Chapter 34 Although Miss Meng is not punctual, her eyesight is...

Ji'an Hall was a charitable institution with official seals and certificates, dedicated to taking in abandoned orphans and relying on government subsidies and donations from officials and gentry to make a living.

Maintaining a good place is not easy, so its location is not in the bustling Imperial Street, but hidden deep in Xinglifang, behind the Qingfeng Tea House on Peach Blossom Street.

Today was Meng Yutong's first time visiting Ji'an Hall. She guessed that Ji Yun had summoned her there to test her.

So he prepared his medical kit early on, first went to Jufu Inn to check on the progress of the repairs, leaving Baizhi to oversee the work. Then he followed the bluestone-paved alley behind Qingfeng Tea House towards Ji'an Hall.

Passing by the backyard of Qingfeng Tea House, I saw a charcoal fire burning brightly, and a wok was being used to stir-fry new tea. The rich and mellow aroma of tea permeated the air in the back alley, refreshing and delightful.

Speaking of Qingfeng Tea House, it's not a large tea house, but it's quite famous. It's run by a father and son surnamed He. The father, He Hong, is over fifty years old, calm and taciturn, and skilled in tea making; the son, He Haochuan, is seventeen years old, quick and agile, and often runs errands in front of the tea house.

The last time Meng Yutong came to return the umbrella, it was He Haochuan who greeted her.

It is said that the He family has been tending tea gardens in Phoenix Mountain in the suburbs for generations. The tea produced here has a unique mountain spirit and flavor. Therefore, the city's scholars and celebrities often go to great lengths to seek out this secluded place just to taste a cup of the He family's newly roasted tea.

Meng Yutong was very familiar with this place because, in the past, when Shi Yun was not studying medicine, he liked to come here to enjoy tea and meditate in his spare time.

She had secretly visited a few times before, ordering Ji Yun's favorite "Fuliang Xuehao" and "Yunwu Queshe," but she always felt that the bitter taste was far less refreshing and enjoyable than the various drinks at Wang Ji Drink Shop across the street.

But in order to have more to talk about with him, she forced herself to develop a drinking habit. Sometimes, after a few drinks, she would toss and turn at night, unable to sleep, and feel listless the next day.

Looking back now, that forced compliance was both laughable and pathetic.

She drank countless cups of tea, but instead of growing any closer to him because of her "refined taste," he misunderstood that she had disturbed her sleep by returning home late, so he eventually decided to stay overnight in the study...

A faint, helpless smile flickered across Meng Yutong's lips as she withdrew her gaze from the teahouse, her steps unwavering.

I had only taken two steps when I suddenly heard a commotion from inside the wall, followed by a piercing scream:

"Father! Father! What's wrong?!"

"Shopkeeper! Why did the shopkeeper suddenly faint?!"

Meng Yutong suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Judging from that sound, something must have happened inside?

She looked up at the sky; the sun was already slightly setting in the west, and it was almost Shenshi (3-5 PM). Ji'an Hall was located deep in the alley, at most half an incense stick's time to walk there.

She can go there now and have plenty of time.

However, as a doctor with a compassionate heart, she knew that there might be people inside in danger, their lives at stake, so how could she hesitate?

Without thinking too much, she felt a slight weight on her shoulders, tightened the strap of the woven rattan medical kit slung across her shoulder, and decisively turned around to push open the half-closed courtyard gate of the teahouse.

The courtyard is tidy, with blue bricks paving the ground. On one side, firewood is neatly piled up, and on the other side is the kitchen for roasting tea.

At this moment, three or four people had gathered at the entrance of the kitchen, all of them looking anxious.

Lying on the ground was an elderly man dressed in an indigo coarse cloth short jacket and a brown apron tied around his waist; he was none other than He Hong, the owner of the teahouse.

His son, He Haochuan, knelt beside him, tightly embracing his upper body, his arms wrapped tightly around him.

He Hong's face turned bluish-purple, and he made strange "hoarse" sounds in his throat. It looked like he was about to be strangled to the point of being unable to breathe.

