Repaying kindness (Part two)

Yuan Shiqing invited Hu Xiaotian, Murong Feiyan, and Zhan Peng to sit in a private room on the third floor of Swallowcloud Tower. Hu Xiaotian's eight attendants were not entitled to share his table, so Yuan Shiqing arranged seats for them downstairs, where they were likewise treated to fine wine and food.

Easy Origin Hall stood next to Swallowcloud Tower, and the two establishments had long been on familiar terms. Yuan Shiqing often ate here. Hu Xiaotian discovered that doctors in ancient times enjoyed considerable standing, commanding even more respect than in modern society. Wherever they went, every acquaintance Yuan Shiqing encountered rose and bowed, their eyes brimming with gratitude and respect. The relationship between doctors and patients was remarkably harmonious. Thinking back to his own previous life as a doctor, patients had mostly regarded physicians with wary awe, seldom with such heartfelt respect. Some had even treated doctors as enemies. He could not understand how, after thousands of years of development, relations between doctors and patients had ended up as incompatible as fire and water. How could there be so many misunderstandings between those who saved lives and those they saved? Did society change people, or was human nature simply like this? Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly. It seemed the advancement of civilization and the goodness of human nature did not rise in perfect proportion.

Still, many things remained the same, such as being treated to meals and receiving gifts. He merely wondered whether people here also had the habit of giving red envelopes. Even in his previous life, Hu Xiaotian had scorned accepting cash gifts, but he considered meals and presents relatively harmless. Especially after helping someone escape the torment of illness, having a little food and drink, or even accepting a small gift, did no harm-as long as their gratitude was sincere.

Yuan Shiqing handed the two wild geese Zhan Peng had brought to Boss Song of Swallowcloud Tower. They were close neighbors, and Easy Origin Hall had sent plenty of business the restaurant's way over the years. As the saying went, those by the mountains lived off the mountains, and those by the water lived off the water. More than half of Swallowcloud Tower's business came through Easy Origin Hall. In that sense, the medical hall was practically the parent that fed and clothed them, so Boss Song treated Yuan Shiqing with great courtesy and respect.

When Boss Song carried the geese away, Murong Feiyan took another long look at the arrow through their necks. She was an expert in martial arts. An ordinary hunter was unlikely to possess the skill to bring down two birds with one arrow.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Hero Zhan!"

Zhan Peng said, "Benefactor, I'm hardly a hero. Please just call me by my name!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled. "You brought down two wild geese with one arrow. What are you if not a hero?"

Only then did Zhan Peng understand why Hu Xiaotian had called him a hero. He laughed. "It was just a coincidence! I aimed at one goose, but never expected the arrow to hit two. I started hunting at thirteen, and it's been twelve years now. This was the first time I ever brought down two birds with one arrow." Zhan Peng was only twenty-five, but his weather-beaten face had clearly been in a hurry to age. Hu Xiaotian would have believed him if he had said he was thirty-five.

Murong Feiyan said, "I've practiced archery for over ten years too, but I've never encountered anything like that." Her implication was that she did not believe Zhan Peng had merely gotten lucky. If it was a coincidence, why had it never happened to her?

Hu Xiaotian said, "Everyone has their own specialty, and some grasp the Way sooner than others. Luck doesn't fall into everyone's lap. It has something to do with character too."

Naturally, Murong Feiyan heard his veiled jab at her character. Furious, she quietly lifted her foot and, while no one was watching, stamped hard on his left foot. Hu Xiaotian sucked in a breath of pain. "Oh!"

Everyone was startled by his reaction and followed his gaze, only to see that the door had opened. Boss Song entered with a father and daughter. The older man was in his fifties, short and thin, with a kindly smile. He held the girl's hand. Although she wore plain cloth and a simple twig hairpin, her face was delicate and pretty. Her beautiful eyes were large, but dull and lightless.

From the girl's gaze, Hu Xiaotian could tell that she was blind.

Boss Song smiled. "Honored guests, I've invited this father and daughter to sing a few songs for your enjoyment." Letting guests sip tea and listen to music while waiting for their food was a privilege reserved for honored patrons.

