The head of the Mu family

Chapter 27 A Lively First Birthday Banquet and a Free Medical Clinic

The next day, everyone got up early.

Besides those from the capital and those returning from the border.

Three families came: the prefect's family, the military commander's family, and the censor's family.

Shen Huai went to see the patient and found that he was indeed young and healthy, and the wound had already begun to heal.

The highest-ranking officials from the three prefectures paid their respects to the Marquis, the former Marquis, and the Grand Tutor, and then went to assume their duties.

In the afternoon, Shen Huai had the patient help him walk slowly for a while.

Have a good rest this afternoon. The baby will have a first birthday celebration tonight. It shouldn't be a problem for you to sit on the sidelines and watch.

You just can't drink alcohol, and your diet should be mainly light.

The wives and children of the three families were guests at the mansion. At noon, the three adults came to have lunch and then went to attend to their duties!

It turns out that all people who want a promotion are the same in front of their superiors:

Your eagerness to get to work should be proudly displayed for your boss to see!

In the evening, the first birthday celebration was lively, with twenty or thirty people, including the host and guests of all ages.

In addition, there were servants in the mansion and servants of the guests, totaling more than a hundred people inside and outside.

The young master grabbed a wooden knife and a book.

Everyone flattered the six hosts, and the guests and hosts were all happy.

The day after the baby's first birthday celebration, before the Lantern Festival had even passed, the old Marquis and the old Grand Tutor left with only a few of their personal servants.

The Marquis of Dingxi spent the Lantern Festival at home with a noblewoman.

After having breakfast early in the morning, people of all ages start making lanterns, solving riddles, and preparing their own lucky draws.

Having nothing of value, Shen Huai made lanterns to play with.

Seeing this, the noblewoman pulled her over and whispered:

"Good girl, you can put up a riddle too. I've prepared a prize for you, so just relax and have fun!"

After lunch, everyone started finishing up their lanterns.

The servants began hanging lanterns everywhere, while everyone else went to make glutinous rice balls.

The mansion set up a shed next to the city gate, and servants took turns distributing porridge starting in the afternoon.

The extra glutinous rice balls from the daytime were all sent over there and added to the rice porridge.

In the evening, after eating glutinous rice balls, everyone guessed riddles.

Shen Huai guessed the answers most of them, but felt that competing with the children in guessing riddles was too uncouth, so he just followed along and joked around.

The young man had his dressing changed and was able to walk carefully. He also joined in guessing riddles and had a lively time before going to rest.

By the way, that young man is only sixteen.

That day, the kid's face was contorted with pain. Exposed to the wind and sun at the border, his skin was a deep bronze, and his face had a rather rugged look.

Well, I misjudged it.

Salute to all border guards!

The world is filled with peace and prosperity, but it's just that someone is bearing the burden for us!

After finishing solving the riddles in the mansion, everyone went to play in the street.

During the Lantern Festival, people gather at the food street to admire the lanterns, solve riddles, and enjoy snacks.

Shen Huai wanted to go to the city gate to treat the people who came begging for porridge, partly because he was currently earning a high salary.

Secondly, children who grew up under the red flag now have the ability to do what they can, while ensuring their own safety.

He then stepped the noblewoman aside and said something tactfully:

"Madam, could you send someone to take me to the soup kitchen at the city gate? I would like to conduct a free medical consultation in the name of the manor."

The lady treats me very well. I have recently become a member of the household, and representing the household in providing free medical consultations is also to accumulate blessings for the young master.

Of course, I also have my own selfish reasons; I haven't been able to make house calls in a long time.

Just like soldiers train even when they're not fighting, I also want to take this opportunity to make house calls and see more cases.

"Of course, don't worry, I'll bring a mask and wear old clothes. I'll burn all the clothes I wore when I get back. Is that alright with you?"

After listening to this, the noblewoman thought about it for a moment and then pulled the Marquis of Dingxi aside to discuss it.

The Marquis of Dingxi called over a young general and whispered a few instructions in his ear.

Shen Huai went back to change into a coarse cloth jacket, tied his hair into a boy's hairstyle, and came out with paper and pen.

When he came out, everyone else had already left, and only the young general was left, with a cloak draped over his hand.

Thank you, brother~

After my brother drops me off, he can come back and wander around. I can come back with the people from the manor.

After speaking, he bowed deeply to the young general.

"Little one, don't be so polite~"

He smiled, revealing his white teeth.

The young general led Shen Huai to the stable and brought out a tall, glossy horse.

Shen Huai stood on tiptoe and touched the horse's thigh. The young general put Shen Huai on the horse, led it to the door, put on his cloak, and mounted the horse.

The young general wrapped Shen Huai in his cloak, held Shen Huai in one arm through the cloak, and pulled on the reins with the other, and set off at breakneck speed.

Shen Huai secretly rejoiced inside his cloak:

Haha, this is the most joyful and auspicious thing to do for the Lantern Festival!

Although I'm small, I'm so happy to be held in the arms of a handsome young soldier!

It felt like only a moment had passed before we arrived at the city gate. Indeed, happy times always seem to fly by!

Hey! Time to dismount and get to work!

After dismounting, I saw two more soup kitchens.

According to the people from the Hou family, one of the gifts was a gift from the three families who participated in the baby's first birthday celebration yesterday, and they pooled their money to make it happen.

The other one belongs to the richest family in Panlong County.

This flattery is relentless!

Shen Huai was pleasantly surprised to find that Doctor Qian was also there, accompanied by a young apprentice doctor, who was extremely busy.

Shen Huai quickly walked over and exclaimed in surprise:

"Grandpa Qian~!"