Meng Yutong sensed something was wrong and quickly stepped forward, parting the surrounding waiters. She called out to the panicked He Haochuan, "Brother, let go quickly and lay him flat. Holding him like this makes it even harder for your father to breathe."

As she spoke, she deftly placed the medical kit on the ground and opened it, then knelt down beside He Hong.

"Who...who are you?" He Haochuan was sweating profusely with anxiety. He was only brought back to his senses when Meng Yutong pointed at him. He hurriedly did as she told him to lay his father flat on the ground.

His hands were trembling uncontrollably. He suddenly pulled a heavy money bag from his pocket and threw it haphazardly to a shop assistant next to him. "Quick! Go to Jishetang across from the Temple of Heaven! I'll pay any amount! Get the doctor here! Hurry!"

The shop assistant grabbed the money bag and tried to run away, but Meng Yutong quickly took He Hong's pulse, her fingertips sinking slightly. She then swiftly opened his eyelids to check his pupils and pried open his mouth to observe him.

He Hong's lips were bluish-purple and numb, his breathing was weak and rapid, his fingertips were icy cold, and his pulse was erratic and erratic. Her heart skipped a beat, and she said decisively, "There's no need to go. Your father is showing signs of poisoning, and I'm afraid he won't be able to wait for the doctor to arrive."

As she spoke, she took out a needle pouch from her medical kit, pulled out a three-inch-long silver needle, and deftly lifted He Hong's sleeve.

He Haochuan was shocked and instinctively reached out to stop her: "Girl! What...what are you doing? My father...he eats and wears the same things as us, how could he be poisoned?!"

"Besides the meals we shared, has he ever eaten anything on his own?" Meng Yutong asked intently, glancing at the waiter she had stopped.

The waiter was so anxious that he scratched his head and grimaced for a while before suddenly slapping his thigh: "Tea! The manager's tea! He thinks our tea is too weak and always likes to brew a strong pot of tea for himself to drink slowly!"

"Bring him the tea he drank today. Quickly!" Meng Yutong's voice suddenly rose, carrying an awe-inspiring authority that startled everyone in the room.

The waiter scrambled into the back room and returned moments later with a rough porcelain teacup filled with half a bowl of dark brown tea.

Meng Yutong took it and sniffed it carefully. Amidst the strong aroma of tea, there was a faint, peculiar hint of alcohol with a spicy aftertaste.

“It’s aconite/alkali poisoning.” Meng Yutong said gravely. “He must have accidentally drunk a medicinal wine meant to expel parasites. Look at his face, his lips are bluish-purple and numb, his breathing is rapid and weak, his limbs are cold, and his pulse is erratic. This is an acute symptom of this poison.”

The father's symptoms were exactly as she described. Could it really be poisoning?

Upon hearing this, He Haochuan was struck dumb, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

At this moment, he didn't bother to ask Meng Yutong about her identity. He just felt that since she was carrying a medical kit and spoke about these symptoms in a very knowledgeable way, she must have a solution!

He knelt down in front of Meng Yutong with a thud, grabbed her wrist, and cried out in tears, "Miss...Girl! Please! Save my father! You can see the poison he's been poisoned with, so you must have a way to cure him! I, He Haochuan, will kowtow to you! I'll give you whatever money you want!"

He Haochuan cried terribly, tears and snot streaming down his face, while he held Meng Yutong's hand tightly, watching as the tears were about to drip onto her hand.

Meng Yutong frowned slightly, forcefully pulled her hand back, and patiently and gently comforted her, "Don't panic, saving people is the priority."

Her voice was calm, her speech was steady, and her actions were clear, organized, and methodical.

He Haochuan was also affected by the calm aura she exuded, and his emotions calmed down a bit.

He thought about it and realized that the situation was urgent and he had no other choice, so he might as well listen to the girl.

So he grabbed his sleeve and wiped his face haphazardly, nodded hastily, then stepped aside, holding his breath and waiting for Meng Yutong's next move.

Meng Yutong's gaze swept quickly around the stove. There was nothing useful there. Without much hesitation, she reached up and pulled a silver hairpin from her hair, wiping it clean with a handkerchief.

Holding a silver hairpin, she gestured for He Haochuan to pry open He Hong's jaw.

