The Jiang family has been recruiting doctors for over a month, and many have come, but only a few have stayed. Ethan Bennett is not very familiar with them, but he occasionally meets one or two of them when he goes out for a walk. He heard that the Jiang family put up a notice the day before yesterday, saying that they would no longer look for doctors and medicine, saying that the head of the Jiang family was tired of choosing, and at the end he sighed, "They are all mediocre, so annoying."
After careful selection, there were a total of ten doctors left in Penglai Villa. They all lived in the East Garden. Each of them had a small courtyard connected by a ten-mile long corridor. The environment was quiet and peaceful. Unlike when they first arrived, when they were allowed to pick and choose at will, these days everyone in the mansion was very polite to them, and their food, clothing and daily necessities were all of the best.
Penglai Villa is well-known in Jiangnan. It is magnificent and wild. There are all kinds of mountains and rivers, and there are no shortage of exotic flowers, rare plants, birds and animals. The villa is located in the paddock in the eastern suburbs of Yangzhou, and the deep forests and ancient temples around it are also very artistic. Since Blake Harrison has never summoned them, many people took this rare opportunity to hunt and drink in Penglai Villa. The people here did not interfere, and they were treated as guests of honor.
Most of the ten people who stayed behind were rising stars from famous schools, in their twenties or thirties, some of whom were already quite famous in the Jiangnan and Jiangbei areas. Among them, only two were under twenty years old, and Ethan Bennett was the youngest and had the least experience. Even among doctors, family background was very important, and Ethan Bennett's background was particularly inconspicuous. In addition, he didn't like noisy personality, so he had hardly participated in their gatherings in recent days and couldn't even recognize all the people, so naturally he was not well received.
Ethan Bennett came here fundamentally to cure diseases and save lives. In addition, he did not get along well with those people and was not interested in making friends and having fun. He studied medical books and ancient prescriptions every day. He brought too few books with him, so he sent a servant out to buy some. He also often asked the servants in the mansion how Blake Harrison was injured and what symptoms he had.
Soon, the Jiang family sent someone to distribute to them the copied details of Blake Harrison's eye disease and medical records since birth. Ethan Bennett worked even harder and read medical books day and night to compare the medical records.
We stayed in Penglai Villa for nearly ten days. In the blink of an eye, it was the end of May. The weather was getting hotter and hotter. Most of the young people were full of vigor and vitality. Even though someone brought them ice cubes for cooling down every day, they could not stay in the house because of the heat. So they made appointments to go to the cold springs together from time to time.
That afternoon, Ethan Bennett was reading a book when someone knocked on his door.
The man who came was Brandon Lee, the only one among this group of doctors who was of similar age to him. He was nineteen years old and the fifth-generation heir of the Jiangzuo Du family. His father had just joined the Imperial Medical Service two years ago.
Although Brandon Lee was young, he was very smart. Seeing that Ethan Bennett was a little withdrawn, he reminded him, "Little Doctor Pei, the weather is so hot. We have agreed to go to the back mountain to soak in the cold spring. You have been here for many days, but you can't even recognize these people. Why not take this opportunity to meet everyone so that you can take care of each other in the future."
Ethan Bennett saw that he was well-intentioned and said with some embarrassment: "Thank you, Brother Du. I have always liked quietness. Apart from reading medical books, I don't have any other hobbies. I am not very good at getting along with others. I am really afraid of causing trouble to you."
Brandon Lee shook his head and said, "Hey, Doctor Pei, we are the only ones with the least experience here. We are lucky to be able to stay here. Can you and I cure this gentleman in the end? For us, it is more important to take this opportunity to make friends with some like-minded people, learn something from them, accumulate some connections, and gain some reputation in the medical field. This is what matters."
Ethan Bennett disagreed and frowned, saying, "The Jiang family invited us here to treat illnesses and save lives. We eat and drink for free all day long, so we should help them share their worries. They treat us as guests of honor, is it just to watch us make friends and drink and have fun? Isn't this just a vain job?"
Seeing that he was conservative, Brandon Lee was disappointed and said, "I was thinking that you are the same age as me and are not favored by these people. I am afraid that you will be excluded, so I came to remind you with good intentions. Since you are full of benevolence and morality, I don't need to worry about you. You can go or not."
