Chapter 44 His vice-captain died in the same place!
It was the fifth day since Lu Zhanting left.
Autumn is deepening in Beijing. The sky is high and the clouds are light, and the sun shines brightly, but the morning and evening breezes already carry a chill that seems to seep into your bones.
In the small study in the east wing, Su Wanqing wrote down the final treatment plan for Miss Yan's illness on a sheet of Xuan paper.
She wasn't in a hurry to contact Yan Shaocheng.
That Pure Yang Pill was enough to protect his sister's heart meridian for seven days.
She needs to use these few days to thoroughly analyze all the variables and ensure that everything goes smoothly.
This is not only for the Yan family's connections, but also for a doctor's bottom line.
Lu Yao quietly ground the ink beside her, even her breathing became soft.
She could sense that after her older brother left, her sister-in-law became eerily quiet.
She is no longer merely gentle; she is more like a sharp blade sheathed in its sheath, seemingly harmless but actually possessing a concealed sharpness, ready to be drawn at any moment to cut through everything.
"Sister-in-law, have some ginseng tea." Lu Yao pushed the warm teacup towards her.
Su Wanqing hummed in response, but did not move, her gaze fixed on the three words on the paper—"Mysterious Yin Cold Poison."
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the yard, mixed with the muffled roar of truck engines.
"Hey, who moved in here?"
“The house next door belongs to Deputy Division Commander Wang. He was transferred to the south, and the house is now empty.”
"Who's this new guy? He's got quite a entourage."
In the military compound, rumors spread faster than the wind.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Lu Yao leaned closer to the window and peered outside.
A military green Liberation truck was blocking the entrance to the neighboring courtyard. Several shirtless workers, wearing only coarse cloth vests, were unloading furniture, their backs drenched in sweat.
There was very little furniture, but boxes were piled up like a small mountain.
Each wooden crate was nailed tightly with thick planks, and it looked incredibly heavy.
"That's strange, why is there no male owner here, only a woman giving orders?" Lu Yao muttered to herself.
Su Wanqing put down her pen and walked to the window.
A woman was standing next to the truck.
He wore a white polyester shirt, blue trousers, and had a neat, short haircut that reached his ears.
She was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with extremely fair skin and delicate features, but her expression was cold, and there was an inherent aloofness between her and her surroundings.
Unlike other military wives who make a fuss, she simply stood quietly with her arms crossed, watching the workers busy at work.
He occasionally speaks, his voice is soft, but his instructions are as clear as a scalpel.
"That box contains books, be careful of the edges."
"These rooms, which were moved to the south-facing rooms on the second floor, contain the equipment."
Su Wanqing's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
This new neighbor is not the same kind of person as the military wives in the courtyard who are keen on gossiping about family matters.
Just then, an unexpected event occurred.
Two workers were carrying a wooden box about half their height up the steps when they tripped over something and stumbled.
The heavy wooden crate went out of control in an instant and was about to roll down the slope!
"Ouch! Hold on! Hold on!"
The two workers were pale and their veins were bulging. They tried with all their might to lift it, but the wooden box slid down without moving an inch, making a teeth-grinding scraping sound.
The military wives who were watching the commotion gasped and backed away.
The short-haired woman's expression changed drastically, and she turned to rush forward.
But another figure was faster than her.
Su Wanqing emerged from her courtyard, took a few steps forward, and just as the wooden box tipped over, a pair of delicate hands steadily caught the bottom of the box.
She was just checking the herbs in the yard, she was the closest one.
Those slender arms, which looked weak and boneless, were now bursting with terrifying power.
The heavy wooden box, weighing a thousand pounds, was miraculously stopped in its downward spiral and pushed back an inch.
"Lift it up." Her voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force.
The two workers were stunned, staring blankly at her, forgetting what to do.
"What are you standing there for!"
With Lu Zhanting absent, Su Wanqing's imposing aura unconsciously emanated, bearing a resemblance to his usual imposing presence.
The workers shuddered, as if waking from a dream, and hurriedly used all their strength to carry the box into the yard.
The surrounding chatter exploded.
"My God, where does Battalion Commander Lu's wife get such strength?"
"He looks so skinny he looks like he could be blown away by the wind, but he's a strongman!"
Su Wanqing ignored all of this, dusted off her hands, and turned to leave.
