Chapter Twenty-Five: Inspecting the Goods

"Master, I'm going to the pharmacy to buy some herbs," Tianya said to Lin Bai.

Lin Bai waved his hand, saying, "Be quick and come back soon. Once we're ready, we'll return to West Mountain Residence today."

Both Wen Qiniang and Tianya were taken aback, their hearts sinking. Were they truly leaving today...?

"Why are you standing there in a daze? Go on," Lin Bai said coolly, his expression as impassive as ever.

"Master, I'd like to go with Senior Brother," Wen Qiniang offered.

"Go ahead."

Wen Qiniang wanted to check on the set of dissection tools she’d commissioned Wang Dajiang to make a few days ago, so she accompanied Tianya out.

Suddenly, Tianya, usually so talkative, became uncharacteristically silent.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother?" Wen Qiniang asked, surprised.

Tianya sighed and said mournfully, "The thought of returning to West Mountain Residence with Master... I just can't feel happy about it..."

Wen Qiniang understood he was reluctant to leave. After days together, she knew Tianya was a lively soul, rich with emotion, and he had grown attached to them.

"At West Mountain Residence, it's just Master and me. He's always so quiet. Honestly, even if Eighth Sister was there, arguing with me every day, it would be better..." Tianya wore the look of someone mourning a great loss.

Wen Qiniang smiled wryly. Tianya was like a big child—perhaps growing up with Lin Bai kept him innocent of worldly corruption. From what Tianya had told her, West Mountain Residence was indeed remote. No wonder he dreaded going back; she imagined she’d suffocate there too.

"Senior Brother Tianya, why don’t you devote yourself to studying medicine?" Wen Qiniang changed the subject, unsure how to comfort him. She’d always wondered about this—after all, Tianya had been with Lin Bai for years. Even without direct teaching, he should be able to treat minor illnesses by now.

"I never liked reading since I was young. I preferred climbing trees for bird nests, catching fish and shrimp in the river, hunting pheasants in the hills. Master never forced me, so I fell behind. Maybe he never wanted me to study medicine at all," Tianya replied quietly.

Wen Qiniang fell silent and asked no further.

"That person looks familiar," Tianya suddenly remarked.

Wen Qiniang followed his gaze and saw a familiar figure turn into an alley, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The figure was vaguely recognizable, but she couldn’t place who it was.

"Going off to seek pleasure in broad daylight—tsk, tsk," Tianya muttered.

"Pleasure?" Wen Qiniang didn’t understand what he meant.

Tianya leaned in and whispered, "That alley leads to the most famous brothel in Hanjiang County—Peony Pavilion."

So it was a brothel. Did they truly do business in broad daylight? Wen Qiniang wondered, but dismissed the thought as irrelevant.

Tianya noticed her indifference at the mention of a brothel. Ordinary maidens would blush at such words, but his junior sister was clearly not ordinary—just like their master Lin Bai.

After Tianya finished at the pharmacy, the two headed to Wang Dajiang’s forge.

"What would the two of you like to buy?" the apprentice asked, eyeing them both with curiosity, marveling that such a small county could have such handsome gentlemen and graceful ladies.

"Is Master Wang Dajiang here?" Wen Qiniang asked.

"Who’s looking for me?" A burly man emerged wearing only an apron, his face streaked with black soot and sweat.

Wen Qiniang and Tianya barely recognized him. "Are you Wang Dajiang, the one who brought your father to us for treatment the other day?"

The man grinned broadly, revealing white teeth. "Ah, it’s Wen Qiniang and Little Brother Tianya. You’ve come for your order, haven’t you?"

Wen Qiniang nodded.

Wang Dajiang turned to his apprentice. "Bring out the set I finished this morning."

Soon, a complete set of surgical instruments was neatly laid before Wen Qiniang. They were simple—scalpels, scissors, needle holders, forceps. As for complex tools like electric saws for craniotomies, forget forging them—Wen Qiniang herself couldn’t even draw them accurately. Yet, seeing these tools so similar to modern dissection instruments, Wen Qiniang was thrilled. Wang Dajiang had real skill; she had not expected such results.

Wang Dajiang watched her anxiously as she picked up the instruments and tested their balance. When she broke into a delighted smile, he finally relaxed.

Tianya was stunned to see Wen Qiniang so openly excited. It was the first time he’d seen such a “human” expression on her face. Usually she was reserved and cold, keeping people at a distance, just like Lin Bai. Now, seeing her smile so radiantly was as startling—and rare—as when Lin Bai smiled. He glanced at the strange-looking instruments Wang Dajiang had made. They were odd, but still just scissors and knives. Was it worth getting so worked up over?

Noticing Tianya’s surprise, Wen Qiniang realized she had lost her composure. As a forensic doctor, she was used to being cautious and solemn; her temperament was calm. Just now, though, her joy was plain to see. Holding these surgical tools gave her a sense of security, like a traveler in darkness suddenly seeing a distant lamp.

"Thank you, Brother Wang. Will this silver suffice?" Wen Qiniang put away the tools and took out a silver ingot worth twenty taels—the money she’d gotten yesterday by pawning her bracelet. She hadn’t expected that trinket to be so valuable, which made Su Mu’s gift seem even more extravagant. To give something so precious upon their second meeting—how reckless he was.

"That’s too much—five taels will do," Wang Dajiang protested.

Wen Qiniang left him ten taels and returned to the magistrate’s office with Tianya.

Lin Bai had already finished packing, ready to leave at any moment.

"Master, can’t we wait till tomorrow..." Tianya said as he set his medicine bundle down.

"If you wait till tomorrow, will you not have to leave?" Lin Bai replied coolly.

"Tianya, are you really leaving?" Wen Shilang asked, his mouth quivering sadly.

Tianya crouched down, pinched the boy’s cheek, and smiled. "Yes, but I’ll be back soon. You must study hard and not play truant, or I’ll come back to spank you."

Wen Shilang nodded earnestly.

Seeing Lin Bai’s determination, Wen Qiran did not try to persuade him to stay.

"Divine Doctor Lin, please wait!" a breathless constable hurried over.

"What is it?" Lin Bai’s brow furrowed.

"Master Su requests your and Master Wen’s presence at once—there’s an urgent matter to discuss." The constable exhaled deeply after delivering the message.

Lin Bai and Wen Qiran exchanged glances. Was there an emergency?

The moment Su Mu saw Lin Bai, he threw aside his folding fan and hurried over. "The magistrate has suddenly summoned all the midwives and renowned physicians in the county to the yamen—something urgent must have happened! Divine Doctor Lin, please come, and bring Wen Qiniang as well!"

Wen Qiniang was momentarily stunned. Surely Lin Bai was enough—why did they need her too?

Lin Bai sighed. It was clear they wouldn’t be leaving yet. He called Wen Qiniang to join them.

"Me too?" Wen Qiniang asked.

"Yes," Lin Bai said, offering no further explanation.

Left with no choice, Wen Qiniang took the package of dissection tools she had just collected and joined Lin Bai, Tianya, and the county’s midwives in the sedan chair. Glancing back, she caught sight of Su Mu’s figure. Strangely, his silhouette was identical to that of the man she’d seen entering Peony Pavilion earlier that day. Though he had changed his clothes, Wen Qiniang was certain—it was Su Mu.