Doctor Goes Back to Joseon

Chapter 138: Chapter 11

“Scholar Paek?”

At Pyonsu’s calling Kanghyok a ‘scholar,’ the mayor narrowed his eyebrows.

There were only two persons by the surname of Paek.

He must not refer to Sungmun, of course.

Then the other Paek was Kanghyok.

Kanghyok was notoriously known as a scum in Suwon.

Even the governor of Kyonggi Province was aware of him because of his evil reputation.

Kanghyok was a fly in the ointment in Sungmun, a famous scholar who retired from the government service after successful public life.

How was it possible that Kanghyok had medical skills enough to save a man’s life?

The mayor of Suwon could not believe it.

“That scum...Kanghyok Paek?

Even the governor of Kyonggi Province was so embarrassed as to spit out his name before he knew.

It was pretty discourteous for the Kyonggi governor to mention Sunmun’s son openly, given that he was far inferior to Sungmun in terms of rank and learning.

“Oh, I’m sorry, sir,” said the Kyonggi governor.

“No, that’s fine. Hey, Kanghyok, is the guy you treated yesterday Pyonsu?”

Sungmun was as much surprised, so he stammered a bit when he asked.

Anyone who collapsed like that had no hope of surviving as a rule.

At that time there were many people interested in medical skills among the noblemen, and Sungmun was one of them.

So, he read medical books whenever he had free time, and sometimes treated his sick servants.

According to the keisha who witnessed Kanghyok’s surgery last night, he was the resurrection of Hwata or Pyonjak, the legendary medical doctors in old China.

So, Sungmun could not close his mouth at his son’s miraculous medical skills.

But Kanghyok himself just stayed calm.

‘I just don’t know why they’re making such a fuss about me.’

When he worked at the hospital in modern Korea, he treated several patients like Pyonsu.

Kanghyok replied casually.

“Yes, dad. I treated Pyonsu.”

“Oh my god!”

Sungmun let out a short sigh to hear that.

Though he was stunned, Sungmun made a satisfied smile.

But the Suwon mayor and the Kyonggi governor differed.

‘I can’t believe what the kisaeng said. How can I?’

In particular, the Suwon mayor who thought he was well versed in medical knowledge, didn’t recognize Kanghyok’s medical expertise.

Any famous doctor he met so far was not as young as Kanghyok.

But all the higher-ups didn’t think like them.

Most of those who took seats at the upper tables looked at Kanghyok from a different perspective.

In particular, those middle-aged men showed intense interest in him

For their body ached or hurted here and there at that age.

As expected, there were lots of people who came to see him after the banquet was over.

“Hey, Kanghyok, it’s been a while! My back started to ache a while ago. Can you cure it?”

“I had my ankle sprained on my way here. Can you examine it?

They were mostly ranking officials in their villages.

“If you come to my house, let me take care of your pain anytime. You can come with anybody who is sick around you.”

“Oh, really? Got it. Let me see you even tomorrow.”

“Sure, let me go home now.”

Kanghyok got on a horse right away.

When he was about to leave, Yoni ran to him with Pyonsu and Makbong.

“Are you going back, sir?”

“Yeah, I’m going home now.”

“Sorry I didn’t pay you back properly. I received this gift from the mayor’s office for our performance today. Please accept it, such as it is.”

At Yoni’s request Makbong brought a box and put it down before him.

The box contained several pieces of marten and deer skin.

As they were precious, Sungmun burst into laughter at that.

“Kanghyok, accept them as you saved his life.”

“Ah, yes, dad. Thanks for this. As you have not been cured, come to see me every day for a while.”

“Yes, sir. In fact, we’re going to stay here for a whole after consulting with Pyonsu.”

“Good. Good night then.”

“Good night, sir.”

Everybody was happy except for one.

He was Dolsok because he had to carry all the bags alone.

He couldn’t share them with the servant now holding the reins of Sungmun’s horse.

“Whew!” Dolsok kept breathing a sigh, as the bags were heavy.

But as he had a strong build, he walked alright without staggering along the way.

“By the way, what happened? According to the kisaeng next to me, you saved Pyonsu who was almost dead.”