"Please wait a moment."
A cold voice came from behind.
The new neighbor, the short-haired woman, walked over.
Her gaze was scrutinizing and inquisitive, like a doctor examining a special case, scanning Su Wanqing from head to toe.
"Thank you for earlier." Her tone was polite, but devoid of warmth.
“It’s only right between neighbors,” Su Wanqing replied calmly.
"My name is Shen Man," the woman said, introducing herself. "I was transferred from the Northwest."
"Su Wanqing."
The conversation was extremely simple, without any unnecessary formalities.
Shen Man nodded, acknowledging their acquaintance, and turned back to continue giving instructions.
Su Wanqing also returned to the courtyard and closed the door.
Lu Yao immediately came over and said, "Sister-in-law, this new neighbor is so cold."
“A cold temperament doesn’t mean a bad heart.” Su Wanqing picked up her pen again, her voice calm. “A person who values books and instruments more than furniture can’t be that bad.”
She didn't dwell on the incident and her thoughts returned to the medical case.
The two had no contact in the following days.
Shen Man was extremely busy, always leaving early and returning late. Su Wanqing could only catch a glimpse of her occasionally in the early morning or evening, riding a slightly worn Phoenix brand bicycle, entering and leaving the compound like a gust of wind.
She never participated in any of the military wives' gossip, keeping to herself like an isolated island.
Naturally, rumors started circulating in the courtyard.
She said her husband had died, and she was a widow.
They said she was abandoned by a man and was living alone.
Some say she made a mistake in the Northwest and was "exiled" there.
Su Wanqing ignored all of this.
With Lu Zhanting away, she didn't want to cause trouble. Getting treatment, finding her brother, and waiting for his return were her only goals at the moment.
That afternoon, Su Wanqing finally completed all the treatment plans. She was about to leave when she asked Uncle He to send a message to Yan Shaocheng.
Just as I arrived at the courtyard gate, I saw Shen Man returning from outside.
She looked exhausted, her face even paler than a few days ago, and she would occasionally let out a suppressed, short cough as she walked.
The two bumped into each other at the door. Shen Man nodded to her and then took out her key to open the door.
Su Wanqing's gaze, however, was fixed on her face.
Her professional instincts made her immediately realize that something was wrong.
Shen Man's cough was short and rapid, with a whistling sound, typical of dryness damaging the lungs. Her lips were chapped, and there was a faint bluish tinge under her eyes.
Autumn dryness enters the lungs, coupled with excessive thinking.
“Comrade Shen,” Su Wanqing suddenly spoke up.
Shen Man stopped opening the door, turned around to look at her, and looked at her questioningly.
"Your cough only started after you came to the capital, right?" Su Wanqing asked.
A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Man's eyes: "How did you know?"
“The cough is short and dry, without phlegm, which indicates that dryness has invaded the lungs. Autumn is dry in the capital, and you come from the northwest, so you are not used to the water and soil. Coupled with fatigue, it is natural that you will cough.” Su Wanqing’s tone was calm, as if she were stating a given fact.
Shen Man was completely stunned.
She is a Western-trained surgeon who has always been skeptical of traditional Chinese medicine.
But Su Wanqing's words were so precise, like a textbook, that they summarized all of her symptoms.
She did start coughing after arriving in Beijing, and after having an X-ray at the hospital, her lungs came back normal. She diagnosed herself with allergic bronchitis caused by climate change and took various Western medicines, but without any improvement.
"You... know medicine?" Shen Man asked hesitantly.
"I know a little bit about it." Su Wanqing didn't explain further, and took out a small oil paper packet from her cloth bag and handed it over. "A few herbs, plus a snow pear and a few pieces of rock sugar, boil them in water and drink it. Twice a day, and it will be fine in three days."
Shen Man looked at the oil paper package but did not take it.
"What is this?" she asked, her tone carrying the wariness of a Western doctor.
"Fritillaria cirrhosa, apricot kernel, and sand ginseng are all common medicinal materials for moisturizing the lungs," Su Wanqing answered frankly.
Shen Man fell silent.
Looking into Su Wanqing's clear and honest eyes, and feeling the burning pain in her throat, she finally accepted it.
"How much?"
"It's free, it's nothing," Su Wanqing said, then turned and left.
