Chapter 14 The Way Out and Doctor Bai

The court oppressed the Han people, guilds ruled the land.

This was the current political situation in Mianshui County, and every one of Chen Jie's methods for generating wealth could bring considerable fortune. However, if he dared to proceed, Chen Jie didn't need to guess, he would definitely be targeted by the guild forces.

Then, his life and death would no longer be under his control.

Chen Jie understood the saying, "Possession of a rare treasure invites trouble." Doing business and becoming rich requires, as a prerequisite, a time of peace. This era was anything but peaceful; to be a businessman was to be a lamb in the hands of the powerful.

Consequently, Chen Jie ruled out going into business.

For long-term development, he should think of a way to join a guild.

First, a guild had a systematic approach to teaching Martial Arts, and second, in this world, the channels for advancement were blocked. Joining a guild was still a feasible path.

As for becoming an official, was he one of the Mulan people? If not, what qualifications did he have to become an official?

However, getting into a guild was no easy feat. To join a guild, one needed a recommendation. Otherwise, guilds wouldn't just take anyone in.

Take Lu San, for instance.

Lu San had always wanted to join the fishery, which was the Fishing Guild's branch in Xiantao Village. He had done so many tasks for others, and yet they still hadn't agreed to sponsor his entrance into the guild.

This showed how difficult it was to get into a guild.

And Chen Jie himself had no connections. Who could recommend him into the Fishing Guild?

If not the Fishing Guild, then the Cao Guild?

That wasn't possible either. The Cao Guild disciples were generally those who carried heavy loads on the docks, and since Xiantao Village had no docks for transporting goods, Chen Jie would have to go near the county city's Lin Fengdu if he wanted to be a laborer.

But there were his two sisters at home. What would they do if he left?

Wouldn't the people in the village devour them, especially Lu San's family? With him around, they might behave themselves, but Chen Jie could guess with his toes that Lu Qinsi would definitely seek revenge once he left.

So joining a guild right now was not realistic; it had to be done gradually.

What other paths were there, then?

Chen Jie rubbed his temples. He could only go and find work. Become a long-term worker for a wealthy family? A bouncer for a gambling house? Or maybe a servant running errands in a restaurant?

These were not roles with potential for development!

"Sigh, I'll just have to take it one step at a time."

Chen Jie decided to stop thinking. Where there's a will, there's a way.

"Gulp gulp gulp..."

While Chen Jie was lost in thought, a small figure appeared, leaning over the stove to watch the fish soup that was as white as milk simmering in the pot, swallowing saliva eagerly.

Chen Jie smiled and looked at the rolling fish soup in the pot. He took a rice bowl, ladled out half a spoonful to blow on it, and handed it to Little Douding, "Taste it for saltiness!"

"Uh-huh."

Little Douding nodded vigorously and took the bowl, not fearing the heat, and downed it in one swallow.

Then a look of delicious satisfaction spread across her face.

"How is it, too salty or too bland?"

Chen Jie asked.

Little Douding smacked her lips and said, "I drank it too quickly, didn't taste it. Brother-in-law, give me some more."

Chen Jie, with a resigned smile, served her a little more, and once again she drank it down.

"How is it, too salty or too bland?"

Little Douding said, "Maybe I should have a bit more?"

Hearing this, Chen Jie laughed, "Forget it, I won't rely on you. Even if you drink the whole pot, you won't be able to taste the saltiness."

Little Douding's face turned sour, having been found out.

Chen Jie tasted a bit, took a small sip himself, and thought it was just right in saltiness, but it lacked the flavor of shredded ginger and pepper powder, making it somewhat lacking.

However, for the people of this era, it should be considered delicious.

Chen Jie found a large bowl, filled it with half a fish and some broth, and then said to Su Yunjin, "Yunjin."

At that moment, Su Yunjin was sweeping the floor with a broom. Hearing him, she turned her head and Chen Jie said, "I'm going over to Uncle Erba's house, heat up the leftover wild vegetable dumplings from lunch today, we'll eat when I get back."

Su Yunjin nodded in response, "Hmm."

Although Chen Jie had changed a lot, Su Yunjin still harbored some wariness, or perhaps it wasn't quite wariness, but a discomfort with not knowing how to interact with him.

This would take some time.

Chen Jie, carrying the fish soup, made his way to Uncle Erba's house, encountering several villagers along the way. They looked at Chen Jie with odd expressions in their eyes, but greeted him warmly nonetheless.

As soon as Chen Jie left, they began to discuss among themselves.

"Hey, did you hear? Just now, Chen Jiusi broke Lu San's leg."

"How could I not know? I saw Lu San's wife going to call Doctor Bai."

"Oh, so it seems it's true. But wasn't Doctor Bai practicing in Upper Peach Village before?"

"Hey, you don't know the story? Doctor Bai and Old Doctor Chen both came from our village. Once, they fought neck and neck, but during a case of a difficult miscellaneous disease, they wagered a duel. Old Doctor Chen won in the end, and after that, Doctor Bai stopped treating patients in our village and went to Upper Peach Village."

"That's right, Old Doctor Chen has been dead for what, eight or nine years now. These past years when people from the village needed medical attention, they sought Doctor Bai. Plus, his son-in-law is the Manager of the Fishing Guild in Xiantao Village, isn't he? He brought Doctor Bai back to the village, and now he's living in that big tiled house to the east of the village."

"Oh, I see, that's what happened!"

The villagers gossiped enthusiastically. Chen Jie did not stop, but ever since he had swallowed the Primordial Qi with his Yang Chun Skill, his hearing had greatly improved.

He heard their conversation quite thoroughly.

"Doctor Bai..."

Chen Jie muttered under his breath, it seemed like he had heard the name before—Bai Wenjing—a doctor comparable to his own grandfather, who previously served as a physician for the Fishing Guild and later, for some reason, returned to his hometown.

There was a time when he competed with his grandfather for business in the local area. The two doctors wagered on their medical skills and after losing to his grandfather, Bai Wenjing left Xiantao Village dejectedly.

Over the years, he still practiced medicine. He only had a daughter who married one of his apprentices. This apprentice wasn't very talented in medicine, but Bai Wenjing used his connections to place him in the Fishing Guild. After more than a decade, the man rose to the position of Fishery Manager in Xiantao Village.

"Bai Wenjing, Fishery Manager."

Chen Jie murmured and continued walking ahead to deliver the fish soup to Uncle Erba's house.

Soon he arrived at Chen Erba's family home.

Uncle Erba was still making baskets; in this world, the countryside only had two meals a day, only the wealthy could afford three meals a day.

So, they didn't eat in the evening.

Chen Jie stood at the gate and called out, "Uncle Erba."

Chen Xiaohu, who was helping his father make baskets, heard the voice and quickly stood up saying, "Dad, it's Jiu Si."

Uncle Erba also put down his basket and got up with the aid of a walking stick.

Chen Jie pushed open the courtyard door and entered.

"Jiu Si."

Xiao Hu called out happily, he thought Jiu Si was very impressive today.

Chen Jie smiled and said, "Hey, Hu Zi, Uncle Erba."

At that moment, Uncle Erba came out too, and Chen Jie nodded, then handed over the fish soup saying, "Lu San brought two fish today which I made into soup. I want to thank Uncle Erba for speaking up for me today, please have a taste of this soup."

Although Chen Erba's attempt to settle things with money today was unsuccessful, Chen Jie acknowledged the kindness shown and thus came to deliver the fish soup.