That day, after Xu Yi applied medicine to He Qiulin’s wounds, he rolled up his sleeves and bent slightly at the waist, lowering his body to rinse his hands, which were covered with Flesh-Growing Ointment, in a wooden basin filled with warm water.
Behind him, He Qiulin still couldn’t sleep lying down. He lay on his side, propped up, looking at Xu Yi’s back, and called out, “Brother Yi.”
“Mm?” Xu Yi straightened up and wiped his hands with a cloth.
He Qiulin said, “Brother Yi, I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about how to terminate the contract with the Bao family. The contract was written for five years, but I still have two years left.”
Xu Yi asked, “Are there any clauses in the contract?”
He Qiulin nodded with some pain, “Yes, it says that to terminate early, I’d have to compensate the household five strings of cash.”
Five strings of cash was no small sum for the He family.
If he had to pay this money just because of his willful decision not to continue serving the Bao family, it would undoubtedly add insult to injury for his family.
Xu Yi thought carefully and discussed with He Qiulin, “You were beaten without cause. If word of this gets out, the fault lies with the Bao family. They wouldn’t dare use this to leverage you. If they want to settle the matter, they shouldn’t demand this termination fee from you.”
He Qiulin listened and pondered for a moment before saying, “According to what you’re saying, Brother Yi, we could turn the tables and leverage the Bao family instead?”
Xu Yi curved his lips, “Exactly.”
He Qiulin struggled to sit up, “Brother Yi, teach me. I want to know what method to use.”
Xu Yi told him not to rush. They would wait until his wounds fully healed before discussing how to go reason with the Bao family.
The next morning, Madam He came to the Xu household with boiled eggs. She had peeled them and placed them in a bowl, drizzled them with soy sauce, and added finely minced zanthoxylum leaves. Mixed together, they were flavorful and fragrant.
When she brought them over, Xu Yi was practicing martial arts in his room. Madam He didn’t see him, so she handed the bowl to Ah Xu.
Receiving these eggs, Ah Xu’s eyes lit up as he asked, “Madam He, how did you make these eggs?”
Madam He smiled, “You can’t just peel them. Prick them with a bamboo skewer, then drizzle soy sauce on them. And that’s not all. Add a few drops of sesame oil, and the flavor really comes out.”
Ah Xu nodded repeatedly and quickly thanked Madam He, “If it weren’t for you, Madam He, I wouldn’t have known that making food requires so much knowledge.”
“Pfft.”
Madam He liked his words and laughed, scolding playfully, “You clever little thing, your mouth has become so sweet. You must have eaten honey, specifically to make me happy.”
Ah Xu’s cheeks flushed pink. Wearing a fine cotton robe and holding the bowl in his hands, he looked exactly like a child from a good family.
Madam He’s eyes suddenly reddened at the sight. She thought of her own Qiulin. This child had suffered so much at the Bao household, yet every time he came home, he never mentioned these things to her…
She turned her face aside and pressed the back of her hand against the corners of her eyes, saying, “I need to go back and prepare breakfast for Qiu’er.”
“Take care, Madam He.”
Ah Xu saw her off, then carried the bowl into the main room and set it on the table before returning to the kitchen to ladle out porridge and bring it over.
This way, when Xu Yi emerged from his room, he could sit down and eat breakfast right away.
Xu Yi had washed his face and changed clothes in his room before coming out. Seeing them waiting for him outside, he sat down directly and called for them to eat together.
“New egg dish?” He noticed an extra dish on the breakfast table today and looked at Ah Xu to ask.
Ah Xu said, “Madam He brought them.”
Xu Yi was silent for a moment, then said, “Remember to wash the bowl clean and return it after eating.”
“Mm, I know.” Ah Xu said.
At the table, Xu Yi always made time to ask about their studies while eating.
Speaking of finding a female teacher for Ah Jin last time, Xu Yi had asked at several places in the county town but found none. Later, he did find a female teacher willing to give lessons at home, but she mainly taught books on women’s virtue and specifically instructed young ladies from prominent families.
When the teacher heard that Xu Yi was looking for a female teacher for a maidservant in his household, she angrily scolded him for insulting her and threw him out.
After that, Xu Yi gave up on hiring a female teacher.
The happiest person about this was Ah Jin herself.
She studied even harder during this period and was diligent in practicing calligraphy. Her wrist was light, and the characters she wrote still lacked strength, but they were neat and proper, not unpleasant to look at.
After Xu Yi checked both their studies, he urged them to continue being diligent.
…
After breakfast, Xu Yi had to get busy.