Dr. Qian turned his head and looked closely, and was both surprised and delighted:

"Little Wuya~ What are you doing here?"

"I'm here on behalf of the family that runs the soup kitchen closest to the city gate, to provide free medical services."

Shen Huai: I can't exactly say, "I need to seize this opportunity to gain experience points," can I?

"That's wonderful! We're on the same page, grandson and I! We were right about you!"

In the few days since Shen Huai came to the city, Doctor Qian has already seen him twice.

She was dressed even better than Shao'er, so she must be highly regarded by her family. She even changed her clothes and wore a mask for this medical outreach trip.

Moreover, in previous years, that family did not invite doctors to provide free medical consultations.

It must have been this child who mentioned it to the family; I feel so relieved!

Before, judging from the way this child acted, I was worried that she might go astray on a whim.

Looking at it today, we can put those concerns aside for now.

Shen Huai immediately set up a table and chairs and started working, and Dr. Qian immediately started advertising for her.

He claimed that his prized son had previously practiced medicine at Jishetang, and was invited by the first major family to provide free porridge.

After I finish my consultation there, I'll come to Jishetang to pick up my medicine tomorrow.

Someone went immediately, tried it, and it really worked!

Despite his young age, he was very serious when examining patients, spoke in an old-fashioned manner, and was correct about the key symptoms.

This busy work continued until late at night when they packed up.

Today is the Lantern Festival. The city gates will not close until midnight, and everyone is packing up their belongings to prepare to return home.

Shen Huai took off his mask and threw it into the embers of the porridge stove before going to say goodbye to Doctor Qian:

"Grandpa Qian, you won't charge a penny for the herbs tomorrow, how about I give you ten taels of silver?"

Hehe~ Please don't think it's too little~

"You little rascal, your grandpa doesn't need your money~"

If you want to help, come stay at Grandpa Qian's house after this round of follow-ups is over, and work the noon clinic shift every day.

"It's a deal then, Grandpa Qian!"

I'll be going now~ Take care!

After saying goodbye, I followed the entourage to the Marquis's residence, and the young general came towards me.

Wow, the soldiers are so handsome! And they exude such righteousness!

"Huh? Brother, you've come to pick me up again?"

Thank you so much for making this trip so late!

"Don't mention it!"

After the young man finished speaking, he reached out and patted Shen Huai's head.

Shen Huai was completely bewildered. Why were they suddenly being so informal?

Originally, the young man thought:

The little baby is just trying to please the host and show off.

Unexpectedly, after arriving, I was so busy until late at night that I didn't have a moment to catch my breath.

Shen Huai thought that Xiao Jiang would come to pick her up at the latest, but she didn't expect that Xiao Jiang hadn't left.

The young man helped out at the Marquis's porridge shop because the shop served glutinous rice balls.

Because of the cold weather, many families come to take the porridge home so they can eat it the next day, so the porridge shop is quite busy.

The young man felt that his initial thought was somewhat unfair to the child.

Not knowing what to say, I reached out and touched the child's head.

The young general took Shen Huai back on horseback, just as he had done on the way there, but this time the pace was much slower.

Exhausted yet happy, Shen Huai drifted off to sleep in the warm cloak.

I woke up when I dismounted at the Marquis's residence, and I was filled with regret!

How rare is it to be in a handsome guy's arms?

How could you fall asleep?

Hmm? Hi~!

I was so angry I stomped my feet!

A woman came out from the servants' quarters next to the stables and led Shen Huai through the second gate.

When they arrived at the young master's courtyard, the girl named Xiaolian was waiting beside him.

Shen Huai drank the warm bird's nest mixed with milk, washed up, and went to sleep.

The Marquis had a ten-day leave this time, so Shen Huai took the pulse of the Marquis and each of the young generals.

Each person was prescribed some tonics, which were then used to prepare medicinal meals.

He took the pulses of the two elderly ladies and the two close friends of the noblewoman, and every day the noblewoman led them on a hundred-step walk after meals.

During meals, various foods are used to replenish blood and energy.

We soak our feet together in the evening, but everyone rests at different times, and it's inconvenient to prepare water in the kitchen.

The lady came up with a solution.

We can use the bathtub at home for everyone to soak their feet together, and chat while we soak our feet.

The day after this great idea was announced, all the children joined in.

The little boy was held and soaked by everyone in turns.

During the day, the Marquis and his soldiers would go to the training ground to practice in the morning.

The lady arranged for the household's clerk to teach the children; the two children, aged nine and ten, had already finished studying the Analects.

He had two young children, so he spent half a class on the Analects and half a class on Mencius every day.

Shen Huai shamelessly went to audit classes every day, and his maid also carried the young master to listen, regardless of whether he understood the lessons or not.

In the afternoon, I spent half the time practicing calligraphy with them.

I spend half my time studying acupuncture, and whenever I have free time, I read acupuncture books and practice.

The model was from Dr. Qian, and the acupuncture needles were also a gift from Dr. Qian. He also gave me a book, saying that I could take it back and exchange it for another one after I finished learning it.

When Shen Huai offered to pay, Doctor Qian almost lost his temper:

"You silly child, once you've learned how to use the model, you're not going to give it back?"

You burned the book after you finished reading it?

A few needles and you need to give your grandfather money?

What do you take your money for?

Shen Huai knew he meant well, so he thanked him and accepted the gift, and then practiced diligently every day.

On the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, the Marquis and his generals were about to leave.

They were all in high spirits. They left two personal guards for the sick patient, and after a few more days of rest, they would send him over by horse-drawn carriage.

Madam Li, the Lady, and the Marquis bid each other a reluctant farewell, but the Marquis immediately resumed his normal duties in the manor after leaving.

For military families, parting is probably the most common thing!