Chapter 150: Chapter 23
Lamp oil was rare in Joseon, old Korea. In particular, it could hardly be found in a shabby house like Changkwon’s. The servants there were all old.
There was no chance that Kanghyok could be caught climbing the wall.
Kanghyok didn’t want to ask a favor of Changkwon at all.
‘He was very stubborn even before the mayor. He wouldn’t listen to me.’
As he saw numerous patients, he could immediately figure out his or her personality once he met them in person.
‘I don’t want to argue with him. Let me come back when the curfew bell rings.’
Kanghyok turned back to see Yoni.
He needed a woman anyway to get close to Changkwon’s daughter.
Yoni could easily climb the wall.
‘Sure, let’s do that.’
He felt much more relieved once he made up his mind.
Noticing him smile, Changkwon tilted his head.
“So, have you found out the name of her sickness?”
“Oh, that is...”
Kanghyok straightened his face and said in a serious voice.
“First of all, ...”
Then he took out some antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotic painkillers and gave them to Changkwon.
“Let her have this. She will feel much better.”
She would have a sound sleep after taking that medicine.
That would make it much easier for him and Yoni to come into her room for treatment.
“Thanks a lot. I’ll never forget your help.”
“You’re welcome. Let me come back tomorrow.”
“Can you?”
“Sure, I need to check if she is getting better anyway.” Then he hurriedly came out of his house with Yoni.
She came close to him and said, “Master, you’re terrific.”
“Ugh? Why?”
“How can you figure out her sickness without even seeing her face?” Yoni asked in admiration.
With a bitter smile, though, he shook his head and said, “How can I know when I’m not a god?”
“Really? You gave the medicine to him, didn’t you?”
“Well, that medicine is effective to some degree, but it can’t cure her.”
“How miserable she is! Her voice was so feeble...”
Though Yoni seemed strong and courageous, she was really kind-hearted.
Looking around, he whispered in her ears, “Your speciality in the acrobatic team is high jump, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“We have to come back here again later.”
“Here? When?”
It was quite dark outside.
She seemed to think it’s well past for anybody to move around.
“After the bell rings.”
“Bell? Do you want to come back here after the curfew?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
“I think I have to see her in person. I need your help, though.”
Yoni felt herself sobering after hearing that.
“So, are you going to cover her with a blanket and take her out?”
“Nope. I am not talking about that.”
“Then, are you going to enter her room directly? What if she screams at you?”
“Don’t worry. She would feel drowsy because of the medication I gave her.”
“Still, she would violently resist if a man touches her body.”
“What? It’s you, not me who’s going to touch her.”
With a surprised look, she asked, “Me?”
“Yes. Does it matter if you touch her body?”
“Well... I’ve never treated somebody.”
“No worries. Let me coach you on the side,” said Kanghyok, nodding confidently.
“Really?”
“I’m good at treating patients, but also good at coaching somebody.”
“Okay, sir.” Yoni just looked down as she felt he was too brazen to praise himself.
But her facial expression seemed strange to him.
“Do you think you can’t do it?” asked Kanghyok.
At his provocative question, Yoni talked back.
Actually, she was Orumsani, or a tightrope walker of the acrobatic team, dressed like a man.
She had a high sense of pride and guts, to say the least.
“Of course, I can!”
“Good. Let’s move when the curfew bell rings, okay?”
“Hah...”
She freaked out when she thought she had to move around after curfew.
Taking a deep breath several times, she looked at Kanghyok. “Please let me take Makbong with me then.”
“Makbong?” Kanghyok instinctively conjured up the image of Makbong.
Short, sturdy, but with a strong build. Though he might be good at playing tricks, he might also be slow in action, Kanghyok felt.
“Why do you want to bring Makbong?”
“Well, he is very good at moving around at night.”
“Oh, really? Does he have any business to do at night at all?”
“Well...”
Looking down at her tiptoes quietly, she hesitated a bit.
But she opened her mouth, “There is a village near here where widows live in groups.”
“Widows’ village?”
“Makbong works there to make some money.”
“Working at night?”
Kanghyok nodded, as if he figured out what Makbong was up to.
‘Hmm... I guess he must have good stamina, given the way that he plays on a swing.’
Makbong’s strong build was quite impressive enough to stimulate the sexual appetite of widows who hadn’t had sex with men for a long time.
“Oh, I see. He must be very clever at avoiding the curfew patrol at night.”
“Yes, master. As the saying goes, ‘even dog dung can be used for medicine.’ This is the right time to use Makbong.”
Patting her on the back, Kanghyok said, “Come back to me at an appropriate time after the curfew bell rings.”
“Ah, yes, master.” Bowing politely to him, she went back to the bar.
He slowly walked back to his examination room.
