Chapter 078: The Arrival of the Officials

“Make way, make way, official business from the prefecture. Who’s lodging a complaint at the yamen?” At once, a team of government officers forced their way through the crowd, driving people aside as they shouted.

“Sirs, I am the one accusing the charlatan doctor, Fang Mingda, from this clinic. He took an exorbitant fee from our family, but has nearly killed my elder brother. I beg you to uphold justice for us and punish this quack quickly, so no more common folk will be deceived.” The young man pleaded, his voice choked with tears.

“Nonsense! Doctor Fang is no charlatan!” Suddenly, someone in the silent crowd shouted.

“That’s right! Doctor Fang is no charlatan. We’ve all seen him cure countless patients these days,” others echoed loudly.

“You clearly didn’t follow Doctor Fang’s instructions or take the prescribed medicine properly. Otherwise, he would surely have cured your brother,” the patients and their families argued from all sides.

“Enough! Silence, everyone. Bring Doctor Fang forth. Isn’t it said he can cure any illness? Let him see whether this man is his patient and if he has any means to save him now. If he cannot rescue the man today, then it proves he is indeed a charlatan,” the leader of the prefectural officers barked. He was a formidable figure, his booming voice silencing the crowd and reaching Fang Xian inside the clinic.

“All right, take your medicine as instructed, rest well, and avoid the foods I warned you about.” Fang Xian had just finished treating a patient. After a few words of advice to the family, he stepped outside.

“Son-in-law, I fear someone is up to no good. You mustn’t go out; I worry something unexpected may happen,” Li Daqi cautioned at the door.

“No need to worry. Just keep an eye on the surroundings,” Fang Xian replied calmly.

“Please be careful, son-in-law. I fear they’re here to cause trouble,” Li Daqi warned, following closely behind Fang Xian. Secretly, he signaled to Zhou Dadan, Shen Jiahong, Lin Zhendong, and Zhang Yong, who kept watch around them, while Xiong Banxia, Liu Erleng, and Zhao Banqian remained hidden inside the clinic, ready for any threat.

“Doctor Fang is here!” As soon as Fang Xian appeared, many patients and their families greeted him eagerly.

“Charlatan! Give me back my brother’s life!” The young man, however, shouted in fury, lunging at Fang Xian.

“Hold on. Since Doctor Fang is here, let’s first see whether this man was treated by him two days ago,” the officer leader intervened, turning to Fang Xian with a question.

“So it’s you. I remember two nights ago, you brought your brother to me. I told you his illness was already fatal, and at best I could prolong his life by a few years; a complete cure was impossible. You knelt before me, offered five thousand taels, begging me to treat him, saying you’d be content if he lived another year or so. Is that not so?” Fang Xian glanced at the young man and questioned sternly.

“You lie! When did I ever kneel before you? I merely brought my brother to see you, and you demanded five thousand taels before you’d even look at him. Then you jabbed him randomly with needles, prescribed a few medicines, and sent us away. Tell me, isn’t this the conduct of a charlatan?” the young man denied fiercely, pointing and cursing at Fang Xian.

“You may deny it, but whether Fang Mingda is a charlatan or a swindler, the people of Wudu have seen with their own eyes. As for your brother, he could have lived five more years, but you failed to give him the medicine on time, and even fed him food I specifically warned against. It seems you wished for him to die sooner,” Fang Xian ignored the young man’s rudeness, stepped forward, took the patient’s pulse, checked his eyes and tongue, then spoke coldly.

“Utter nonsense! You’re the one who harmed my brother, and now you slander me. Sirs, you heard him admit his mistake—please take him away for interrogation!” the young man roared, bowing to the officers.

“Doctor Fang, this man was indeed your patient?” the officer leader asked Fang Xian.

“I did treat him, but it was three days ago. Who knows what happened in those three days? Yet, since he’s still breathing, perhaps he can be saved,” Fang Xian replied calmly.

“Let Doctor Fang treat him—he’s saved countless patients these days. As long as they’re not dead, he can bring them back,” someone in the crowd called out.

“Sirs, my brother is already in this state; how could he endure more of the charlatan’s meddling? If he treats him again, he’ll surely die. I say, arrest him and bring him before the magistrate to answer for his crimes,” the young man protested loudly.

“Are you afraid? Afraid I’ll cure your brother, or that he won’t die? Sirs, I’m willing to try treating him—not necessarily to cure him on the spot, but at least to restore his senses so he can explain what happened these past days,” Fang Xian said, half-smiling at the officer leader.

“Yes, let Doctor Fang treat him! If he cures the man, we’ll know the truth,” the crowd shouted again, full of faith in Fang Xian.

“Sirs, you mustn’t trust this charlatan. I refuse to let him treat my brother. What if he kills him outright? Perhaps he’s trying to silence him!” the young man insisted, refusing to let Fang Xian treat his brother and demanding the officers arrest Fang Xian instead.

“Doctor Fang, since the complainant refuses treatment, please come with us,” the officer leader said, as two young officers approached, chains in hand, ready to restrain Fang Xian.

“No! You can’t take Doctor Fang away—we’re all waiting to see him,” patients’ families protested.

“That’s right! If you take Doctor Fang, who will treat us?” more voices cried out.

“Fellow townsfolk, they’re framing Doctor Fang! He’s cured thousands these days without a single mishap. Yet they refuse to let him examine the patient, wanting to drag him to the yamen—they’re conspiring with the officials to convict him! Tell me, can we allow this? If Doctor Fang is harmed, who will treat the poor for free?” a loud voice boomed from the crowd—it was Zhou Dadan, mingling among them.

“No! Doctor Fang must not be taken!”

“Get lost, you corrupt officials!”

“Everyone surround them—don’t let them take Doctor Fang!” Instantly, hundreds of people surged forward. Fang Xian seized the opportunity, signaling Li Daqi with a glance, who darted into the crowd and grabbed the patient, bringing him before Fang Xian.

“Sirs, you see the people’s reaction. Unless you wish to oppose all the townsfolk, you must let me treat this man and find out what truly happened,” Fang Xian said coldly to the officers.

He immediately began acupuncture, while Li Daqi and others, together with some citizens, blocked the young man and the officials who tried to charge forward. Anyone who attempted violence was discreetly subdued.

Fang Xian moved swiftly; a few deft strokes of the needle, and the patient regained consciousness. Quickly, Fang Xian infused him with mysterious energy, discovering toxins within the man and extreme weakness. With the energy’s help, the ordinary poisons were rapidly neutralized, and the patient’s strength was somewhat restored.

“What do you think you’re doing? Attacking officers?” the officer leader’s eyes flashed coldly. He shouted, then suddenly pulled out a whistle and blew a sharp, piercing note.

“Disperse, disperse!”

“Official business—clear the way!” At the sound, a large group of officers—over a hundred—rushed from afar, shouting and driving the crowd back, surrounding the clinic.

“Catch the charlatan! Don’t let him escape!” the young man shouted in excitement as the officials pressed in, pushing the crowd aside. Seeing the tide turn, he felt victory was at hand.