Chapter 42: Someone’s been killed!

When Ma Bing left the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, an unusual excitement stirred within her. It was an excitement she couldn’t share with others, yet it made every pore on her body feel delightfully comfortable.

However, this comfort was soon diminished before she could even return to the Kaifeng Prefecture:

Just turning into the street where the Prefecture was located, she heard people arguing from afar. As she approached a few more steps, she saw a group of people fighting at the government office entrance, with several constables unable to separate them. Around them were numerous onlookers sipping tea and watching the spectacle.

“Hey hey hey, stop fighting, stop fighting! Calm down!”

“Let go, let go!”

“Coming to the government office to fight, do you all want to die?!”

It seemed like two families were fighting. The women were still only pulling each other’s hair and cursing, while the men had already rolled onto the ground fighting.

There were also smaller groups nearby: some cowards too timid to join in, yelling at each other from a few feet away with their hands on their hips;

Some who didn’t know the meaning of death, seeking large rocks to hold in their hands, pretending to want to break the other’s head;

And some who had picked the wrong opponent, being pressed to the ground and ridden by others, punched repeatedly until their faces were covered in blood…

Because most people held some reverence for the government, few dared to fight openly at the government office entrance. Therefore, the Kaifeng Prefecture usually had only six constables guarding the entrance. Their main role was merely to pass messages and provide guidance.

But who could have imagined that there were actually people who dared to fight in a crowd at the government office entrance in broad daylight!

One of the six constables remained at the entrance, another went inside to call for help, while the remaining four tried to pull one person apart but couldn’t catch another. Due to their positions, they couldn’t use force, so they were overwhelmed and busy.

“You’re going to kill him!” Ma Bing saw the young man on the ground struggling with no strength left, his eyes half-closed. She hurriedly rushed forward and grabbed the arm of the person on top, shouting, “Stop!”

The attacker was only around sixteen or seventeen years old, a time when one doesn’t know the limits of heaven and earth. He actually pushed Ma Bing away with one hand, saying, “Scram!”

Unprepared, Ma Bing was thrown back a couple of steps, staggering to steady herself.

When Xie Yu, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, saw this, he was first taken aback, then everyone else gasped in unison.

It wasn’t because they were worried about Ma Bing, but…

“Damn it, daring to touch someone from our Kaifeng Prefecture!” A De shouted.

The Kaifeng Prefecture might not have had much, but it certainly protected its own!

Someone from the Kaifeng Prefecture? A woman?

The person was confused by their reaction, still stubbornly muttering, “Men are handling serious business. Women should scram to the side!”

Women?

And “scram”?

Ma Bing stood there, slowly blinking her eyes, not angry but smiling, “Hehe.”

A De and others all changed their expressions. Looking at him now, it was as if they were looking at a corpse.

You pushed her?

She’s the woman who can catch a polo ball with her bare hands!

Why don’t you try catching one barehanded?

One of the constables was more considerate and subtly reminded, “Calm down! Otherwise…”

Otherwise, you might actually be beaten to death, believe it or not?!

The young man stubbornly shouted, “I can’t calm down!”

The constable quickly shut up.

Fine then.

Good advice won’t help those who are destined to die, and compassion won’t save those who bring death upon themselves!

Seeing the constables didn’t speak, the young man became even more smug. Just as he was about to shout again, he saw Xie Yu’s expression change, “Ma Bing!”

The young man suddenly felt darkness in front of his eyes. Looking up, he saw a fist rapidly enlarging in front of him.

“Ahh!”

In an instant, the attacker became the attacked. The arrogant young man was directly thrown off the injured person.

Xie Yu opened his mouth, then sighed with complex feelings.

Since meeting her, the number of sighs he had made was more than in the past nineteen years combined!

Ma Bing quickly stepped forward, twisting the young man’s arm behind his back with one hand, and slapping his head with the other, scolding as she went, “Are you calm now, huh? Are you calm now?! Do you know that assault is against the law? Keep fighting, keep fighting!”

How could this woman be so strong!

The young man struggled several times without success. All his arrogance turned into grievance, and he couldn’t help shouting, “You—you’re still hitting me?”

Then he shouted again, “Assault! Help! The constables from the Kaifeng Prefecture are beating me!”

Ma Bing: “…”

Xie Yu: “…”

The constables: “…”

The two families who had been fighting hadn’t expected it to turn out like this. Everyone was stunned, frozen in place for a few moments. Then one family, probably the young man’s family, suddenly forgot about continuing the fight and rushed over.

“Stop, stop!”

“Heavens above, the constables from the Kaifeng Prefecture are beating people!”

“Someone’s been killed! Come quickly! Someone’s been killed!”

