Volume 3, Chapter 24: Misdiagnosis (1/2)

Oh, lass. Long time no see.

When Maomao went to the medical office, the quack doctor with the loach moustache came to greet her. It must be her imagination that he looked like he was on the lookout for her, for some reason.

To say long time no see is a bit

Hasnt it been around three days since she last came here? Maomao had showed up that time because the quack doctor said that the paper supply from his family was coming in. She had shrewdly considered that if it goes well, she could get the remainders.

Oh really? You used to come here every day. Havent you stopped coming by for a bit recently?

The quack doctor said it forlornly, but the time she came every day was to clean the medical office. Even though he looked refreshed when they were done.

First off, it was true that her visits have decreased. Lately, she has been spending a lot of time chatting in the washing area. She usually only spoke to Shaoran. It must be because Consort Rourans court lady, Shisui, had joined in with them as of late.

(She really is an incomprehensible girl.)

She had no idea what kind of person Consort Rouran is, but she thought that she must be quite a big-shot to employ such a court lady. The girl mentioned that she had a bit of knowledge about medicine, though she wasnt an expert as she only knew about simple doses. In the beginning, when Maomao heard that the girl had knowledge of medicine, she subconsciously bent her brows, but she paid no heed to it now.

In the beginning, she thought that Shisui must be joining in with them frequently to listen to suspicious stories, but at any rate, this girl is too incomprehensible.

Even yesterday, she was chasing after a court lady who was nearby to show her the cricket she caught.

She didnt know anything about Consort Rouran, but at the very least, Shisui didnt have interest in the mire of the inner palace. If there was something the girl would pay attention to, she would seem to be the type to observe an ant nest for days on end. The part where she wasnt interested in the love affairs of inferiors was something Maomao could agree with.

For now, have this.

Maomao took out dried medicinal herbs from the washing basket. It was the things that were mentioned to have run out when she came by recently. Though he is a quack doctor, his title is pretty much a medical officer. He boasted that he could personally make abdominal pain medicine at least. She hasnt heard anything about other medicines. Maomao still was kind enough to not ask. She wanted to take the opportunity to get the leftovers.

The quack doctor accepted the medicinal herbs, then went to dig around the shelves and briskly started to prepare tea.

Fufufu, I have good snacks today.

The quack doctor prepared tea snacks as his thin moustache swung like it was dancing.

He doesnt even have snacks for tea, Maomao thought, but the quack doctor looked like he was having fun for some reason. The snacks he just mentioned, wasnt that kind of tea snacks, it was material for talk, Maomao thought.

Maomao kept silent and sat, holding in her mouth the blended tea that was poured. She stuffed her cheeks with roasted mochi that was seasoned with saltiness. The crunchy texture was tasty. Some green laver was added to give it a bit of flavour.

What kind of snack is it?

You have to tell me about the tea snacks you brought out at least, Maomao asked the quack doctor.

The quack doctor smiled in delight and cleared his throat with a cough.

I heard an interesting story. I wonder if lass understands it.

The quack doctor smiled awfully confidently as he started the story.

In a certain estate, there was a medical officer and his three apprentices. The apprentices had the medical officer as their teacher, but all in all, none of them were outstanding pupils. One studied diligently, one was as he is, and the other was unmotivated and a liar. Since the medical officers position was bought with money, it could not be helped that he had these kinds of pupils.

The medical officer, in regards to medicine, possessed wonderful knowledge. He never misdiagnosed, and he would not from hereafter either.

The diligent one hated mistakes and does not lie. The unmotivated one only ever lied. The last person mostly spoke the truth, but he occasionally makes mistakes.

One day, a terrible storm came upon the estate. The winds were strong; they could not go outside. During that, a certain incident occurred.

One of the apprentices hung down from the ceiling with a cord around his neck.

Everyone took him down in haste, but he had already stopped breathing.

The medical officer did away with the body of the apprentice as a death by suffocation.

The remaining apprentice was in a frenzy, saying that a person cannot do such a thing alone, and flared up at the medical officer. He shouted that that guy wasnt the type to commit suicide. The other person kept silent and watched the other person, but when he returned to the room, he confirmed with the medical officer that, So he suffocated, before he left.

Everyone wanted to immediately leave the estate, but they could not leave because of the storm. Just like that, an evening passed, and the next day there was another medical officer apprentice who hung his neck.

The surviving person asked the medical officer. Why did he commit suicide?

While shaking his head, the medical officer replied. It was death from suffocation.

Well then, herein lies the problem. Which pupil was the one who survived?

Hmm. The quack doctor said as he blew out of his nose.