He Haochuan did as she was told. As soon as He Hong opened his mouth, she used a silver hairpin to press down on the base of his tongue to prevent him from biting his tongue or choking. At the same time, she instructed the waiter who was standing there dumbfounded: "Quickly get some concentrated salt water."

Upon hearing the noise, the waiter didn't dare to ask any more questions and immediately slipped into the kitchen to prepare.

She then laid He Hong's hands flat, took a silver needle and inserted it into the Neiguan acupoint on the inside of his wrist, twisting and lifting it with her fingertips to dredge the pericardium meridian and stabilize his heart pulse.

Then, he took another needle and gestured for He Haochuan to remove He Hong's shoes and socks. He then inserted the needle into the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of He Hong's foot, using the same purging method to draw the fire downward and harmonize the heart and kidneys.

As soon as the two injections were finished, the waiter hurriedly brought over a bowl of concentrated salt water.

Under Meng Yutong's guidance, the group helped He Hong up, managed to get a little salt water down his throat, and then turned him over to his side as instructed.

Meng Yutong pressed her fingers together like a sword, forcefully pushing and pressing the Jiquan acupoint deep under his armpit, while shouting in a deep voice, "Spit it out!"

After a series of movements, He Hong's body trembled violently, and then he vomited a large amount of filth.

It contained a mixture of dark brown tea dregs, undigested food, and the smell of insect repellent wine.

As he vomited, his bluish-purple complexion miraculously faded a bit, and his rapid breathing gradually calmed down. Although he was still unconscious, his breathing had become more stable.

Meng Yutong breathed a sigh of relief. After all that, a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. She didn't bother to wipe it away and gestured to He Haochuan, "Help your father to the bed to rest and make sure he stays warm."

He Haochuan and the others quickly helped He Hong up from the ground, left the kitchen, and took him to his bedroom.

After the group left, she took out paper and pen from her medical kit and wrote out a prescription to detoxify and strengthen the body.

Just as she finished writing the prescription, He Haochuan returned. She handed it to him and instructed, "Go and get the medicine according to this prescription, decoct it, and take it three times a day for three consecutive days. Remember, this tea set that has been contaminated with the medicinal wine must never be used again, and you must be careful when storing the medicinal wine in the future. If your father has any problems later, he can go to the Jufu Inn next door to find me."

Before she finished speaking, she had already neatly closed her medical kit, slung it over her shoulder, and walked quickly outside.

We've lingered here too long, and we're about to miss the appointed time with Ji Yun at Ji'an Hall.

She had no choice but to ask for his help yesterday, and if she broke her promise again, she would truly lose the opportunity to be recommended.

He Haochuan accepted the prescription with trembling hands, his face a mixture of gratitude and guilt. He took a few steps forward and caught up with Meng Yutong, asking, "Miss, Miss, please wait! May I ask your name? I will never forget your great kindness today. Where are you going? Have you delayed your important business? I'll have my servant drive you there!"

Meng Yutong didn't stop walking and hurriedly stepped out of the courtyard. Hearing this, she didn't even turn her head, only leaving behind the words: "No need, I'm going to Ji'an Hall, it's in the alley in front. You can take good care of your father."

She walked hurriedly towards Ji'an Hall deep in Xinglifang, and soon her figure disappeared at the alley entrance.

He Haochuan stared blankly at the empty alley, his heart still pounding.

He didn't dare delay and shoved the prescription into the arms of the shop assistant next to him: "Go get the medicine quickly!"

She turned around and rushed back to her father's bedside, staying by his side without leaving for a moment.

He Hong lay on the couch with his eyes closed, his breathing steady but weak, as if he were in a deep sleep. Beside his pillow lay the silver hairpin that Meng Yutong had used to pry open his teeth and press down his tongue, which had now been wiped clean.

Looking at his father's pale face, He Haochuan felt a wave of fear wash over him. His mother had injured her leg while picking tea when he was young; the injury had been recurring and had never fully healed…

Unwilling to be a burden on the family and unable to bear the torment of illness, the mother took poison.

He and his father were left to depend on each other for survival.

