Chapter Twenty: Growing Fondness

“Scoundrel, what are you doing? Let go of my daughter!” Old Ye shouted as he charged toward Chu Yun, aiming a punch straight at his face.

“Father, stop!” Ye Zelan cried, quickly intervening and blocking Old Ye’s fist.

“Lan'er, what are you doing?” Old Ye looked at Ye Zelan, puzzled.

Chu Yun, not waiting for Ye Zelan to respond, spoke first, “Your daughter was injured, and I kindly helped her home. Not only do you refuse to thank me, you even attack me—what is this about?”

Old Ye snorted, “Lan'er doesn’t need the help of a scoundrel like you to get home. Do you think I don’t know you’re just trying to take advantage of her?”

Chu Yun was momentarily speechless, inwardly lamenting that the original owner truly deserved his bad reputation.

Ye Zelan stepped in to smooth things over, “Father, please don’t say that. There are wild animals in the mountains. If Chu Yun hadn’t supported me, I would have been in great danger. No matter what, he’s my savior.”

Old Ye replied, “You don’t need to speak up for this scoundrel. With your skills, would a minor injury really hinder you from dealing with wild animals?”

Ye Zelan protested, “This isn’t a minor injury—I was bitten by a venomous snake. If Chu Yun hadn’t treated me in time, I might have died.”

“What, you were bitten by a venomous snake?” Old Ye’s worry deepened instantly. He moved to untie the bandage on Ye Zelan’s leg.

Ye Zelan stopped him, “Father, I really was bitten. Chu Yun treated the wound, and he did it well. Please don’t touch it.”

Old Ye looked at Ye Zelan suspiciously, “Lan'er, tell me the truth. Were you really bitten by a venomous snake?”

Ye Zelan replied, slightly exasperated, “Why would I lie to you?”

Old Ye shook his head, “I don’t believe it. How could a scoundrel like him possibly cure snake venom? And he supposedly treated the wound well?”

Ye Zelan explained, “Father, Chu Yun dreamed of an immortal, who taught him medical arts. He’s no longer a scoundrel—he’s a doctor now.”

Old Ye smiled wryly, “Lan'er, do you expect me to believe such nonsense? What virtue or ability does a scoundrel like him have to be granted medical skills by an immortal?”

Ye Zelan pointed to her thigh, “Father, look—if I had bandaged myself, would it look this good?”

Old Ye examined it and saw that the wound was indeed wrapped beautifully and professionally, better than most medical officers taught by the shaman. Though they, as herb gatherers, knew some medical skills, none could bandage a wound so well.

He looked at Chu Yun in surprise, “Did you really bandage this?”

Chu Yun, though slightly speechless, replied patiently, “Yes, I did. If you don’t believe me, give me a strip of cloth and I’ll show you.”

“Alright, I’ll get a cloth strip,” Old Ye agreed, actually running inside to fetch one for Chu Yun to demonstrate.

Chu Yun felt helpless. If not for wanting to buy herbs from these gatherers to save himself the trouble of collecting them, he would not bother. Still, he demonstrated the bandaging to Old Ye.

Old Ye was stunned, shock filling his heart. After a long moment, he finally calmed down, “You—you really are a doctor?”

Chu Yun nodded.

Ye Zelan explained for him, “Father, Chu Yun really is a doctor. The herbs in his basket were all collected by him. If he weren’t a doctor, how would he recognize them? And I once gathered a herb that Mr. Wu at the pharmacy didn’t know and wouldn’t buy, but Chu Yun recognized it and said it was very valuable. This trip to the mountain was mainly for that herb.”

“That really is a medicinal herb?” Old Ye asked in surprise.

Chu Yun affirmed, and described the properties and uses of the green ginger, concluding, “Uncle Ye, whenever you see this herb, be sure to collect it. I’ll buy it from you.”

Ye Zelan added, “Father, I promised Chu Yun we’d sell him the herbs we gather. I’ll also introduce other herb gatherers to sell to him.”

Old Ye, hearing Chu Yun speak so knowledgeably, became more convinced Chu Yun was now a doctor. After Ye Zelan finished, he said, “Mr. Wu at the pharmacy is heartless. He pays too little for herbs. We work hard for days to gather them and he only gives us two coin tokens. If Chu Yun offers a fair price, I’m sure everyone would be happy to sell him their herbs.”

Chu Yun smiled, “Don’t worry, I’m not like Mr. Wu. I’ll give you a fair price. I know well how hard herb gathering is.”

Old Ye nodded, “Good. Next time we sell herbs in town, we’ll find you.”

Chu Yun clasped his hands in thanks, “Thank you, Uncle Ye.”

With that, he took five coin tokens from his pocket and handed them to Old Ye.

Old Ye was bewildered, “What are you doing?”

Ye Zelan also looked at Chu Yun in confusion.

Chu Yun replied, “I’m entrusting you with a task. This is what you deserve.”

Old Ye hurriedly waved his hands, “No, absolutely not. Put the money away. You’re helping us by offering a better price for our herbs—how could I accept this?”

Inside, he was deeply shocked, marveling at how different Chu Yun was now from his notorious former self.

That scoundrel used to value money above all—how could he ever part with so much to ask someone for a favor?

This was five coin tokens!

“Chu Yun, you saved me, and you’re offering higher prices for our herbs, helping us so much. Introducing other herb gatherers to you is the least we can do—how could we accept your money?”

Ye Zelan echoed quickly.

Her opinion of Chu Yun had changed dramatically—not only did she no longer dislike him as before, she even found herself feeling a certain affection for him.