Xu Yi took the Pang residence’s mule cart back to Stone Well Lane.
As he climbed down carrying his pack, Madam He from next door was beating cotton quilts in the courtyard. Seeing him, she exclaimed in surprise, “Brother Yi, how did you come back so fast?”
Xu Yi stopped to answer her, saying he had received an emergency patient case that couldn’t be delayed, so he had returned early.
Then he asked, “Madam He, are you still busy this late?”
A smile appeared in Madam He’s eyes. “Tomorrow is the day Qiu’er returns home on his rest day. I thought I’d fluff up the quilts in his room first so he can use them tomorrow.”
Time really flew.
It was time for He Linqi to come home again.
Thinking of this neighbor who looked the same age as him, Xu Yi raised his eyebrows slightly. “Tomorrow when he comes back, the household will be livelier.”
Madam He said indeed it would be. With just her alone at home, it was cold and quiet. If she didn’t have work to do, the days would truly be unbearable.
The two chatted for a bit. Seeing fatigue show on Xu Yi’s face, Madam He urged him to go back inside and rest quickly.
“You’ve never traveled far before. These past two days rushing about on the road must have exhausted you.” Madam He asked, “How about I make you some red date tea tomorrow to warm your body?”
Xu Yi thanked Madam He and said, “I’ll have Ah Xu make it. He knows how.”
Madam He didn’t insist, though she had already decided to make a pot of red date tea for Qiu’er tomorrow.
After finishing their chat, Xu Yi opened the door and went inside. The Xu family courtyard was very quiet, and the sound of him opening the door was especially amplified in the still night.
“Woof woof woof!”
Little Huang looked up, saw Xu Yi, and began barking excitedly.
Xu Yi made a “shh” sound, telling it to be quiet. Little Huang ran to his feet, whimpering and circling his legs ingratiatingly, wanting to be petted.
Xu Yi smiled, crouched down, and patted its head and back.
Inside the room, Ah Xu, who had been sleeping, was awakened.
He nimbly jumped out of bed, not even putting on shoes as he stepped onto the cold floor. Through the crack in the door, he looked outside.
By moonlight, Ah Xu saw clearly who had come in.
Joy filled his eyes as he opened the door and ran out. “Master!”
“Did I wake you?” Xu Yi looked Ah Xu over. “Go put on your shoes and dress properly.”
Ah Xu immediately responded and ran back to the room. Ah Jin, sleeping inside, also woke. She called out groggily.
“Brother, what happened?”
Ah Xu didn’t lift the curtain, calling from outside, “Master has returned. Sister, you should get up quickly too.”
“Master returned?!” Ah Jin was instantly awake. Without any dawdling, she dressed, tied her hair in a small braid, got out of bed, put on her shoes, and came out.
In the main hall, Xu Yi was organizing the pack he’d brought back.
Ah Jin came over and took over this task. Seeing there was nothing for him to do here, Xu Yi went to the kitchen and saw Ah Xu heating water…
These two hadn’t asked any questions, only focusing on caring for Xu Yi who had returned in haste.
Xu Yi returned to his room to change out of his dirty clothes. After washing up, it was already quite late. Everyone was sleepy and tired, their eyelids drooping uncontrollably.
He told Ah Xu and Ah Jin to go back to their room and sleep.
Since he was back, he stopped thinking about Zitong County. At least, lying now on his familiar bed, with bedding carrying the woody fragrance of incense balls, the fatigue in his body gradually spread throughout, drowsiness attacking. Before long, Xu Yi fell into sleep.
…
At the Pang residence, after seeing off Xu Yi, Uncle Pang hurried with a lantern to the nearest medical hall.
The medical hall was about to close. Uncle Pang rushed in ahead of time and successfully obtained the medicine.
Returning to the residence, he saw that Pang Boyi hadn’t rested. With loose hair, holding a copper brazier, he stood in the corridor. The personal servant beside him hung his head in attendance. Unable to persuade him, the servant had placed a warming stove by Pang Boyi’s feet.
Uncle Pang hurried over and immediately said, “Why is the young master still here in the wind? Doctor Xu already said your illness worsens with cold exposure. Why won’t you follow medical advice? How are you attending the master, letting him stand here in the wind? If his illness worsens tomorrow, I don’t think you need to attend to him anymore.”