As he stood in the courtyard digesting his meal, Steward Fang arrived at the Xu household in a donkey cart.
He had come to invite Xu Yi to the estate to give Fang Qiaoci a follow-up examination.
This time, his face carried joy, and he invited Xu Yi into the cart even more respectfully, “Doctor Xu, the young master is already waiting at the estate, and he is also looking forward to your visit. He says he has many things he wants to tell you.”
Hearing that a child of a few years wanted to talk with him, Xu Yi’s expression unconsciously softened.
He nodded, shouldered his medicine box, and boarded the cart, riding with Steward Fang.
On the road to the Eastern Suburb County School, the cart had fruit prepared inside, and Steward Fang kept him company with conversation, so it wasn’t dull.
Steward Fang said, “After Brother Ci took one dose of medicine, his sweating symptoms improved considerably.”
“After taking it for two days, not only did he sweat less, his hands and feet also warmed up somewhat.”
These past few days, both Young Master Fang and Qi Xiuniang had undergone some changes in their overall state.
They no longer wore expressions of sorrow on their faces as before.
As the steward of the Fang household, Steward Fang was naturally pleased to see the master’s family doing well. If the young master of the household could grow up safely and the family remained harmonious, he could also live well.
Moreover, his family had been servants of the Fang family for generations. Compared to hired servants, he was more devoted to the master’s family.
Xu Yi nodded at his words. The Baoyuan Decoction primarily treated insufficient vital energy, shortness of breath, and fear of cold. It was effective for sweating and cold hands and feet caused by insufficient heart qi.
However, if this congenital chest impediment could be cured with just one prescription, there would be no need for cardiothoracic surgeons.
Without technological equipment, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners could only determine the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases through syndrome differentiation.
Regarding chest impediment specifically, there were numerous classifications. Just counting the prescriptions compiled and used across several dynasties for this condition, there were no fewer than a hundred.
To select an appropriate prescription from so many options was itself no easy task.
Xu Yi sometimes sighed in relief that he had both learned through apprenticeship and attended an academy, grasping both aspects. Especially since his family had rows and cabinets full of traditional Chinese medicine books for him to read and study, he had been exposed to far more medical texts than ordinary medical students.
Otherwise, as an “intern” who hadn’t even started working yet, his level of skill would likely be greatly reduced.
The donkey cart moved at a good pace. Soon, they arrived outside the county school gates.
Xu Yi and Steward Fang stepped down one after another, entering through the side gate of the county school.
Shortly after entering, they heard the sound of students reading aloud in unison.
Xu Yi glanced over and saw a courtyard planted with green pines. The reading voices came from there.
Steward Fang explained, “Next spring will be the prefectural examination. After the Start of Winter, the county school opened lecture halls. All students from the county town can come to attend classes. A few days ago, the young master selected several outstanding students from among them and admitted them into the county school as exceptional candidates.”
Xu Yi’s eyes flickered slightly, “Which outstanding students were they?”
Steward Fang’s smile didn’t diminish as he told Xu Yi several names.
Among them was a familiar person: Xing Yuesen of the Xing family.
After their small gathering at the suburban estate last time, Xing Yuesen told Xu Yi he would retreat to study intensively. His talent for scholarship wasn’t particularly outstanding, but over the past six months, through diligent study of essays, he seemed to have gained enlightenment, and the quality of his writing gradually improved.
With his ability, even if he didn’t pass the juren examination this time, he would succeed next time.
To receive Master Fang’s appreciation, Xu Yi was quite happy for his friend. This way, next spring’s prefectural examination would have an even better chance of success.
The two ascended the steps and arrived at the estate halfway up the mountain.
The waiting servant boy saw their figures and opened the door first.
“Steward Fang.”
“Doctor Xu.”
Xu Yi nodded at him in acknowledgment, responding to him.
He followed Steward Fang to the same room as before.
This time, he didn’t wait outside. Steward Fang invited him to enter together.
Upon hearing the commotion, Fang Qiaoci, who had been waiting anxiously in the inner room, walked out quickly in small steps to greet him.
“Doctor Xu, why did you come so late?” After speaking, Fang Qiaoci performed a proper junior’s bow in a dignified manner.
Xu Yi was slightly surprised inwardly and smiled, saying, “I heard you had many things you wanted to tell me, so I even quickened my pace coming up the mountain.”
“Really?”
Fang Qiaoci had bright eyes and white teeth. Dressed like an adorable fortune doll, when his eyes lit up, he was quite endearing.
Xu Yi smiled sincerely, “Really.”
Fang Qiaoci became happy and pulled him to go see Fang Chuliang.