Shen Man held the small oil paper package, stood at the door, and watched Su Wanqing's departing figure with a complicated expression.
When she got home, she opened the paper package, and a slightly bitter medicinal aroma wafted out. Upon closer inspection, she confirmed that they were indeed common lung-nourishing herbs.
After hesitating for a long time, she still went into the kitchen and made a bowl of pear water according to Su Wanqing's instructions.
The pear juice is sweet and refreshing. After drinking a bowl, my parched throat felt as if it had been washed by a clear spring, and it was instantly soothed.
The next morning, her cough, which had plagued her for more than half a month, miraculously improved by more than half.
Shen Man was completely shocked by this result.
She was restless all day at the hospital. A doctor with years of experience, who considered herself a professional, she was taught a lesson by a seemingly ordinary military wife using the simplest dietary remedy.
Who exactly is this Su Wanqing?
After getting off work in the evening, she waited at the gate of the courtyard, which was unusual for her.
Upon seeing Su Wanqing return, they immediately went to greet her.
"Comrade Su."
"Comrade Shen, is your cough any better?" Su Wanqing asked with a smile.
"I feel much better, thank you." Shen Man's tone was much more sincere. She took out ten yuan from her pocket and insisted on giving it to him, "You have to accept this for the medicine."
Su Wanqing pushed it back and shook her head: "There's no need for such formalities between neighbors. If you really want to thank me, why not invite me for a cup of tea?"
Shen Man was taken aback for a moment, then understood and nodded: "Okay, wait for me."
She went home, put her things down, and quickly came out with a net bag in her hand, containing tea leaves and two apples.
"Let's go."
Su Wanqing led her back to the east wing.
Lu Yao's eyes widened when she saw that her sister-in-law had brought back that "cold beauty" neighbor.
Su Wanqing's room was warm and elegant. The bookshelves were crammed with books, including medical books and poetry collections, covering a wide range of subjects. On the table lay a sheet of Xuan paper that had not yet been put away, with delicate and graceful small regular script on it.
Shen Man's gaze swept over the books and words, and the surprise in her eyes deepened.
How could she possibly be an uneducated country woman?
"Please sit wherever you like." Su Wanqing poured her some tea.
"Excuse me." Shen Man sat down at the table, still somewhat reserved.
"Is Comrade Shen a doctor?" Su Wanqing asked.
"Yes, General Hospital of the Military Region, Department of Surgery."
"Surgeons work very hard."
"I'm used to it."
The two chatted casually, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Shen Man discovered that Su Wanqing's conversation and knowledge far exceeded her expectations. No matter what the conversation was about, she could always join in and had unique insights.
The slight disdain she felt stemming from her profession had long since vanished, replaced by a deep sense of inquiry.
"Comrade Su," she finally couldn't help but ask, "who taught you your medical skills?"
"Family tradition." Su Wanqing used the same reason.
Shen Man clearly didn't believe it, but she was clever and tried a different approach.
“I recently encountered a difficult patient at the hospital.” She looked at Su Wanqing, as if seeking advice, yet also testing her. “A border guard was bitten by a venomous insect in the jungle, has a persistent high fever, a rash all over his body, and difficulty breathing. We’ve used the best antibiotics and consulted specialists, but to no avail. What…do you think?”
Upon hearing this, Su Wanqing frowned slightly.
"Are the rashes dots or patches? Are the edges clear? Do they fade when pressed?" Her series of questions were frighteningly precise.
Shen Man was stunned. Even their department head had never asked about these details in such detail.
She tried her best to recall: "It was in flakes, with blurred edges, and didn't fade when pressed."
“The poison has entered the blood.” Su Wanqing’s face darkened. “We can’t use antibiotics anymore. Western antibiotics are cold in nature, which will only trap the heat toxin in the blood vessels and prevent it from escaping. We must immediately use a large dose to clear heat and detoxify, cool the blood and disperse blood stasis. Rhinoceros horn, Rehmannia glutinosa, Moutan bark, red peony root… decoct and take it immediately, and there might still be hope.”
She spoke extremely fast, rattling off a string of medicinal names and dosages. The exquisite combination of her ingredients and the decisive use of the medicine made Shen Man's heart pound with fear.
This is far from just "knowing the basics"!