The young servant quickly explained aggrievedly.
The master wouldn’t listen to advice, what could a servant do?
Pang Boyi said helplessly, “Enough. What does this have to do with him? Uncle Pang, if you want to scold me, you don’t need to use someone else to provoke me. I’ll listen to you from now on.”
“Can I believe what the young master says?” Uncle Pang looked at him.
Pang Boyi coughed a few times at just the right moment.
Uncle Pang hurriedly supported his arm with concern. “How did you start coughing too…” He brought Pang Boyi back to the room and handed the purchased medicine to the personal servant.
“Take this medicine and decoct it. Boil twenty parts water down to eight parts, then bring it when it’s done.”
The servant took the medicine and hurried to the kitchen with quick small steps.
Deep into the night when all was quiet, lamps still burned in the Pang residence. The young servant carried the medicine bowl and entered the main room carefully.
After Pang Boyi drank the medicine, Uncle Pang was even more anxious than him, waiting at his side without leaving.
Pang Boyi furrowed his brow looking at him. “Uncle Pang, please sit down.”
But Uncle Pang asked, “Is the young master feeling better?”
“The medicine’s effects shouldn’t be that fast…” Pang Boyi said.
They weren’t exactly old and young, at least Pang Boyi wasn’t a youth but had already entered middle age. He couldn’t let an old servant over fifty worry about his health.
So he asked Uncle Pang if anything interesting had happened when he went to intercept Xu Yi.
Uncle Pang sighed inwardly and thought to speak. “There was one coincidence. The merchant leading the caravan Doctor Xu joined had a connection with us. Young master, do you remember when we were in Fenshui…”
As he spoke, Uncle Pang noticed Pang Boyi’s complexion seemed to have improved.
He stopped talking and asked quietly, “Young master, does your head still hurt?”
Pang Boyi narrowed his eyes. “Not as much as before.”
Without realizing it, that pain that had drilled into his bones seemed to have suddenly disappeared, leaving only faint lingering traces of pain that hadn’t been willing to leave yet.
Uncle Pang exclaimed, “Doctor Xu’s decoction is working!”
Pang Boyi raised his hand to rub his previously aching temples. Indeed, they didn’t hurt as much.
With his head no longer hurting, his body that hadn’t been able to sleep well for days suddenly felt drowsy.
Uncle Pang didn’t dare disturb him. He attended him as he fell asleep, and only after seeing the young master finally sleeping soundly did he tiptoe out of the room to the outer chamber.
He would keep watch tonight, so he had the young servant lay out a soft mat and light the warming stove. Keeping his clothes on, he made do sleeping outside for the night.
–
The next day, Xu Yi rarely slept in late. When he woke, he found Ah Xu and Ah Jin already busy.
Only after asking did he learn that during the two days he was away, the two hadn’t rested. Though Xu Yi hadn’t assigned them work, they had found plenty to do themselves. With winter’s sun not strong and the weather dry, the stored medicinal herbs didn’t need re-drying. Ah Xu and Ah Jin had sorted through the herbs used for making digestive pills, using the grinding trough to grind the herbs that needed crushing into powder.
Busying themselves for two days, they had ground most of the medicinal herbs.
Seeing they had done quite well, Xu Yi encouraged them with a few words and left the remaining herbs for them to continue processing.
After giving instructions, he returned to his room to meditate.
Before long, Ah Xu came into the room to ask a question.
“Master.”
Ah Xu asked, “I just passed by Madam He’s house, and she asked if I’d made red date tea. Master, do you know how to make red date tea?”
Red date tea was a medicinal cuisine made primarily with red dates as the main ingredient. Red dates shouldn’t be eaten in excess, take twelve, soak and wash them in water, then boil them in clear water until soft. Tea leaves could be added, or schisandra or huangqi. Adding different auxiliary ingredients would give the red date tea different effects.
Contemporary households mostly added tea leaves. After boiling, they would filter out the tea leaves and could drink it directly. It could nourish blood and strengthen the spleen and stomach.
Madam He felt that after Xu Yi’s two days of travel fatigue, he should drink some red date tea to nourish himself.