Ethan Bennett also realized that he had said something wrong. He himself could not stand these things, but Brandon Lee was doing it for his own good. Ethan Bennett quickly apologized and said, "Brother Du, I am rude. I know you are doing it for my own good. I am grateful for your kindness."
Brandon Lee hesitated to speak, and waved his hand helplessly: "Forget it, forget it, everyone has their own aspirations, you can do whatever you want, I'm leaving first."
After Brandon Lee left, Ethan Bennett really felt that he was too lonely. He didn't care about his connections or fame, and he had no interest in playing and having fun with a bunch of people. He just felt that those people were his seniors after all, and he would be staying here for a long time, and he would see these people every day. He couldn't help but respect others, but he also didn't want to appear too unsociable.
Ethan Bennett thought about it and walked towards the back mountain involuntarily. He was conflicted and hesitant along the way. He felt that he should meet everyone, but he also felt that he seemed to be out of place somewhere.
The back hills of Penglai Villa are lined with towering trees, crisscrossing rivers and cool breezes, making it a rare summer resort.
The only problem was that Ethan Bennett seemed to have lost his way again as he walked. He couldn't see Lengquan for a long time, and there was no sign of anyone around.
Ethan Bennett thought that the cold spring must be running water, so he walked along a small stream with the largest flow. After walking for a long time, he suddenly came to an open area. He looked up and was stunned.
The Mirror Lake was covered with green lotus leaves reaching to the sky, on which were blooming clusters of red lotus flowers, stacked up like Buddha's hands. As the sun was setting in the west, the red lotuses in the pond and the blood-red setting sun merged into one, like the hellfire burning the sky.
The lotus pond in summer is mostly pale white in color, which looks fresh and clean, and refreshing. The red lotus in the pond is blooming arrogantly. It is beautiful, but in this hot summer, there is also a kind of shocking frenzy that burns everything.
Ethan Bennett approached and stared blankly for a long time, almost unable to breathe. This scene, which made people admire but also feel confused and fearful, could be described as soul-stirring.
As I was engrossed in watching the scene, I suddenly heard the sound of a piano coming from the shore. The notes were long and distant, and lasted for thousands of years, like a clear spring slowly seeping into my heart.
Along with the graceful sound of stringed instruments, someone sang in a low voice: "Last night there was wind and rain, the curtains rustled... The affairs of the world are like flowing water, life is just a dream..."
The scene was extremely elegant, with red lotus and green waves, and the time was just right. Only the indifferent and clear voice and the bleak and cold lyrics were out of tune with the warm and beautiful scenery before one's eyes.
It was clearly a prosperous scene in midsummer, but the words were full of sadness and hopelessness. Could it be that the people on the boat were also idle guests living under someone else's roof like them, feeling depressed, so they came here to cruise on the lake and sing along?
Ethan Bennett couldn't help but feel curious, and walked towards the painting boat not far away. When he got close, the music stopped suddenly, and Ethan Bennett couldn't help but stop and apologize: "Sorry to bother you."
There was no movement on the boat. After a long while, someone lazily responded, "What's up?"
Ethan Bennett hesitated and said, "I accidentally stumbled into this place. Seeing such a beautiful scenery and hearing the lyrics on the boat, I couldn't help but be curious and wanted to ask, 'Red light and green water come from all directions, how can you say that the world is eternally sad?'"
The man on the boat was silent for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Come in and talk."
The boat was moored at the shore. Ethan Bennett climbed up carefully and found that the painted boat, which looked ordinary from the outside, was actually a different world inside. There were two rows of large copper urns with two handles filled with ice bricks in the aisle, and fans driven by water flow were installed on the window lattices on both sides, blowing on both sides. Even in such a hot summer, the boat was cool.
It was already late, and the light inside the boat was dim, but no lights were on. Ethan Bennett stood at the bow and could vaguely see someone half-lying on a couch at the stern. Behind him was a gilded sandalwood screen with a pattern of winding water flowing through it. Low and melodious music could be heard from behind the screen.
"Come and sit down."
There were two armchairs not far from the couch. Ethan Bennett felt a little awkward and went over to answer. Just as he sat down, he heard the man lazily ask, "A new doctor?"
"Yes." Ethan Bennett clasped his fists and responded, "I am Ethan Bennett. Excuse me."
Ethan Bennett looked over with some curiosity. The man was half lying down in white clothes, playing with the folding fan in his hand as the music behind him rose and fell. He didn't look at Ethan Bennett directly, but just asked: "Have you read books?"