Yuan Shiqing smiled. "Wonderful!" The father and daughter were surnamed Fang. The father was Fang Zhitang, and his daughter was Fang Fang. They made a living singing in the nearby restaurants, and they had something of a history with Yuan Shiqing. They were not originally locals, but natives of Western Sichuan. Fang Fang had not been blind as a child. At twelve, however, her vision had suddenly grown blurry. Her family had sought medical help everywhere, spending countless sums and trying untold amounts of medicine. They had tried practically every folk remedy, but nothing worked. Instead, her eyesight grew steadily worse. Two years ago, she could no longer make out someone standing even a foot in front of her. Unwilling to accept that his daughter would lose her sight, Fang Zhitang sold his farmland and brought her on a long journey to Capital City. He believed that, with so many renowned doctors and master healers gathered there, he might find someone capable of curing her eyes.

Unfortunately, fate dealt them one cruel turn after another. On their way to the capital, they encountered bandits. Though they escaped with their lives, all their traveling money was stolen. The father and daughter sang for a living along the road until they reached Capital City. They first sought help at Azure Ox Hall, but after examining Fang Fang, its doctors declared her eyes incurable. Clinging to a faint hope, they came to Easy Origin Hall. Kindhearted Yuan Shiqing not only waived their consultation fee but examined her himself. After several prescriptions failed to bring any improvement, he too was at a loss. Of Capital City's three great medical halls, Heavenly Mystery Hall was the only one they had not visited. But its threshold was high and its fees steep. Unless one was a prince or noble of exceptional standing, having its master personally examine Fang Fang would cost five taels of gold. To the father and daughter, that was plainly an astronomical sum.

In fact, Yuan Shiqing had already told them that even Heavenly Mystery Hall might not be able to cure Fang Fang's eyes. But Fang Zhitang was exceedingly stubborn, the sort who would not abandon hope until he reached the Yellow River. So he stayed in Capital City, singing for a living while saving up the consultation fee.

Pitying their plight, Yuan Shiqing introduced them to Swallowcloud Tower to perform, and almost every time he visited, he requested a song from them. Fang Fang's pretty, well-proportioned features and lovely singing voice made her popular with the guests. Boss Song also felt sorry for them and allowed them to perform in his restaurant without charging them a penny. Over the past year and more, they had saved a fair amount of silver, and their goal was drawing ever closer.

Yuan Shiqing said, "Sing A Spray of Plum Blossoms!"

Hu Xiaotian froze at those words. Holy crap, no way! A Spray of Plum Blossoms already existed? That song's reach was freaking incredible. Could there really be a song with the power to cross time and space?

Fang Fang gave a slight curtsy, and the father and daughter sat down. Fang Zhitang plucked his pipa, its melody winding sweetly through the room. Fang Fang parted her crimson lips and sang, "The red lotus fragrance fades, autumn chills the jade mat. I loosen my silken robe and board the orchid boat alone. Who sends a brocade letter from the clouds? When the geese return in written ranks, moonlight floods the western tower. Flowers drift down of their own accord, waters flow on their own. One longing, two places of lonely sorrow. There is no way to banish this feeling: it has barely left my brow before rising in my heart..." Her voice was gentle and lilting, like weeping, like confiding a sorrow. For a moment, everyone sat spellbound.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at the blind girl, lost in thought. Having just heard Yuan Shiqing recount their pitiful history, he naturally felt some sympathy. But now, hearing Fang Fang sing, he found himself genuinely moved-moved by her voice, by art touching the soul. He had never expected this blind girl to sing with such feeling and expression, reaching deep into the heart.

Hu Xiaotian had always had a sound appreciation of the arts. He would not claim that his tastes were impeccably refined, but they had never been vulgar. What moved him could usually move most people. Murong Feiyan was moved too, but she did not believe Hu Xiaotian was. Seeing him gaze at Fang Fang in rapt absorption, she immediately passed judgment: his soul had surrendered to beauty. She did not see sincerity and concentration in his eyes, only a brazen, lustful stare. People's prejudices were hard to change. Murong Feiyan thought to herself, If this wastrel gets any improper ideas and dares to bully this poor blind girl, I will never let him get away with it.