Xu Yi himself felt it wasn’t necessary, but drinking it occasionally wouldn’t hurt.
He nodded and said to Ah Xu, “Go to the medical hall and buy two taels of red dates back.”
Once the red dates were bought back, they could be soaked and washed clean, then placed in a clay pot to simmer. Once ready, they could drink it hot.
Drinking a bowl of hot red date tea in winter warmed one’s entire body.
But for some reason, the He household next door remained quiet. He Linqiu hadn’t returned home as usual.
Inside the room, Madam He waited anxiously, frequently coming out to the courtyard to look around. Not seeing Qiu’er, her heart grew uneasy.
Her right eyelid suddenly twitched, and immediately her heart began to panic.
Had something happened to Qiu’er?
She thought of the master he served, usually difficult to serve, nitpicking, quick to criticize and scold at the slightest displeasure, deducting monthly wages. He never showed servants a kind face.
Thinking of this, her heart panicked even more.
As a woman, it wasn’t proper for her to go to a major household and demand answers, but having her wait at home made her even more anxious.
Just then, she saw Xu Yi come out to the courtyard for activity. Without time to think, Madam He called out, “Brother Yi.”
“Madam He. Hasn’t Brother Qiu returned yet?”
Xu Yi observed her expression and, seeing something was wrong, asked.
Madam He nodded bitterly. “He still hasn’t come back at this hour. Brother Yi, do you think something might have happened?”
Xu Yi said, “Brother Qiu is an honest person, always modest and courteous. Nothing will happen.”
“But… but I’m so anxious…” Madam He covered her chest. After a moment, that unease grew even stronger.
For no reason, it made one’s mind restless and unable to sit still.
Xu Yi quickly comforted her. “Madam He, don’t worry. Let’s wait a bit more. Perhaps Brother Qiu was delayed on the road and will return later.”
With these words, Madam He’s thoughts gradually calmed. She took a breath, lowered the hand covering her chest, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I’ve made Brother Yi laugh at me.”
Xu Yi shook his head. What was laughable about a mother worrying for her son?
He told Madam He to rest easy. If she was still worried, he happened to be free today and could go to He Linqiu’s master’s household on her behalf to inquire about the situation.
Madam He thought for a long while, then shook her head.
“Let’s wait a bit more. Qiu’er has returned late before. I’m just being anxious.” Having said this, Madam He took out a handkerchief to wipe her face and smiled at Xu Yi. “Last time Qiu’er even joked with me, saying he might as well work as a servant at your place, Brother Yi. Perhaps the work would be easier. That child just likes to make me happy.”
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. “That would be a good idea.”
“Ah?” Madam He froze and quickly explained, “Those were just casual words. Brother Yi, you mustn’t take them to heart.”
The Xu household was already supporting Ah Xu and Ah Jin. No matter how capable Xu Yi was, why would he hire another servant for no reason?
Xu Yi smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
He had nothing particularly urgent today. Returning to his room, he took out the consultation sign and hung it at the door.
This consultation sign had been made by a carpenter at Xu Yi’s request. When the sign hung at the door, it meant he was home and could see patients or make house calls at any time.
Before long, a young man came knocking.
Ah Xu invited him in.
The main hall had undergone a major transformation. Xu Yi had remodeled it into a consultation room.
When patients entered, they could see Xu Yi sitting at one end of the table with an empty chair opposite. Those seeking treatment could sit down and be examined directly.
This time, the young man who came for treatment was covering his stomach, saying his abdomen had been bloated and painfully uncomfortable for several days.
Xu Yi looked at his face, then had him open his mouth to examine his tongue coating.
Then he asked, “How many days has it been since you’ve used the toilet?”
The young man’s face reddened as he said in a voice as thin as a mosquito, “About a week.”
After hearing this, Xu Yi thoughtfully stood and walked before him, telling him he needed to examine his stomach.
The young man turned to the side, exposing his stomach. Xu Yi reached out to feel his hard, rigid belly, moved to his upper abdomen, pressed with some force, and asked, “Does it hurt?”
“Not very painful,” the young man said with a red face.
