"Don't mention it, Sister-in-law. We're family. Buying something for my nephew is only right," Wu Caiwei said as she pulled Zhang Changhe aside. She explained what Old Master Xu had told her that day, urging him to be cautious.
Zhang Changhe nodded solemnly. Strangely, his body was fine this time, but no matter how hard he practiced, he couldn't cultivate internal energy. His martial arts were merely superficial, good for dealing with one or two people, but utterly useless for protecting himself and his loved ones in the wider world.
For the next period, Fang Xuehua and Zhang Dahe were astonished to find Zhang Changhe constantly tinkering in his room, filling the courtyard with the smell of herbs. When asked, Zhang Changhe shamelessly claimed to be a divine physician, leaving Fang Xuehua and Zhang Dahe bewildered. In the past, they would have scolded him soundly, deeming him unreliable. However, his recent actions had begun to change their perception, making them think their younger brother might just be joking.
Since he didn't elaborate and wasn't spending their money, they chose not to pry. Until one day, when their younger brother came to visit, Zhang Changhe happened to see him. He pulled his brother aside and took his pulse. Both were shocked. Zhang Changhe said nothing at the time, but a few days later, he unexpectedly gave Fang Xuehua a bottle of medicine, claiming it was specially concocted for her brother.
Fang Xuehua held the medicine, bewildered, unsure whether to give it to her brother. It was her mother who came up with a brilliant idea: take the medicine to the most renowned physician in the city for examination. The doctor was amazed, repeatedly expressing his wonder and inquiring about the concocter, even offering to take him on as a disciple.
Fang Xuehua quickly lied, claiming it was prepared by a traveling physician and that she, disbelieving his skill, had brought it for the senior doctor's appraisal. The senior doctor, believing her story, praised the medicine while regretting the missed opportunity to learn from such a master.
Leaving the medical hall, both women breathed a sigh of relief, startled by the doctor's enthusiasm. They were also astonished, realizing Zhang Changhe hadn't been bluffing. Was his medicine truly that effective? With a hint of skepticism, they administered the medicine to Fang's younger brother.
Half a month later, Fang's younger brother, who had been bedridden, was able to get out of bed and walk. Although he broke out in a cold sweat after a few steps, they were overjoyed, seeing a glimmer of hope. Consequently, Fang Xuehua became even more attentive to Zhang Changhe.
"When did Little Uncle learn to practice medicine? I never knew," Fang Xuehua asked curiously one day when she had some free time, looking at Zhang Changhe.
"I've been living under your watchful eye every day. How could I possibly practice medicine? If I were truly skilled, wouldn't I open a pharmacy instead of helping Miss Li manage hers? It just so happened that I found a prescription in Miss Li's medical books that closely matched Little Brother's condition. I thought it was worth a try, and unexpectedly, it worked," Zhang Changhe lied effortlessly, words flowing as if rehearsed.
Fang Xuehua breathed a sigh of relief. It made sense. Her brother's transformation was inseparable from Miss Li's arrival. Before Miss Li, her life was a struggle. After Miss Li's arrival, her life had improved dramatically, a world of difference.
Lately, she felt much more confident when going out. The old women who used to pity her, and the young wives who spoke of her hardship, now looked at her with envy. Indeed, what family could experience such a rapid turn of fortune? Not only were both children attending private school, but their household also had a cook and a maid hired by her brother-in-law, allowing her to live like a wealthy lady. Her gratitude towards Wu Caiwei was immeasurable; she practically revered her.
Zhang Changhe had anticipated this outcome. He wouldn't have intervened if it hadn't been for his sister-in-law. After all, he desired a low-key, ordinary life, free from being looked at with suspicion. He believed his classmates and teachers understood his true nature. Moreover, his recent changes were evident to all, and attributing them to Wu Caiwei was plausible. However, medical skills were not acquired overnight.
Wu Caiwei was anticipating Old Master Xu's next move when, instead, Liu Baishi arrived. Seeing Liu Baishi scrutinizing her with a deep gaze, Wu Caiwei knew why he was there. It seemed Old Master Xu had already made his move, and Liu Baishi was the first pawn. His arrival was timely; they were destined to be adversaries in this lifetime.
"I just want to know, are you Li Shiyun?" After his prolonged scrutiny revealed no flaws, Liu Baishi, knowing Old Master Xu would never deceive him, directly asked the question that had been troubling him.
"Li Shiyun? That sounds a bit like my name. Who is she? Is she your daughter? I recall someone mentioning you have an eldest daughter, but I've forgotten her name," Wu Caiwei asked, feigning confusion.
"Stop pretending. You came to Yangcheng targeting me, didn't you? I must admit, you've succeeded. My businesses are on the verge of collapse and will soon close down. Old Master Xu mentioned that there are martial arts masters in the jianghu who can alter one's appearance. I suspect you are one of them," Liu Baishi stated with certainty, though inwardly he was filled with panic, unsure if the person before him was indeed Li Shiyun.
If it were her, it was truly terrifying. The information he had gathered sent shivers down his spine. The day she arrived in Yangcheng, his own household was robbed. Could she be responsible? He didn't know. The money she used to buy three shops added up to almost two thousand taels. This thought made him restless. There were too many coincidences in the world; when coincidences piled up, it was almost certainly her doing.
"Master Liu is joking. This is Yangcheng, and we are all merchants. How could we possibly be involved with people from the jianghu? Besides, Zhang Changhe and I are old acquaintances. If I had changed my appearance, wouldn't he have noticed?" Wu Caiwei, knowing he was probing, refused to admit anything, as he had no evidence.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Liu Baishi felt completely at a loss. He had inquired, but had never seen Zhang Changhe associate with any woman. The day Wu Caiwei passed by their house and boldly walked in, they had both shown expressions of surprise upon meeting, clearly not their first encounter. However, as far as he knew, Zhang Changhe had never been to Blue City. Whether Li Shiqin had visited was unknown.
He had even tried to subtly question Zhang Dahe, but Zhang Dahe knew nothing about their relationship, answering every question with a blank. As for Zhang Changhe, he had dealt with him twice and considered himself no match for him.
As they continued to converse, Liu Baishi gained no information and instead found himself thoroughly analyzed by the other party. Who said Zhang Changhe was a useless person? If someone like him was useless, then he himself was not fit to live. Recognizing the reality, he fled in disarray.