Seeking Truth with a Sword
Chapter 54 - 52 The Canal

Chapter 54: Chapter 52 The Canal

From Li Ang’s position, looking into the building’s entrance, he could see a corner of the courtyard. It was lined with earthenware pots for decocting medicines. In the center, wooden tables resembling stretchers served as sickbeds, with many patients lying on them, covered in quilts.

The sick house was an institution set up by Yu Country’s officials to shelter the impoverished and treat sicknesses, offering treatment and medicines free of charge to those too poor to afford care for their illnesses.

The intention behind the establishment of the sick house system was good.

However, even the official medical institutions of Yu Country lacked a complete medical education system, doctors, and resources. Thus, they couldn’t bear the burden of Chang’an’s medical needs. The sick house, being like a tree without roots or a river without a source, naturally couldn’t play any significant role. To a large extent, it was just an empty gesture, a facade of officialdom.

"Risheng, what are you looking at? Let’s go."

The voice of Song Shaoyuan came from ahead. Li Ang shifted his gaze from the sick house and replied, "Coming."

A purely charitable sick house couldn’t possibly sustain and expand its operations. To allow more people to afford to see a doctor and receive proper treatment, it seemed that only the establishment of a real hospital would suffice...

Led by Wu Shiqi, a group of scholars proceeded from the East Market towards the West Market, taking in the sights of Ximing Temple, Dazhuangyan Temple, and other attractions in a cursory manner. At noon, Song Shaoyuan, Zhai Yiming, and others treated them to a meal at a restaurant.

Halfway through the meal, Yang Yu, whom they had met in the hostel yesterday, came running over, out of breath, awkwardly apologizing.

Yang Yu was supposed to accompany the Yizhou group on a tour of Chang’an that morning. However, he had drunk too much with his friend the previous evening. By the time he woke up, it was already noon. Consequently, he hurried over to apologize and insisted on paying for the meal.

Song Shaoyuan and Zhai Yiming were not short of money, but since Yang Yu insisted, they let him settle the bill.

Seeing Yang Yu’s arrival, Wu Shiqi also took the initiative to apologize and left, allowing Yang Yu to take over as their guide.

"TSK. Why would the Ministry of Rites bring in Wu Shiqi?"

Yang Yu watched Wu Shiqi’s retreating figure from the restaurant, his mouth pulling into a noncommittal sneer.

Zhai Yiming arched an eyebrow. "Hm? Mr. Yang, is there something wrong with Wu Shiqi?"

"Nothing. He was previously with the Shuai Ran Gang but later quit gang life. He found a job apprehending criminals in Chang’an County, becoming one of the ’bad people.’"

Yang Yu casually explained that by ’bad people,’ he meant the government officials tasked with catching criminals, officials who were slightly higher in rank than the common bailiff.

"Are there many gangs in Chang’an?" Song Shaoyuan asked curiously. "I thought there would be very few."

"A snake has its path, and a rat has its trail. As long as there are people, especially the high and mighty, there will never be a shortage of lapdogs to handle their shady affairs," Yang Yu said matter-of-factly. "There are four or five major gangs in Chang’an City. Shuai Ran Gang’s territory included the Land Transport Mansion. Goods from all over the world destined for Chang’an were often stored in their warehouses and freight yards. Fish Sand Gang’s foundation was the Cao Transport. Many of the laborers and trackers on the docks were their members. Besides them, there were the Giant Whale Gang, Feiyun Gang, and so forth, each one established around a particular trade. They were both gangs and guilds. As long as they didn’t stir up trouble, the officials generally left them alone, and they knew to keep their distance from the real heavyweights and avoid any involvement with Academic Palace candidates."

"However..." Yang Yu paused for a moment, then added casually, "you all should still be a bit cautious and not trust servants who cozy up to you uninvited. In the past, there were attendants in Chang’an City who specialized in entertaining people. They would actively entice scholars coming to Chang’an, leading them to the land of love, gambling, drinking, playing polo, discussing romance. Some scholars from out of town, with weaker willpower, could be led astray by them. They would become immersed in frivolity, lose focus on their studies, and even fail to pass the first round of exams at the Academic Palace. At the same time, all their money would be squeezed out of them, forcing them to rely on fellow townspeople for aid and return to their hometowns in shame."

A scholar from Xuanzhou asked in astonishment, "Doesn’t the Academic Palace do anything about it?"

"Legs are attached to the examinees themselves. Can the Academic Palace saw them off?" a female student beside Ji Linglang said coldly. "If they lack even this bit of self-control, even without being led astray, they won’t pass the Academic Palace’s examinations."

Some of the scholars showed slightly embarrassed expressions on their faces, as they had just been thinking about visiting the taverns in Pingkang Square and the East and West Market.

Seeing this, Yang Yu chuckled and let out a lighthearted laugh. "Nowadays, the customs are much better than before, and there are fewer of those companions for hire. There’s still more than half a month before the initial examination of the Academic Palace. It wouldn’t be too late to tour Chang’an, experience the local customs, and then focus on your studies. By the way, have you all found accommodation in Chang’an? If you don’t mind, the Yang Family has a spacious hostel in Dunyi Square where you can stay. With just a word from me, thirty or forty top-rank rooms can be freed up there for your immediate occupation."

"That’s wonderful," Song Shaoyuan and the others said gratefully. "Then we’ll trouble Mr. Yang."

"Uh... Mr. Yang," Li Ang hesitantly asked, "Dunyi Square, is it near the Yong’an Canal, right?"

Yang Yu nodded. "Yes, right next to the Yong’an Water Channel. What’s the matter?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Li Ang said with some embarrassment, "Are there any hostels further north, away from the canal?"

Yang Yu’s eyebrows raised slightly with surprise. "Hmm?"

"AHEM. Risheng..." Song Shaoyuan coughed a reminder, but Yang Yu didn’t get angry.

Among these people, besides Ji Linglang, the daughter of the Yizhou Governor, the person he most wanted to befriend was Li Ang. On one hand, Li Ang’s medical skill was exquisite. On the other hand, as the local "gossip monger" of Chang’an, Yang Yu loved bizarre and extraordinary tales the most.

Li Ang was not the type to take a mile when given an inch; there had to be a reason for his words.

"There are also hostels further north, away from the canal." Yang Yu smiled and lifted his hand in a gesture of nonchalance. "Does Risheng want to stay there?"

Li Ang nodded. "Yes, it’s better for the health."

"Better for the health?"

Not just Yang Yu, but Song Shaoyuan, Zhai Yiming, and Ji Linglang also furrowed their brows in baffled curiosity. Out of trust for Li Ang’s medical skill, instead of reacting with alarm, they asked curiously, "Is there a reason for this?"

"Didn’t ’Su Wen·Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun’ say that ’all the origins of diseases stem from wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire which cause transformation and mutation’? The higher the living place is, and the farther away from canals—especially stagnant water—the less likely one is to fall ill. The crisscrossing rivers, water channels, and drainage ditches in Chang’an City are natural breeding grounds for epidemics. The more drainage ditches built, the more likely diseases are to arise..."

Li Ang picked up a chicken leg with his chopsticks from the table and placed it in the bowl of Chai Cuiqiao beside him, casually explaining. However, from the next private room, they heard a middle-aged man’s voice, tinged with anger, reprimand, "Utter nonsense."