Xu Yi moved his hand away, placing it on the lower back, repeating the same action. “Does it hurt?”
“No… not painful.” The young man swallowed, a bit afraid.
Xu Yi glanced at him and withdrew his hand.
Sitting back in his chair, Xu Yi had already made his judgment. He ground some ink, took up his brush to write, saying as he did, “This is obstinate constipation caused by pathogenic heat entering the stomach. I’ll prescribe some medicine to aid digestion and movement. Two doses should suffice.”
Simply put, this was intestinal dryness and constipation, nothing serious.
The young man, hearing this, raised his hand to wipe his forehead. When he came for treatment, he’d thought he had some serious illness, which had frightened him terribly.
“Thank you, Doctor Xu,” he said gratefully.
Xu Yi said it was nothing, then handed him the prescription. “The consultation fee is five wen. I happen to have the herbs needed for this prescription. If you get the medicine here, it’s another twenty wen.”
The young man thought about it and decided to get the medicine from Xu Yi.
His family lived in another lane on South Street. Previously when feeling unwell, they always went to Apricot Grove Hall.
Since Doctor Sun was murdered and Apricot Grove Hall closed, they had switched to another medical hall, though quite a few people had come to Xu Yi.
After all, Xu Yi’s consultation fee for South Street neighbors was only five wen!
After the young man paid, Xu Yi went to the kitchen to prepare his medicine. He also instructed him to eat less hot and dry foods and drink more hot water.
“The weather is cold and dry. Those with yang heat easily have bad breath and difficulty with bowel movements.” Xu Yi looked at the young man whose face was starting to redden again, his tone flat as he continued, “In future, you can drink a little white chrysanthemum tea.”
The young man, red-faced and ashamed, said, “Thank you Doctor Xu for the advice.”
After bowing, he covered his stomach and left the Xu household with somewhat hurried steps.
Xu Yi shook his head. Young men… their faces were still quite thin-skinned.
Shortly after the young man left, an old woman came over, saying she wanted Xu Yi to examine a prescription.
“This is from a ‘half-immortal’ my old man and I met on the road. He said he had a wine recipe that could cure bone pain. I figured it was only ten coins, so I bought a prescription too.”
As the old woman spoke, she took out the prescription to show Xu Yi.
Xu Yi took the prescription and glanced over it roughly. His eyebrows locked tight as he asked in a serious voice, “Auntie, did that half-immortal say whether this prescription had any other contraindications besides treating bone pain?”
The old woman said, “He said this medicinal wine recipe was a good thing that anyone could drink. He didn’t mention any other taboos.”
“Auntie, this prescription cannot be used,” Xu Yi said.
The old woman was shocked. “Why can’t it be used!? Many people in our village bought it. We were planning to come to the county seat to get the herbs and go back to make the wine.”
Wine of this era had low alcohol content. Using it to make medicinal wine would make it very difficult to extract the medicinal properties, and might even create a deadly poison.
Moreover, this prescription…
Xu Yi looked at this prescription that proposed using Aconite Decoction and felt this person probably understood some pharmacology but only half-understood it.
Aconite Decoction was originally for treating foot bi syndrome (gout), cramping and painful limbs, difficulty bending and extending. If the pattern matched, it could indeed treat bone pain caused by foot bi syndrome (gout).
But the aconite in it was toxic, yet this prescription called for three taels of aconite.
However, the original Aconite Decoction only used one tael of aconite. With two extra taels, who could guarantee this prescription wasn’t a poison formula?
The more Xu Yi thought about it, the more alarmed he became. He quickly asked the old woman, “Auntie, how many households in your village bought this prescription?”
“About twelve or thirteen households.” The old woman asked incredulously, “This prescription really can’t be used?”
Xu Yi nodded. “Aconite is poisonous and cannot be taken in excess. The dosage in this prescription is wrong. Auntie, you must go back quickly and tell everyone not to use this prescription anymore.”
The old woman’s hands trembled as she put away the prescription, nodding anxiously and uneasily. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll go back and discuss with my old man right away.”
“Auntie, this isn’t for discussion.” Xu Yi’s gaze was stern as he said firmly, “You must tell everyone about this, or lives will be lost.”