Instantly, the fighters became peacekeepers, saying the exact same words as the constables had just moments ago. The scene was absurd and comical.

Although it might sound a bit unkind, A De and others felt somewhat schadenfreude.

We told you the same thing just now, but you didn’t listen, right?

The constables looked at each other, then reluctantly stepped forward to break up the fight.

A De even took the opportunity to explain to the beaten young man and the crowd, “Nonsense! This is a doctor, a doctor who saves lives!”

Can a doctor’s actions be considered assault?!

This is saving lives!

Ma Bing took the chance to stand up and confidently said, “Right, I’m just a doctor. When I saw someone about to be beaten to death, stepping in to stop the fight, is that wrong?”

Of course, the official constables of the government office weren’t allowed to lay hands on the common people at will, but she wasn’t one of them!

I’m just an employed doctor, not even an official government officer. What’s wrong with stepping in to do the right thing?

Xie Yu, who was checking the injured person’s condition, couldn’t help but feel both annoyed and amused upon hearing this.

Normally, she always used this kind of argument with him. Now, seeing someone else at a loss, it was actually… cough, somewhat satisfying.

“Stop arguing,” Xie Yu said helplessly, “come and check him now.”

“Okay,” Ma Bing then remembered her original intention, quickly picked up the medicine box that had been discarded and ran over.

Now slightly calmer, the family seemed to finally remember they were at a government office. Though their hearts ached for their son, they dared not argue too much, merely murmuring softly:

“She’s too harsh…”

“Full Field ah, oh Full Field ah, you’ve suffered!”

“Yeah, couldn’t you just talk it out? The people from Kaifeng Prefecture shouldn’t just start hitting people…”

Full Field was pulled up by his family. As soon as he met Ma Bing’s fierce gaze, he shivered.

He was really scared of being beaten.

He sniffled, with a crying tone, “What kind of doctor who saves lives? If she hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have so many injuries!”

Then he went to wipe his tears.

What saving lives, it was blatant lying. It was clearly “causing injuries leading to death”!

He was almost getting married, yet a woman had beaten him and pressed him to the ground. So many people saw it. How could he show his face around the streets anymore? Who would still be willing to marry him in the future?

“Ma Bing, how is this person?” A De asked.

Several family members of the injured person also came over chattering anxiously, both worried and regretful, and some couldn’t help but cry.

Xie Yu was getting a headache from their noise, and his voice clearly carried some displeasure when he spoke, “If you want to report a case, report it. If not, then disperse. Making such a noisy scene at the government office entrance, what kind of example is this! A De!”

“Let the doctor take the pulse, everyone be quieter!” A De ran over to mediate, then called for people to separate the two families, “No more shouting, or you’ll be locked up in the jail for a couple of days first! Someone, seize that guy named Full Field!”

The family immediately panicked, protecting their son and not allowing him to be taken, but now it was different from before. The constables outnumbered them, easily dragging them apart. They first skillfully gagged Full Field’s mouth and without hesitation dragged him inside.

“My son!”

“My brother!”

“There’s no justice anymore! We came to file a complaint, how come we’re being arrested?!”

“If you keep shouting, you’ll all be arrested!” A De said impatiently, “Your son beat someone half to death at the government office entrance. Whether he lives or dies is still unknown. Don’t you understand this is breaking the law? Breaking the law!”

The constables disliked such noisy commoners the most; they were simply defying the law!

Starting a fight before the case is heard turns right into wrong.

Looking in the direction A De pointed, the family saw a person covered in blood lying on the ground, his life status unknown, which startled them. They all felt a sense of fear and began murmuring quietly, too scared to speak.

A De then ordered the constables to take both families inside for questioning separately.

Finally, the ear could rest. Xie Yu slowly exhaled, “How is the injury?”

Ma Bing took out her acupuncture kit and inserted two needles, her expression serious, “It’s hard to say yet. He probably hasn’t suffered any bone or muscle damage, but the exact condition will have to wait until he wakes up for a detailed examination. I’ll need to check his pulse in the next couple of days to see if there’s any internal bleeding in his head or neck.”

Xie Yu rarely saw her this serious, so he knew the situation was grave.

Injuries were commonplace for martial artists. To them, such bloody external wounds weren’t that serious. In fact, it was these kinds of injuries where nothing was visible externally, yet the person could be in critical condition.

Ma Bing inserted another needle. As her sleeve passed over the injured person’s face, just about to land in the blood, Xie Yu reached out first to help lift it.

Ma Bing was startled and was about to thank him, but the other spoke first, “Focus on treating the injury.”