“Doctor Xu, come in quickly. Father is waiting for you.”
Xu Yi took his hand in return. The child’s little hand was slightly cool, but compared to the icy cold before taking medicine, it had greatly improved.
Inside the room, Fang Chuliang, as the county’s instructional official, naturally wouldn’t run out excitedly to greet a doctor like Fang Qiaoci had.
His bearing was gentle. Seeing Xu Yi and Brother Ci enter together, he smiled and beckoned to the latter.
Fang Qiaoci released Xu Yi’s hand and walked to his father’s side, leaning against him to listen to their conversation.
The content of their conversation revolved around Brother Ci’s condition.
When Fang Chuliang heard Xu Yi say that his son’s illness was congenital and couldn’t be cured with just a few doses of medicine, more than half the joy in his heart diminished.
“Is there truly no remedy?” Fang Chuliang touched the child’s head with heartache and couldn’t help but press further.
Xu Yi said, “It’s not that there’s no remedy at all. Though difficult to cure, at least your son is still young. With proper care, if he doesn’t have episodes, there will be no harm.”
But whether he would have episodes or not was hard to say.
From his pulse, Xu Yi could determine through syndrome differentiation that Fang Qiaoci had congenital heart disease, but he couldn’t know the specific nature of the pathology in detail.
Traditional Chinese medicine wasn’t mysticism. Xu Yi couldn’t make a child with congenital heart disease completely recover. He could only prevent episodes from occurring. By reducing the frequency of episodes, the child could live a few more years.
Xu Yi didn’t speak plainly in front of the child, but his cautious words had already let Fang Chuliang know that wanting his son to live to a hundred might not be possible.
Fang Chuliang closed his eyes and sighed softly.
After a few breaths, he opened his eyes to look at Brother Ci in his arms, his eyes full of guilty affection.
Fang Qiaoci was naturally intelligent. How could he not know his illness couldn’t be cured?
Yet he still raised his little face to look at his father and said softly, “Father, don’t worry about me. Look, you’ve already grown white hair. Doctor Xu is right. As long as I don’t have episodes, nothing will happen.”
“Good. Brother Ci is right.” Fang Chuliang smiled along with him and stopped dwelling on his sorrow.
A moment later.
Xu Yi took Fang Qiaoci’s pulse. His cun pulse was deep and thin, with a slight imperceptible quality, not much different from before.
The only change was in the guan pulse between the cun and chi pulses, where the pulse had eased slightly.
This was already a very good result. Being able to improve part of his constitution in a short time gave them a good start for subsequent medicinal treatment.
Xu Yi withdrew his hand and said to them, “Your son’s fundamental yang qi is still insufficient. The original Baoyuan Decoction needs to continue. I’ll prescribe another formula for him. Take this prescription for five doses first, and I’ll come back for a follow-up examination then.”
He picked up his brush and wrote on paper: Fuzi Lizhong with added evodia and cloves to warm…
This was one version of the Fuzi Lizhong Decoction, using ginseng, baizhu, dried ginger, and aconite, two qian each, plus one qian of roasted licorice.
The above was the dosage for adults. When Xu Yi used it on a child, he had to reduce it. He reduced the medicine quantity by two-thirds, then added evodia and cloves to be decocted together.
The cloves, which had anticoagulant properties, combined with medicines that nourished and activated blood, could penetrate spleen cold qi reversal and warm the organ.
After writing, Xu Yi handed the prescription to Fang Chuliang.
“Your son’s illness requires good care. Master Fang, you should also pay attention to your own health.”
Fang Chuliang was slightly surprised, “Doctor Xu, have you noticed something?”
Xu Yi said seriously, “Master Fang has worried constantly for years. This easily leads to melancholic illness, causing qi and blood imbalance and impairing the brain spirit.”
Fang Chuliang sighed upon hearing this. He said that indeed, these past two years he had difficulty falling asleep at night, and his spirit was greatly diminished compared to before.
He had also had doctors examine his pulse. They said much the same as Xu Yi, and the prescriptions they gave had some effect. But his worries remained and were difficult to resolve.
Now that Xu Yi had noticed problems with his health, he wondered whether to have Xu Yi take his pulse as well.
Xu Yi didn’t decline. He took the pulse pillow again and had Fang Chuliang extend his hand for examination. After taking his pulse, he also looked at his tongue and facial features.
The conclusion he reached didn’t differ much from what he had observed.
It was indeed melancholic illness caused by accumulated worries.
However, Fang Chuliang had already taken medicinal decoctions before, which had been effective. It was just that the root cause hadn’t been resolved, so it frequently recurred.
