Doctor goes back to Joseon - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Chapter 4

It was not only Dolsok who was blinking his eyes at Kanghyok’s marvelous operation. The doctor crouching in the corner was also speechless and blinking his eyes. He just couldn’t say anything to save his face.

Both of them were just looking at Kanghyok’s lips.

Kanghyok took out the appendix he incised and put it on gauze. It was originally as thick as a little finger, but it was now more than twice as thick as two little fingers together.

Kanghyok stared back at Dolsok and the doctor watching him silently.

‘How do I explain to them?’

As a young medical professor, he had lots of experience with teaching students. But he had no experience whatsoever when it came to laymen.

‘I think I should adjust my explanation to their learning level.’

It was pretty discourteous to bundle together Dolsok, a servant, and the doctor of a noble family for his lecture.

Pointing at Oksok’s appendix, he asked, “What does it look like?”

“It looks wicked.” As he answered, the appendix did indeed look wicked.

“Oksok felt pain because of this. Let me show it to you fully.”

“Ugh, what the heck is it, master?” Covering his nostrils, Dolsok asked.

Frowning badly, the doctor pinched his nose.

‘This is a tissue that protrudes slightly from the cecum, called the appendix, and it is assumed that its function is related to immunity. Once clogged, it doesn’t heal so well that it causes inflammation. It’s also called appendicitis. It is said to be mainly blocked by stools.’

After he thought of explaining like this, Kanghyok shook his head. It’s just dumb to talk about anything so dull to them. So, he decided to give it a pass.

“It’s just called a bad guy. Very bad guy.”

“Yeah, I agree. Very bad.”

And so, Oksok’s appendix tissue was called a bad guy.

Then, the doctor, who was making a blank face all along, changed his facial expression. He wanted to pretend he knew something.

“Now I know you drove a bad spirit out of Oksok’s body, master. I thought you’re just a playboy, but it looks like you’ve got some mysterious skills.”

Did the doctor mention ‘bad spirit’?

Hearing that, Kanghyok felt his head ache a little.

Stopping talking for a moment, he looked at the doctor. He wasn’t sure whether to talk down to the doctor or not.

‘Given the way he spoke to me, he looks like a nobleman.’ Not so sure, Kanghyok decided to speak as he liked.

“Right, you don’t have to worry about Oksok from now on. He’ll be better.”

The doctor didn’t express any displeasure. “Got it.”

“By the way, I apologize for a while ago. Apologize to the doctor, Dolsok.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

The doctor was more polite than expected. Waving his hand, he even smiled and said, “You’re welcome. Never mind!” And then he left Kanghyok’s house in no time.

Of course, he didn’t forget to say goodbye to Sungmun. He didn’t even receive a bag of rice and paper bundle in return for his medical service.

“Kanghyok did all the job, sir. You don’t have to worry.”

“Are you sure? That bastard cured him?”

“Yes, sir, I didn’t do anything,” said the doctor, praising Kanghyok.

Though he was a quack, he was kind-hearted.

‘I feel a bit sorry about him.’

Kanghyok then cast a glance at Oksok.

‘He needs to have antibiotic pills for at least three days.’

Oksok’s appendix was on the verge of rupturing.

High fever, cold sweat and fast pulse troubled him. There was a real possibility that an infection might have invaded his organs through his blood.

He opened the bag and took out the antibiotics. He took out four and gave them to Dolsok.

“Grind these two pills and then mix it in water before giving it to Oksok. Give the other two tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, master.” As Dolsok never saw this before, he didn’t know what else to say.

As he took care of the most urgent problem now, Kanghyok stood up.

“What happened to Oksok? Did you treat him as the doctor said?” asked Sungmun.

“Yes, father. He’ll be alright.”

Sticking his head in, he looked inside Oksok’s room.

Oksok looked much more at ease than before.

“By cracky! You’re got great skills that I don’t know.”

“Oh, it’s nothing worth mentioning about.”

“No, no, I thought Oksok might not survive. I feel relieved to see him sleeping like that. Take a break as you must be tired.”

Sungmun tapped Kanghyok on the shoulder and walked into the main living room, folding his hands.

Dolsok was absent-minded, taking care of Oksok these days.

‘Let me find out where I’m now. If my guess is right…’

Kanghyok frowned a lot.

If he really travelled to the past, this was the worst that could happen to him.

He might lose all the honor and prestige that he earned in the present world, let alone the money he made frugally.

He quickly moved toward his house. Fortunately, his house was big.

Initially, he didn’t know anything as he was so preoccupied. Now, he realized that there were as many as twenty servants that he saw directly.

‘Let me get out of the house and look around then.’

Kanghyok went out of the house right away. And for a while he remained standing where he was, not taking off a step.

Lots of people dressed in old and shabby clothes moved around busily. Most of them were putting on white clothes, and washed out ones stained with dirt. From this, Kanghyok could immediately figure it out: ‘This is not the folk village that I used to know.’

As it became darker, he was convinced that this was the old Korea.

‘Damn it. The stars are so bright here.’

It seemed there were many more stars in the sky than all the stars he saw during his life.

A bell rang when it got dark.

“Master, let’s come in. The curfew bell just rang.” Dolsok was already beside him.

“Really?”

“Yeah, if you run into a soldier on night-duty, you might get in trouble. It’s cold outside. Let’s come in.”

When he came into the room, it felt warm, as if someone already heated it.

Rubbing both hands, Dolsok said, “Good night, master!”

“Sure, you too.”

After he let Dolsok out, Kanghyok lay on the blanket. As the floor was hard on his back, he couldn’t go to sleep easily.

‘I clearly met the chairman and did something before I came here…’

He couldn’t recall anything at all.

‘Let me first focus on treating Oksok before thinking about how to get out.’