Wan Boping hurriedly invited Hu Xiaotian to sit down. Hu Xiaotian found the old bastard thoroughly disagreeable, too. He had actually brought in this sour-faced fellow to make his life miserable, and even called him the greatest divine physician in Western Sichuan. Fuck! Most people who dare call themselves number one are just fishing for fame. He took the tea Wan Changchun handed him, sipped it, and said, "I've been out in the rain all day, and I'm in a foul mood. Please don't take offense, Master Wan." Displeased, he no longer even called him Brother Wan. Damn it, I gave you face yesterday and lowered myself to offer to become your sworn brother, but you threw that kindness back in my face and rejected me outright. From now on, even if you call me Grandfather, I won't become your sworn brother.
Wan Boping did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Lord Hu, Mr. Zhou is an old friend of mine." In truth, his friendship with Zhou Wenju was hardly that close. Known as the finest medical master in Western Sichuan, Zhou Wenju had always thought highly of himself and was aloof and arrogant. Had it not been for Yang Daoquan, the prefect of Xiezhou, he would never have endured a weary journey over mountains and rivers to treat the son of some local moneybags. His medical skill was exceptional, and he had once saved Yang Daoquan's life, so Yang treated him as an honored guest. Naturally, Zhou Wenju would not think much of a mere ninth-rank local official. His prejudice against Hu Xiaotian, however, stemmed from Hu's methods of treatment, not his position.
Hu Xiaotian said, "So you're Mr. Zhou? Forgive my lack of courtesy. He just accused me of treating human lives like grass. Do you think