Ethan Bennett sighed, "I studied for a few years, and then I started to practice medicine at the age of fourteen to supplement my family income. In the past two years, I have only learned some medical skills, and I know nothing about other things."
The man seemed to be asking casually, and soon revealed the answer, and asked again: "Is the Ten Miles of Red Lotus flourishing and busy?"
Ethan Bennett glanced out the window and sighed: "It is indeed a beautiful sight on earth...but this beauty is extraordinary..."
"Red Lotus Karma Fire..." The man laughed and said, "It can seduce souls and kill people."
Ethan Bennett was stunned for a moment, thinking that the man seemed to be joking, but when he turned around and looked outside, he felt that it was appropriate.
"If the Red Lotus Hell has such scenery, it wouldn't be so scary." Ethan Bennett couldn't help but said awkwardly: "It's just that this place is beautiful, but it's hard to stay here for long. Brother, don't you feel hot here in the hot summer with red lotus everywhere?"
The man stood up slightly, turned to Ethan Bennett, raised his eyes and smiled: "For me, it doesn't matter."
Ethan Bennett was stunned for a moment, looking at those indifferent and clear eyes. He felt a little numb on his scalp, but was not overly surprised.
This person must be Blake Harrison. Ethan Bennett waved tentatively in front of him, but as expected, he did not respond.
He looked at Blake Harrison from a distance that day through the gauze curtain, and could not see anything clearly. He had no idea about Blake Harrison. He just felt that this person had been in a high position for a long time, so it was inevitable that he would be arrogant and willful, and bossy. Now, facing the person in front of him, it was very different.
He was dressed in a silver silkworm robe, with a pale face and heavy eyebrows, looking very noble and cold. Even though he was blind, his movements were still lazy and indifferent, without any sense of embarrassment. He was naturally noble. But besides this predictable noble arrogance, he seemed to be calm and indifferent to worldly affairs.
Ethan Bennett pondered for a long time before he stood up and said, "I had roughly guessed when I came in, thank you Mr. Jiang for being honest. But now, I am even more confused..."
"Although you have an eye disease, you are rich and famous, and there are countless people who will work hard to cure your disease. But the lyrics just now sigh about the world, implying a sense of fate and sadness, which is really hard to imagine..."
Blake Harrison suddenly sneered: "Are you trying to say that I don't know the sufferings of the world, but I just complain for no reason?"
"That's not true..." Ethan Bennett said thoughtfully, "When luck comes, heaven and earth are on your side, but when luck goes, heroes are helpless. No matter how high or low you are in life, you will always be unable to control your own destiny. But Mr. Jiang is indeed much luckier than others. He doesn't have to work hard for a living, and he doesn't have to go against his heart and curry favor with others. This is really rare. So please relax and don't worry too much. It will naturally be good for your condition."
Blake Harrison was silent for a while, closed his folding fan, shook his head and smiled after a long while: "You are a person, your words are quite interesting. It seems that you are comforting me, but there is a mystery hidden in your words..."
Ethan Bennett was stunned for a moment. He was just thinking about his past experiences and expressing his feelings. There was no mystery behind it. He was a little confused and said, "What did I say wrong..."
Blake Harrison didn't respond, but tapped the table twice. Someone immediately came out from behind the screen and helped him up. Blake Harrison stood up and said calmly, "I just listened to two songs casually. You think too much."
Ethan Bennett stood up awkwardly and stood aside without saying anything more.
"It's getting late. I have to leave. If you want, you can stay here for a while longer. It will be worthwhile to enjoy the beautiful scenery."
Blake Harrison stood up, tall and straight, and walked out slowly with the help of the servants. Ethan Bennett suspected that if he really fell, the servant next to him would not be able to support him, so he followed him nervously and whispered to him, "Be careful."
Blake Harrison stepped onto the shore, paused for a moment, and turned back to ask: "Your surname is Pei? How old are you this year?"
Ethan Bennett responded, "Seventeen."
Blake Harrison nodded and said nothing more. Upon hearing the sound, the sedan bearers on the shore immediately carried the sedan closer, and soon the group disappeared into the twilight.
Ethan Bennett wasted some time and didn't want to go to Lengquan to look for someone. After nightfall, the number of mosquitoes in the pond began to increase. He had no intention of appreciating the beautiful scenery and followed the musicians in the boat.
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