Constantly drinking medicinal decoctions wasn’t good either. Considering Fang Chuliang’s special situation, Xu Yi thought carefully and decided to prescribe him a dietary therapy formula for anxiety.
This dietary therapy used ten qian of sour jujube seed, fifteen qian of fresh Chinese yam, and five qian of poria, ground into fine powder and cooked with rice into porridge.
When Fang Chuliang saw that Xu Yi had prescribed him medicinal cuisine porridge rather than a medicinal decoction, he was somewhat surprised.
“How should this porridge be consumed?”
Xu Yi said, “Eat it in portions, every other day. One week as a cycle, eat for one week and stop for one week. Once the symptoms no longer recur, you can stop eating it.”
After listening, Fang Chuliang nodded.
Steward Fang stepped forward and collected these two prescriptions.
He was about to take the prescriptions to fill them when two people entered from outside.
Qi Xiuniang entered the room with her personal maidservant. Seeing that Xu Yi was still there, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, she hadn’t missed him.
Qi Xiuniang bowed slightly to Xu Yi and said gratefully, “Doctor Xu, thank you for your concern over Ci’er’s illness.”
“Madam is too kind.” Xu Yi returned the courtesy by turning his body.
Qi Xiuniang came over, naturally to inquire about Ci’er’s condition. When she received Xu Yi’s answer, her eyes immediately reddened.
Fang Chuliang saw his wife distressed and walked over to comfort her softly.
Fang Qiaoci on the side looked at his mother, then at Xu Yi, and sighed like a little adult.
He asked Xu Yi, “Can you also examine my mother?”
Xu Yi: “?”
Fang Qiaoci said in a dignified manner, “Don’t you think my mother is like my father, both worrying too much?”
Xu Yi: “…”
That was true.
Later, Qi Xiuniang couldn’t resist her son and agreed to let Xu Yi examine her.
Currently, when treating married women and young ladies in their chambers, one mostly couldn’t look directly at them, and pulse-taking had to be done through a handkerchief, greatly increasing the difficulty.
Xu Yi had met Qi Xiuniang face to face, so he didn’t need to examine her through a curtain, but he still needed to use a handkerchief to avoid skin contact.
In this respect, Madam He and Madam Chen from before had been much more open. After all, most lower-class women had to show their faces to earn money for their families. Only women from wealthy and noble families could wear veiled hats when going out and maintain distance from men outside the family.
Among the common people, such rules didn’t exist.
This was Xu Yi’s first time taking someone’s pulse through a handkerchief. Compared to direct contact with the pulse, it was indeed quite different.
He carefully studied the pulse pattern and also observed Qi Xiuniang’s complexion. During this time, he couldn’t stare at her directly, only gauging carefully with peripheral vision.
Xu Yi sighed silently inwardly, then withdrew his hand.
Fang Qiaoci, who had been leaning nearby waiting anxiously, asked curiously, “How is it?”
Xu Yi looked up at the father and son, saying calmly, “No different from Master Fang’s situation.”
“Then this dietary therapy prescription…” Fang Chuliang looked at the medicinal cuisine prescription from before, asking hesitantly.
Xu Yi shook his head, “I’ll prescribe another dietary therapy for Madam Qi.”
What he prescribed for Qi Xiuniang was jujube and wheat porridge.
This jujube and wheat porridge used sour jujube seeds, wheat, and rice cooked together into porridge. It was suitable for women with restless spirits, visceral restlessness, tendency to sadness and crying, etc.
Treating a family of three consecutively was a situation Xu Yi hadn’t anticipated.
The Fang family was also both amused and exasperated by this.
Such a scene was quite moving to contemplate.
To think that Xu Yi was merely a young doctor who hadn’t yet reached adulthood, yet he had earned the trust of Master Fang’s entire family.
If word got out, probably few would dare believe it.
But when it came down to it, Xu Yi had real ability. With just one dose of medicinal decoction, he had improved a chest impediment that countless doctors had diagnosed as incurable.
Even if it was a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, that was still Xu Yi’s good fortune.
Others didn’t dare think such uncharitable thoughts, but Old Lady Qin, who had been told harsh words by Fang Qiaoci last time and told not to manage affairs in his room, felt very aggrieved.
She watched as Xu Yi was respectfully escorted out by Steward Fang and even received two taels of silver as consultation fees, so envious her teeth ground together.
If not for this person, she would still be the managing matron in the young master’s quarters, with all the maids and servants below having to properly pay her respect. Now she had been transferred to manage miscellaneous affairs in the back wing, unable to touch even a bit of the profitable work.
