Chapter 162

Wen Zhiyun was stunned.

He didn't quite understand what Chang Yan meant by interrupting the trial, or why he wanted to stop Wen Zhiyun from proving his own innocence.

But owing to the long-standing tacit understanding between the brothers, he still loosened his grip on the item in his sleeve, and instead looked to He prefect, "This commoner has nothing to say."

This meant he really had no medical license.

He Chengzhang sighed lightly, waving his hand to have Wen Zhiyun seized and taken to the prefectural yamen.

Wang Yuyao, as the informant, was also carried along behind by her servants.

The procession of people marched noisily through two streets, inevitably attracting the attention of passersby. The bolder ones came up to ask, "What's happened here?"

Jiang San and Jiang Si had already received instructions from Chang Yan. With mournful faces they explained, "That young doctor from the Wen Clinic, I heard he has no medical license, he's just an unqualified wandering doctor. Now the prefect is going to deal with him."

It had been a long time since anything this exciting happened in Anshui Prefecture.

Those who had gotten medicine from the Wen Clinic gasped in shock, "Heavens, no license? Then isn't he a quack endangering lives?"

But some cured patients were unsatisfied, "Anyone who can cure illness is a good doctor. On what basis are you calling him a quack? You didn't say that when you were seeing him for treatment!"

The two sides, neither willing to concede, went back and forth, almost coming to blows.

He Chengzhang noticed the commotion up ahead. He glanced back but made no effort to restrain them.

By the time the group entered the yamen, the crowd attracted by the spectacle had grown from three or five onlookers to thirty or fifty, and then over a hundred. They passionately debated whether an unlicensed doctor could be considered a quack, and what punishment little Doctor Wen should receive, or if he should be found innocent and released.

At the same time, inside the hall of the yamen, He prefect banged his gavel and officially began the trial. "The Dayu Dynasty does indeed have laws stating that aside from hereditary status, medical practitioners must also pass examinations and be registered with the yamen before they can treat patients. Otherwise it is against the law, punishable by five years imprisonment before release!"

"Doctor Wen," he banged his gavel again. "This official will ask you one last time, do you have a medical license? If not, I can only find you guilty of unlicensed medical practice, and sentence you to five years imprisonment."

Wang Yuyao smiled smugly at the side, the indescribable jealousy in her heart finally soothed.

But in the next moment, Wen Zhiyun took out a document from his robes and respectfully presented it. "In response, esteemed sir, I have not personally taken the medical examination, but my grandfather did." As it happened, his medical credentials were hereditary.

Back in Xieyang County, aside from Xu Mo, his younger siblings had all registered new households. Only Wen Zhiyun didn't need to, because he had household registration in Shili Town, Xieyang County. He had parents and elders, and even hereditary medical credentials.

Dayu Dynasty laws stated that medical credentials could be passed down in a family. To practice medicine, one only needed to register at the yamen.

If one wanted to change professions, they would first have to relinquish their registration, then take the exams for new credentials.

Not only did Wen Zhiyun have medical credentials, they were hereditary through his family, solidly exceeding everyone's expectations.

When he presented the document, the strange voices all fell silent.

Even Wang Yuyao's expression froze.

After inspecting the contents repeatedly, He Chengzhang nodded approvingly. "Since these are hereditary credentials, there is no issue of unlicensed practice. Release Doctor Wen."

He then coldly regarded Wang Yuyao, "Informants should be commended, but I hope next time you thoroughly investigate before wrongly accusing good people."

Wang Yuyao's face flushed crimson, unable to speak.

Chang Yan glanced at her coldly. If not for the sake of helping brother Fufeng, he never would have let Wang Yuyao off so easily.

He turned his head to face the commoners at the yamen gates, a smile on his face once more.

"Good people, please pardon my foolish display just now. The Wen Clinic practices proper medicine, so uncles and aunties need not worry." He cupped his hands and looked to Wen Zhiyun. "I heard the clinic wants to hire medical women?"

Only then did Wen Zhiyun come out of his daze. "Yes, yes, the clinic is hiring medical women. Any respectable girls ages 10 to 15 may apply. Daily wages from 5 to 50 wen."

In his original estimation, two medical women in ten days or half a month would be impressive.

But unexpectedly, the great number of onlookers at the yamen gates, plus the goodwill they now held for the Wen Clinic, and the adequate wages, resulted in seven or eight girls applying on the spot.

Some even said they would spread the word to eligible girls in their families.

By the time the crowd at the yamen gates dispersed, Wen Zhiyun still felt like he was dreaming.

"Fourth brother, don't worry. After today your Wen Clinic has made quite a name for itself in Anshui," Chang Yan said, mouth curling up at the corners. He had no intention of claiming credit.

But Wen Zhiyun knew in his heart that without clever little fifth brother's planning, at best he could have avoided prison, not taken advantage of the situation to hire medical women and raise the reputation of the Wen Clinic.

"Little Five, thank you," the eldest brother held his little brother's hand. "Fortunate you were here."

The two exchanged smiles, communicating wordlessly. Jiang Sheng suddenly had a violent coughing fit next to them.

Wen Zhiyun immediately let go of Chang Yan, wanting to check his sister's pulse in case she was sick.

Unexpectedly, He prefect's stern voice sounded from behind. "The medical women you train are quite skilled. My wife is rather fond of them. Visit the prefectural residence when you have time."

The brothers' expressions froze. The hairs on their necks stood on end simultaneously.

Despite all their careful scheming, even intentionally buying a residence near Hairpin Courtyard for Wen Zhiyun to prevent people from connecting the medical women to Hairpin Courtyard, the prefect had known all along.

He allowed the medical women to get close to the prefect's wife and contend with the siblings, graciously admitting defeat when they failed.

As if compelled by some force, Chang Yan called out to stop He prefect, and asked, "Sir, have you ever been to Xieyang County and met a courtesan there?"

He Chengzhang stopped awkwardly. "Don't speak nonsense. How could I possibly meet alone with a courtesan? Don't spread such talk."

Otherwise there would be no peace at home tonight either.

...

Chang Yan held in his laughter, realizing the unexpected arrival of Second Brother Zheng's mother gave him deeper insight into the prefect's character.

The Wen Clinic would not open today.

Wen Zhiyun simply brought his siblings back to Hairpin Courtyard to wait for Xu Mo's return from the prefectural school. The brothers made plans regarding Wang Yuyao's arrogance, somewhat indignant.

"We're not gods, we can't guard against her forever," Xu Mo said heavily.

Today it was thanks to clever Chang Yan turning a nasty situation to their advantage, and even hiring medical women from it.

But what if he hadn't succeeded?

What if Wen Zhiyun really didn't have medical credentials?

No one liked feeling watched all the time, especially by unscrupulous people.

After brief discussion, Xu Mo and Chang Yan went to the Wang residence, hoping to persuade Wang Fufeng to better restrain Wang Yuyao.

Thanks to their familiarity, the Wang servants didn't even notify the family and let the two go right in.

And because of this, they overheard the servants reporting the news from Fengjing to the Wangs.

"Since General Fang passed away, the Fang family's might has greatly diminished. Young master Fang Yuan is also preparing for the imperial examinations, hoping to embark on an official career."

"The Jiang family of generals has also caused quite a bit of trouble. I heard doubts were raised about the legitimacy of the Jiang family's eldest daughter. The Jiang family matriarch has ordered a search within Dayu Dynasty territory for a ten-year-old girl..."