The old woman was alarmed. “Lives will be lost?”
Xu Yi said, “Yes, lives will be lost. Improper consumption of aconite can cause unconsciousness, nausea, blurred vision, unclear speech and inability to talk. If mistakenly consumed without receiving treatment, it will directly cause death.”
He wasn’t exaggerating, which made the old woman even more frightened.
She knew that people in their village had already gone to the county seat to get the medicine and were steeping it. When those people got the medicine, the medical hall hadn’t said the prescription couldn’t be used.
Fortunately, she had come to Doctor Xu. Her old man had been treated by Doctor Xu before; two doses had cured him.
Therefore, she trusted Xu Yi’s words very much.
After hurriedly taking her leave, she needed to take an ox cart back to the village to inform her old man about this matter.
Xu Yi wrote down her family’s address, planning to go to the countryside in a couple of days.
He didn’t want to meddle in others’ affairs, but since he had happened upon this matter, if those villagers who bought the prescription really suffered aconitine poisoning, it would definitely alarm the county yamen.
Thinking of County Sheriff Pan whom he’d just seen yesterday, Xu Yi was silent for a long while, pondering what other methods there might be.
Some families without money for medical treatment would think about obtaining some miracle medicine from elsewhere that would cure their illness with one dose.
This “half-immortal” probably had grasped this mentality of these common people and thought up this method of selling medicinal wine recipes, deceiving these villagers into half-believing and buying the prescription to make wine.
If they encountered a good medical hall that examined the prescription and pointed out the problem, the villagers who bought medicine would still feel cheated.
But if they encountered those student apprentices who didn’t yet know how to use medicine properly, that would be troublesome.
Involving a matter of life and death, Xu Yi wasn’t comfortable just letting the auntie go tell others.
He feared some common people wouldn’t believe it.
He thought calmly for a long time, then turned back to the table, took up his brush, and transcribed that prescription from memory. He folded another sheet of paper and wrote out his pharmacological analysis of this prescription and its harmful effects.
This letter flowed in one breath. Xu Yi filled two pages. After the ink dried, he folded them and placed them in an envelope.
He came out to the main hall and said to Ah Xu and Ah Jin who were busy in the kitchen, “I need to go out. I won’t see patients today.”
“Master, should I accompany you?” Ah Xu immediately stood and asked.
Xu Yi waved his hand, saying it wasn’t necessary.
He told them to stay home.
Carrying his medicine box, he went out and headed directly toward the main street.
When he was about to reach the Pan residence’s main gate, Xu Yi’s footsteps gradually slowed.
He suddenly realized the Pan residence’s gatekeepers didn’t know him. Forget about requesting an audience with County Sheriff Pan, even his letter might not appear before County Sheriff Pan.
In that case, going directly to find County Sheriff Pan wasn’t realistic.
Xu Yi quickly thought of someone who might be able to help him deliver the letter.
Without hesitation, Xu Yi turned and left, passing through the marketplace, his steps swift as he returned to South Street.
He stopped at the gate of the Pang residence, looking at this aged wooden door with its two copper door handles already oxidized with spots.
Xu Yi stepped forward and knocked.
…
“Doctor Xu?” The one who came to open the door was the young servant who had received him last night. He respectfully invited him in.
“Has Doctor Xu come to give the master a second examination?” After asking, he said first, “The master is in the pavilion. Doctor Xu, please follow me.”
Xu Yi nodded. “Thank you for the trouble.”
However, he still needed to explain, he wasn’t here for a second examination.
The young servant was stunned. “You’re not here to treat our master?”
Xu Yi said, “I have an urgent matter and may need your master to deliver a letter to County Sheriff Pan for me. Could you go and inform him?”
The young servant thought about it and agreed. “Then Doctor Xu, please wait in the front hall while I go ask our master.”
After he left, before long Uncle Pang personally came to invite Xu Yi to the pavilion.
Uncle Pang said with a smile, “The young master learned that Doctor Xu wanted to send a letter to Master Pan and was quite curious. He told me to bring you over quickly. If there are no issues, the master will deliver Doctor Xu’s letter.”
He had given Xu Yi an extra layer of assurance.