Fortunately... fortunately there was that girl, like a fairy descended from heaven, with miraculous healing skills.

His gaze involuntarily fell back on the silver hairpin.

The hairpin is simple and elegant, with three silver peach buds on the head, their petals layered and each with a different posture, exuding a unique and resilient strength in its tranquility.

It was a perfect match for that calm and skilled young woman.

He Haochuan carefully picked up the hairpin and wiped it thoroughly inside and outside his sleeve several times, but still felt it wasn't enough.

He strode to the table, picked up the scalding hot teapot, placed the hairpin in the teacup, and repeatedly poured boiling water over it. After scalding it, he found a soapberry and rubbed and washed it over and over again.

After a series of movements, he rubbed off a layer of silver powder from the silver hairpin.

Only after washing with soapy water and restoring the hairpin's shine did He Haochuan use a clean, fine cloth to gently absorb the water stains and carefully put it into his pocket.

*

Ji'an Hall is hidden deep in the back alley of Qingfeng Tea House.

Walk to the end of the alley, pass through Xinglifang, and then turn into a narrow road that is half-lit and half-shadowed by the setting sun. At the end, you can see a half-old black lacquered wooden door.

A simple wooden plaque hangs above the door, bearing the three characters "Ji'an Hall".

A few clumps of wildflowers quietly bloomed in the corner, adding a touch of life to this secluded spot.

Meng Yutong raised her hand and gently knocked on the door knocker. After a short while, the door creaked open, and a slightly plump woman of about forty years old, wearing an indigo cotton dress, peeked out.

With her round face and kind expression, she immediately smiled warmly when she saw a pretty young woman with a medicine box on her back standing outside the door: "Are you a friend of Physician Ji?"

Meng Yutong nodded with a smile, "Is Ji Yun at Ji'an Hall?"

The woman warmly took her hand and led her inside. "I am Qiu Niang, the manager of Ji'an Hall. I take care of these children's eating, drinking, and toileting every day. Physician Ji comes to provide free medical treatment for the children every month. He is seeing patients in the main hall right now. Please come with me."

Qiu Niang was a cheerful and outgoing person. As they walked, she chatted on and on: "This east wing is where the children study and learn to read. Right now, there are a few of them nodding and swaying in front of the teacher."

The west wing is the bedroom, and the shared sleeping area is quite warm. Over there, under the eaves, a few older children are learning to weave bamboo baskets, hoping to earn some extra money.

"We eat in the small dining hall at the back, but it's not mealtime yet..." She pointed to a row of small clothes drying in the courtyard, then gestured towards the main hall where the faint coughing sound came from, "There are also some weak children waiting for Physician Ji to see them. It's truly remarkable that such a young lady is already a doctor!"

My husband also runs a clinic, but unfortunately, his little clinic is so busy he's always on the go, otherwise the officials at the medical institute wouldn't have to come and patronize it so often.

“They arrived at the beginning of Shenshi (3-5 PM),” Qiu Niang said, glancing at the sky. “Now it’s almost half past Shenshi, and they’ve been examining the children for more than half an hour. The children’s routine check-up is almost over.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong realized she was in trouble and quickened her pace. She then inquired about common ailments among the children, asking if any were particularly difficult or troublesome.

Qiu Niang sighed, mentioned a few names and symptoms, and the two of them arrived outside the consultation room in the lobby while they were talking.

Qiu Niang, with a loud and clear voice, raised her hand and knocked on the door: "Physician Ji! Your beautiful female doctor friend is here!"

There seemed to be a moment of silence inside the door before Ji Yun's usual calm and indifferent voice rang out: "Come in."

Qiu Niang pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Meng Yutong in.

The room was simply furnished: a large medical record was placed by the window, with writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone all ready; next to it stood a slightly worn yellow pear wood medical box.

A plain screen separated the room, behind which a small couch for medical examinations could be vaguely seen. There was a faint scent of herbs in the air.

Ji Yun was sitting upright behind his desk, writing something with a pen.

Sitting opposite him was a little girl of about five or six years old, with two slightly messy little buns tied with faded red ribbons.