He thought for a moment that Dolsok might have acted rashly to Soonsin Lee.
Squeak!
When he opened the gate made of twigs, its squeaking noise rang throughout the whole yard.
At the same time, Dolsok came out barefoot.
“Oh my god, master!”
As Dolsok called out to him so urgently, Kanghyok suspected something went wrong.
But he heard Soonsin saying in a relaxed voice, “You’re late today.”
Kanghyok felt relieved to hear that Soonsin didn’t seem like a sick person now.
He asked Dolsok who came running to him, panting and puffing, “What the heck are you so nervous about?”
“Good heavens! He’s too strict and stubborn, master!”
“Why?”
“I was rebuked by him while I emptied his pisspot a moment ago.”
“Pisspot?”
“Even when I had a meal, he scolded me... Master, don’t leave me alone here tomorrow.”
It looked like he was given a sound scolding.
Clicking his tongue, Kanghyok shook his head and said, “Well, I’ve got to go out now.”
“What? Now?”
“Yeah, let go, man! I need to check his condition first before going out.”
“How come you are going out at this late hour... Master, I really can’t sleep with that man here.” Dolsok begged for him earnestly, asking to be relieved from watching Soonsin.
But Kanghyok sternly said, “Someone should be here to keep an eye on the patient here, Dolsok.”
“Patient? He’s not a patient anymore, sir.”
“I did the surgery only yesterday.”
When Kanghyok went into the room, Dolsok’s point made sense.
Soonsin was sitting at a desk, with his right leg stretched. And he was holding books on both hands, which didn’t look easy in Kanghyok’s eyes. Besides, there were piles of books on his side.
“Oh, you’re here?” said Soonsin.
“Yes, sir. Where did you get all these books?” asked Kangsok.
Pointing to Dolsok with his chin, he said, “I asked him to get them for me.”
“From where?”
“Here and there.”
When Kangsok turned back to see Dolsok, the latter said grudgingly, “Well, I visited every nobleman near here to find the books.”
Obviously Dolsok had a hard time meeting Soonsin’s demands.
‘This man is none other than Soonsin, the most celebrated Admiral in Joseon. You should treat him duly.’
Dolsok would have no other choice but to follow if he was asked to copy books.
Turning to Soonsin, Kanghyok said, “How about the wounds on your right leg?”
“You cured it very well. I don’t have any pain if I don’t move.”
Kanghyok made a satisfied smile at that.
Pain after surgery was one of the best indicators that could judge the patient’s condition.
‘Nobody would believe I did the surgery in a room like this. I’m a genius.’
Laughing heartily inside, he unwrapped the bandage around his leg.
As expected, its condition was very good. And the wound unravelled in the morning was also kept in good condition.
“Very good. Let me put a new bandage on it after disinfecting the wound.”
“Thanks.”
“Lift his leg, Dolsok.”
“Yes, master.” Dolsok was a loyal servant and a good disciple. He was now used to putting on bandages before he knew.
‘He’s learning the technique from me anyway.’ Accordingly he should know how to do it by now.
“Good. Stop it there. You should expose his toes, though.”
“Ah, you mentioned the color of the toes is important, right?”
“Yes, I think you’re learning more everyday.”
“Thanks, master.”
Dolsok quickly put the new bandage on his right leg.
“I think you can walk back soon as your condition is getting better.”
“Thanks. When do you think I can use the sword?”
“Let me tell you about it some other time. Take this medicine, first.”
“Umm... Got it.”
Soonsin showed a disappointed look for a moment and then swallowed the medicine in no time.
As it had a sedation effect, Soonsin soon fell asleep.
Dolsok approached Kanghyok quietly and said, “Would you go to bed now?”
“I can’t. I need to go somewhere.”
“Curfew is in effect right now. Where are you going alone?”
“I’m not going there alone.”
“Are you going with Yoni? No, you shouldn’t. What if your mother found out about it?”
“Yeah, she is going with me. But don’t stretch your imagination too far. Makbong is going with me, too.”
While Dolsok was imagining some strange things, he heard some noise outside the gate. When he slightly opened it, he found Yoni and Makbong standing there.
“Let’s go, master.”
“Sure.”
Holding his bag, Kanghyok was about to go out.
He heard Yoni and Makbong talking to each other outside the gate.
“How high is the wall?”
“Lower than this. Let me climb over it first, and then you help the master climb over it.”
“It’s a pushover! Who the hell is the lady that needs our master’s care?”
“I have no idea. I hear her father is a Confucian teacher. You’re sure you weren’t caught by a curfew patroller, right?”
“Don’t worry. You just take good care of the master.”
Makbong laughed heartily, while Dolsok made a long face.
With a resentful look, Dolsok looked at Kanghyok’s face.
‘Now see, he wants to cover her with a blanket and carry her here!’
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