Xing and Zi Xu’s attention was captured by Ran Yan’s beauty, for she was indeed the most famously known person in Suzhou City lately! Albeit not for a good reputation. Zi Xu was so engrossed that when a sting shot through her arm, she instinctively tried to pull back. But it seemed that Ran Yan had anticipated her reaction, she held the wrist firmly until the penicillin from the syringe raised a bump on the skin and then withdrew the needle. "Don’t touch it, let it be for a while." Ran Yan set the needle aside, took out another syringe and needle, assembled them, and looking up at Hong Xing, said, "Stretch out your arm." Since Ran Yan had controlled the tenacious disease in their bodies with her medicine, they both trusted her fully. Hong Xing, seeing Zi Xu’s knitted brows, rolled up her sleeves timidly to reveal her pale forearm and asked softly, "Does it hurt?" Zi Xu simply frowned, unable to utter a word after a long pause. Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A skin test is much more painful than an injection, and the pain lasts for a long time. For ancient people unaccustomed to injections, indeed it was very painful. By now, Wan Lu had also arrived and immediately sensed that the atmosphere in the room was amiss: Zi Xu with her brows furrowed, silently looking downward, while Hong Xing’s lips were tightly pressed together, her face somewhat pale. Wan Lu couldn’t help but frown; as a courtesan, how could she be impolite to guests? Regardless of whether the guest was male or female, young or old, she had to be able to handle the atmosphere flexibly. "Doctor Ran has come, and I have not personally welcomed you, which is truly rude of me," Wan Lu apologized with a smile as she entered the inner room, having concealed all her emotions. "Wan Lu, you are too courteous. I’ve never minded these formalities. Please take a seat," Ran Yan responded as she wiped alcohol on Hong Xing’s forearm. "The medicine I’ve made may not be suitable for everyone, so a test is necessary. It’s completely safe, although it might cause some minor discomfort." Wan Lu nodded and said, "Doctor Ran’s meticulous approach to treating illnesses truly is a lesson for those so-called Divine Doctors of today." As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Ran Yan’s face, her composed eyes flashing with admiration. But that admiration shattered instantly as Ran Yan’s expression remained unchanged while she pierced Hong Xing’s skin with the needle. Without another word, Ran Yan performed the skin tests on all three, one after the other. Wan Lu kept talking to her. Being used to seeing people of all sorts and good at observing people’s demeanor, she continued the conversation upon seeing Ran Yan not showing any sign of impatience, "I’ve heard rumors around town that you can also conduct autopsies?" When she said this, Wan Lu cautiously gauged Ran Yan’s reaction. Ran Yan’s expression was indifferent as she replied, "One autopsy costs a hundred taels of silver, non-negotiable. If someone needs one, they can come to find me." Wan Lu secretly admired her; though Ran Yan’s response might seem a bit mercenary and impolite, her attitude towards gossip was enviable for its openness. "I admire Doctor Ran’s breadth of mind and composure, yet I must offer a word of caution," said Wan Lu, looking on as Ran Yan raised an eyebrow to listen attentively. "Some rumors appear ridiculous if you ignore them. They gradually vanish with time. However, other rumors are like invisible blades; if they cut deep enough, one might never recover." Ran Yan nodded and said, "Thank you for your advice." Seeing Ran Yan’s undisturbed demeanor, Wan Lu knew that her warning was superfluous. The woman before her, seemingly aloof and proud, was in fact, quite perceptive. After a quarter of an hour, the results of the skin tests were out, and fortunately, all three were not allergic to penicillin. After observing for another quarter to confirm that there were no allergic reactions, Ran Yan proceeded to inject them with penicillin. Lacking rubber bands, Ran Yan had to use animal intestines as a substitute. After cleaning and air-drying them, their original appearance was no longer discernible, but they still retained some elasticity. Fortunately, although everyone was curious, considering that the secrets of medical practice were not to be shared, no one inquired further. After administering the penicillin injection, Sang Chen gave a few post-injection instructions and then hastily returned with Wan Lu. When they reached the carriage near the entrance of East Market, they found the right side somewhat blocked, with people occasionally stopping by the entrance. Normally, Wan Lu would have joined the crowd out of curiosity, but having been fatigued from a day’s work, she felt a bit weak and didn’t go over this time. Sang Chen and Wan Lu circled around the area but couldn’t find their mansion’s carriage. Wan Lu, pointing to the place encircled by the crowd, said, "Could it be blocked behind them?" "Let’s go have a look," said Ran Yan. As the two made their way behind the crowd, Wan Lu inadvertently glanced through the gaps and caught sight of a young man in grayish-white robes crouching in the center. She quickly tugged at Ran Yan’s arm, "Wife, look, isn’t that Mr. Sang? Has something happened?" Ran Yan frowned involuntarily. Every encounter with that fool seemed to be devoid of any luck, so her instinct was to ignore him. However, remembering the help he provided her in the past, and the owed autopsy service that she probably couldn’t fulfill anymore, she reluctantly paused. "Call out to him loudly," Ran Yan said. Even with insufficient breath, Wan Lu’s shout still managed to silence many, "Mr. Sang! Mr. Sang!" The crouching Sang Chen heard the voice and promptly stood up, his face bright with joy as he looked around. Seeing his reaction, the crowd naturally parted, creating a pathway from the direction of the voice. Wan Lu assisted Ran Yan through the path and saw Sang Chen with a chessboard at his feet and an elderly man frowning in deep thought. Only then did Ran Yan breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that this fool was out trying to earn money by setting up endgame puzzles. "Wife, what brings you here?" Sang Chen asked with a joyful expression. Ran Yan answered casually, "I have some things to take care of." Completely missing the perfunctory tone in Ran Yan’s voice, Sang Chen’s cheeks blushed as he asked, "Wife, when will you be returning? Could I perhaps hitch a ride with you?" His handsome features flushed with red, immediately eliciting sighs from many women around. "I was just about to return," Ran Yan thought to herself. You’re in the middle of a game; you can’t possibly leave right now. Unexpectedly, Sang Chen replied excitedly, "I was also planning to return right away. Please wait just a moment for me." He bit his lip nervously, his bright eyes filled with anticipation as he gazed at Ran Yan. With his hopeful look, countless envious glances were cast at Ran Yan from the bystanders. "Cough!" Behind the gauze mask, Ran Yan coughed dryly and said, "Make it quick." Sang Chen’s cheerful smile carried a hint of stealthy pleasure, and with a dash of shyness, he quickly squatted down to collect the chess game, meanwhile saying to the elder, "Senior, I need to pack up and go home now. You can think about it at home and come find me tomorrow to continue." The elderly man glared, "With such a complex situation on the board, how can I remember it all!" Upon hearing this, Sang Chen immediately took out paper and a pen from his basket, set it on the paper basket’s back, and swiftly sketched the current arrangement on the chessboard. (To be continued. If you like this work, please support by casting a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)