The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 292 - 288: Proving Innocence

Ruo Xuan had known that there would be some complications today, so as soon as she arrived, she had pinched a "Fairy Technique" and scattered it around the vicinity. Anyone in the surrounding crowd who was a patient of Uncle Wu couldn’t help but step forward and speak the truth. The effect was valid within a three-kilometer radius.

This meant that as long as those people happened to be nearby, they would be guided to come over and watch this competition.

She didn’t need to speak; she just had to wait for everyone to speak on behalf of her Uncle Wu.

No one understood better than the members of the Pharmacist Association why Ruo Shan was eligible to participate in the competition. The referee from the Pharmacist Association spoke loudly, "Young Master Ruo Shan’s participation in the competition is due to a nomination from an Imperial Physician at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Imperial Physicians have the authority to nominate candidates, and as long as one brings the nomination letter to register before the exam, there is no need to sign up within the stipulated time. This is also why we always prepare a few extra chairs at every competition, specifically for those who come with a nomination letter. People familiar with the Pharmacist Association’s competition should all be aware of this rule. The registration location of the Pharmacist Association also has the rules posted; anyone with doubts can go and see for themselves."

"Ruo Shan just came to register with his nomination letter, and we at the Pharmacist Association have only just learned that he is participating in the competition as well. There’s certainly no case of leaking exam questions to him in advance! This is an insult to both the Pharmacist Association and Ruo Shan! The Pharmacist Association is willing to cooperate with Lord County Magistrate in investigating this matter!"

Some people did indeed know of the registration regulations of the Pharmacist Association, and they spoke up, "Indeed, there is such a regulation."

Mrs. Fang: "Even if Ruo Shan did participate with a nomination letter, how could an attendant possess such excellent medical skills? It’s simply impossible!"

Ruo Shan spoke indifferently, "I learned my medical skills from my master. For more than a month before the competition, I followed my master to offer free medical care every day, treating at least a hundred people for free each day. That’s how I honed my medical skills."

At this moment, an elderly man stepped out, staring intently at Ruo Shan several times to confirm he wasn’t mistaken, and then said, "I can testify for Doctor Ruo. He and his master treated me for free a few days ago! No silver was needed, and they didn’t charge for the medicine either! I used to cough so much at night that I couldn’t sleep, but after taking the medicine prescribed by Young Master Ruo, I’ve been able to sleep through the night for the past two nights!"

Another peasant woman, holding a child, spoke out loudly, "I can also testify for Doctor Ruo. He treated my son a month ago. My son has been speaking unclearly ever since he was five years old, but he managed to cure my son’s speech impediment!"

A young man also spoke out loudly, "Doctor Ruo is truly amazing. I was just passing by, and with just one look at my eyes, he diagnosed my illness. I didn’t believe it at first and went to Fang’s Medical Clinic to see Doctor Fang. After Doctor Fang took my pulse, he also said I was sick! Fortunately, it was discovered early, otherwise it could have spread to my whole family. Doctor Ruo is like a divine healer in this world."

Hearing several people speaking for Ruo Shan, Mrs. Fang couldn’t help but sneer, "Even if you, in just one month, outperform doctors who have been practicing for more than a decade? Who would believe that? Do you think you treated more patients in a month than others have in a decade? Or do you think your month’s experience surpasses others’ decades of expertise?"

Ruo Shan replied calmly and composedly, "Madam Fang, your words are mistaken. I didn’t say I’ve seen more patients in a month than other doctors have in over a decade, and I don’t believe my month of experience is more significant than those of others. It just so happens that I have come across these several illnesses before. Moreover, although I have never been a doctor, my medical knowledge comes from over a decade of being immersed in it, something I learned at Fang’s Medical Clinic. I am very grateful for that time spent at Fang’s Medical Clinic, and for Fang Elder and Doctor Fang. Without those many years there, my medical skills could not have advanced so rapidly in just over a month."

Having said that, he faced the direction of Doctor Fang and Fang Boshan and bowed respectfully with a fist.

His heart was filled with gratitude, not the slightest resentment.

One was pressing and uncompromising in the face of reason.

The difference was clear for all to see.

Doctor Fang: "Blame me for my lax discipline; it is our Fang’s Medical Clinic that has wronged you. Folks, I believe Ruo Shan has not cheated. He has a natural gift for studying medicine. In his many years at our clinic, he has never made a mistake dispensing medicine, and he is extremely familiar with the properties of each medicinal herb—so much so that I am quite ashamed. As for his medical skills, the saying goes: ’one accumulates knowledge over time and expresses it suddenly.’ It’s very likely that his medical skills could make such rapid progress in a month."

Doctor Fang, as the most renowned physician in the entire county, was indeed almost daily invited by wealthy families to make house calls, and even when not making house calls, staying at the clinic, there were plenty of patients seeking him out. He simply had no time to teach Ruo Shan how to take pulses and diagnose illnesses. He just told his son to teach Ruo Shan whenever he had free time, not realizing that in the end, it would push him away.

Fang Boshan felt very ashamed: "It was my wife who caused you trouble!"

Every time he thought of teaching Ruo Shan medical skills, his wife interrupted him, and he felt that there was plenty of time and he was still young, so there was no rush.

Who would have known that the years would pass by so quickly, and Ruo Shan would leave their clinic in such a manner?

Fang Boshan gave Mrs. Fang a warning look, indicating that she should not speak recklessly anymore.

He knew Ruo Shan; he was not a person who would cheat!

If this matter continued to develop, in the end, it would be him who was embarrassed again, their clinic that would be ridiculed. People would think he couldn’t take losing, that their clinic was unkind to an attendant who had devoted many years to them.

Mrs. Fang was furious!

Her own family would not stand with her; for whom was she opposing Ruo Shan in the end?

At this moment, County Magistrate Zhang spoke up, "Madam Fang suspects Ruo Shan of cheating and believes someone in the Pharmacist Association was bribed by Ruo Shan. For the sake of Ruo Shan’s and the Pharmacist Association’s reputation, I have a way to allow Ruo Shan to prove that he truly deserves the first place he earned this time!"

Mrs. Fang eagerly asked, "Lord, what method do you have?"

County Magistrate Zhang said, "Simply have Ruo Shan take the pulse and treat a few people on the spot, and we will know."

County Magistrate Zhang looked towards the onlookers, "Is there any villager in good health who is willing to come forward to be treated? Due to time constraints, we need a total of five patients. Villagers who are feeling well should not step forward."

Ruo Xuan spoke up at this moment, "Those willing to come forward, will receive two doses of medicine for free."

Two doses of medicine were enough for two days, and generally, one would see an effect after two days of medication.

As soon as many people heard this, whether they were sick or not, they immediately stepped forward.

Suddenly, more than twenty people came forward.

After all, the medicine was free. If sick, they could get treated; if not, it would boost their health!

County Magistrate Zhang then said to Mrs. Fang, "For the sake of fairness, Madam Fang, why don’t you pick five villagers to come forward?"

Fang Boshan used his gaze to hint to Mrs. Fang not to make a scene, but Mrs. Fang pretended not to see, and she spoke out loudly, "Alright."

As it happened, one of the patients had come to their clinic two days ago. Her own husband had initially not been able to diagnose the illness, and it was only after poring over medical books all night that he figured it out.

Mrs. Fang chose five patients and looking at Ruo Shan with a challenging gaze, said, "If you can name all five patients’ ailments and prescribe the correct remedies for them, then I will be truly convinced."