“Well, I made his dead heart beat again.”

“Is that true? How is it possible?”

“If you know the principle, it is not that difficult, dad.”

“Huhhh...You saved Oksok’s life like that. I think you really have wonderful medical skills. I just thought you were wasting your time away...”

What Sungmun wanted most was for Kanghyok to take the state civil exam.

But he gave it up as a bad job long time ago as Kanghyok was not interested.

“By the way, I would like to treat people starting tomorrow. I think it’s not appropriate to accept the patients in my room...”

“Sure, let me arrange another room for you. Don’t worry.”

“Thanks.”

Sungmun was so proud of his son that his face flushed with excitement.

Dolsok boasted of Kanghyok’s medical skills as if it was his own business.

“I guess all the people who saw our master’s skills will come tomorrow. I think his medical skills are just out of this world.”

“What do you know about it? Just hold the reins well,” said Sungmun.

Feeling happy to hear that, thought, Sungmun teased Dolsok.

After riding a horse back home for a while, Sungmun called Kanghyok.

“Kanghyok!”

“Yes, dad.”

“It’s good that you’re well versed in medical knowledge and lots of interest there. But you have to pay attention to the state civil exam. Okay?”

Kanghyok didn’t have any intention to study other topics than medicine.

When he was in college, he used to remember lots of Chinese characters when he was a member of a calligraphy club. But that was a thing of the past.

Now he could write his name in Chinese characters, and some Chinese poems.

But that’s it. How could he take the civil exam in Chinese characters?

‘But I don’t have to argue with dad on this’

So, he pretended to agree.

“Yes, dad.”

“Sounds good. Hurry up!”

As soon as they arrived, Sungmun had his servants prepare an empty room.

After preparing it nice and clean, Dolsok called Kanghyok.

“Master, can you take a look?”

“Sure, let’s go and see.”

As the room was originally used by guests, it was empty now.

“It’s still cold on the floor because I didn’t heat it yet.”

“No problem.”

Kanghyok walked into the room.

Obviously Sungmun paid a lot of attention to it.

The cushions and mattresses were like new, and the bedding was arranged for the patient to lie on it. It looked like a country clinic.

“Great. This is wonderful.”

“Thanks, master.”

“Let me see the patients here, starting tomorrow. Be ready to help me, okay?”

“What? Me helping you, sir?”

“Sure, it will do you good to see and learn my medical skills.”

“Oh, I see...”

After hesitating for a moment he nodded.

Anyway he was Kanghyok’s servant, who had to follow his order.

“Yes, sir.”

“Go to bed early, then. It’ll be a hard work for you tomorrow”

“I wonder if there are lots of people coming to see you tomorrow.

“We never know.”

When he worked at the hospital in modern Korea, even lawmakers found it hard to make an appointment with him.

‘I should not think of my brilliant past here.’

Here in old Korea, Chosun, there might not be a single person who could come tomorrow.

“Prepare two washbasins with boiling water tomorrow. I might need them just in case I have patients.”

“Boiling water? Got it.”

“Yes, go back and take a rest.”

“Yes,sir.”

Dolsok raced to his room, feeling pain in his arms as he had to carry heavy bags.

“Dolsok!”

“Yes, master.”

“Take this before you go to bed. Your arms will feel much better.”

Kanghyok gave him anti-inflammatory and antacid pills.

Dolsok received them politely as he knew how precious they were.

“Thanks, master!”

“See you tomorrow morning.”

After sending him to his room, Kanghyok looked at the sky with a blank expression.

‘Am I the only person who has come here?’

As it was so ridiculous, he could be. Or he couldn’t be.

He wanted to confirm it.

‘When I see the guys of the acrobatic team tomorrow, let me ask them if they know about the Republic of Korea.’

As they move around lots of places in old Korea, they might know better.

Of course, he didn’t expect much.

‘I think I have to get along well here.’

Kanghyok let out a sigh, looking to the room where Sungmun was sleeping.

When he saw Sungmun who really looked like the same as his late father, he felt sympathetic toward him.

Tomorrow was important to him.

Kanghyok hurried into his room and hit the sack.