Her small face was pale with a sickly pallor, but she had a pair of unusually bright and lively eyes that were now darting around, revealing an irrepressible cleverness.

However, due to the cold-faced and imposing physician in front of her, she shuffled around on the hard wooden stool, trying to appear well-behaved, but she was clearly already impatient.

Ji Yun didn't look up at the person, but simply pulled out her hand and pointed with the pen towards an empty chair next to her, gesturing for her to sit down.

Meng Yutong placed the medical kit she had brought on the corner of the table and sat down next to him as instructed.

Ji Yun sat upright, his pen never ceasing its work. Only after Meng Yutong had settled down beside him did he glance at her indifferently and say, "Miss Meng, if you have nothing else to do, please trouble yourself to treat Xiaoxue."

It was brief and to the point, without saying what the problem was with the child or providing any background information.

Meng Yutong arrived late and, knowing she was in the wrong, didn't ask any questions.

She moved her chair forward, looked at the little girl in front of her, and asked gently, "Xiaoxue, tell your older sister, where do you feel unwell?"

Her voice was usually cool and clear, but when speaking to such a lovely little girl, she unconsciously softened her tone, making it sound gentle and sweet—a rare quality to hear from her.

Ji Yun's pen, which had been moving about non-stop, seemed to pause slightly, but it quickly resumed writing.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxue blinked her big eyes and gave Meng Yutong a sweet smile.

She then pointed her little finger to her mouth, and timidly waved her little hand, her two buns on her head trembling incessantly, indicating that she couldn't speak.

Then, she raised her little hand, first covering her chest and heaving it rapidly a few times, imitating the feeling of not being able to breathe, her little face turning slightly red.

Then he pointed to his throat, made a face as if he was having difficulty swallowing, and then covered his mouth and coughed lightly a few times.

Finally, her little hand fell limply to her side, and she looked at Meng Yutong with a hint of grievance in her eyes.

Meng Yutong felt a pang of sadness as she watched Xiaoxue try so hard to express herself. Although she couldn't fully understand the sign language, she had already made several guesses based on her movements and expressions.

She took Xiaoxue's slightly cool hand, carefully took her pulse, examined her throat and tongue, and gently pressed her chest and abdomen.

After a thorough examination, I had a basic understanding of the situation.

She turned to Ji Yun, her tone certain: "Physician Ji, could Xiao Xue's condition be caused by 'throat obstruction and qi stagnation,' with lung qi congestion and phlegm obstructing the throat?"

Ji Yun then put down his purple brush, looked up at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Although Miss Meng is not punctual, her eyesight is not bad."

The tone of voice did not convey praise or criticism.

No, if you listen carefully, you can still hear it.

Meng Yutong forced a slightly apologetic smile, about to explain her lateness: "I'm so sorry, there's a reason I'm late today..."

Ji Yun tapped lightly on the table with his finger, interrupting her, and asked directly, "In Miss Meng's opinion, what is the best treatment for this illness?"

After a moment's thought, Meng Yutong replied clearly and logically: "Xiaoxue is young and weak, with delicate internal organs. While strong remedies may provide temporary relief, they may damage her fundamental health. The key is to 'moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm, strengthen the spleen and replenish qi, and work gradually.' We can use the 'Spleen-Strengthening and Lung-Moistening Decoction' as the base formula: Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, and Atractylodes macrocephala to strengthen the spleen and replenish qi to solidify the foundation of acquired constitution; Ophiopogon japonicus, Adenophora stricta, and Polygonatum odoratum to moisten the lungs and generate fluids to nourish the upper body; Fritillaria thunbergii, Eriobotrya japonica, and Platycodon grandiflorus to clear the lungs, resolve phlegm, and soothe the throat; and a small amount of Citrus reticulata peel to regulate qi and harmonize the middle jiao, ensuring that the tonification is not stagnant. This formula has mild medicinal properties and focuses on supporting the body's resistance and eliminating pathogens."

She continued, "At the same time, Xiaoxue must be strictly forbidden from eating raw, cold, sweet, greasy, spicy, or roasted foods. Her daily diet should be light and mild. She can also be taught simple breathing techniques to practice every morning and evening to help promote the flow of lung qi."

