The Lone One Was Not Alone
"What's the cure for hollow-heart sickness?"
The middle-aged man asked.
The girl smiled and said:
"Don't ask. I charge first before treating people. Do you have any money?"
The middle-aged man shook his head.
"Hmm... Then you'll have to work off the debt first. From today onward, you'll be my assistant. Help me gather and prepare medicine. Once you've earned enough to cover your consultation fee, I'll treat you."
The girl spoke with complete seriousness.
The middle-aged man remained silent as he followed behind her, which counted as tacit consent.
From that day on, the people of Gantang Town discovered that the famous miracle-working girl doctor had acquired a lonely, strange-looking follower.
He followed behind her every day and rarely spoke.
But the girl seemed intent on ordering him around, assigning him plenty of work each day.
"Take this medicine to Old Man Wang on East Street. His daughter has a hidden ailment."
The middle-aged man took the medicine and headed for East Street. When he arrived at Old Man Wang's home, the old man insisted on pulling him in for a meal. Otherwise, he refused to accept the medicine.
He tried to leave, but the old man held him fast. He ended up sitting in the old man's home, bowl in hand, looking somewhat ill at ease.
"Grandpa Lin's wife died. He's grief-stricken, and he's an old widower who can barely get around. You need to go to his home, cook for him for three days, and keep him company. Mix the medicine into his food, understood?"
"Ah, you don't know how to cook? Then go to Miss Xu's congee shop and learn for a day. Grandpa Lin and his wife used to love the congee Miss Xu made."
The middle-aged man