A divine healer, a general, a young marquis! Who can rival them!

Yang Hu kept this connection to the Prefectural Magistrate's residence a secret, handing it over to Liu Ye so she could explore it at her own pace.

As for what's happening beneath the surface... things have been going smoothly day by day.

Just as winter was beginning, another season of medicinal herbs was harvested from that plot of land on the outskirts of the city.

The area was twice the size it had been in spring. Cartloads of honeysuckle, forsythia, and agastache were delivered into the city. There was more than enough for our own use, and we didn't have to worry about being treated badly by the pharmacies in the city.

Lu Rouhe's eyes sparkled as she looked at the ledger.

"Young master, the medicinal herbs we grow ourselves have saved us half the money; the lines at the clinic stretch all the way to the alleyway, and they've gotten even longer this month..."

Yang Hu nodded.

Having been in the city for so long, from a traveling doctor who ate at inns to now having a well-known "Yang's" in the east of the city, I have earned the trust little by little by curing each case!

The clinic also started to grow bigger, a three-section brick and tile building. The front was a shop for seeing patients, and the back was for dispensing, decocting, and drying medicine. Two more people were added to dispense medicine, and an old woman was added to decoct medicine, so that it could be managed properly.

Of course, he couldn't put all the extra money into the box. Now that he had some extra cash, he took advantage of the year-end to buy winter clothes for the people working in his herb garden and the people running errands at his clinic, and sent several packages of New Year's goods to the poor person they had been taking care of all year round, both inside and outside the city.

The man who worked in the herb garden died, leaving his child in the woman's arms. After receiving the new clothes Yang Hu had given her, her eyes reddened again. She didn't know what to say, and just kept expressing her gratitude.

"The New Year is almost here," Yang Hu waved his hand, "We just want to stay warm!"

The ledger never showed any money, but everything in the yard was done perfectly.

On the day after the first snowfall, fewer people sought medical help, and the whole family had some free time.

They sat around a pile of charcoal in the middle of the main room, chatting and warming themselves by the fire.

Lu Yan sorted out the medicinal herbs that had been rummaged through during the day, categorized them according to their different properties, and put them into the drawer.

Her face was all smiles.

During most of the winter, she had transformed from a pampered young lady from a duke's mansion into a young woman capable of managing a medical clinic.

"Young master," she said, "the medicinal herbs for this winter are ready. No matter how cold the weather, the patients won't get cold!"

While holding an account book, Lu Rou listed all the medicinal herbs she needed to buy this winter and also noted down the families she needed to help.

This girl is no longer the same maid who only knew how to read people's expressions. She has everything under control, from the big to the small, all the money in and out of the household.

"Young master," she looked up. "That family in the south of the city, the man's legs are still weak, I've already paid for their medical expenses for this month for free, and also had them buy rice for half a month, as my relief."

"Yes!" Yang Hu nodded. "That man's foot isn't necessarily healed yet. He'll need to have his dressing changed in the spring. Don't let him suffer because of this money."

Lu Rou nodded and finished calculating the amount in the ledger.

Liu Ye returned from outside the city, her feet treading on thick snow, her shoulders covered in a layer of white snow, holding two wild rabbits in her hands, which she placed on the stove.

She tossed the rabbit onto the pot, rubbed her frozen hands, and huddled by the charcoal fire.

"On snowy days, it's easier to find goods on the mountain," she grinned. "I'll stew it tonight and treat everyone to a nice meal."

She didn't mention the matter of the investigation. But Yang Hu knew that although she had ostensibly gone out of the city today to gather herbs and hunt rabbits, she had actually already explored every single alley in the western part of the city.

She moved closer, using the excuse of moving some firewood, and whispered, "The delivery route has been thoroughly investigated in two sections. The old man who guards the tea shop recognizes that gray-clothed man carrying the load."

Yang Hu nodded slightly, pretending not to know.

Qin Ying sat outside the window, wiping the short knife in the snowlight.