"For external treatment, Evodia rutaecarpa powder can be mixed with vinegar and applied to the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot before bedtime to draw the heat downward. By combining internal and external treatments in this way, we can gradually reduce the irritation of the bitter medicine on the spleen and stomach of young children, consolidate the curative effect, and reduce recurrence."

Codonopsis pilosula combined with Ophiopogon japonicus nourishes both Qi and Yin, while Poria cocos and Atractylodes macrocephala strengthen the spleen, aid digestion, and eliminate dampness... Meng Yutong is very familiar with the combination of medicinal properties and is also good at using mild medicines to promote each other.

As Ji Yun listened to her detailed explanation, a hint of amazement flashed clearly across his originally calm and indifferent eyes.

He first noticed her because of the unique prescription she wrote for Ji Ming.

During the medical examination, her unique insights into his diagnosis of "sudden vomiting and insomnia" made him begin to take her abilities seriously.

At this moment, he truly felt that the woman in front of him possessed a talent and aptitude for medicine that was truly one in a million.

She pursues not only the elimination of symptoms, but also the feelings and dignity of patients during the treatment process. Like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, her influence is subtle and pervasive.

The hinged window in front of the desk was half open, and a breeze swept through the courtyard. The wind entered through the crack in the window, causing the prescription on the table to rustle.

"Physician Ji, was there anything inappropriate in what I said just now?" She turned her face slightly to ask, the pale blue brocade sleeves trailing down from the table, the soft fabric drooping unintentionally, just touching his knees, swaying and swaying, even causing a slight itch.

The ink on the prescription on the table had dried. He raised his finger and gently pressed the edge of the paper, and the pale yellow Xuan paper lay flat against the sandalwood table without moving an inch.

"The prescription is exquisitely formulated, taking into account the spleen and stomach of young children, and is characterized by its mildness. It is indeed an excellent prescription."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong's eyebrows curved into a smile, and she said, "Then, Physician Ji, regarding this recommendation..."

“Miss Meng knows to proceed step by step when prescribing medicine, but her temperament seems a bit too hasty,” Ji Yun raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping lightly over her smiling eyes, “which is not quite in line with your medical practice.”

Although Ji Yun was aloof and indifferent to others, he always adhered to proper etiquette.

Meng Yutong had never known before that he could be so skilled at using his sharp tongue, each word like a needle.

She muttered these four words to herself, giving him a glare before turning her head back to Xiaoxue.

Across from the consultation table, Xiaoxue's two little hands gripped the edge of the chair, her dangling feet initially just swaying unconsciously, but gradually the amplitude increased, revealing a sense of utter boredom.

I really want to eat a big, juicy, and fragrant chicken leg... If only I could have two...

Meng Yutong took in her greedy expression and smiled slightly. She opened her medical kit and took out a small celadon dish from the innermost layer. On the dish were several pieces of soft, white rice cake.

She had prepared these before coming to Ji'an Hall, thinking that since there were many children in the hall, it would be useful to prepare some mild pastries and candies.

She handed the small plate to Xiaoxue, her smile warm and her voice exceptionally gentle: "Are you hungry? I have some rice cakes here, would you like to try some?"

Xiaoxue's dangling little feet suddenly stopped.

She leaned forward instinctively, her eyes fixed on the snow-white, tempting pastries, just like a hungry cat eyeing dried fish.

However, her little hands timidly tucked into her sleeves, not immediately reaching for it. Instead, she quickly and cautiously glanced at Ji Yun, who was sitting upright beside her.

Ji Yun lowered his gaze slightly, nodded gently to her, and said in a low voice, "Dinner will be served shortly, so don't eat too much."

Xiaoxue nodded like a chick pecking at rice, stretched out her little hand to pick up a piece of rice cake, and ate it in small, precious bites, her cheeks soon puffing out like a little squirrel hiding food.

"Medical Officer Ji, I'll treat the rest of the children. You should eat something and rest a bit." Meng Yutong said, then grabbed a small handful of pine nut candy from her medical kit and casually scattered it on the corner of the table in front of him.

The gesture was as casual as if he were dismissing a neighbor's child.