He didn’t mind, and Ma Bing didn’t make a fuss either. While inserting the needle, she spoke softly, “It looks scary with all the blood on his head and face, but it’s not serious—it’s just a broken nose and mouth.

What I’m worried about is those two punches to the temple. There’s no visible mark from the outside, but that kid Full Field hit without any restraint. It’s possible the person lost consciousness with the first punch.

If we’re all lucky, the injured person will wake up later, and after a few days of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, he’ll be fine;

If we’re not so lucky… he might become mentally impaired or remain unconscious forever.”

Fighting was something outsiders should really avoid, as they couldn’t tell the difference between light and heavy.

People only see martial artists sparring, exchanging punches and kicks, making a lively scene, unaware that they are all professionals who know which areas are vital and must not be touched, and also know when to stop.

But outsiders understand nothing, only acting impulsively on a whim, rushing forward for the thrill, aiming punches and kicks at people’s heads and faces without any restraint. Throughout history, how many people have accidentally killed others?

Xie Yu called over a constable, “Convey exactly what Ma Bing said inside, and let Magistrate Song make a judgment.”

Regardless of who was right or wrong between the two families who came to report today, that kid Full Field would certainly end up in prison.

After a while, someone brought a stretcher. Ma Bing helped move the person onto it carefully, repeatedly reminding them not to bump the injured person’s head again before finally standing up.

“Ugh~”

She had been squatting for too long, and her legs were numb. Ma Bing swayed on the spot.

Xie Yu silently extended his right arm.

Ma Bing’s vision was still blurry, and she grabbed his arm without hesitation, “Thank you.”

Xie Yu was indeed a very considerate person.

“Did you go to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion again today?” Xie Yu suddenly asked.

“Yes,” Ma Bing said very seriously, “because I found the wine there is really good, the food is delicious, and there are pretty girls who play music and sing for me, giving me shoulder and back massages…”

Pleasure-seeking naturally involves not only carnal desires but also indulgence of the senses of taste and hearing.

Any famous brothel that has gained renown throughout history and across the world offers more than just pretty girls. Hence, throughout history, many people who don’t care about trivialities have specifically chosen to stay in brothels, even if they don’t engage in prostitution, because it’s comfortable and relaxing.

Xie Yu considered himself not talkative but certainly not inarticulate. However, when facing Ma Bing, he often felt a sense of helplessness, as if his fists were punching into cotton.

Visiting a brothel—no matter whether it’s a woman or a man casually mentioning it, there’s usually some attempt to hide it. But she was straightforward about it, looking at him with wide eyes, making you feel inexplicably uneasy, naturally leading to the absurd thought, “Right, what’s wrong with visiting a brothel? A person should live to enjoy themselves.”

After experiencing this many times, Xie Yu had even somewhat gotten used to it.

Later, when the two entered, Magistrate Song was already frowning and had roughly understood the situation:

The family of Full Field surnamed Li, and the other family surnamed Zhang. They were not only not enemies, but actually in-laws.

Originally, Zhang’s daughter Baizhu married into the Li family as a daughter-in-law. The young couple had been quite respectful and considerate to each other. However, a few days ago, Baizhu suddenly ran back to her parents’ home, crying about her in-laws being harsh.

The Zhang family had three sons but only one daughter, whom they cherished dearly. How could they accept this? They personally went to the Li family to question them.

The two families quarreled for several days. Eventually, they were unwilling to break off the marriage completely and agreed that Baizhu would rest at her parents’ house for a few days and be picked up by the Li family on the first day of the fifth lunar month, which would also save face for both sides.

On the first day of the fifth lunar month, a red small sedan chair indeed arrived at the Zhang family’s doorstep, embroidered with patterns and adorned with tassels, looking very neat.

The Zhang family was delighted upon seeing it. The young lady Baizhu also felt proud and immediately bid farewell to her parents, packed her belongings, and left in the sedan chair.

Everyone thought it was a happy ending. Who would have thought that in the evening, another sedan chair arrived! Accompanying it was the groom Li Er!

The Zhang family was puzzled, thinking you’ve already picked up your wife, why come again?

Li Er was greatly surprised, saying that he had wanted his wife to spend more time with her parents and in-laws, so he came to pick her up in the evening. He had just arrived, so how could it be said that he had come again?

But Li San Full Field, who came along, immediately shouted, “Could it be that you’re lying because you look down on our poverty and love wealth!”

The Zhang family was already anxious about losing their daughter. Upon hearing this, they became angry and said it must be that the Li family had mistreated their daughter, harming her and then coming here to act!

The two families couldn’t agree on anything and started arguing. They made such a scene all the way until they reported it to the authorities. Before even seeing the officials, they ended up fighting at the government office entrance…