She didn't say much, but her every move filled the courtyard with the warmth of everyday life: Lu Yan's meticulous handling of the medicine, Lu Rou's skillful tucking of the curtains, Liu Ye's cheerful return from the snow, and the sizzling, fragrant rabbit meat on the charcoal fire... all of this was captured in her eyes.

Over the years in the army, on that hurdle she risked her life to overcome, she had seen the glint of swords, the bloodshed, and the pain of separation and death.

But the stability that had settled down in this courtyard was something she had never dared to imagine before.

Her knife stopped.

"Your yard is becoming more and more like a home," she said casually.

"We've always been one family," Yang Hu said with a smile, holding his tea. "You're part of this family too."

Qin Ying did not accept it, but her tense shoulders softened slightly in the warm glow of the charcoal fire in the courtyard, and her ears turned red.

Aji, while putting away the medicine grinder, leaned over and asked a question that had been on his mind.

"Master, we're already earning a lot more money from medical treatment, yet you keep giving money away without keeping any for yourself?"

Yang Hu glanced at him.

"What's the point of keeping the money?" he asked. "Keeping money on your person is a death sentence. Taking it out, hiring a worker, saving someone, and making a good impression—that's what makes you alive." He paused again. "Look at that orphan Liu, those migrant workers. Today I gave them a chance to live, and tomorrow they'll remember this Yang family's banner. Whether we can hold our ground in the east of the city depends on those few strings of copper coins in the box, or on these faces that remember your kindness."

Aji listened and silently wrote it down.

The charcoal fire crackled and popped as the family gathered around, chatting and having a lively time.

Yang Hu looked at the snow falling heavily outside.

He has cured many people with his medical skills, and they remember his kindness one after another.

The "Yang Ji" signboard in the east of the city is now considered an untouchable signboard in the entire city.

However, he knew very well that beneath his peaceful life lay two unresolved issues: the vicious Zhao family in the west of the city and the treacherous Prefectural Magistrate's office. These two were bound to clash sooner or later.

Just then, a customer arrived at the clinic entrance.

"Oh?" It was a well-dressed middle-aged manager who was carrying an umbrella. He stamped his boots as he entered and bowed.

"Oh... um... is this the clinic of Doctor Yang from the east of the city?"

Yang Hu raised his eyes.

"That's me! Where did you come from?"

The manager said in a low voice, his expression showing some anxiety.

"I'm on business with a master..." he said. "My master is quite something, one of the most important people in this city!"

He paused for a moment:

"Oh dear, I've recently encountered a strange ailment... I've seen several renowned doctors in the city, and they all said they couldn't cure me. I heard that Doctor Yang is a miracle worker, even able to save Old Master Zhou from a terminal illness... so I rushed here to find you!"

Yang Hu put down his teacup.

Amazing?

amazing?

Several of the most important figures in the city... have recently contracted a strange illness.

He flicked his fingertips hard, his fingertips pressing against the edge of the table.

The water in this city is deeper than a medicinal herb garden and a clinic...

Behind every person who comes to our door seeking medical help, there is a vast, bottomless net.

"What's that gentleman's surname?" Yang Hu asked calmly. "What illness does he have?"

The manager looked around and spoke somewhat vaguely.

"When we arrived at our house... the divine doctor understood immediately... My master said he would offer generous gifts in return, only asking that the divine doctor would set out to take a look."

Yang Hu was in no hurry to answer.

What he wants is more than just the money from the consultation.

But a patient is a patient, and there's no way to avoid seeing them.

Moreover... there might be a bottomless net hidden beneath the powerful figures in this city, and perhaps there are traces of their hands reaching out to them?

"Alright, sir, you can go back now..."

Yang Hu is not in a hurry.

I'll go see him when he has prepared a box of medicine.

He will come to visit first thing tomorrow morning.

The steward thanked him profusely, then, holding his umbrella, returned to the vast expanse of white snowflakes.

The snow is still falling...

The charcoal fire crackled inside the room, mingling with the aroma of medicine and warmth.

Yang Hu looked at the manager's figure in the distance. He knew in his heart that something was about to happen in this flat, bountiful year. It was hard to say whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. It was trudging through the thick snow and heading this way.