And the result? The instigator who had caused her to fall to such a state was gaining face at the Fang household, able to receive so much money for a single house call.
But she was now just a lowly servant. Besides feeling so angry her chest hurt, what else could she do?
…
Xu Yi didn’t know he had been targeted by an envious but impotently furious matron.
After leaving the Fang estate, for the next two days he hung his shingle and held consultations at the Xu household without going out.
He Qiulin’s wounds gradually improved under the effects of the Flesh-Growing Ointment. Turning his body no longer caused tearing and bleeding, and he could get up and walk around.
As soon as he could walk, he came to the Xu household with a cane to discuss the matter of terminating his contract with the Bao family.
It just so happened that Xu Yi was examining a patient.
Seeing him come over, he raised his hand to have him wait on the side until he finished.
He Qiulin felt it improper to disturb Xu Yi while he was treating someone in the main room, so he hobbled on his cane to find Ah Xu next door.
Ah Xu and Ah Jin were rolling medicine pills in the kitchen. Seeing him come over, they quickly put down their work and helped him sit on a wooden stool.
“You don’t need to mind me. I’m just here to pass some time.” He Qiulin looked at them and asked with a smile, “Is there anything I can help with?”
Ah Jin saw how weak he was and shook her head, “Brother Qiulin, you should rest properly. There’s not much work here. My brother and I can finish it.”
“All right then.” He Qiulin was somewhat disappointed.
He watched Ah Xu and Ah Jin continue working. Before long, he suddenly asked, “You’re making digestive pills?”
“That’s right.” Ah Xu said.
He Qiulin’s heart stirred with excitement as he said, “These Chen’s Digestive Pills are now only sold by Brother Yi. Do you go to the market to set up a stall every day?”
“Not every day. The young master said if we went daily, we wouldn’t be able to do other things. He has us go once every five days.” Ah Jin thought for a moment, then said, “We alternate between the City God Temple and the night market. This way, people in the county town who want to buy our digestive pills can all purchase them.”
Hearing this, a brilliant business opportunity flashed through He Qiulin’s mind.
These past few days, he had been thinking about what kind of business he could do if he didn’t work as a servant for wealthy households.
But after thinking it over, he felt that whatever business he might undertake faced numerous problems, such as connections or money. He had neither.
He Qiulin swallowed and suppressed the joy in his heart as he asked, “Has Brother Yi ever thought about finding someone to help?”
This time, both Ah Xu and Ah Jin shook their heads, “We don’t know.”
He Qiulin wasn’t discouraged. He thought he would ask Xu Yi about his plans later.
On the other side, Xu Yi saw the patient out the door, then turned and went to find He Qiulin.
He Qiulin stood up and followed cheerfully behind him back to the main room.
Once seated, Xu Yi had him extend his hand.
“The stagnant blood in your body has dispersed considerably. After two more doses of blood-activating and stasis-removing decoction, you’ll be fine.”
After taking his pulse, Xu Yi told him.
He Qiulin nodded and first thanked Xu Yi before asking about the Bao family matter.
“What do you plan to do?” Xu Yi first asked his intention.
He Qiulin had already thought it through in his heart and blurted out, “I don’t want to pay this money. This matter isn’t my fault. It’s because the Bao family first humiliated me that I want to terminate the contract.”
“Good.” Xu Yi responded, “Tomorrow I’ll go with you to the Bao household again. This time we’ll get the contract back.”
As soon as the words fell, He Qiulin asked anxiously, “Will this implicate you? Brother Yi, you’ve already helped me so much. At this point, I still have to rely on you. If word gets out, I’m afraid others will laugh at me.”
He bit his lip and said again, “I should go by myself! I don’t believe they can beat me again. At worst, I’ll… I’ll pay the money but still get the contract.”
Xu Yi listened while frowning, “You can’t go alone.”
He hadn’t told He Qiulin and the others that the Fourth Madam of the Bao household’s sudden friendliness had to do with him.
A young doctor who dared to call for a proclamation official outside a wealthy household’s gates and who knew County Sheriff Pan.
That would always draw some attention.
If investigated by the Fourth Madam who had married out from the Tao family, the trail might lead to Tao Qinghao.
As long as the Fourth Madam of the Bao household wanted to use the Tao family’s support for appearances, she couldn’t offend Tao Qinghao. Since he had dealings with Tao Qinghao, the other party wouldn’t push matters to the extreme.
In truth, it was for his sake that they were letting He Qiulin leave the household.
But if He Qiulin lost this backing, if the Bao family later wanted to deal with the He family, it would be all too easy.
Since Xu Yi had already extended a helping hand, he intended to see it through to the end.