Chapter 56: Whose Child

Watching the little girl’s eyes grow hazy once more, Qiao Qingyun understood—the anesthesia was taking effect. Without delay, she made an incision nearby and began to cut layer by layer with her scalpel. The human body varied so much that slicing everything in one go would’ve been far too risky.

The bystanders, witnessing this scene, immediately began to vomit. Luckily, Qiao Qingyun had anticipated this and already placed waste bins nearby.

“Go ahead, it’s always like this the first couple times. After a while, you’ll get used to it,” she said calmly, glancing helplessly at the two girls still retching beside her.

She had borrowed these two from Fengke specifically to have some female attendants during surgery, thinking it would be more comforting for the patient. Both girls performed admirably; even as they vomited, they quickly handed over whatever instruments Qiao Qingyun needed.

Time ticked by, minute after minute, and a full hour passed. Qingluo, too, had spent quite some time retching. Experience proved that one could indeed get used to it—by the end, Qingluo hardly felt anything at all.

Nearby, someone monitored the patient’s heartbeat. Perhaps the girl's will to live was strong, for her pulse hadn’t weakened; if anything, it thumped more powerfully.

“How is she?” Qiao Qingyun asked after suturing the wound, glancing at the person listening to the girl’s heartbeat. That person nodded repeatedly, “She’s fine! She made it!”

“Good.” Qiao Qingyun exhaled deeply, then moved to the patient’s side, gently patting her cheek. “Wake up, wake up now.”

Hearing her voice, the girl slowly opened her eyes, gazing up at Qiao Qingyun in confusion.

“I’m not dead?”

“Don’t worry. Your mother was lucky to bring you here right away. It was dangerous, but at least your life is safe,” Qiao Qingyun reassured her, peeling off her gloves. “Now tell me, whose child is it?”

At her question, the girl’s face stiffened, and she turned her head away with difficulty. Still groggy, she lacked the strength to argue, and Qiao Qingyun didn’t press her, instead instructing others to move everything to the ward.

But what surprised her was that there were still many people waiting below—patients lined up for consultation.

“Granny, you come up first,” Qiao Qingyun called out. Hearing her voice, Fengke and the rest of the patients immediately stood up. “How is she?” Granny’s voice trembled, clearly fearing bad news.

But Qiao Qingyun smiled, “Don’t worry, she’s out of danger, but she’ll need to stay hospitalized for observation for a couple of days to ensure full recovery.”

A sudden round of applause erupted below, cheers ringing out. Even the two who had been assisting were stunned by Qiao Qingyun’s skill.

“Thank you all for your trust,” Qiao Qingyun said, descending the stairs and tossing her bloodstained coat to a laborer. “Wash this for me, and bring me a clean white coat.”

“Yes, ma’am,” came the reply, their eyes full of admiration. “She’s like a living goddess!”

“That’s right, a goddess!” they echoed, making Qiao Qingyun feel awkward at such exaggerated praise.

“I’m no goddess, just someone whose duty is to save lives. And Granny, there’s no charge today—not for the operation, which would normally cost twenty taels, nor for anything else. But your daughter does need to be hospitalized.”

“For a seven-day stay, I’ll only charge five taels. That covers care and meals. Is that alright?” Qiao Qingyun could tell Granny wasn’t wealthy—she’d likely rushed here out of sheer desperation.

Faced with this kindness, Granny could only nod fervently in gratitude. “Good, good, I’ll pay right away.”

“Over there—Xu Lu, you handle the payment.”

“Alright!” Xu Lu replied.

This act alone made Xu Lu and Chun Cheng determined to follow Qiao Qingyun from then on. Who else could command such skill?

“Teacher, there are two here with what seems like colds and fevers,” Chun Cheng called.

Qiao Qingyun quickly approached, pressing the back of her hand to the patient’s forehead. “A bit warm,” she said, then turned to the patient. “Here, two days of injections and you’ll be well. In fact, after the first shot, your fever will already start to drop.”

Who would refuse such a promise? In these times, a simple cold could easily become a high fever.

“How much is it?” someone asked.

“One tael per day. After this injection, come again this afternoon for another. Two days, two taels, two injections a day—no more, no less. How about it?”

Qiao Qingyun smiled, and the patient nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes, that’s fine.”

With that, everyone with a cold or fever opted for injections. No one asked for medicine.

Qiao Qingyun personally administered the injections—there were seven patients that day.

“Don’t move. If you’re afraid, just look somewhere else. It won’t hurt,” she reassured a young girl about her own age.

“Alright.” The girl, recognizing Qiao Qingyun’s skill, quickly offered her arm. Qiao Qingyun tied on a tourniquet.

“How’s that?” she asked.

“A bit tight.”

“It’ll be over soon,” Qiao Qingyun promised, pulling out a fine needle—thankfully, the medication was already prepared. Noting the raised vein, she wiped it with alcohol, gently turned the girl’s hand, and inserted the needle at just the right angle, pressing down with a sticky hemostatic bandage.

“All done. Did it hurt?” she asked.

“Is it over already?” The girl hadn’t even noticed when the needle went in, her gaze averted elsewhere.

“Yes, all done. Don’t move, or the needle might roll and you’ll bleed—then you’d have to get poked again,” Qiao Qingyun joked, teasing the girl and feeling a surge of emotion. At such a tender age, she was probably already engaged.

“I’m not afraid. Your injections don’t hurt at all, sister,” the girl replied sweetly, making Qiao Qingyun beam.

“Good, just sit tight,” she said, and moved on to the next patient.

Meanwhile, word reached the Prince’s Residence that Qiao Qingyun had opened a clinic. The prince, furious, stormed over. The moment he entered, he saw Qiao Qingyun crouched down, administering an injection.