From before, the young master had greatly admired this physician who made digestive pills. Last night, learning this physician was so young and accomplished, he thought even more highly of him.
As for Uncle Pang himself… naturally he had quite a favorable impression of Xu Yi. After the young master drank that dose of medicine last night and another after eating in the morning, his head ailment had lightened considerably.
At this time, Pang Boyi already had the energy to drink tea and read in the pavilion.
Xu Yi thought he hadn’t guessed wrong, Master Pang and County Sheriff Pan’s relationship was extraordinary.
He had wanted to ask how Master Pang’s headache was after drinking the medicine, but seeing the pavilion appear before him, he swallowed his words, planning to ask in front of the patient.
…
Xu Yi had thought he would find it difficult to speak when meeting Master Pang.
But unexpectedly, Master Pang was very easy to get along with. He asked directly, “You want to send a letter to Wenji? He’s the county sheriff, specifically managing the county court’s miscellaneous affairs. If it’s these matters, there’s indeed no problem delivering a letter to him.”
Xu Yi said, “I happened to learn of something today. A ‘half-immortal’ is selling prescriptions in Pingshui Village to treat bone pain. I think this prescription is improper, so I wrote it down.”
“Oh? What prescription?” Pang Boyi grew curious. “Where’s the letter? May I see it?”
Xu Yi nodded and took the letter from his chest to give him.
Seeing the unsealed envelope, Pang Boyi opened it directly to look.
Having suffered from head ailments for years, he understood some pharmacology. Seeing the incorrect amount of aconite, his brows furrowed deeply. After reading Xu Yi’s pharmacological analysis and the harmful effects of this prescription, he angrily raised his hand and slapped the table.
“How detestable! This person is practically treating human lives as worthless!”
For money, this person disregarded others’ lives. If someone really died using this prescription, this person’s crime would be unforgivable.
Xu Yi spoke. “Master Pang, please calm down. I’ve already asked the auntie who came to get medicine at my place. Those who first bought the prescription have only purchased the herbs. Making wine requires time. From what I can see, no one should have consumed it yet.”
“That’s fortunate then.” Pang Boyi just felt his head hurt again. He pinched the bridge of his nose and told Uncle Pang to quickly deliver the letter to the Pan residence.
Then, his expression solemn, he added, “Uncle Pang, you also need to convey my words to Wenji. This person has half-baked knowledge yet practices deception. He must be captured and interrogated. Especially if there are other villagers who also bought the prescription. Remember not to delay.”
Such a major matter couldn’t be delayed even for a moment.
Having followed Pang Boyi for decades, how could Uncle Pang not know the importance of this matter?
Having resolved one concern, Xu Yi’s anxious heart settled somewhat. He looked at Pang Boyi across from him, who had angrily drunk two cups of tea, and clicked his tongue slightly.
What Master Pang displayed matched his upright bearing quite well. It was just that his temper was rather strong, when angry, he was quite vigorous and lively.
If he hadn’t seen yesterday’s sickly Pang Boyi, he would have doubted that the ill person wasn’t him.
“Master Pang, has your head ailment improved?”
Xu Yi looked at him and asked.
“Though the wind isn’t strong today, winter days are cold and generate chill. This place has no shelter on all four sides. Just a warming stove and hand warmer aren’t enough.”
Pang Boyi: “…”
Xu Yi didn’t continue. This person’s status shouldn’t be poor, and his age was about two rounds older. If he truly became angry, would he jump up and hit someone?
He wasn’t afraid, it was just that this person was generous when seeking treatment.
Yesterday, he’d given him two taels of silver, and today he was running errands for him without a word.
“I already feel much better.”
Being scolded with good reason, Pang Boyi pretended not to hear the latter part and only silently pulled tighter the cloak draped over him, trying as much as possible to block the wind.
At this moment, the young servant came running over with a head wrap. Holding it up, he half-crouched down to put it on Pang Boyi.
Pang Boyi frowned, not particularly wanting to wear it.
Xu Yi gently reminded, “Master Pang, you should still wear it. The head wrap can block wind, it’s quite suitable to wear.”
Pang Boyi: “…”
He felt even less like talking. This Doctor Xu, young as he was, was somehow even more annoying than Pan Wenji.