In the future, we must teach our children never to eat that stuff—it’s just too disgusting. Peter Brooks, suppressing the wave of nausea, staggered back. Damn it, even just going to the bathroom I run into such horrifying and revolting things. It seems that surviving and thriving in this era will be a severe test of both my mind and body.

　　※※※

　　“Master, we really shouldn’t go out. You’ve just recovered from your illness, and Steward Mason specifically instructed me…” At the doorway, the servant Paul Brooks followed closely behind the quick-stepping Peter Brooks, muttering nonstop. Peter Brooks chuckled, “It’s fine. I’ve been cooped up at home so long I can barely breathe. What’s wrong with going out for a stroll? If Uncle Mason blames anyone, just put it all on me.”

　　Finally making it out of the residence, Peter Brooks, eager to experience the atmosphere of strolling through the streets of the Han Dynasty, had no time to pay attention to the servant’s complaints and walked on at his own pace. Aside from the section in front of the The Brooks Residence gate, which was paved with bluestone, the rest of the street was covered with yellow clay, but it was still quite clean—no scraps of paper, cigarette butts, or plastic bags littered about. Hmm, if there were scraps of paper, plastic bags, and cigarette butts lying around, Peter Brooks might as well go work for the time-traveling brother who invented those chemical products, instead of worrying about how to make paper—if someone’s already made plastic, how could he even compete?

　　There weren’t many pedestrians on the road; most wore short jackets and knee-length pants, with cloth skirts draped over their clothes. He also saw quite a few women, wearing short jackets on top and long skirts below, with long sashes hanging down from their waists. However, there were no street vendors hawking their wares. When he asked Paul Brooks, he learned that all the buying and selling was concentrated in the East and West Markets of Jiangyang, which surprised Peter Brooks a bit—he hadn’t expected that the Han Dynasty already knew how to build agricultural markets.

　　As he strolled along, suddenly, he heard the sound of weeping coming from a house by the street, and outside the house, a small crowd had gathered. Peter Brooks was taken aback and looked at Paul Brooks beside him. Paul Brooks sighed helplessly and stepped forward—apparently, he revealed the name of the The Brooks Residence, because Peter Brooks, standing not far away, saw the onlookers bow to him. After asking a few questions, Paul Brooks nodded and quickly walked back.

　　“What happened?” Peter Brooks noticed that Paul Brooks didn’t look too good and asked before Paul Brooks could speak. Paul Brooks sighed, “The child in that family is not going to make it.”

　　“What’s wrong? Is it an injury or something else?” Peter Brooks asked instinctively. Paul Brooks was momentarily stunned, then replied, “I don’t know. I only heard that the family’s young child is gravely ill, but they can’t afford to hire a doctor. I’m afraid… I’m afraid he won’t make it through today. Huh? Master, where are you going?”

　　Hearing this, Peter Brooks didn’t know why, but without thinking, he strode forward, even reaching up to his neck out of habit—only to remember he wasn’t wearing a stethoscope. Peter Brooks couldn’t help but laugh at himself; it seemed his professional habits had crossed over with his soul. Paul Brooks panicked and hurried to block his way. “Master, please, you really shouldn’t get involved in this kind of commotion. You’re not fully recovered—what if you catch something…”

　　“Move aside! Who’s the doctor here, you or me?!” Peter Brooks frowned, even bringing up his profession, which left Paul Brooks momentarily speechless. Taking advantage of this, Peter Brooks had already reached the entrance of the house, and now Paul Brooks really wanted to cry but had no time. The onlookers, seeing a handsome young man in silk robes striding over, quickly made way, allowing Peter Brooks to enter the house with ease.

　　“Young master, what are you doing in my house?!” As soon as Peter Brooks entered, he was confronted by a middle-aged man with red-rimmed eyes, looking at him in confusion. At this moment, Paul Brooks had also rushed in. Seeing the situation, he quickly stepped forward and said sternly, “This is the young master of the The Brooks Residence, the The Brooks Residence’s son. Show some respect.”

　　At these words, the weeping inside the house immediately ceased, and the place fell eerily silent. Just then, an elderly man of about fifty came out from inside. Seeing Paul Brooks and Peter Brooks, he hurriedly knelt down. “A humble commoner greets the young master of the The Brooks Family. You beast, kneel!” The last part was directed at his son, who was standing there in a daze.

　　The middle-aged man who had just blocked Peter Brooks’s way also went weak at the knees and knelt down. Having come from the modern world, Peter Brooks had never received such a formal salute from his elders and quickly helped the old man up. “Please, sir, there’s no need for such ceremony. I was just passing by and heard someone in your family was ill, so I came to take a look.”

　　Hearing this, the old man, still overwhelmed by being helped up by the young master of the The Brooks Family, couldn’t help but break down in tears. “My grandson… I’m afraid he won’t make it.” He looked at Peter Brooks, the well-known young master of the The Brooks Residence in Jiangyang, as if placing all his hopes on this noble youth who had suddenly appeared in his home.

　　Hearing these words and seeing that look of desperate hope mixed with fear, Peter Brooks felt a pang in his heart. There was no time to waste—he took the old man by the arm and hurried inside. “Where is he? Let me see him, quickly.”