Chapter Sixty-Nine: Acting Without Authorization

Back then, when Xie Qingtang had been heartlessly sent to the village by her own father, Shao Siming, where she endured beatings and abuse from the villagers, she had fled to the mountains, barely clinging to life. If not for encountering her master at that desperate moment, she would never have seen the day of her return. Now, under the warm, dim glow of the lamp, gazing at the honest faces of the villagers, Xie Qingtang suddenly felt as though a long-hidden wound deep within her heart was slowly beginning to heal.

The next morning, in high spirits, Xie Qingtang sat on the ox cart, humming an unfamiliar tune as she made her way to the train station. After bidding farewell to A Ben, she boarded the train and returned once more to the Hall of Benevolence.

Upon her return, she discovered that someone had dumped a pile of garbage at the entrance of the Hall. The stench was overwhelming, and many passersby avoided the place altogether.

"Honestly, if they have the nerve, why not do things openly? What good does it do, playing these dirty tricks behind our backs? Shameless bunch," Zhou Jinfan muttered as he swept the trash into the bin, grumbling under his breath.

Just then, a pair of shoes appeared before him. He looked up, irritation in his voice. "Can't you see I'm cleaning? Why are you blocking the way?"

"Ah, Boss, you're back!" The moment he realized it was Xie Qingtang standing in front of him, Zhou Jinfan's demeanor changed completely, a broad smile spreading across his face with remarkable speed.

Xie Qingtang glanced at Brother Hu, who was helping nearby, and nodded to him. Then she said to Zhou Jinfan, "Once you've finished cleaning up, come inside."

Both men nodded simultaneously. About twenty minutes later, they entered the Hall of Benevolence. Xie Qingtang carefully placed the four-leafed ghost needle grass she had brought back into a locked drawer.

Neither man commented on this. Xie Qingtang asked them, "Are the residents' tempers still running high?"

"Boss, you have no idea. Not only are they still upset, but they're getting worse! You saw it yourself—they dumped garbage at our door this morning. It's infuriating!" Zhou Jinfan replied, puffing with anger.

Xie Qingtang nodded but said nothing further, evidently unconcerned by the matter. She went into the back courtyard to check on Yun Niang's brother. After this period of treatment, his health was improving steadily, and the parasites in his abdomen were gradually being expelled.

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside. Zhou Jinfan rushed in, exclaiming, "Boss, this is bad—someone's come to stir up trouble again!"

"Doctor Xie, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. Let me go out and explain to them," Yun Niang said miserably, rising to leave with Zhou Jinfan.

But Xie Qingtang gently stopped her, smiling as she shook her head. "No need. I'll go see what’s going on."

With that, she left the room and made her way to the entrance of the Hall of Benevolence, only to find two doctors from Gu's Hospital standing there.

The two doctors' faces instantly cooled when they saw Xie Qingtang. One, a young man barely in his twenties, snorted and said, "So you're the proprietor of the Hall of Benevolence, Xie Qingtang?"

"That's right. What can I do for you?" Xie Qingtang replied calmly, her unmatched beauty and piercing gaze instantly dispelling the young doctor's bravado.

The female doctor beside him shot the young man a fierce glare before addressing Xie Qingtang. "Since you’re a physician, you must know about the cases of schistosomiasis in the city. I’ve heard people say the infection started at your Hall of Benevolence."

"And if it did?" Xie Qingtang made no attempt to deny that there was a schistosomiasis patient in her care. Many people already knew of the patient at her Hall—what was the point in hiding it, deceiving herself as well as others?

Her poised and matter-of-fact response left the female doctor momentarily at a loss for words.

Regaining her composure, she declared, "A fraudulent clinic like yours should close down before you harm more people. If your clinic hadn’t mishandled that schistosomiasis case, there wouldn’t be an outbreak in the city."

So that’s what they’re here for, Xie Qingtang thought, her expression unruffled. She countered, "Forgive me, but you’re both doctors, aren’t you?"

The unexpected question caught both young doctors off guard. The young man frowned slightly. "Of course, we’re doctors."

"In that case, let me explain," Xie Qingtang said evenly. "The patient with schistosomiasis whom I took in is in the late stages of the disease and is not contagious. All his sputum and bodily waste have been handled with utmost care. Since he arrived at the Hall of Benevolence, he has not left once. So how could he possibly have transmitted the infection?"

Her calm, measured words left the two doctors speechless.

Before they could respond, Xie Qingtang continued, "If there truly were any risk of infection, wouldn’t those who have the most contact with the patient—ourselves—be the first to fall ill? How could it be people who have never even seen the patient?"

"Doctor Xie is right. I’ve been caring for my brother this entire time—why haven’t I been infected? You’re just here to trouble the Hall of Benevolence, trying to pin this blame on us," Yun Niang said, still guilt-ridden, but now stepping out in support of Xie Qingtang. Her words caused an uproar among the onlookers.

The two young doctors stood there, their faces unpleasant. Nevertheless, the young man pressed on, "Doctor Xie, we’re not here to argue. We just want to offer a suggestion: transfer your schistosomiasis patient to Gu’s Hospital for isolation. That would be best for everyone."

"Besides, I’ve never heard of schistosomiasis being treated by traditional medicine. For the patient’s safety, Doctor Xie, you’d do well not to overestimate yourself."