Yoju looked straight at Kanghyok.

She was such a beauty, yet because she was Changkwon's daughter, she looked a lot like him.

When she looked at him, Kanghyok felt like she was staring at him with sharp eyes.

“Don't stare at me like that!”

“Master, you came to my room several times, right?”

“Hmm, yes.”

“Then, you must have noticed my drawings, too.”

“Aha.”

“Though I feel it's awkward to ask you this, but how do you feel about my drawings?”

“Not bad.”

In fact, her drawings were excellent. She was very good at drawing miniatures, in particular.

“I would love to draw the way you're treating patients.”

“Drawings? Hmm…” Resting his chin on hand, he looked around her room.

There were pictures hung on all sides of the wall.

‘She wants to draw me treating patients? Good idea.'

How long should he see patients and treat them by himself?

He felt he needed to raise disciples and have them do this in his place.

‘Let me focus on difficult patients only.'

So, he sometimes had Dolsok treat a patient with simple pus. And Dolsok did it well as instructed.

“Yes, master. I've drawn some pictures of the wound on my foot.”

Then Yoju presented a piece of paper to him.

As she got better, she obviously resumed drawing.

It showed a very detailed description of her sole.

‘Hmm. She grasped its fine features very well.'

Though the drawing was in black and white, it looked very good.

“Hmm… Your father won't come here for the time being, right?”

That meant less risk for him.

“Sure, you can come on the days when I call you, not everyday.”

“Thanks.”

Yoju gently bowed to him to express thanks.

“Great. Let's go out as I have nothing to do here, Yoni.”

“Yes, master.”

Both of them quickly went out of the room.

Standing nervously outside, Dolsok greeted him, “Master, it looks like we might not enjoy delicious chicken soup.”

“We can go and enjoy it now. What the heck makes you complain so much?”

In fact, Dolsok had half the hens Kanghyok received from patients for his treatment.

Besides, Dolsok had free access to slices of dried meat and seafood.

As Kanghyok didn't balk, he could enjoy such food every day.

“By the way, Makbong, when you stop by my examination room, just take some food with you. Enjoy it with the members of your acrobatic team.”

“Thanks so much. You're too generous!”

“Don't worry. n.o.body can take it if the food we saved too much spoils. So, just feel free to take it.”

“Thanks, master. We're beholden to you all the time.”

“You're welcome. Yoni needs to eat some delicious food, too.”

Hearing that, Yoni raised her head to appreciate his consideration.

“Okay, guys. Let's break up today.”

“Yes, master. Goodbye.”

Kanghyok and Dolsok quickly headed back home.

In particular, Dolsok was impatient. “Master, let's walk a little faster.”

“Sure, sure.” But Kanghyok took a leisurely walk as he had no particular appet.i.te for chicken soup.

‘I wish I could enjoy fried chicken instead.'

As the chicken must have been seasoned, all they had to do was just fry it.

“Dolsok.”

“Yes.”

“Do we have some edible oil at home?”

“Edible oil? Yeah, the mayor gave us some oil last time.”

“Great. Let's fry one chicken.”

“Fry?” Dolsok asked with a curious look.

He knew they enjoyed roasted chicken, but not a fried one.

“Yup, I mean, fry it.”

“I've never done that, master.”

“Let me do it.”

“No, no, master. Your mother will give you a good scolding.”

“Dang it!”

With a sullen expression, Kanghyok came home.

Dolsok felt sad as he couldn't meet his master's demands.

Suddenly, he changed his mind and said, “Master, let me fry a chicken.”

“Can you do it?”

“Just coach me on how to do it.”

“Hmm… Let me draw it on a piece of paper. So, take a look at it before frying it.”

“Got it. You're so picky.”

“What?”

“No, no. We're almost there now.”

Dolsok looked up at the high wall.

“Hey, guys, open the door!” shouted Dolsok after taking a deep breath.

Several young servants came running to the door quickly.

“Please come in, master.”

Kanghyok followed Dolsok into the house.

The yard in his house on the market street was big, but the main yard of his main house was much more s.p.a.cious.

Kanghyok saw several big iron pots on the yard.

As chickens were being boiled in each pot, the whole yard was filled with the chicken smell.

Oksok, Dolsok's younger brother, bounced toward him.

“Master, welcome back.”

“Whew, where is my father?”

“He's inside the main room. Let me escort you there.”

“Sure. Dolsok, take a break here.”

When Kanghyok arrived at the main room, his father was chatting with Soonsin Lee.

He felt good while hearing their loud laughter. He went straight to them and greeted, “Dad, I've just arrived.”

“Oh, come on in, son.”

It seemed his father Sungmun and Soonsin already drank a lot.

Though Soonsin's face was about the same, Sungmun's was red with drunkenness.

“You're late today, son.”

“Yes, I just came back from checking the condition of Changkwon's daughter.”

“I heard about it. You did a very good job. How come you treated her even without seeing her in person? I think I know how great your medical skills are.”

Though he felt the pangs of conscience, Kanghhyok laughed brazenly. “Well, I was lucky.”

“No, no. Thanks to your treatment, Changkwon could go to the new village school with his mind at ease.”

Yoju was right.

Changkwon could not appear nearby for some time.

“By the way, what made you chat in such a cheerful mood?”

“Ah, we were talking about the chapter on Right Mind of the Chinese cla.s.sic Taehak.”

When Kanghyok just blinked his eyes without understanding what it meant, Soonsin explained kindly, “There is a teaching in the chapter that says, ‘If you're angry, scared, happy or worried, you can never get the right mindfulness.' I told your father that his thinking about you exactly fit that teaching.”

Sungmun burst into laughter as if he felt so good to hear it again. “In fact, I've never been free from anxiety about you since you became an adult. Recently, I've been meditating on this teaching night and day, so I got less worried about you. And now everything is going well.”

Though he could not completely understand, Kanghyok felt that teaching would not put him at a disadvantage.

“I've always told you that, dad. Don't worry about me.”

“You're right. But I still hope you can study more Confucian teachings.”

“Sure, will do.”

“Great. We all have great food and drinks thanks to you, son.”

As soon as he said that, Oksok and two women cooks arranged dining tables.

On each table was a well-boiled chicken.

“Now, let's enjoy it.”

Kanghyok cautiously ate the chicken, taking care not to make any chewing noise.

There were lots of table manners for n.o.blemen, and one of them was to eat without making any noise.

In fact, his father slapped his forehead with a spoon when he noisily swallowed a soup bowl.

‘Um… he got lots of mosquito bites.'

Even if he insisted Sungmun clean his hands he would not listen.

‘Well, he might experience some itchiness, but that's it.'

Kanghyok stopped thinking about it and emptied his rice bowl.

“Dad, let me stand up and leave now.”

“Sure. Read some books before you go to bed.”

“Yes, dad.”

Then he came back to his room quickly.

Dolsok was waiting for him as instructed.

“Master, can I fry it now?”

“Oh, I have had too much.”

“I'm full, sir.”

“Save some edible oil. Let's fry it in the examination room.”

“Okay, sir. I see Oksok racing toward us.”

“Really?”

Oksok rarely came to the examination room as he was busy serving Sungmun.

Gasping for breath, he said urgently, “Master, master!”

“What is it?”

“Your father is s.h.i.+vering from top to bottom.”