Chapter 254 Knowing Sichuan Fritillary like the Back of Your Hand
However, after taking medicine countless times, my grandfather's condition still showed no improvement.
No one in the family wanted to talk about this, but they couldn't let go of the worry in their hearts.
Gu Yuexuan responded softly, and asked lazily, "Where are all the herbs stored? Are you, Second Aunt, looking after them?"
"No, the old lady takes care of it herself."
Yu scooped out a bowl of porridge and let it cool as she casually replied, "Your grandmother said medicinal herbs shouldn't be left lying around, for fear of moisture or insects. So, ever since I brought it back from the clinic, I've been keeping it with her. When you need to boil some medicine, just go get it from her."
"Why are you suddenly interested in this?"
Gu Yuexuan smiled slightly, shook her head gently, wiped the water droplets on her hands, and said lightly: "Nothing, just a whim, just asking casually."
"Second Aunt, is this bowl of porridge made for Grandpa?"
Yu gently slapped away Gu Yuexuan's outstretched hand, frowning slightly as she said disapprovingly, "Isn't farm work in the fields enough for you? You can't sit idle when you get home."
"If you really don't want to rest, then eat your breakfast quickly and rest for a while after that. I'll send it to your grandfather right away."
Grandfather's illness left him with a poor appetite, and he could only swallow bland food with difficulty. Yesterday, Xi Lanfang had specially prepared a pot of rich ginseng chicken soup, but Grandfather only managed a few sips, the rest going to Tu Su, Min Yang, and the other little ones. I wondered if Grandfather would be able to eat much more than this bowl of millet porridge.
As daylight gradually brightened, the family began to rise. Tu Suting, exhausted from a sleepless night, staggered, like a zombie. He splashed a handful of cold water on his face, and only then did he regain some consciousness.
Tu Suting asked vaguely, "Xuanxuan, didn't you say yesterday that you planned to go deep into the forest today?"
Gu Yuexuan responded in a daze: "Indeed, there is such a plan."
"Dealing with rice borer by brutally uprooting rice seedlings is only a temporary solution. To completely eradicate the hidden danger, we have to go deep into the mountains and forests and find some tiny helpers."
"Tiny assistant?"
"For example, parasitic wasps and assassin bugs, we use whatever we can find and adapt to local conditions."
Faced with the shortage of pest control drugs, the most effective strategy is to lure the natural enemies of pests to build nests and reproduce near rice fields.
She briefly explained her thoughts, and Li nodded and interjected, "Since we're going into the mountains, why bother navigating those rugged and slippery paths yourself? Let your Third Uncle go."
Mrs. Li stuffed a white flour bun into her husband's hand and urged him, "Xuanxuan still needs to go to the fields. You take people into the mountains to look for her."
Gu Yuexuan was a little worried: "Does Third Uncle really understand what I'm saying?"
"Even if I'm not familiar with it, the experts accompanying me should know something about it."
Tu Suting replied nonchalantly, "Those you summoned yesterday were all experienced experts. I only need to follow their lead and obey their instructions. It's nothing more than a piece of cake. How complicated can it be?"
Gu Yuexuan hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Then I'll trouble you, Uncle San."
Tu Suting waved his hand casually, as if the matter was not worth mentioning. At this moment, he saw the pale old lady slowly walk out, and he bowed his head respectfully and called out, "Grandma."
As always, the old lady ignored her and walked straight to the table to enjoy her breakfast. She had just taken two sips of porridge when she said coldly, "It's getting late. Why don't you get the herbs out and boil them?"
"In that spacious hall yesterday, the coughing was so intense. Are you all dead and unable to hear even the slightest sound?!"
After Tu Su Minxu and Tu Su Yunxi woke up a little later, Xi Lanfang hurriedly smiled and explained, "Old Madam, please don't worry. I'll go prepare the medicine right away."
Gu Yuexuan said softly, "I'll help." and followed him into the house.
In the small cabinet in the corner of the main room, bags of medicinal herbs are neatly arranged, with the cabinet door open so that anyone can take them at will.
Xi Lanfang took out a packet of herbs. Seeing this, Gu Yuexuan frowned slightly and asked, "Mother-in-law, have these medicines been stored here since they were prepared by the doctor?"
"Indeed."
Xi Lanfang cautiously glanced at his still-drowsy grandfather and explained in a low voice, "This room is the driest. Herbs stored here are less susceptible to moisture, thus ensuring their effectiveness."
Gu Yuexuan also lowered her voice and asked softly, "So, does grandma prepare the medicine herself every day?"
Xi Lanfang gave a wry smile: "How can it be me every day?"
"Whichever of your two aunts or I have time will make the decoction, but the formula is the same, so the taste won't be much different."
The medicinal materials are the same, and no matter who decocts them, their efficacy will not change. There is indeed not much difference.
Gu Yuexuan felt an inexplicable doubt in her heart. She knew that this speculation was groundless and could not speak it out loud. So she took the herbs from Xi Lanfang and said, "Then I will boil them today."
"It just so happens that my third uncle went to the mountains and forests in my place, and I don't have anything else to do right now."
Xi Lanfang did not argue with her, but just reminded her not to overcook the food, then turned around to take care of the two children's meals.
Gu Yuexuan took out a small medicine pot and placed it on the stove to slowly boil it. White mist gradually rose. She stared at the dancing flames in the stove with a thoughtful look on her face.
She had carefully studied the prescription written by the doctor. Most of the herbs listed on it were common herbs. She had carefully checked them when she got the medicine for the first time and had almost memorized the name and characteristics of each herb.
The moment I opened the medicine bag, I took a quick look inside and didn't find anything unusual or unnecessary.
I also cleaned the medicine jar repeatedly, but still found nothing.
It seems that the problem does not come from the medicinal materials themselves.
Ever since Grandfather became bedridden, the old lady's face had grown increasingly gloomy, and her moods often tinged with anger. Everyone in the family seemed to have tacitly agreed not to offend her during this sensitive time. Consequently, the tedious tasks of caring for Grandfather's diet and medication fell to others, with the old lady remaining largely uninvolved.
So, what was the mysterious thing that the old lady brought home late at night when no one was around?
Could that unknown item be related to my grandfather's medicine?
Just as the medicine in the jar was about to be taken, Mrs. Liu came to Tu Su's door with a visitor amidst wisps of white smoke.
"Xuanxuan?"
"Is Xuanxuan at home?"
Gu Yuexuan wiped her hands, stood up and responded: "Yes, sister-in-law, what's the matter?"
Sister Liu smiled brightly as she led them into the house and explained, "Didn't I tell you yesterday that I found you some top-quality Sichuan Fritillaria? This is my brother from my mother's family. He knows the origins of Sichuan Fritillaria like the back of his hand!"
When Gu Yuexuan heard this, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, and she immediately brought a small stool and asked the person to sit down.
The visitor sat down, sniffed lightly, and asked curiously, "Did you add aconite to your medicine?"
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