This is clearly a life-saving prescription that only a highly experienced traditional Chinese medicine doctor, one who dares to use potent and dangerous drugs, could prescribe!
“You…you…” Shen Man was so shocked that she was speechless.
Su Wanqing looked at her and suddenly laughed: "It's just theoretical. Your hospital should have some skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctors. You can share my ideas with them for reference."
After a long silence, Shen Man suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Su Wanqing.
"Been taught a lesson."
This bow was a gesture of heartfelt respect.
From that day on, Shen Man became a frequent visitor to the east wing.
She was no longer asking for advice, but learning. She brought difficult and complicated medical cases from the hospital to discuss with Su Wanqing.
One is an expert in Western anatomy, the other possesses exceptional skills in traditional Chinese medicine. Their exchanges often spark amazing insights.
Su Wanqing learned more systematic modern medical knowledge, while Shen Man was as if a door to a new world had been opened for her, and she was completely impressed by the profoundness of traditional Chinese medicine and Su Wanqing's extraordinary talent.
The two became a unique sight in the compound, and each other's only friend in this vast capital city.
That day, Shen Man came again, but her expression was more solemn than ever before.
"Wanqing, I may have to go on a business trip for a while," she said softly.
Where to?
"Southwest." Shen Man uttered two words, her voice even lower, "The hospital received an urgent notice to assemble a medical team, ready to be dispatched to the front lines at any time. I heard that something big has happened on the border."
Su Wanqing's hand holding the teacup suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white.
southwest.
front.
These two words struck her heart like two heavy hammer blows.
"What exactly happened?" Her voice was dry.
“Top secret.” Shen Man shook her head, her face also full of worry. “All I know is that the casualty rate for this mission may be extremely high. All of the hospital’s A and O blood type reserves have been reserved by the military. A batch of special serums for tropical jungle snake venom and miasma has also been urgently allocated.”
Snake venom...miasma...
Su Wanqing's face drained of all color instantly, turning as white as paper.
Her mind exploded, leaving only one image—the black bottle filled with antidote pills that she hurriedly handed to Lu Zhanting before he left.
It was him.
Something must have happened to him.
No, that can't be. The warning talisman in her palm wasn't warm; he was still alive, he was safe!
The news that Chen Man brought was like a boulder pressing down on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.
Only now did she truly realize what a perilous battle her man was waging in a place she couldn't see.
"Wanqing? What's wrong?" Shen Man noticed that something was wrong with her.
"I'm fine." Su Wanqing took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn't panic, she absolutely couldn't.
She looked at Shen Man, at this woman whose fate was also tied to that of a soldier, and a wave of sorrow and sympathy washed over her.
“Shen Man,” she asked softly, “is your husband… also a soldier?”
Shen Man's eyes dimmed instantly.
She remained silent for a very long time, so long that Su Wanqing thought she wouldn't answer.
Then she nodded, her voice as low as a sigh.
"He used to be in the Sharp Sword Special Reconnaissance Unit, you know?"
Su Wanqing's heart was gripped tightly once again.
“His name was Lin Yi, and he was Zhan Ting’s former deputy captain.” Shen Man’s eyes suddenly reddened. “A year ago, he sacrificed his life during a drug bust on the southwestern border.”
The room was deathly silent.
Su Wanqing felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, freezing her limbs and bones.
Lin Yi.
Lu Zhanting's deputy captain.
He was killed on the southwestern border.
Now, Lu Zhanting is carrying out an even more dangerous mission in the same place, wielding his "sharp sword".
How similar are the trajectories of fate.
Looking at Shen Man's feignedly strong face, she finally understood where the impenetrable coldness and sorrow in this woman came from.
"I'm sorry." Su Wanqing's voice was terribly hoarse.
"It's nothing." Shen Man forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Being a military wife means you have to be prepared for this. I just never expected that after a year, I would have to go back to that place."
Su Wanqing stood up, walked to her side, reached out and grasped her cold fingers.
"This time, it's different."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute force.
"This time, neither you nor I will lose our men again."
She turned to look out the window, her gaze seemingly piercing through mountains and rivers, landing on that distant, perilous primeval jungle.
Lu Zhanting, did you hear that?
I'm waiting for you here.
You promised me you would come back.
You must come back.
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