Chapter 31: Luck and Change
As soon as Lu Qing stepped into the house, he saw a brand-new large iron pot sitting right in the center.
Chen Laodaifu returned from the inner room, pulling out a cloth sack.
"These silver coins are from the sale of the Red Moon Carp—take good care of them," the old doctor said, handing the sack to Lu Qing.
Lu Qing took it, and the heavy weight in his hands made him blink in surprise.
"So much? Chen Ye Ye, how much did that Red Moon Carp actually sell for?"
"Your luck is quite good," the elder said, stroking his beard. "The nobleman I delivered herbs to last time—he has a wife who’s been feeling weak lately and needs nourishment. When I mentioned I had a Red Moon Carp, he didn’t even hesitate. He offered one hundred taels of silver on the spot."
"One hundred taels?" Lu Qing widened his eyes. "Chen Ye Ye, didn’t you say before that my carp was too large, so its value had dropped?"
He remembered the old doctor once saying the finest Red Moon Carp wouldn’t fetch more than a hundred taels each.
"So that’s exactly why I said you’re lucky," Chen Laodaifu replied. "Normally, only the best specimens are worth a hundred taels."
"But this nobleman is deeply devoted to his wife. The Red Moon Carp isn’t just delicious—it’s also incredibly restorative. That’s why he paid the maximum price without hesitation."
It was truly a stroke of luck.
Lu Qing listened, then had to admit the old doctor was right.
His luck really had turned.
"This hundred taels is all in cash. After deducting the ten taels I charged for your medical treatment and the five taels spent on the iron pot and salt, there’s still eighty-five taels left in silver."
Lu Qing opened the sack and saw the dazzling pile of coins—white and gleaming.
Most were silver ingots, some ten taels each, others five, with a few smaller pieces of loose silver scattered in.
Clearly, Chen Laodaifu had thought ahead, breaking some of the larger ingots into smaller change for daily use.
As for the fifteen taels spent—Lu Qing didn’t mind.
Ten taels for medical fees and medicine seemed steep, but knowing the old doctor, Lu Qing suspected he’d actually undercharged.
And the iron pot? Well, its price wasn’t surprising.
He’d seen the original owner of this body sell their own iron pot for a decent sum.
Even now, few families in the village could afford one.
It was clear how valuable iron pots were.
But even so, Lu Qing had no intention of skipping out on buying one.
After all, he’d been in this world long enough. Almost everything he ate was boiled or stewed. His taste buds were practically dead.
With an iron pot, he could cook so much more.
Clothing could be a little rough—no problem.
But food? That was non-negotiable.
That was Lu Qing’s unshakable principle.
"Also," Chen Laodaifu added, "I already prepared the pot for you last night. You can use it straight away—no need to season it yourself."
Lu Qing looked. Sure enough, the inside of the pot gleamed with a smooth, oily sheen. It had already been properly seasoned.
"Chen Ye Ye, seasoning a pot takes a lot of oil, right? Let me give you money for it," Lu Qing said, reaching into the sack.
"No need," Chen Laodaifu waved a hand. "Just two pieces of fatty pork—nothing expensive. I’m not about to bother you with silver."
Seeing the old doctor wouldn’t accept, Lu Qing gave up.
He knew people here looked down on pork.
Especially the upper class—they considered it lowly, fit only for the poor.
Even those with some wealth preferred beef or mutton.
So pork wasn’t expensive—though only in comparison to meat like beef and lamb.
For common folk, any meat was a luxury.
Pork wasn’t something you could eat every day.
Only on holidays, when money was tight, or when guests came, would you buy a bit.
But Lu Qing knew Chen Laodaifu wasn’t short on money.
Two pieces of pork? The old doctor probably didn’t even notice they were gone.
"Then thank you, Chen Ye Ye."
"Enough with the thanks, stop fussing over nothing," the old doctor said dismissively. "Lie down. I’ll begin the acupuncture."
Lu Qing stripped off his shirt and lay down on the wooden bed.
Chen Laodaifu pulled out a set of silver needles.
"Today is your third session—and the last. After this, you won’t need any more acupuncture."
"Chen Ye Ye… does this mean my body is fully recovered?" Lu Qing asked, surprised.
"Not completely healed yet," the elder replied, "but your vital energy is now stable. From now on, just eat well, rest properly, and you’ll regain strength gradually. The Gu Ben Pei Yuan Needle treatment can stop here."
"Thank you, Chen Ye Ye."
"Relax. Don’t move."
The old doctor began inserting the needles. Within moments, Lu Qing drifted into deep sleep.
Chen Laodaifu watched the sleeping man, his brow furrowed slightly.
Though Lu Qing had recovered remarkably well during his stay, the old doctor still couldn’t figure out why he had suddenly improved so much in the first place.
Over the past few sessions, he’d examined Lu Qing’s body in detail.
No abnormalities. No lingering illness. No hidden damage.
It was baffling.
After a long pause, he finally relaxed his expression.
If he couldn’t find the cause, so be it.
At least Lu Qing’s health was restored.
That was enough.
"Chen Ye Ye… is my brother asleep?"
Xiao Yan’s soft voice came from the side.
After seeing Lu Qing receive several acupuncture sessions, the little girl had lost her fear.
But she still couldn’t bear to watch as the needles were inserted.
"Yes, he’s asleep. Come on, let’s not disturb him," Chen Laodaifu said. "Go outside. Grandpa brought back some pastries from the city yesterday. Said they’re delicious."
"Really? What kind?"
"Osmanthus cakes…"
When Lu Qing finally woke, he felt an overwhelming surge of energy coursing through his body.
And this time, it wasn’t the same illusion he’d felt after the first session.
This was real.
His body had truly recovered.
All thanks to Chen Laodaifu.
Just then, he heard Xiao Yan’s laughter from outside the courtyard.
A small smile tugged at his lips. He pulled his shirt back on and stepped outside.
There sat Chen Laodaifu and Xiao Yan on the stone bench.
The little girl clutched a piece of cake in her hand, swinging her legs back and forth, laughing with her head tilted up—genuinely, joyfully.
It was nearly identical to the scene Lu Qing had seen the first time he woke after acupuncture.
But now, everything was different.
Back then, he’d been weak, broke, barely able to survive.
Now, his body was nearly healed.
He’d just earned over a hundred taels of silver.
And most importantly, he had a future—chance to learn medicine from Chen Laodaifu.
Everything had changed.
(End of Chapter)
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